Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding COVID-19 among the out patients attending ophthalmology department at a tertiary eye care hospital in North Karnataka.

Purpose: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding COVID-19 among the population of North Karnataka. Methods: Cross sectional study among the outpatients and attenders attending a tertiary eye care hospital in North Karnataka. A questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude and practice patterns of COVID-19 was presented to the participants and their responses were analysed. Numbers and percentages and Chi-square test was used. Results: Knowledge assessment among participants was found to be adequate in 169 (51.36%) participants. 65.65% had satisfactory practices in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease. The attitude of the patients was also found to be satisfactory. However, the knowledge (19.46%), and practice (34.34%) regarding the ophthalmology related modes of spread of the tears like conjunctivitis and tear film was unsatisfactory. Conclusion: As ophthalmologists it is important to create more awareness about preventing the spread of the disease through conjunctivitis and tear film.

Psychological Stress among Grassroot Level Workers in a PHC of Bagalkot District

It is important to study the problems of the grassroot level workers and the levels of stress that they encounter. The stressed Anganwadi and ASHA workers are likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive, and less efficient in implementing the various national programs. Objective: The objective was to study the level of stress among the grassroot level workers and the various factors related. Materials and Methods: Study design: This was a cross-sectional study. Setting: This was conducted at PHC of Bagalkot district. Study subjects: Grassroot level workers (Anganwadi [n = 46] and ASHA [n = 29] workers) were selected. Sample size: The sample size was 75. Data collection: Date were collected through self-reporting questionnaire schedule consisting of two schedules: (i) Sociodemographic characteristics and (ii) presumptive stressful life events scale questionnaire. Scores used in the study: Fifty-one life events were found to be experienced by the normal Indian population in the past 1 year. For each life event, a mean stress score was given. The total score was obtained for each by adding all the applicable life events scores. Accordingly, they were categorized into no stress, less/moderate stress, and severe stress. Statistical test used: Analysis was performed using Chi-square test. Results: About 61.33% were Anganwadi and 38.67% were ASHA workers. 70.67% had mental stress in the past 1 year. 8% of the subjects had a family history of mental illness and 25.33% of them were practicing yoga/meditation. 66.67% of the study subjects had experienced severe stress and 26.67% has mild/moderate stress. The factors such as past history of mental illness, socioeconomic status of the participants, house construction, unfulfilled commitments, unemployment of family member, loan, beginning of school, and marital conflict are significantly associated with level of stress. Conclusion and Recommendations: Psychological stress was found to be more among Anganwadi and ASHA workers. They are suggested to practice healthy lifestyles such as yoga and meditation to relieve stress.

Influence of ethanolic extract of Tephrosia purpurea Linn. on mast cells and erythrocytes membrane integrity.

The ethanolic extract of T. purpurea Linn. was studied for its in vitro effect on rat mast cell degranulation and erythrocyte membrane integrity in vitro. The extract in concentration of 25-200 microg/ml showed a dose-dependant inhibition of rat mast cell degranulation induded by compound 48/80 and egg albumin. T. purpurea extract was found to inhibit haemolysis of erythrocytes induced by hypotonic solution but accelerated haemolysis induced by heat at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. The studies reveal that the ethanolic extract of T. purpurea may inhibit degranulation of mast cells by a mechanism other than membrane stabilization.

Mast cell stabilizing and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. wood oil.

Volatile oil of C. deodara, administered orally at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, significantly inhibited the pedal edema induced by compound 48/80 in rats. The oil significantly inhibited compound 48/80 induced degranulation of isolated rat peritoneal mast cells at concentrations ranging from 25-200 micrograms/ml. C. deodara wood oil also significantly inhibited the enzyme lipoxygenase at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml. Thus, the anti-inflammatory activity of C. deodara wood oil could be attributed to its mast cell stabilizing activity and the inhibition of leukotriene synthesis.