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Background: The absence of proper waste management, lack of awareness about the health hazards of biomedical wastes, and poor control of waste disposal pose the most critical problems. It is essential for healthcare workers to have the knowledge, practice, and safe method for biomedical waste handling. Our objective is to assess the knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about BMW management among healthcare workers working at PHC in rural health areas. Methods: The present community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the healthcare personnel in primary healthcare centers in randomly selected Taluka of Western Maharashtra. For this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was designed which includes,relevant aspects of BMW Management like knowledge about various types of biomedical waste, its disposal in various color-coded bags, and its transport. Through the one-to-one interview, information was obtained as per the questionnaire. Data entry was done in a Microsoft Excel sheet and analysis was done. Proportion & percentage were used to interpret the result. Conclusions: There was a lack of knowledge regarding segregation & transmission of diseases through BMW among sanitary staff. It also shows that enough precautions were not being taken for preventing needle stick injuries among nurses and sanitary staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is home to many different cultures, traditions and customs articulated and represented by different ethnic groups, communities and castes. The cultures have emerged in India through the development of indigenous civilizations and the arrival of different cultural groups from different parts of the world at different times. Kapala is a distinct community living in Kodagu district in the state of Karnataka. They look like the mixed descendants of the Ethiopian Siddis (Siddhis) of the South African continent. Kunhi Boltu is a folk deity and immortal personality of the community who has attained god-like status. The Kapalas worshipped their ancestors and respected the forces of nature that governed their lives. The aim of the ethnographic study is to get to know the Kapala community and their way of life, beliefs and practises. To learn more about the Kapala society and their culture, anthropological research tools and techniques such as holistic, ethnographic, comparative and historical methods were used. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were used in the study. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data required for the study was collected in the field while the secondary data was obtained from the existing literature on the Kapala community. The research paper is organised as follows: The first part deals with detailed information about the Kapala community. The second part deals with the Kapala society and their way of life, beliefs and practises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The widespread consumption of trans-fats across the world represents a worrying scenario, as it is directly responsible for coronary heart disease and related mortality. Recognizing its dangers, the WHO has set an agenda to eliminate trans-fats by 2023. In India, the Food Safety And Standards Authority ensures safe and wholesome food consumption. In light of the WHO's standards for the elimination of trans-fats, the FSSAI recently notified limits of trans-fatty acids to not more than 3% in all fats and oils by January 2021 and 2% by January 2022, as well as a limitation on all food products in which edible oils and fats are ingredients to not contain trans-fatty acids of more than 2% mass of total oils/fats in the product by January 2022. Objective: Given the need to eliminate the consumption of trans-fats, it is necessary to assess the implementation of trans-fat regulations in India in order to determine the current status of enforcement and suggest measures for improvement. Methods: Empirical research was conducted through a questionnaire to analyze India's current status and difficulties in enforcing trans-fat regulations. Results: Although all states have included compliance of trans-fat regulation in the agenda of the State Surveillance Plan but are facing some implementation challenges such as lack of lab infrastructure, lack of trained manpower, unsupportive FBOs, insufficient budget, lack of testing kits, and excluding proprietary food from compliance with trans-fat regulations. Further, all states have felt the need to develop a guideline/manual to facilitate enforcement of the trans-fat regulations. In light of this, the article has critically analyzed the legal framework for implementing trans-fat regulations in India to identify specific implementation challenges due to scattered regulations and recommend suggestive measures for developing the guidelines/ manual to facilitate effective implementation of the said regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Insulin Resistance is a major cause of Atherosclerosis (AS) and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). These lipid alterations in blood vessels and liver may progress to cardiovascular abnormalities and cirrhosis respectively. Drugs like pioglitazone (PIO) and metformin (MET) are effective insulin sensitizers used in T2DM. But their efficacy and tolerability needs to be compared in IR associated abnormalities. Aim: To compare the efficacy of PIO and MET in glucocorticoid induced AS, Hepatic Steatosis (HS) and IR in albino rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups (n=6). Group 1 (Normal control) rats consumed 2% gum acacia orally for 12 days. Group 2 {dexamethasone (DEX) control} rats were administered 2% gum acacia orally for 12 days and DEX (8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) from 7th to 12th day during the study period. Group 3 and 4 (PIO and MET control) rats received oral administration of PIO (45 mg/kg) and MET (1000 mg/kg) for 12 days respectively. Both groups were treated with DEX (8 mg/kg/i.p.) from 7th to 12th day during the study period. On last day, fasting blood was collected and rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation; aorta and liver tissues were isolated for the histopathological examination. Body weight, liver weight and liver volume were measured. Blood samples were processed for biochemical parameters. The data were analysed by One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Scheffe’s multiple comparison post-hoc test. The statistical significance was assumed at p

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the syndecan‑1 expression in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) according to grades of epithelial dysplasia. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of OSF were divided into three groups: Group 1 (OSF with mild epithelial dysplasia, n = 15), Group 2 (OSF with moderate epithelial dysplasia, n = 3), and Group 3 (OSF with severe epithelial dysplasia, n = 2). Results: A statistically nonsignificant (P > 0.05) difference was noted when staining intensity of syndecan‑1 in stratum basale were compared between OSF with mild dysplasia (O1) and OSF with moderate dysplasia (O2) (P = 0.141), O1 and OSF with severe dysplasia (O3) (P = 0.222) also between O2 and O3 (P = 1.00). A statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference was noted when staining intensity of syndecan‑1 in stratum spinosum were compared between O1 and O2 (P = 0.010), O1 and O3 (P = 0.038), between O2 and O3 the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.414). A statistically nonsignificant difference was noted when intensity of syndecan‑1 expression in superficial layers of the epithelium was compared between O1 and O2 (P = 0.655), O1 and O3 (P = 0.715), also when O2 and O3 were compared, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 1.00). Conclusion: Downregulation of syndecan‑1 antigen in OSF according to increased grades of epithelial dysplasia correlates to some extent with the disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background of the Study: As many as 10 million people have died from cancer globally in 2020, making it the top cause of mortality in the globe. Cancer develops as a result of the multi-stage process by which normal cells convert into tumor cells, progressing from a precancerous lesion to a malignant tumor. By avoiding risk factors and applying existing evidence-based preventative techniques, 30%-50% of malignancies may be averted. In order to avoid cancer, it is essential to know the specific causes of the disease. Nidanas, or etiologies, are well-described in Ayurvedic science. Here, the causes of cancer have been outlined so that the knowledge may be used effectively to avoid the disease. Aims: Identification of cancer etiologies that have been described in classics. Evidence-based understanding of these etiologies and to comprehend the significance of etiologies in cancer prevention. Materials and methods: A thorough evaluation of literature, including ancient Ayurvedic classics, modern medical texts, and articles published in reputable journals, was conducted to meet the study's goals and objectives. Results: According to Ayurveda, there are three distinct phases of tumorigenesis: chronic inflammation, precancerous development, Granthi (a benign glandular swelli ng), and Arbuda (a precancerous tumor) (definite malignancy). A growing body of evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment, which is predominantly controlled by inflammatory cells, is an essential player in the neoplastic process. Conclusion: Although inflammation is coming into the picture just now in the contemporary world, Ayurveda has described this as a leading cause 5000 years back. It is evident that diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in the etiology of Shoth (inflammation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endobronchial hamartoma is a rare benign tumor of lung that may present with symptoms of airway obstruction with wheezing, stridor, recurrent pneumonia or atelectasis. We report a case of a patient with endobronchial hamartoma, recurrent pneumonia, who presented to us with sputum smear and culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis. He was treated with antitubercular treatment and endobronchial hamartoma was resected completely by diode laser through fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Education is a powerful weapon and an essential component of the social sector. Education can change the social stigmas attached to society through the process of learning. It has an ancient tradition in India, and the ancient roots of education in India can be traced back to the times of the Vedas, from 1500 to 500 BC. Education expenditure has been regarded as an asset because it acts as an investment in human capital. The increasing demand for education in India, coupled with a lack of public expenditure on education, has been resulting in increasing private expenditure on education, which in turn has far-reaching consequences for access and affordability to education. In developing countries like India, since its independence, the government of India has given more importance to education and educational sectors to uplift its people. The future of the budding generations around the world is dependent on education and educational bits of knowledge. In the present study, an attempt is made to analyze the government's expenditure on education in different states of India. In the state of Karnataka, it is found that the per capita expenditure on education gradually increased, but after some years, the expenditure pace changed and increased rapidly. The per capita expenditure on education in states like Sikkim, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, and NCT Delhi has been higher compared to the lowest expenditure states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. The study found a noticeable regional imbalance among the Indian states in per capita expenditure on education has been found, but the trend remains the same over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world has faced numerous severe harmful and deadly disasters for several decades. These are hazardous and destructive chemical substances that resulted in severe complications and damage to humans, animals, and the environment. Before the ban on it by the Supreme Court of India, Endosulfan was extensively used as a major pesticide in the agricultural and allied sectors as an insecticide to control the harmful insects and mites in agricultural fields. Endosulfan has been extensively sprayed in the government-owned cashew plantations of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Karwar districts by Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation Ltd., Karnataka for almost two decades. In April 2011 the Stockholm Convention recommended the global ban on the manufacture and use of Endosulfan. WHO categorizes Endosulfan as a moderately hazardous chemical substance and it was banned due to adverse impacts and complications triggered on the health of humans, animals, and the environment. All over the world, several studies have established a connection between aerial spraying of Endosulfan pesticides and the growing health complications and disorders in human populations from toxic exposure. The present study aims to know the nature and prevalence of disabilities and health complications among the Endosulfan affected victims in the selected villages of Karnataka state, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]