ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is responsible for a considerable number of morbidity and mortality in the world. Annually 14,000 deaths are attributed to tobacco use in Nepal. Despite having social acceptability of tobacco in Nepalese society, little has been known about tobacco use among rural women. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of and examine the factors associated with tobacco consumption among women of reproductive age in a rural community of Dailekh district of Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was descriptive, cross‑sectional study carried out among women of reproductive age in the rural community of Dailekh district. A random sampling was used to obtain 110 women aged 15‑49 years. RESULTS: More than two in five were tobacco user and among them 4 in 5 used smoked form of tobacco. This study showed early initiation of tobacco using habit (mean: 14.96 year) where 92% of participants initiated <19 years. Influencing factors for initiation of tobacco use was peer’s pressure (95.8%), and respondents reported that they used tobacco to reduce stress (37.5%). CONCLUSION: Tobacco using pattern was high in reproductive age group women. Knowledge and perceptions on tobacco use were poor. Hence, an effective and appropriate community based awareness programs are required to discourage the use of tobacco.
ABSTRACT
The role of divalent cations like magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) was irrvestigated on energy distribution process of Hydril/a verticil/ata thylakoids. Effect of these cations was tested on relative quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II catalyzed electron transport activity, room and liquid nitrogen temperature fluorescence emission properties and thylakoid light scattering characteristics. The electron transport activity was found to be stimulated in the presence of these cations in a light intensity independent manner. The concentration of cation required for maximum stimulation was nearly 10-12 mM. Comparatively, Ca2+ was more effective than Mg2+. Cation induced stimulation in electron transport activity was not accompanied by increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence intensity either at room (25°C) or liquid nitrogen (77°K) temperatures. Furthermore, 540 nm absorption and 90° light scattering properties of thylakoids remained insensitive towards divalent cations. These facts together suggest that divalent cations in Hydril/a thylakoids are not effective in supporting the excitation distribution between the interacting photosystem complexes.
ABSTRACT
Calcium ion-dependent reactivation of O2 evolution activity has been investigated in Hydrilla verticillata thylakoid preparations. Washing the thylakoids in calcium-free buffer or calcium-free buffer containing 1.5 M NaCl or 1.5 M NaCl plus 20% methanol, reversibly inhibited O2 evolution activity. The activity was restored on addition of calcium as calcium chloride and partially by strontium chloride. Immobilization of thylakoids with glutaraldehyde (GA) arrested the loss in O2 evolution activity caused by calcium-free high salt washing. However, calcium sensitivity was discernible in GA immobilized thylakoids subjected to calcium-free high salt washing. Since glutaraldehyde checks the loss of extrinsic thylakoid polypeptides due to washing, it is assumed that the calcium ion has regulatory functions in the photosynthetic electron transport, besides its interaction with thylakoid proteins.