Therapeutic potential of wild edible vegetables - A Review

Wild edible plants play an important role in the livelihood of people residing in rural areas. Even today in most of the remote areas, people depend on plants which are available in their natural surroundings for food, medicine, shelter etc. Majority of wild edible vegetables have medicinal property and can be used to treat common ailments. The present paper focuses on ethno-medicinal properties of some non-cultivated, traditional vegetables from published research articles, books and web based search engines. On the basis of available ethno-botanical information through published literature studies, it is observed that one or the other part of wild vegetables belonging to about 97 species of 48 families are used as medicine apart from their nutritional benefits. About 43 species of leaves, 14 species of rhizome/tuber, 11 species of fruits, 9 species of shoot/stem, and 7 species of flowers are used for food as well as medicinal purposes. Total 66 among these are used internally, 21 are used externally and 14 are being used for both internal and external administration. About 52 different disease conditions like diabetes, rheumatism, dysentery, dyspepsia, gastritis, constipation, urinary disorders are frequently treated by these wild vegetables. These are easily available in natural habitat, cheap and excellent source of nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, iron, essential minerals and other secondary metabolites. Regular use of these vegetables may indirectly act as an alternative source of medicinal drugs along with nutritional benefits. Further, they can be analyzed for their bioactive constituents and introduced as diet in routine clinical practice

INTEGRATION OF AYURVEDA WITH BIOMEDICINE: A RESPONSE IDENTIFICATION CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Background: There is re-emergence of the integrative approach to facilitate affordable, safe and equitable health to all. Due to the active initiatives taken up by the Government of India and other stake holders the reach of Ayurveda has expanded along with wide spread consumer acceptance. The efforts to co-locate Ayurveda centers along with bio-medical facilities across India through programs like National Rural Health Mission (NRHM are limited to the extent of only physical proximity between biomedicine and Ayurveda and far away from the possibility of functional integration granulated to the level of clinical service delivery together. Objective: To document the perceptions of biomedical practitioners about Ayurveda and possible integration with the biomedicine.Methods: Survey through self administered questionnaire carried out at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi involving 300 doctors from various biomedical medical specialties. Out of them, 98 doctors did not respond where as 202 responses were received in the stipulated format, which were analyzed, and interpreted based on standard statistical methods.Results: From the analysis of 202 responses, it is evident that all the respondents were aware of basic principles and strengths of Ayurveda. They also opined that, integration is useful to strengthen the overall health care delivery in India. Further, they expressed that the communication barrier between practitioners of Ayurveda and Biomedicine, meagre research work with respect to safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines and therapies, inadequate policy initiatives are the important obstacles in realizing functional integration between Ayurveda and Biomedicine.Conclusion: The survey reported good level of awareness of biomedical practitioners and their supportive attitude about the integration. Need for upgrading the skills of Ayurveda practitioners, safety and efficacy of the medicines, interdisciplinary research, information sharing and coordination between practitioners of Ayurveda and Biomedicine are identified as essential elements for successful integration

POTENTIAL OF BAJRA [PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.] IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Bajra, also known as pearl millet, African millet or spiked millet, originated in Northern-Central Sahel of West Africa, was introduced 2500 years ago into Indian subcontinent. However, it is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts from 14th Century AD onwards as Nali under Truna dhanya or Kudhanya vargas. It is considered as a major source of Gluten free diet and is used in the management of Coeliac disease and other gluten allergy conditions worldwide. Indians are also including millet into their day to day diet in accordance with the global trend.  However the conditions of Gluten allergy and Coeliac disease are not common in Southern India. Hence, the necessity of Gluten free diet in South Indian Population is under question. It is hypothesized that excessive millet usage could be a reason behind thyroid dysfunction and goitre. Regular millet only diet may also lead to a nutrition deprived state in people who are not gluten sensitive. Ayurveda also emphasizes on avoidance of regular use of Kudhanyas. This review comprises different aspects of dietary inclusion of Bajra. The properties and usability of Bajra as a gluten free diet, utility of Bajra in populations which are not gluten allergic and the effects of Bajra on health and disease form the core of this review.

Lay health worker led intervention for depressive and anxiety disorders in India: impact on clinical and disability outcomes over 12 months.

BACKGROUND: Depressive and anxiety disorders (common mental disorders) are the most common psychiatric condition encountered in primary healthcare. AIMS: To test the effectiveness of an intervention led by lay health counsellors in primary care settings (the MANAS intervention) to improve the outcomes of people with common mental disorders. METHOD: Twenty-four primary care facilities (12 public, 12 private) in Goa (India) were randomised to provide either collaborative stepped care or enhanced usual care to adults who screened positive for common mental disorders. Participants were assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months for presence of ICD-10 common mental disorders, the severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety, suicidal behaviour and disability levels. All analyses were intention to treat and carried out separately for private and public facilities and adjusted for the design. The trial has been registered with clinical trials.gov (NCT00446407). RESULTS: A total of 2796 participants were recruited. In public facilities, the intervention was consistently associated with strong beneficial effects over the 12 months on all outcomes. There was a 30% decrease in the prevalence of common mental disorders among those with baseline ICD-10 diagnoses (risk ratio (RR) = 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92); and a similar effect among the subgroup of participants with depression (RR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.98). Suicide attempts/plans showed a 36% reduction over 12 months (RR=0.64, 95% CI0.42–0.98) among baseline ICD-10 cases. Strong effects were observed on days out of work and psychological morbidity, and modest effects on overall disability [corrected]. In contrast, there was little evidence of impact of the intervention on any outcome among participants attending private facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Trained lay counsellors working within a collaborative-care model can reduce prevalence of common mental disorders, suicidal behaviour, psychological morbidity and disability days among those attending public primary care facilities

Multistakeholder participation in disaster management—the case of the covid-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting society’s health, economy, environment and development. COVID-19 has claimed many lives across the globe and severely impacted the livelihood of a considerable section of the world’s population. We are still in the process of finding optimal and effective solutions to control the pandemic and minimise its negative im-pacts. In the process of developing effective strategies to combat COVID-19, different countries have adapted diverse policies, strategies and activities and yet there are no universal or comprehensive solutions to the problem. In this context, this paper brings out a conceptual model of multistake-holder participation governance as an effective model to fight against COVID-19. Accordingly, the current study conducted a scientific review by examining multi-stakeholder disaster response strategies, particularly in relation to COVID-19. The study then presents a conceptual framework for multistakeholder participation governance as one of the effective models to fight against COVID-19. Subsequently, the article offers strategies for rebuilding the economy and healthcare system through multi-stakeholder participation, and gives policy directions/decisions based on evidence to save lives and protect livelihoods. The current study also provides evidence about multidimensional approaches and multi-diplomatic mechanisms during the COVID-19 crisis, in order to examine dimensions of multi-stakeholder participation in disaster management and to document innovative, collaborative strategic directions across the globe. The current research findings highlight the need for global collaboration by working together to put an end to this pandemic situation through the application of a Multi-Stakeholder Spatial Decision Support System (MS-SDSS)

Appraisal of climate change and cyclone trends in Indian coastal states: a systematic approach towards climate action

Abstract: Indian coastal regions have often been affected by frequent climate-induced natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, droughts and other related hazards in recent decades. Existing literature was not sufficient to fully understand these event trends from diverse perspectives in a systematised manner at current scenarios. Therefore, a systematic approach has been employed to assess the climate change and cyclone trends of nine Indian coastal states by using various geographical information system (GIS) tools for 2006–2020. The results showed that 61 cyclones occurred in nine coastal states from 2006 to 2020; the highest numbers were recorded in Odisha (20), West Bengal (14) and Andhra Pradesh (11). Accordingly, these three coastal states emerged as the most vulnerable for high-intensity cyclones. The results also identified that the highest average temperature (29.3 °C) was recorded at Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, and the lowest temperature (26.7 °C) was recorded in West Bengal and Odisha. Most of the coastal states showed fluctuations in temperatures during the study period. At the same time, Kerala and Karnataka states recorded the highest average rainfall (2341 mm and 2261 mm) and highest relative humidity (78.11% and 76.57%). Conversely, the Gujarat and West Bengal states recorded the lowest relative humidity at 59.65% and 70.78%. Based on these results, the current study generated GIS vulnerability maps for climate change and cyclone activity, allowing one to rank each state’s vulnerability. Cumulatively, these results and maps assist in understanding the driving mechanisms of climate change, cyclones and will contribute towards more effective and efficient sustainable disaster management in the future

Tropical deep convection, convective available potential energy and sea surface temperature

The convective available potential energy (CAPE) based on monthly mean sounding has been shown to be relevant to deep convection in the tropics. The variation of CAPE with SST has been found to be similar to the variation of the frequency of deep convection at one station each in the tropical Atlantic and W. Pacific oceans. This suggests a strong link between the frequency of tropical convection and CAPE. It has been shown that CAPE so derived can be interpreted as the work potential of the atmosphere above the boundary layer with ascent in the convective region and subsidence in the surrounding cloud-free region

A creative approach to managing a case of haemophilia A with inhibitors in a low-resource country: case report

The development of antibodies to therapeutic factor VIII, known as inhibitors, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with haemophilia. This is particularly challenging in areas where access to novel treatment options is limited. This case report presents a clinical scenario in South Western India involving a 16-year-old male with severe haemophilia A with high titre inhibitors, who sustained a tibia-fibula shaft fracture necessitating emergency surgical intervention. The successful management of this patient required a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing haemostasis optimisation, innovative factor replacement strategies to work around financial constraints, and a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. The patient’s history of multiple factor VIII concentrate transfusions contributed to inhibitor development. Limited funds for bypassing agents prompted the utilisation of fresh frozen plasma to achieve haemostasis before access to FEIBA and recombinant factor VII. Emicizumab, a subcutaneously administered bispecific antibody, was used to assist perioperative haemostasis. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan with regular physiotherapy was followed. Emicizumab prophylaxis was initiated and the patient now shows improvement. This case emphasises the importance of novel treatment options such as FEIBA and emicizumab in dealing with complications in haemophilia such as inhibitors. In resource-limited settings, there is still a need to improve the availability of these life-saving interventions to optimise surgical outcomes in such cases