Occupational risk assessment and selected morbidities among cement brick unit workers in a rural area of Bangalore District, India

Introduction: The labor-intensive nature of cement brick manufacturing, its unorganized nature and internal migration, expose the employees to several occupational health hazards. The objective of the study was to assess the occupational risks in cement brick unit settings and to estimate the prevalence of respiratory and musculoskeletal morbidities among the cement brick unit workers in a rural area of Bangalore urban district. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among cement brick unit workers over two months. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic details. Multiple observations on the field and the World Health Organization semi-quantitative risk assessment matrix were used to obtain risk scores of the occupational hazards. A structured questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and Minispir Portable Spirometer were used to assess the respiratory morbidities and lung functions. Musculoskeletal morbidities were assessed using the Modified Nordic questionnaire. Proportions were used to describe respiratory and musculoskeletal morbidities. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and multivariate logistic regressions were done to identify significant variables. Results: Among 120 subjects, 110 (91.6%) were men and 85.8% were migrants. Injury due to falls of heavy objects, back injury, respiratory complaints and slips/falls were found to be high-risk health hazards. The prevalence of respiratory morbidity was 21.7% and that of musculoskeletal morbidity was 51.7%. Workers receiving a higher salary (≥ 1500 Indian rupees) had higher odds of having respiratory morbidity. Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory and musculoskeletal morbidities was high. Introduction of mechanical equipment, decreasing work hours, periodic medical examinations and appropriate use of personal protective equipment will help in risk reduction as per this study

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Kaempferia Rotunda Rhizome in Rats

AIM & OBJECTIVE: Inflammation is a pathophysiological response of living tissue to injury that leads to local accumulation of plasmatic fluid and blood cells. Pain has an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Many drugs that are currently used for the management of pain are opioids or non-opioids and that for inflammatory conditions are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.Asmost of these chemically induced drugs produce some of the side effect.Thus in this study, I have selected the rhizome of Kaempferia rotunda as a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic evaluation and less side effectwhich is commonly used traditional medicine. The rhizome is ground into paste and applied externally for the treatment of sprains for local use. Hence present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Kaempferia rotunda in Wistar albino rats using ethanol extract. DISCUSSION: Phytochemical screening: Qualitative Phytochemical screening and ethno botanical survey on Kaempferia rotunda are evalauted the presence of certain phyto constitutions such alkaloids, flavanoids, protein, steroids,terpenoids, tannins . The phytochemical constituents such as, flavonoids, alkaloids may be linked to the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. Acute toxicity studies To check the safety profile of the Kaempferia rotundaethanolic extract was subjected to the acute toxicity study which confirmed the absence of any toxicity or mortality at the higher dose of 2000mg/kg. Thus, the ethanolic extract of Kaemferia rotunda can be classified as a safe drug category according to the Global harmonized Classification System quoted in the OECD guidelines 1996. Based on the Toxicity studies 50mg/kg is used as a dose of extract and middle dose 200mg/kg and higher dose as 2000mg/kg used for sub-acute toxicity studies. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity Carrageenan induced paw odema was widely used to screen anti-inflammatory drugs. Screening of anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda was done by Carrageenan induced paw odema in rat model. While screening of analgesic activity is done by using Eddy’s hot plate in swiss albino mice model and Tail immersion method by Wistarrat model. The ethanolic extracts of Kaempferia rotunda in varying doses such as (300, 600 and 900mg/kg body weight) was given orally.From the table showed that ethanolic extracts of Kaempferia rotundashowed significant reduction in the paw odema at 4hr(600mg/kg 55.35 900mg/kg-66.30) is quite similar when compared to the group treated with standard drug diclofenac sodium (10mg/kg-69.28). Carrageenan induced paw odema in rat model is biphasic in nature.Earlier phase (1-2hr) of the carrageenan model is mainly mediated by histamine, serotonin and increased production of prostaglandins. Then the later phase is sustained by the prostaglandin release mediated by Bradykininleukotrienes, Polymorphonuclear cells . The highest percentage of inhibition was found with the dose of 900mg/kgie, 66.30. The central analgesic activity of the test drug was studied against thermal stimuli using the hot plate test and tail immersion method. In case of Eddys hot plate and Tail immersion methods the ethanolic extracts of Kaempferia rotunda (200mg/kg,400mg/kg) increase the stress tolerance capacity of animals.In Tail immersion test the time taken to reach the peak analgesic activity +30 and 1hr which is similar to that of standard drug and in Eddys hot plate the time take to reach the peak analgesic activity at +60 minute which is lower to the standard drug +30 minute. From the results it is shown that the ethanolic extracts of Kaemferia rotundapossess significant analgesic andanti-inflammatory activity. CONCLUSION: The presented study is an attempt to investigate the Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda rhizomes. The Phytochemical screening showed the presence of Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Steroids, Tannins, saponins, flavonoids and proteins which is responsible for Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory activity. The finding of the preseninvestigation suggests the Ethanolic extract ofKaempferia rotunda has potential for its evaluation as an Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory activity. Toxicity studies do not produce any toxic symptoms on Acute toxicity study. In conclusion the Ethanolic extract of Kaempferia rotunda are safe and can be used as Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory without any harmful effects. Further studies are required to confirm the exact mechanism behind the Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory activity of Kaempferia rotundaethanolic rhizomes extract

Implementation and acceptance of government-sponsored malaria control interventions in Meghalaya, India

Abstract Background India has made considerable progress in malaria reduction over the past two decades, with government-sponsored indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) or long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) distribution being the main vector-related prevention efforts. Few investigations have used non-participant observational methods to assess malaria control measures while they were being implemented, nor documented people’s perceptions and acceptance of IRS or LLINs in India, and none have done so in the northeast region. This study evaluated household (HH)-level operation of IRS and distribution of LLINs by India’s National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) in 50 villages of Meghalaya state, and documented their acceptance and use. Methods Study field teams accompanied the government health system teams during August-October, 2019 and 2020 to observe deployment of LLINs, and record HH-level data on LLIN numbers and use. In addition, NVBDCP spray teams were followed during 2019–2021 to observe IRS preparation and administration. HH members were interviewed to better understand reasons for acceptance or refusal of spraying. Results A total of 8386 LLINs were distributed to 2727 HHs in 24 villages from five Primary Health Centres, representing 99.5% of planned coverage. Interviews with 80 HH residents indicated that they appreciated the LLIN dissemination programme, and generally made regular and appropriate use of LLINs, except during overnight travel or when working in agricultural fields. However, HH-level IRS application, which was observed at 632 HHs, did not always follow standard insecticide preparation and safety protocols. Of 1,079 occupied HHs visited by the spray team, 632 (58.6%) refused to allow any spraying. Only 198 (18.4%) HHs agreed to be sprayed, comprising 152 (14.1%) that were only partly sprayed, and 46 (4.3%) that were fully sprayed. Reasons for refusal included: inadequate time to rearrange HH items, young children were present, annoying smell, staining of walls, and threat to bee-keeping or Eri silk moth cultivation. Conclusions These findings are among the first in India that independently evaluate people's perceptions and acceptance of ongoing government-sponsored IRS and LLIN programmes for malaria prevention. They represent important insights for achieving India's goal of malaria elimination by 2030.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/173708/1/12936_2022_Article_4223.pd