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Background: With over 560 million internet users, India is the second largest online market ranked only behind China as of January, 2019. Rapid expansion and proliferation of the internet has provided better opportunities for communication, information, and social interaction. In addition, when this use becomes obsessive and at the expense of other aspects of a person’s life, the internet could be problematic which has led to the emergence of the concept of internet addiction. The present study was conducted with the objective to find out the status of internet addiction in school going adolescent students and its determinants. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was carried out in 160 school going adolescent students of Raipur city. Young’s Internet Addiction Scale consisting of 20-item was used in the study. Results: Out of 160 students, 94 (58.8%) were in the score range of 20-49 i.e., mild addiction and 33.8% (54) were in score range of 50-79 i.e., moderate addiction. Internet addiction was more common in boys as compared to girls and was statistically significant (p<0.05). Type of school was also significantly associated with internet addiction. Conclusions: As addiction of internet is seen in majority of students, there is an urgent need to use a comprehensive approach including periodical awareness of the students as well as parents regarding balancing the time between internets surfing, studies and outdoor physical activities.
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Background: Sida L., is a medicinally important genus, the species of which are widely used in traditional systems of medicine in India. Pharmacologically, roots are known for anti‑tumor, anti‑HIV, hepatoprotective, and many other properties. Phenolic antioxidants help in reducing oxidative stress occurring during treatment of such diseases. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate and compare polyphenol contents and antioxidant properties of eight selected species of Sida from Western Ghats, India. Materials and Methods: Methanolic root extracts (10% w/v) of Sida species, viz., S. acuta, S. cordata, S. cordifolia, S. indica, S. mysorensis, S. retusa, S. rhombifolia, and S. spinosa were analyzed. Results: Sida cordifolia possessed highest total phenolic content (TPC: 1.92 ± 0.10 mg Caffeic Acid Equivalent/g and 2.13 ± 0.11 mg Tannic Acid Equivalant/g), total flavonoid content (TF: 2.60 ± 0.13 mg Quercetin Equivalent/g) and also possessed highest antioxidant activities in 2,2‑diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging (51.31 ± 2.57% Radical Scavenging Activity, (RSA); Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity: 566.25 ± 28.31μM; Ascorbic acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity: 477.80 ± 23.89 μM) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assays (TEAC: 590.67 ± 29.53 μM; AEAC: 600.67 ± 30.03 μM). Unlike DPPH and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) activity, 2, 2′‑Azinobis (3‑ethyl Benzo Thiazoline‑6‑Sulfonic acid) ABTS+ antioxidant activity was highest in S. indica (TEAC: 878.44 ± 43.92 μM; AEAC 968.44 ± 48.42 μM). It was significant to note that values of AEAC (μM) for all the antioxidant activities analyzed were higher than that of TEAC. Conclusion: The high contents of phenolic compounds in the root extracts of selected Sida species have direct correlation with their antioxidant properties. Conclusively, roots of S. cordifolia can be considered as the potential source of polyphenols and antioxidants.
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We evaluated 214 fetuses sent for autopsy with gestational ages ranging from 12 to 39 weeks. Of these, seventeen fetuses (7.9%) had single umbilical artery. Thirteen of these fetuses were aborted after antenatal detection of severe malformations and 4 died in utero. Genito-urinary system (n=6) and central nervous system (n=4) were the most common sites of involvement. Presence of single umbilical artery warrants a detailed evaluation of the fetus for other anomalies.
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Food safety plays an important role in public health and thus to society as a whole. Food borne illness associated with toxins, pathogens or other food contaminants poses a serious health threat all over the world. Food may become unsafe due to the presence of adulterants such as melamine, food born pathogenic bacteria, toxins such as cholera, shiga, aflatoxin amongst others. The present review is focused on the potential role of nanomaterials, which are currently being used in various biosensors, for the detection of various chemical contaminants, toxins and pathogens.