FAMILY BURDEN AND STRESS AMONG CAREGIVER OF ORAL CANCER PATIENTS AT KRISHNA HOSPITAL KARAD

ABSTRACTObjectives: Cancer is a major life-threatening disease and has its impact on both patients and their family members. Caregivers also play thevery important role in the care of the patients with cancer. (1) Asses the burden among caregivers of patients with oral cancer using burdeninventory. (2) Assess the perceived stress among caregivers of patients with oral cancer using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). (3) Identify the correlationbetween burden and perceived stress with selected sociodemographic variable. There is mounting evidence that during advanced stages of illness,changes in family roles, and the burden placed on family caregivers may negatively affect quality of life for cancer patients, as well as their caregivers.Attending to the needs of the families of patients not only will benefit family members but also may help patients with their own emotional responsesand management of their disease. The study objectives were to asses the burden and the perceived stress among caregivers of patients with oralcancer patients.Methods: Quantitative nonexperimental approach with descriptive survey design was selected for study. 40 caregivers of patients with oral cancerwere selected through convenience sampling technique. The study included the caregivers of 21-50 years age group who is providing care patientswith oral cancers, who are responding and interested to participate, and available at the time of the study. Caregiver's burden was assessed usingcaregiver burden scale. A stress of the caregiver was assessed by the PSS.Results: Demographic variable shows that maximum sample belongs 40-50 (40%) years of age group, male gender (65%), married (90%), nuclearfamily (65%), house wife by occupation (60%), spouse to the patients (45%), below graduated education (72%), 6 months to 1 year in providing care(47%), having health benefit from government (52%), and accompanying patient regularly to the hospital (72%). In this study, 3 (7.5%) caregiverwere said that no burden, 13 (32.5%) samples shown mild burden, 15 (37.5%) relative indicated moderate burden, and 9 (22.5%) samples shownsevere burden; 4 (10%) samples shown low stress, 22 (55%) caregiver presented moderate stress, and 14 (35%) samples had high stress.Conclusion: Caregivers are often patients' primary source of support, many experience significant burden, particularly with respect to their physicaland psychological well-being, economic circumstances, and social and personal relationships.Keywords: Family, Burden, Stress, Caregiver, Oral cancer

Bioactive components from Gynandropsis gynandra leaves for antinociceptive activity

Gynandropsis gynandra Linn. (Capparadiaceae) leaves are used in the treatment of pain traditionally. In order to evaluate its scientific validity, leaves were extracted successively to produce various extracts. These extracts were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Aqueous extract was found most active in both the tests. Further it was fractionated into four major fractions and were screened by the same tests at the dose of 25 mg/kg, i.p. Results showed that AQI fraction is most active and may responsible for the antinociceptive action. GC-MS analysis of AQI fraction showed that it is a mixture of benzene acetic acid ethyl ester, octaneoic acid, dodecanal, and cholest-4-en-26-al, 3-oxo-, cyclic 26-(ethylene acetate).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Bioactive components from Gynandropsis gynandra leaves for antinociceptive activity

Gynandropsis gynandra Linn. (Capparadiaceae) leaves are used in the treatment of pain traditionally. In order to evaluate its scientific validity, leaves were extracted successively to produce various extracts. These extracts were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Aqueous extract was found most active in both the tests. Further it was fractionated into four major fractions and were screened by the same tests at the dose of 25 mg/kg, i.p. Results showed that AQI fraction is most active and may responsible for the antinociceptive action. GC-MS analysis of AQI fraction showed that it is a mixture of benzene acetic acid ethyl ester, octaneoic acid, dodecanal, and cholest-4-en-26-al, 3-oxo-, cyclic 26-(ethylene acetate).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

A different approach to soil analysis: Indicative studies

Soil analysis is a tool that has been employed with the primary goal of providing recommendations for soil rectification, crop productivity and for soil health management. Time tested methods like ammonium acetate extraction and diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) are commonly used for analysis of bioavailable nutrients. However, there are some limitations to these methods as both extraction fluids are buffered to neutral or near-neutral pH. Hence extracted nutrients represent a “potential or ideal-case” fertility status of soil instead of an “actual” field status. In the ‘Regular methods’, we are overlooking the role of pH, the master variable, in determining the availability of nutrients. Hence, in ‘Modified methods’, the extraction fluid is buffered to actual soil pH. Results obtained with over 150 random samples representing a range of pH, have indicated a difference in values between regular and modified extraction methods. The modified methods (MM) of ammonium acetate and DTPA extraction adjusted to soil pH were found to be better than regular method (RM) for estimation of calcium, magnesium with ammonium acetate and iron and manganese with DTPA in alkaline soils above pH 8.0. For a complete picture of soil health, productivity and fertility, microbiological and enzymatic analysis of soils were included in the present study. Soil solution equivalent medium (SSE) was found to be the appropriate culture medium for microbial counts. A linear relationship was found between urease activity and available nitrogen of soil

ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECT OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN OGTT AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MODEL

Objective: The present study investigates the efficacy of DiaKure, a poly herbal formulation composed of powder of different herbs on blood glucose level of normal and diabetic rats.Methods: The raw materials were collected made it into a powder formulation. Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg was administered as a single i. p. Injection for induction of type 1 diabetes. After one week of streptozotocin injection, animals showing glycosuria (fasting blood sugar level>200 mg/dL) were considered as diabetic. The hypoglycemic activity and glucose tolerance test were studied in normal and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after administration of DiaKure at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Blood glucose was determined by a glucose monitor.Results: At a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg p. o., DiaKure showed a hypoglycemic effect at a varying degree of significance (P<0.05-0.001) in normal rats in comparison with the respective control group. Maximum effect of DiaKure treatment in the glucose tolerance test occurred at 120thminute of glucose administration in normal rats.Conclusion: The results indicate significant hypoglycemic activity of DiaKure in male albino rats.Â

Trend and Growth Rate Estimation of Principal Crops in Karnataka State in India

The study undertaken to analyse the growth rate performance of area, production, productivity of selected crops in Karnataka from year 1997 to 2019. At state level, it was found that, the productivity of cereals showed positive growth with 1.22 percent. The area under maize increased by 5.30 percent by displacing Jowar, Bajra, minor millets. The rice and maize became stable crops in cultivation due its assured support prices and procurement from government. The production of pulses increased by 4.17 percent. The area under oil seeds showed negative trend with -5.87 percent which may be due to its high cost of production and unremunerative prices where as the commercial crops has recorded positive growth rates of production (2.69 percent) and productivity (2.43 percent) despite of its 0.24 percent area growth. The farmers prioritised sugarcane, cotton because of less labour requirements, good market prices. The Technology mission on oilseeds and Pulses in post 1990’s could be reason for increased production and productivity of pulses

Bioactive components from Gynandropsis gynandra leaves for antinociceptive activity

Gynandropsis gynandra Linn. (Capparadiaceae) leaves are used in the treatment of pain traditionally. In order to evaluate its scientific validity, leaves were extracted successively to produce various extracts. These extracts were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice at the dose of 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Aqueous extract was found most active in both the tests. Further it was fractionated into four major fractions and were screened by the same tests at the dose of 25 mg/kg, i.p. Results showed that AQI fraction is most active and may responsible for the antinociceptive action. GC-MS analysis of AQI fraction showed that it is a mixture of benzene acetic acid ethyl ester, octaneoic acid, dodecanal, and cholest-4-en-26-al, 3-oxo-, cyclic 26-(ethylene acetate).Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

A Rapid Assessment Scorecard to Identify Informal Settlements at Higher Maternal and Child Health Risk in Mumbai

The communities who live in urban informal settlements are diverse, as are their environmental conditions. Characteristics include inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, poor quality of housing, overcrowding, and insecure residential status. Interventions to improve health should be equity-driven and target those at higher risk, but it is not clear how to prioritise informal settlements for health action. In implementing a maternal and child health programme in Mumbai, India, we had conducted a detailed vulnerability assessment which, though important, was time-consuming and may have included collection of redundant information. Subsequent data collection allowed us to examine three issues: whether community environmental characteristics were associated with maternal and newborn healthcare and outcomes; whether it was possible to develop a triage scorecard to rank the health vulnerability of informal settlements based on a few rapidly observable characteristics; and whether the scorecard might be useful for future prioritisation. The City Initiative for Newborn Health documented births in 48 urban slum areas over 2 years. Information was collected on maternal and newborn care and mortality, and also on household and community environment. We selected three outcomes—less than three antenatal care visits, home delivery, and neonatal mortality—and used logistic regression and classification and regression tree analysis to test their association with rapidly observable environmental characteristics. We developed a simple triage scorecard and tested its utility as a means of assessing maternal and newborn health risk. In analyses on a sample of 10,754 births, we found associations of health vulnerability with inadequate access to water, toilets, and electricity; non-durable housing; hazardous location; and rental tenancy. A simple scorecard based on these had limited sensitivity and positive predictive value, but relatively high specificity and negative predictive value. The scorecard needs further testing in a range of urban contexts, but we intend to use it to identify informal settlements in particular need of family health interventions in a subsequent program

Cluster-randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation in Mumbai slums to improve care during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and for the newborn

Background: The United Nations Millennium Development Goals look to substantial improvements in child and maternal survival. Morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period are prime obstacles to achieving these goals. Given the increasing importance of urban health to global prospects, Mumbai's City Initiative for Newborn Health aims to improve maternal and neonatal health in vulnerable urban slum communities, through a combination of health service quality improvement and community participation. The protocol describes a trial of community intervention aimed at improving prevention, care seeking and outcomes.Objective: To test an intervention that supports local women as facilitators in mobilising communities for better health care. Community women's groups will build an understanding of their potential to improve maternal and infant health, and develop and implement strategies to do so.Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial.Methods: The intervention will employ local community-based female facilitators to convene groups and help them to explore maternal and neonatal health issues. Groups will meet fortnightly through a seven-phase process of sharing experiences, discussion of the issues raised, discovery of potential community strengths, building of a vision for action, design and implementation of community strategies, and evaluation.The unit of allocation will be an urban slum cluster of 1000-1500 households. 48 clusters have been randomly selected after stratification by ward. 24 clusters have been randomly allocated to receive the community intervention. 24 clusters will act as control groups, but will benefit from health service quality improvement. Indicators of effect will be measured through a surveillance system implemented by the project. Key distal outcome indicators will be neonatal mortality and maternal and neonatal morbidity. Key proximate outcome indicators will be home care practices, uptake of antenatal, delivery and postnatal care, and care for maternal and neonatal illness.Data will be collected through a vital registration system for births and deaths in the 48 study clusters. Structured interviews with families will be conducted at about 6 weeks after index deliveries. We will also collect both quantitative and qualitative data to support a process evaluation.Trial registration: Current controlled trials ISRCTN9625679