Assessment of dietary practices and knowledge regarding dietary prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases among women aged 30 - 40 years in a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India: A community based cross sectional study

OBJECTIVES: 1. To measure per capita consumption of salt, sugar and oil among rural women aged 30-40 years and to measure dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and calories. 2. To study the factors associated with unhealthy dietary practices (sociodemographic, dietary, knowledge) and effects of dietary practices on hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and overweight. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was done using WHO STEPS questionnaire and 24 hr diet recall among women aged 30-40 years in two villages of Kaniyambadi, Vellore district, which will also serve as a baseline assessment for a dietary intervention program. Associations between categorical variables was assessed using chi-square tests and odds ratios, followed by multivariate logistic regression to adjust for confounding factors. Means were reported with standard deviation, while median values were reported when the distribution was non-normal. RESULTS: It was found that around 99% of the study population consumed < five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The median per capita daily salt intake was 12.9 gm per day, while the proportion of total daily calories obtained from carbohydrates was 75.5%. The median calorie intake was 1833.68 kcal. Among the study subjects 52.5 % were found to have abdominal obesity, 15% had impaired fasting blood glucose (≥ 110 mg/dl) and 30.7% had metabolic syndrome. The percent of women who considered fruits and vegetables as protective for non-communicable diseases was less than 10%. Working outside the home was associated with higher salt intake (≥ 9 gm/day). CONCLUSIONS: The low intake of fruits and vegetables, high intake of salt, high proportion of carbohydrates and low knowledge regarding dietary prevention of non-communicable diseases are factors which need to be considered in planning of health education and primordial prevention programs targeting rural women

Maternal congenital complete heart block in pregnancy: a rare case report

Complete heart block comprises complete absence of AV conduction - none of the supraventricular impulses are conducted to the ventricles. Perfusing rhythm is maintained by a junctional or ventricular escape rhythm. Typically, the patient will have severe bradycardia with independent atrial and ventricular rates. The incidence is 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 live births. Authors present the case report of a primigravida, aged 30 years who presented with amenorrhoea of 35 weeks. She was diagnosed as complete heart block by cardiologist. She had no history of syncopal attacks during childhood or antenatal period. She had a heart rate of 50-52 bpm. ECG showed ventricular escape rhythm with narrow QRS complexes. Echocardiography showed no structural defects. Her elective LSCS was done at 39 weeks after consultation with cardiologist. Patient underwent temporary pacemaker insertion just prior to surgery and she delivered a healthy female baby of weight 3 kg with Apgar 9/10 at 5 mins. She remained asymptomatic during the postoperative period and pacemaker was removed after 30 hours. She was discharged under satisfactory condition on day 6. Patient was counselled for follow up with cardiologist. This case lays emphasis on proper history taking, vitals monitoring, early recognition of undiagnosed cardiac disorders and team work for good maternal and fetal outcome

Is genetic diagnosis a bliss or a bane in indian society? An impact on nuclear family: a case report of foetal skeletal dysplasia

Genetic counseling has been becoming an integral part of reproductive medicine practice. In area of feto-maternal medicine findings of ultrasonography are very important. Genetic counselor tries to link dots between USG findings and their genetic base. If abnormality is found, after the legal termination of pregnancy, for clinicians and patients, main concern is about its recurrence in future pregnancies. But the question arises about the acceptability of genetic risk calculations by concerned patient and her family. As in society like ours, the genetically literate population is quite low and generally not well prepared to accept and understand the risks related to genetic abnormalities. This thing makes work of genetic counselors much difficult when the genetic aberration is found in the concerned couple. This raises a question about the social acceptance of genetically different individuals who are phenotypically normal but if they open up about their abnormal genetic status there will be a risk of decrease in their social acceptability. Hereby we present a case report which forced us to pause and think about the level of depth at which we as a society reached so far to accept genetic analysis as one of the diagnostic tool in routine clinical practice.

Role of DIBER DRDO Technologies in Improving Livelihood Opportunities and Curtailing Migration in Uttarakhand

Migration of local population of Uttarakhand (UK) border areas is presently serious issues for national security since; this State is sharing international border (~650 km) with China/Tibet and Nepal. Among the various factors reported for migration, few notables are search for better livelihood, unemployment, difficult remote terrain and poor land connectivity, less productivity from agriculture due to abiotic and biotic stresses etc. Hence, measures to increase the livelihood opportunities in these border areas to curb the problem of migration through intervention of modern agro-animal technologies are essentially required. In this attempt, Defence Institute of Bio Energy Research (DIBER) has already developed various agro-animal mature technologies, in terms of high yielding and genuine quality seed/seedlings, protected cultivation technology, soil-less cultivation technology, angora farming, mushroom cultivation, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) cultivation technology, hydro-fodder, etc that shown great promise and impact in increasing the farm income and livelihood opportunities for civil inhabitants of these marginal regions. This article highlights the DIBER outreach extension efforts for ensuring better livelihood opportunities to farmers of border area and also to curtail migration that will in turn increase strategic support to Army and paramilitary defence forces deployed in three border Distts (Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh) of UK

A cross sectional study assessing six different methods to predict the ideal position of umbilical venous catheters in neonates of different weight categories

 Background: This was  a cross sectional study  done to find the most suitable method of assessing umbilical venous catheter (UVC)  length in seventy two neonates of four different weight categories using  six methods.Methods: Neonates were grouped into A (upto 1 kg), B (>1-1.5 kg), C (>1.5-2.5 kg) or  D (>2.5 kg)  based on their birth weight. UVC was placed using Shukla-Ferrara method and x-ray taken to finalize the catheter length. The predicted catheter length was also measured by  Dunn method, umbilicus to nipple length, umbilicus to xiphisternum length, umbilicus to midpoint of inter mammary distance, and umbilicus to symphysis pubis length. ANOVA test was used to find the methods which did not have statistically significant difference with the final length from x-ray (p>0.5). The method with the least mean difference from final length was taken as the most suitable.Results: UVC length assessed by Shukla Ferrara method and umbilicus to midpoint of inter mammary distance did not have statistically significant difference with final catheter length on x-ray in all groups. UVC length assessed by Dunn method did not have statistically significant difference with final catheter length on x-ray in group A, C and D while UVC length assessed by umbilicus to nipple length did not have statistically significant difference in group D.Conclusions: Umbilicus to the midpoint of inter-mammary distance was the most suitable method to estimate length of insertion of UVC in neonates.

दक्षिण कन्नड तट से कोष संपाश के ज़रिए काला पाँम्फ्रेट फोर्मिओ नाइगर की असाधारण पकड

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Antiangiogenic and anticancer activity of saponins of Momordica cymbalaria

Background: The aim of the current study was to evaluate invitro anticancer activity of saponins of MC on EAC cells by using cytotoxicity (MTT) assay. To evaluate in vivo antiangiogenic potential of saponins of MC on rat air sac angiogenesis, EAC induced peritoneal angiogenesis, CAM angiogenesis.Methods: MTT assay was carried out at different concentrations of saponins of MC in 12 microliter plates containing media with EAC cells. In rat air sac angiogenesis, carrageenin was injected (s.c.) into the air sac. Dexamethasone, indomethacin, saponins of MC was administered to identify the angiogenic activity. In EAC induced angiogenesis in peritoneum, EAC cells were administered through i.p in mice peritoneum. 5-fluoro uracil, (i.p) and saponins of MC (orally) was given to identify angiogenic activity. In CAM angiogenesis, erythropoietin was given to eggs on 8th day of incubation. saponins were given on the 12th day for two days to observe the antiangiogenic activity.Results: The observed cytotoxic effects of saponins of MC on EAC cells find statistically significant. There is significant reduction in vascular branching in rat air sac model; EAC induced peritoneal angiogenesis, CAM model by the saponins of MC.Conclusions: Due to lack of certain records, it is envisaged that the change of medicine both discontinuation as well as addition was done because of blood glucose control, cost factor [in case of pioglitazone] as well as patient’s compliance

Marine ornamental fish culture: Means for economic growth

The marine ornamental fish trade is a sunrise industry that has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise mainly due to the emergence of technologies for captive breeding of fishes, modern aquarium gadgets, setting and maintenance of miniature reef aquaria. Aquarium keeping is amongst the most popular of hobbies with millions of enthusiasts worldwide and the trade of marine ornamentals has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. The recent emergence of modern aquarium gadgets and technologies for setting and maintenance of miniature reef aquaria made aquarium keeping much easier than previous. Since the marine ornamental trade is operated throughout the tropics, the global marine ornamental trade is estimated at US$ 200-330 million. India is endowed with a vast resource potential of marine ornamentals distributed in the coral seas and rocky coasts with patchy coral formations. In the context of the expanding global scenario and the increasing demand for domestic trade, it appears very lucrative for India to venture into this industr

Effect of Vibrio cholerae on Chemokine Gene Expression in HT29 cells and its Modulation by Lactobacillus GG

Epithelial cells participate in the innate immune response to pathogenic bacteria by elaborating chemokines. This study examined the effect of Vibrio cholerae and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on inflammatory chemokine gene expression in the HT29 human intestinal epithelial cell line. HT29 cells were exposed to V. cholerae 0139, Lactobacillus or both for 2 h and cultured further thereafter for 4 h. RNA was extracted from the cells and expression of genes for chemokines and related molecules was quantitated by real time PCR using a pathway-focused PCR array. TLR4 was silenced using shRNA and output of interleukin-8 (IL-8) into the media quantitated with and without V. cholerae exposure. NF&#954;B and p38 MAP kinase activation were determined by immunoblotting for I&#954;B&#945; and phosphorylated p38. Vibrio cholerae significantly upregulated gene expression for the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL chemokines, IL-8, CXCL and CXCL in HT29 cells, while downregulating the expression of macrophage-attracting C-C chemokines. TLR4 silencing did not reduce IL-8 output from HT29 cells in response to V. cholerae. I&#954;B&#945; degradation was noted in the HT29 cells soon after exposure to V. cholerae and this recovered over time after removal of bacteria. p38 MAP kinase activation was not noted. Vibrio cholerae upregulated the expression of neutrophil attractant chemokines, most prominently IL-8, in HT29 cells, but downregulated macrophage-attracting chemokines. Probiotic lactobacilli modulated the IL-8, but not the other chemokine gene changes, in response to V. cholerae

ESTIMATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS SCREENING AND SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) NUMBER IN COMMONLY USED ETHANOLIC FRUIT EXTRACTS

The aim of the present study is phytochemical screening and the ultraviolet absorption properties of ethanolic herbal extracts of some commonly used vegetable sources by determining the sun protection factor (spf) number. The invitro SPF number is determined according to the spectrophotomertic method described by Mansur et.al.,. Ethanolic herbal extracts were prepared and after dilution with alcoholic solutions the absorbance were recorded between 290-320 using uv-vis spectrophotometry. It was observed that all of the ethanolic herbal extract showed some UV protection capability. keywords :sun protection factor, spectrophotomertic , ethanolic extrac