Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members.

This study investigates how culture and priming 3- to 7-year-old children (N = 186) with third-party social exclusion affects their subsequent inclusion of out-group members. Children in societies that tend to value social independence (Germany, New Zealand) and interdependence (Northern Cyprus) were randomly assigned to minimal groups. Next, they watched video stimuli depicting third-party social exclusion (exclusion condition) or neutral content (control condition). We assessed children's recognition of the social exclusion expressed in the priming videos and their understanding of the emotional consequences thereof. We furthermore assessed children's inclusion behaviour in a ball-tossing game in which participants could include an out-group agent into an in-group interplay. Children across societies detected third-party social exclusion and ascribed lower mood to excluded than non-excluded protagonists. Children from Germany and New Zealand were more likely to include the out-group agent into the in-group interaction than children from Northern Cyprus. Children's social inclusion remained unaffected by their exposure to third-party social exclusion primes. These results suggest that children from diverse societies recognize social exclusion and correctly forecast its negative emotional consequences, but raise doubt on the notion that social exclusion exposure affects subsequent social inclusion.

What should global mental health do about violent extremism?

To prevent radicalization to violence and to rehabilitate returned foreign terrorist fighters, new programs which go by the name of 'preventing and countering violent extremism' are being implemented globally, including in low- and middle-income countries. In some of these countries, global mental health strategies are also being implemented so as to deliver mental health care or psychosocial support to individuals and populations in need. This commentary addresses what global mental health should considering doing about violent extremism. Global mental health should be open to addressing the challenges of violent extremism but should do so based upon existing mental health and public health values, practices, and evidence. Global mental health could help by critically appraising preventing and countering violent extremism practices and by working with multidisciplinary stakeholders to develop new evidence-based and best practice models that are rooted in civil society ownership, community collaboration, broader prevention programing, and non-securitized approaches.

Fabrication of novel carbon quantum dots modified bismuth oxide (α-Bi2O3/C-dots): Material properties and catalytic applications.

The present work reports the facile and the template free sonochemical synthesis of a novel catalyst, α-Bi2O3/C-dots, for the degradation of indigo carmine (IC) dye, its simulated dyebath effluent and levofloxacin under visible light catalysis. The compositional, structural, optical and morphological analysis of α-Bi2O3/C-dots was studied using analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the presence of a monoclinic phase of α-Bi2O3 in the nanocomposite and crystallite size of 28.75 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS) studies showed good optical properties and a band gap of 2.49 eV. The synthesized photocatalyst showed superior visible-light driven photocatalytic activity for the degradation of indigo carmine dye (86% dye degradation in 120 min) compared to pure α-Bi2O3 (57%). α-Bi2O3/C-dots also exhibited 79% degradation of antibiotic drug levofloxacin within 120 min, under optimized conditions of pH, catalyst dose and initial dye concentration. Scavenger studies revealed that hydroxyl radicals and electrons played predominant roles in the photocatalytic degradation of IC dye. With respect to total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, 68.8% total organic carbon reduction of the IC dye (10 mg/L) was observed under the same experimental conditions. The catalytic efficiency of C-dots in the photocatalytic process is explained by proposing a degradation mechanism.

Mixed surfactant (altering chain length and head group) aggregates as an effective carrier for tuberculosis drug.

Surface properties and aggregation behavior of cationic-cationic and cationic-non-ionic mixed surfactant systems viz. Dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) with a series of double chain cationic surfactants (DiDDAB, DMDTAB, and DODAB) and non-ionic surfactants (Brij 96, Tyloxapol and Tween 80) were analysed using surface tension and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of chain length of cationic surfactant and hydrophilic-lypophilic balance (HLB) prominently observed in critical aggregation (cac) value. The aqueous solubility of anti-tuberculosis drug: rifampicin (RIF) was comparatively studied by UV-vis spectroscopy in presence of formulated micelles and vesicles. RIF was significantly solubilised in aqueous medium using all the formulated aggregates. RIF is very unstable in basic medium (above pH-7) and in oxidizing media. Therefore, stability at pH-13 as well as in strong oxidising environment was monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy. To trace the locus of the drug encapsulation in the micelles/vesicles, fluorescence spectroscopy and TEM studies were carried out. Both the techniques stemmed in complimentary results and confirmed that, RIF is majorly populated at polar medium in cationic-cationic vesicles and favour to reside at hydrophobic medium of the nonionic-cationic micelles.

Risk Factors associated with defaulting from visceral leishmaniasis treatment: analysis under routine programme conditions in Bihar, India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the rate of default from treatment in the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination programme and to identify risk factors and its underlying causes. METHODS: Case-control study conducted between December 2009 and June 2012 in three primary health centres (PHCs) of Muzaffarpur district, India. Patients who defaulted from treatment from the PHCs were considered as 'cases' and those who completed their treatment as 'controls'. Two controls were included in the study for each case. Respondents' opinion and satisfaction with the services provided at the PHCs were also elicited. Logistic regression was performed to assess the contribution of sociodemographic variables on patient status, and a discriminant analysis was used (after decomposing the original data) to identify factors that can predict the patient status as defaulter or not, based on factor scores of the components as predictor variables. RESULTS: During the study period, 16.3% (89/544) of patients defaulted; 87 cases and 188 controls were interviewed through a semistructured questionnaire. Women tended to be more at risk for default (OR, 1.6, 95% CI (0.9 -2.9). Treatment received was miltefosine in 55.6% and sodium stibogluconate (SSG) in 44.4%. Most (86%) defaulters completed their treatment at other healthcare facilities; 70% of them preferred non-governmental institutions. Most cited reasons for default were seeking a second opinion for VL treatment and preferring to be treated in specialised VL centres. Discriminant analysis showed only one significant predictor: dissatisfaction with the medical care received in PHCs. CONCLUSION: Efforts are needed to enhance the quality of VL care at PHC level, which will be beneficial in increasing treatment completion rates.

Enhanced solubilization of curcumin in mixed surfactant vesicles.

Self-assemblies of equimolar double and single chain mixed ionic surfactants, with increasing numbers of carbon atoms of double chain surfactant, were analyzed on the basis of fluorescence and conductivity results. Attempts were also made to enhance the solubilization of curcumin in aqueous equimolar mixed surfactant systems. Mixed surfactant assembly was successful in retarding the degradation of curcumin in alkaline media (only 25-28 40% degraded in 10h at pH 13). Fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching methods were employed to predict the binding position and mechanism of curcumin with self-assemblies. Results indicate that the interactions take place according to both dynamic and static quenching mechanisms and curcumin was distributed in a palisade layer of mixed aggregates. Antioxidant activity (using DPPH radical) and biocompatibility (using calf-thymus DNA) of curcumin-loaded mixed surfactant formulations were also evaluated. The prepared systems improved the stability, solubility and antioxidant activity of curcumin and additionally are biocompatible.

Coating doxorubicin-loaded nanocapsules with alginate enhances therapeutic efficacy against Leishmania in hamsters by inducing Th1-type immune responses.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory and chemotherapeutic potential of alginate-(SA) coated nanocapsule (NCs) loaded with doxorubicin (SA-NCs-DOX) against visceral leishmaniasis in comparison with nano-emulsions containing doxorubicin (NE-DOX). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: NE-DOX was prepared using low-energy emulsification methods. Stepwise addition of protamine sulphate and SA in a layer-by-layer manner was used to form SA-NCs-DOX. SA-NCs-DOX, NE-DOX and Free DOX were compared for their cytotoxicity against Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages in vitro and generation of T-cell responses in infected hamsters in vivo. KEY RESULTS: Size and ζ potential of the NE-DOX and SA-NCs-DOX formulations were 310 ± 2.1 nm and (-)32.6 ± 2.1 mV, 342 ± 4.1 nm and (-)29.3 ± 1.2 mV respectively. SA-NCs-DOX was better (1.5 times) taken up by J774A.1 macrophages compared with NE-DOX. SA-NCs -DOX showed greater efficacy than NE-DOX against intramacrophagic amastigotes. SA-NCs-DOX treatment exhibited enhanced apoptotic efficiency than NE-DOX and free DOX as evident by cell cycle analysis, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS and NO production. T-cell responses, when assessed through lymphoproliferative responses, NO production along with enhanced levels of iNOS, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 were found to be up-regulated after SA-NCs-DOX, compared with responses to NE-DOX in vivo. Parasitic burden was decreased in Leishmania-infected hamsters treated with SA-NCs-DOX, compared with NE-DOX. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results provide insights into the development of an alternative approach to improved management of leishmaniasis through a combination of chemotherapy with stimulation of the innate immune system.

Enteral nutrition in Crohn's disease: an underused therapy.

This paper reviews the literature on the history, efficacy, and putative mechanism of action of enteral nutrition for inflammatory bowel disease in both paediatric and adult patients. It also analyses the reasoning behind the low popularity of exclusive enteral nutrition in clinical practice despite the benefits and safety profile.

Ras signaling pathway in the chemopreventive action of different ratios of fish oil and corn oil in experimentally induced colon carcinogenesis.

Dietary factors play a significant role in colon cancer. The essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-3 PUFAs, and n-6 PUFAs exert inverse effect on cancer. This study was designed to understand the mechanism of chemopreventive action of different ratios of fish oil (FO) and corn oil (CO) in colon carcinoma. Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 received purified diet whereas Groups 2 and 3 received modified diet with FO:CO (1:1) and FO:CO (2.5:1), respectively. The groups were further subdivided into controls receiving ethylenediamine-tetra acetic-acid and treated groups received dimethylhydrazine-dihydrochloride (DMH)/wk for 4 wk. Animals sacrificed 48 h after last injection constituted initiation phase and that sacrificed after 16 wk constituted post-initiation phase. Differential effect of different ratios of FO and CO was analyzed in isolated colonocytes. In both phases, DMH treatment showed an increase in pan Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk)1/2, and c-fos levels. Akt levels were increased in post-initiation phase only. Treatment with FO + CO (1:1) + DMH decreased pan Ras, MEK1/2 and Erk1/2 levels in post-initiation phase whereas Raf and c-fos were decreased in both phases. Treatment with FO + CO (2.5:1) + DMH decreased Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, Erk1/2, and c-fos levels in both phases. Akt was decreased in post-initiation phase only. The chemo-preventive action of FO and CO may be mediated by time- and dose-dependent effect.

Treatment seeking in reproductive age women with RTIs/STIs: a community based cross-sectional study.

The socio-cultural and economic contexts in developing countries influence the epidemiology or STIs and helps in making them an important public health priority. This study was carried out to explore the health care seeking pathway of the women suffering from RTls/STls. influence or major socio-demographic variables on treatment seeking pattern. This cross sectional study was carried out comprising or eight hundred reproductive age (15-49 years) women selected following a multistage sampling procedure. The information pertaining to health seeking behaviour were collected from them using a pre-designed pretested interview schedule. Quantum of RTIs/STIs in the study group was estimated and symptomatics were asked specially about time lag between appearance of symptoms and seeking acre; reason for not seeking care; outcome of treatment they have taken if any. Out of total 359 subjects with symptoms of RTls/STls only about one-third (37.3%) had sought treatment. Only a few (4.5%) had sought treatment within 1 month of appearance of symptoms. Considering it to be physiological about half of the subjects (45.3%) did not seek treatment. The treatment seeking pattern was highly associated with the level of education (p = 0.000). Reluctance in seeking treatment, delay in its initiation, prelerence for unqualified practitioners in first consultation and significant association between education and treatment seeking pattern emphasize BCC and service provision for control and prevention of RTls/STls.

Measurement of thoron and radon progeny in outdoors of Sirsa, India, using defined solid angle absolute beta counting.

Defined solid angle absolute beta counting technique is used to measure the equilibrium equivalent concentration (EEC) of radon and thoron from the filtered aerosol samples collected at Sirsa, India, in the months of September-October 2009. The value of (220)Rn EEC determined during the same measurements varies from 0.98 to 3.27, minimum for afternoon and maximum for morning. An effective equivalent dose outdoor of 0.023 mSv y(-1) due to the average EEC(Th) of 1.65 Bq m(-3) was calculated with a conversion factor of 10 nSv Bq(-1) h(-1) m(-3) and an occupancy factor of 0.2. For EEC(Rn) with an average value of 13.02 Bq m(-3), the effective equivalent dose calculated using the conversion factor of 9 nSv Bq(-1) h(-1) m(3) and the occupancy factor of 0.2 was 0.164 mSv y(-1). The world average inhalation effective dose due to radon and its progeny is 1.2 mSv y(-1) as recommended by UNSCEAR, which reveals that the studied area is safe from health hazards.

Assessment of utilization of RCH services and client satisfaction at different level of health facilities in Varanasi District.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the various factors influencing utilization and non-utilization of RCH services and extent of client satisfaction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during October to December 2008 at two selected blocks of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh. Principal study subjects were 509 women having children less than 12 months old, selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussions conducted among the beneficiaries of the services. RESULTS: The study revealed that utilisation of the RCH services in the government facilities was higher among the backward classes than the general category; higher the level of education the lower was the utilisation of government services. Over all, 16% of the respondents were not satisfied with government facilities. 25% of the SC category was not satisfied with the services in spite of being the main users. Among RCH services utilization was highest (89%) for antenatal care services (ANC). 41.6% respondents did not receive any Post Natal Care (PNC) after their most recent birth. About 30% deliveries were at home out of which only 10% received PNC whereas out of 70% institutional deliveries about 80% received PNC. Overall 16.3 % of the respondents were not satisfied with the services provided by government health facilities. Around 16% and 14% were not satisfied with the behavior of medical officer and the health workers respectively and non-satisfaction was highest among SC category. CONCLUSION: All health facilities need to be made functional according to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) of NRHM.

Studies on TiO(2)/ZnO photocatalysed degradation of lignin.

The photocatalytic degradation of lignin obtained from wheat straw kraft digestion has been investigated by using TiO(2) and ZnO semiconductors. ZnO has been found to be a better photocatalyst than TiO(2). The different variables studied, include catalyst dose, solution pH, oxidant concentration and initial concentration of the substrate. The degradation of lignin was favorable at pH 11. Optimum values of catalyst dose and oxidant concentration were found to be 1g/l and 12.2 x 10(-6) M, respectively. The degradation of the organic compound was also evaluated as COD removal and increase in the COD removal was observed with increase in degradation rate. An attempt has also been made to explore the applicability of ZnO in immobilized mode for the degradation of lignin under solar light for industrial scale application. Further the comparative evaluation of ZnO in slurry/immobilized mode has been carried out.

Studies on photodegradation of two commercial dyes in aqueous phase using different photocatalysts.

The present study involves the photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) and Rhodamine 6G (R6G), employing heterogeneous photocatalytic process. Photocatalytic activity of various semiconductors such as titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), zinc oxide (ZnO), stannic oxide (SnO(2)), zinc sulphide (ZnS) and cadmium sulphide (CdS) has been investigated. An attempt has been made to study the effect of process parameters viz., amount of catalyst, concentration of dye and pH on photocatalytic degradation of MO and R6G. The experiments were carried out by irradiating the aqueous solutions of dyes containing photocatalysts with UV and solar light. The rate of decolorization was estimated from residual concentration spectrophotometrically. Similar experiments were carried out by varying pH (2-10), amount of catalyst (0.25-2.0g/l) and initial concentration of dye (5-200mg/l). The experimental results indicated that the maximum decolorization (more than 90%) of dyes occurred with ZnO catalyst and at basic pH and the maximum adsorption of MO was noticed at pH 4 and of R6G at pH 10. The percentage reduction of MO and R6G was estimated under UV/solar system and it was found that COD reduction takes place at a faster rate under solar light as compared to UV light. In case of R6G, highest decolorizing efficiency was achieved with lower dose of catalyst (0.5g/l) than MO (1g/l) under similar conditions. The performance of photocatalytic system employing ZnO/solar light was observed to be better than ZnO/UV system.

Bilateral Duane syndrome with bilateral congenital glaucoma.

Multiple ocular associations with Duane syndrome have been reported as summarized by DeRespinis et al. The most frequently noted include nystagmus, anisocoria, ptosis, optic nerve colobomas, and epibulbar dermoids. Less encountered abnormalities are optic nerve hypoplasia, heterochromia, and congenital cataract. To our knowledge, no reports of associated congenital glaucoma exist in the literature. We report a 10-year-old patient with bilateral Duane syndrome and bilateral congenital glaucoma who we have monitored for 7 months after birth.

Consecutive Descemet membrane detachment after successive phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To report a patient with consecutive Descemet's membrane (DM) detachments after successive phacoemulsification, review other reported patients with bilateral DM detachments, and explore the possibility of anatomic predisposition to DM detachment in some patients. METHODS: Our patient's course was reviewed along with the reported experience with three other patients with bilateral DM detachments. RESULTS: No clear underlying etiology of DM detachment was found in our patient or any of the other three reported patients reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients may be anatomically predisposed to DM detachment possibly because of an abnormality in the fibrillary stromal attachment to DM. Early postoperative surgical intervention often leads to satisfactory visual results.

Split cord malformation with partial eventration of the diaphragm. Case report.

The authors describe the case of a 3-year-old girl who presented with a dorsal split cord malformation (SCM) and was found to have eventration of the diaphragm. Although the child did not undergo surgery for eventration, its presence suggests a need for careful preoperative planning and clinical evaluation to rule out or confirm the anomalies associated with spinal dysraphism or SCM.

Unusual complication--VP shunt coming out per rectum and brain abscess.

VP shunt is the most common pediatric neurosurgical procedure. It has been shown to result in variety of complications, which may have devastating consequences. Discussed below is one of the rare complications and the strategy to manage it successfully.

Brain stem glioma--a study of 111 patients.

The study analyses 111 patients of brain stem glioma; seen in neurosurgery Dept., AIIMS, N. Delhi, India, from Jan '83 to March '97; 60% of the patients were under the age of 15 years, with two peaks in age distribution, 6-10 years & 36-45 years & there was slight male preponderance in all age groups. Most common site of tumour was pons both in adults & children. Pyramidal & cerebellar signs were more frequently seen in children. Duration of symptoms was usually less than six months (in 65.5% of cases). Surgical management was attempted in 72 patients with post of radiotherapy & chemotherapy, rest of the 39 cases were treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy & antitubercular treatment (if indicated). Improvement was seen in 30% patients postoperatively. Outcome was better in patients who were treated surgically. Astrocytoma was most common histological diagnosis (62%) & glioblastoma was not uncommon & was seen in 10 (13.8%) cases.] We conclude that the patients with brainstem glioma can be helped by surgical decompression, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy & chemotherapy.

Regulation of sterol carrier protein-2 gene expression in rat liver and small intestine.

Sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP2) is a peroxisomal protein most highly expressed in non-steroidogenic tissues such as liver and small intestine. We have examined SCP2 gene expression during development and after alterations in lipid and bile acid metabolism and compensatory cell growth in the rat. The developmental expression of SCP2 displayed a biphasic pattern of relative mRNA abundance with a peak at day 19 to 20 of fetal life, reaching adult levels by day 14 and after day 14 in small intestine. In adult rats there was no effect on SCP2 mRNA abundance, or the relative proportions of the four SCP2 transcripts after gemfibrozil treatment, 30-fold changes in hepatic cholesteryl ester and triglyceride levels, bile ligation, compensatory hepatic or renal growth. However, immunoblot analysis of tissue homogenates revealed that SCP2 protein is decreased by 75% in the livers of gemfibrozil-treated animals and increased by 5-fold at 48 h in regenerating liver and in the remaining kidney after unilateral nephrectomy. Taken together these results suggest that SCP2 gene expression is developmentally regulated and modulated translationally or post-translationally in the adult rat by gemfibrozil and compensatory cell growth.