Characterizing blood microparticles: Technical aspects and challenges

Although long considered to be cellular debris, microparticles (MPs) are more recently considered reflective of cellular stimulation, activation, and degeneration/apoptosis. MPs that arise from the cellular components of blood and the endothelial lining of blood vessels are referred to as blood MPs and by general consensus are small (≤1.5 μm), expose the anionic phospholipid (PL) phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer leaflet of their membrane, and bear surface membrane antigens reflecting their cellular origin. This brief review summarizes the different approaches used by several groups to study blood MPs. The aim of this article is to review the technical aspects of characterizing the morphological and functional properties of blood MPs with emphasis on the preanalytical and analytical variables involved in these studies

Community-Based Interventions : Implications for childhood anemia prevention and control in India

Background: Nutritional iron deficiency is the number one cause of anemia worldwide. Iron deficiency anemia has morbidity and mortality effects borne predominantly by premenopausal women and children living in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Community-based interventions have successfully addressed several global health problems, although there is limited evidence of their effectiveness for childhood anemia. The overall aim of this thesis was to test the hypothesis that community-based education and counseling delivered to mothers of anemic children by health workers would improve anemia cure rates. Methods: The thesis included 4 studies, two of which (Study I and II) were cross sectional studies constituting the background for intervention design. The social cognitive theory framework guided the development of the intervention, which consisted of five monthly education sessions delivered by a health worker covering: i) maternal anemia awareness, ii) adherence to iron treatment, iii) dietary modification, and iv) hygiene and sanitation. The intervention was evaluated in a pragmatic mixed methods trial conducted among 12-59 month old children from 55 villages of the Chamarajnagar district, Karnataka. Villages (and health workers therein) were randomly assigned 1:1 to provide anemic children either the usual iron treatment alone or the same treatment complemented by education and counseling of their mothers/caregivers. The primary trial outcome was the difference in anemia cure rates (return of hemoglobin to ≥11g/dL) at the end of six months. Thematic analysis with the framework method was utilized to understand health workers acceptance of the intervention and their perceptions of obstacles and opportunities connected to its implementation (Study III). A cluster randomized trial contrasting intervention to usual treatment condition was used to study the effects of the intervention (Study IV). The statistical analysis was conducted taking into account the cluster design, using multilevel regression. Results: A high prevalence of childhood anemia was found in healthy rural toddlers (75%) mainly due to iron deficiency anemia (Study 1). Coverage of children with iron supplements from the national anemia control program was low (Study II). Health workers delivering the intervention found it acceptable and feasible to implement during routine work activities (Study III). After six months, anemic children in the intervention group had significantly higher anemia cure rates compared with anemic children in the usual treatment group (55.5% vs. 41.4%; relative risk ratio 1.33, confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.69). The proportion of anemic children consuming >75% of prescribed iron was higher in the intervention group compared with the usual treatment group (61.7% vs. 48.4%; p=0.001). The results indicated that seven mothers needed to be counselled in order to cure one anemic child (Study IV). Conclusions: The studies included in this thesis indicate that mother/caregiver education achieved a perceivable improvement to the cure rate of nutritional iron deficiency anemia in children from rural India, probably through improved adherence to iron treatment. High intervention acceptance at the health worker level suggests that wider implementation is possible. Scientific evaluations of community-based interventions are feasible even in rural disadvantaged environments

A critical review on Padamshika Krama - A transition technique

Introduction: Padamshika Krama is a unique concept in Ayurveda, which is to be observed during the change from Apathya to Pathya. Padamshika Krama is a technique of gradual adopting and leaving that can be used for both Ahara and Vihara. According to various Acharya’s, opinion on this notion varies. Sudden abandonment and transition to new things is the source of so many health conditions that are left unnoticed. Sudden withdrawal from certain diet practice will lead to the vitiation of Dosha. Method: Literature review Discussion: The study tries to develop the concept of Padamshika Krama in relation to Ahara-Vihara as well as Rutucharya. Various notions regarding the method and days of transition has been discussed along with its significance. Conclusion: Padamshika Krama is a method, which helps to maintain the body equilibrium. It can be correlated to the concepts such as tapering dose and withdrawal symptoms. This method prevents the occurrence of diseases due to incompatibility

Maximizing detection of dengue virus serotypes by a modified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay in India: presence of co-infection with multiple serotypes

n/

Co-receptor tropism prediction among 1045 Indian HIV-1 subtype C sequences: Therapeutic implications for India

<p>Abstract</p> <p><b>Background</b></p> <p>Understanding co-receptor tropism of HIV-1 strains circulating in India will provide key analytical leverage for assessing the potential usefulness of newer antiretroviral drugs such as chemokine co-receptor antagonists among Indian HIV-infected populations. The objective of this study was to determine using <it>in silico </it>methods, HIV-1 tropism among a large number of Indian isolates both from primary clinical isolates as well as from database-derived sequences.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>R5-tropism was seen in 96.8% of a total of 1045 HIV-1 subtype C Indian sequences. Co-receptor prediction of 15 primary clinical isolates detected two X4-tropic strains using the C-PSSM matrix. R5-tropic HIV-1 subtype C V3 sequences were conserved to a greater extent than X4-tropic strains. X4-tropic strains were obtained from subjects who had a significantly longer time since HIV diagnosis (96.5 months) compared to R5-tropic strains (20.5 months).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>High prevalence of R5 tropism and greater homogeneity of the V3 sequence among HIV-1 subtype C strains in India suggests the potential benefit of CCR5 antagonists as a therapeutic option in India.</p