ABSTRACT
Introduction :Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) saw an overhaul in the biomedical waste management (BMWM) practices. Waste handlers were at the brunt of these changes. If the challenges pertaining to BMWM at the ground level are better understood, more effective measures to overcome them can be formulated. 1. To identify myths and concerns regarding BMWM in the context of COVID-Objectives: 19 pandemic. 2. To explore the challenges faced in BMWM amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 3.To explore opportunities and future perspectives of BMWM. In-depth interviews were conducted among 17Method: purposively selected Class IV health care workers during August to November 2021 in a tertiary care institute in Mumbai. Data was reported using thematic analysis. Three major themes - challengesResults: and concerns faced by BMW handlers, enablers/ motivators, opportunities and future practices were generated from the transcripts. Various challenges faced by waste handlers were- difficulties in segregation and transport of BMW, exhaustion from PPE usage and fear of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 from work, stigma faced from public, and handling COVID-19 deaths. Support from family and colleagues, incentives and a positive change in public perception enabled them to work. Forming redressal committees, addressing job security concerns and timely provision of good quality equipment can improve hospital waste management measures in the future. It is of utmost importance to address challenges faced byConclusion: waste handlers in BMWM. Onus should also be on periodic training in BMWM
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT We studied the role of Thermus thermophilus Recombinase A (RecA) in enhancing the PCR signals of DNA viruses such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The RecA gene of a thermophilic eubacterial strain, T. thermophilus, was cloned and hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant RecA protein was purified using a single heat treatment step without the use of any chromatography steps, and the purified protein (>95%) was found to be active. The purified RecA could enhance the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) signals of HBV and improve the detection limit of the HBV diagnosis by real time PCR. The yield of recombinant RecA was ∼35 mg/L, the highest yield reported for a recombinant RecA to date. RecA can be successfully employed to enhance detection sensitivity for the diagnosis of DNA viruses such as HBV, and this methodology could be particularly useful for clinical samples with HBV viral loads of less than 10 IU/mL, which is interesting and novel.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Thermus thermophilus/enzymology , Cloning, Molecular , Recombinases/genetics , Bacterial Proteins/isolation & purification , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Gene Expression , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/instrumentation , Thermus thermophilus/genetics , Recombinases/isolation & purification , Recombinases/metabolism , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli/metabolismABSTRACT
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Ness and Azadirachta indica A. Juss are Indonesian local plants that are potentially developed as antihyperglycemic agents. This study was aimed to explore antihyperglycemic effect of herbal extract combination of A. paniculata (Burm. f.) Ness and A. indica A. Juss in alloxan-induced rats compared to single extract treatment. Diabetic condition was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kgBW alloxan monohydrate in the rats. After stable diabetic condition, the rats were administered either with single or extract combination for 15 consecutive days. Blood glucose profiles in both preprandial and postprandial were monitored at the day of 5, 10, and 15. Analysis of blood glucose level was performed using colorimetric method of GOD-PAP. In the study, preprandial and postprandial blood glucose levels of alloxaninduced rats could be decreased after administration of the herbal extract combination of A. paniculata (Burm. f.) Ness and A. indica A. Juss. The extract combination exhibited higher hypoglycemic effects than this of the single extract treatment. In conclusion, the combination of A. paniculata (Burm. f.) Ness and A. indica A. Juss is potential to develop as an antidiabetic agent.