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Petros Isaakidis,1,2 Sharmila Pimple,3 Bhanumati Varghese,1 Samsuddin Khan,1 Homa Mansoor,1 Joanna Ladomirska,1 Neelakumari Sharma,1 Esdras Da Silva,1 Carol Metcalf,4 Severine Caluwaerts,4 Petra Alders,4 Evangelia E Ntzani,2 Tony Reid41Médecins Sans Frontières, Mumbai, India; 2Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece; 3Preventive Oncology Department, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India; 4Médecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, BelgiumBackground: HIV-infected women are at a higher risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer than women in the general population, partly due to a high prevalence of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The aim of the study was to assess the burden of HPV infection, cervical abnormalities, and cervical cancer among a cohort of HIV-infected women as part of a routine screening in an urban overpopulated slum setting in Mumbai, India.Methods: From May 2010 to October 2010, Médecins Sans Frontières and Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai offered routine annual Pap smears and HPV DNA testing of women attending an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic and a 12-month follow-up. Women with abnormal test results were offered cervical biopsy and treatment, including treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Results: Ninety-five women were screened. Median age was 38 years (IQR: 33–41); median nadir CD4-count 143 cells/µL (IQR: 79–270); and median time on ART 23 months (IQR:10–41). HPV DNA was detected in 30/94 women (32%), and 18/94 (19%) showed either low-grade or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL/HSIL) on Pap smear. Overall, >50% had cervical inflammatory reactions including STIs. Of the 43 women with a cervical biopsy, eight (8.4%) had CIN-1, five (5.3%) CIN-2, and two (2.1%) carcinoma in situ. All but one had HPV DNA detected (risk ratio: 11, 95% confidence interval: 3.3–34). By October 2011, 56 women had completed the 12-month follow-up and had been rescreened. No new cases of HPV infection/LSIL/HSIL were detected.Conclusion: The high prevalence of HPV infection, STIs, and cervical lesions among women attending an ART clinic demonstrates a need for routine screening. Simple, one-stop screening strategies are needed. The optimal screening interval, especially when resources are limited, needs to be determined.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HPV, women's health, cervical cancer, operational research, India

With the overall temperature rise across the globe and the sweltering heat these summers, one can safely assume that households will see a furious shoot-up in their electricity bills this year. While the urban population resorts to airconditioning to escape the heat wave, the poor clamour for shade in varied confinements. About 300 million people in India live without access to power. The perfect solution for the poor to the problem of rising temperatures is the 'Eco-Cooler', a cooling device that can run without electricity and introducing 'Venting Skylights'. The process involves creating grids made from repurposed plastic bottles cut in half and installed on windows as per size. Based on the direction of the wind and the pressure created by airflow, the Eco-Cooler decreases the temperature by five degrees Celsius at optimal conditions. Venting skylights can be opened or closed, allowing fresh air to circulate in home, boosting ventilation beautifully. They can also be opened to release heat build-up or moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: S. Pimple, S. Gunjal, G. Mishra, M. Pednekar, P. Majmudar, S. Shastri Background: Cigarettes and other tobacco products act 2003 (COTPA) is the principal law governing tobacco control in [...]

Byline: G. Mishra, S. Gunjal, S. Pimple, P. Majmudar, S. Gupta, S. Shastri Background: Gutkha and pan masala contain harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Hence, Maharashtra Government banned their manufacture, storage, [...]

Byline: S. Pimple, S. Shastri Introduction: Visual inspection with 5% Acetic acid (VIA) as a low cost screening method has good sensitivity with the limitation of low specificity and low [...]

Byline: L. Raute, M. Pednekar, R. Mistry, P. Gupta, S. Pimple, S. Shastri Background: While no level of exposure to Second-hand smoke (SHS) is free of risk, 37% of students [...]

Byline: S. Pimple, G. Amin, S. Goswami, S. Shastri Background: Colposcopic evaluation and guided biopsy is an important diagnostic step and standard of management for abnormal cytology smears in developed [...]

The objective of this present investigation was to develop and formulate floating sustained release matrix tablets of s (-) atenolol, by using different polymer combinations and filler, to optimize by using surface response methodology for different drug release variables and to evaluate the drug release pattern of the optimized product. Floating sustained release matrix tablets of various combinations were prepared with cellulose-based polymers: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium bicarbonate as a gas generating agent, polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a binder and lactose monohydrate as filler. The 32 full factorial design was employed employed to investigate the effect of formulation variables on different properties of tablets applicable to floating lag time, buoyancy time, % drug release in 1 and 6 h (D1 h, D6 h) and time required to 90% drug release (t90%). Significance of result was analyzed using analysis of non variance and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. S (-) atenolol floating sustained release matrix tablets followed the Higuchi drug release kinetics that indicates the release of drug follows anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion mechanism. The developed floating sustained release matrix tablet of improved efficacy can perform therapeutically better than a conventional tablet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Newspaper pulp was found to be a potential adsorbent for removal of copper from aqueous medium. Detail adsorption study of Cu on newspaper pulp was investigated. Batch adsorption study was carried out as a function of contact time, adsorbent dose, temperature (303–323K). The experimental data was analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Redlich-Peterson (R–P) isotherm models. It was found that Freundlich, Langmuir and R–P models fitted well. pH variation study revealed that the adsorption increased with increase in pH of the solution. Maximum loading capacity was found to be 30mgg−1 at 20mgL−1 of initial Cu concentration. Adsorption data were analyzed using two kinetic models, Lagergren first order and pseudo second order. It was observed that pseudo second order represented the best correlation. Langmuir isotherm was used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters such as free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of adsorption. The negative value of free energy and positive value of enthalpy change indicate that the adsorption of Cu on newspaper pulp is a spontaneous process and endothermic. The results of activation energy also confirmed that the adsorption of Cu on newspaper pulp is physical in nature. Present investigation emphasized that newspaper pulp may be utilized as a low cost adsorbent for copper removal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats, killing nearly seven million people annually. With implementation of smoke free public places legislation, cabs in India are smoke free. However, large majority of the cab drivers are addicted to tobacco. Aim: The aims of the study were to measure cab driver's knowledge, about tobacco, understand pattern of tobacco usage, provide assistance in quitting tobacco, perform oral cancer screening, measure effectiveness of smoking ban in cabs and understand perceptions of cab drivers and commuters to ban. Methods: 400 cab drivers in Mumbai were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Personal interviews were conducted to understand their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding tobacco use, smoke free cab policies and their experiences and opinion regarding ban on smoking in cabs. They were offered health education, oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation assistance at regular intervals over a year. Results: 64% cab drivers used tobacco, mainly in smokeless forms (80%). 94% intended to quit, 64% had made previous quit attempts and 70% expressed need of assistance for quitting tobacco. 62% had displayed a No Smoking sign in their cab and 75% expressed full compliance by passengers to the ban. 112 cab drivers had oral precancerous lesions and one cab driver was diagnosed with invasive oral carcinoma. 49% cab drivers quit tobacco and 46% reduced their tobacco consumption by the end of ten months. Conclusion: Smoke free cab policy has increased awareness and reduced passive smoking and this may encourage tobacco users to quit the habit. However, many cab drivers are themselves addicted to tobacco and need professional assistance for quitting. Hence, tobacco cessation - assisting the current users to quit tobacco needs to go hand in hand with smoke free policies. Smoke free cab policies have received enormous support from the cab drivers in Mumbai. There was encouraging compliance to smoke free policies from the commuters. Tobacco quit rate of 49% was achieved by the end of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]