Knowledge and attitude towards emergency contraception in females of urban area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Emergency contraception are birth control measures that, if taken after unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure, incorrect use of contraceptives or in cases of sexual assault may prevent pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of female living in urban part of Lucknow district from September 2015 to August 2016.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at RML Hospital, Lucknow from September 2015 to August 2016. A cross sectional study design was conducted and Participants were selected using simple random sampling method. Data was collected by using self-administered questionnaires. Data processing and analysis: The collected data was entered into a computer and analyzed using statistical package of social science version 20.0.Results: In this study it was found that, Out of 385 subjects 54% (209) new the correct time interval for EC to be effective and 91% (350) new that this is for prevention of unplanned pregnancy. Out of 385 subjects 77% (345) reported that they had heard the word EC from different sources, however 23% (90) reported that they never heard about that it means that still there is a scope of health awareness activities and health education to improve the knowledge of EC. Different attitudes of females towards emergency contraception some different pair of questions was asked. Out of 385 subjects 85% (329) were reported that they have positive attitudes in terms of benefits of EC to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy. A few number of subjects i.e. 12% (48) reported negative attitudes towards EC where as 3 % (8) did not respond. The more than half subjects i.e. 68% (260) reported that they use EC even if their partners disagreed with them where as 11% (41). Cultural belief was found as an barrier in having negative attitudes towards EC. The Religion, Occupation and educational status affect knowledge and attitudes towards EC.Conclusions: The results show that there is a scope of health awareness activities and health education to improve the knowledge and attitude towards EC

Disruption of Skin Stem Cell Homeostasis following Transplacental Arsenicosis; Alleviation by Combined Intake of Selenium and Curcumin

Of late, a consirable interest has grown in literature on early development of arsenicosis and untimely death in humans after exposure to iAs in drinking water in utero or during the childhood. The mechanism of this kind of intrauterine arsenic poisoning is not known; however it is often suggested to involve stem cells. We looked into this possibility by investigating in mice the influence of chronic in utero exposure to arsenical drinking water preliminarily on multipotent adult stem cell and progenitor cell counts at the beginning of neonatal age. We found that repeated intake of 42.5 or 85ppm iAs in drinking water by pregnant BALB/c mice substantially changed the counts of EpASCs, the progenitor cells, and the differentiated cells in epidermis of their zero day old neonates. EpASCs counts decreased considerably and the differentiated / apoptosed cell counts increased extensively whereas the counts of progenitor cell displayed a biphasic effect. The observed trend of response was dose-dependent and statistically significant. These observations signified a disruption in stem cell homeostasis. The disorder was in parallel with changes in expression of biomarkers of stem cell and progenitor (TA) cell besides changes in expression of pro-inflammatory and antioxidant molecules namely Nrf2, NFkB, TNF-α, and GSH. The biological monitoring of exposure to iAs and the ensuing transplacental toxicity was verifiable correspondingly by the increase in iAs burden in hair, kidney, skin, liver of nulliparous female mice and the onset of chromosomal aberrations in neonate bone marrow cells. The combined intake of selenite and curcumin in utero was found to prevent the disruption of homeostasis and associated biochemical changes to a great extent. The mechanism of prevention seemed possibly to involve (a) curcumin and Keap-1 interaction, (b) consequent escalated de novo GSH biosynthesis, and (c) the resultant toxicant disposition. These observations are important with respect to the development of vulnerability to arsenicosis and other morbidities later in life after repeated in utero or postnatal exposure to iAs in drinking water that may occur speculatively through impairment of adult stem cell dependent innate tissue repair mechanism

Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis bertrami sarcocysts from a naturally infected donkey (Equus asinus) from Egypt

There is considerable confusion concerning Sarcocystis species in equids. Little is known of Sarcocystis infections in donkeys (Equus asinus). Here we describe the structure of Sarcocystis bertrami-like from the donkey by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nineteen sarcocysts from the tongue of a donkey from Egypt were studied both by LM and TEM. By LM, all sarcocysts had variably shaped and sized projections on the sarcocyst walls, giving it a thin-walled to thick-walled appearance, depending on individual sarcocyst and plane of section. By TEM, sarcocysts walls had villar protrusions (vp) of type 11. The sarcocyst wall had conical to slender vp, up to 6 µm long and 1 µm wide; the vp were folded over the sarcocyst wall. The total thickness of the sarcocyst wall with ground substance layer (gs) was 1-3 µm. The vp had microtubules (mt) that originated deeper in the gs and continued up to the tip. The apical part of the vp had electron dense granules. The mt were configured into 3 types: a tuft of electron dense mt1 extending the entire length of the vp with a tuft of medium electron dense mt2 appearing in parallel, and fine mt3 present only in the villar tips. The gs was mainly smooth with few indistinct granules. All sarcocysts were mature and contained metrocytes and bradyzoites. Bradyzoites were approximately 11-15 × 2-3 µm in size with typical organelles.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR2016-07-30hb201

Endogenous kisspeptin tone is a critical excitatory component of spontaneous GnRH activity and the GnRH response to NPY and CART

BACKGROUND / AIMS : Kisspeptin is the major excitatory regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and is responsible for basal GnRH/LH release and the GnRH/LH surge. Although it is widely assumed, based on mutations in kisspeptin and Kiss1R, that kisspeptin acts to sustain basal GnRH neuronal activity, there have been no studies to investigate whether endogenous basal kisspeptin tone plays a direct role in basal spontaneous GnRH neuronal excitability. It is also of interest to examine possible interactions between endogenous kisspeptin tone and other neuropeptides that have direct effects on GnRH neurons, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) or cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), since the activity of all these neuropeptides changes during states of negative energy balance. METHODS : Loose cell-attached and whole-cell current patch-clamp recordings were made from GnRH-GFP neurons in hypothalamic slices from female and male rats. RESULTS : Kisspeptin activated GnRH neurons in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC 50 of 3.32 ± 0.02 n M . Surprisingly, a kisspeptin an-endogenous kisspeptin tone. Furthermore, inhibition of endogenous kisspeptin tone blocked the direct activation of GnRH cells that occurs in response to antagonism of NPY Y5 receptor or by CART. CONCLUSIONS : Our electrophysiology studies suggest that basal endogenous kisspeptin tone is not only essential for spontaneous GnRH neuronal firing, but it is also required for the net excitatory effects of other neuropeptides, such as CART or NPY antagonism, on GnRH neurons. Therefore, endogenous kisspeptin tone could serve as the linchpin in GnRH activation or inhibition.NIH grants HD014643, HD014643 (ARRA Supplement),OD011092.http://www.karger.com/Journal/Home/223855hb201

A review of sarcocystosis in camels and redescription of Sarcocystis cameli and Sarcocystis ippeni sarcocysts from the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

There is considerable confusion concerning Sarcocystis species in camels. Five species: Sarcocystis cameli, S. ippeni, S. camelicanis, S. camelocanis, and S. miescheri were named with inadequate descriptions and no type specimens. Here, we review literature on sarcocystosis in camels worldwide and redescribe structure of S. cameli and S. ippeni sarcocysts by light and transmission electron microscopy (LM, TEM). Eight sarcocysts from the esophagi of two camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Egypt were studied. By LM all sarcocysts were thin walled with barely visible projections on the cyst walls. By TEM, two structurally distinct sarcocysts were recognized by unique villar protrusions (vp) not found in sarcocysts from any other host. Sarcocysts of S. cameli had vp of type 9j. The sarcocyst wall had upright slender vp, up to 3.0 μm long and 0.5 μm wide; the total thickness of the sarcocyst wall with ground substance layer (gs) was 3.5 μm. On each vp there were rows of knob-like protrusions that appeared to be interconnected. The vp had microtubules that originated at mid point of the gs and continued up to the tip; microtubules were smooth, without any granules or dense areas. Bradyzoites were approximately 14-15 x 3-4 μm in size with typical organelles. Sarcocystis ippeni sarcocysts had type 32 sarcocyst wall characterized by conical villar protrusions with an electron dense knob. The total thickness of the sarcocyst wall (from the base of gs to vp tip) was 2.3-3.0 μm. The vp were up to 1.2 μm wide at the base and 0.25 μm at the tip. Microtubules in vp originated at midpoint of gs and continued up to tip; microtubules were criss-crossed, smooth and without granules or dense areas. Bradyzoites were 12.0-13.5 x 2.0-3.0 μm in size. Sarcocystis camelicanis, S. camelocanis, and S. miescheri are considered invalid.R. Calero-Bernal is a postdoctoral fellow (ref. PO12010) funded by the Department of Employment and Innovation of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain) and the European Social Fund.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR2016-01-31hb201

Redescription of Sarcocystis fusiformis sarcocysts from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Four valid species of Sarcocystis have been reported from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Sarcocystis fusiformis, Sarcocystis buffalonis, Sarcocystis levinei and Sarcocystis dubeyi. Here, we redescribe structure of S. fusiformis sarcocysts by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Twenty-one macroscopic sarcocysts from oesophagus of the water buffalo in Egypt were examined by light microscopy, SEM and TEM. The sarcocyst wall was up to 9 μm thick, depending on the section and the technique. In 5 μm paraffin-embedded sections, the sarcocyst wall was indistinct, 2–5 μm thick and appeared smooth. In 1 μm plastic-embedded sections stained with toluidine blue, the sarcocyst wall was 2·5–5·2 μm thick and had branched villar protrusions (vp)-like branches of a dead tree. By SEM, the sarcocyst wall had a mesh-like structure with irregularly shaped vp that were folded over the sarcocyst wall. On each vp there were uniform papillomatous structures that were 100 nm wide. By TEM, vp were up to 6 μm long and contained filamentous tubular structures, most of which were parallel to the long axis of the projections; granules were absent from these tubules. By TEM, bradyzoites within the same cyst varied from 11·2 to 16·8 μm in length. By TEM, bradyzoites had a very long (10 μm) convoluted mitochondrion, up to 12 dense granules, but only 2 rhoptries. This redescription should help to differentiate the sarcocysts of S. fusiformis from similar sarcocysts in domestic and wild ruminants.R. Calero-Bernal is a postdoctoral fellow (ref. PO12010) funded by the Department of Employment and Innovation of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain) and the European Social Fund.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PARhb201

Sarcocystis oreamni, n. sp. (Apicomplexa : Sarcocystidae) from the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus)

Numerous species of Sarcocystis have been reported from wild ruminants but none has been named from the Rocky Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus). Mature sarcocysts were found in frozen muscle samples of three of seven mountain goats from Alaska, USA. Two morphological types of sarcocysts were found; one had Sarcocystis cornagliai-like sarcocysts, previously named from the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) from Europe. Two other goats were infected with a new species, Sarcocystis oreamni. Sarcocystis oreamni sarcocysts were microscopic with 2 μm-thick sarcocyst wall. By transmission electron microscopy, the sarcocyst wall had 1.7 μm-thick with unusual molar tooth-like villar protusions (vp), type 29. The vp had electron dense core and two disc-shaped plaques at the tip with fine microtubules. Bradyzoites were 8.6-9.1 μm long. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identified in 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA loci of rDNA regions that suggested S. oreamni molecularly apart from related species. The phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA sequences suggested S. oreamni is related with Sarcocystis species that employ members of Canidae family as their definitive host.R. Calero-Bernal is a postdoctoral fellow (ref. PO12010) funded by the Department of Employment and Innovation of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain) and the European Social Fund.http://link.springer.com/journal/4362016-11-11hb201

Sarcocystis mehlhorni n. sp. (Apicomplexa : Sarcocystidae) from the black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Infection with Sarcocystis is common in many species of wild cervids but none is reported from the black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Here, we report Sarcocystis infection in two black-tailed deer from northwest USA for the first time. Sarcocysts were microscopic, up to 556 μm long and mature. The sarcocyst wall was up to 1.39 μm thick, and had rectangular 1.17 μm long villar protrusions, type 17, with thin (230 nm) electron dense ground substance layer. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sarcocystis in the black-tailed deer is related to structurally distinct Sarcocystis species in cervids. A new name, Sarcocystis mehlhorni, is proposed for the Sarcocystis species in black-tailed deer.http://link.springer.com/journal/4362016-12-08hb201

Sarcocystis cafferi n. sp. (Protozoa : Apicomplexa) from the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

Sarcocystis infections have been reported from the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), but the species have not been named. Here we propose a new name Sarcocystis cafferi from the African buffalo. Histological examination of heart (92), skeletal muscle (36), and tongue (2) sections from 94 buffalos from the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa, and a review of the literature revealed only 1 species of Sarcocystis in the African buffalo. Macrocysts were up to 12 mm long and 6 mm wide and were located in the neck muscles and overlying connective tissue. They were pale yellow; shaped like a lychee fruit stone or cashew nut; turgid or flaccid and oval to round (not fusiform). By light microscopy (LM) the sarcocyst wall was relatively thin. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the sarcocyst wall had a mesh-like structure with irregularly shaped villar protrusions (vp) that were of different sizes and folded over the sarcocyst wall. The entire surfaces of vp were covered with papillomatous structures. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the sarcocyst wall was up to 3.6 lm thick and had highly branched villar protrusions that were up to 3 lm long. The villar projections contained filamentous tubular structures, most of which were parallel to the long axis of the projections, but some tubules criss-crossed, especially at the base. Granules were absent from these tubules. Longitudinally cut bradyzoites were 12.132.7 lm in size, had a long convoluted mitochondrion, and only 2 rhoptries. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences indicated that this Sarcocystis species is very closely related to, but distinct from, Sarcocystis fusiformis and Sarcocystis hirsuta. Thus, morphological findings by LM, SEM, and TEM together with molecular phylogenetic data (from 18S rRNA and cox1) confirm that the Sarcocystis species in the African buffalo is distinct from S. fusiformis and has therefore been named Sarcocystis cafferi.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jrnlparasitology/hb201