In Silico Drug-Designing Studies on Flavanoids as Anticolon Cancer Agents: Pharmacophore Mapping, Molecular Docking, and Monte Carlo Method-Based QSAR Modeling.

In silico molecular modeling studies were carried out on some newly synthesized flavanoid analogues. Search for potential targets for these compounds was performed using pharmacophore-mapping algorithm employing inverse screening of some representative compounds to a large set of pharmacophore models constructed from human target proteins. Further, molecular docking studies were carried out to assess binding affinity of these compounds to proteins mediating tumor growth. In vitro anticancer studies were carried out on colon cancer cell lines (HCT116) to assess validity of this approach for target identification of the new compounds. Further important structural features of compounds for anticolon cancer activity were assessed using Monte Carlo-based SMILES and hydrogen graph-Based QSAR studies. In conclusion this study have depicted successful and stepwise application of pharmacophore mapping, molecular docking, and QSAR studies in target identification and lead optimization of flavonoids.

Maternal depression and foetal responses to novel stimuli: insights from a socio-economically disadvantaged Indian cohort.

Maternal stress during pregnancy has pervasive effects on stress responsivity in children. This study is the first to test the hypothesis that maternal prenatal depression, as observed in South India, may be associated with how foetuses respond to a potentially stressful stimulus. We employed measures of foetal heart rate at baseline, during exposure to a vibroacoustic stimulus, and post-stimulation, to study patterns of response and recovery in 133 third trimester foetuses of depressed and non-depressed mothers. We show that the association between maternal depression and foetal stress responsivity is U-shaped with foetuses of mothers with high and low depression scores demonstrating elevated responses, and poorer recovery, than foetuses of mothers with moderate levels. The right amount of intra-uterine stimulation is important in conditioning foetuses towards optimal regulation of their stress response. Our results imply that, in certain environmental contexts, exposure to moderate amounts of intra-uterine stress may facilitate this process.

Clinical examination of pregnant women by paramedical and medical personnel: an assessment of consistency of findings in a field study.

BACKGROUND: As a part of a project to improve the maternal and child health services in 4 primary health centres (PHCs) in Bellary and Raichur districts of Karnataka, we assessed the consistency in recording symptoms, signs and some clinical observations of pregnant women by three examiners-the junior health assistant, medical officer of the PHC and a private medical practitioner. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four pregnant women were examined independently by the three examiners on the same day for 4 symptoms reported by the women themselves, 4 signs assessed by the examining person and 9 simple clinical observations. Agreement rates in each examiner pair for each parameter were assessed. RESULTS: We found poor rates of agreement in assesment of various parameters by each observer pair. The disagreement rates were lower between the two doctors compared with those between the junior health assistant and each doctor. CONCLUSION: The agreement rates between various healthcare personnel in assessing pregnant women are low. There is a need for measures to correct this situation.

Birth-based approach to family planning: an empirical justification.

PIP: Amid persistently high population growth rates in developing countries, people have questioned whether the recent change from a fertility-reduction oriented family planning program strategy to a reproductive health-oriented and meeting-unmet-needs based program of contraceptive services will slow the pace of fertility decline, exacerbating population problems and developmental issues in developing countries. The authors consider the question and suggest reorienting program strategy such that both the microlevel needs of couples and the macrolevel objective of fertility reduction are simultaneously and efficiently met. A birth-based approach to family planning program is proposed in which efforts will be made to identify all pregnant women and recently delivered mothers and provide services to them. This approach would comprise a key component of a reproductive health program. The authors empirically test the hypotheses that the unmet needs of contraception for birth spacing and limiting are relatively higher among recently delivered mothers than among all women of comparable age and parity, and that recently delivered mothers are self-selected for their higher fertility.^ieng

Exodus to cities and quality of life.

PIP: Concerns about deterioration of the quality of life in mega-cities in India, thought to be due to in-migration, are shown to be misplaced in this essay. Not only is the deterioration due merely to rising expectations, but its causes are problems on a national level. It is true that population growth in the 12 largest cities in India, 3.35%, is more rapid than growth rates in the country as a whole, 2.22%. Bangalore is growing the fastest, 5.68% annually, but generally Indian cities are growing less rapidly that many other Asian cities, e.g. Dacca, 7.37%. Urbanization to the extent of 60.70% of the population is in fact necessary for development. The primary reason for in-migration is employment for men, and marriage accompanying employed husbands for women. Contrary to common opinion, the educational status of in- migrants is higher than that of the region, and female literacy is higher in cities than in the rest of the state, e.g., 61% for Bombay, vs. 35% in Maharashtra State. The occupational status is frequently high: production, transport equipment operator, laborer, professional, technical executive managerial, sales and service. Furthermore, as urbanization proceeds, construction laborers and service workers are in demand. Quality of life defined by infant and maternal mortality is higher in cities than in the surrounding rural area. This quality of life is the reason why people migrate to the city. Unfortunately, frustrations are also rising as expectations for improved housing, water, air, transportation and consumer-durables rise faster than they can be supplied.^ieng

Director's report.

PIP: Reviewed are the achievements of the Teaching and Research Programme of the International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS). The teaching program consists of a certificate course and a diploma course in population studies. The duration, curriculum and requirements of each are described. the students in the Diploma Course conducted a field survey on Registration of births and Deaths, in partial fulfilment of their requirements. Their major findings are reported; they reveal a general indifference among the population to the registration of vital statistics as they could derive no personal utility from registering such events. All births were attended by untrained personnel due to the lack of medical institutions or trained persons in the village; this accounted, in part, for poor registration of births. Death registration documents were likely to be better reported when needed for legal purposes. The IIPS also organized several short-term courses during the academic year 1982-1983, to cater to the several special needs of the participants. Lectures by distinguished scholars in the field of population are annually organized by the Institute, for the benefit of the students and the faculty. As for the Research Programme projects completed by the faculty during 1982-83 are listed as are other various research projects according to their status in 1982-83. The report also includes the titles and abstracts of 3 volumes published by the Institute, during the same period. Other activities of the IIPS, such as seminars, workshops, meetings, connsultancy services to other institutions and visits to the Institute by various delegations, are reviewed. Finally, the status of construction of new buildings on the IIPS campus is assessed.^ieng

From one generation to the next: changes in fertility, family size preferences, and family planning in an Indian state between 1951 and 1975.

Over the last 25 years modernization in Karnataka, India, resulted in a large reduction in infant and child mortality, substantial increases in literacy, and initiation of an intensive family planning program. The drop in the birth rate during this period, however, was much less than would be anticipated under such circumstances. Two surveys carried out in 1951--52 and 1975 provide data on current and cumulative fertility, family size preferences, and knowledge and use of family planning. A comparison of these data leads to the conclusion that the level of family planning activities was not high enough to counteract the increase in the fertility of married women that was a consequence of modernization.