An Overview of HIV on World AIDS Day: A Short Commentary

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infections cause a gradual decrease in CD4+ cells and these cells are an indicator of the immune system including the body’s natural defense system against pathogens and illness.1 AIDS is defined as the advanced stage of HIV infection with CD4 cell count less than 200/mm3. AIDS is characterized by immunosuppression which can result in several opportunistic infections, tumors, and cancers

ROHINTON MISTRY AS A DIASPORIC AUTHOR

The writings of the Indian Diaspora have received a great deal of attention and critical acclaim throughout the world. Rohinton Mistry is a well renowned author in the contemporary commonwealth literature and occupies a significant place among the writers of Indian Diaspora. Even though he is settled in Canada; it is his upbringing in Mumbai that reflects in all his writings. The distinct Mumbai culture, particularly the Parsee way of life, the people of the city and even the politics of India are major themes in his novels. Rohinton Mistry as a writer of Diaspora has carved a niche for himself. His works such as: “Tales from Firozsha Baag”, “Such A Long Journey”, “A Fine Balance” and “Family Matters”; mark a new kind of writing, resulting from a fragmented, splintered world. As a Diasporic Parsi writer, very sensitively he has recalled his community’s journey through time and history with a sense of loss and nostalgia. His books portray diverse facets of Indian socioeconomic life; as well as Parsi Zoroastrian life, customs, and religion. Many of his writings are markedly “Indo-nostalgic”. Rohinton Mistry through his Diasporic discourse has well depicted his ancestral background, his community’s engaged situation in a metropolis like Bombay and his deep attachment with and nostalgia for a world gone by. In this paper an attempt has been made to delineate diasporic discourse in the works of Rohinton Mistry. Although he is obsessed with the colonial and postcolonial experiences in India, we can find some traces of Canada in his literature. His characters dream of being integrated into, and accepted by, Canadian society on the one hand and on the other hand, these same characters are torn by an insatiable desire to be true to their native culture; to honor and cherish their own, distinct cultural identity.Keywords: Diaspora, Cultural identity, Contemporary Canadian literature, Parsi

Employer Branding: A Strategic Dimension for Employee Retention

Employer branding is a long term strategy to manage perception and awareness of employees, potential employees and related stakeholders in regards of a particular organization. Employee brand is an organizational image which is in the mind of the current employees as a ‘great place to work’. Now the Employer Brand is a brand management in HR perspective to attain, attract, engage and retain employees of the firm. Employer brand is a strategy which helps to retain the employees and try to minimize the employee attrition in the organization. Keywords:  Employer brand, organizations, Employee Retention, Attrition, Strategies

COLONIAL SCIENCE PRACTICES AND HISTORY OF COAL MINING IN INDIA

Society and science are intertwined. The purpose of science practice is to satisfy societal demands, and societal needs are met by societal support of science practice. With the help of colonial power, western science arrived in India. Colonial science is a practical aspect of modern western science. The main objective of colonial science practices is to make profit from the colony. In order to further own interests, the colonial power in India began coal mining operation. The practice of colonial science and coal mining in India go hand in hand

ANTIOXIDANT, CYTOTOXICITY, AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT-BASED MICROEMULSIONS FOR ENHANCED THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY

Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the antioxidant (AO) potential, cytotoxicity, and stability of preformulated Ginkgo biloba standard extractmicroemulsion (GBME), to investigate if, it retains the therapeutic potential of EGB761 and remains safe and stable for a longer period.Method and Results: GBME has shown enhanced AO (85.2±0.78%, IC50=31.3±0.45 μg/ml) in comparison to EGB761 (74.1±0.51%,IC50=49.4±0.05 μg/ml) using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Similarly, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate(DPPH) assay has also shown that AO for GBME (94.6±0.04%, IC50=11.4±1.03 μg/ml) was higher than EGB761 (78.6±1.20%, IC50=34.6±0.81 μg/ml).Further, IC50 value of antiradical unit of GBME was much lesser (ABTS=14.3±1.05 μg/ml and DPPH=17.03±1.8 μg/ml) in comparison to EGB761(ABTS=34.1±1.62 μg/ml and DPPH=37.5±0.08 μg/ml). Equivalently, both, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, and nitric oxide activity wereappreciably higher for GBME than the pure extract. The in vitro cytotoxicity assessment showed that GBME is quite safe (98.68±0.76% cell viability) incomparison to EGB761 (83.29±1.02%). Thereafter, these samples were tested for stability by evaluating their AO activity along with high-performanceliquid chromatography analysis, for the major phytocompounds, after 1 year, and results suggested that AO of GBME remained stable while comparingwith the freshly prepared GBME, whereas AO of EGB761 reduced significantly as compared to freshly taken EGB761 extract implying the degradationof phytocompounds supporting decrease in AO activity.Conclusion: Therefore, the observed results suggest that GBME maintained AO and scavenging activity along with enhanced shelf life with no observedtoxicity, which can be explored further for its potential therapeutic implications in various oxidative stress-induced central nervous system disorders

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of bactec culture, gene-xpert and histopathology in the diagnosis of genital tuberculosis in women with infertility

Background: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is often a silent disease sparing no age group but majority of patients are in the reproductive age. In infertility patient’s incidence of FGTB varies from 3-16% in India but the actual incidence of genital tuberculosis may be under reported due to asymptomatic presentation and paucity of investigations.Methods: Prospective case control study was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019 in LLRM Medical College Meerut. A total 100 Endometrial samples were collected during diagnostic laparoscopy from all suspected case of genital TB, presented with either primary or secondary infertility and samples sent for histopathology, Gene-xpert and Bactec culture.Results: Out of 100 samples Bactec culture was positive in 2 samples, Gene-xpert positive in 3 samples. On histopathology out of 100 cases, non-specific endometritis was found in 1 case, tubercular-endometritis in 1 case, proliferative enometrium (anovulatory) in 40 cases and secretory endometrium found in 58 cases.Conclusions: Female genital TB poses a diagnostic dilemma because of its varied presentation and lack of sensitive and specific method of diagnosis. Culture though remains the gold standard of diagnosis of female genital TB, gene-xpert, histopathology, Bactec culture or laparoscopy can be used for starting treatment. Endometrial biopsy on histopathology shows not only Tubercular endometritis but also gives hormone response on endometrium, local factors of endometrium concerning non-specific and specific infections and anovulatory cycles

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF USING DENVER DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING TEST II FOR DETECTING CEREBRAL PALSY EARLY IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND NEONATES AT PATNA MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, PATNA, BIHAR.

Objectives This study aimed to assess and identify developmental delays in infants using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST-II), examining potential contributing factors and offering recommendations for effective interventions. Methods The study employed a prospective cross-sectional design, enrolling 111 infants aged 0 months to 2 years attending a tertiary care center for 2 years. Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST-II) was administered, and infants were followed up for three consecutive months to assess developmental milestones and potential contributing factors. Results In the study encompassing 111 infants, 6.4% demonstrated delayed development, 7.8% exhibited doubtful delays, and 85.8% were considered normal. Notably, 25% of cases with developmental concerns had a history of preterm birth, 35% were of low birth weight, and 30% were delivered via cesarean section. Furthermore, 100% detection rates for delayed development were observed in infants aged 13-24 months. Conclusion The current study underscores a notable prevalence of developmental delays among infants, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection and intervention. The multifactorial nature of contributing elements, including preterm birth and low birth weight, highlights the complexity of developmental challenges. The study's findings contribute valuable insights into developmental patterns, supporting the need for broader research and targeted interventions. Recommendation The study recommends further research with larger and more diverse samples to enhance generalizability. Additionally, exploring the effectiveness of tailored interventions for developmental delays is crucial for optimizing infant development

Remedial Effects of Tea and Its Phytoconstituents on Central Nervous System

Tea in all its forms is one of the commonly consumed beverages globally, after water. Apart from just being a beverage, it also has extensive therapeutic values. The phytoconstituents of tea either in their pure form or as an extract are essential part of traditional as well as modern day medicines. Tea has shown its medicinal benefits in treating, improving and preventing many of the ailments ranging from being potential antimicrobial, antioxidant agent to being central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. This chapter focuses specifically on physiological impacts that each of its constituents have over our nervous system like role of L-theanine to enhance dopamine and serotonin levels, theobromine, and theophylline for stimulating CNS, caffeine to inhibit adenosine receptors, hence, causing increase in brain activity etc. along with many more neuroprotective properties of tea constituents

Ageing Process and Physiological Changes

Ageing is a natural process. Everyone must undergo this phase of life at his or her own time and pace. In the broader sense, ageing reflects all the changes taking place over the course of life. These changes start from birth—one grows, develops and attains maturity. To the young, ageing is exciting. Middle age is the time when people notice the age-related changes like greying of hair, wrinkled skin and a fair amount of physical decline. Even the healthiest, aesthetically fit cannot escape these changes. Slow and steady physical impairment and functional disability are noticed resulting in increased dependency in the period of old age. According to World Health Organization, ageing is a course of biological reality which starts at conception and ends with death. It has its own dynamics, much beyond human control. However, this process of ageing is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age. In most of the developed countries, the age of 60 is considered equivalent to retirement age and it is said to be the beginning of old age. In this chapter, you understand the details of ageing processes and associated physiological changes