EPI vaccination in Nepal

A number of surveys, small or large, have been undertaken by various agencies for coverage evaluation of immunization programs. The most commonly used design is the WHO-30 cluster sampling method. Other new methods are the Institute for Refresh Medical Statistics (IRMS) New Delhi method and the lot quality assurance sampling method. This paper describes the National Immunization Day (NID) method to evaluate the immunization coverage of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines in the Sunsari district of Nepal. A total number of 3,332 respondents (69.4% females and 30.6% males) were interviewed regarding the immunization status of their children during NID. The children with complete immunization (BCG, measles and three doses of DPT and OPV) were 65.7%. The individual coverage by EPI vaccines (except OPV III and measles) was more than 80%. The result shows that there is positive relationship between immunization coverage and educational level of the respondents.     

Effects of halothane on sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release channels in porcine airway smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND: Volatile anesthetics relax airway smooth muscle (ASM) by altering intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The authors hypothesized that relaxation is produced by decreasing sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content via increased Ca2+ "leak" through both inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and ryanodine receptor channels. METHODS: Enzymatically dissociated porcine ASM cells were exposed to acetylcholine in the presence or absence of 2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) halothane, and IP3 levels were measured using radioimmunoreceptor assay. Other cells were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fluo-3 and imaged using real-time confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Halothane increased IP3 concentrations in the presence and absence of acetylcholine. Inhibition of phospholipase C blunted the IP3 response to halothane. Exposure to 2 MAC halothane induced a transient [Ca2+]i response, suggesting depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+. Exposure to 20 microM Xestospongin D, a cell-permeant IP3 receptor antagonist, resulted in a 45+/-13% decrease in the [Ca2+]i response to halothane compared with halothane exposure alone. In permeabilized cells, Xestospongin D or 0.5 mg/ml heparin decreased the [Ca2+]i response to halothane by 65+/-13% and 68+/-22%, respectively, compared with halothane alone. In both intact and permeabilized cells, 20 microM ryanodine blunted the [Ca2+]i response to halothane by 32+/-13% and 39+/-21%, respectively, compared with halothane alone. Simultaneous exposure to Xestospongin D and ryanodine completely inhibited the [Ca2+]i response to halothane. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that halothane reduces sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content in ASM cells via increased Ca2+ leak through both IP3 receptor and ryanodine receptor channels. Effects on IP3 receptor channels are both direct and indirect via elevation of IP3 levels.     

Dysgerminoma of the ovary: A retrospective study

A retrospective analysis of 22 patients with ovarian dysgerminoma who were treated between 1980 and 1987 was carried out. The median age at presentation was 24.5 years. A total of 15 patients were in stage I, one patient was in stage II and six patients were in stage III. Bilateral ovarian involvement was present in four patients. Conservative surgery was carried out in nine patients and 11 patients underwent radical surgery. Two patients had biopsy only. Fourteen patients received adjuvant radiotherapy and three patients received salvage radiation for recurrent disease. The 10-year actuarial survival rate was 81.8%. All 15 patients in stage I were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 125 months. Four patients (one in stage II and three in stage III) died of progressive or recurrent abdominopelvic disease. Pelvic recurrence occurred after conservative surgery in two patients in stage IA who had a tumour size greater than 10 cm, but they were salvaged with radical surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There were seven patients aged 20 years or less. All were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 127 months.     

Reliability of direct skin smear microscopy in leprosy

Skin smear direct microscopy is an important tool for diagnosis of leprosy. The study was planned to understand the reproducibility of skin smear reading by a trained technician. Skin smears were collected from known patients of leprosy from the field area. They were stained for acid fast bacilli following the standard cold staining procedure and were read following the Ridley scale. A sample of smears was re-examined on two occasions by the same technician, following blind procedure. There was a systematic under reading on the second occasion, which was attributed to the defective storage of the slides. However, the agreement between second and third examinations was very good (Concordance 81.34%, Kappa 0.74). The finding was confirmed on a repeat examination. It can be concluded that the Direct Skin Smear Microscopy is a reliable and reproducible technique under experimental conditions.     

Therapeutic effects of Moringa oleifera on arsenic-induced toxicity in rats

Moringa oleifera Lamarack (English: Horseradish-tree, Drumstick-tree; Hindi: Saijan; Sanskrit: Shigru) belongs to the Moringaceae family, is generally known in the developing world as a vegetable, a medicinal plant and a source of vegetable oil. Besides, the plant is reported to have various biological activities, including hypocholesterolemic agent, regulation of thyroid hormone status, anti-diabetic agent, gastric ulcers, anti-tumor agent and hypotensive agent, used for treating various diseases such as inflammation, cardiovascular and liver diseases. Therapeutic efficacy of oral administration of seed powder of M. oleifera (500 mg/kg, orally, once daily) post arsenic exposure (100 ppm in drinking water for 4 months) was investigated in rats. Animals exposed to arsenic(III) showed a significant inhibition of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) level and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in blood. On the other hand, a significant decrease in hepatic ALAD, and an increase in δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) activity was noted after arsenic exposure. These changes were accompanied by an increase in thiobarbiturc acid reactive substances (TBARS) level in liver and kidney. Activities of liver, kidney and brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase also showed a decrease on arsenic exposure. Administration of M. oleifera seed powder post arsenic exposure, exhibited significant recovery in blood ALAD activity while, it restored blood GSH and ROS levels. Most of the other blood biochemical variables remained unchanged on M. oleifera supplementation. A significant protection in the altered ALAD and ALAS activities of liver and TBARS level in liver and kidney was however, observed after M. oleifera administration. Interestingly, there was a marginal but significant depletion of arsenic from blood, liver and kidneys. The results, thus lead us to conclude that post arsenic exposure administration with the seed powder of M. oleifera has significant role in protecting animals from arsenic-induced oxidative stress and in the depletion of arsenic concentration. Further studies thus can be recommended for determining the effect of co-administrating seed powder of M. oleifera during chelation therapy with a thiol chelator.     

Social and physical environments and disparities in risk for cardiovascular disease: the healthy environments partnership conceptual model

The Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP) is a community-based participatory research effort investigating variations in cardiovascular disease risk, and the contributions of social and physical environments to those variations, among non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic residents in three areas of Detroit, Michigan. Initiated in October 2000 as a part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' Health Disparities Initiative, HEP is affiliated with the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center. The study is guided by a conceptual model that considers race-based residential segregation and associated concentrations of poverty and wealth to be fundamental factors influencing multiple, more proximate predictors of cardiovascular risk. Within this model, physical and social environments are identified as intermediate factors that mediate relationships between fundamental factors and more proximate factors such as physical activity and dietary practices that ultimately influence anthropomorphic and physiologic indicators of cardiovascular risk. The study design and data collection methods were jointly developed and implemented by a research team based in community-based organizations, health service organizations, and academic institutions. These efforts include collecting and analyzing airborne particulate matter over a 3-year period; census and administrative data; neighborhood observation checklist data to assess aspects of the physical and social environment; household survey data including information on perceived stressors, access to social support, and health-related behaviors; and anthropometric, biomarker, and self-report data as indicators of cardiovascular health. Through these collaborative efforts, HEP seeks to contribute to an understanding of factors that contribute to racial and socioeconomic health inequities, and develop a foundation for efforts to eliminate these disparities in Detroit.     

Scaffolds for bone restoration from cuttlefish

Scaffolds of pure hydroxyapatite suitable for either direct clinical use or tissue-engineering applications were successfully produced via hydrothermal transformation of aragonite, obtained from fresh cuttlefish bones, at 200°C followed by sintering. Beyond low production cost, worldwide availability and natural–biological origin of raw materials, the produced scaffolds have ideal pore size and interconnectivity features suitable for supporting biological activities, such as bone tissue growth and vascularization. Bioactivity in vitro tests were excellent: (a) rapid and pronounced formation of hydroxyapatite occurred when the scaffolds were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF), and (b) outstanding proliferation of osteoblasts was registered. The produced scaffolds can be machined and shaped very easily at any stage of processing. Therefore, these ceramic scaffolds can satisfy both bioactivity demands and the requirements for shaping of tailor-made individualized implants, especially for randomly damaged bones.     

Non-O,O'-Chlorine Substituted Congeners in Commercial Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Mixtures of the World

No abstract available.