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This article analyses the National Council of Educational Research and Training textbooks of environmental studies using critical discourse analysis to shed light on questions such as how the environment is dealt with in the text, using what kind of language are environmental concerns framed, how is the current environment crisis contextualized both in terms of ecological and social justice, if at all, and what solutions are suggested in this regard. The article finds that though the content of the textbooks exhibits strong social contextualizing of learners' surroundings, the thrust is anthropocentric, and the environment figures only as a peripheral concern. Themes such as gender, caste, hygiene, culture, equality and discrimination emerge stronger than those of biodiversity, conservation, pollution, water crisis and global warming. While the in-built thrust on conviviality in the textbooks is necessary and heartening, a better infusion of the current predicament in terms of the environment crisis and how it could be mitigated is recommended.

Since health research has become increasingly acknowledged as an important tool for development, many approaches have been undertaken to understand national health research from a systems perspective. This paper reviews 28 case studies that describe or analyse health research systems in 26 low- and middle-income countries. These case studies were sponsored either by the Council on Health Research for Development or the South-East Asia Regional Office of the World Health Organization. In reviewing these case studies, we identify several common challenges facing national health research systems. These challenges include the lack of coordination in research activities; the inadequate participation of stakeholders in research, policy and implementation processes; the lack of demand for research and the low accessibility of research findings. These obstacles are compounded by some fundamental systems constraints, such as the lack of financial resources, human capacities, infrastructure and data. By identifying from these case studies the common challenges of health research systems as well as approaches to overcome these, this paper highlights the potential for case studies to inform policies and strategies for strengthening health research systems, and presents recommendations for future case studies to increase this potential. Keywords: Health research system; Case studies; Low- and middle-income countries

Keywords: favism; G6PD activity; laboratory diagnosis; G6PD assay; haemolysis EN favism G6PD activity laboratory diagnosis G6PD assay haemolysis 24 38 15 03/31/20 20200401 NES 200401 Methodology This guideline was compiled according to the BSH process at: http://b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/proposing-and-writing-a-new-bsh-guideline/. G6PD testing in sickle cell disease and thalassaemic disorders is nevertheless recommended to avoid exposure of G6PD-deficient individuals to oxidant drugs or other agents that may exacerbate anaemia in the context of chronic haemolysis. In heterozygous females, the impact of selective haemolysis of G6PD-deficient red cells may compound the effect of reticulocytosis and the enzyme activity of residual non-deficient cells can mask the diagnosis of G6PD deficiency. Where G6PD deficiency is suspected on clinical grounds and no alternative explanation for haemolysis is forthcoming a G6PD assay should be repeated at least 2-3 months after resolution of the haemolytic episode. [Extracted from the article]

Many modern automated cell counters in high-volume clinical hematology laboratories use new, improved technologies for routine platelet analysis. The latest progress includes the use of state-of-the art information technology, specific fluorescent dyes, and monoclonal antibodies to obtain more reliable platelet counts. This information allows the accurate and precise enumeration of platelets even in thrombocytopenic patients and the reporting of novel platelet parameters. In the near future, digital image analysis may permit even better platelet analysis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This report provides an overview of the epidemiological patterns of malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) from 1998 to 2007, and highlights critical challenges facing national malaria control programs and partners in effort to build on their successes as they move towards malaria pre-elimination and elimination as a programmatic goal. Epidemiological data provided by malaria programs show a drastic decline in malaria deaths and confirmed malaria positive cases over the last 10 years in the GMS. More than half of confirmed malaria cases and deaths recorded in the GMS occur in Myanmar, however, reporting methods and data management are not comparable between countries despite effort made by WHO to harmonize data collection, analysis and reporting among WHO Member States. Malaria is concentrated in forested/forest-fringe areas of the region mainly along international borders providing strong rationale to develop harmonized cross-border pre-elimination programs in conjunction with national efforts. Across the Mekong Region, the declining efficacy of recommended first-line antimalarials, eg artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) against falciparum malaria on the Cambodia-Thailand border, the prevalence of counterfeit and substandard antimalarial drugs, the lack of health services in general and malaria services in particular in remote settings, and the lack of information and services targeting migrants and mobile population present important barriers to reach or maintain malaria pre-elimination programmatic goals. Strengthening networking between research institutions and non-government organizations will increase knowledge-based decision and action.