Assessment of coverage and compliance of mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis in Medak District-2021

In India Mass Drug Administration (MDA) drive is undertaken every year. In mass drug administra?on DEC and Albendazole combina?on is used. For the strategy to be effec?ve, more than 85% of those living in endemic areas must be covered by MDA. Methods: This is a cross-sec?onal study in which family clusters were selected from rural and urban areas. Informa?on about coverage, compliance with MDA and knowledge of filariasis was obtained using a ques?onnaire. Data were analysed using percentages and propor?ons. Results: In this study, about 92.51% of the study par?cipants received DEC and ABZ tablets during MDA, of which 95.14 % of par?cipants consumed the drugs. The most common cause of noncompliance was fear of side effects. Conclusion: Coverage of the popula?on with DEC and albendazole combina?on was good but compliance needs to be improved. IEC ac?vi?es should be intensified. Local leaders should be involved in the programme to increase compliance.

Prevalence and risk factors for infection with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/ moshkovskii complex in people living in the slightest and outermost islands of Indonesia

@#Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), the causative agent of amoebiasis, is still a global public health problem that cannot be controlled, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. This study was conducted to obtain information about the incidence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/ moshkovskii complex infection and the factors that influence it. The prevalence of infection with the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex and the factors that influence it in people living on the smallest and outermost island of Indonesia, Sabang Island, Aceh Province. This study involved 335 respondents aged > 10 years. Respondents were selected by non-probability sampling technique. Interviews and observations were conducted to identify risk factors. The Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/ moshkovskii complex was identified by direct examination, concentration, and Whitley’s trichrome staining techniques. A Chi-Square test was performed to analyze the correlation of risk factors with the incidence of infection. The prevalence of infection with the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/ moshkovskii complex in the people of Sabang Island was 26.6% (89/335). Source and adequacy of clean water correlated with the incidence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex infection. Demographic variables are not correlated with the incidence of infection. However, the group of women aged > 61 years, unemployed, unmarried, and earning less than the regional minimum wage tend to be more likely to be found with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex infections. Thus it can be concluded that the prevalence of infection with the Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex on Sabang Island is in the high category. The prevalence of E. histolytica as the causative agent of amoebiasis cannot be explained with certainty because the two identical non-pathogenic Entamoeba species cannot be distinguished by microscopic identification. Sources and adequacy of clean water correlate with the incidence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex infection in the people of Sabang Island.

Association of high blood pressure with raised homocysteine level among urban population- A case control study

Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Raised homocysteine level is also an important independent risk factor for CVD. This study sought to determine whether there is any rela?onship between plasma homocysteine and blood pressure levels. Method: A case control study was conducted among 200 hypertensive cases and 200 normal healthy control groups. Cases were from the Department of medicine and hypertensive clinics at GMC, Barama? and similar controls were selected from pa?ents’ neighborhood. Detailed clinical assessment as well as plasma homocysteine level were assessed and compared in both. Results: Hypertensive cases had higher mean homocysteine level (21.3 ± 4.6 µmol/L) from controls (13.0 ± 6.0 µmol/L), p<0.001. Homocysteine is posi?vely correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among both hypertensive pa?ents and healthy controls. In both hypertensive subjects and healthy control, homocysteine level has weak posi?ve correla?on with DBP and moderate to strong posi?ve correla?on with SBP. The hypertensive cases had very high chance (OR=52.4) of developing hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 µmol/L), p<0.001. Conclusion: This study showed higher mean plasma homocysteine levels in hypertensive subjects than controls. Serum homocysteine concentra?ons were posi?vely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in a general adult popula?on.

prevalence of depression among elderly attending daycare centers

To estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly attending Daycare centers. A Cross-Sectional Study. Seven Daycare Centers, Bahrain. The study was performed from 11 July 2010 to 31 July 2010 in all Daycare centers in Bahrain. Five hundred Bahrainis aged 60 years and more attending the Daycare centers were included. The shorter version of the Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS-15] was used to screen for depression among the study participants. Five hundred elderly were registered in all Daycare centers; only 311 were present on the days of the study. Two hundred fifty-four participants agreed to take part in the study; one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were females and one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were males. The mean age of respondents was 65.5 years [SD 4.6], the mean age of males was slightly higher than females, 106 [41.7%] of the respondents scored >/= 5 on the depression scale. Sixty [47.2%] of the female interviewees were more likely to be depressed than the males. Illiterate respondents were more depressed than others. Respondents living alone were more likely to show depression than those living with a partner. Depressive symptoms are prevalent among Bahraini elderly attending Daycare centers. Only female gender, illiterate and living with partners showed important predictors of depression, although with wide confidence interval. Further study should be undertaken with a larger sample, involving those elderly who did not attend the centers

Blood meal analysis of tabanid fly after it biting the rare Sumatran rhinoceros

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To demonstrate a noninvasive large mammalian genetic sampling method using blood meal obtained from a tabanid fly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood meal was recovered from the abdomen of an engorged tabanid fly (Haematopota sp.) which was captured immediately after biting a Sumatran rhino in captivity. The blood was applied on to a Whatman FTA(®) blood card. Subsequent laboratory work was conducted to extract, amplify and sequence the DNA from the sample. Validation was done by sampling the hair follicles and blood samples from the rhinoceros and subjecting it to the same laboratory process.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BLAST search and constructed phylogenetic trees confirmed the blood meal samples were indeed from the rhino.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This method could be used in the field application to noninvasively collect genetic samples. Collection of tabanids and other haematophagous arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and ticks) and other blood-sucking parasites (e.g. leeches and worms) could also provide information on vector-borne diseases.</p>