Highlights • The arrival of Zika virus in America has generated a lot of awareness in social media due to the algorithmic increase in the spread of the disease and its concerning complications. • ...Accurate & credible dissemination of correct information about the arbovirus could help in decreasing the pandemic spread and associated apprehension in the population. • Our study examined the effective use of the social media site Facebook as an information source for the Zika virus pandemic. • We found that the misleading posts were far more popular than the posts dispersing accurate relevant public health information about the disease.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of rutin.
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•The purification of an α-l-rhamnosidase from the culture filtrate of a novel fungal strain P. griseoroseum MTCC-9224, isolated from goose berry fruit ...peel.•The enzyme is active near the neutral pH range and can be used for the preparation of l-rhamnose and isoquercitrin from rutin.•The enzyme is specific for the conversion of rutin to isoquercitrin which is a pharmaceutically important bioavailable, rare compound of medicinal and food values.
An α-l-rhamnosidase secreting fungal strain has been isolated from the decaying goose berry (Emblica officinalis) fruit peel. The fungal strain has been identified as Penicillium greoroseum MTCC-9224. The α-l-rhamnosidase of this fungal strain has been purified to homogeneity using a simple procedure involving concentration by ultra filtration and an anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band corresponding to molecular mass of 97kDa in SDS-PAGE analysis. The native-PAGE analysis also gave a single protein band confirming the purity of the enzyme. Using p-nitrophenyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside as the substrate, Km and kcat values of the enzyme were 0.65mM and 43.65s−1, respectively. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were 6.5 and 57°C, respectively. The activation energy for the thermal denaturation of the enzyme was 27.9kJ/mol. The purified α-l-rhamnosidase hydrolyzed rutin to isoquercitrin and l-rhamnose but has no effect on naringin and hesperidin.
Blacks are two to three times as likely as whites to die of preventable heart disease and stroke. Declines in mortality from heart disease have not eliminated racial disparities. Control and ...effective treatment of hypertension, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, among blacks is less than in whites and remains a challenge. One of the driving forces behind this racial/ethnic disparity is medication nonadherence whose cause is embedded in social determinants. Eight practical approaches to addressing medication adherence with the potential to attenuate disparities were identified and include: (1) patient engagement strategies, (2) consumer‐directed health care, (3) patient portals, (4) smart apps and text messages, (5) digital pillboxes, (6) pharmacist‐led engagement, (7) cardiac rehabilitation, and (8) cognitive‐based behavior. However, while data suggest that these strategies may improve medication adherence, the effect on ameliorating racial/ethnic disparities is not certain. This review describes the relationship between disparities and medication adherence, which likely plays a role in persistent disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Summary
The extracellular α‐l‐rhamnosidase has been purified by growing a new fungal strain Aspergillus awamori MTCC‐2879 in the liquid culture growth medium containing orange peel. The purification ...procedure involved ultrafiltration using PM‐10 membrane and anion‐exchange chromatography on diethyl amino ethyl cellulose. The purified enzyme gave single protein band in SDS‐PAGE analysis corresponding to molecular mass 75.0 kDa. The native PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme also gave a single protein band, confirming the purity of the enzyme. The Km and Vmax values of the enzyme for p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside were 0.62 mm and 27.06 μmole min−1 mg−1, respectively, yielding kcat and kcat/km values 39.90 s−1 and 54.70 mm−1 s−1, respectively. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 7.0 and optimum temperature of 60 °C. The activation energy for the thermal denaturation of the enzyme was 35.65 kJ−1 mol−1 K−1. The purified enzyme can be used for specifically cleaving terminal α‐l‐rhamnose from the natural glycosides, thereby contributing to the preparation of pharmaceutically important compounds like prunin and l‐rhamnose.
Transmissibility within closed settings, such as households, can provide a strategic way to characterize the virus transmission patterns because the denominator can be well defined. We aimed to ...characterize the household transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) and its associated risk factors.
This prospective case-ascertained study was conducted among the household contacts of laboratory-confirmed SARS CoV-2 cases residing in Ballabgarh, Haryana. We enrolled 148 index cases and their 645 household contacts between December 16, 2020 and June 24, 2021. We defined household contact as any person who had resided in the same household as a confirmed COVID-19 case. Baseline data collection and sample collection for real time- reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and IgM/IgG against SARS CoV-2 were done on day 1 visit, and followed for a period of 28 days. RT-PCR was repeated on day 14 or whenever the contact is symptomatic and blood sample for serology was repeated on day 28. We estimated household secondary infection rate (SIR) and other epidemiological indicators-median incubation period and serial interval. We employed binomial logistic regression to quantify risk factors associated with infection.
The household SIR was 30.5% (95% CI: 27.1-34.1%). The secondary clinical attack rate was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.2-11.8). The risk factors that showed higher susceptibility to infection were household contacts who were the primary care giver of the case, whose index cases were symptomatic, those with underlying medical conditions, those living in overcrowded households, who were sharing toilet with the index cases and also who were not wearing a mask when coming in contact with the case. The median (IQR) incubation period was 4 days (4, 5), mean (SD) serial interval 6.4 (±2.2) days, and median (IQR) serial interval 5 days (5, 7).
Households favour secondary transmission of SARS CoV- 2, hence, index cases are recommended to self-isolate and wear masks; and household contacts to follow strict COVID infection control measures within households when a family member is infected.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The IFA supplementation program under the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) program is one of the most ambitious nutrient supplementation programs in India. The delivery of services often suffers due to ...frequent stock outs and shortages. It is critical to understand the bottleneck in the supply chain adversely affecting the performance and coverage of the program. The paper attempts to identify the bottlenecks of the IFA supply chain in key areas of supply chain i.e., forecasting, procurement, warehousing and inventory management, transportation, distribution, logistic information system and suggests a plan of action aimed at ensuring uninterrupted supplies to the end beneficiaries.
The data source for the present paper is the nationwide IFA Supply Chain Assessment (2018-19) conducted across 29 Indian states with a total of 58 districts, 116 blocks, 232 Sub-Centres, 232 Anganwadi centres and 232 schools covered under the assessment as a multi-partner collaborative initiative. Field insights from supply chain strengthening interventions under different public health programs in India and other developing countries were taken to arrive at corrective actions and recommendations. Findings were disseminated to government and an action plan was suggested for connecting service delivery points through an app-based system, developing a micro plan for ensuring fixed distribution schedule, followed by continuous monitoring and review meetings identified for follow up.
The average lead time across states was 35 weeks with top three performing states being Goa, Sikkim, and Telangana. The average per unit cost of procurement was Rs 0.35 for IFA Red, Rs 0.25 for IFA Blue, Rs 0.31 for IFA Pink and Rs 7.30 for IFA syrup. Out of the 704 districts in India, only 213 has IFA Red, only 140 had IFA Blue, 152 had IFA Pink and 163 had IFA Syrup available in four quarters of 2018-19. The key issues identified in the assessment were-a lack of standardized forecasting process, absence of inventory management techniques, no fixed distribution schedule, inadequate availability of transport vehicles and an absence of an integrated MIS.
The identification of bottlenecks in the IFA supply chain and its impact on the performance of the supply chain would provide policy guidelines for the government as well as development partner agencies to design an effective and efficient supply chain. It would also enable the policy planners to understand the challenges associated with managing different components of a supply chain, their interrelation and impact on the overall performance of the supply chain. The suggested recommendations would equip program managers with the tool to devise and implement field level solutions.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Fire has cultural and economic significance for Indigenous and rural peoples worldwide, being used to manage landscapes for activities such as hunting, gathering, cropping, and forestry, and for ...ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Policy interventions by state and non-state organizations, such as regulations, economic incentives, and communication campaigns, can target fire use directly, or affect it indirectly, for example, by restricting land access. Yet evidence of such impacts has not been synthesized at the global scale. We analyzed 512 examples in 68 countries to describe the range of policy interventions by state and non-state organizations that target and/or affect fire use, categorizing interventions based on the broad actor types involved, their mode of operation (e.g., regulation) and their intentionality and/or possible effects vis-a-vis fire use. Of these interventions, 74% involved only state agencies in policy design and implementations, 4% involved only non-state organizations, and 18% involved collaboration between state and/or non-state organizations and/or communities. Three hundred and nine interventions directly targeted fire use, of which 87% aimed to eliminate or constrain fire use. Two hundred and three affected fire use indirectly, of which 88% led to reductions in or constraints upon fire use. Though there is some recognition in the 21st century of a need, in certain contexts, to support local fire use, for reasons related to environmental justice, ecology, wildfire risk and climate change, the literature we reviewed points to several challenges for contemporary efforts toward this end. These include contradictions between policy interventions, mistrust between actors following histories of fire suppression, greater fuel loads increasing the risk of burning where fire has been suppressed, and the need to consider the indirect effects of other types of policy, such as those related to land tenure.
Summary
An extracellular α‐l‐rhamnosidase from Penicillium citrinum MTCC‐3565 has purified to homogeneity from its culture filtrate using ethanol precipitation and cation‐exchange chromatography on ...carboxymethyl cellulose. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band corresponding to molecular mass of 45.0 kDa in SDS‐PAGE analysis showing the purity of the enzyme preparation. The native PAGE analysis showed the monomeric nature of the purified enzyme. Using p‐nitrophenyl α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside as substrate, Km and Vmax values of the enzyme were 0.30 mm and 27.0 μm min mg−1, respectively. The kcat value was 20.1 s giving kcat/Km value of 67.0 mm s−1 for the same substrate. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were 8.5 and 50 °C, respectively. The activation energy for the thermal denaturation of the enzyme was 29.9 KJ mol−1. The α‐l‐rhamnosidase was able to hydrolyse naringin, rutin and hesperidin and liberated l‐rhamnose, indicating that the purified enzyme can be used for the preparation of α‐l‐rhamnose and pharmaceutically important compounds by derhamnosylation of natural glycosides containing terminal α‐l‐rhamnose. The α‐l‐rhamnosidase was active at the level of ethanol concentration present in wine, indicating that it can be used for improving wine aroma.
Background: It is well documented that the utilization of maternal healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth plays a significant role in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. ...Disruptions in maternal healthcare services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been reported. However, there is a paucity of literature from rural areas, as most of the previous studies are either record-based or conducted in tertiary care centers. This study aimed to determine the proportion of women who received the recommended maternal healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic and to study various factors associated with the utilization of services. Material and Methods: In this community-based study, we assessed the utilization of maternal healthcare services among 520 women residing in the Ballabgarh Block of District Faridabad, Haryana, whose antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period coincided with the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Domiciliary visits were made, and women were interviewed retrospectively regarding maternal healthcare services utilized by them. The antenatal care (ANC) cards were reviewed, and details were corroborated. Results: Full ANC was received by 15.3% of women, and 45% of women had less than four antenatal visits. 30.9% of participants had cesarean delivery. The proportion of cesarean delivery in private facilities was significantly higher than in government facilities Odds Ratio (OR) (95% Confidence intervals (CI)) =10.04 (5.87-17.19); P < 0.001. In multivariate logistic regression, gravidity was negatively associated with full ANC OR (95% CI) =0.43 (0.25-0.74); P = 0.002. Conclusion: Fewer women received the recommended maternal healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed assessment of health systems and factors affecting routine healthcare services, during the pandemic, can help improve the readiness and response in the future.
Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on health services around the world. Many hospitals and clinics were overwhelmed by the influx of patients, ...leading to delays and disruptions in care. The fear of contracting the virus also led to a decrease in the number of people seeking medical care, even for urgent or life-threatening conditions. Various studies have reported a decrease in overall utilization of maternal health services. However, it remains vital to find the reasons for reduced utilization along with the experiences of the women as well as healthcare workers during the pandemic. Objective The objective of this study was to identify the facilitators and barriers to maternal healthcare services utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods It was a qualitative study conducted in a rural area of Haryana, India. Twelve in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with health workers and four focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant women. Textual analysis was done for both IDIs as well as FGDs. Qualitative analysis was done manually. Results The identified themes were complete cessation of services, no outpatient department (OPD) services for many months, no antenatal care (ANC) services for two months, disruption of supply of medicines, unavailability of drugs, fear of getting COVID-19 infection, mandatory COVID-19 negative report for admission in hospital, and increased referral from government health facilities during the pandemic and lockdown. Conclusion Maternal healthcare services suffered during COVID-19 for various reasons including the closure of health facilities, limited supply of stocks, or fear of the disease among pregnant women. This evidence can be used to prepare as well as manage healthcare services in future.
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