Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among blood donors during the COVID-19 outbreak

Background: Assessments of the blood donors’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions of this infection are essential for controlling the spread of COVID-19. Aim and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the KAP among blood donors towards COVID 19 pandemic and how to increase the number of blood donations during pandemic. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 630 blood donors at the Department of Transfusion Medicine, at a tertiary care center in North India. It was an observational study. Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and MannWhitney test. To correlate variables Chi-square test was used. Results: The knowledge score of demographic variables marital status, education & occupation showed a significant association, while its association with age, gender, and religion was insignificant. The entire demographic variables under study showed a significant association with Attitude questionnaire 1. According to univariate analysis, the variables Intercept, Unemployed and Physical Labour showed significant impact on knowledge level with the corresponding effect size 0.10 and 0.022. Conclusions: This study reveals that blood donors have good knowledge with positive attitudes and practices. By improving the knowledge with the help of health education platforms, the number of blood donations will also increase.

A cross sectional study on the evaluation of MCH services provided by “ASHA” working at Urban Health Centers of Ahmedabad City, Gujarat

Introduction: National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched by Indian Government with key feature of introduction of a new designated health care worker – “Accredited Social Health Activist” (ASHA) who acts as interface between community and public health system. Objectives: To assess knowledge about MCH related functions and to estimate status of support to beneficiaries by “ASHAs”, To Assess Quality of Home Based New Borne Care performed by ASHA and to find out impact of number of modular training rounds on knowledge and practices of ASHAs. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted during February 2019 to December 2020 using a mixed approach, with a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods after approval of institutional Ethics committee. All Urban Health Centres (UHC) under Municipal Corporation in Ahmedabad were covered. From each UHC, 2 ASHAs were selected by lottery method. So, total 144 ASHAs were selected from 72 UHCs. Performance assessment was done by direct interview with ASHA and their beneficiaries. Results: All 144 ASHAs were aware about responsibilities of Antenatal-women registration and Immunization. Nearly all ASHAs (99.3%) knew about task of PNC registration. Escorting to delivery and tertiary care centre, if complications arise was facilitated by 61.8% and 29.2% ASHAs respectively. Conclusion: All ASHAs were aware of their major responsibilities related to MCH and also providing same in their field area. Statistically significant association was observed between number of rounds for modular training undertaken by ASHAs and knowledge and practice of ASHAs in context to various components of MCH care.

Is There Any Correlation Between Computed Tomography (CT) Attenuation Value (Hounsfield Unit) Of Dural Venous Sinuses And Hemoglobin Level: A Prospective Observational Study

Background:In our routine practice patient were undergone CT scan of brain as well as other laboratory investigation for various traumatic brain injury and neurological complain and its management. They visit many premises for diagnosis and investigation. If we can predict the hemoglobin level from CT brain itself, we can reduce turnaround time for patient and increase throughput of patients for hospital. Keeping this in mind we had conducted this study to see the correlation between hemoglobin level and CT attenuation value of cranial Dural sinuses.Material And Methods:A prospective observational study was performed to demonstrate association between computed tomography (CT) attenuation value (Hounsfield unit (HU)) of dural venous sinuses and hemoglobin level from unenhanced CT scan of the brain. The non-contrast CT brain of total 245 patients done during October 2017 to September 2018 at medical college attached tertiary care was observed. Two measurements of HU value were taken on two adjacent slices using 10mm2 of ROI for each site, from superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and torcular herophili (TOH). The value was averaged for superior sagittal sinus, confluence of sinus and is compared with hemoglobin of patients.Result:Mean HU VALUE in SSS of females and male had 48.47 and 51.85 respectively. Mean HU VALUE in TOH of females and male had 47.46 and 50.93 respectively. Positive and significant correlation was noted between HB and SSS average, HB and TOH Average.Conclusion:Based on our result CT attenuation value (HU) value of torcular herophili and superior sagittal sinus from unenhanced CT scan of brain can be used to predict the hemoglobin level of a person. The HU value of sinus can give insight into pathology such as anemia, polycythemia or cranial sinus thrombosis.

A retrospective study of 5 years: organ phosphorous poisoning in Ahmedabad.

Poisons are known to mankind since time immemorial. Of the various substances used for suicide in India, Organ phosphorous compounds form a significant group as observed by much workers. The study was aimed to generate a baseline data on the epidemiological factors contributing to the incidence and mortality due to O.P. Poisoning. So as to highlight the problem this requires planned and concentrated effort in dealing with it on a broader horizon. Since prevention is the only logical approach there is an urgent need to take appropriate steps to prevent loss of lives. The analysis of the data revealed that 65 cases of O.P. poisoning brought to the mortuary of Smt. NHL MMC, Ahmedabad for medico-legal autopsy, during 5 years period i.e. 1995 to 1999.The age group ranged between10 years to 40 years and above, with maximum incidence between 21–30 years and males outnumbering females. The main mode of poisoning was suicidal by ingestion.

Sustained release implants of chloroquine phosphate for possible use in chemoprophylaxis of malaria.

Implants of chloroquine phosphate (CQP) using biodegradable polymer, gelatin (G) and cross-linked gelatin (CLG) were prepared and evaluated to assess their physicochemical properties and in vitro release profile. The mechanism and kinetics of release were studied to correlate the release phenomenon with the formulation parameters. Out of many batches of the implants investigated, the implant prepared with 20% gelatin at 2:1 drug polymer ratio, 10% crosslinking agent and 2% plasticizer (Batch J) was found to provide optimum release behavior conforming to the requirements of a long term implant for a week. In vivo studies conducted on albino rats showed consistent therapeutic blood level over a period of 7 days. Mean residence time (MRT) of the drug released in the body, calculated as the ratio of the area under the first moment curve (AUMC) to area under concentration time curve (AUC) was 72 hr for implant against 2.42 hr for subcutaneous injection.

A simple synthetic liquid medium for development of yeast and mycelial form of pathogenic species of Candida.

Thirty two known strains of Candida species were used for evaluation of glucose, serine, ornithine, methionine, GSOM medium and its comparison with Lee's medium for the production of yeast and mycelial phase at different temperatures and on prolonged incubation. No mycelial form was observed when various Candida species in GSOM and Lee's medium were incubated at 25 degrees C up to 72 hours. Percentage of mycelial forming cells of Candida species were more in GSOM medium than Lee's medium in 48 hours at 37 degrees C. Among various species of Candida, albicans and C. parapsilosis showed maximum mycelium formation. GSOM medium can be used for growing Candida species particularly C. albicans in mycelial phase.

Morphological identification of Candida species on glucose agar, rice extract agar and corn meal agar with and without Tween-80.

A comparative study for the identification of 32 known strains of Candida species on the basis of morphology on glucose agar, rice extract agar and corn meal agar with and without Tween 80 revealed that when Tween 80 is incorporated in the media identification is possible for 96.8% of the species within 48 hours on rice extract agar and for 96.8% of the species within 48 hours on rice extract agar and for 90.6% of the species on glucose agar. The germ tubes and chlamydospores were also produced more on rice extract agar than on 0.1% glucose agar. Rice extract agar with Tween 80 can be used as single medium for morphologic identification of Candida species. The inoculated medium is first incubated at 37 degrees C for 3 hours and examined for germ tube formation and then incubated at 25 degrees C for 24 to 72 hours and examined for appearance of chlamydospores and mycelial morphology.

Modification of immune response by glycine in animals.

Glycine (50, 100 and 300 mg/kg), administered daily for 10 days in rabbits challenged with typhoid 'H' antigen and sheep erythrocyte antigen, caused dose- dependent reduction of antibody titre. Inhibition of antibody titre observed with 300 mg/kg was comparable to immunosuppression observed with 1 mg/kg betamethasone.