ABSTRACT
Background: Non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death globally, of which cardiovascular diseases are the most common. Cost-effective strategies, such as task shifting, are needed to mitigate the rising epidemic by controlling hypertension and diabetes in our country.Methods: This was a non-randomized interventional study undertaken in six (3 intervention and 3 control) villages of Lakkur primary health centre (PHC) area under Malur taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka, from November 2013 to April 2015. After obtaining written informed consent, baseline survey was done among 180 diabetics and hypertensives (adults>30 years). In the intervention villages, ASHAs who were trained did the intervention for 6 months. In non-intervention villages, standard usual care was given and repeat survey was done after 6 months to re-measure.Results: This study demonstrated that there was an increase of 44.8% in the proportion of hypertensives whose blood pressure was under control and increase of 26.5% in the proportion of diabetics whose blood sugar was under control in villages that received household visits by trained ASHAs (intervention villages). There was an increase in the medication adherence levels (29.6%) and reduction in tobacco usage (median difference of 4 times per day) among hypertensives and diabetics who are on medication in intervention villages.Conclusions: Findings from this study will provide policy makers and other stakeholders needed information to recommend scalable and cost-effective policy in respect to cardiovascular risk reduction, hypertension and diabetes control in resource-poor settings.
ABSTRACT
Background: Poor menstrual hygiene and inadequate self-care are major determinants of morbidity and other complications among adolescent age groups. Some of these problems include urinary tract infections, scabies in the vaginal area, abnormal abdominal pain, and absence from school. Due to the silence prevailing in developing countries related to the topic of menstruation and related issues, many young girls lack appropriate information on menstrual hygiene. Learning about menstrual hygiene is a vital part of health education for adolescent girls so that they can continue to work and maintain hygienic habits throughout their adult life. Objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the knowledge of students about menstrual hygiene and the diseases contracted if the standards of hygiene are not maintained and (2) to educate and increase the awareness of the students about the proper hygiene to be maintained during the cycle and about the risks. Materials and Methods: This was a two-point cross-sectional study, carried out during October–December 2017 among 200 adolescent school going girl students of Government Hamidia Girls School, Bhopal. MS Excel and Epi info version 6 were used for statistical analysis. The study population was interviewed through pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaire, and intervention in the form of audiovisual presentations was given. Results: Of 200 students studied, majority, i.e., 71% of the girls was aged between 15 and 17 years. Only 38% of the girls were aware of menstruation before menarche. The main source of information about menstruation and menstrual hygiene was their mother in about 54% of girls. 76% of the girls used sanitary pads during menstruation. Conclusion: The present study shows the need for adolescent girls to have accurate and adequate information about menstruation. The study revealed that the knowledge on menstruation is poor and the hygiene practiced is often suboptimal. Awareness among adolescent girls regarding menstruation has increased in recent times, but lot more can be done to improve menstrual health management awareness among adolescent girls for addressing those problems.
ABSTRACT
Accumulating evidence has suggested that high salt and potassium might be associated with vascular function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salt intake and potassium supplementation on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Chinese subjects. Forty-nine subjects (28-65 years of age) were selected from a rural community of northern China. All subjects were sequentially maintained on a low-salt diet for 7 days (3.0 g/day NaCl), a high-salt diet for an additional 7 days (18.0 g/day NaCl), and a high-salt diet with potassium supplementation for a final 7 days (18.0 g/day NaCl+4.5 g/day KCl). Brachial-ankle PWV was measured at baseline and on the last day of each intervention. Blood pressure levels were significantly increased from the low-salt to high-salt diet, and decreased from the high-salt diet to high-salt plus potassium supplementation. Baseline brachial-ankle PWV in salt-sensitive subjects was significantly higher than in salt-resistant subjects. There was no significant change in brachial-ankle PWV among the 3 intervention periods in salt-sensitive, salt-resistant, or total subjects. No significant correlations were found between brachial-ankle PWV and 24-h sodium and potassium excretions. Our study indicates that dietary salt intake and potassium supplementation, at least in the short term, had no significant effect on brachial-ankle PWV in Chinese subjects.
ABSTRACT
Background: Periodontal disease is an immune-inflammatory disease characterized by connective tissue breakdown, loss of attachment, and alveolar bone resorption. Under normal physiological conditions, a dynamic equilibrium is maintained between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense capacity. Oxidative stress occurs when this equilibrium shifts in favor of ROS. Oxidative stress is thought to play a causative role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Aim: The present study was designed to estimate and compare the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the serum of periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy individuals before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore. The study was designed as a single blinded interventional study comprising 75 subjects, inclusive of both sexes and divided into three groups of 25 patients each. Patients were categorized into chronic periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy. The severity of inflammation was assessed using gingival index and pocket probing depth. Biochemical analysis was done to estimate the SOD and GSH levels before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Results obtained were then statistically analyzed using ANOVA test and paired t-test. Results: The results showed a higher level of serum SOD and GSH in the healthy group compared to the other groups. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The post-treatment levels of SOD were statistically higher than the pre-treatment levels in periodontitis and gingivitis group.