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Purpose: To evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the conjunctival swab sample of positive confirmed COVID-19 patients and to find out its association with comorbidity and severity of COVID-19 disease. Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at a dedicated tertiary COVID-19 hospital in central India for a period of 8 weeks from February 2021to March 2021. We included patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA through nasopharyngeal swab and were above 18 years of age. Swab samples have been collected within 48 h of admission. Conjunctival swab was taken from the lower fornix of both eyes and sent to microbiology laboratory for real-time- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Out of 150 patients, conjunctival swab RT-PCR was positive in five patients (3.33%). Two patients had conjunctival manifestations in the form of conjunctivitis but conjunctival swab RT-PCR was negative in those patients. Among the RT-PCR positive patients, two (40%) were from mild, one (20%) was from moderate, and two (40%) were from severe category. No association could be established between conjunctival swab RT-PCR positivity and severity of the disease or associated comorbidity. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected in conjunctival secretions, and though the risk is relatively low, the eye may act as source of transmission. Extra caution should be taken by healthcare workers, and use of proper precautions like face shields and goggles should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the issues related to the impact of privatization on access to higher education among social groups. STs and SCs are the only underrepresented groups in higher education. The expansion of higher education during 2007 and 2014 benefited OBCs most. STs and SCs are lowest beneficiaries. Privatization also benefited OBCs most. Publicly financed institutions serve STs and SCs most which shows inclusive character of such institutions. Disparities by social group exist even at a higher level of income which indicates that income alone does not determine access to private unaided institutions. The empirical evidences suggest that affirmative actions are inevitable make private unaided institutions inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the accuracy of angiogenic biomarkers to predict pre-eclampsia.Design: Prospective multicentre study. From 2006 to 2009, 5121 pregnant women with risk factors for pre-eclampsia (nulliparity, diabetes, previous pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension) from Argentina, Colombia, Peru, India, Italy, Kenya, Switzerland and Thailand had their serum tested for sFlt-1, PlGF and sEng levels and their urine for PlGF levels at ⩽20, 23-27 and 32-35weeks' gestation (index tests, results blinded from carers). Women were monitored for signs of pre-eclampsia, diagnosed by systolic blood pressure ⩾140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ⩾90mmHg, and proteinuria (protein/creatinine ratio ⩾0.3, protein ⩾1g/l, or one dipstick measurement ⩾2+) appearing after 20weeks' gestation. Early pre-eclampsia was defined when these signs appeared ⩽34weeks' gestation.Main Outcome Measure: Pre-eclampsia.Results: Pre-eclampsia was diagnosed in 198 of 5121 women tested (3.9%) of whom 47 (0.9%) developed it early. The median maternal serum concentrations of index tests were significantly altered in women who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia than in those who did not. However, the area under receiver operating characteristics curve at ⩽20weeks' gestation were closer to 0.5 than to 1.0 for all biomarkers both for predicting any pre-eclampsia or at ⩽34weeks' gestation. The corresponding sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were poor. Multivariable models combining sEng with clinical features slightly improved the prediction capability.Conclusions: Angiogenic biomarkers in first half of pregnancy do not perform well enough in predicting the later development of pre-eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system experiences of five countries in the region - Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and the Philippines - are highlighted. In the case studies, a brief account is provided of the progress, challenges and lessons learned on key aspects of importance for CRVS systems in each country, and a glimpse is offered of the diversity of CRVS systems across the region. Some of the key strategies implemented by countries to address challenges in CRVS systems include legal and policy changes; improved collaboration across multiple sectors, in particular between the registration and statistical authorities; the growing involvement of the health sector in the notification of vital events and in improving the ascertainment of causes of death; public information campaigns; and capacity development for the analysis, dissemination and use of vital statistics for policy and planning purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the results for a study of results for cricket matches between India and Pakistan. Methodology; Results of the study; Comments on the results.

Diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections (RI) are two leading causes of childhood mortality in low and middle-income countries. Effective handwashing at critical time-points may mitigate these diseases. However, there is a lack of published data investigating this association in school-aged children in India. This study is part of a larger prospective handwashing intervention study in a low-income community in New Delhi, India examining the associations between handwashing behavior and diarrhea and RI in schoolchildren. This current study reports the findings of the baseline survey administered to 272 mother-child dyads. Children aged 8-12 years, and their mothers, were recruited from six schools. A baseline questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, handwash behavior, and mother-reported recent diarrhea and RI incidence among the children. Handwashing before and after preparing food, after defecation, and after cleaning dishes significantly reduced the odds of diarrhea by over 70%, and of RI by over 56%. Using a clean cloth after handwashing lowered odds of diarrhea and RI by 72% and 63% respectively. Around 60% of the participants believed that handwashing could prevent diarrhea and RI in their children. There was a low prevalence of handwashing at critical time-points and a poor perception regarding handwashing benefits. To improve handwashing behavior, hygiene promotion programs need to understand what motivates and hinders handwashing in vulnerable populations.

Microbial contamination of fruit juices has caused major outbreaks, leading to significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The inept hygiene and safety practices followed by the juice vendors are the leading risk factors of the microbial contamination of juices. In this pilot study, the five most crowded markets in urban Delhi, including Kamla Nagar, University of Delhi (north campus), Tilak Nagar, Chandni Chowk, and Rohini, were selected for a questionnaire survey on the fruit juice vendors and the sampling of water used for juice preparation as well as sugarcane, orange, and mix fruit juices collected from these markets for the enumeration of total bacterial count (TBC), Escherichia coli, Salmonella , and Vibrio . Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using ampicillin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem. The results indicated that the majority of the vendors were not following hygiene and safety practices when compared with the recommended standard safety practices. The use of municipal water by 95% of vendors with high TBC counts might have been the major source of microbial contamination in all types of fruit juices. E. coli and Salmonella contaminations were high in sugarcane (2 × 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/mL) and mix fruit (2.2 × 10 5 CFU/mL) juice samples, respectively. On the other hand, Vibrio was found to be absent in almost all juice samples except for orange juice. All strains were found to be susceptible to chloramphenicol, but resistant to ampicillin and cefotaxime. Only a few strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and only E. coli strains were resistant to imipenem. Taken together, the overall microbiological standards of fruit juices served by street vendors were not within the acceptable limits, perhaps due to the poor quality of water used to prepare juices and poor hygiene and safety practices followed by the vendors. More importantly, the isolated microbes demonstrated resistance to ampicillin and cefotaxime, which may have pressing public health implications. Post hoc power analyses identified the minimum sample size required for 80% power.