A study to assess receipt and utilization of janani suraksha yojana cash incentive among mothers in urban slums of Raipur city, Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) replaces the National Maternity Benefit Scheme. It was launched by the Government of India in April 2005. The aim was to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by increasing institutional delivery by providing cash incentive to the beneficiaries as well as the link worker ASHA. Objectives of this study was to assess receipt of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive and to assess fields of utilization of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive.Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 mothers delivered within last one year in urban slum of Raipur city. Study centre was department of community medicine, Pt. J.N.M. medical college Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the study subjects.Results: Out of total 384 study subject’s cheque of JSY cash incentive was received by 70.83%. All (100%) beneficiaries who received cheque was stipulated amount as per JSY guideline. Reasons for not receiving cheque was no availability of BPL card for those who delivered in accredited private health facility. Other reasons were absconded after delivery, unaware of cash incentive, did not go back to get the cheque when called later, patient shifted to another ward. None of the study subjects who delivered at home received the cash incentive cheque. Realization of cheque was not done by 22.79% of study subjects due to complex procedure to open an account in bank. Cash incentive money was utilized in neonatal care, drugs, food, household activities and some deposited in bank.Conclusions: JSY scheme is definitely functioning well in terms of providing cash incentive cheque of JSY on delivery in Government Health facility. There is need to simplify the procedure to open an account so that beneficiaries can avail cash incentive money. There is need to address the problems to receive cheque in home delivery and accredited Private health facility in addition to motivation for institutional delivery.

Assessment of infrastructure of first referral unit facilities in Surguja division: a responsibility of providing emergency obstetric care

Background: Availability of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) is one of interventions to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. The health system fails when effective and affordable health interventions do not reach the population, when Poor infrastructure, drugs and equipment are lacking, and qualified human resources are scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the availability of EmOC infrastructure in first referral units (FRUs) of Surguja division, Chhattisgarh.Methods: A cross sectional study was designated with 13 FRUs of Surguja division. A semi structured, closed-ended questionnaires was observed on the basis of check list, reviewing record, and interview by available staff.Results: FRUs of Surguja division for physical infrastructure scored 68.5%, for essential medicine 69.2%, for equipments 50.7%, for instruments 45.3% and for availability of blood 34.6%, for health man power category of specialist score was 25.7% but for supportive staff 65.4%.Conclusions: Our study revealed three existing bottlenecks in the healthcare delivery system as inadequate civil infrastructure, short fall of specialists as well as inadequate supplies of drugs and equipment, hampering the function of facility.

Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among school going adolescent students of Raipur city Chhattisgarh state, India.

Background: Tobacco consumption in various forms in recent years is a proven risk factor and contributes substantially to the emerging epidemic. Increasing tobacco use and its impact on physical and psychosocial health is a worldwide public health concern affecting the early youth and whole life of the individuals. Tobacco is used in different forms and health effects are seen irrespective of the form in which it is used. Smokeless tobacco is found to be as addictive and harmful as smoking. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and factors influencing smokeless consumption among high school students in Raipur city. Methods: Study design: Cross-sectional, Study area: 16 selected high schools of Raipur city, in which 12 were government schools and 4 private schools. Study subjects: 1006 high-school students, Sampling technique: Two stage cluster sampling according to probability proportional to size, Study tool: Predesigned pretested questionnaire. Statistical analysis: Data was entered in Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed in Epi info 7 software. Results: The mean age of students in the study was 15 years. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption was 10%. Majority male 80.9% were users, mean age of initiation was 13 years (SD 7.07), Peer pressure (76%) was the reason for initiation. Pocket money 57.1% found to be the major source of purchasing. Strong association of family member tobacco use and promotional advertisement were found. Conclusion: Study reflects smokeless tobacco use was prevalent among adolescent students and there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce the risk and deleterious consequences.

Xylanase production with xylan rich lignocellulosic wastes by a local soil isolate of Trichoderma viride / Produção de xilanase com resíduos lignocelulósicos ricos em xilana por uma cepa local de Trichoderma viride isolada de solo

In the present study, cultural and nutritional conditions for enhanced production of xylanase by a local soil isolate of Trichoderma viride, using various lignocellulosic substrates in submerged culture fermentation have been optimized. Of the lignocellulosics used, maize straw was the best inducer followed by jowar straw for xylanase production. The highest activity achieved was between 14 to 17 days of fermentation. A continuous increase in xylanase production was observed with increasing level of lignocellulosics in the medium and highest activity was observed with maize straw at 5 percent level. Xylanase production with higher levels of lignocellulosics (3 to 5 percent) of maize, jowar and barseem was found to be higher as compared to that with commercial xylan as carbon source. Sodium nitrate was the best nitrogen source among the six sources used. Maximum xylanase production was achieved with initial medium pH of 3.5-4.0 and incubation temperature of 25ºC.The enzyme preparation was effective in bringing about saccharification of different lignocellulosics. The xylanase production could be further improved by using alkali treated straw as carbon source.

Neste estudo, otimizou-se as condições culturais e nutricionais para produção aumentada de xilanase por uma cepa local de Trichoderma viride isolada de solo, empregando-se vários substratos lignocelulósicos, em fermentação submersa. Entre os substratos utilizados, o melhor indutor de produção de xilanase foi palha de milho, seguido de palha de sorgo. A atividade mais alta foi obtida entre 14 e 17 dias de fermentação. Com palha de milho observou-se um aumento contínuo na produção de xilanase com o aumento da concentração dos substratos lignocelulósicos no meio, sendo que a melhor atividade foi obtida com 5 por cento de palha de milho. A produção de xilanase com níveis mais altos de (3 a 5 por cento) de milho, sorgo e forragem verde (barseem) foi mais levada do que com xilana comercial como fonte de carbono. Entre as fontes de nitrogênio testadas, a melhor foi nitrato de sódio. Produção máxima de xilanase foi obtida quando o pH inicial do meio foi 3,5 4,0 e a temperatura de incubação 25ºC. A enzima foi eficiente na sacarificação de diferentes substratos lignocelulósicos. A produção de xilanase poderia ser aumentada empregando-se álcali ao invés de palha tratada como fonte de carbono.

Sensitivity index of antimicrobial agents: A new treatment criteria proposed for rational use of antimicrobials.

The treatment guidelines are generally decided on the basis of either percent resistant (%R) or percent sensitive (%S) bacterial population tested with a given antimicrobial that vary geographically and represent only a part of total bacterial population existing in response to the antimicrobial used. The isolates with intermediate sensitivity (%I) are either not reported or clubbed with resistant isolates though the two may differ in clinical response. Sensitivity Index (SI) of an antimicrobial is sensitive to change in any of the three co-existing bacterial population and may be a better criterion for rational use of antimicrobial.

Hepatic and renal oxidative stress in acute toxicity of N-nitrosodiethylamine in rats.

Nitrosoamines such as N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) produce oxidative stress due to generation of reactive oxygen species and may alter antioxidant defence system in the tissues. NDEA was administered ip as a single dose to rats in LD50 or in lower amounts and the animals were sacrificed after 0-48 hr of treatment. The results showed that lipid peroxidation in liver increased, however no significant increase in kidney LPO was observed after NDEA administration. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-R) activity increased in liver, however, catalase (CAT) activity in liver was inhibited in NDEA treated rats. Kidney showed an increase in SOD activity after an initial decrease along with increase in GSH-R activity in NDEA treated rats. However, kidney CAT activity was not significantly altered in NDEA intoxicated rats. Serum transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and scrum proteins were elevated in NDEA treated rats. The results indicate NDEA-induced oxidative stress and alteration in antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney to neutralise oxidative stress.

Role of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) as hypocholesterolemic/antiatherogenic agent.

Feeding of Pleurotus to hypercholesterolemic rabbits resulted in lowering of total lipids, total cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma and liver whereas heart lipids were not affected. HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/LDL cholesterol ratios increased in experimental animals proving antiatherogenic potential of this mushroom. The effect was further supported by the severity of tissue damage as evidenced by histopathological studies. An increase in bile acid excretion could be taken as one of the possible attributes to hypocholesterolemic action of P. florida.

Down regulation of tumour necrosis factor activity in experimental hepatitis by a herbal formulation, Liv. 52.

A herbal hepatoprotective formulation Liv 52 down regulated the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production in Charles Foster Rats treated with CCl4. Inhibition of TNF activity was proportional to the hepatoprotective activity.

Effect of pregnancy on protection of mice immunized by Japanese encephalitis virus & its experimental inactivated vaccine.

The effect of pregnancy on the protective immune response of mice to tissue culture-derived inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) Nakayama vaccine and to live sublethal doses of JE virus, was studied. Thirty per cent protection was found in mice, immunized with three doses of inactivated vaccine, before pregnancy and challenged after delivery. In contrast, all the mice immunized with two sublethal doses of JEV tolerated the challenge under similar condition.

In vitro absorption of nutrients from small intestine of rats fed peroxidized oil.

Feeding of diet containing peroxidized oil (peroxide value approximately 90 mEq/kg) at 10% level for 4 weeks altered the absorptive function of intestine. Rate of in vitro absorption of nutrients especially sucrose and protein hydrolysate (amino acids) was considerably reduced. Absorption of glucose, fructose and Ca2+ was only marginally affected.

Serum lipids & lipoprotein profiles of cigarette smokers & passive smokers.

Serum lipids and lipoproteins of 50 active and passive smokers were compared with levels in 25 control subjects. Active smoking resulted in an increase in total cholesterol (Tc) and triglycerides (Tg) as compared to control group. The passive smokers also showed relatively higher levels but the effect was not significant. Active smoking raised the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc) levels whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) content was lowered, thus resulting in decreased ratios of HDLc/Tc and HDLc/LDLc. The passive smokers also showed slightly higher levels of LDLc and VLDLc but lower levels of HDLc, and a lower HDLc/LDLc ratio. Our findings suggest that smoking alters the serum lipids and lipoproteins and these changes are related to the duration and amount of smoking.

Induction of tumour necrosis factor alpha in experimental animals treated with hepatotoxicants.

Administrations of hepatotoxicants namely carbon tetrachloride (CCl4:0.4 ml in 1.2 ml of liquid paraffin) and ANIT (1 ml of 1.5% solution in liquid paraffin) in Charles foster rats (force fed) and D-galactosamine (8 mg in water per swiss albino mouse, ip) induce the release of TNF-alpha in case of CCl4 and D-galactosamine. High TNF-alpha level was observed up to 48 hr in CCl4 and up to 24 hr in D-galactosamine treated animals. Elevated levels of biochemical like ALP and SGPT are also recorded. TNF-alpha level can be measured of tissue damage and prognosis in case of hepatitis.

Effects of peroxidized oil on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Ingestion of peroxidized oil under hypercholesterolemic dietary conditions resulted in a number of biochemical and pathological changes in rabbits. Total lipids, cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma, liver and aorta were significantly higher in peroxidized oil fed rabbits, compared to the ones receiving normal oil. The degree of atherosclerosis and the severity of histopathological changes were significantly higher in rabbits fed with peroxidized oil.

Role of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) seed coat as an antiatherogenic agent in rabbits.

Bengal gram seed coat appeared to be a potent hypocholesterolemic/hypolipidemic agent in rabbits. When fed to hypercholesterolemic rabbits, it lowered hepatic cholesterol/lipid much more than in the control group. Aortic lipid levels were rather marginally increased but the increase was less in Bengal gram seed coat fed rabbits. Though seed coat of Bengal gram failed to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, but certainly it slowed down the process of its development. The hypocholesterolemic action of Bengal gram seed coat appeared to be due to the increased catabolism and excretion of cholesterol.

Intraperitoneal toxicity of pea and lentil lectins in albino rats--effect on growth and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.

Lectins from peas and lentils when injected to rats apparently appeared to be non toxic but they caused growth depression. The organ weights were not affected except spleen enlargement. The lectins also caused increased osmotic fragility of erythrocytes without affecting other hematological parameters such as haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and RBC count.

Effect of pea and lentil lectins on in vitro absorption of nutrients.

In vitro absorption of nutrients like glucose, leucine, protein hydrolysate and Ca2+ by ligated loops of small intestine was significantly affected in presence of lectins from peas and lentils. Except for sucrose, all other nutrients showed significant decrease in their absorption in presence of lectins. Lentil lectins had a greater inhibitory effect than pea lectins.