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In the recent literature on the regulation of private schools by the state, Tooley argues that the state should refrain from such a practice. The important reasons for this view are that the state regulations are impractical and do not foster an entrepreneurship attitude. He prefers the implementation of a self-regulating mechanism for the private schools. We find that Tooley's argument of private institutions functioning without state intervention, in the Indian context of primary education, is inappropriate. The reasons are: (i) the state has a duty to provide education and this cannot be done without state's intervention. (ii) If the end-users in the market themselves demand state intervention, then Tooley has to accept it as it is the demand from the market and in the Indian context, the parents do demand state interventions and (iii) there is an incompatible interest between the private and state institutions on education and hence require state's intervention. On these grounds, we argue that in India the state needs to regulate the private schools, especially for primary education. In the absence of such regulations, these private schools may focus on maximising their interest rather than ensuring justice in education.

Abstract Both altruism and egoism are two types of motivations for action. An altruistic action is performed to benefit the other, whereas egoistic action is performed to benefit oneself. The strict definition of altruism states that an action ceases to be altruistic if the actor receives the benefit of his action as a consequence directly or indirectly. On the other hand, egoism particularly psychological egoism presupposes that all actions, whether performed for oneself or the other, are always self-interested in nature and hence, egoistic. Given the dichotomous existence between the two types of actions, which on many occasions create conceptual misapprehension, a different alternative will be explored. The new inquiry will throw light on the possibility that we commit some kind of motivational extremism on a conceptual level. It will further be argued that altruism and egoism may have one singular motivational source through which various actions emerge.

Background: Patients with psychiatric disorders have varied psychosocial realities embedded in the community context. Help-seeking behavior is extremely crucial in determining the prognosis and outcome of interventions. Objectives: (1) To assess the levels of quality of life, perceived social support, and decision to first seek help. (2) To assess the association of socio-demographic variables with these domains. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey with 100 psychiatric patients in a tertiary care setting employed three scales, namely WHOQOL-BREF, PSSS, and WHO Pathways Encounter form. Results: Patients had higher levels of quality of life and perceived social support. The majority of patients chose health professionals over faith healers at the onset of symptoms, had higher reliance on family members, and continued with hospital visits till the third follow-up. Sex, occupation, and marital status were associated with perceived social support, and duration of illness was associated with help-seeking behavior. Conclusions: Community-based interventions must include holistic services and reduce the gap between onset and first contact, leading to higher quality of life and perceived social support.

Background and Objectives: MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that play an essential role in controlling gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. They can serve as biomarkers in the management of obesity. Circulating miRNAs levels change with exercise, impacting various physiological and biological systems, including structural and functional changes. Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the levels of miRNAs 423-5p and 128-1 in young adolescents with obesity before and after an aerobic exercise programme. We also analyse the relationship between those microRNAs and obesity-related parameters in response to aerobic exercise training. Materials and Methods: A total of 64 adolescent individuals (32 individuals with obesity and 32 healthy individuals) were enrolled in the study to participate in a 6-month aerobic exercise programme. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and blood samples were collected from all the participants prior to exercise training and after the 6-month programme. Gene expression analysis of the study participants was performed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Expression levels of circulating microRNAs 423-5p (p < 0.01) and 128-1 (p < 0.01) differed significantly before and after exercise in the study population. Circulating miRNA 423-5p increased and correlated significantly with BMI while circulating miRNA 128-1 decreased and also significantly correlated with BMI after the 6-month aerobic exercise programme. Logistic regression analysis shows that the elevation in miRNAs expression levels has a strong significant association with the increased levels of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Obesity leads to alterations in the expressions of miRNA 423-5p and miRNA 128-1. The significant changes observed after an aerobic exercise programme demonstrate the potential of these miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic patients with depression or anxiety are more likely to develop diabetic complications and have a lower quality of life. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among type 2 diabetic patients and to identify the associated factors. A cross-sectional, observational study of type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients, with diabetes-related conditions who attended the hospital from January to April 2023, was conducted by interviewing them using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorders-7 for anxiety. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariant regression were performed for statistical analysis. Out of 450 type 2 diabetic patients, 90% were between ages 30 and 45, 50.2% were male, 60% were living in rural areas, and 76.5% literate; most of them belong to the upper middle class (64%) and they live in joint family (32.7%). Depression and anxiety were observed among 65.3% and 62.4% of type 2 diabetic patients, respectively. When observing the severity, 47.8% of patients had mild depression, and 38.7% had minimal anxiety. Age group, socioeconomic status, treatment type, and years of diabetes were found to be factors associated with depression and family type is associated with anxiety. Hospitalized diabetics have higher depression and anxiety rates for multiple reasons. Therefore, diabetes management programmes should include regular depression and anxiety screenings to quickly identify and treat high-risk patients in healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have increasingly been diagnosed with cognitive impairment. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is directly causing both phosphorylated tau (pTau) and amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). GSK3β expression is more abundant in human platelets than in other blood cells. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a common medicine for treating anemia in patients with CKD, as well as a neuroprotective agent. Objectives: The goal of this research is to find out how platelet GSK3β regulates plasma Aβ, total Tau and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau181) levels in CKD patients with cognitive dysfunction and also the efficacy of rHuEPO treatment. Patients and Methods: The study included 60 participants, which consist of 30 CKD without cognitive dysfunction and 30 CKD with cognitive dysfunction based on the neuropsychological examination. The expression of GSK3β in platelets was evaluated using a western blot and plasma Aβ, total Tau, pTau 181 levels were quantified by ELISA. The data were compared statistically (P < 0.05) to AD, normocytic normochromic anemic and healthy patients. Results: In CKD with cognitive dysfunction subjects, platelet GSK3β expression and plasma Aβ, total Tau and pTau181 levels were significantly (P < 0.05) altered like AD when compared to normocytic normochromic anemic, healthy and CKD without cognitive dysfunction subjects. In post rHuEPO (100 IU/kg, weekly twice, six months) treatment, the altered protein abnormalities were retrieved significantly (P < 0.05) compared to pre-treatment. Conclusion: This study established that platelet GSK3β expression and plasma Aβ, total Tau, pTau181 are the candidate biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction in CKD patients. The clinical utility of rHuEPO as a GSK3β inhibitor and therapeutic agent for cognitive dysfunction in CKD has been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The universal risk to mankind, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), shares etiological cofactors with a variety of diseases, including anemic chronic kidney disease patients (CKD) with cognitive dysfunction like Alzheimer disease (AD). Understanding the shared links between COVID-19 and CKD, as well as cognitive impairment such as AD, might aid in designing therapeutic ways to combat both. Given the need of developing COVID-19 medicine, the connection and symptoms of CKD with cognitive impairment have been reviewed here, with a focus on memory and learning disturbance. Objective: COVID-19 and CKD with cognitive dysfunction share angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 receptors, and AD indicators include amyloid, tau protein, and glycogen synthase kinase-3b. Anemia in patients with CKD and pulmonary fibrosis is frequently treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Through nitric oxide stimulation, neuroprotection, and various organ hypoxias, rHuEPO promotes red blood cells (RBC) growth while also assisting oxygen delivery. Results and Conclusions: In COVID-19, rHuEPO may be advantageous. The common etiological variables and manifestations outlined in this review could aid in the development of therapeutic options for COVID-19 and CKD with cognitive impairment, such as AD, and so help to eliminate the ongoing universal risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study is aimed to evaluate the ameliorative role of quercetin on PCBs-induced oxidative stress in hippocampus of Wistar rats. Group I rats received vehicle (corn oil) intraperitoneally (i.p); Group II received quercetin 50 mg/kg bwt/day (gavage); Group III received PCB 2 mg/kg bwt/day (i.p); Group IV received PCB (i.p) and simultaneously quercetin through gavage. After 30 days, rats were euthanized and hippocampus was dissected from each rat brain. Oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of H2O2, LPO, Pcc, and alteration in the functional markers such as CK, AchE, and ATPases activities in the hippocampus of control and experimental animals. A significant increase in the levels of stress markers and decrease in level of functional markers were observed in PCBs-treated rats. Moreover DNA fragmentation and histological studies were ascertained to confirm PCBs toxicity. In conclusion, quercetin shows a protective role against PCBs-induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus.

Background: Cancer is mostly managed by surgical removal, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, there are side effects associated with these methods. Alternatively, herbal medicines are becoming popular for cancer treatment. Calotropis gigantea is a widely used plant in the traditional medical system. However, there are no reports on its potential in cancer management. Therefore, we aimed to examine the phytochemical composition and cytotoxic activity of C. gigantea methanolic leaf extract against three different cancer cell lines: HeLa (cervical), MCF7 (breast), and A549 (lung). Materials and Methods: The methanolic extract of C. gigantea leaf was used to determine the presence of phytoconstituents using standard methods such as thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. HeLa, MCF7, and A549 cell lines were treated with C. gigantea methanolic leaf extract at different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 μg/mL). Camptothecin and cisplatin were used as reference drugs for growth inhibition studies. Results: The phytoconstituents of methanolic leaf extract of C. gigantea included alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenols. The extract exhibited cytotoxicity against HeLa (IC50= 117.92 μg/mL), MCF7 (IC50= 43.65 μg/mL), and A549 (IC50= 27.32 μg/mL) cancer cell lines in vitro. Conclusion: Our results indicated that C. gigantea exhibited cytotoxicity against cervical, breast, and lung cancer cell lines in vitro, and thus, the crude extract can be a potential candidate for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]