A compliance study of baal vita supplement to children in Sindhupalchowk District, Nepal

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread and have serious health implications, particularly for women and children globally. In Nepal, the government is tackling this issue by providing MNP/Baal Vita supplements to children aged 6-23 months, alongside promoting community-based infant and young child feeding (IYCF). This strategy aims to combat anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in children under 2 years old. The government's protocol indicates that each child in this age group should consume a total of 180 sachets, 80% consumption of total sachets was taken reference for compliance in this study. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was carried out among 198 participants. Simple random sampling was used for selecting a sample. Excel and SPSS were being used for data coding, decoding, and statistical analysis. Results: Assessment of knowledge revealed that the majority (60.1%) of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding Baal Vita. The findings showed 51% of the respondents had Baal Vita compliance, as they had consumed at least 80% of the total sachets as per protocol. Sex of children and occupation of mothers are not associated with the compliance of Baal Vita, but education of mothers and ethnic groups are associated with its compliance. Conclusions: The level of knowledge and compliance rate of Baal Vita in Sindhupalchowk district were not satisfactory. It is suggested that improving knowledge level with counselling, accessibility, availability, and change the perception towards the taste of powder is essential to improving compliance with Baal Vita.

Influence of Different Organic Sources of Nutrients on Yield and Quality of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

A field experiment entitled, Influence of different organic sources of nutrients on yield and quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa. The current study was designed in RBD with three replications consisting of twenty-two treatments with four different organic manures viz., farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure and neem cake as a source of nitrogen and recommended dose of manure and fertilizers based on plant age with or without biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB & KMB) and biopesticides (Trichoderma viride and and Paecilomyces lilacinus). The findings based on pooled data discovered that maximum number of fruits per plant (59.50), yield per plant (12.41 kg), yield per hectare (19.86 tonne), fruit weight (239.39 g), fruit diameter (7.55 cm), aril weight per fruit (147.70 g), juice content per fruit (97.55 ml), peel weight per fruit (91.69 g) along with peel: aril ratio (0.62) was significantly noted under treatment 100 % RDN through poultry manure + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus. The maximum net return (4,12,840/ha) and BCR (3.26) were also obtained in same treatment. Significantly maximum TSS (16.15°Brix), reducing sugar (14.44 %), non-reducing (2.04 %) and total sugar (16.48 %) along with minimum titrable acidity (0.41 %) were recorded with application of 37.5 % RDN through FYM + 37.5 % RDN through neem cake + 50 ml Azotobacter culture + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus treatment. Whereas, maximum ascorbic acid content (16.72 mg/100 ml juice) was significantly found under treatment 100 % RDN through FYM + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus.

A Patient with Tracheal Leiomyoma and Meningioma: A Case Report.

Most of the tumors that form in the trachea and bronchi in adults are malignant but a few are benign. Common benign tumors of the trachea are squamous cell papilloma, fibroma, hemangioma and leiomyoma. Leiomyoma of trachea constitute only 1% of the common benign tumors of the trachea and hence few cases are reported in the literature. Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors arising from the meninges, majority of these tumors are usually benign and only 8% are either atypical or malignant, which could recur after treatment or removal. Presence of both this uncommon tumors in a single patient is quite rare. We present a case of a woman with both the tumors.

Assessing the Quality of life and Needs of HIV-AIDS Patients in Manipur A Preliminary Study.

This study aims to as.es. the quality of life (QoL) as perceived by HIV/AIDS patients and the needs of such people in their local context in Manipur. A cross sectional study was carried out in two selected districts of Manipur namely, Imphal west and Chandel. A total of 20 People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) respondents were interviewed using WHOQoL-HIV instrument and a semi-structured interview. The overall quality of life mean score was 3.07 from the range of score between 0-5. Similarly, on a scale of 4-20, the scores in the six domains of the quality of life in descending orders were spirituality, religion, personal beliefs or SRPB (12.73); psychological (12.72); physical (12.41); level of independence (12.28); social relationship (11.83); and environment (11.54). Comparison of QoL showed female faring better with 3.12 mean score than their male counterparts (mean score: 2.83). The study also identified some of the needs of HIVIAIDS infected people in relation to clinical, financial, educational, psychological, socio-cultural, household needs, etc.

Air pollution induced changes in the photosynthetic pigments of selected plant species.

Changes in the concentration of different photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophyll and carotenoids) were determined in the leaves of six tree species exposed to air pollution due to vehicular emissions. The six tree species, which are all economically important because of their being fruit bearers, used for timber, fodder and as road side trees on the basis of their air pollution tolerance index. These included Mangifera indica L., Tectona grandis Linn.f., Shorea robusta Gaertn.f., Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch, Eucalyptus citridora Hook. Syn. and Mallotus philippinensis Muell-Arg. Reduction in chlorophyll ‘a’, ‘b’ and carotenoid was recorded in the leaf samples collected from polluted areas when compared with samples from control areas. The highest reduction in total chlorophyll was observed in Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) (48.73%) Planch whereas, the lowest reduction (17.84 %) was recorded in Mallotus philippinensis Muell-Arg. Similarly in case of carotenoid contents, highest reduction (43.02 %) was observed in Eucalyptus citridora, and lowest in Mallotus philippinensis Muell-Arg (19.31 %). The data obtained were further analyzed using one-way ANOVA and a significant change was recorded in the studied parameters. These studies clearly indicate that the vehicular induced air pollution reduces the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in the trees exposed to road side pollution.

Phototoxicity evaluation--Tetrahymena thermophila as an alternative model.

Interest in utilizing an alternative to animal method for toxicological evaluation has received considerable attention due to cost effectiveness and the ethical issues involving animal experimentation. Alternative methods for phototoxicity evaluation are significant because of growing concern over increasing health effects due to stratospheric ozone depletion resulting in an increasing penetration of ultraviolet light-B radiation (UVB, 290-320 nm) which contributes to activation of chemical and biological molecules to potential phototoxic agents. The classic rabbit eye-irritancy test referred to as Draize test has been the subject of severe criticism by animal welfare groups. Dermal toxicity test using guinea pigs and mouse tail phototoxicity test is time consuming and requires a large number of laboratory animals. In photohaemolysis assay some of the phototoxic agents (such as riboflavin) react with the membrane proteins of the erythrocyte. However, in vitro test system using protozoa offers a promising alternative means of phototoxicity evaluation. Our previous studies have demonstrated that synergistic action of photochemically reactive agents and sunlight produces lethal effects to Paramecium but the protozoan has not received serious consideration for use as an alternative model for phototoxicity evaluation. In the present communication we have described the potential application of Tetrahymena as an alternative model to study the radiation-induced changes both in the presence or absence of photoreactive chemical agents. This model is likely to provide scope for studying the biological effects of environmental UVB radiation, DNA damage and defence against oxidative stress.

Copper(II) as an efficient scavenger of singlet molecular oxygen.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered to play an important role in tissue injury that damages DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Increased production of ROS and/or decreased efficiency of antioxidant defense system has been shown to contribute to a number of degenerative processes including cancer and AIDS. Among the various forms of ROS, singlet oxygen (1O2), which is generated predominantly in photosensitization reactions, is of particular physiologic significance because of its selectively long life in aqueous solution, its ability to cross the cell membrane barrier and high reactivity towards biomolecules. In the present study, the 1O2 scavenging potential of Cu(II) has been evaluated by (i) generating 1O2 by photosensitization of rose bengal (RB), (ii) establishing 1O2 quenching with recognized 1O2 scavengers like sodium azide, DABCO and (iii) examining the effect of Cu(II) in scavenging of 1O2. The results revealed that Cu(II) inhibited the rate of 1O2 production by 88%, 68%, 40%, 21% and 10% at a concentration of 10(-2) M, 5 x 10(-3) M, 10(-3) M; 5 x 10(-4) M, and 10(-4) M, respectively. Under similar experimental condition, sodium azide or DABCO at 10(-2) M inhibited the 1O2 production by 86% and 88%, respectively. Other 1O2 generating photosensitizer like hematoporphyrin, riboflavin and methylene blue also produced identical results with Cu(II) but Fe(II), Fe(III), Zn(II) or As(III) did not produce any quenching of 1O2. Presence of a copper binding peptide (Gly-Gly-His) in the reaction system reduced the 1O2 scavenging capacity of Cu(II) by 52-66% depending upon the UV dose. The 1O2 scavenging property of metal ion appears to have an advantage to reduce the oxidative damage of photodynamic reactions in order to prevent ROS-induced toxicity reactions.

Protection of UV-radiation induced skin toxicity by reactive oxygen scavengers.

Although, photoaddition reactions of psoralens with DNA and membrane lipid are regarded as the major photochemical events responsible for skin-photosensitization and photochemotherapeutic properties, their O2-dependent reactive oxygen specie (ROS) generating potential is also responsible for biologic photooxidation reactions and cutaneous phototoxicity. We have investigated the skin-sensitization reactions of psoralen in presence of selected free radical scavengers. The results confirm that sodium azide, DABCO and beta-carotene inhibited considerably the 1O2 generation reactions in a chemical system (determined by monitoring the bleaching of N,N-dimethyl-p-nitrosoaniline in the presence of histidine used as a selective acceptor of 1O2) as well as skin sensitization in vivo (epilated guinea pig skin). These observation suggest that the O2-dependent photodynamic action of psoralen contributes significantly to the development of cutaneous toxicity which can be inhibited by selective scavengers of 1O2.

Photophysical and photobiological properties of 3-carbethoxypsoralen.

3-Carbethoxypsoralen (3-CP), a linear tricyclic psoralen, known for its photoreaction with DNA to form monofunctional cyclobutane adducts with pyrimidine bases, was found to produce a highly reactive cytotoxic species, singlet oxygen (1O2) to a greater extent than several other linear psoralens such as psoralen, 8-MOP, 5-MOP or angular psoralens (angelicin). 3-CP also produced superoxide radicals (O2-.) at a rate slower than psoralens in the following order:psoralen > angelicin > 3-CP > 8-MOP > 5-MOP. 1O2 produced by photoactivated 3-CP was found to oxidize tyrosine and Dopa to Dopachrome, and subsequently their conversion to melanin. It also induced photooxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine. Reactive oxygen species produced by 3-CP also induced lipid peroxidation. The rate of dopachrome formation to promote its conversion to melanin and lipid peroxidation by 3-CP and other linear and angular psoralens and hematoporphyrin derivatives may be related to their skin photosensitizing ability and the rate of 1O2 production. Topically applied 3-CP on hairless mice exposed to UVA radiation was found to be a nonphotocarcinogenic agent in contrast to 8-MOP, which under similar conditions produced a 70% tumour yield (squamous cell carcinoma) in 65 weeks. 3-CP was observed to be a photolabile compound and was converted to a dihydro-form as previously reported by other investigators. The photoconversion of 3-CP to 4',5'-dihydro-3-CP was enhanced under N2, whereas, under O2 atmosphere, lesser degree of photoconversion was observed, thus, indicating that reduction takes place via an anoxic or Type I mechanism. The significance of these observations are discussed in relation to the skin photosensitizing, nonphotocarcinogenic, and photochemotherapeutic potential of 3-CP.

Tryptophan as an endogenous photosensitizer to elicit harmful effects of ultraviolet B.

Owing to stratospheric ozone depletion (SOD) the natural flux of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (290-320 nm) is likely to increase on the earth surface. In our efforts to identify endogenous chromophores which may absorb significantly in the UVB range and subsequently induce phototoxic reactions, we have observed that tryptophan (Trp) was quite photoreactive under UVB. It enhanced considerably the oxygen-dependent photooxidation of tyrosine (Tyr) to dopachrome, a precursor of melanin. Our data suggest that UVB-sensitized Trp produces singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radicals (O2-.), and these reactive forms of oxygen may contribute to membrane-, cytoplasm- and DNA-damaging effects. In the event of an increasing SOD level, other UVB chromophores may also exhibit similar phototoxic properties to lead to a definitive imbalance between cell life, injury and death.

Membrane damaging potential of photosensitized riboflavin.

Riboflavin upon exposure to UV and visible radiations has been shown to produce active oxygen species. The present work deals with erythrocyte membrane as model system to study the damaging potential of photosensitized riboflavin. Membrane preparations (2.5 mg protein/ml) following exposure to sunlight in presence of riboflavin for different time intervals revealed significant inhibition of ATPases, p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and acetylcholinesterase. Considerable increase in lipid peroxidation was caused by the photosensitized riboflavin. Quenching studies using specific scavengers indicated remarkable inhibition. The production and identification of reactive oxygen species by photosensitized riboflavin and their possible involvement in membrane damaging effect has been discussed.

Ultraviolet radiation-induced photodegradation and 1O2, O2-. production by riboflavin, lumichrome and lumiflavin.

Although UVA (320-400 nm) is considered less harmful to skin as compared to UVB (290-320 nm) and UVC (200-290 nm) radiation, certain endogenous chromophores may enhance UVA-induced cutaneous reactions by largely O2-dependent photodynamic reactions. Photodegradation pattern and singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide anion radical (O2-.) producing capacity of riboflavin (RF), lumiflavin (LF) and lumichrome (LC) were examined to assess their phototoxic potential under UVA. Photolysis of RF upon exposure to UVA, UVB or UVC revealed considerable degradation to LF and LC with a near identical spectral pattern of photodegradation between 250-500 nm. Both LF and LC were stable to UVA (3 J/cm2) and UVB (400 mJ/cm2), whereas RF was photodegraded by 30 and 20%, respectively, under similar irradiation conditions. UVA-sensitized LF and LC respectively, produced nearly 15% higher and 60% lower yield of 1O2 in comparison to RF, whereas, O2-. was generated predominently by RF. Both RF and LF thus appeared to be potential chromophores for evoking deleterious effects of UVA in normal human skin.