Diversity and phylogeography of begomoviruses and DNA satellites associated with the leaf curl and mosaic disease complex of eggplant.

Eggplant is one of the important vegetable crops grown across the world, and its production is threatened by both biotic and abiotic stresses. Diseases caused by viruses are becoming major limiting factors for its successful cultivation. A survey for begomovirus-like symptoms in 72 eggplant fields located in six different Indian states revealed a prevalence of disease ranging from 5.2 to 40.2%, and the symptoms recorded were mosaic, mottling, petiole bending, yellowing, and upward curling, vein thickening, and enation of the leaves, and stunting of plants. The causal agent associated with these plants was transmitted from infected leaf samples to healthy eggplant seedlings via grafting and whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). The presence of begomovirus was confirmed in 72 infected eggplant samples collected from the surveyed fields exhibiting leaf curl and mosaic disease by PCR using begomovirus specifc primers (DNA-A componet), which resulted in an expected amplicon of 1.2 kb. The partial genome sequence obtained from amplified 1.2 kb from all samples indicated that they are closely related begomovirus species, tomato leaf Karnataka virus (ToLCKV, two samples), tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV, fifty eggplant samples), and chilli leaf curl virus (ChLCuV, twenty samples). Based on the partial genome sequence analysis, fourteen representative samples were selected for full viral genome amplification by the rolling circle DNA amplification (RCA) technique. Analyses of fourteen eggplant isolates genome sequences using the Sequence Demarcation Tool (SDT) indicated that one isolate had the maximum nucleotide (nt) identity with ToLCKV and eight isolates with ToLCPalV. Whereas, four isolates four isolates (BLC1-CH, BLC2-CH, BLC3-CH, BLC4-CH) are showing nucleotide identity of less than 91% with chilli infecting viruses begomoviruses with chilli infecting begomoviruses and as per the guidelines given by the ICTV study group for the classification of begomoviruses these isolates are considered as one novel begomovirus species, for which name, Eggplant leaf curl Chhattisgarh virus (EgLCuChV) is proposed. For DNA-B component, seven eggplant isolates had the highest nt identity with ToLCPalV infecting other crops. Further, DNA satellites sequence analysis indicated that four betasatellites identified shared maximum nucleotide identity with the tomato leaf curl betasatellite and five alphasatellites shared maximum nucleotide identity with the ageratum enation alphasatellite. Recombination and GC plot analyses indicated that the bulk of begomovirus genome and associated satellites presumably originated from of previously known mono and bipartite begomoviruses and DNA satellites. To the best of our knowledge, this is India's first report of ToLCKV and a noval virus, eggplant leaf curl Chhattisgarh virus associated with eggplant leaf curl disease.

DNA barcoding and nutritional profiling of underutilized native indigenous plant species of Karnataka, India.

BACKGROUND: Locally adapted native indigenous plant species (NIPS) could restore the crop diversity in sustainable agriculture. METHODS: Here, we report the molecular identification and nutritional profiling of some five NIPS of Karnataka; Musa paradisiaca cv. Nanjangud rasabale, Piper betle L. cv. Mysore betel leaf, Jasminum grandiflorum cv Mysore mallige, Solanum melongena L. cv. Udupi Mattu Gulla and S. melongena L. cv. Erangere badane of which the first four are Geographical Indication (GI) tagged. The samples were procured, authenticated and sequenced using two standard DNA barcodes: nuclear ITS2 and plastid rbcl. RESULTS: The phylogenetic analysis using Neighborhood joining method revealed all the ITS2 tree topologies with higher genetic divergence than rbcl. All the rbcl tree topologies were monophyletic indicating sequence conservation. Though the concatenated ITS2 + rbcl trees had higher bootstrap support (> 98% except Solanum sp.) differences were observed because of the lack of available sequence deposition at species level. The proximate and nutritional profiling of the NIPS displayed superiority in terms of their nutritional profile and their potential application in phytopharmaceutical sector as nutritional supplements. CONCLUSION: To our best knowledge this is the first study reporting the screening of five NIPS plant species of Karnataka for phylogeny and nutritional analysis. We also anticipate that if research towards the identification of NIPS species is accelerated, these nutritionally enhanced crops could be used as a safe and sustainable food in changing global climatic conditions.

Detection of spatiotemporal patterns of rainfall trends, using non-parametric statistical techniques, in Karnataka state, India.

The unpredictability of the climate has drawn a lot of interest worldwide, especially that of the annual mean temperatures and rainfall. In this study, non-parametric tests such as the LOWESS curve method, Mann-Kendall (MK), SNHT test, Pettitt's test (PT), and Buishand range test (BRT) were used to evaluate long-term (2000-2020) rainfall data series to examine rainfall variability. The Dakshina Kannada district has the highest average rainfall is 3495.6 mm with a magnitude change% of about 26.2, while the Koppala district has the lowest average rainfall roughly about 530.4 mm, with a magnitude change % of about 11.49 mm in a year. The statistics from the fitted prediction line were utilized to determine the maximum coefficient determination (R2 = 0.8808) in the Uttara Kannada region. Because of the commencement of the present rising era, 2015 is the shift year in rainfall with the highest potential of being a change point in the state's Western Ghats region. It was also revealed that the majority of the districts exhibit positive trends before the change point and vice versa. The current research can be used to plan for and minimize the agricultural and water resource challenges in the state of Karnataka. To link observable patterns to climate variability, the next inquiry must identify the source of these changes. Overall, the study's findings will help organize and improve drought, flood, and water resource management techniques in the state.

Suicidality among gender minorities in Karnataka, South India.

BACKGROUND: It is argued that Indian gender minorities displayed differential mental health problems and suicide attempts. Hence, the study was intended to understand the prevalence of anxiety, depression and suicidality among this group, specifically those living in a metropolitan city in South India. METHODS: The data was generated from a cross-sectional study that employed a structured questionnaire to collect information about experiences of anxiety, depression and suicidal behavior among gender-diverse individuals in Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka state. The study used stratified simple random sampling of eligible individuals who were 18 years of age and older and who were enrolled in an HIV prevention program implemented for gender-diverse individuals run by the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and the University of Manitoba at the time of the study (2012). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relative contribution of various factors that affect suicide ideation or actual attempts among the gender diverse participants. RESULTS: Results showed that 62% whose main source of income was Basti (socially sanctioned practice of begging), 52% of Hijras, 56% who lived with their Gurus, 58% who were not happy with their physical appearance, 55% who consumed alcohol daily, and 63% who experienced high depression had ever thought of or attempted suicide in the month prior to the survey. However, multivariate analysis showed that respondents who were not happy with their physical appearance and thought of changing it had significantly higher odds (AOR = 2.861; CI 1.468,5.576; p = 0.002) of either having thoughts that it was better being dead or wished they died. Similarly, those who experienced high depression, their odds of either having had thoughts of or having attempted suicide increased by three times (AOR = 3.997; CI 1.976, 8.071; p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: It is observed that a high percentage of gender minorities had attempted suicide or thought of suicide during the month preceding the data collection. The findings bring new insights on the proximate determinant of physical appearance on the suicidality of gender minorities assigned male at birth and appropriate to account for this while addressing the mental health issues.

Mid-upper arm circumference in pregnant women and birth weight in newborns as substitute for skinfold thickness: findings from the MAASTHI cohort study, India.

BACKGROUND: Estimating total body fat in public hospitals using gold-standard measurements such as air displacement plethysmography (ADP), deuterium oxide dilution, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is unaffordable, and it is challenging to use skinfold thickness. We aimed to identify the appropriate substitute marker for skinfold thickness to estimate total body fat in pregnant women and infants. METHODS: The study is part of a prospective cohort study titled MAASTHI in Bengaluru, from 2016 to 19. Anthropometric measurements such as body weight, head circumference, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and skinfold thickness were measured in pregnant women between 14 and 36 weeks of gestational age; while measurements such as birth weight, head, chest, waist, hip, mid-upper arm circumference, and skinfold thickness were recorded for newborns. We calculated Kappa statistics to assess agreement between these anthropometric markers with skinfold thickness. RESULTS: We found the highest amount of agreement between total skinfold thickness and MUAC (Kappa statistic, 0.42; 95 % CI 0.38-0.46) in pregnant women. For newborns, the highest agreement with total skinfold thickness was with birth weight (0.57; 95 % CI 0.52-0.60). Our results indicate that MUAC higher than 29.2 cm can serve as a suitable alternative to total skinfolds-based assessments for obesity screening in pregnancy in public facilities. Similarly, a birth weight cut-off of 3.45 kg can be considered for classifying obesity among newborns. CONCLUSION: Mid-upper arm circumference and birth weight can be used as markers of skinfold thickness, reflecting total body fat in pregnant women and the infant, respectively. These two anthropometric measurements could substitute for skinfold thickness in low- and middle-income urban India settings.

Changes in Family-Level Attitudes and Norms and Association with Secondary School Completion and Child Marriage Among Adolescent Girls: Results from an Exploratory Study Nested Within a Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial in India.

We evaluated the impact of Samata, a 3-year multilayered intervention among scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (SC/ST) adolescent girls in rural northern Karnataka, on family-level (parents or guardian) attitudes and direct and indirect norms related to child marriage and girl's education. Endline data from 1840 family members were used to assess the effect of Samata on attitudes and norms related to schooling and child marriage, while data from 4097 family members (including 2257 family members at baseline) were used to understand the shifts in attitudes and norms over the period 2014-2017. Overall, we found that the programme had little impact on family-level attitudes and norms. However, there were shifts in some attitudes, norms and perceived sanctions between baseline (when girls were aged 13-14 years) and endline (when girls were aged 15-16 years), with some becoming more progressive (e.g. direct norms related to child marriage) and others more restrictive (e.g. norms around girls completing secondary education and norms related to child marriage and educational drop-out, blaming girls for eve teasing and limiting girls' mobility so as to protect family honour). Moreover, non-progressive norms related to marriage and education were strongly associated with child marriage and secondary school non-completion among adolescent girls in this rural setting. Norms hypothesised to be important for marriage and schooling outcomes were indeed associated with these outcomes, but the intervention was not able to significantly shift these norms. In part, this may have been due to the intervention focusing much of its initial efforts on working with girls alone rather than family members, the relevant reference group. Future interventions that seek to affect norms should conduct formative research to clarify the specific norms affecting the outcome(s) of interest; likewise, programme planners should ensure that all activities engage those most influential in enforcing the norm(s) from the beginning. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01996241.

Viability of power distribution in India - Challenges and Way Forward.

Energy is a key component for economic growth as well as for human development. India is the third-ranking electricity generator in the world but ranks 106th in terms of per capita consumption. Specifically, the distribution of power is the most important link in the value chain of the power sector since it is the cash register for the entire sector. In India, electricity is a concurrent subject shared between the Central and State Governments. While the generation of power has been deregulated since 2003, the supply of power to the consumers is generally carried out by Government-owned power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). In this paper, the authors analyze the financial distress of DISCOMs in India, and explain how the supply-demand mismatch due to over-ambitious demand projections, the fixed and energy charges of thermal power plants, and the excess procurement of "must-run" renewable sources together contribute to the high cost of power procurement that drives the financial stress faced by DISCOMs. The authors support their assertion with a study of nine DISCOMs supplying electricity to 155 million people in three States and propose policy recommendations for a turnaround of such DISCOMs which can be rolled out with suitable modifications across India.

Risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in rural Karnataka: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of malnutrition among children in developing countries is very high. As a step towards reducing the prevalence of malnutrition, there is a need to identify the important determinants of malnutrition in the specific population so that preventive and control measures can be implemented. The objective of the study is to determine the risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in Rural Karnataka, South India. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out among preschool children, aged between three to six years, attending the Anganwadi centers and their mothers' in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. A total of 570 children (190 cases and 380 controls) were selected by multistage cluster sampling technique. A semi-structured risk factors questionnaire was used to identify the risk factors for malnutrition among children. RESULTS: The majority (45.8 and 45.5%) of the children in the study were in the age group of 3.0 to 4.0 years in case and control groups respectively. There was a slight preponderance of illiterate parents among cases in comparison to the controls. Largely, 87.4% of the children belonged to poor socio-economic status in the case groups compared to 82.4% in the control group. After adjusting for the confounders, underweight was significantly associated with socio-economic status of the parents (aOR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.06, 3.96), birth weight < 2000 g (aOR: 25, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.59), recurrent diarrhoea (aOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.56, 4.83), recurrent cold and cough (aOR: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.96, 7.67), worm infestation (aOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.19, 3.38) and prelacteal feed given (aOR: 3.64, 95% CI: 2.27, 5.86). CONCLUSION: Parental education, childhood illness, short birth interval, open defecation, type of weaning and complimentary food given to children were some of the significant determinants of underweight that were found in the study. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns alleviating food habits and taboos and promoting birth spacing is the need of the hour for preventing the occurrence of undernutrition among preschool children.

Availability and use of magnesium sulphate at health care facilities in two selected districts of North Karnataka, India.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Magnesium sulphate is accepted as the anticonvulsant of choice in these conditions and is present on the WHO essential medicines list and the Indian National List of Essential Medicines, 2015. Despite this, magnesium sulphate is not widely used in India for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. In addition to other factors, lack of availability may be a reason for sub-optimal usage. This study was undertaken to assess the availability and use of magnesium sulphate at public and private health care facilities in two districts of North Karnataka, India. METHODS: A facility assessment survey was undertaken as part of the Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) Feasibility Study which was undertaken prior to the CLIP Trials (NCT01911494). This study was undertaken in 12 areas of Belagavi and Bagalkote districts of North Karnataka, India and included a survey of 88 facilities. Data were collected in all facilities by interviewing the health care providers and analysed using Excel. RESULTS: Of the 88 facilities, 28 were public, and 60 were private. In the public facilities, magnesium sulphate was available in six out of 10 Primary Health Centres (60%), in all eight taluka (sub-district) hospitals (100%), five of eight community health centres (63%) and both district hospitals (100%). Fifty-five of 60 private facilities (92%) reported availability of magnesium sulphate. Stock outs were reported in six facilities in the preceding six months - five public and one private. Twenty-five percent weight/volume and 50% weight/volume concentration formulations were available variably across the public and private facilities. Sixty-eight facilities (77%) used the drug for severe pre-eclampsia and 12 facilities (13.6%) did not use the drug even for eclampsia. Varied dosing schedules were reported from facility to facility. CONCLUSIONS: Poor availability of magnesium sulphate was identified in many facilities, and stock outs in some. Individual differences in usage were identified. Ensuring a reliable supply of magnesium sulphate, standard formulations and recommendations of dosage schedules and training may help improve use; and decrease morbidity and mortality due to pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The CLIP trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01911494 ).

The probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment along Karnataka Coast from Makran Subduction Zone, west coast of India.

Coastal tsunami amplitudes were calculated to identify areas susceptible to tsunami hazard at selected locations of the coast of Karnataka, west of India, due to earthquakes in the Makran Subduction Zone. This is the first time that the probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment along this study area has been attempted. A series of earthquake source scenarios with magnitudes of Mw 8.0, Mw 8.5, and a mega thrust of Mw 9.1 were modeled by using the Community Model Interface for Tsunami interface with the MOST model of Titov and Synolakis (J. Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 121(6), 308-316, 1995). As per the previous occurrences, the two least magnitudes are probable, while Mw 9.1 is a worst-case scenario as described by Heidarzadeh et al. (Ocean Engineering, 36(5), 368-376, 2009) and the same is reported by Burbidge et al. (Geoscience Australia Professional Opinion No. 2009/11) as high magnitude. These are not at all historical earthquakes or specifically from historical catalogues. The results of modeling show that all the seven coastal locations are inundated barely in our worst-case scenario with maximum water levels in the range of 100-200 cm. The first tsunami wave strikes the coast within 4-5 h of earthquake occurrence.

Regional inequity in complete antenatal services and public emergency obstetric care is associated with greater burden of maternal deaths: analysis from consecutive district level facility survey of Karnataka, India.

BACKGROUND: This equity focused evaluation analyses change in inter-district inequity of maternal health services (MHS) in Karnataka state between 2006-07 & 2012-13, alongside association of MHS inequity with distribution of maternal deaths. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional analysis of inequity and decomposition was done on nine district level MHS indicators using Theil's T index. Data was obtained from population linked district level facility surveys and health information systems. RESULTS: Inequity in births attended by skill birth attendants decreased the most (83.16%) among six other MHS indicators. Community provision of comprehensive emergency obstetric care strategy remained stagnant. Districts with higher complete antenatal care share and C-sections in public settings had lesser share of state's maternal deaths (R2 = 0.29, p = 0.004). 5 districts suffered perpetual inequity of MHS with relatively greater burden of maternal deaths. CONCLUSION: First 6 years of national rural health mission increased coverage of MHS and decreased regional inequity albeit non-uniformly. Distribution of system driven interventions of complete ANC and C-sections appear to determine decrease of maternal mortality in Karnataka.

Groundwater fluoride contamination and its possible health implications in Indi taluk of Vijayapura District (Karnataka State), India.

Groundwater fluoride concentration and fluoride-related health problems were studied in twenty-two villages of Indi taluk of Vijayapura district, Karnataka, India. Present study (2015) was also used to compare groundwater fluoride concentration in same 22 villages with previous government report (2000). Groundwater fluoride concentrations of 62 bore wells of 22 villages were analyzed by using an ion-sensitive electrode. A total of 660 adults and 600 children were screened for fluorosis symptoms and signs. Sixty clinically suspected fluorosis patients' urine samples were further analyzed for fluoride. The mean value (1.22 ± 0.75 mg/L) of fluoride concentration of 62 bore wells and 54.83 % bore wells with ≥1.0 mg/L of fluoride concentrations in Indi taluk indicates higher than the permissible limit of drinking water fluoride concentration recommended for India. Clinical symptoms like arthritis, joint pains, gastrointestinal discomfort and lower limb deformities with high urinary fluoride concentrations in some subjects suggest fluorosis. Results also showed an increase in groundwater fluoride concentration of the same 22 villages between previous and present study. Preliminary arthritis symptom of the villagers could be due to drinking fluoride-contaminated water. Increase in fluoride concentration with time to the bore wells definitely indicates future danger.

Environmental monitoring and assessment of antibacterial metabolite producing actinobacteria screened from marine sediments in south coastal regions of Karnataka, India.

Assessment of the therapeutic potential of secondary metabolite producing microorganisms from the marine coastal areas imparts scope and application in the field of environmental monitoring. The present study aims to screen metabolites with antibacterial potential from actionbacteria associated with marine sediments collected from south coastal regions of Karnataka, India. The actinobacteria were isolated and characterized from marine sediments by standard protocol. The metabolites were extracted, and antibacterial potential was analyzed against eight hospital associated bacteria. The selected metabolites were partially characterized by proximate analysis, SDS-PAGE, and FTIR-spectroscopy. The antibiogram of the test clinical isolates revealed that they were emerged as multidrug-resistant strains (P ≤ 0.05). Among six actinobacteria (IS1-1S6) screened, 100 µl-1 metabolite from IS1 showed significant antibacterial activities against all the clinical isolates except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. IS2 demonstrated antimicrobial potential towards Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli. The metabolite from IS3 showed activity against Strep. pyogenes and E. coli. The metabolites from IS4, IS5, and IS6 exhibited antimicrobial activities against Ps. aeruginosa (P ≤ 0.05). The two metabolites that depicted highest antibacterial activities against the test strains were suggested to be antimicrobial peptides with low molecular weight. These isolates were characterized and designated as Streptomyces sp. strain mangaluru01 and Streptomyces sp. mangaloreK01 by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. This study suggests that south coastal regions of Karnataka, India, are one of the richest sources of antibacterial metabolites producing actinobacteria and monitoring of these regions for therapeutic intervention plays profound role in healthcare management.

Laboratory confirmation of rubella infection in suspected measles cases.

As a part of measles outbreak based surveillance undertaken by the World Health Organization India, suspected measles cases were referred for the laboratory diagnosis at National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and NIV Unit Bengaluru. Altogether, 4,592 serum samples were referred during 2010-2015 from the States of Karnataka (n = 1,173), Kerala (n = 559), and Maharashtra (n = 2,860). Initially, serum samples were tested in measles IgM antibody EIA and samples with measles negative and equivocal results (n = 1,954) were subjected to rubella IgM antibody detection. Overall, 62.9% (2,889/4,592) samples were laboratory confirmed measles, 27.7% (542/1,954) were laboratory confirmed rubella and remaining 25.2% (1,161/4,592) were negative for measles and rubella. The measles vaccination status was available for 1,206 cases. Among the vaccinated individuals, 50.7% (612/1,206) were laboratory confirmed measles. The contribution of laboratory confirmed measles was 493 (40.8%) from Maharashtra, 90 (7.5%) from Karnataka, and 29 (2.4%) from Kerala. Since, 1/3rd of suspected measles cases were laboratory confirmed rubella, an urgent attention needed to build rubella surveillance in India. Additional efforts are required to rule out other exanthematous disease including Dengue and Chikungunya in measles and rubella negatives. J. Med. Virol. 88:1685-1689, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Averting catastrophic tuberculosis costs in an Indian state: integration of Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka with National Tuberculosis Elimination Program.

The WHO's "End TB" initiative aims to reduce catastrophic expenses, incidence, and mortality by 90%, 80%, and 0%, respectively by 2030 and Government of India has committed to reaching these goals by 2025. Despite tremendous progress, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the main public health issues. To limit TB transmission and expedite reduction in incidence, further measures are needed. These milestones and objectives remain aspirational until we achieve "Universal access" to high-quality TB diagnosis and treatment. The goals of the study include outlining the process of 'Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Arogya Karnataka' (AB-PMJAY-ArK) integration with the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) in Karnataka, the types of TB patients who used AB-PMJAY-ArK services, and calculating the cost per TB patient at primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, both public and private, stratified by type of service. Increased coverage, elimination of treatment delays, early and free treatment, and prevention of missing patients are benefits of integrating NTEP with Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.

The Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning Among Muslim Women in Rural Karnataka, India.

Introduction Women's health is significantly impacted by undesirable pregnancies and unsafe abortions, leading to the deaths of thousands of women and causing many others to suffer from infertility and long-term reproductive health issues. To address this problem, the use of modern contraception methods is increasing, regardless of economic status and dwelling, allowing women to exercise their rights and access reproductive health services. Objective The objective of this study is to examine the knowledge and practice of family planning and the factors associated with it. Setting and design A cross-sectional study was conducted among Muslim women (n=461) using a two-stage stratified random sampling method with a semi-structured questionnaire in the five taluks of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. Methods and materials The required study sample was drawn by adopting the two-stage stratified random sampling technique. The study population was divided into different strata consisting of panchayats and wards. The number of households was selected from these panchayats/wards. Statistical analysis The association between faith in family planning and the knowledge and practice of family planning is studied using a chi-squared test. The factors associated with the practice of family planning are identified using a univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results There is a significant association between faith in family planning and its practice, with a p-value of less than 0.0001. Age was also found to be a significant factor associated with the practice of family planning. Specifically, women aged 31-40 were less likely to practice family planning compared to women aged 21-30, with a p-value of 0.012. The majority of individuals indicated the preferred child (23.9%) and going against the custom (16.5%) as their reasons for not using family planning. Conclusions Muslim women are reasonably well-informed about modern methods of contraception, but their usage remains relatively low. Outreach initiatives, health worker mobilization from within the community, and health education and information sharing are examples of program interventions that could help address this issue.

Farmer's mental health and well-being: Qualitative findings on protective factors.

Objectives: Agriculture is associated with various physical and mental health risks. There has been growing concern about the psychological hazards associated with farming including high stress levels, depression, anxiety, and increasing rates of suicide. To bolster resilience and overall survival within the farmers, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the protective factors that contribute to mental and psychological well-being. Materials and Methods: The study followed an explorative research design and used purposive sampling to select samples from Chikkaballapur District in Karnataka. Nine farmers were interviewed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The interview schedule was prepared based on the literature review. Experts in the field did content and face validation. The transcribed data were coded using the free version of QDA Miner. The thematic analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results: Three broader themes and 15 sub-themes emerged: (1) Personal protective factors: feeling of autonomy, purpose in life, passion for work, problem-solving skills, positive mindset and building resilience, learning new skills, and spiritual and religious beliefs; (2) social protective factors: friends and peer group, belongingness, family, and social engagements; and (3) environmental protective factors: lifestyle and being physically active, rural environment, government/institutional support, and recognition in the society. Conclusion: The study successfully emerged three overarching protective factors that farmers perceived as significant for their mental health and well-being, entitled personal, social, and environmental. The study findings provide valuable insights for social work practitioners, guiding them in developing interventions and strategies to support the mental health and well-being of the farming population.

Clinical, epidemiological, and molecular investigation of Kyasanur forest disease from Karnataka state, India during 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we carried out an investigation of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) suspected human cases reported in Karnataka state, India from December 2018 to June 2019. METHODS: The clinical samples of KFD suspected cases (n = 1955) from 14 districts of Karnataka were tested for KFD using real-time RT-PCR and IgM ELISA. Further, the KFD-negative samples were tested for IgM antibodies against dengue and chikungunya viruses. Monkey samples (n = 276) and tick pools (n = 11582) were also screened using real-time RT-PCR. KFD-positive samples were further analysed using next-generation sequencing along with clinico-epidemiological analysis. RESULTS: Of all, 173 (8.8%) cases tested positive for KFD either by real-time RT-PCR (n = 124), IgM ELISA (n = 53) or both tests (n = 4) from seven districts. Among KFD-negative cases, IgM antibody positivity was observed for dengue (2.6%), chikungunya (5.8%), dengue and chikungunya coinfection (3.7%). KFD cases peaked in January 2019 with fever, conjunctivitis, and myalgia as the predominant symptoms and a mortality of 4.6%. Among confirmed cases, 41% received a single dose and 20% received two doses of the KFD vaccine. Of the seven districts with KFDV positivity, Shivamogga and Hassan districts reported KFD viral RNA positivity in humans, monkeys, and ticks. Sequencing analysis of 2019 cases demonstrated a difference of less than 1.5% amino acid compared to prototype KFDV. CONCLUSION: Although the KFD has been endemic in many districts of Karnataka state, our study confirms the presence of KFDV for the first time in two new districts, i.e. Hassan and Mysore. A comparative analysis of KFDV infection among the KFD-vaccinated and non-vaccinated populations demonstrated an insignificant difference.

Correlation Between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Liver Function Test Values in North Karnataka Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones play a pivotal role in regulating metabolic processes, including liver metabolism. The interplay between thyroid function and liver enzymes is complex, with thyroid dysfunction potentially impacting liver function. The relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and liver function parameters is particularly noteworthy, especially in areas like North Karnataka, India, where dietary and environmental factors may impact thyroid disorders. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The principal objective of this research is to explore the association between TSH levels and liver function parameters in individuals from North Karnataka. Secondary objectives include examining the relationship between TSH levels, blood pressure, and the prevalence of comorbidities in the study population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 75 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North Karnataka. Patients who had undergone both thyroid function tests and liver function tests were included in the study. Data on blood pressure and comorbidities (like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, gastritis, alcohol-related liver disease, anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arthritis, diabetes mellitus, migraine, and uterine disorder) were also collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The study population comprised 48 females (64%) and 27 males (36%), with a mean age of 46.52 years. Thyroid irregularities were observed in 16 patients (21.4%), with hypothyroidism being the predominant thyroid disorder, accounting for 14 cases (18.7%). The distribution of comorbidities included diabetes mellitus (14 patients; 18.7%), anemia (19 patients; 25.3%), migraine (18 patients; 24%), hypertension (17 patients; 22.7%), gastritis (10 patients; 13.3%), COPD (nine patients; 12%), alcohol-related disorders (four patients; 5.3%), arthritis (three patients; 4%), and uterine disorders (eight patients; 10.6%). It is important to note that some patients presented with more than one comorbidity, which may result in an overlap in the total count of specific conditions reported. DISCUSSION: The absence of a significant correlation between TSH levels and liver function tests in this study contrasts with some previous research, suggesting that regional factors and dietary habits may play a role in these associations. The high prevalence of thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism, underscores the importance of monitoring thyroid function in this population. The presence of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and anemia further complicates the clinical picture and highlights the need for comprehensive healthcare approaches. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a significant correlation between TSH levels and liver function parameters in patients from North Karnataka. The findings emphasize the need for continued research into the complex interactions between thyroid function and liver metabolism, particularly in regions with unique environmental and dietary influences. Public health initiatives should focus on addressing the high prevalence of thyroid disorders and related comorbidities in this population.

Assessing the Burden of COVID-19 among Children Aged 6-14 Years in Karnataka, India: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Background: India experienced three coronavirus disease (COVID-19) waves, with the third attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Before the national vaccination rollout for children above 6, understanding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) positivity in the pediatric population was essential. This study aims to assess the burden of Covid-19 infection and to estimate the seroprevalence in children aged 6 to 14 years in the state of Karnataka. Material and Methods: We surveyed 5,358 children aged 6-14 across Karnataka using 232 health facilities, from June 6 to 14, 2022. We determined the sample size using the PPS (Population Proportional to Size) technique and employed cluster sampling. We tested all participants for SARS-CoV-2 IgG with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and SARS-CoV-2 RNA with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We sequenced samples with a cycle threshold (CT) value below 25 using whole genomic sequencing (WGS). Result: We found an adjusted seroprevalence of IgG at 75.38% statewide, and we found 0.04% of children RT-PCR positive for COVID-19. We determined a case-to-infection ratio of 1:37 and identified the SARS-CoV-2 strains as Omicron, BA.5, and BA.2.10. Conclusion: The study showed a high seroprevalence of IgG among children with low active infection. Omicron, BA. 5, and BA. 2.10 variants were detected through WGS.