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The aqueous and chloroform extracts obtained from leaves of Adhatoda vasica were evaluated for acaricidal activity against engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus and their larvae. No significant mortality of adult ticks was observed in the tested concentration of aqueous extract except at 80%. Whereas, chloroform extract showed a dosedependent increase in adult mortality, and LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 10.47% and 11.74%, respectively. A significant difference in egg hatching of laid eggs was observed at all concentrations tested and 98.55% inhibition of hatching was observed at 12.5% concentration. Dose-dependent larval mortality was observed in larval immersion test with various concentrations of chloroform extract with LC 50 and LC 90 values of 0.51%, and 1.09%, respectively. The results indicate that the chloroform extract of Adhatoda vasica could have very good in vitro acaricidal activities on adult and larval stages of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Gd3+-doped BaMgAl10O17 phosphors have been successfully synthesized using a low-temperature solution combustion method. The crystal structure and phase purity of the samples were characterized using x-ray powder diffraction analysis. The optimal concentration of Gd3+ dopant in BaMgAl10O17 was determined through measurements of the photoluminescence spectra of the phosphors. All phosphors showed narrowband UVB emission at 313 nm with excitation wavelength at 272 nm. Relatively dominant electron spin resonance (ESR) lines were observed with geff ≈ 1.98. 2.7, 4.2, and 5.95 in phosphors with low concentration of dopant Gd3+ ion. At higher dopant concentrations, the spectrum appeared to be U-like with prominent lines at geff ≈ 1.99, 2.7, 4.2, and 5.94. Distortions in the neighborhood of Gd3+ ion led to ESR lines in the low-field region of the spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use finite element simulations to quantitatively evaluate different mechanisms for the generation of stress in Sn films due to growth of the Cu6Sn5 intermetallic phase at the Cu-Sn interface. We find that elastic and plastic behavior alone are not sufficient to reproduce the experimentally measured stress evolution. However, when grain boundary diffusion is included, the model results agree well with experimental observations. Examination of conditions necessary to produce the observed stresses provides insight into potential strategies for minimizing stress generation and thus mitigating Sn whisker growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, has been used in local anesthetics as an additive for various locoregional nerve blocks. Although, its use in the dental field has not been unexplored and concealed. The current study was conducted to evaluate and compare the calibre of anesthesia, their hemodynamic response, vasoconstrictive effects, and control of pain while administering pterygomandibular nerve blocks using 2% Lignocaine hydrochloride solution with Dexamethasone(4mg/ml) with that of the standard 2% Lignocaine hydrochloride solution and Adrenaline bitartrate (1:80000). Materials and Methods: This triple-blind randomized controlled study included 80 healthy subjects, aged between 18-45 years with an indication for surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. With the aid of a computer-generated sequence, the subjects were arbitrarily assigned into 2 groups (40/group)- Group 1: patients administered with 2% Lignocaine hydrochloride and Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate (4mg/ml) solution, and Group 2: patients administered with 2% Lignocaine hydrochloride with Adrenaline bitartrate (Adr) 1: 80,000 (12.5 µgm/ml) solution. The variables were assessed based on their time of onset, depth (pain) and duration of anesthesia, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures, heart rate, and blood loss. Results: Statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was noticed for the onset (shorter onset in Group 1) and duration of action (prolonged in group 1) and number of analgesics required (less in grp 1). Statistically non-significant difference between 2 groups (P>0.05) for pain, blood loss, cardiovascular variables (systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate) at various intervals was noted. Conclusion: Dexamethasone added to Lignocaine shortens onset, prolongs duration of action and yields better control of post-operative pain as compared to Lignocaine with Adr. Vasoconstrictive properties, hemodynamic variables and intra-op pain control were comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rural populations were more susceptible to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to lower levels of community awareness, poor hygiene, and health literacy accompanying pre-existing weak public health systems. Consequently, various community-based interventions were engineered in rural regions worldwide to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by empowering people to mount both individual and collective public health responses against the pandemic. However, to date, there is paucity of information on the effectiveness of any large-scale community intervention in controlling and mitigating the effects of COVID-19, especially from the perspective of LMICs., Objective: This retrospective impact evaluation study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a large-scale rural community-based intervention, the COVID-Free Village Program (CFVP), on COVID-19 resilience and control in rural populations in Maharashtra, India., Methods: The intervention site was the rural areas of the Pune district where CFVP was implemented from August 2021 to February 2022, while the adjoining district, Satara, represented the control district where the COVID-Free Village Scheme was implemented. Data were collected during April-May 2022 from 3500 sample households in villages across intervention and comparison arms by using the 2-stage stratified random sampling through face-to-face interviews followed by developing a matched sample using propensity score matching methods., Results: The participants in Pune had a significantly higher combined COVID-19 awareness index by 0.43 (95% CI 0.29-0.58) points than those in Satara. Furthermore, the adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviors, including handwashing, was 23% (95% CI 3%-45%) and masking was 17% (0%-38%) higher in Pune compared to those in Satara. The probability of perception of COVID as a serious illness in patients with heart disease was 22% (95% CI 1.036-1.439) higher in Pune compared to that in Satara. The awareness index of COVID-19 variants and preventive measures were also higher in Pune by 0.88 (95% CI 0.674-1.089) points. In the subgroup analysis, when the highest household educational level was restricted to middle school, the awareness about the COVID-control program was 0.69 (95% CI 0.36-1.021) points higher in Pune, while the awareness index of COVID-19 variants and preventive measures was higher by 0.45 (95% CI 0.236-0.671) points. We did not observe any significant changes in the overall COVID-19 vaccination coverage due to CFVP implementation. Furthermore, the number of COVID-19 deaths in both the sampled populations were very low. The probability of observing COVID-19-related stigma or discrimination in Pune was 68% (95% CI 0.133-0.191) lower than that in Satara., Conclusions: CFVP contributed to improved awareness and sustainability of COVID-appropriate behaviors in a large population although there was no evidence of higher COVID-19 vaccination coverage or reduction in mortality, signifying potential applicability in future pandemic preparedness, especially in resource-constrained settings., (©Saurav Basu, Meghana Desai, Anup Karan, Surbhi Bhardwaj, Himanshu Negandhi, Nitin Jadhav, Amar Maske, Sanjay Zodpey. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 29.07.2024.)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate and assess whether IV iron improves symptoms of chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA)., Method: A total of 66 subjects with heart failure (HF) seeking therapy in the Department of Medicine's Inpatient Department (IPD) and Outpatient Department (OPD) were included. The data were collected during an outpatient or inpatient visit, documented in a predesigned and pretested proforma and then evaluated. All subjects received history-taking, examinations and regular laboratory tests after being informed and signing an agreement. On admission, the following data was collected: name, age, gender and comorbidities. The examination of subjects included a general examination and a systematic examination. Hematological parameters including hemoglobin (Haemometer, Top Tech Bio Medicals Mumbai), serum iron (Roche Cobas c501, USA), total iron binding capacity (TIBC, Beckman Coulter AU480, India), transferrin saturation percentage (TSAT% = (serum iron/TIBC) × 100), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 2D echocardiography, Nivan Healthcare Solutions, India) and ferritin (Abbott Architect Ferritin Assay, Delhi) are also important. Other blood tests like liver and renal function tests include an electrocardiogram (12-lead ECG) and two-dimensional echocardiography on admission and follow-up., Results:  In our study, 66 patients in total received IV iron as a treatment option to improve the symptoms of CHF with IDA; the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification showed significant improvement (p-value <0.001). Before the intervention, 57.58% of patients had NYHA class II and 42.4% of patients had NYHA class III. After treatment, 33.33% of patients showed NYHA class II and 19.70% of patients showed NYHA class III. After iron therapy treatment, out of 29 cases of NYHA class III, nine (31.03%) cases converted to NYHA class I, seven (24.14%) cases converted to NYHA class II, and 13 (44.83%) cases belonged to the same NYHA class. Out of 37 cases of NYHA class II, 22 (59.45%) cases converted to NYHA class I, and 15 (40.54%) cases belong to the same NYHA class., Conclusion: Thus, we come to the conclusion that the NYHA classification has exhibited notable enhancement subsequent to the administration of parenteral iron therapy. Sufficient evidence exists to substantiate the advantageous effects of intravenous iron therapy in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. The administration of iron therapy has been observed to yield favorable outcomes in the mitigation of symptoms among individuals afflicted with cardiac insufficiency., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Gosavi et al.)