A Cross Sectional Study on Assessment of Cognitive Impairment and Behavioural Risk Factors Among Senior Citizens Living in Old Age Homes in Chengalpattu District, Tamilnadu

Background: Ageing is an irreversible, unavoidable, universal phenomenon accompanied by gradual reduction in functional capacity of the elderly. The number of elderly populations in India is expected to triple reaching 2 billion. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and evalu- ate the association between various socio demographic and behavioural risk factors. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried among 330 senior citizens living in old age homes by using a two-stage multistage sampling method. A standardized pretested structured ques- tionnaire containing Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) scale was used. Data was analysed using SPSS (Version 22). Results: Among 330 study respondents, around 44% had mild -to- moderate cognitive impairment and 36% had severe cognitive impairment. Nearly 74.8% have their habit of regular physical activity. Among the study subjects approximately 4% of them were current smokers, 5.2% had the habit of regular alco- hol consumption previously. Conclusion: Integration of NPHCE and NMHP can be beneficial in early diagnosis of mild cognitive im- pairment during weekly outpatient visits at PHC. Level of attention given towards Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is more when compared to screening for cognitive impairment which is an early precursor for AD.

A cross-sectional study on the compliance to antihypertensive drugs in a rural area

Background: The burden of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing over the years. Worldwide, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality has been due to NCDs. Although NCDs are multifactorial, hypertension plays a major role as a risk factor. Lack of treatment adherence can lead to negative health consequences. Objectives: The objectives of the study were as follows: (1) To assess patients’ compliance to antihypertensive drugs; (2) to evaluate association between treatment compliance and sociodemographic determinants; and (3) to find out the factors responsible for non-adherence. Materials and Methods: This study was carried among 350 hypertensive patients in the rural field practice area of a medical college using simple random sampling method. The study population consists of hypertensive patients belonging to 20–60 years of age. A pretested structured questionnaire containing Morisky’s scale was used to assess patient’s adherence. Data analysis was done using SPSS (Version 22). Results: Nearly 53.7% of the study participants were female. The prevalence of treatment compliance was estimated to be 24.6%. Statistically significant association was observed between age, education, and socioeconomic status with adherence to hypertensive medications (P < 0.05). Many reasons were identified for non-adherence and they include cost of treatment (21.4 %), side effects (27.5%), alternative treatment (16%), lack of knowledge (32.8%), and multiple drugs (25%). Conclusion: The prevalence of 23.6% of patient’s being adherent to hypertensive medications was observed among the study population. It is necessary to strengthen treatment adherence by various health education campaigns and implementing various health programs.

Antipathogenic potential of marine Bacillus sp. SS4 on N-acyl-homoserine-lactone-mediated virulence factors production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1).

Antipathogenic therapy is an outcome of the quorum-sensing inhibition (QSI) mechanism, which targets autoinducerdependent virulent gene expression in bacterial pathogens. N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) acts as a key regulator in the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and violacein pigment production in Chromobacterium violaceum. In the present study, the marine bacterial strain SS4 showed potential QSI activity in a concentration-dependent manner (0.5–2 mg/ml) against the AHL-mediated violacein production in C. violaceum (33–86%) and biofilm formation (33–88%), total protease (20–65%), LasA protease (59– 68%), LasB elastase (36–68%), pyocyanin (17–86%) and pyoverdin productions in PAO1. The light and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses confirmed the reduction of the biofilm-forming ability of PAO1 when treated with SS4 extract. Furthermore, the antibiofilm potential was confirmed through static biofilm ring assay, in which ethyl acetate extract of SS4 showed concentration-dependent reduction in the biofilm-forming ability of PAO1. Thus, the result of this study clearly reveals the antipathogenic and antibiofilm properties of the bacterial isolate SS4. Through 16S rDNA analysis, the strain SS4 was identified as Bacillus sp. (GenBank Accession Number: GU471751).

Effect of bavistin on in vitro plant conversion from encapsulated uninodal microcuttings of micropropagated Bacopa monnieri (L.) - An ayurvedic herb.

A reliable and reproducible protocol for contamination free plant recovery system from alginated encapsulated uninodal microcuttings of micropropagated Bacopa monnieri L.have been developed after storage at 18oC for 45 days. Node segments excised from freshly micropropagated plants were encapsulated as single explant beads with 3.0 % sodium alginate and 80 mM CaCl2 2 H2O. To find out the optimal concentration of fungicide bavistin for efficient plant recovery, different concentrations of bavistin (1.0 - 15 mg l-1) were incorporated in to the encapsulation medium. 3.0 mg l-1 bavistin showed no reduction in plant conversion and generated maximum number of shoots (45.6 ± 1.69) at high frequency with out any contamination after storage up to 45 days at 18oC. At high concentrations (13 and 15 mg l-1), rupturing of calcium alginate coats after 8 - 9 days and gradual decline in the number of shoots indicates the toxic effect of bavistin on plant conversion. Encapsulated node cuttings stored up to 45 days regenerated shoots (5.2) and multiple shoots (45.6) in MS basal and hormone medium respectively. Maximum shoot length (8.2 ± 0.37 cm) was observed from encapsulsted node cuttings incorporated with 3.0 mg l-1 bavistin on MS basal medium. 90 % of the recovered plantlets were hardened off and successfully established in soil.

Plasma CRP level predicts left ventricular function and exercise capacity in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein estimation can help in predicting short- and long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction. High plasma C-reactive protein level in the acute phase strongly indicates a poor clinical outcome of the patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred consecutive patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the intensive coronary care unit in our hospital who were able to do symptom-limited treadmill test during early recovery phase were studied. Plasma C-reactive protein was measured at the time of admission by immunoturbidity method. The normal value of the C-reactive protein was taken as 0.8 mg/dl. Echocardiographic study was done on day three of admission and ejection fraction was estimated by modified Simpson's method. Symptom-limited treadmill exercise test was done in all the patients. Patients were classified into two groups based on level of C-reactive protein: those with low C-reactive protein level (1.26 +/- 0.91 mg/dl, n=40) and those with high C-reactive protein level (6.52 +/- 3.97 mg/dl, n=60). Ejection fraction was lower in high C-reactive protein group (46.7 +/- 11.9%) compared to low C-reactive protein group (56.9 +/- 7.7%) (p = 0.011). Exercise capacity was lower in high C-reactive protein group (2.8 +/- 1.4 METs) compared to low C-reactive protein group (5.5 +/- 2.5 METs) p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: C-reactive protein levels are an index of the severity of myocardial necrosis which translate to worse left ventricular function. Higher the C-reactive protein level, lower the ejection fraction and worse may be the prognosis.

Effects of placental dressing indolent ulcers.

Fifteen cases of indolent ulcers of varying aetiology were treated by human placental dressing. An equal number of patients treated with antibiotics were taken as control. Human placental dressing for chronic ulcers was found to be effective in wound healing, inexpensive, freely available and devoid of side-effects. The immunological response which produces the clinical results by the use of human placenta has been studied. The raised level of immunoglobulins in the form of IgG and IgM was also seen.