Protein interactions, molecular docking, antimicrobial and antifungal studies of terpyridine ligands.

Resistance to antibiotics/antibacterials/antifungals in pathogenic microbes has been developing over the past few decades and has recently become a commonplace public-health peril. Thus, alternative nontoxic potent antibiotic agents are covertly needed to control antibiotic-resistant outbreaks. In an effort to combat the challenges posed by the co-occurrence of multidrug resistance, two terpyridine ligands 4'-(4-N,N'-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (L1) and 4'-(4-tolyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (L2) have been designed, prepared and confirmed their structure by spectral studies. Thereafter, antimicrobial assay was performed against gram positive and negative bacterial strains along with fungal strains. Both compounds L1 and L2 exhibited remarkable inhibitory activities against bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at MIC values 6.25 and 3.125 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, in silico molecular docking studies were ascertained with bacterial DNA gyrase and fungal demethylase. Furthermore, both L1 and L2 could bind Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein and binding interaction has been studied with the help of UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. While fluorescence of BSA unperturbed in the presence of L2, an addition of L1 to the solution of BSA resulted significant quenching. The binding constant calculations at different temperature confirmed that the fluorescence quenching between BSA and L1 is predominantly static in nature. The toxicity of L1 and L2 was checked using Drosophila melanogaster. The toxicity analysis suggest both the dyes are non-cytotoxic in nature.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Diet intake patterns of non-Bengali Muslim mothers during pregnancy and lactation.

PIP: An explorative study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding diet patterns during pregnancy and lactation among Non-Bengali Muslim mothers. 100 consecutive mothers admitted for delivery in the Obstetric Ward of Islamia Hospital, Calcutta, were selected as index cases. Retrospective data from these mothers were collected about their diet patterns during pregnancy. At least 3 home visits were made for each mother after her discharge from the hospital: the 1st visit within 7 days after discharge, the 2nd visit when the infant was 4-6 months old during the weaning period, and the 3rd visit when the infant was 8-12 months old. 60% of mothers were illiterate and 34% had up to primary level education, while only 4% and 2% of mothers had up to secondary and higher than secondary level education, respectively. None of the mothers was working. Only 13% of the families' daily diet was nonvegetarian. There was a wide gap between the mothers' attitude towards various nutritious food categories and the actual practice of consuming them because of the inability to buy those food items owing to poverty. When pregnant, they avoided leafy vegetables (96%) as well as brinjal, cauliflower, and cabbage (42%) for fear of gastric upset. 75% of mothers avoided pineapple and papaya; and 50% avoided fish since it was believed to cause scaly patches on the child's face and body. 76% of mothers, irrespective of their level of education or economic status, were consuming sago, barley, garlic, and turmeric in the erroneous belief of augmenting breast milk secretion. Garlic and turmeric were also believed to improve the baby's complexion and protect the baby and mother from cough and cold. Common food items avoided by mothers during lactation were vegetables (93%), fruits (81%), pulses (59%), and roots and tubers (54%).^ieng

An analysis of health services coverage of a primary health centre in West Bengal.

Seven hundred rural families from different religious, economic, educational and occupational groups residing at different distances from the service health centre (PHC) were interviewed to study its service coverage and service bottlenecks. Acceptability, contact and effectiveness coverage, were respectively 64.8, 19.2 and 13.8 percent in case of medical care; 71.8, 28.3 and 27.2 percent in Maternal and Child Health Care Services; 45.7, 18.2 and 17.3 percent in case of Family Welfare Planning Services; and 64.4, 55.7 and 55.7 percent in immunization services. The higher income group utilized the services least 4.1 percent, compared to lower income group (17.7 percent). Utilization of the PHC services significantly declined with distance from the health centre. Less than 1/5th of the families (19.2 percent) utilized the medicare. Bottlenecks in service utilization were distance from PHC, and caste, education and income.

PIP: An evaluation of health care services in a primary health center (PHC) in West Bengal is presented. The Chanditala Primary Health Center, established in 1961 in District Huoghly of West Bengal was the primary location examined. Villages were divided into 3 groups based on geographic distance from the health center 1-5 kms, 6-10 kms, and above 10 kms. Random sampling technique was used. 10 villages including 1 PHC village were selected; from these a 15% household sample was taken based on religion and caste. 700 families were studied overall. Medical care, maternal, and child health services, family planning services and immunization services were the principal services used as indicators measuring the level of health care coverage. Results in coverage area were tallied for acceptability, contact, and effectiveness coverage. Medical care figures were 84.4%, 19.2%, and 13.8% respectively. Maternal and child health care services figures were 71.8%, 28.3%, and 27.2%; family welfare planning services were 47.5%, 18.2%, and 17.3%. Figures for immunization services were 64.4%, 55.7%, and 55.7%. Lower income groups utilized the services more (17.7%), than higher income groups (4.1%). PHC services declined significantly with distance from the primary health center. 19.2% of the families surveyed used Medicare.

Post insertion fertility behaviour of I.U.C.D. acceptors.

PIP: Of 807 women 45 years or less who had Lippes loop IUDs inserted in 1969- 1970 at a south Calcutta clinic, 552 were interviewed at home to study post-IUD fertility in 1980-1981. 48 were excluded due to early menopause, separation or death of spouse. Pregnancy rates in the remaining 504 women were 1.2% for the 1st 24 months, 0% at 48 and 0.2% for 49-96 months for those using contraception, compared to 6.9, 7.3, and 1.6% at 12, 48 and 132 months for those not using contraception. 7.5%, 8.1% and 9.9% of the women not using contraception were not pregnant at 12, 28 and 132 months. 18.2% of these women had been sterilized, while 12.8% were using an IUD, 11.7% were using natural birth control, and 5.7% used condoms. 4.6% retained the original IUD for 11 years. There was a 1.2% failure rate among IUD acceptors during use of a re-inserted IUD. Women had fewer subsequent pregnancies if they had more children when accepting the IUD, intended to limit family size, or were older. Those with all daughters wanted more children and were less likely to use contraception. Since the overall fertility rate after marriage was 335, use of the IUD in this population was estimated to reduce fertility by 86%.^ieng

Birth rate and economic development: an empirical exploration.

PIP: An attempt is made to identify the determinants of fertility decline in India using inter-regional and inter-district data from secondary sources for the Punjab in 1978. The results suggest that literacy is the major factor associated with lower fertility.^ieng