Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and sexual harassment among transgender people in Puducherry, South India: a cross sectional analytical study

Background: Transgender people are stigmatized, victimized and often driven towards attempting suicide due to institutionalized discrimination. We aimed, to determine the proportion and factors associated with suicidal ideation in last one year and suicide attempts in their lifetime and the proportion of transgender people who have faced sexual harassment in Puducherry. Methods: It was a cross sectional analytical study. All consenting adult transgender residing in Puducherry and registered with SCOHD (NGO) were included in the study. Pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was used as study tools (C-SSRS and TGISS). Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and sexual harassment were expressed in proportion and multivariate analysis was done to find the independent association of variables with the outcomes using adjusted prevalence ratios. Results: Of the 119 transgender people who participated in this study, 50% were unemployed and 28.6% were involved in sex work. Overall prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and sexual harassment was found to be 31.1% (95%CI 23.3%-39.8%), 46.2% (95%CI 37.4%-55.2%) and 84.87% (95%CI 77.5%-90.4%) respectively. In multivariate analyses, suicidal ideation was significantly associated with higher income; suicide attempts were associated with being employed. Conclusions: Lack of support from the family and friends and the stigmatizing behaviour of the society were the causes of their fear of living in the society. Extreme forms of stigma ultimately leads to their suicidal behaviour.

Moringa oleifera seeds attenuate benzene-induced alterations in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney tissues of Wistar rats

Benzene is a notorious toxicant that is responsible for a host of diseases including leukemia. Its concentration in the environment is increasing day-by-day due to excessive automobile use, accelerated industrial activities and cigarette smoke. The awareness on the harmful effects of benzene on health is limited and no antidote has been reported yet. In this study, an attempt has been made to find out a suitable remedy to overcome benzene toxicity in a living organism from a natural source with the seeds of the plant Moringa oleifera (MO). Thirty six Wistar rats were considered for the study and divided into six groups (n=6). While group I remained as control with normal animals, those in groups II – VI received benzene by oral route (800 mg/kg body weight) for 28 consecutive days. On day 29, the benzene-treated animals in groups III – VI received respectively the standard drug ascorbic acid (AA, 25 mg/kg body weight) and MO (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for the following 7 days. Group II rats that received only benzene served as negative control without any treatment. On day 36, all the animals were sacrificed and vital organs liver and kidney were removed for studying lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant markers [Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Total reduced glutathione (TRG), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Catalase (CAT)] in addition to histopathological changes in the tissues. The results of the study revealed that significant changes occurred in the above parameters due to benzene dosing to animals were reverted to near normal values on MO administration in the liver and kidney tissues as compared to untreated animals, suggesting MO’s pro-active role in attenuating benzene toxicity.

An observational study on adverse drug reaction profile in patients on long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are most commonly prescribed medications in the world which are highly effective drugs in treatment of upper gastrointestinal disorders, but there are concerns regarding its long term use. Aim and Objective: To assess the pattern of reported adverse drug reactions (ADR) in patients with long term use of PPI and to estimate the frequency of adverse drug effects. Materials and Methods: A study conducted as an observational study among 100 consecutive patients who attended the medical-gastro inpatient and outpatient department on treatment with PPI for more than 4 months, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After attaining the written informed consent, data regarding patient’s demographic details, occupational status, addictions, co-morbidities, and lab investigations were recorded in pre-prepared proforma after interviewing the patient and referring the case sheet. Details including PPI used and per day dose of the drug with any ADR developed were noted. Data collected were analyzed using appropriate statistical method. Categorical variables are expressed as frequency (percentage) and continuous variables as mean (standard deviation). Chi-square test was used to find out the association between PPI and ADR. Results: Out of 100 study participants, 57% case reported ADR which included 19 cases (33.3%) of hypomagnesemia, 8 cases (14%) each of hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia, 7 cases (12.3%) of anemia, and 5 cases (8.9%) of acute kidney injury. Out of the 57 reported adverse events, 29 (50.9%) were caused by Rabeprazole followed by 18 (31.6%) by Pantoprazole, then Esomeprazole: 8 (14%), and least by Omeprazole (3.5%). Conclusion: Long-term use of PPI can lead to various ADR which requires the withdrawal of drug. Since PPIs are easily available without prescriptions, self-medication with PPIs are increasing alarmingly. With every antibiotic one PPI is always prescribed, as a result, there is irrational use of PPIs which is of concern and requires attention. These adverse events could be reduced by preventing self-medication of long duration and reducing the irrational prescribing of PPIs. Doctors should be sensitized about the ADRs. The patient should be educated about the long-term adverse effects of PPIs.

Quantifying The Single Leg Balance Using Multiple Dynamic Postures On Stable Surface

Introduction: Singe leg balance (SLB) is a key neuro-biomechanical asset of several fundamental and advanced closed kinetic chain activities of lower limbs. From the perspectives of healthy ageing and fall prevention strategies, there is a compelling need to explore and devise a safe and effective SLB assessment tool to incorporate in multifactorial health evaluations and gerontological education. Methodology: About twenty dynamic SLB exercise techniques were opted and used as assessment techniques to build a dynamic SLB assessment scale. Results: As a preliminary testing, when this assessment scale was applied on non-athlete individuals in the age group of 35 to 50 years old, nine men (Mean body weight = 79 Kg, Mean fat percentage = 32) and five women (Mean body weight = 65 Kg, Mean fat percentage = 36), who have been exercising two to three days per week under the supervision of exercise professional, they displayed excellent SLB in almost all the techniques. Conclusion: It is prudent to utilize this dynamic SLB assessment scale not only to diagnose and quantify SLB performance but also to motivate the individuals by giving the highest rating even if the individuals display precise SLB only after multiple trials and errors. Numerous such simple, inexpensive and non-invasive diagnostic tools are needed in the health education and health care system.

Epidemiological Intersection: The Revelation Of Covid – 19 Pandemic

Human existence and their health rely on their intellectual interactions with ecosystem which eventually accompanies brilliant technological innovations. At par with the technological progress, humans also have been facing several intimidating communicable and non-communicable diseases. Amidst such disease threats, humans have discovered multiple ways to uplift the average life span all over the globe but still not up to the fitness benchmarks of healthy ageing trajectory. COVID-19 has specifically revealed the fragility of humans as they continue succumbing exponentially to the interactions of this communicable disease with their existing non-communicable diseases like hypertension, cardiac pathology and diabetes. In human evolution, the COVID-19 pandemic could be the most perfect synapse or intersection of non-communicable diseases with this transmissible disease leading to a situation that can be even named as “Global Medical Stampede” characterized by sudden increase in the number of patients requiring life-saving procedures for which there is lack of adequate manpower and technological support in health care system. This whole chaotic scenario could easily trigger acute psychological and physiological stress primarily caused by fear among the public favoring the frightening consequences of the pandemic. This article aims to suggest refinement in public health paradigms to enable preparations to face such disease threats from the immediate future without further procrastination.

Indirect Estimation Of The Step Length Of Walking And Running Performances On The Treadmill

Introduction: Cadence and step length are important biomechanical variables of walking and running but they are not typically monitored by the treadmills. This study explains a novel non-invasive method to estimate the step length of walking and running to maximize the professional skills and scientific capabilities of Physiotherapists and Exercise professionals. Methodology: Seventeen individuals (10 men and 7 women) who have been undergoing supervised fitness training programs were selected for the biomechanical analysis of the relationship between cadence and step length of walking and running on the treadmill in the speeds ranging from 5 Km/h to 15 Km/h for men and 5 Km/h to 12 Km/h for women. Results: Exercisers displayed wide range of step length strategies to manage the walking and running speeds opted for the experiment. Additionally, when the same exercisers were allowed to exhibit their maximum running speed in the outdoor environment, a statistically significant difference was found because all of them faced psychological constraints to explore or sustain their fastest running ability on the treadmill. Conclusion: Assessment of cadence and step lengths of the patients and exercisers looks indispensable. Visual counting method to calculate the cadence can be easily acquired through practice, usually accompanied by the development of the skill to compute the step lengths using mathematical formulae. The same method can be used to ascertain if the individuals are adapting symmetrical or asymmetrical step lengths by just separately counting the number of steps produced by each lower extremity for a specific time length (30 seconds or 60 seconds). Experts should continue exploring such feasible, non-invasive and inexpensive diagnostic procedures.

Prevalence Of Outward Deviation Of Feet In Human Gait: A Non-Participant Observation

Introduction: Physiotherapists have been trained to possess unique superspeciality potential to conduct biomechanical analyses by visual observations and decode the kinetics of various static and dynamic postures. This distinct skill of Physiotherapists enables them to make accurate clinical diagnosis with credible rationale in many occasions without even the support of any specialized equipment. Additionally, apart from the ability to directly examine the patients elaborately in the clinical settings, Physiotherapists are also inherently capable of Non-participant observation to endlessly upgrade their knowledge and interpretation skills by just visually observing various movement patterns in sports, household activities, occupational tasks etc. Gait is one of the commonly seen dynamic postures which can also be analysed to certain extent using Non-participation observation method. The determination to research the alignment of feet in human gait developed after noticing the prevalence of walking with Outward Deviation of Feet (ODF) among various individuals in public spaces. Methodology: Non-participant visual observation of the ODF was carried out in various public spaces like roads, railways stations, streets, fitness clubs etc. Additionally, the walking patterns of people of other countries were also searched in social media like YouTube. Both anterior view and posterior view of the gait of the individuals were observed and possible biomechanical interpretations were made for the development of new theories and research pathways. Results: Large number of children were found consistently aligning their feet straight except few sporadically. Walking with ODF was found frequent among many adolescents, middle age adults and older adults. Conclusion: Taking into account of the increased foot progression angle and narrowed step width, ODF should be viewed as a potential biomechanical problem that would probably be acquired from the adolescence (or even before the adolescence) as one of the earliest asymptomatic biomechanical dysfunctions of unhealthy ageing.

Molecular characterization of bacterial biocontrol agents and their chitinase genes from tea soil

In tea, bacterial biocontrol agents viz. Bacillus and Pseudomonas and an enzyme like chitinase from these bacterial strains are used to control tea pests and pathogens. However, literature on molecular identification of the same is quite scarce. In this study, Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains isolated from tea soil samples, were systematically identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Molecular characterization of bacteria was carried out to identify the species of different level chitinase producing bacteria and diversity among them. Further, chitinase gene was characterized from these bacteria to understand the gene diversity among different bacterial chitinase that has potential application in controlling the plant pests and pathogens. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and chitinase gene sequences was made among thirteen Bacillus and five Pseudomonas species submitted in NCBI Genbank.

Identification of pheromone-carrying protein in the preorbital gland post in the endangered Indian male Blackbuck Antelope cervicapra L.

In mammals, a low molecular mass protein (17-20 KDa) reported from the pheromone sources such as urine, saliva, glandular secretion, etc., as ligand-carrier (pheromone carrier) has been associated with chemo-communication. Since the preorbital gland post is one of the major pheromone sources in Indian Blackbuck, an endangered species, we assumed thta it possibly contains low molecular mass protein for chemical communication. Hence, we investigated the preorbital gland post in territorial and non-territorial male blackbucks for such low molecular mass proteins adopting SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS analysis. The total content of protein was higher in the post of territorial males than non-territorial males of adult and sub-adult. In fact, the protein profiles such as 17, 21, 25, 42 and 61 kDa were noted in the gland secretion of territorial and non-territorial males. The intensity of the 17 kDa protein band was higher in territorial males than non-territorial males. In-gel trypsin digestion of the 17 kDa band was processed and subjected to LC-MS/MS and SEQUEST analyses. The results of LC-MS/MS and SEQUEST search showed the presence of α2u-globulin in the 17 kDa band. In addition, the identified α2u-globulin sequence possessed GDW residues, which are the characteristic signature for lipocalin family. Since the α2u-globulin has been reported from the pheromone-carrying proteins in some mammals, this protein may carry the volatiles (pheromone compounds) in male Blackbucks preorbital gland to evoke the scent marking for maintaining territoriality (home range) and attraction towards female, through the secretion of glandular protein.

Characterization of salivary protein during ovulatory phase of menstrual cycle through MALDI-TOF/MS.

Context: Predicting ovulation is the basis on which the fertile period is determined. Nowadays there are many methods available to detect the ovulatory period. Unfortunately, these methods are not always effective for accurate detection of ovulation. Hence, an attempt was made to detect ovulation through single dimension sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of protein with the help of saliva ferning. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the association of protein level with endogenous reproductive hormone level across the menstrual cycle. Settings and Design: Salivary protein and its confirmation were evaluated during menstrual cycle followed by SDS-PAGE and Mass spectrometry. Statistical Method Used: The protein content present in saliva throughout menstrual cycle is trail by SPSS statistical software version. Materials and Methods: Salivary proteins were investigated serially during pre-ovulatory, ovulatory and post-ovulatory periods of normal menstrual cycle in eighteen healthy volunteers. The samples were collected in three consecutive menstrual cycles. Salivary protein was estimated and analyzed by single dimension SDS-PAGE. Results: The results revealed significant variations in protein concentrations during the menstrual cycle. Protein levels were maximum during ovulation and minimum during postovulatory phase. Further, single dimension SDS-PAGE analysis showed seven different fractions of proteins is from 14-90 kilo Dalton (kDa) in the three phases of the menstrual cycle. Conclusions: Among the proteins, 48 kDa protein was more predominantly exhibited during ovulatory phase than pre and post-ovulatory phase. The present study indicates that the protein level and the specific protein band (48 kDa) through MALDI-TOF MS analysis might serve as an indicator for ovulation.

Aqueous extract of Allium sativum L bulbs offer nephroprotection by attenuating vascular endothelial growth factor and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 expression in diabetic rats.

To investigate the nephroprotective effect of garlic and elucidate the mechanism by which it prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic rats, diabetes was induced by a single ip injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight). Garlic extract (500 mg/kg body weight) and aminoguanidine (1 g/L) were supplemented in the treatment groups. Histopathological examination using H&E, PAS staining and the immunohistochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK-1) expression were performed on kidney sections at the end of 12 weeks. Significant change in both, the urine and serum biochemistry confirmed kidney damage in diabetic animals which was further confirmed by the histological changes such as mesangial expansion, glomerular basement membrane thickening, glycosuria and proteinuria. However, the diabetic animals treated with garlic extract showed a significant change in urine and serum biochemical parameters such as albumin, urea nitrogen and creatinine compared to that of diabetic rats. Further, the garlic supplemented diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in the expression of VEGF and ERK-1 compared to diabetic rats, attenuating mesangial expansion and glomerulosclerosis. Thus, garlic extract rendered nephroprotection in diabetic rats.

Identification of 2u-globulin and bound volatiles in the Indian common house rat (Rattus rattus)

The 2u-globulin (2u) is a pheromone carrier urinary protein believed to be relevant for sexual communication among rats and is characterized in laboratory rats. In the present study 17 kDa protein and the bound pheromones were characterized in a population of wild-type Indian common house rat (Rattus rattus). The protein was purified by two runs of Sephadex G-50 chromatography and analyzed with SDS-PAGE with MALDI-TOF/MS. The results of MASCOT search identified the protein as an 2u and suggested a role for binding pheromones. To confirm the protein bound volatiles, purified 2u was extracted with dichloromethane and volatile molecules were detected using of gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 1-Chlorodecane was detected as the predominant compound and 2-methyl-N-phenyl-2-propenamide, hexadecane and 2,6,11-trimethyl decane as the minor compounds. The simple method of protein purification and the identification of bound volatiles may help in designing efficient pheromone-based rat traps.

Identification of glandular (preputial and clitoral) proteins in house rat (Rattus rattus) involved in pheromonal communication.

Proteins (18-20 kDa) belonging to lipocalin family have been reported to act as carriers for ligands binding to pheromones in mouse urine, pig saliva, hamster vaginal fluid and human sweat, that are involved in pheromonal communication. As the preputial gland is a major pheromonal source, the present study was aimed to detect the specific protein bands (around 18-20 kDa) in the preputial and clitoral glands of the house rat, R. rattus. The amount of protein was higher in preputial gland of the male than that of female (clitoral) gland. A 20 kDa protein was noted in male and female glands; however, the intensity of the band was much higher in male than in female. In addition, 70, 60, 35 kDa bands, identified in male preputial gland, were absent in females. The presence of higher concentration of glandular proteins in the male preputial gland suggests that male rats may depend more on these glandular proteins for the maintenance of reproductive and dominance behaviours. The results further suggest that these glandular proteins (20 kDa) may act as a carrier for ligand binding.

Early detection of cervical cancer with visual inspection methods: a summary of completed and on-going studies in India

La India es un país de alto riesgo de cáncer cervical, donde se presentan cerca de la cuarta parte de los casos del total mundial (126 000 casos incidentes y 71 000 muertes durante 2000). La tasa de incidencia estandarizada por edad se encuentra en el rango de 16 a 55 por 100 000 mujeres en diferentes regiones con tasas particularmente altas en áreas rurales. El control del cáncer cervical por detección temprana y tratamiento es una prioridad del Programa Nacional de Control de Cáncer y, desafortunadamente, no hay programas organizados de tamizaje citológico en este país. La infraestructura técnica y financiera para organizar tamizaje en este tipo de cáncer, ha promovido la inspección visual como una potencial alternativa de la citología cervical en la India. Se investigan cuatro tipos de opciones de detección visual de neoplasia cervical: a) inspección a ojo desnudo sin la aplicación de ácido acético, opción ampliamente conocida como downstaging; b) inspección de ojo desnudo después de la aplicación de ácido acético de 3 a 5 por ciento (VIA); c) VIA usando un dispositivo de aumento (VIAM); d) inspección visual después de la aplicación de yodo-lugol (VILI). Se ha mostrado que el Downstaging ha sido pobremente sensible y específico para detectar neoplasia cervical y no es considerado ampliamente como una prueba de tamizaje conveniente para cáncer cervical. VIA, VIAM y VILI son frecuentemente investigados en estudios de corte transversal multicéntricos (sin verificación de sesgo), en los que se evalúan simultáneamente la citología y las pruebas del VPH; los resultados de esas investigaciones estarán disponibles próximamente. Estos estudios proveerán información valiosa sobre el desarrollo de pruebas comparativas para detectar lesiones de alto grado precursoras de neoplasia cervical, y cáncer invasor. Los resultados de los análisis de los datos de dos estudios previos indicaron una sensibilidad aproximada de 93.4 por ciento y una especificidad de 85.1 por ciento para VIA en la detección de CIN 2-3 o lesiones invasoras, comparadas con las de citología con 72.1 por ciento y 91.6 por ciento de sensibilidad y especificidad, respectivamente. La eficacia de VIA para la reducción de la incidencia y la mortalidad de cáncer cervical y su costo-efectividad están siendo actualmente investigadas en dos ensayos de intervención aleatorizados controlados en población de la India. Uno de esos estudios es un ensayo con cuatro brazos que establece la eficacia...