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A community-driven development project named ‘Pudu Vazhvu’ was launched in Tamil Nadu in November 2005 with World Bank assistance. The goal of the project was to reduce poverty among the rural poor and other vulnerable groups and to promote their empowerment, through targeted assistance for productive livelihood activities, in a more enabling village environment, adopting Community Driven Development (CDD) approach. Under this project, rural women were grouped into Self Help groups to promote their livelihood status. Hence there is a need to study the CDD-SHGs effectiveness. The study was carried out in Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu as it is one of the districts in Tamil Nadu where Pudu Vazhvu project was implemented. A sample of 132 respondents was selected from two blocks (six villages) following Proportionate Random sampling technique. The present study was undertaken to find out the participation of women project members in various activities of CDD project. The study revealed that Pudu Vazhvu project SHG women members had participated in group meetings record and account maintenance, formulating the rules and regulations and in getting loans.

Background: Respectful maternity care (RMC) refers to the humane and dignified treatment of a childbearing woman throughout her pregnancy, childbirth and immediate postpartum period. Disrespect and abuse of women during labour, childbirth and immediate postpartum period in health facilities is one of the reasons which deter them from further utilizing maternal healthcare services. The present study was thus undertaken to determine to what extent RMC practices are being followed in a health facility in Manipur. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to August 2022 in a Health facility among women coming for institutional delivery along with direct observations of the labour room. The study tool comprises a semistructured questionnaire related to respectful maternity care which was adapted from the Person-Centered Maternity Care Scale, a validated instrument. The direct observation method was carried out using a checklist adapted from a standardized tool developed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Descriptive statistics were generated and approval of the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 336 (99.1%) women reported at least one form of disrespect or abuse during childbirth. Maximum abuse (91.4%) was reported in the facility and environment domain. Direct observation done on 22 deliveries in the labour room found that 72.7% of the women experienced at least one form of disrespect and abuse. Two (9.1%) women were observed to face physical force or abusive behaviour. Conclusion: Almost all the women reported at least one form of disrespect or abuse during childbirth. There is a need to improve the health facilities and women need to be treated with dignity and respect as it is being violated according to the findings in many studies as with ours.

Aim:To prepare mucoadhesive microspheres for the treatment of H.Pylori infection. Methods: Mucoadhesive microspheres were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method. To achieve the gastro retentiveactivity in this study by blending polymers. Results: To achieve the gastroretentive property in this study, a combination of polymers, such asChitosan and HPMC K15M were used. The percentage yield for LVX loaded microspheres were found to be in the range of 55.84 % to 61.56 %, respectively. The drug content of the LVXloaded microspheres varied from 49.23% to 61.23%. The encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres varied from 58.52% to 65.76%. The particle size of microspheres of all the formulations ranged from220.31 µm to 302.46 µm. Average Mucoadhesionin the percentage of all the formulations was found to range from 67.85 % to 91.03 %. Drug release was retarded by increasing the proportion of chitosan and HPMC K15 M, respectively. The slope of the regression line from the Higuchi plot indicates the rate of drug release and thus confirms that the mode of release was diffusion. No remarkable changes were observed in drug content, mucoadhesiveness and in vitro drug release in stability studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis, characterization, electro and photophysical properties of eight cyclometallated platinum (IV) complexes 6a–6d and 7a–7d derived from quinoline Schiff base ligands are reported. Spectral studies revealed that nonparticipation of nitrogen atom and participation of carbon atom of the quinoline ring in the bond formation through [NN′C] mode of coordination for complex 6, whereas [N S O] mode of coordination with octahedral geometry for complex 7. The absorption and emission spectra studied in acetonitrile medium at room temperature showed that the ligand charge transitions within the quinoline Schiff base ligands with Metal Ligand Charge Transfer (MLCT) character. The broad band appeared in the range of 460–502 nm is attributed to the higher emission intensities of cyclometallated platinum (IV) compounds. The HOMO, LUMO and energy gap of the synthesized complexes was found to be − 2.60 eV, −4.75 eV and 2.15 eV through Density Functional Theory (DFT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing behavior refers to the capacity or tendency of the entrepreneur to identify the market trend to sell the produce for greater returns. The present study aimed on the marketing behavior of male and female agripreneurs in Tamil Nadu. The ex-post facto research design was used in this study. A sample of 204 respondents was selected using Proportionate Random Sampling Technique. The marketing behavior of agripreneurs was analyzed in the thirteen identified components viz., raw material, utilization of labor, price-fixing criteria, consumer segmentation, means of transport, expenditure incurred on transport, consumers of the product, place to sale, mode of payment, collection of money, value addition in the product, existing market facility, opinion about prevailing market price. The scoring procedure developed by Sakthivel (2011) was followed, and percentage analysis was used to interpret the results. The study inferred that majority of the male (62.75%) and female (66.67%) agripreneurs had medium levels of marketing behavior followed by the high and low levels of marketing behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirement of milk and milk products is kept growing in steady rate, making a significant impact on the Indian agricultural domain. The dairy industries require large quantity of water for the purpose of washing of canes, machinery and floors, and the liquid waste in dairy originates from the manufacturing processes, utilities and service sections. The various sources of waste generation from a dairy are spilled milk, spoiled milk and skimmed milk whey. The objective of this study is to focus on finding out the optimal parameters for efficient biodegradation of organics in the dairy wastewater. An experimental setup was designed and fabricated, and made to comprehend the degree of wastewater stabilization in the form of COD at variable experimental conditions. The main characteristics of dairy waste streams were identified and the anaerobic degradation of the wastewater in the fixed film fixed bed reactor was carried out with operating condition of variable organic loading rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Outcomes of Acanthamoeba keratitis are often worse in India than in the United States. The goal of this study was to determine whether antiamoebic susceptibility patterns were different when comparing Acanthamoeba isolates from India with those of the United States., Methods: Acanthamoeba isolates were obtained from corneal scrapings of 43 patients with infectious keratitis seen at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation (N = 23) and Aravind Eye Hospital (N = 20) from 2008 through 2012 and plated on growth media. A previously described minimum cysticidal concentration (MCC) assay was performed by a single laboratory technician to assess susceptibility to 5 antiamoebic agents for all isolates. Testing was conducted in triplicate, with the median MCC chosen for analyses., Results: The MCC (μg/mL) of polyhexamethylene biguanide was 6.25 [IQR 5.47-12.5] for Aravind isolates and 6.25 [IQR 6.25-9.375] for Proctor isolates ( P = 0.75), corresponding values were 6.25 [IQR 3.125-6.25] and 3.125 [IQR 3.125-9.375] for chlorhexidine ( P = 0.81), 2500 [IQR 2500-5000] and 5000 [IQR 1250-20,000] for voriconazole ( P = 0.25), 15.6 [IQR 15.6-39.0625] and 15.6 [IQR 15.6-31.25] for hexamidine ( P = 0.92), and 15.6 [IQR 7.81-15.6] and 15.6 [IQR 7.81-31.25] for propamidine ( P = 0.42)., Conclusions: This study found no statistically significant differences in antiamoebic susceptibility of Indian versus US samples from Acanthamoeba keratitis clinical isolates. These findings suggest that differences in antiamoebic susceptibility are likely not responsible for differential outcomes in Acanthamoeba keratitis between the 2 locations., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

HRT3 in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images may indicate clinical outcome, but few studies have analysed this in fungal keratitis (FK). Adults with FK (diameter ≥3 mm) presenting to Aravind Eye Hospital, India from 2012-3 were enrolled prospectively. IVCM was performed at baseline, days 7, 14 and 21 post-enrolment (+/- 3 days where possible). Specific morphologies were identified in IVCM images by a grader masked to microbiology and clinical outcome (defined as good: healed/improving, or poor: enlarged ulcer, perforation or transplant/glue). Associations with final visit outcome assessed using logistic regression. 143 FK participants were enrolled; 87 had good outcome, 56 had poor outcome. Poor outcomes were associated with stellate interconnected cellular processes with no visible nuclei (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.03-5.06, p = 0.043) in baseline IVCM images, and fungal filaments (OR 6.48, 95% CI:2.50-16.78, p < 0.001) or honeycomb distribution of inflammatory cells (OR 5.24, 95% CI: 1.44-19.06, p = 0.012) in final visit images. Fungal filaments (OR 3.61, 95% CI:1.64-7.95, p = 0.001), stromal dendritiform cells (OR 2.88, 95% CI:1.17-7.11, p = 0.022), or stellate cellular processes with no visible nuclei (OR 2.09, 95% CI:1.14-3.82, p = 0.017) were associated with poor outcome if not in baseline but present in final visit images. IVCM can reveal morphological changes associated with clinical outcome.

Purpose: Here, we report risk factors associated with outcome in severe bacterial keratitis (BK), fungal keratitis (FK), and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in India., Methods: Prospective observational cohort study conducted in Aravind Eye Hospital, India. Adults presenting with severe microbial keratitis (MK) were enrolled (size ≥3 mm) and followed to 21 days post-enrolment. Ulcer clinical features were recorded at presentation. Outcomes by final visit were classified as good (completely healed or reduced infiltrate size) or poor (enlarged infiltrate size, perforated, or surgery performed)., Results: Of 252 participants with severe MK, 191 had FK, 18 had AK, 19 had BK, 4 had mixed BK/FK, and 20 were microbiologically negative. Median age was 50 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 37-60 years), 64% were male, 63% were agriculturalists, and 45% had no formal education. Corneal trauma occurred in 72%, and median symptom duration before presentation was 7 days (IQR: 5-15 days). Clinical features associated with FK were feathery margins (p < 0.001), raised profile (p = 0.039), or dry surface (p = 0.007). Hypopyon was more likely in BK (p = 0.001) and ring infiltrate in AK (p < 0.001). Ulcers with poor outcome (n = 106/214) were more likely to be larger (odds ratio [OR]: 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-2.05, p < 0.001), involve the posterior cornea at presentation (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.16-4.59, p = 0.017), involve Aspergillus sp. (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.26-8.25, p = 0.014), or occur in females (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.03-4.04, p = 0.04). Even after treatment, 34% (n = 76/221) had severe visual impairment by the final visit., Conclusions: Severe MK occurred predominantly in agriculturalists post-corneal trauma and often had poor outcomes. Provision of community-based eyecare may allow earlier treatment and improve outcomes.

Purpose: To determine cellular features of fungal (FK), Acanthamoeba (AK), and bacterial keratitis (BK) using HRT3 in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM)., Design: Prospective observational cross-sectional study., Methods: Eligible participants were adults with microbiologically positive FK, AK, or BK, of size ≥ 3 mm, attending Aravind Eye Hospital from February 2012 to February 2013. Exclusion criteria were descemetocele or perforation. At presentation, IVCM imaging was performed, then corneal scrapes were obtained for culture/light microscopy. An experienced grader (masked to microbiology/clinical features) assessed IVCM images for presence/absence of normal keratocyte-like morphology, stellate interconnected cells with/without visible nuclei, dendritiform cells (DFCs), inflammatory cells in a honeycomb distribution, and organism features. Statistical significance was assessed by logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, ulcer size, and symptom duration. Main outcome measures were presence/absence of IVCM features in FK, AK, BK., Results: A total of 183 participants had FK, 18 AK, 17 BK. Acanthamoeba appeared as bright spots (16/18, 89%), double-walled cysts (15/18, 83%), or signet rings (3/18, 17%), and often formed clusters after topical steroid use (univariable odds ratio [OR] 9.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-97.96, P = .048). BK was associated with bullae in anterior stroma (OR 9.99, 95% CI: 3.11-32.06, P < .001). Honeycomb distribution of anterior stromal inflammatory cells was associated with FK (univariable OR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.01-7.40, P = .047). Aspergillus ulcers were associated with stromal DFCs (OR 11.05, 95% CI: 1.49-82.13, P = .019) and Fusarium ulcers with stellate appearance of interconnected cell processes with nuclei (OR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.65, P = .005)., Conclusion: Specific cellular and structural features observed using IVCM in microbial keratitis may be associated with organism., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Clinical outcomes in fungal keratitis vary between Fusarium and Aspergillus spp, therefore distinguishing between species using morphological features such as filament branching angles, sporulation along filaments (adventitious sporulation) or dichotomous branching may be useful. In this study, we assessed these three features within Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images from culture-positive Fusarium and Aspergillus spp keratitis participants., Methods: Prospective observational cohort study in Aravind Eye Hospital (February 2011-February 2012). Eligibility criteria: age ≥18 years, stromal infiltrate ≥3 mm diameter, Fusarium or Aspergillus spp culture-positive., Exclusion Criteria: previous/current herpetic keratitis, visual acuity <6/60 in fellow eye, >80% corneal thinning. IVCM was performed and images analysed for branch angle, presence/absence of adventitious sporulation or dichotomous branching by a grader masked to the microbiological diagnosis., Results: 98 participants were included (106 eligible, 8 excluded as no measurable branch angles); 68 were positive for Fusarium spp, 30 for Aspergillus spp. Mean branch angle for Fusarium spp was 59.7° (95% CI 57.7° to 61.8°), and for Aspergillus spp was 63.3° (95% CI 60.8° to 65.8°), p=0.07. No adventitious sporulation was detected in Fusarium spp ulcers. Dichotomous branching was detected in 11 ulcers (7 Aspergillus spp, 4 Fusarium spp)., Conclusions: There was very little difference in the branching angle of Fusarium and Aspergillus spp. Adventitious sporulation was not detected and dichotomous branching was infrequently seen. Although IVCM remains a valuable tool to detect fungal filaments in fungal keratitis, it cannot be used to distinguish Fusarium from Aspergillus spp and culture remains essential to determine fungal species., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Microbial keratitis (MK) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. Despite adequate antimicrobial treatment, tissue damage can ensue. We compared the human corneal transcriptional profile in late stage MK to normal corneal tissue to identify pathways involved in pathogenesis. Total RNA from MK tissue and normal cadaver corneas was used to determine transcriptome profiles with Illumina HumanHT-12 v4 beadchips. We performed differential expression and network analysis of genes in bacterial keratitis (BK) and fungal keratitis (FK) compared with control (C) samples. Results were validated by RTqPCR for 45 genes in an independent series of 183 MK patients. For the microarray transcriptome analysis, 27 samples were used: 12 controls, 7 BK culture positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae ( n = 6), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( n = 1), and 8 FK, culture positive for Fusarium sp. ( n = 5), Aspergillus sp. ( n = 2), or Lasiodiplodia sp. ( n = 1). There were 185 unique differentially expressed genes in BK, 50 in FK, and 339 common to both [i.e., genes with fold-change (FC) < -4 or ≥4 and false discovery rate (FDR) adjusted P < 0.05]. MMP9 had the highest FC in BK (91 FC, adj p = 3.64 E-12) and FK (FC 64, adj. p = 6.10 E-11), along with other MMPs ( MMP1, MMP7, MMP10, MMP12 ), pro-inflammatory cytokines ( IL1B, TNF) , and PRRs ( TLR2, TLR4) . HIF1A and its induced genes were upregulated uniquely in BK. Immune/defense response and extracellular matrix terms were the most enriched Gene Ontology terms in both BK and FK. In the network analysis, chemokines were prominent for FK, and actin filament reorganization for BK. Microarray and RTqPCR results were highly correlated for the same samples tested with both assays, and with the larger RTqPCR series. In conclusion, we found a great deal of overlap in the gene expression profile of late stage BK and FK, however genes unique to fungal infection highlighted a corneal epithelial wound healing response and for bacterial infection the prominence of HIF1A -induced genes. These sets of genes may provide new targets for future research into therapeutic agents.