Feeding practices in infants: ritual factors dominating mother’s education - a cross sectional study

Background: The objective was to know the impact of mother education on feeding practices of infants.Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. We used Semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire to interview 355 mothers of infants, aged one and half to 12 months, who came in OPD of Department of Paediatrics UPRIMS and R, Saifai for immunization or some problem.Results: Total 267 (75.2 %) out of 355 women had initiated breast feeding within 24 hours of birth. 172 (48.5%) mothers exclusively breast fed their infants. Total 166 (46.8%) practiced Prelacteal feed. Out of 166 subjects, 121 (34.1%) practiced for 7 days and 41 (12.7%) beyond the 7 days. There were highly significant relationship found between education level of mothers with type of breast feeding, in the form of exclusive or non- exclusive breast feeding and Prelacteal feeding practices ( p 0.05), but an important pattern of initiation of breast feeding was seen at the different level of mothers education.Conclusion: Ritual and customary factors have much impact then mother’s education on breast feeding practices of infants. Apart from education, breast feeding awareness programme should be increased including both literate and illiterate mothers.

Probiotics in acute diarrhea: A randomized control trial

Background: Probiotics have been used for long in the treatment of acute diarrhea although their efficacy has always remains the subject of discussion. Objective: To determine the effect of probiotics in acute diarrhea among the children in rural population. Method: Double-blinded randomized control trial. We included children of age group 6 months - 5 years suffering from acute diarrhea of <48 h and fulfilling the inclusion criteria. All children were given oral rehydration salts (ORS) ad-lib till the resolution of diarrhea and zinc 20 mg/day for 14 days while intervention arm (n=101) were given probiotic sachet twice a day for 7 days containing Streptococcus faecalis 30 million, Clostridium butyricum 2 million, Bacillus mesentericus 1 million, Lactobacillus sporogenes 50 million, control group were given identical placebo apart from ORS and zinc. Duration of diarrhea in both the groups was measured as primary outcome while secondary outcome was to know the days of maximum recovery from diarrhea in both groups. Results: Totally, 207 patients were randomized to control and study group, out of which, 195 completed the study. Out of total 195 patients, 94 (48.2%) patients were treatedwith standard treatment of diarrhea without probiotics while 101 (51.8%) patients were given probiotics apart from standard treatment of diarrhea. The mean duration of diarrhea was found to be reduced in the study group (4.6 days [2.84-4.776 days]) as compared to control group (5.31 days [5.108-5.512 days]), p<0.001. Conclusion: Probiotics significantly reduced the duration of acute diarrhea in children

Maternal vegetarian diet in pregnancy, a predisposition to hypospadias?

Background: Hypospadias constitutes one of the commonest surgically treated patient subset in a pediatric surgery set up. The causative factors have always been multifactorial. Maternal age and diet during pregnancy have been attempted to be correlated with the prevalence of hypospadias.Methods: The current study aims to find a correlation between the rises of hypospadias with increased maternal vegetarian diet taken during pregnancy. The mothers of patients presenting with hypospadias were allotted structured self-completed questionnaires. Obstetric history, dietary patterns and lifestyle information during pregnancy was obtained.Results: The mothers of patients presenting with hypospadias who had been on a vegetarian diet had an increased incidence of babies presenting with hypospadias as shown in the chart.Conclusions: Diet during gestation may play a role in the etiology of hypospadias. Although this study is limited by less number of cases, it does show the trend of increased incidence of hypospadias amongst vegetarian mothers

Sizes of induration and nutritional status in children with positive Mantoux test

Background: The immune status of children is always affected by nutrition. Sometime severe malnutrition is associated with falsenegative Mantoux test. There is a need to study to observe the effect of nutritional status on the size of indurations in Mantoux positivechildren. Study Design: Observational analytical cross-sectional study. Methods: The study population consisted of 310 patients,belonging to both sexes and age of 1-14 years, attending the outpatient department of UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences andResearch, Saifai, Etawah. Only Mantoux positive cases were included in the study. Their sizes of indurations of skin reaction weremeasured and recorded in mm. The nutritional status was calculated as the weight for age and height for age standard (Z-score), usingthe NCHS charts of for males and females. Results: Out of 800 children screened for tuberculosis, 310 children had positive Mantouxtest and were recruited in the study. Mean induration (20 mm) was similar in all the groups. However, the size of indurations rangedfrom 10-40 mm, 11-33 mm, and 12-24 among normal weight, underweight, and overweight Z-score groups. Mean induration was same(20 mm) in two Z-score height for age groups (normal height, stunting), while it was 20.6 mm in the over-height group. Although, therange of Mantoux positivity ranges from 10-35 mm, 11-40 mm, and 18-22 mm among normal height, stunting, and over height Z-scoregroups. Conclusion: Although, nutritional status can affect the positivity of Mantoux test; in Mantoux positive children, the size ofindurations does not depend on their nutritional status

A study of mode of transmission, clinical presentations, WHO and immunological staging among HIV infected children

Background: The clinical manifestations of HIV infection vary widely among infants, children, and adolescent. So there is a need to study the mode of transmission, clinical presentations, WHO and immunological staging among HIV infected children.Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. The children who were HIV positive (confirmed by ELISA for HIV-1 and HIV-2), and attending the OPD of ART Centre and SN Children Hospital, Allahabad during period of one year. The study population consisted of 47 patients, belonging to both sexes and age of 18 months to 19 years. Detailed history was taken and full clinical examination done in all cases. CD4 count was estimated at the time of presentation.Results: Predominant mode of transmission in our study was vertical and it was present in 95% cases. Fever was the most common presenting complaint and was present in 28 (59.57%) cases. The most common clinical sign was pallor in our study, present in 37 cases (78.72%) followed by lymphadenopathy 34 (72.34%). On the basis of WHO clinical staging, most of the patients in our study were found in stage 2 .On the basis of immunological staging, 51% had no evidence of immunosuppression (stage1), 18 (38.3%) had mild to advanced immunosuppression (stage 2 and 3) and 5 (10.63%) patients were severely immunosuppressed (stage 4). Conclusion: In HIV infected children predominant mode of transmission is vertical. Fever and pallor are common clinical manifestations. Most of the patients are found in WHO clinical stage 2 and immunological stage 1.

Alzheimer's disease-like perturbations in HIV-mediated neuronal dysfunctions: understanding mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies

Excessive exposure to toxic substances or chemicals in the environment and various pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, is associated with the onset of numerous brain abnormalities. Among them, pathogens, specifically viruses, elicit persistent inflammation that plays a major role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as dementia. AD is the most common brain disorder that affects thought, speech, memory and ability to execute daily routines. It is also manifested by progressive synaptic impairment and neurodegeneration, which eventually leads to dementia following the accumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated Tau. Numerous factors contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, including neuroinflammation associated with pathogens, and specifically viruses. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often linked with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) following permeation through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and induction of persistent neuroinflammation. Further, HIV infections also exhibited the ability to modulate numerous AD-associated factors such as BBB regulators, members of stress-related pathways as well as the amyloid and Tau pathways that lead to the formation of amyloid plaques or neurofibrillary tangles accumulation. Studies regarding the role of HIV in HAND and AD are still in infancy, and potential link or mechanism between both is not yet established. Thus, in the present article, we attempt to discuss various molecular mechanisms that contribute to the basic understanding of the role of HIV-associated neuroinflammation in AD and HAND. Further, using numerous growth factors and drugs, we also present possible therapeutic strategies to curb the neuroinflammatory changes and its associated sequels.Peer reviewe

An Appraisal of the Current Scenario in Vaccine Research for COVID-19

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has drawn global attention, affecting millions, disrupting economies and healthcare modalities. With its high infection rate, COVID-19 has caused a colossal health crisis worldwide. While information on the comprehensive nature of this infectious agent, SARS-CoV-2, still remains obscure, ongoing genomic studies have been successful in identifying its genomic sequence and the presenting antigen. These may serve as promising, potential therapeutic targets in the effective management of COVID-19. In an attempt to establish herd immunity, massive efforts have been directed and driven toward developing vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. This review, in this direction, is aimed at providing the current scenario and future perspectives in the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Experiences of frontline workers in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh during the Covid-19 pandemic

In the advent of COVID-19, frontline workers (FLWs) such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) found themselves at the forefront of combating the pandemic. In addition to regular healthcare and nutrition delivery, their revised responsibilities included screening for COVID-19, contact tracing, communication of preventative measures, adapting nutrition-related programmes, and doorstep delivery of maternal and child health services. In this report, the Accountability Initiative (AI) at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) highlights the oft-overlooked stories of government functionaries at the frontline of COVID-19 response since the advent of the initial lockdown. The overall objectives covered in this report are: 1. Understanding the evolving role of FLW workers during the pandemic and the impact of COVID work on their regular duties. 2. Gaining insight into the processes and best practices for training, implementation and supportive supervision

Phytoremediation: green to clean environmental heavy metal pollution

Many natural processes and anthropogenic activities lead to the persistent accumulation of non-biodegradable heavy metals in the environment. This contamination further has the potential to enter the food chain by a process called bioaccumulation and further, the concentration of heavy metal raises exponentially from lower to higher trophic levels as it is consumed called biomagnification. With the perspective of the consequences associated with heavy metal toxicity including risks to ecosystem and human health (mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic), the reclamation of toxic accumulates in soil and water is of paramount importance. Presently, clean-up technologies for heavy metals primarily concentrate on mitigating toxicity using physicochemical and mechanical methods such as soil incineration, excavation, landfilling, soil washing, solidification, and the application of electric fields. However, these are expensive, time-consuming, and also result in destructive changes to soil's physicochemical and biological properties, causing secondary pollution to the soil ecosystem. Therefore, the use of the inherent plant’s ability to absorb ionic compounds even at low concentrations near the soil-root interface can be effectively employed as a strategy to extract and remove or lower the bioavailable toxic metals and this phenomenon is called phytoremediation