Search

An epidemiological study on substance use was carried out to assess the prevalence and pattern of tobacco, alcohol, and opium being used commonly in ethnographic diverse population of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Representative sample of 5135 people age ≥10 years were interviewed to collect information about their habit of substance use. Over all, prevalence of substance use was 30.9% tobacco (22.8% chewers and 12.1% smokers), 30% alcohol, and 4.8% opium, which vary across location, gender, race, age, education, and occupation. Though tobacco and alcohol was commonly used among all the tribes, but high alcohol use among Tangsa and Tutsa tribes reflects strong cultural belief. Religiously, opium use was low among Christian and Hindu at lower (<1000 m) altitude, but high among Buddhist, Indigenous, and Hindu living at higher altitude. Among males, high multivariate rate ratio of opium users was seen among the population of high altitude (9.1). Moreover, it was also high among Singpho (7.1) and Khamti (9.7) tribes living in low altitude area, which shows the strong geo-ethnographic influence. Average age at initiation of alcohol use (12.4 years) was significantly lower than tobacco (17.6 years), and opium (23.3 years) indicate social acceptability of alcohol drinking at early age. Use of multiple substances and high prevalence of opium express the alarming situation of substance misuse in the region. Besides few limitations, varied results of socio-cultural and ethnic influences recalls integrated approach to break the traditional belief associated with alcohol and drug abuse from the society. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anopheles (Cellia) maculatus is considered a group of at least nine formally named species. Faced with the difficulty of correct morphological identification due to overlapping characters, several member species of the An. maculatus group are known to play important role in malaria transmission in the Oriental region. Current assemblage, distribution and vectorial importance of the member species within the Maculatus group is far from clear in the north-eastern region of India. Our study encompassing 410 individuals, collected from 67 geo-referenced spots across the eight north-east Indian states, identified the presence of 6 member species of the Maculatus group using the molecular tools. Anopheles dravidicus and Anopheles rampae were documented for the first time in this part of India with latter forming the new country record. While Anopheles pseudowillmori (59.5%) and An. maculatus (32%) were widely available species in most of the north-eastern states, restricted distribution of Anopheles willmori to Nagaland and that of Anopheles sawadwongporni and An. rampae to Mizoram state was noted. None of the species was found positive for human malaria parasite. While no intraspecific differences existed in the sequences of second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA (r-DNA) of the member species of the Maculatus group within north-east India, few differences were detected in the sequences of An. dravidicus, An. maculatus and An. pseudowillmori from north-east India with species from the neighbouring countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes species of mosquitoes are considered secondary malaria vectors in the north-east India. However, difficulty in separating An. philippinensis and An. nivipes accurately on the basis of morphological identification, due to the overlapping female wing characters, has led to the paucity of information on their spatial distribution and vectorial importance, essential for understanding malaria disease epidemiology in areas under their influence. In view of this a study was undertaken to generate authentic information on distribution of An. philippinensis and An. nivipes in the north-east India using molecular tools. Between the two, An. nivipes was recorded as the dominant species in Assam, and Nagaland states whereas An. philippinensis was found predominant in the state of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Species differentiation based on female wing characters proved wrong in about 74% specimens of An. philippinensis but found accurate in case of An. nivipes. No intra-specific variation in second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA(r-DNA) in either An. nivipes or An. philippinensis from different geographical areas of north-east India was noted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The identity and distribution of the prevalent member species of the Anopheles dirus complex mosquitoes in the north-eastern region of India was investigated in a cross-sectional study. We altogether collected 267 individuals of An. dirus s.l. from 27 forested/forest fringed locations spread across the seven north-eastern states, identified the species using a ribosomal DNA (r-DNA) second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) based allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) method and sequenced the ITS2 locus in a sub set of mosquitoes. An. baimaii was identified as the main, almost exclusive (266/267), species of the Dirus complex throughout the north-east India with no intraspecific variation in the 479 base pair long ITS2 sequences in 59 of the 60 individuals sequenced. Ribosomal DNA of one individual from Assam state did not amplify in the ASPCR, possessed 786 base pair long ITS2 sequence and showed 99.7% similarity with the sequence of An. dirus species D (An. baimaii) from Yunnan province of China, later referred to as species X of the Dirus complex. These observations suggest the presence of another, possibly the new, species of the Dirus complex, sympatric with An. baimaii, in Assam warranting investigations on its distribution, biology and role in human malaria transmission in north-east India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent reports show strikingly high prevalence of diabetes among urban Asian Indians; however, there are very few studies comparing urban, peri-urban and rural prevalence rates of diabetes and their risk factors at the national level. This study is a part of the national non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factor surveillance conducted in different geographical locations (North, South, East, West/Central) in India between April 2003 and March 2005. A total of 44,523 individuals (age: 15-64 years) inclusive of 15,239 from urban, 15,760 from peri-urban/slum and 13,524 from rural areas were recruited. Major risk factors were studied using modified WHO STEPS approach. Diabetes was diagnosed based on self-reported diabetes diagnosed by a physician. The lowest prevalence of self-reported diabetes was recorded in rural (3.1%) followed by peri-urban/slum (3.2%) and the highest in urban areas (7.3%, odds ratio (OR) for urban areas: 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.21-2.79, p<0.001). Urban residents with abdominal obesity and sedentary activity had the highest prevalence of self-reported diabetes (11.3%) while rural residents without abdominal obesity performing vigorous activity had the lowest prevalence (0.7%). In conclusion, this nation-wide NCD risk factor surveillance study shows that the prevalence of self-reported diabetes is higher in urban, intermediate in peri-urban and lowest in rural areas. Urban residence, abdominal obesity and physical inactivity are the risk factors associated with diabetes in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sibling species composition of the Anopheles minimus and Anopheles dirus complexes is poorly known in the highly malarious north-eastern region of India where these two vector taxa are accountable for most of the malaria transmission among 30.7 million inhabitants. Prevalent members of these two complexes in this part of India were identified using sequences for the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA. Anopheles baimaii (species D) of the An. dirus complex and An. minimus s.s. (species A) of the An. minimus complex were detected in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland states. No intraspecific variation was observed in the ITS2 sequence (479bp) of An. baimaii whereas a single substitution was detected in the ITS2 sequence (372bp) of An. minimus from Nagaland state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Traditionally consumed unconventional food items in Assam, India, namely the pupae of non-mulberry silkworms ‘Eri'' (Attacus ricinii), ‘Muga'' (Antherae assama) and mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) were analyzed for their proximate compositions and consumption pattern. Overall consumption was highest for Attacus ricinii pupae (Eri 87.7%) followed by Antherae assama (Muga 57.4%) and Bombyx mori (mulberry silkworm 24.6%) irrespective of age group and gender. Amongst the three major communities predominant in the villages, the highest consumption was in the Ahom community (Eri 91% and Muga 63%). The proximate compositions (%) for non-mulberry and mulberry silkworm pupae were in the range of: total protein (12 to 16%), total fat (11 to 20%), carbohydrate (1.2 to 1.8%), moisture (65 to 70%) and ash (0.8 to 1.4%). The energy contents of the silkworm pupae were in the range of 706 to 988 kJ. Proximate composition suggested that these unconventional food items (pupae) could be a good source of protein and fat. In conclusion these unconventional food items with high cultural acceptability and nutritive value may be utilized in formulating potential alternate recipe for malnourished population as well as nutritious delicacy for others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]