Retinopathy of prematurity: Maharashtra state model

This report describes the goal, activities, and outcomes of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust funded retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) program in the state of Maharashtra in collaboration with the Public Health Foundation of India, Hyderabad. The project was initiated in July 2016 with the goal of establishing a sustainable ROP program in the special newborn care units (SNCUs) in public health facilities of five districts. Between 2016 and 2018, ophthalmology and neonatology teams from five district hospitals (DHs) were trained by nongovernment partner hospitals in the state. Infrastructure was developed by procuring equipment for ROP screening/treatment, and awareness generation activities were conducted with a range of stakeholders. Eight ophthalmologists were trained to perform ROP screening (from five DHs and one medical college), and five neonatology teams (pediatricians and nurses) from the project hospitals were trained in best neonatal practices to prevent ROP. The Pune district's hospital was developed as an ROP treatment center. Toward the end of the project period, six new facilities had an established ROP program. The state health department is in the process of scaling up the ROP program to a larger geographic region to ensure universal ROP screening coverage in the state of Maharashtra.

Evaluation Of In-Vitro Anticancer Activity And Quantitation Of Active Ingredient Of Adansonia Digitata L. Fruit

In the world cancer is the major cause of death. Adansonia digitata L is commonly called as baobab belongs to Family Bombacaceae. Due to the high cost and toxic side effects like Bone marrow suppression, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, Immunosuppression, teratogenicity etc. of chemotherapeutic agents. So, for the proper controlling on cancer the trends of people are moving towards natural therapies. In light to above, in present research A. digitata L is selected for evaluation of in-vitro anticancer activity based on its reported phytoconstituents of fruit and quantitation of active principle of it. The extracts of fruit pulp, seed, and its combination were obtained using solvents like water, ethanol and n-hexane by maceration technique (Aqueous) and Soxhlet extraction method (organic). This extracts were used for further research possesses phytochemical constituents like Carbohydrates, tannins, Saponins, vitamins, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenol, glycoside flavonoids, steroids, etc. in-vitro antioxidant activity were evaluated via free scavenging assay by using DPPH assay method. Further in-vitro anticancer activity was evaluated against three human cancer cell lines MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line), Hep-G2 (liver cancer cell line) and COLO-205 (colon cancer cell line) using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA), Tryphan Blue Dye Cell Exclusion Assay (TBDCEA) and MTT assay. The quantitation of active ingredients Vit. C and Squalene from extracts was done by using titration method and HPLC method respectively. Formulation possesses highest percent antioxidant capacity (49.36). In BSLA formulation possesses highest rate of percent mortality than other extracts. In TBCE assay and in MTT assay formulation gives more significant effect in Hep-G2 liver cancer cell line than remaining cell lines. These findings introduce A. digitata L as potentially useful as anti-cancer agent. Further research is required to elucidate its specific mechanism of action and exact active principle responsible for action.

Influenza surveillance in Pune, India, 2003.

Influenza surveillance was conducted in Pune, India in 2003. A total of 573 throat swabs/ nasal swabs (TS/NS) and 190 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from 763 in- and out-patients who were mostly children aged 0-16 years. TS/NS (507/573) and NPA (42/190) specimens were processed in MDCK cell cultures and identified with the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI). A total of 37 influenza viruses was isolated: twenty-three type A (H3N2) and 14 type B of the Yamagata lineage were isolated from 29 children and 8 adults. Three type A (H3N2) isolates were characterized as being similar to A/Panama/2007/99 like, A/Korea/770/2000 like, and B/Sichuan/379/99 like strains.

Isolation of recent variant influenza types A(H3N2), A (H1N1) & B strains in Pune, India.

A total of 293 patients with influenza like illness were investigated during the course of continuous surveillance on influenza in Pune, India in 2000. The throat/nasal swab specimens collected from these patients were inoculated in MDCK cell culture and influenza types A(H3N2), A(H1N1) and type B strains were isolated. They were identified as similar to the recently prevalent variant strains; A/Sydney/05/97(H3N2), A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1) and B/Sichuan/379/99. The latter two were the new variant strains reported for the first time in Pune. It is important to note that A(H1N1) strains were isolated in Pune during 2000 after a gap of 10 yr.

Spontaneous expulsion of unusual tracheobronchial foreign body.

An extremely rare case of long, thin and sharp pin in a young boy which was inhaled initially and defied removal at branchoscopy was eventually recovered in stool after a long and variable course through alimentary tract has been reported.

Isolation of recent variant influenza types A (H3N2) & B strains in Pune, India during 1998.

A total of 456 patients with influenza like illness were investigated during the course of continuous surveillance on influenza in Pune, India in 1998. The throat and nasal swab specimens collected from these patients were processed in MDCK cell culture. Influenza type A (H3N2) and type B strains were isolated in MDCK cell culture. They were identified as similar to the recently prevalent globally circulating variant strains; A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2) and B/Harbin/07/94.

Sequence analysis of full length cDNA for enhancing factor/phospholipase A2.

Enhancing factor (EF) protein was initially purified as a modulator of epidermal growth factor from small intestines of mouse. The cDNA sequence, obtained by RT-PCR, revealed that EF belonged to the non-pancreatic, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) family. This was the first report of the mouse PLA2. In the present paper we report the complete cDNA sequence of EF gene, in which the 5' sequence has been obtained by RAcE-PCR. The predicted amino acid sequence was computer analysed and the putative sites for enzyme action, calcium binding and heparin binding have been identified. The complete protein sequence of EF along with 16 aligned sequences were used to infer a phylogenetic tree. From this data the mouse EF was grouped with other membrane associated PLA2 with a bootstrap value of 98% indicating that it belonged to this class.

Application of betadine (povidone iodine) to infected corneal ulcer.

A new approach of touching betadine directly to infected corneal ulcers in addition to customary treatment is suggested. A report of 35 cases of infected corneal ulcers and keratitis where it was done is studied.

Problems of anterior and posterior chamber implant surgery in Indian conditions.

This study shows lens implant surgery is fairly safe and can be done in Indian conditions.