Decline in Women Sports Participation at Intercollegiate Competitions

Indian woman in competitive sports are far behind their western counterparts from the point of view of either participation or achievement. This poor record might be attributed to the Indian traditions and customs which even today are ruled by age old belief based on superstitions rather than scientific principles. In recent times women are increasingly participating in competitive sports. The purpose of the study was to assess the opinion of students regarding decline in sports participation at intercollegiate women competition. The study was conducted on 90 women respondents of Degree Colleges affiliated to Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka. The Opinionnaire pertaining to Identification of Factors for Decline in Sports Participation prepared by the researcher was used for the present study. The Chi-square statistical technique was adopted for the present study. It was concluded that there was significant relationship of Students' Opinion towards decline in sports participation at intercollegiate women competitions and type of Management and Level of Participation. More students opined that sports women were agreed lack of fund and facilities and they need moral support and encouragement from the parents and college management side. Women must be empowered through participating in sport and this will increase the number of women participating in sport at college levels

Effect of various cardiovascular risk factors on oxidative stress markers in post menopausal women

Background: The objectives was to study the association between oxidative stress and various cardiovascular risk factors individually and also there cumulative effect in post-menopausal women.Methods: 50 postmenopausal women with cardiovascular risk factors like hyperglycemia, hypertension, high Body Mass Index and Hyperlipidaemia were selected and burden of various cardiovascular risk factors in them is noted and also compared with 50 age matched apparently healthy post menopausal controls. Malon-di-aldehyde (MDA), vitaminE and vitamin C were taken to assess oxidative stress status. ANOVA was applied to find the effect of individual risk factor on oxidative stress and Student’s t-test was applied to compare between cases with single risk factors and multiple risk factors.Results: It was found that though all cardiovascular risk factors increase oxidative stress significantly but none of them has significant association in comparison to others (F value 0.37, 0.88 and 0.62 for MDA, vitamin E and C respectively). However, MDA value found in cases with multiple risk factors when compared with that of cases with single risk factor was found to be statistically significant (P <0.001). Similarly, the decrease in vitamin E in cases with multiple risk factors when compared with single risk factor cases was found to be significant. (P <0.01) and vitamin C in women with multiple risk factors was decreased in comparison to women with a single risk factor and was significant (P <0.001).Conclusions: The study shows that all the risk factors are equally responsible for increase in oxidative stress and multiple risk factors increase the oxidative stress significantly in comparison to any single risk factor

Clinico biochemical profile of birth asphyxia in neonates of western Odisha

Background: Perinatal asphyxia contributes to almost 29% of neonatal deaths in developing countries as most of the deliveries occur inrural areas and are unattended. The outcome of most of the deliveries is not encouraging in spite of standard guidelines. Objectives: To studythe different spectrum of clinical presentation of birth asphyxia and its biochemical derangements. Materials and Methods: This was aprospective, hospital-based study conducted from September 2005 to March 2008 comprising of 58 term neonates admitted to neonatalintensive care unit with definite history suggestive of perinatal hypoxic insult. Compilation of history, clinical features, and relevantinvestigations (random blood sugar, serum creatinine, blood urea and serum electrolytes) were done, and the results were analyzed byusing Medcalc software version 12. Results: Vaginal delivery was more common across all the stages. Abnormal neonatal reflex was acommon feature in all babies except hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) I. Convulsion, mostly multifocal seizures was present in allHIE II babies where as only 22.2% babies had seizure in HIE III. Congestive heart failure (55.17%) and Oliguria was present in HIE III(77.8%) and 22 cases (37.9%) developed acute kidney injury. Hypoglycemia was observed with increasing severity of asphyxia (HIE III26.67 ± 2.78). Serum urea, creatinine and potassium increased significantly in HIE III whereas calcium and sodium were decreased.Conclusion: The combination of clinical and supportive laboratory parameters can be used for monitoring of patients to guide earlyintervention to decreases morbidity and mortality

EVALUATION OF SERUM NITRIC OXIDE IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION AND ITS CORRELATION WITH SEVERITY OF DISEASE

ABSTRACTObjective: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease and one of the most important public health concerns all over the world. Primaryor essential hypertension is the major form of arterial hypertension without any definitive cause. It results from increase vascular tone and resistancewhich may be confined to the lower level of endothelial derived relaxing factor such as nitric oxide (NO). Hence, the objective of this study is to findout whether any correlation exists between the concentrations of serum NO (nitrite) and essential hypertensive patients categorized according to theJoint National Committee 7 classification.Methods: We selected age- and sex-matched 24 healthy individuals as controls and 35 essential hypertensive patients as cases. Out of 35 cases, 24were included in stage 1 and 11 in stage 2 of essential hypertension. We estimated serum NO levels in study groups basing on the principle of Griessreaction.Results: We observed reduction in mean serum NO level in cases which was statistically highly significant as compared to controls (8.14±0.33 vs.13.53±0.38 µmol/L, p&lt;0.001) and also in stage 2 patients when compared with stage 1 patients (5.97±0.31 vs. 9.15±0.28 µmol/L, p&lt;0.001). Inhypertensive patients, serum NO showed a highly significant inverse correlation to both systolic (r=−0.89, p&lt;0.001) as well as diastolic (r=−0.64,p&lt;0.001) blood pressure.Conclusion: Thus, we can conclude that lower level of serum NO can be an important causative factor in the progress of essential hypertension.Keywords: Essential hypertension, Endothelial-derived relaxing factor, Nitric oxide, Joint National Committee 7

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. METHODS: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. FINDINGS: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. INTERPRETATION: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A Study on Opinion of College Principals towards Decline in Women Sports Participation

The purpose of the study was to assess the opinion of college principals regarding decline in sports participation at intercollegiate women competition. The study was conducted on 30 Degree Colleges principals affiliated to Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka. The Opinionnaire pertaining to identification of factors for decline in sports participation prepared by the researcher was used for the present study. The Chi-square statistical technique was adopted for the present study. It was concluded that there was significant relationship of principals’ opinion towards sports facilities for women and their sex, but interest, supervision during practice sessions, organizing competitions at college levels factors are not found significantly. Overall the opinion of principals that adequate sports facilities for women separately, interest, supervision during practice sessions and more importance from the side of management and principals are the main factors for decline in sports participation of women at intercollegiate levels

Organization of amphiphiles, Part-III: Effect of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity on the phase behaviour of some ethoxylated surfactants

269-273The phase behaviour of pseudoternary systems of the type H2O-Oil-non-ionic surfactant-co-surfactant(1:4) have been investigated. The non-ionic surfactants selected are polyoxyethylated alkyl phenols and polyoxyethylated alkyl ethers with varying hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. The phase diagram is found to consist of a smaller isotropic domain and a larger anisotropic domain. The isotropic domain grows in size with increase in both hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the surfactants. These results have been attributed to the solubilization of oil or water in W/O microemulsion with increase in hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the surfactants respectively. The percentage of water intake by the microemulsion increases with increase in emulsifier percentage with a break when the overall concentration of emulsifier is about 70-80%

Fly ash characterization, utilization and Government initiatives in India ΠA review

11-18Current annual production of fly ash, a by-product from coal based thermal power plants (TPPs), is 112 million tonnes (MT). Some of the problems associated with fly ash are large area of land required for disposal and toxicity associated with heavy metal leached to groundwater. This review presents different ways of using fly ash and policies of Govt of India regarding utilization and disposal of fly ash. Environmental and occupational health hazards associated with fly ash are also discussed