ABSTRACT
Purpose: The effectiveness of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) with and without monetary incentive in uptake of diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening at community health center (CHC) was compared in South Gujarat, India. Methods: In this non-randomized controlled trial, ASHAs were incentivized to refer people with diabetes mellitus (PwDM) from their respective villages for DR screening after people were sensitized to DM and DR. The minimum sample size was 63 people in each arm. Results: Of 162, 50.6% were females, 80.2% were literate, 56.2% were >50 years, 54.3% had increased random blood sugar (RBS), and 59.9% had diabetes for 5 years. The percentage of screening was significantly higher [relative risk (RR) = 4.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.79, 6.84] in ASHA incentive group and health education (HE) group (RR = 3.67, 95% CI 2.35, 5.75) compared with baseline. Providing incentive to ASHAs was not found to be of extra advantage (RR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.89, 1.57). The likelihood of uptake of screening was higher among uncontrolled PwDM, poor literacy, and higher duration of diabetes in incentive phase (P < 0.001) compared with HE. The results show that age (P = 0.017), education (P = 0.015) and level of RBS (P = 0.001) of those referred were significantly associated with incentives to ASHAs. Conclusion: ASHAs can be used effectively to refer known PwDM for DR screening especially when DR screening program is introduced in population with low awareness and poor accessibility. When incentives are planned, additional burden on resources should be kept in mind before adapting this model of care.
ABSTRACT
Two pools of whole buffalo follicular fluid collected in winter (December, January) and spring (March, April) season were fractionated by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. Follicular fluid collected in winter and spring eluted into different pattern resulted into four and three peaks respectively. Both the pools of follicular fluid were salted out with 18.5% ammonium sulphate. The salted out fraction of winter and spring season follicular fluid was again subjected to sephadex column chromatography which eluted into two and single peak respectively. Whole follicular fluid (0.6 ml) was administered into ovariectomized mice to see its inhibitory effect. The percentage of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy was 16.3 +/- 4.4 which was significantly different (P < 0.01) as compared to control. 200 micrograms material from peak 1 and peak 2 obtained after fractionation of salted out winter follicular fluid also had inhibitory effect on compensatory ovarian hypertrophy as compared to control group. It was 35.6 +/- 9.3 and 15.9 +/- 4.3% respectively. Thus, the variation in nature of buffalo follicular fluid and its inhibitory effect in ovariectomised mice have significant relation with anoestrus condition in summer and humid months in this species.
Subject(s)
Animals , Buffaloes/metabolism , Female , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism , Follicular Fluid/metabolism , Hypertrophy , Inhibins/isolation & purification , Mice , Ovary/drug effects , SeasonsABSTRACT
The fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine 6G in synaptosomal suspensions has been measured to monitor the membrane potential changes in pre-synaptic nerve terminals. The fluorescence response of the dye was seen to be a function of potential-dependent partitioning of dye molecules between the synaptosomes and the extracellular medium. Binding of dye molecules to the hydrophobic regions of membranes results in the quenching of fluorescence. Upon depolarization of the synaptosomal membrane, the dye molecules are released from the cells. The effect of changing extracellular ionic composition was also studied. The membrane potential increased linearly with log of [K]0. The resting membrane potential in buffer containing 5 mM K+ was calculated to be -60 mV. Raising the extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ from 1.2 mM to 10 mM did not change the membrane potential. Ca2+ ionophore A23187, in the presence of Ca2+ was found to depolarize the membranes.