Impact of infant & young child feeding & caring practices on morbidity

Background: Around 5.9 million children still die every year before reaching their fifth birthday. Child morbidity and mortality due to preventable causes remains high in developing countries. Aim & Objective: To find out the relationship of morbidity with child rearing practices and sociodemographic characteristic. Material and Methods: To cover a sample size of 400 in urban health center area population under 5 children every alternate family was selected by systematic random sampling from the total of 1867 registered families at urban health center. The data was obtained by the interview of mothers and examination of children using predesigned and pretested Questionnaire. The data thus collected, was first coded and then transferred to a master chart on Microsoft Excel sheet, from which distribution as well as co-relation tables were prepared, analyzed and statistically evaluated by SPSS version 20.0.Result: In the present study, the overall fortnightly incidence of morbidity among under 5 children was found to be 65.3% (boys – 64.2%, girls – 66.5%). Exclusive breastfeeding (p < 0.001); time of initiation of breastfeeding (p < 0.001); complementary feeding (p < 0.05) and hand washing practices (p < 0.001) are statistically significant predictors of child morbidity Conclusion: We need comprehensive child health care programme having all three promotive, preventive and curative services.

Nano cellulose dispersed chitosan film with Ag NPs/Curcumin: An in vivo study on Albino Rats for wound dressing

With an aim to develop chitosan film with controllable swelling behavior and maximum antimicrobial efficacy, we hereby report cellulose nano crystals loaded chitosan films with Curcumin/Ag nano particles embedded as strong antimicrobial agents. The CNC had average size of 40-90nm with poly dispersity index of 3.641. The TEM analysis of Ag NPs, produced via DMF reduction, revealed a particle size range of 15-25nm. The Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) of these Ag NPs shifted from 380 to 440nm, with the increase in concentration of Ag (I). The TGA of the film samples Ch/CNC, and Ch/CNC (Ag₄₆₃/Cur₄₅₀) exhibited% weight loss of around 95 and 80 respectively, thus indicating higher stability due to presence of Ag NPs. In XRD analysis 2θ reflections at 38.12, 44.28 and 66.46°^, confirmed the presence planes (1 1), (2 0) and (2 0) respectively. In skin irritation test, the mean Erythema scores observed after 72h was zero for both the Curcumin and Ag NPs/Curcumin loaded films. The percent wound reduction, observed for the film samples Ch/CNC (Cur₄₅₀) and Ch/CNC (Ag NP₄₆₃/Cur₄₅₀) was 57.8 and 97.2 respectively, indicating better suitability of Ag NPs/Curcumin loaded film.

Egg production performance, egg yolk antioxidant profile and excreta concentration of corticosterone in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) fed diets containing different levels of green vegetables

In order to study the effect of feeding graded levels of green vegetables on egg production performance and egg yolk antioxidant status, 27 female golden pheasants (GP) were randomly distributed into three groups of nine each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The diets of the birds in groups T₁ , T₂ and T₃ contained 1.4%, 2.7% and 5.0% of green vegetables respectively. Feeding of experimental diets started on 12th February (day 1) and was continued till 30 June 2012. Average number of eggs laid and egg mass produced by the hens in group T₃ was higher (p < 0.004) than those of T₁ and T₂ . Hen day egg production was lowest (p < 0.001) in group T₁ . Roche yolk colour score was highest (p < 0.01) in T₃ followed by T₂ and was lowest in T₁ . Other external and internal egg quality parameters were similar among the groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of egg yolk was higher (p < 0.04) in group T₃ as compared to other two groups. Egg yolk concentration of total carotenoids, β-carotene, total sulfhydryl, protein-bound sulfhydryl and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl was higher (p < 0.05), whereas concentration of malondialdehyde was lower (p < 0.024) in group T₃ as compared to other two groups. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was highest (p < 0.012) in T₁ , followed by T₂ , and was lowest in T₃ . Egg yolk concentration of TAC and TSH was positively and that of malondialdehyde was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. Excreta concentration of corticosterone was negatively correlated with carotenoids intake. It was concluded that incorporation of green vegetables in the diet at 5% on dry matter basis would improve egg production, egg yolk antioxidant status and the ability of the captive GP to combat stress.

Dynamic release of gentamicin sulfate (GS) from alginate dialdehyde (AD)-crosslinked casein (CAS) films for antimicrobial applications

In the present work, antibiotic drug gentamicin sulfate (GS) has been loaded into alginate dialdehyde-crosslinked casein (CAS) films for wound dressing applications. The films have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The dynamic release of model drug GS has been investigated in the physiological fluid at 37 °C. The drug release data has been interpreted in the terms of various kinetic models such as Power function model, first order model and Schott model. The release data was found to be well fitted by Schott model. The various diffusion coefficients are also evaluated. The adsorption of model therapeutic protein BSA on the film has been investigated. The maximum adsorption is found to be 5.7 mg/cm2.The films were tested for their antibacterial and anti-fungal action. Finally, the in vivo wound healing study was carried out on Albino wistar rats.

A Novel Approach to Study Enzymatic Degradation of Ter-polymeric Beads for Gastrointestinal Drug Delivery: Synthesis and Characterization

The α-amylase induced enzymatic degradation of terpolymeric beads, composed of calcium alginate, starch and poly(ethylene) glycol, were studied for gastrointestinal drug delivery. The beads demonstrated faster degradation with increased enzyme activity in the range 0.64 to 2.24IU/mL. A linear relationship of the degradation rates and corresponding enzyme concentration indicate that degradation is governed by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The degradation rate was enhanced with increases in starch content in the beads. The smaller value of KM (3.15 × 10−5 mol−1 dm−3) indicated higher enzyme-substrate affinity. The beads crosslinked with barium ions demonstrated slower degradation due to a higher degree of crosslinking in the beads. With increases in initial water content, the degradation was found to increase. In order to incorporate in vivo GI conditions, the degradation was also studied using a flow through diffusion cell (FTDC). The hydrogel beads exhibited slower degradation by FTDC compared to traditional in vitro methods and the degradation was dependent on the nature of the filler particles used in the diffusion cell.

Influence of dietary protein on serum metabolites and antioxidant status: A study in Chrysolophus amherstiae

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding graded levels of dietary crude protein (CP) on serum biochemical profile of Lady Amherst's pheasants (LAP). Eighteen male LAP were randomly distributed into three groups of six each in an experiment based on completely randomized design. The CP content of the diets was 13.4%, 16.5%, and 19.1%, in groups I, II, and III, respectively. Serum concentrations of uric acid was lowest (P < 0.05) in group I. Relationship between serum concentration of uric acid and nitrogen intake was linear (R(2)  = 0.39, P < 0.01). Concentrations of other serum metabolites and enzymes were similar among the groups. Serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3 ) was highest (P < 0.05) in group I, followed by groups II and III. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum was lower (P < 0.007), whereas serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (P < 0.001) in group I as compared to groups II and III. Regression of serum concentration of TAC (R(2)  = 0.74, P < 0.01) and MDA (R(2)  = 0.39, P < 0.05) was polynomial. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was higher (P < 0.007) in group I as compared to groups II and III. Relationship between H/L ratio and nitrogen intake was polynomial (R(2)  = 0.69, P < 0.05). Cell mediated immune response measured as foot web index was similar among the groups. Based upon the results, it was concluded that a diet containing 16.5% crude protein would be optimum for improving antioxidant defense and the ability of Lady Amherst's pheasant to combat stress. Zoo Biol. 35:346-354, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Treatment practices in pulmonary tuberculosis by private sector physicians of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

BACKGROUND

Majority of the qualified medical practitioners in the country are in the private sector and more than half of patients with tuberculosis (TB) seek treatment from them. The present study was conducted with the objective of assessing the treatment modalities in pulmonary tuberculosis by the private physicians in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out covering all the private physicians (graduates and postgraduates in Medicine and Chest Diseases) registered under the Indian Medical Association, Meerut Branch (n = 154). The physicians were interviewed by a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire about the treatment modalities practiced by them.

RESULTS

Only 43.5% private physicians had attended any Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) training in the past five years. Only 33.1% of them were aware of the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC). Fifty-three different regimens were used to treat the patients. Majority of physicians (76%) prescribed daily regimens while 24% administered both daily and intermittent treatment. None of the private physicians prescribed exclusive intermittent regimen. Eighty-seven different treatment regimens were used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) with none of them prescribing standard treatment under RNTCP.

CONCLUSION

As majority of private practitioners do not follow RNTCP guidelines for treating TB, there is an urgent need for their continued education in this area.

Magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery applications

In recent past magnetic nanoparticles have been explored for a number of biomedical applications due to their superparamagnetic moment with high magnetic saturation value. For these biomedical applications, magnetic nanoparticles require being monodispersed so that the individual nanoparticle has almost identical physico-chemical properties for biodistribution, bioelimination and contrast imaging potential. Further, the surface functionalization/modification of magnetic nanoparticles ultimately facilitate the protein or DNA separation, detection and magnetic resonance imaging contrast, drug delivery and hyperthermia applications. The essential goal of this review is to evaluate the recent advances of magnetic nanoparticles for tumor, brain targeting and hyperthermia applications.