The crossroads of work and home: linkages between smoke-free policies at work and household environments.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use causes over eight million global deaths annually, with seven million directly attributed to tobacco use and 1.2 million to second hand smoke (SHS). Smoke-free environments are crucial to counter SHS. Although India banned smoking in public places in 2008, SHS exposure remains high. Studies have noted that limiting smoking in workplaces, restaurants, etc., helps to reduce overall smoking and reduce SHS exposure. Under this background, the study explores the linkages between smoke-free workplaces and living in smoke-free homes in India. METHODS: The two rounds of the GATS India (2009-10 and 2016-17) have been used for the study. The study focuses on male tobacco smokers working indoors or outdoors or both indoors and outdoors. The sample for the study was 2,969 for GATS 1 and 2,801 for GATS 2. Dependent variables include living in a smoke-free home, while the independent variables were adherence to a smoke-free office policy and socio-demographic variables. The two rounds of the GATS data were pooled for analysis. Statistical analysis involves bivariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Findings reveal that 41% of respondents worked in smoke-free workplaces in GATS 2. Nationally, smoke-free homes increased from 35% in 2009-2010 to 44% in 2016-17. Individuals with smoke-free workplaces were more likely to have smoke-free homes. The Southern region consistently exhibited the highest proportion of smoke-free homes. Urban areas and higher education correlated with increased smoke-free homes. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that workplace smoke-free status is a significant predictor of smoke-free homes. In GATS 2, respondents aged 30 years and above were less likely to have smoke-free homes, while education and Southern region residence positively influenced smoke-free homes. CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between smoke-free workplaces and smoke-free homes is linked to stringent workplace no-smoking policies, potentially deterring individuals from smoking at home. Opportunities exist for the expansion and stringent implementation of the smoke-free policies among Indian working adults, leveraging the workplace as a key setting for evidence-based tobacco control. The study highlights positive trends in India's smoke-free homes, crediting workplace policies. Effective policies, education, and regional strategies can advance smoke-free homes, stressing the pivotal role of workplace policies and advocating broader implementation.

Barriers in quest for cancer care access in two states of northeast India.

BACKGROUND: The cancer burden in northeast India is high, with low survival and low case detection. Despite the availability of cancer institutes in the region, existing literature remarks on the increasing travel outside the region for cancer care. However, research is sparse on identifying impediment factors to the access of state cancer institutes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the barriers to cancer care in five common cancer sites: oral, lungs, stomach, breast and cervix. METHOD: Following a descriptive multiple-embedded case study design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, 388 participants were selected in phase one by stratified random sampling. In phase two, by purposive sampling, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted. RESULT: The result suggests that family decision is the central factor in cancer care access. Treatment initiation is delayed because the existing government health insurance scheme does not cover diagnostic tests. Adverse steps are taken to fund cancer treatment. Besides, opting for alternative medicines were due to fear of surgery, chemotherapy and recommendations by relatives. Arranging accommodation, transportation and infrastructure shortage was another hurdle. In contrast, the lack of awareness of the state cancer institutes was a barrier to its access. CONCLUSION: This paper identifies and describes factors that hinder access to state cancer institutes. The findings could enhance policy interventions for efficient cancer care access in the region. Integration with NGOs working at the state level for cancer services would support ease of access by providing funds for diagnostic tests, accommodation and transportation, especially for those who cannot afford it.

Assessment of Workplace Hygiene among Contractual Workers in the Steel and Power Industry of Odisha, India.

Background: Workplace hygiene is vital in controlling infectious diseases in industries. The factors like unhealthy environment, unhygienic workplace, and contact between healthy and disease-affected employees cause industrial hazards in workplaces. Objectives: This study assessed various components of workplace hygiene among industrial workers. Materials and Methods: A quantitative survey has been conducted in a steel, and power industry limited in Odisha. The study surveyed 425 male contractual workers for primary data on workplace hygiene. Probability proportion to sample technique adopted for justification of the sample. The univariate and bivariate analysis models have been done according to the study's objective. Results: Nearly 92% of respondents reported proper use of washing facilities, and 97% used toilet and urinal appropriately. One-fourth of respondents use personal disinfected clothing, and 92.2% have access to safe drinking water. The factors such as education, technical education, and occupation are significantly associated with respondents' use of washing facilities, dining hall, personal protective clothing, safe drinking water, proper cleaning, and sanitation at the workplace. Conclusion: Workplace hygiene strengthens the safety measures at the workplace and reduces the incidences of occupational hazards.

Preventive measures and self-protective rights at workplace: A study on steel and power industry workers in Odisha, India.

This study aims to assess the preventive measures and self-protective rights of employees at the workplace. A survey has been conducted in a steel and power industry of Angul district of Odisha (India) using a semi-structured interview schedule to assess the determinants of occupational hazards. Occupational health practices among 425 male workers were assessed from the steel and power industry using the population proportion to sample technique (PPS). Respondents from the higher educational background, skilled workers, Hindu religious group, general category, and employees with high-household income were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with self-protective rights at the workplace. Industrial workers are considered a vulnerable group with respect to the power of self-protective rights in the industry. The factors such as job insecurity, financial hardship, less education, and unskilled profession make them vulnerable, which forces them to settle with a lower level of rights at the workplace.

Nickel-catalyzed Chan-Lam cross-coupling: chemoselective N-arylation of 2-aminobenzimidazoles.

A complementary set of Ni- and Cu-based catalyst systems for the selective N-arylation of 2-aminobenzimidazoles have been developed. Selective N-arylation of the primary amine (C-NH2) group was achieved by Ni-catalyzed, boronic acid promoted cross-coupling reactions in air, whereas, selective N-arylation of the azole nitrogen was achieved with Cu-catalysis and aryl halides. These protocols are general and give rapid access to an array of both the N-arylated isomers of 2-aminobenzimidazoles.

C-Glycosylated flavonoids from black gram husk: Protection against DNA and erythrocytes from oxidative damage and their cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells.

C-Glycosyl flavones are present in different plant tissues and they exhibit health benefits. In the present study, it was found that C-glycosyl flavones are distributed in different milled fractions of black gram and among these fractions, husk had the highest content of C-glycosyl flavones. Two C-glycosyl flavones from black gram husk were extracted and purified by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column. The purity of each compound was assessed by analytical C18 column. The structure of each compound was confirmed by LC-MS/MS, NMR. The molecular mass of these compounds were found to be [M-H]-, m/z 431.36 and [M-H]-, m/z 431.35 and were identified as vitexin and isovitexin, respectively. Content of vitexin and isovitexin in aqueous ethanol extract was found to be 76 and 65 mg/g of extract, respectively. These C-glycosyl flavones protected DNA and erythrocytes from oxidative damage. The IC50 values for vitexin, isovitexin and quercetin for hemolysis were 6, 5.7 and 2.37 µg, respectively. These compounds also triggered the process of apoptosis in HeLa cells by downregulating Bcl-2 level with the simultaneous upregulation of Bax and caspase-3 protein expression. Thus, C-glycosyl flavones from black gram husk protected DNA and erythrocytes from oxidative damage and exhibited anticancer activity.

A new three-component reaction: green synthesis of novel isoindolo[2,1-a]quinazoline derivatives as potent inhibitors of TNF-α.

Concurrent construction of five and six membered fused N-heretocyclic ring was achieved via a conceptually new three-component reaction affording 6,6a-dihydroisoindolo[2,1-a]quinazoline-5,11-diones as novel inhibitors of TNF-αin vitro. This represents one of the few examples of direct TNF-α inhibition by small molecules.