Malaria is a public health emergency in India and Odisha. The national malaria elimination programme aims to expedite early identification, treatment and follow-up of malaria cases in hot-spots ...through a robust health system, besides focusing on efficient vector control. This study, a result of mass screening conducted in a hot-spot in Odisha, aimed to assess prevalence, identify and estimate the risks and develop a management tool for malaria elimination.
Through a cross-sectional study and using WHO recommended Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), 13221 individuals were screened. Information about age, gender, education and health practices were collected along with blood sample (5 μl) for malaria testing. Altitude, forestation, availability of a village health worker and distance from secondary health center were captured using panel technique. A multi-level poisson regression model was used to analyze association between risk factors and prevalence of malaria, and to estimate risk scores.
The prevalence of malaria was 5.8% and afebrile malaria accounted for 79 percent of all confirmed cases. Higher proportion of Pv infections were afebrile (81%). We found the prevalence to be 1.38 (1.1664-1.6457) times higher in villages where the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) didn't stay; the risk increased by 1.38 (1.0428-1.8272) and 1.92 (1.4428-2.5764) times in mid- and high-altitude tertiles. With regard to forest coverage, villages falling under mid- and highest-tertiles were 2.01 times (1.6194-2.5129) and 2.03 times (1.5477-2.6809), respectively, more likely affected by malaria. Similarly, villages of mid tertile and lowest tertile of education had 1.73 times (1.3392-2.2586) and 2.50 times (2.009-3.1244) higher prevalence of malaria.
Presence of ASHA worker in villages, altitude, forestation, and education emerged as principal predictors of malaria infection in the study area. An easy-to-use risk-scoring system for ranking villages based on these risk factors could facilitate resource prioritization for malaria elimination.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We present the calibration and background model for the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) detectors on board AstroSat. The LAXPC instrument has three nominally identical detectors to ...achieve a large collecting area. These detectors are independent of each other, and in the event analysis mode they record the arrival time and energy of each photon that is detected. The detectors have a time resolution of 10 s and a dead-time of about 42 s. This makes LAXPC ideal for timing studies. The energy resolution and peak channel-to-energy mapping were obtained from calibration on the ground using radioactive sources coupled with GEANT4 simulations of the detectors. The response matrix was further refined from observations of the Crab after launch. At around 20 keV the energy resolution of the detectors is 10%-15%, while the combined effective area of the three detectors is about 6000 cm2.
BRCA1/BRCA2 genes were discovered in early 1990s and clinical testing for these has been available since the mid-1990s. National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other international ...guidelines recommend genetic-testing at a ~10% probability threshold of carrying a BRCA-mutation. A detailed three generation family-history (FH) of cancer is used within complex mathematical models (e.g. BOADICEA, BRCAPRO, Manchester-Scoring-System) or through standardized clinical-criteria to identify individuals who fulfil this probability threshold and can be offered genetic-testing. Identification of unaffected carriers is important given the high risk of cancer in these women and the effective options available for clinical management which can reduce cancer risk, improve outcomes and minimise burden of disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
ABSTRACT We present the first quick look analysis of data from nine AstroSat's Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) observations of GRS 1915+105 during 2016 March when the source had the ...characteristics of being in the Radio-quiet χ class. We find that a simple empirical model of a disk blackbody emission, with Comptonization and a broad Gaussian Iron line can fit the time-averaged 3-80 keV spectrum with a systematic uncertainty of 1.5% and a background flux uncertainty of 4%. A simple dead time corrected Poisson noise level spectrum matches well with the observed high-frequency power spectra till 50 kHz and as expected the data show no significant high-frequency ( ) features. Energy dependent power spectra reveal a strong low-frequency (2-8 Hz) quasi-periodic oscillation and its harmonic along with broadband noise. The QPO frequency changes rapidly with flux (nearly 4 Hz in ∼5 hr). With increasing QPO frequency, an excess noise component appears significantly in the high-energy regime ( keV). At the QPO frequencies, the time-lag as a function of energy has a non-monotonic behavior such that the lags decrease with energy till about 15-20 keV and then increase for higher energies. These first-look results benchmark the performance of LAXPC at high energies and confirms that its data can be used for more sophisticated analysis such as flux or frequency-resolved spectro-timing studies.
Hysteroscopy is the gold standard for evaluating the uterine cavity, diagnosing intrauterine pathology, and operative intervention for some causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. The American College ...of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concluded that, when the endometrium measures ≤4 mm with transvaginal ultrasonography, the likelihood that bleeding is secondary to endometrial carcinoma is less than 1% (negative predictive value 99%), and endometrial biopsy is not recommended. Endometrial sampling in this clinical scenario will likely result in insufficient tissue for evaluation and it is reasonable to consider initial management for atrophy. A thickened endometrium on transvaginal ultrasonography (>4 mm in a postmenopausal woman with postmenopausal bleeding) warrants additional evaluation with endometrial sampling. A negative tissue biopsy following 'blind' endometrial sampling in women with postmenopausal bleeding is not considered to be an endpoint, and further evaluation of the endometrial cavity with hysteroscopy to exclude focal disease is imperative.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
1 Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India
2 Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC), Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39A, Chandigarh 160 036, India
...3 Microbial Culture Collection, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, India
4 ISRO Headquarters, Department of Space, Bangalore 560 023, India
5 Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005, India
6 Anveshna, 12-13-100, Lane No. 1, Street No. 3, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500 017, India
7 Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Ganeshkhind, Post Bag 4, Pune 411 007, India
Correspondence S. Shivaji shivas{at}ccmb.res.in
Three novel bacterial strains, PVAS-1 T , B3W22 T and B8W22 T , were isolated from cryotubes used to collect air samples at altitudes of between 27 and 41 km. Based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic features, DNA–DNA hybridization with the nearest phylogenetic neighbours and phylogenetic analysis based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences (PVAS-1 T , 1196 nt; B3W22 T , 1541 nt; B8W22 T , 1533 nt), the three strains were identified as representing novel species, and the names proposed are Janibacter hoylei sp. nov. (type strain PVAS-1 T =MTCC 8307 T =DSM 21601 T =CCUG 56714 T ), Bacillus isronensis sp. nov. (type strain B3W22 T =MTCC 7902 T =JCM 13838 T ) and Bacillus aryabhattai sp. nov. (type strain B8W22 T =MTCC 7755 T =JCM 13839 T ).
The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains PVAS-1 T , B3W22 T and B8W22 T are DQ317608 , EF114311 and EF114313 .
Polar lipid profiles of the novel strains and related type strains and results of UV-sensitivity experiments are available as supplementary material with the online version of this paper.
Plain language summary
This paper deals with the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after the removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer in premenopausal high risk women. ...Some women have an alteration in their genetic code, which makes them more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Two well‐known genes which can carry an alteration are the
BRCA1
and
BRCA2
genes. Examples of other genes associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer include
RAD51C, RAD51D, BRIP1
,
PALB2
and Lynch syndrome genes. Women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer, may also be at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women at increased risk can choose to have an operation to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries, which is the most effective way to prevent ovarian cancer. This is done after a woman has completed her family. However, removal of ovaries causes early menopause and leads to hot flushes, sweats, mood changes and bone thinning. It can also cause memory problems and increases the risk of heart disease. It may reduce libido or impair sexual function. Guidance on how to care for women following preventative surgery who are experiencing early menopause is needed.
HRT is usually advisable for women up to 51 years of age (average age of menopause for women in the UK) who are undergoing early menopause and have not had breast cancer, to minimise the health risks linked to early menopause. For women with a womb, HRT should include estrogen coupled with progestogen to protect against thickening of the lining of the womb (called endometrial hyperplasia). For women without a womb, only estrogen is given. Research suggests that, unlike in older women, HRT for women in early menopause does not increase breast cancer risk, including in those who are
BRCA1
and
BRCA2
carriers and have preventative surgery.
For women with a history of receptor‐negative breast cancer, the gynaecologist will liaise with an oncology doctor on a case‐by‐case basis to help to decide if HRT is safe to use. Women with a history of estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer are not normally offered HRT. A range of other therapies can be used if a woman is unable to take HRT. These include behavioural therapy and non‐hormonal medicines. However, these are less effective than HRT. Regular exercise, healthy lifestyle and avoiding symptom triggers are also advised. Whether to undergo surgery to reduce risk or not and its timing can be a complex decision‐making process. Women need to be carefully counselled on the pros and cons of both preventative surgery and HRT use so they can make informed decisions and choices.
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