Ergastic Crystal Studies for Raw Drug Analysis

Phytochemical constituents are distributed in various parts of plants and their localization is indicative of their therapeutic properties. Ergastic crystals such as calcium oxalate crystals are also found in almost all plant parts, which is an anti–nutrient as the dietary oxalates contributes to human ailments. Several of the medicinally useful plants contain these crystals and consumption of such plant materials in raw form can cause health problems in humans. Ergastic crystals can be an important diagnostic tool for the identification of raw drug as in Costus pictus a medicinal spiral ginger commonly called Insulin plant is devoid of cuboidal crystal but its related Costus speciosus leaves possess characteristic cuboidal shaped crystal in its leaf mesophyll. Gene manipulation technology may be promising in removing such deleterious genes or introduction of altered bio-chemicals to nullify such effects for the future generation

Stewardship of water through ensuring sustainable development of river banks

The state Kerala is blessed with scenic beauty and appears evergreen throughout the year as it regularly receives South West and North West monsoons. The wetlands of Kerala provide myriad of biological functions lending ecological and economic sustainability to the region. However, due to immense biotic interferences, such habitats are under threat, and have shrunken in size considerably. The present work is an attempt to develop awareness in students, farmers and commoners on the degree of habitat destruction; and to implement strategies for eco-restoration of specific sites under study. Ten students of graduate stream and two from post graduate level were selected and trained to gather information from the local inhabitants using prepared questionnaire on the past and present conditions of river banks. The problems encountered are addressed at various levels. An attempt has been made to develop awareness on the uncontrolled mining of sand from river. Equipping the villagers with techniques to wipe out the aquatic weeds such as Cabomba and Eichhornia is yet another step. Samples of river water and soil of river bank were collected from each site and their physico-chemical parameters were analyzed. A detailed study on the flora on the river bank was also performed for identifying suitable indigenous medicinal plants and avenue trees for eco-restoration. Seedling generation of such selected plants is now in progress. More than 3,000 seedlings of underutilized tree or medicinal species are to be distributed to the public for planting in homesteads and riverbanks. The efficient participation of social workers, student naturalists, scientists and support of local governmental authorities were also ensured for the smooth running of the work. Such service learning programs are envisaged to create a better understanding among students on significant local issues such as stewardship of water so as to inspire future generations in the long term retention of natural communities

Lives saved with vaccination for 10 pathogens across 112 countries in a pre-COVID-19 world.

BackgroundVaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions. We investigate the impact of vaccination activities for Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, Japanese encephalitis, measles, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, rotavirus, rubella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and yellow fever over the years 2000-2030 across 112 countries.MethodsTwenty-one mathematical models estimated disease burden using standardised demographic and immunisation data. Impact was attributed to the year of vaccination through vaccine-activity-stratified impact ratios.ResultsWe estimate 97 (95%CrI[80, 120]) million deaths would be averted due to vaccination activities over 2000-2030, with 50 (95%CrI[41, 62]) million deaths averted by activities between 2000 and 2019. For children under-5 born between 2000 and 2030, we estimate 52 (95%CrI[41, 69]) million more deaths would occur over their lifetimes without vaccination against these diseases.ConclusionsThis study represents the largest assessment of vaccine impact before COVID-19-related disruptions and provides motivation for sustaining and improving global vaccination coverage in the future.FundingVIMC is jointly funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) (BMGF grant number: OPP1157270 / INV-009125). Funding from Gavi is channelled via VIMC to the Consortium's modelling groups (VIMC-funded institutions represented in this paper: Imperial College London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Public Health England, Johns Hopkins University, The Pennsylvania State University, Center for Disease Analysis Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Washington, University of Cambridge, University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Emory University, National University of Singapore). Funding from BMGF was used for salaries of the Consortium secretariat (authors represented here: TBH, MJ, XL, SE-L, JT, KW, NMF, KAMG); and channelled via VIMC for travel and subsistence costs of all Consortium members (all authors). We also acknowledge funding from the UK Medical Research Council and Department for International Development, which supported aspects of VIMC's work (MRC grant number: MR/R015600/1).JHH acknowledges funding from National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship; Richard and Peggy Notebaert Premier Fellowship from the University of Notre Dame. BAL acknowledges funding from NIH/NIGMS (grant number R01 GM124280) and NIH/NIAID (grant number R01 AI112970). The Lives Saved Tool (LiST) receives funding support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.This paper was compiled by all coauthors, including two coauthors from Gavi. Other funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. All authors had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication