Present and future of low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis

Peer Reviewe

A STUDY ON ASHA –A CHANGE AGENT OF THE SOCIETY

Background: National Rural Health Mission started in the state of Uttarakhand with the objective to address the health needs of rural population, especially the vulnerable section of the society. Under this scheme, ASHA has been identified as one of the key strategy for wider coverage of services, considering her the first port of call for any health related demands, especially women and children. Objective: To find out the biosocial profile of ASHA and services provided by them. Material & Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Imlikhera Block of Haridwar district in 2008 participated by all (150) ASHA. Data was collected by trained investigators of Rural Development Institute which is also a State ASHA resource Centre. Results: Maximum (42%) ASHA were in 26-30 Years of age group. However, 23% ASHA were in less than 25 years of age which is below than the stipulated selection criteria. About 6.3% ASHAs were not fulfilling the educational criteria of selection (education upto 8th class). Study reported that majority of ASHA consider care of pregnant women, vaccination and family planning as their prime services. 42% ASHA reported that they think this work can pave their ways for future employment. Conclusion: Supervisory body should see that selection of ASHA should be as per stipulated criteria and they should be sensitized about their major role of motivator & activist, for creating awareness and demand generation in the society

Lack of inhibition of thrombin-induced rise in intracellular Ca2+ levels and 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol in human platelets

AbstractThe effect of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) on the thrombin-induced rise in intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) and 5-hydroxy[14C]tryptamine ([14C]5HT) secretion was studied. In washed human platelets prelabelled with [14C]5HT and quin 2, OAG (10–50 μgml) induced no significant aggregation, [14C]5HT secretion or rise in [Ca2+]i in the presence or absence of fibrinogen. However, addition of OAG (10–50 μgml) 10 s to 5 min before or 10–60 s after addition of threshold concentrations of thrombin ( < 0.03 Uml) resulted in a significant potentiation of aggregation and [14C]5HT secretion without any effect on the thrombin-induced rise in [Ca2+]i. Both EGTA, which abolished the latter and creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase, the ADP scavenger, totally inhibited the aggregation but only partially reduced [14C]5HT secretion in response to thrombin plus OAG. At higher concentrations of thrombin, neither the rise in [Ca2+]i nor the extent of [14C]5HT secretion was significantly altered by OAG addition. The results demonstrate that, unlike phorbol esters, OAG has no inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i mobilisation but can synergize with low concentrations of thrombin in potentiating [14C]5HT secretion even at basal [Ca2+]i

Friend Turns Foe: Transformation of Anti-Inflammatory HDL to Proinflammatory HDL during Acute-Phase Response

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a major carrier of cholesterol in the blood. Unlike other lipoproteins, physiological functions of HDL influence the cardiovascular system in favorable ways except when HDL is modified pathologically. The cardioprotective mechanism of HDL is mainly based on reverse cholesterol transport, but there has been an emerging interest in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles of HDL. These latter activities of HDL are compromised in many pathological states associated with inflammation. Further, abnormal HDL can become proinflammatory contributing to oxidative damage. In this paper, we discuss the functional heterogeneity of HDL, how alterations in these particles in inflammatory states result in loss of both antioxidant activity and reverse cholesterol transport in relation to atherosclerosis, and the need for assays to predict its functionality

Understanding the expression of Toll-like receptors in Asian Indians predisposed to coronary artery disease

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are an important link between innate and adaptive immunity. Material and methods: Expression of TLR-2, TLR-4, and TLR-9 genes was assessed in 60 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 79 controls by SYBR Green 1 based real time PCR assay

Association of Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers with Metabolic Syndrome in Asian Indians in India

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with a proinflammatory state. Here, we assessed the contribution of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers towards prediction of MetS. A total of 2316 individuals were recruited in Phase I of the Indian Atherosclerosis Research Study (IARS). Modified ATPIII guidelines were used for classification of subjects with MetS. Among the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers studied, levels of hsCRP (P < .0001), Neopterin (P = .036), and oxLDL (P < .0001) were significantly higher among subjects with MetS. Among the markers we tested, oxLDL stood out as a robust predictor of MetS in the IARS population (OR 4.956 95% CI 2.504–9.810; P < .0001) followed by hsCRP (OR 1.324 95% CI 1.070–1.638; P = .010). In conclusion, oxLDL is a candidate predictor for MetS in the Asian Indian population