Physical health impairment, disability and suicidal intent among self-harm survivors in South India

This article was published in International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health.Background: Suicide is major public health concern in India. There are limited data examining the relationship between health impairment, disability and severity of suicidal intent. The aim of the study was to examine the associations of health impairment and disability with severity of suicidal intent among survivors following an act of self-harm. Methods: A pilot exploratory study of 453 self-harm survivors from a specialist hospital in South India. Sociodemographics, physical health impairment, disability (WHO Disability Schedule-II), suicidal intent, (Pierce suicide intent scale) and mental disorders were studied. Results: Arthritis was the most common physical impairment among self-harm survivors followed by gastrointestinal, sensory impairment and difficulty with mobilization. Nearly 10% of participants had some degree of functional impairment, with 38% experiencing severe physical pain in the week prior to self-harm. Past history of depression treatment, age, education and occupation influenced positively PSIS scores. There were significant associations between suicidal intent and disability. Conclusions: Indian self-harm survivors indicated complex relationships between physical health, disability and suicidal intent. Understanding these associations may help to develop suicide prevention strategies. Our findings suggest a need for integrating a comprehensive of physical health assessment in self harm survivors

A Prospective Three-Year Cohort Study of the Epidemiology and Virology of Acute Respiratory Infections of Children in Rural India

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a major killer of children in developing countries. Although the frequency of ARI is similar in both developed and developing countries, mortality due to ARI is 10-50 times higher in developing countries. Viruses are common causes of ARI among such children, yet the disease burden of these infections in rural communities is unknown.A prospective longitudinal study was carried out in children enrolled from two rural Indian villages at birth and followed weekly for the development of ARI, classified as upper respiratory infection, acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), or severe ALRI. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, parainfluenza viruses and adenoviruses in nasopharyngeal aspirates were detected by direct fluorescent antibody testing (DFA) and, in addition, centrifugation enhanced culture for RSV was done. 281 infants enrolled in 39 months and followed until 42 months. During 440 child years of follow-up there were 1307 ARIs, including 236 ALRIs and 19 severe ALRIs. Virus specific incidence rates per 1000 child years for RSV were total ARI 234, ALRI 39, and severe ALRI 9; for influenza A total ARI 141, ALRI 39; for INF B total ARI 37; for PIV1 total ARI 23, for PIV2 total ARI 28, ALRI 5; for parainfluenza virus 3 total ARI 229, ALRI 48, and severe ALRI 5 and for adenovirus total ARI 18, ALRI 5. Repeat infections with RSV were seen in 18 children.RSV, influenza A and parainfluenza virus 3 were important causes of ARI among children in rural communities in India. These data will be useful for vaccine design, development and implementation purposes

Effect of folate derivatives on the activity of antifolate drugs used against malaria and cancer

The folate derivatives folic acid (FA) and folinic acid (FNA) decrease the in vivo and in vitro activities of antifolate drugs in Plasmodium falciparum. However, the effects of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-Me-THF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF), the two dominant circulating folate forms in humans, have not been explored yet. We have investigated the effects of FA, FNA, 5-Me-THF, and THF on the in vitro activity of the antimalarial antifolates pyrimethamine and chlorcycloguanil and the anticancer antifolates methotrexate (MTX), aminopterin, and trimetrexate (TMX), against P. falciparum. The results indicate that these anticancers are potent against P. falciparum, with IC50 < 50 nM. 5-Me-THF does not significantly decrease the activity of all tested drugs, and none of the tested folate derivatives significantly decrease the activity of these anticancers. Thus, malaria folate metabolism has features different from those in human, and the exploitation of this difference could lead to the discovery of new drugs to treat malaria. For instance, the combination of 5-Me-THF with a low dose of TMX could be used to treat malaria. In addition, the safety of a low dose of MTX in the treatment of arthritis indicates that this drug could be used alone to treat malaria

Gene Profiling of Mta1 Identifies Novel Gene Targets and Functions

BACKGROUND: Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), a master dual co-regulatory protein is found to be an integral part of NuRD (Nucleosome Remodeling and Histone Deacetylation) complex, which has indispensable transcriptional regulatory functions via histone deacetylation and chromatin remodeling. Emerging literature establishes MTA1 to be a valid DNA-damage responsive protein with a significant role in maintaining the optimum DNA-repair activity in mammalian cells exposed to genotoxic stress. This DNA-damage responsive function of MTA1 was reported to be a P53-dependent and independent function. Here, we investigate the influence of P53 on gene regulation function of Mta1 to identify novel gene targets and functions of Mta1. METHODS: Gene expression analysis was performed on five different mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) samples (i) the Mta1 wild type, (ii) Mta1 knock out (iii) Mta1 knock out in which Mta1 was reintroduced (iv) P53 knock out (v) P53 knock out in which Mta1 was over expressed using Affymetrix Mouse Exon 1.0 ST arrays. Further Hierarchical Clustering, Gene Ontology analysis with GO terms satisfying corrected p-value<0.1, and the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis were performed. Finally, RT-qPCR was carried out on selective candidate genes. SIGNIFICANCE/CONCLUSION: This study represents a complete genome wide screen for possible target genes of a coregulator, Mta1. The comparative gene profiling of Mta1 wild type, Mta1 knockout and Mta1 re-expression in the Mta1 knockout conditions define "bona fide" Mta1 target genes. Further extensive analyses of the data highlights the influence of P53 on Mta1 gene regulation. In the presence of P53 majority of the genes regulated by Mta1 are related to inflammatory and anti-microbial responses whereas in the absence of P53 the predominant target genes are involved in cancer signaling. Thus, the presented data emphasizes the known functions of Mta1 and serves as a rich resource which could help us identify novel Mta1 functions

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) - Kannada Version for a South Indian population

Background: At present there a few culturally adapted and validated standardised neuropsychological tests for detection of persons with dementia in low-and middle income countries. Therefore, we conducted an adaptation, validation and feasibility study of the Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) in Kannada for use among older adults. Methods: two panels set up involving participants, subject experts and other important stakeholders. Several structured qualitative interviews informed the process of cultural adaptations (structure, content and language) the ADAS-Cog-Kannada. For the purpose of validation 120 men and women (58 of them had mild to moderate dementia and 62 of them were age and gender matched controls) were recruited. Concurrent validity was evaluated against the 10/66 Battery of Cognitive Tests in Kannada. Results: The ADAS-Cog-Kannada demonstrated internal consistency and concurrent validity. Sensitivity and Specificity for ADAS-Cog Kannada (score>14) for diagnosis of dementia were 85% and 92% respectively. It was feasible to administer ADAS-Cog in a standardised manner among community dwelling older adults and took an average of 30 minutes to administer. Conclusion: ADAS-Cog was adapted to Kannada and evaluated by employing robust methods resulting in an instrument that we believe is now culturally acceptable. Psychometric properties of ADAS-Cog Kannada were strong and linguistically acceptable. It can be used in clinical setting among Kannada speaking population and the culturally adapted.Unfunde

Screening for Mental Illness using GMHAT App of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a tertiary care hospital in India – A cross sectional study

People with diabetes will have some coexisting mental illness most of the time and its evaluation and management are essential for the well‑being of the person. With this background, the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool (GMHAT) app was used to screen for mental illness among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Mysore, India. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted on 100 patients who were on treatment for type 2 diabetes for at least 6 months. Interviews were conducted using a structured GMHAT. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 48.8 ± 11.6 years. Among the 100 diabetic patients, 39% (n = 39) had mental illness and among the 39 subjects, 21% had depression, 14% had anxiety disorder and 4% suffered from organic disorder. Apart from diabetes, 29, 17, 13, 27, 23 and 20% had hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy, respectively, as comorbid conditions. Conclusion: There is a higher prevalence of mental illness in patients with diabetes mellitus. The prevalence rate increases with an increase in the chronicity of diabetes. The use of the GMHAT app will help in rapid assessment and accurate diagnose

Fabricación de la sonaja

Fabricación de los instrumentos musicales (4902002