A study to assess the level of knowledge regarding prevention and management of acute respiratory infection among mothers of children 0-5 years in selected hospital in Siliguri

Background: In developing countries like India acute respiratory infection (ARI) contributes in child mortality upto 75% and out of 10, 7 deaths are due to ARI. The knowledge of the mothers towards the disease is a significant determinant of child’s health.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study included 100 mothers of children 0-5 years admitted in pediatric ward and postnatal ward in selected hospital Siliguri during the year 2022 in the month of March. Data was collected using structured interview method.Results: 20% of mothers have good knowledge in prevention and 33% had good knowledge in management of ARI.Conclusions: As the leading cause of death among children, knowledge assessment about ARI among the mothers is very important, which helps for better understanding of the intensity of the problem

Scaling–up public sector childhood diarrhea management program: Lessons from Indian states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Diarrhea remains a leading cause of death among children under five in India. Public health sector is an important source for diarrhea treatment with oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc. In 2010, Micronutrient Initiative started a project to improve service delivery for childhood diarrhea management through public health sector in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar. This paper aims to highlight feasible strategies, experiences and lessons learned from scaling–up zinc and ORS for childhood diarrhea management in the public sector in three Indian states. The project was implemented in six districts of Gujarat, 12 districts of UP and 15 districts of Bihar, which includes 10.5 million children. Program strategies included capacity building of health care providers, expanding service delivery through community health workers (CHWs), providing supportive supervision to CHWs, ensuring supplies and conducting monitoring and evaluation. The lessons described in this paper are based on program data, government documents and studies that were used to generate evidence and inform program scale–up. 140 000 health personnel, including CHWs, were trained in childhood diarrhea management. During three years, CHWs had sustained knowledge and have treated and reported more than three million children aged 2–59 months having diarrhea, of which 84% were treated with both zinc and ORS. The successful strategies were scaled–up. It is feasible and viable to introduce and scale–up zinc and ORS for childhood diarrhea treatment through public sector. Community–based service delivery, timely and adequate supplies, trained staff and pro–active engagement with government were essential for program success

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity assessment of hydroxyapatite from different bioresources for tissue engineering application

In the present study, hydroxyapatite (HAp) is synthesized from different biosources like eggshell, fish scale and bovine bone in a cost effective and ecofriendly way. HAp materials were synthesized from eggshell by wet precipitation method whereas thermal decomposition method was applied in case of fish scale and bovine bone. The phase purity and crystallinity of different calcined HAp powder were determined by XRD and FTIR analyses. The thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to show thermal stability of HAp powder. Average grain sizes of sintered samples were in submicron range. The morphology of the powders were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dried powders were wet ball milled for several hours and surfactants like Triton-X small fillers (2 / 4 mm long rod-shaped) were made for in vitro testing. In order to verify the biocompatibility of HAp powders, cytotoxicity evaluation was carried out in RAW macrophage like cell line media for an incubation period of 72 h. The cell attachment studies on HAp compacts show an excellent affinity between cells and compact surface. These results proved high biocompatibility of HAp powders obtained fromdifferent biosources for tissue engineering applications

The Protective Role of Aegle Marmelos on Aspirin–Induced Gastro-Duodenal Ulceration in Albino Rat Model: A Possible Involvement of Antioxidants

Background/Aim: Gastro duodenal ulcer is a common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Several Indian medicinal plants have been traditionally and extensively used to prevent different diseases. In the present research studies, Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos (AM), family: Rutaceae) which are also called as Bilva in ancient Sanskrit was used as a herbal drug and its antioxidative role in aspirin- induced gastroduodenal ulceration in albino rat was evaluated using essential biochemical parameters. Patients and Methods: Mucosal thickness (MT), ulcer index (UI), different biochemical parameters, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in all the groups, to study the possible involvement of antioxidants with gastroduodenal protection. Results: A significant decrease in MT, SOD and CAT activities and GSH level and a significant increase in UI, AST, ALT, and ALP activities and LPO level were observed in aspirin treated stomach and duodenum of albino rats. Conclusions: Pretreatment with AM fruit pulp extract for 14 consecutive days showed the reverse effects of aspirin suggesting gastro-duodenal protective and anti- ulcerogenic properties of AM through its antioxidant mechanism

Reply to Deora et al. Multiplexing for Plasmodium spp.? Think Again! Comment on “Bhowmick et al. Dry Post Wintertime Mass Surveillance Unearths a Huge Burden of P. vivax, and Mixed Infection with P. vivax P. falciparum, a Threat to Malaria Elimination, in Dhalai, Tripura, India. Pathogens 2021, 10, 1259”

We thank Deora et al. [...

Validation of a Mobile Health Technology Platform (FeverTracker) for Malaria Surveillance in India: Development and Usability Study

BackgroundA surveillance system is the foundation for disease prevention and control. Malaria surveillance is crucial for tracking regional and temporal patterns in disease incidence, assisting in recorded details, timely reporting, and frequency of analysis. ObjectiveIn this study, we aim to develop an integrated surveillance graphical app called FeverTracker, which has been designed to assist the community and health care workers in digital surveillance and thereby contribute toward malaria control and elimination. MethodsFeverTracker uses a geographic information system and is linked to a web app with automated data digitization, SMS text messaging, and advisory instructions, thereby allowing immediate notification of individual cases to district and state health authorities in real time. ResultsThe use of FeverTracker for malaria surveillance is evident, given the archaic paper-based surveillance tools used currently. The use of the app in 19 tribal villages of the Dhalai district in Tripura, India, assisted in the surveillance of 1880 suspected malaria patients and confirmed malaria infection in 93.4% (114/122; Plasmodium falciparum), 4.9% (6/122; P vivax), and 1.6% (2/122; P falciparum/P vivax mixed infection) of cases. Digital tools such as FeverTracker will be critical in integrating disease surveillance, and they offer instant data digitization for downstream processing. ConclusionsThe use of this technology in health care and research will strengthen the ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. Moreover, FeverTracker provides a modifiable template for deployment in other disease systems