A Critical Review on Thermo-Sensitive Vaginal Gel for the Foundation of Preparing Thermo-Sensitive Vaginal Gel of PVK (Panchvalkal Kashaya) Extract

RTI (Reproductive Tract Infection) is the vital cause of suffering in women and neonates. According to WHO estimation 340 million new cases of curable STI (Sexually Transmitted Disease) other than HIV/AIDS occurs every year, most of which are occurring in developing countries. Genital tract infection is the prime cause of most gynaecological disease. Vaginal candidiasis is the most common cause of Genital tract infection. It (Vaginal candidiasis) is a common condition and up to 75% of all women suffer at least one episode of this infection during their life time. For treating the pathological condition of genital tract, direct application or self application of medicine is very difficult and the residence time of the medicine is less due to self cleansing properties of vaginal canal. Application of the drug in other route may cause systemic adverse reaction. To overcome this arduous situation, in situ thermo-sensitive gel form has great importance. In this article an attempt have been made for the review of the thermo-sensitive vaginal gel and the scholar has gathered the basic knowledge to develop an Ayurvedic formulation Panchavalkal kashaya thermo-sensitive vaginal gel by this review. This work will be done in School of Pharmaceutical Science, Shoolini University, Solan, HP.

Estigma y VIH/sida en trabajadores de la salud

RESUMEN Introducción: Uno de los aspectos que produce mayor sufrimiento en muchas de las personas infectadas por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana es el denominado "sida social" consistente en la marginación o discriminación que sufren por parte de miembros de la población no infectada, debido al temor que sienten estos últimos por una hipotética transmisión del virus Objetivo: Identificar factores socioculturales que fomentan el estigma sobre el VIH/sida en trabajadores masculinos del sector de la salud. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en trabajadores del sexo masculino pertenecientes al policlínico Ramón López Peña, a quienes se les aplicó un cuestionario relacionado con conductas estigmatizantes sobre VIH/sida. Se utilizaron variables como edad, creencias religiosas y estigmas. Resultados: De los encuestados 29,4 % tiene entre 40-44 años, son obreros 70 % y practicaba alguna creencia religiosa 84,6 %. Se comprobó que entre 75 y 80 % de los participantes manifestaron actitudes y creencias negativas sobre las personas que viven con VIH y 38,8 % recibió información acerca de las vías de transmisión de la enfermedad por los medios de difusión masiva. Conclusiones: Las creencias religiosas, conductas y actitudes negativas hacia las personas que viven con el VIH/sida, se identifican como factores socioculturales que fomentan el estigma sobre esta enfermedad en trabajadores de la salud, lo que tiene consecuencias negativas en la calidad de vida de las personas, ya que vulneran sus derechos, coartan su movilidad social y limitan su desarrollo social y psicológico.

ABSTRACT Introduction: One of the factors causing great suffering to many people infected by the human immune deficiency virus is the so-called "social HIV/AIDS", consisting in the marginalization of or discrimination against sufferers by members of the non-infected population, due to fear of a hypothetical transmission of the virus. Objective: Identify the socio-cultural factors fostering HIV/AIDS-related stigma among male workers from the health sector. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted of male workers from Ramón López Peña polyclinic, who were given a questionnaire about HIV/AIDS-related stigmatizing behavior. The variables analyzed were age, religious beliefs and stigmas. Results: Of the total respondents, 29.4% were aged 40-44 years, 70% were manual workers and 84.6% were engaged in religious practice. 75%-80% of the respondents reported negative attitudes and beliefs about people living with HIV, and 38.8% had received information about the transmission routes of the disease on the media. Conclusions: Religious beliefs and negative behavior and attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS are identified as socio-cultural factors fostering stigma about this disease among health workers, negatively impacting the quality of life of those people, since their rights are violated, their social mobility hampered, and their social and psychological development restricted.

Prevalence of Nocardiosis in Sputum of HIV Positive/AIDS Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in North Central Nigeria.

Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Nocardia species in the sputum of HIV/AIDS patients attending Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) clinic at a tertiary health institution in the North central part of Nigeria. Study Design: This study was an analytical cross-sectional laboratory based research. Place and Duration of Study: University of Ilorin teaching hospital (UITH), Ilorin. Nigeria between August 2012 and February 2013. Method: Two hundred and forty eight (248) patients were recruited for this study and had their sputum collected in duplicates for investigation. The samples were cultured on Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) medium. Gram and Auramine Rhodamine staining were carried out on the isolates respectively for microscopy. Result: Only one (1) patient tested positive to Nocardia species giving a prevalence rate of 0.4%. Conclusion: This study gives an indication that Pulmonary Nocardiosis may be found within UITH among HIV patients.