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Background: People with diabetes need extensive self-management support, medications, regular screening for and treatment of possible complications and comorbidities, all of which can increase out-of-pocket (OOP) costs in patients and their families. There is a very strong correlation between the level of OOPs and an indicator that is used to monitor how well a health system is performing in terms of financial protection namely, incidence of catastrophic health expenditure. Objectives: 1. To assess the catastrophic health expenditure on treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications in the study population. 2. To find out the association of CHE with sociodemographic profile, diabetic profile, and treatment compliance among the study population. Methodology: After applying the inclusion criteria 360 known diabetics were included from the four randomly selected slum areas of Agra city. A cross- sectional study through face-to-face interview using predesigned, pretested, and semi-structured questionnaire was conducted from September 2020 to March 2022. Data was entered on MS excel and appropriate statistical analysis was done. Results: Males and females were 59% and 41% respectively. Nearly 66% participants were of age group 35-60 years, 28% were illiterates, 54% were unemployed & 44% belong to upper lower socioeconomic class. Almost 96% were having type 2 diabetes, 74% were on oral hypoglycaemic agents and 70% were compliant to treatment. Monthly median direct out-of-pocket expenses were INR 1500 and indirect expenses were INR 505. Type of diabetes, and treatment regimen were the factors found to be associated with Catastrophic health expenditure. Conclusion: A significant proportion of 39.4% of the study participants were found to have catastrophic health expenditure.

Background: Dengue is the most widespread mosquito-borne viral infection, found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. The World Health Organization has included dengue as one of the 10 threats to global health in 2019 with rapidly evolving epidemiology. Aims and Objectives: Given the limitation of data in regard to dengue burden, we have planned the present study with the objectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the seroprevalence, clinicoepidemiological profile, and serotype of dengue virus in Agra region of Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational study at viral diagnostic and research laboratory, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from August to December 2021. Our study included all blood specimens received at virology laboratory from clinically suspected cases of dengue infection. For the identification of serotype, NS1-positive samples were sent to King Georges Medical University, Lucknow. For clinical-epidemiological profile of dengue positive patients, data were obtained from records of 203 patients from our hospital. Results: We received total of 5457 serum samples from suspected patients for dengue serology during the study period. In total, positivity rate was 27.29% (1489/5457) and peak of cases was reported in month of October. Median age of dengue positive cases was 17 years. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) was diagnosed in almost 41% of patients of 203 patients admitted in our hospital. DEN-2 was reported to be most common serotype (97.1%). In our analsyis, we found that in most patients fall in platelets levels below 50,000 happened during the 5th and 6th day in Dengue fever. Conclusion: We conclude that our study showed higher seroprevalence of dengue in Agra region with the age group of 0–20 years being infected most. DEN-2 was most prevalent circulating strain, which leads to more severe dengue infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ethanol extract of Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt showed significant triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol-lowering effects in dyslipidemic hamster model. Ethanolic extract was fractionated into chloroform, n-butanol and water-soluble fractions and [...]

Background: Mosquito borne diseases of public health importance are complex. These diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the knowledge and determinants about MBDs in community and stakeholders among slum dwellers of Agra. Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in urban slums of Agra city. A sample size of 400 participants and 100 stakeholders from Municipal Corporation, health department, community leaders and community representatives were interviewed. Results: Maximum participants were of age group 26-35 years (23.5%) followed by 36-45 years (21.5%), of those 57.25% and 42.75% were men and women respectively. Most of participants (96.75%) did not have any knowledge about types or names of mosquitoes (Aedes, Anopheles and Culex). More than 50% of participants reported that MBDs spreads through bite of infected mosquitoes followed by poor environmental hygiene (34.75%). Almost all stakeholders (98.0%) had knowledge about name of mosquitoes. 80% of stakeholders perceived their responsibility towards MBD prevention and control. Conclusion: Knowledge about mosquito borne diseases ranged from only 3% aware about types of mosquito, around 50% aware of breeding and habitats of mosquitoes with poor knowledge of larvae. Stakeholders had better awareness than community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) refer to all males (of any age) who engage in sexual relations with other males. The gross stigmatization and discrimination of homosexuals have affected the life and health of MSM. Aims & objective: To get an insight on circumstances of initiation and continuation of same sex behavior among MSM. Material & Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in MSM population in Agra district in India. Audio recorded in-depth interviews were transcribed into verbatim. Potential themes were extracted as a part of analysis as per relevant experiences of the participants. Data saturation achieved after 13 In-depth interviews. Results: The initiation of same sex behavior among MSM was at a young age and was mostly without their consent. Almost all participants were below the legal age of giving consent for sex and their first homosexual partner was a familiar, elderly in position of authority. They played a passive role in their initial sexual encounter and none of them was able to discuss it freely with their family members or friends. They mostly felt depressed after their first homosexual encounter. They had continued this sexual behavior as they have accepted their attraction towards same sex. Conclusion: There is a need to include concepts of sexuality in education curriculum and sensitize parents also and counseling of those exposed to homosexuality at a tender age is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge used as agriculture fertilizers contains a conspicuous amount of potentially toxic metals. In order to prevent the contamination in the food chain, there is an urgent need for the development of sewage sludge clean up technology. The use of non-food, multi-harvest aromatic crops for phytoremediation of sewage sludge has many benefits. Besides the eco-friendly approach, plant biomass generated can be used to extract economically important essential oil free of heavy metals. Cymbopogon martinii was grown in soil (s) amended with different ratios of sewage sludge (ss), that is, 100s:0ss (control), 80s:20ss, 60s:40ss, 40s:60ss, 20s:80ss, and 0s:100ss. The experiment was conducted in a plastic sack under an open environment for 1 year and harvesting was done thrice. Plant growth and essential oil yield were significantly increased with the increasing dose of sewage sludge. Accumulation of toxic metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni) and micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) increased significantly in the shoot tissues confirmed by estimation of bioaccumulation and bioconcentration, and scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalyses. Soil enzyme activities were significantly improved with the plant growth period and increased doses of sludge. Results showed C. martinii acts as hyper-accumulator and thus could be used for phytoremediation of sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of heavy metal toxicity on growth, herb, oil yield and quality and metal accumulation in rose scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) grown in heavy metal enriched soils. Four heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb) each at two levels (10 and 20 mg kg-1 soil) were tested on geranium. Results indicated that Cr concentration in soil at 20 mg kg-1 reduced leaves, stem and root yield by 70, 83, and 45%, respectively, over control. Root growth was significantly affected in Cr stressed soil. Nickel, Cr, and Cd concentration and accumulation in plant increased with higher application of these metals. Chromium, nickel and cadmium uptake was observed to be higher in leaves than in stem and roots. Essential oil constituents were generally not significantly affected by heavy metals except Pb at 10 and 20 ppm, which significantly increased the content of citronellol and Ni at 20 ppm increased the content of geraniol. Looking in to the higher accumulation of toxic metals by geranium and the minimal impact of heavy metals on quality of essential oil, geranium can be commercially cultivated in heavy metal polluted soil for production of high value essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of single leaf litter of Terminalia arjuna (Ta) and Prosopis juliflora (Pj), mixed leaf litters [Ta, Pj, Azadirachta indica (Ai) and Albizia procera (Ap)] and paddy straw (Ps; Oryza sativa) on chemical properties and microbial activities of slightly sodic (SS), moderately sodic (MS) and highly sodic (HS) soils during 1 year in vitro decomposition process. For this purpose, equal amount (60 g) of single leaf litter [Ta (C : N = 43) and Pj (C : N = 38)], mixed leaf litters [1/4 of Ta, Pj, Ai and Ap (C : N = 30)] and Ps (C : N = 107) was added to equal amount (600 g) of SS, MS and HS soils. After addition of litters, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (Nav), microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, soil respiration, microbial quotient (Cmic : Corg) and metabolic quotient ( qCO2) were observed at 2 months intervals for the whole year in greenhouse at constant soil moisture. The respective annual increase, at the end of the experiment, in SOC and Nav was highest in MS soil (40% and 45%), whereas soil microbial biomass and soil respiration showed decreasing trend from HS soil (39% and 29%) to SS soil (28% and 21%). The highest SOC was mineralized in the MS (42%) and HS (32%) soils containing litter of Ta; although greater (20%) accumulation of SOC in SS soil was noticed with mixed leaf litters. The study reveals that MS and HS soils comparatively showed fast decomposition of litters and significant increase in carbon, nitrogen and microbial activities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women empowerment is a powerful determinant of their own, children's and their families' health. Perhaps, due to this fact, promotion of gender equality and empowering women was kept as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Objective: The present analysis was undertaken to study the effect of women empowerment on health of women, family planning and various health indicators of children. Methods: Available data from National Surveys in India, various research studies and evidences from published global studies were gathered and further analyzed. Results: Census 2011 (India) have shown that states having higher women literacy, like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra (75%), have better positive indicators of health than states like Rajasthan with 53 % literacy. NFHS -3 (India) showed that empowered women had better access to maternal services (76 %), more use of contraception (66.6%) and resultantly, had lower neonatal mortality (36%). As against this, for less empowered women, access to maternal services (72 %) is low, lesser use of contraception (44%) and relatively higher neonatal mortality (43%). A systematic analysis of 175 countries (Lancet, 2010) has established that increase in women education decreases under five child mortality. Conclusions: Investments in women's employment, health and education, are correlated with a range of positive outcomes, including greater economic growth and children's health and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A Health Sub-centre is the most peripheral and first point of contact between the primary health care system and the community. It is imperative to get insight into their functioning which were established with the objectives of minimizing the hardships of the rural people. Objective: To study the coverages of maternal services at sub-centres in district Jhansi. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with sample of 20 sub-centres in the district Jhansi from June 2012 to July 2013. Various records of the Health workers were examined for maternal health services coverages and noted down on a pre-designed questionnaire. Results: Present study showed that currently married pregnant women aged 15-49 years registered for ANC were 72.1%. Women who received antenatal check-up in first trimester in sub-centres were around 50%. Women who received 3 or more antenatal visits were only 29% in study. Meager 3.6% women received IFA for 100 days or more. Similarly women with full antenatal check-up were only 3%. In current study it was found that family planning coverages for female Sterilization was 60% but male Sterilization was just 0.5%. Conclusion: Higher emphasis needs to be given for better coverage of all maternal services. There should be provision for improvement of competence, confidence and motivation of health workers to ensure full range of maternal care activities specified under NRHM program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoids 6-O-[2,3-dimethoxy]-trans-cinnamoyl catalpol (1) and 6-O-meta-methoxy-benzoyl catalpol (2) along with a known iridoid picroside 1 (3), two stilbenes quadrangularin A (4) and pallidol (5), quercitin (6), quercitrin (7), β-sitosterol (8) and β-sitosterol glycoside (9) were isolated from Cissus quadrangularis Linn. The compounds 3 and 7 are first reported from this plant. The structures were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data and by direct comparison with literature. This is the first reported occurrence of iridoids in C. quadrangularis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new clerodane furano diterpene glucosides (amritosides A, B, C and D) were isolated as their acetates from Tinospora cordifolia stems. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]