Introduction: The burden of hearing impairment in India is substantially high, largely preventable, and avoidable. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment using a ...smartphone-based tool among medical students and to study the factors associated, including personal audio device usage in a medical college hospital in Delhi, India. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among undergraduate medical students. The study participants were enrolled via. Stratified random sampling. We assessed hearing impairment via-HearWHO application with scores ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100 with categorization into i) above 75 ii) 50-75 iii) below 50. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 96 study participants were included, with the mean age of study participants as 20.3±1.4 years. On assessment with HearWHO, 36 (37.5%) were in the category of score above 75, 51 (53.1%) in score category 50-75, and 9 (9.4%) in score below 50. The overall mean score of the hearing assessment was 68.9±13.4 (Range: 12 to 94). Among the earphone device users, 27.1% do not comply with volume alerts on user devices. Conclusion: Among the study population, 9.4% of the study participants were likely to be having hearing loss and 53.1% should be screened regularly for hearing impairment. Addressing hearing loss remains crucial among the young population, especially the medical professionals, which is feasible and imperative in the current scenario.
Background: Contraceptive use is important to stabilize population growth by reducing the net reproduction rate. The effectiveness of a contraceptive method is decided mainly by its consistent and ...correct use. Methods: A record-based study was undertaken with the aim to study the contraceptive usage and its consistency among eligible couples in a peri-urban area of Delhi, India. Data of 946 eligible couples were analysed. Descriptive analysis was performed and odds ratios were calculated. Results: Mean age of females was found to be 30.3 ± 5.5 years and males was 33.5 ± 6.4 years. About 56.2% (532) eligible couples have used contraceptive at least once in the past 6 months and 54.7% (517) used them consistently for 6 months of the study period. There were 12.3 pregnancies per 100 non-users, 2.2 pregnancies per 100 ever users and 1.9 per 100 consistent users (1.7 for condoms and 0.2 for OCPs). Couples having two or more children, having two or more male children and with less than five years of age difference between husband and wife were found to have significantly higher odds of ever and consistent contraceptive use compared to other eligible couples (P < 0.05). Conclusion: More than half of the eligible couples were found to be using contraceptives ever in past 6 months, and 54.7% of eligible couples were using them consistently. There is a need to explore social, cultural factors, awareness levels associated with the ever and consistent use of contraceptives for improving overall couple protection rate and enhancing the consistency in usage.
Objective: Early detection and effective management of high-risk pregnancies can substantially contribute to the reduction of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aimed to determine the ...prevalence and clinical profile of women with high-risk pregnancies in rural areas who utilize antenatal services in a primary health center (PHC).Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out over a six-month period by reviewing the mother and child protection cards maintained at the PHC’s Maternal and Child Health Center. During the study period, 950 pregnant women were registered, of whom 793 were included in the study based on the completeness of the records. Data analysis was performed using the licensed Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0.Results: The prevalence of high-risk pregnancy among the antenatal women was 272 (34.3%) with 95% CI 31.1–37.7. Of the 272 women, 240 (88.2%) had a single high-risk factor, while 32 (11.8%) had more than one high-risk factor. The major factor contributing to high-risk pregnancy was hypothyroidism (43.7% with 95% CI 37.9–49.6), followed by a previous lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS) (19.1%).Conclusion: The study found that the prevalence of high-risk pregnancies was 34.3% in this rural setting. The majority of high-risk pregnancies were due to hypothyroidism, followed by more than one previous LSCS or abortion. Further research is required to track high-risk pregnancy outcomes and investigate the newborn thyroid profile of women with hypothyroidism.
Background‐
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the gene encoding cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). For reasons that are not ...completely clear, CF patients over the age of 40 are 4‐8 times more likely to develop colon cancer than the general population. Moreover, positive history of distal intestinal obstruction syndrome or organ transplant further increase risk of developing colon cancer by 11‐fold.
Objective‐
The objective of this research is to test the hypothesis that inherited CFTR mutations in CF patients promote colon cancer development by increasing cell migration and proliferation via altered epidermal growth factor (EGFR) signaling.
Methods‐
Scratch assays were performed on confluent fetal human colon epithelial cells (FHC) and the rate of cell migration was measured 1‐5 days after treatment with either CFTR activating (IBMX and forskolin) or inhibiting compounds (CFTRinh‐172 and CFTR siRNA). Ki67 nuclear antigen and EGFR labeling were conducted using standard immuno‐histochemical labeling and detection techniques.
Results‐
We found that both pharmacological and siRNA inhibition of CFTR activity increased the rate of wound closure and cell migration. Conversely, IBMX and forskolin stimulation of CFTR decreased the rate of FHC migration (vs untreated control rates). Inhibition of CFTR also associated with increased levels of Ki67 (a classic cell proliferation marker) and increased expression of EGFR (which has known roles in cell growth and differentiation).
Conclusion‐
Our results indicate that CFTR plays an important role in FHC colon cell migration and EGFR signaling, which could lead to a better understanding as to why CF patients have increased risk for colon cancer.
Substance use is a complex condition with multidimensional determinants. The present study aims to find the prevalence and determinants of substance use among young people attending primary ...healthcare centers in India.
A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted across 15 states in India on 1,630 young people (10-24 years) attending primary health centers. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was used to capture data on substance use. The degree of substance involvement was assessed and multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the risk factors of substance use.
The prevalence of substance use was 32.8%, with a median substance initiation age of 18 years. Among the substance users, 75.5% began before completing adolescence. Tobacco (26.4%), alcohol (26.1%) and cannabis (9.5%) were commonly consumed. Sociodemographic determinants included higher age, male gender, urban residence, positive family history, northeastern state residence and lower socioeconomic class. Over 80% of users had moderate or high involvement.
High substance use prevalence among young people in Indian healthcare centers underscores the urgency of targeted intervention. Insights on determinants guide effective prevention strategies for this complex public health issue.
Background: The surveillance of TB reduces disease transmission by shortening the duration of infectiousness and this reduces the incidence of TB infection and consequently contributes to reduced ...incidence of TB disease. The study aimed to screen for tuberculosis among the sanitation workers in a tertiary care hospital and assess the associated factors to provide the burden of tuberculosis among sanitation workers.Methods: The present study was conducted in Safdarjung Hospital, one of the largest Tertiary care hospital in India, located in the Southern part of Delhi. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the sanitation workers currently employed in the hospital. 362 workers were included in the study using a convenient sampling (non-probability) method. The participants were interviewed with a pretested, semi-structured, semi-open ended questionnaire, which was based on the guidelines of screening of TB of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). The data was entered in Google forms and analyzed for completeness and cleaned for errors and missing values. Data analysis was done using licensed SPSS software version 21.0.Results: Out of total 362 workers who were screened for TB, 28 (7.7%) gave a positive history for presumptive TB. The symptoms reported among them were cough more than 2 weeks (85.7%), fever or night sweats more than 2 weeks (46.4%), significant weight loss (53.5%), hemoptysis (14.2%), and symptoms regarding EPTB (53.5%).Conclusions: It is important to protect the health care workers working in hospital setting as they are under higher risk and screening should be conducted at regular intervals.
For study of the kinetics of endotoxin release from bacterial cells during therapy for gram-negative bacterial sepsis, serial blood samples were obtained from rabbits with Escherichia coli sepsis ...that were treated with either antibiotic or placebo. The concentrations of viable bacteria, free endotoxin, and total endotoxin in each blood sample were quantitated. In animals treated with placebo the concentration of free endotoxin was proportional to the level of bacteremia. In contrast, in animals treated with antibiotic the plasma levelsof free endotoxin increased 10- to 2,000-fold, in spite of decreasing levels of bacteremia. Free endotoxin that was present in the plasma following antibiotic treatment appeared to be derived in part from the breakdown of circulating bacteria and in part from the disintegration of bacteria in tissues other than the blood. The results of this study demonstrate that significant amounts of endotoxin are released from bacterial cells following administration of antibiotics in vivo.
Abstract only
Objective
To determine the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in colon cancer development, with a focus on cell migration, EGFR signaling, and ...inflammation using model FHC colon epithelial cells.
Background
Our clinical observations indicate that individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) over the age of 40 are 4–8 times more likely to get colon cancer than the general population. Moreover, the likelihood of getting colon cancer increases to over 30 times the general population’s risk in CF patients who have had an organ transplant. The mechanism(s) leading to increased colon cancer in CF patients is not fully understood, but dysfunctional Cl
−
and Na
+
transport are highly implicated. Chronic inflammation has also been shown to play an important role in the development and progression of many cancers. We hypothesize that dysregulated ion transport in CF patients leads to chronic inflammation and increased incidence of colon cancer via altered epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling.
Methods
We performed scratch assays on cultured human colon epithelial cells (FHC) and measured the rate of cell migration every 24 hours for 5 days in the presence of either CFTR activating or inhibiting compounds. EGFR signaling was analyzed using standard immunohistochemical labeling techniques and commercially available reagents in similarly treated FHC cells.
Results
Cells treated with 500 μM IBMX and 5 μM forskolin (CFTR activators) had significantly decreased rates of cell migration (26 μm
2
/24 hours) compared to the control group (51 μm
2
/24 hours) n=3; p<0.05. Control and colon cells treated with 500 μM IBMX and 5 μM forskolin showed low levels of EGFR labelling (restricted to cell periphery), whereas cells treated with 5 mM CFTR(inh)‐172 (CFTR inhibitor) showed more robust EGFR signal throughout the cytoplasm in 3 independent observations.
Conclusion
Our data indicates that suppressed CFTR activity impacts colon epithelial cell migration and EGFR localization in FHC cells. Additional research on CFTR and EGFR signaling is needed to better understand and improve treatment options for both colon cancer and CF patients.
Support or Funding Information
Funding: NIH R01 HL137033‐01 awarded to MNH.
To evaluate the role of antibiotic class in the rate of liberation of endotoxin during therapy for sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria, we obtained serial blood samples from rabbits with sepsis ...caused by Escherichia coli and treated with chloramphenicol, gentamicin, or moxalactam. The concentrations of viable bacteria, free endotoxin, and total endotoxin in each blood sample were measured. In rabbits treated with chloramphenicol, the geometric mean levels of free endotoxin remained proportional to the geometric mean levels of bacteremia, a result indicating the absence of antibiotic-induced endotoxin liberation. In contrast, levels of free endotoxin increased rapidly while levels of bacteremia declined after treatment with gentamicin or moxalactam, a result indicating antibiotic-induced release of endotoxin. Despite similar rates of bacterial killing, mean levels of free endotoxin were as much as 20-fold higher in rabbits treated with moxalactam than in paired rabbits receiving gentamicin (P < .05). These results indicate that endotoxin liberation during therapy for sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria is dependent upon the class of antibiotic administered and is not necessarily correlated with the rate of bacterial killing.
PDF
