Prevalence of Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adults in a Rural Field Practice Area of a Tertiary Care Medical Center in Karnataka.

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also referred to as chronic diseases, typically have a long duration and arise from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Each year, 17 million people under the age of 70 die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with 86% of these premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of NCD risk factors among adults (18-65 years) in a rural population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted by selecting 200 participants from 200 households using convenience sampling. Participants aged 18-65 years were included, and locked households were excluded. Sociodemographic profiles were assessed using semi-structured questionnaires, and NCD risk factors were assessed using a Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC). Descriptive statistics and associations were analyzed. Results The majority of participants were men (53.5%), married (89.5%), and belonged to the class 2 socioeconomic classification. The prevalence of NCD risk factors was 17%, with smoking (12.5%), alcohol consumption (6%), and waist circumference (1.8% for men and 27.9% for women) being the most common risk factors. Older age, lower educational attainment, unemployment, and lower-income classes were associated with a higher risk of NCDs. Conclusion The study identifies key risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as family history, waist circumference over 90 cm, daily alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, all significantly increasing the risk. Physical activity under 150 minutes per week and occupational exposure to crop residue showed no significant effect.

To determine the survival, prevalence and associated factors of exclusive breastfeeding practices in South India.

Context: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) provides protection to the child from risk of obesity, overweight, type II diabetes and helps in enhancing brain development, learning capabilities and also reduces gastrointestinal infections. Breast problems, societal barriers, insufficient support, poor knowledge, mode of delivery and community beliefs are associated. Aim: To determine the survival and prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding practice and their associated factors. Settings and Design: An ambispective community-based observational study was conducted. Materials and Methods: A sample of 441 mothers was estimated with a prevalence of EBF of 54.9% based on the National Family Health Survey 2015-16. Study Procedure: The selected mothers with an infant less than one year of age and those with infants less than six months were interviewed retrospectively and prospectively and information on the duration of EBF, demography and factors associated were collected. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analysed using IBM SPSS, version 22. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to determine the associated factors for EBF. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: EBF survival rate was good till three months and decreased drastically after five months. EBF practice in the present study was 69.4%. Birth order, maternal age, birth weight, paternal education and religion were significantly associated with EBF. Conclusion: Primary health care providers in the community should also consider the cultural factors and educate the mothers on the practice of EBF to reduce morbidity and mortality and promote better health for a healthy, strong, younger population.

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plasma p16INK4a protein in squamous cell carcinoma in uterine cervix: A case-control study.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the common cancers in females. The common method of screening is Pap test which has low sensitivity. Hence, better methods are explored with different biomarkers, of which estimation of P16 protein can be opted in early detection of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Seventy cases and seventy controls were considered for the study. Cases were invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of cervix confirmed by histopathology. Controls were healthy age-matched females. The blood sample of cases and controls was collected in K2 Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid vacutainer, and the separated plasma was subjected to estimation of P16 protein by quantitative sandwich Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay method. The data were analyzed for the association between p16 protein in plasma in cases and controls. Results: The age among cases and controls ranged from 30 to 80 years. The P16 levels among cases ranged from 3.4 to 19.6 ng/ml with a mean of 7.24 ± 2.35 ng/ml. The plasma P16 level in controls ranged between 0.9 and 9.7 ng/ml with mean of 4.1 ± 2.22 ng/ml. At cutoff more than 4.8 ng/ml in cases, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were 92.86%, 72.86%, 77.4%, 91.1%, and 82.86%, respectively. The specificity increased with increase in plasma p16 levels. The P16 levels were maximum in stage IV disease. Conclusion: This was a pilot study to detect the plasma p16INK4a levels in SCC of cervix. The levels of plasma p16 protein between 3.9 and 5 ng/ml can be considered as the range for the test to be positive. In clinically suspected cases of cervical cancer, levels more than 4.8 ng/ml can be considered for the diagnosis as point of care test.

Influence of inter- and intramolecular H-bonding on the mesomorphic and photoswitching behaviour of (E)-4-((4-(hexyloxy)phenyl)diazenyl)-N-phenyl benzamides.

We report on the synthesis, phase behaviour and photoswitching studies of new azo linked rod-shaped molecules. These novel materials consist of three phenyl rings separated by a diazo, amide linkage with a hexyloxy tail and 2,4-substituents at either end of the phenyl ring. The mesomorphic behaviours, phase transition temperature including the enthalpies were characterized by polarizing optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The influence of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding on mesomorphic and photoisomerization was studied. Photoisomerization studies carried out both in the solid and liquid phase show the quick E-Z transition with prolonged thermal back relaxation (Z-E) by using UV-Visible spectroscopy. This interesting behaviour could be attributed to the presence of the hexyloxy tail, lateral electron withdrawing group and the influence of inter- or intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Excellent bright and dark states were accomplished using one of these materials in optical storage device. Further tuning is necessary to employ them for real applications.