Application of Qualitative Methods in Health Research: An Overview

Qualitative research is type of formative research that includes specialized techniques for obtaining in-depth responses about what people think and how they feel. It is seen as the research that seeks answer to the questions in the real world. Qualitative researchers gather what they see, hear, read from people and places, from events and activities, with the purpose to learn about the community and to generate new understanding that can be used by the social world. Qualitative research have often been conducted to answer the question “why” rather than “what”. A purpose of qualitative research is the construction of new understanding. Here, we present an overview of application of qualitative methods in health research. We have discussed here the different types of qualitative methods and how we and others have used them in different settings/scenarios; sample size and sampling techniques; analysis of qualitative data; validity in qualitative research; and ethical issues

Marine Polysaccharides in Medicine

About 70% of the Earth\u27s surface is covered with seawater and 90% biosphere wraps maximum biodiversity that offers resourceful novel bio‐molecules. Marine species are enriched with organic compounds viz. terpenoids, polyethers/ketides, lipo‐glycoproteins, peptides and polysaccharides that act as cell surface receptors and involve in cell development/differentiation, besides being antimicrobial agents. Algae, sponge and fish have various defense mechanisms developed via specific/potent natural molecules to survive under hostile, extreme conditions such as various degrees of salinity, pressure, temperature, darkness, besides microbial and viral attacks. Marine seaweeds and algae enriched with polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans, agar, alginate and chitin/chitosan owing to their diversified significance have received growing attention among researchers. Currently, marine‐derived biomolecules cater 20% market drug load while other natural products bear 30% share. Chitins exhibit various biological and physicochemical properties that can be exploited in biotechnology and medicine/drug, cosmetic, food and textile industries. This chapter focuses on chitin/chitosan production, its physicochemical characterization and biological activities and relationship between its chemical structure and bio‐activity, including chemical modification reactions such as acylation, substitution, sulfonation and other cross‐linking strategies applied to skeletal modification with the recently updated literature

Rationally Fabricated Nanomaterials for Desalination and Water Purification

Rationally designed nanomaterials from synthetic/biopolymers like chitosan, zeolites, graphene, nanometal/oxides, zerovalent metal/magnetic iron, OMS and nanocarbon/carbon nanotube (CNT) utilized in desalination/purification are thoroughly discussed. Conventional desalination membrane/materials own inherent limitations; nevertheless, designed nanocomposite/hybrid/films address the new challenges/constraints and consequently aid the remediation of environmental/water pollution, thus denoting prospective nanotechnology/science. The morphology and chemical functionality of certain natural/synthetic polymers are altered/controlled rationally yielding advanced membranes/materials, for example, aquaporin, nanochannels, graphene and smart self-assemble block copolymer blends to cater futuristic desalination needs besides superseded conventional membrane limitations too. In a nut shell, advance nanotechnology via electrospinning, track-etching, phase inversion and interfacial polymerization yields structured composites/matrixes that conquer traditional barriers of conventional desalination and supplies treated/purified water. This review confers synthetic strategy and utility of nanomaterials that are procured via ordered/rational designing/self-assembly to be used in separation techniques including RO/FO antifouling membrane, superwet surface, oil-water/emulsion separation and multifunctional desalination nanodevices

The Role of Nanotechnology in Molecular Imaging by using Fluorescent Quantum Dots

Giant strides in knowledge about nanoparticles have lead to thedevelopment of sophisticated fluorescent quantum dots that have enhanced our understanding of the disease process as well as the healing mechanism following appropriate therapy. This article focuses on various aspects of fluorescent quantum dots which are now knocking at our doors to let them in to assist us in molecular imaging

Multimode interference devices for focusing in microfluidic channels

Low-cost, compact, automated optical microsystems for chemical analysis, such as microflow cytometers for identification of individual biological cells, require monolithically integrated microlenses for focusing in microfluidic channels, to enable high-resolution scattering and fluorescence measurements. The multimode interference device (MMI), which makes use of self-imaging in multimode waveguides, is shown to be a simple and effective alternative to the microlens for microflow cytometry. The MMIs have been designed, realized, and integrated with microfluidic channels in a silica-based glass waveguide material system. Focal spot sizes of 2.4 µm for MMIs have been measured at foci as far as 43.7 µm into the microfluidic channel

Myc-binding Protein Orthologue Interacts with AKAP240 In the Central Pair Apparatus of the \u3cem\u3eChlamydomonas\u3c/em\u3e Flagella

Background Flagella and cilia are fine thread-like organelles protruding from cells that harbour them. The typical ‘9 + 2’ cilia confer motility on these cells. Although the mechanistic details of motility remain elusive, the dynein-driven motility is regulated by various kinases and phosphatases. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are scaffolds that bind to a variety of such proteins. Usually, they are known to possess a dedicated domain that in vitro interacts with the regulatory subunits (RI and RII) present in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) holoenzyme. These subunits conventionally harbour contiguous stretches of a.a. residues that reveal the presence of the Dimerization Docking (D/D) domain, Catalytic interface domain and cAMP-Binding domain. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii flagella harbour two AKAPs; viz., the radial spoke AKAP97 or RSP3 and the central pair AKAP240. Both these were identified on the basis of their RII-binding property. Interestingly, AKAP97 binds in vivo to two RII-like proteins (RSP7 and RSP11) that contain only the D/D domain. Results We found a Chlamydomonas Flagellar Associated Protein (FAP174) orthologous to MYCBP-1, a protein that binds to organellar AKAPs and Myc onco-protein. An in silico analysis shows that the N-terminus of FAP174 is similar to those RII domain-containing proteins that have binding affinities to AKAPs. Binding of FAP174 was tested with the AKAP97/RSP3 using in vitro pull down assays; however, this binding was rather poor with AKAP97/RSP3. Antibodies were generated against FAP174 and the cellular localization was studied using Western blotting and immunoflourescence in wild type and various flagella mutants. We show that FAP174 localises to the central pair of the axoneme. Using overlay assays we show that FAP174 binds AKAP240 previously identified in the C2 portion of the central pair apparatus. Conclusion It appears that the flagella of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain proteins that bind to AKAPs and except for the D/D domain, lack the conventional a.a. stretches of PKA regulatory subunits (RSP7 and RSP11). We add FAP174 to this growing list

Humeral Metastasis in a case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma - a Case Report

A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis to distal acralskeleton – humerus within two months of diagnosis of the primary is being reported. The metastasis to the bones from carcinoma cervix is uncommon especially in the distal appendicular skeleton. A 47 years female came with spontaneous fracture of right humerus shaft. The tissue from fracture site revealed metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma. X-Ray lung and USG abdomen did not show any organ involvement. She was diagnosed assquamous cell carcinoma cervix stage III B two months before and put on radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This is one of the few documented cases of metastasis to humerus without involvement of lung liver or brain within two months of diagnosis of the primary

Histopathological study of non-neoplastic lesions of nose, paransal sinuses and nasopharynx

Background: The various lesions of the nose, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx were subjected to histopathological evaluation over a period of 5 years (2010 to 2015) at the Department of Pathology, in a rural based hospital. Total 84 specimens were studied over the time of 5 years. Methodology: The formalin fixed specimens were received with complete clinical and radiological features. Routine gross examination and required number of sections were taken and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Result: In the study, 84 cases were of Inflammatory and Non neoplastic lesions. Nasal polyps were the most common lesions with 77 (91.67%) cases. Among the all Nasal polyps, 77 cases, 20 (25.97%) cases were of Allergic polyp, 50 (64.93%) cases were of inflammatory polyp, while 7 (9.09%) cases were of Antrochoanal polyp. 2 cases (2.38%) each of Sinusitis and Intradermal naevus. Rhinosporidiosis, Mucocele and Nasolabial cyst comprised of 1 (0.77%) case each respectively. Conclusion: In our study, most common lesions were Nasal Polyps. Most of the cases were presented in 2nd and 3rd decade of life with Male preponderance. Nasal obstruction was the most common clinical presentation in the present study

Phenol-crotonaldehyde resins. II. Effect of crotonaldehyde purity on resin properties

Acid-catalyzed polycondensation of phenol and crotonaldehyde results in soluble thermoplastic resins over a broad range of compositions. The thermal and curing behavior of the resins are found to vary markedly with the phenol to crotonaldehyde mole ratio and the purity of crotonaldehyde. Infrared analysis of the resins and their fractions separated by column chromatography indicates that all the resins are structurally similar. The number-average molecular weights of the resins fall in the range of 400 to 600. The resins from distilled crotonaldehyde exhibit higher molecular weights than those from crude crotonaldehyde. The thermal properties of the resins are comparable to the Novolak-type phenol-formaldehyde resins. The thermoplastic nature is retained even at higher fraction of crotonaldehyde, unlike for the conventional Novolak resins

Phenol-crotonaldehyde resins. III. Curing behavior with hexamethylenetetramine

Solid thermoplastic resins were prepared by acid-catalyzed condensation of phenol and crotonaldehyde (both crude and distilled). The thermal and curing properties were compared with the conventional phenol-formaldehyde (PF) novolak resins. Phenol-crotonaldehyde (PC) resins were found to be thermoplastic even after curing with the crosslinking agent hexamethylenetetramine up to 160°C. This curing behavior was observed irrespective of the purity of the crotonaldehyde or the phenol-to-crotonaldehyde mole ratio in the resin. Postcuring of these resins at elevated temperatures yielded insoluble and infusible thermoset products. This unique thermal characteristic could lead to interesting processing possibilities for the resins. The technical feasibility of thermoplastic processing of the PC resins followed by postcure heat treatment for transforming the molded part into a thermoset has been demonstrated