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Introduction Maternal and child under-nutrition is particularly widespread in low and middle-income nations, increasing the overall disease burden due to poor nutritional status. The aim of this study was to develop nutrition intervention for the prevention and control of anaemia among women of reproductive age. Methods Community-based intervention study was conducted among 443 women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) to determine the effectiveness of a 6-month nutrition intervention package. The nutrition intervention was developed by using Precede-Proceed model and the trans-theoretical model of behavior change. Multi-channel communication approach was adopted and nutrition intervention package was provided. Assessment of haemoglobin, red blood cells, platelet, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12, haematocrit test, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width and total leucocyte count was compared at the baseline and endline after the intervention among the participants. The chi-square test of independence and t-test were performed. Results The only mean ferritin level shows significant improvement (p < 0.001). A significant decrease (~ 15%, p = 0.027) in anaemia was observed after the intervention. Conclusions Improvement in anaemic status of women was observed. National schemes and programs require a more robust strategical implementation like food fortification/bio fortification and behaviour change communication at village level to enhance the availability and accessibility of fortified food., Author(s): Poonam Khanna [sup.1] , Manmeet Kaur [sup.1] , Neelam Varma [sup.1] , Sadhna Sharma [sup.1] , Rakesh Sehgal [sup.1] , Tarundeep Singh [sup.1] , Rachana Srivastava [sup.1] , Savitesh [...]

Endothelium plays a fundamental role in the cardiovascular system, forming an interface between blood and adjacent tissues by regulating the vascular tone through the synthesis of nitric oxide, prostaglandins and other relaxing factors. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by vasoconstriction, cell proliferation and shifting toward a proinflammatory and prothrombic state. In hypertension endothelial dysfunction may be involved in the initiation and development of vascular inflammation, vascular remodeling, and atherosclerosis and is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Different conditions such as impaired vascular shear stress, inflammation and oxidative stress, activation of the renin angiotensin system have been described as important pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of endothelial dysfunction. The release of extracellular vesicles by neighboring cells in the vascular wall has emerged as an important regulator of endothelial function and with potential antihypertensive properties and beneficial effects by counteracting the hypertension mediated organ damage. Furthermore, macrovesicles are emerging as an innovative therapeutic approach for vascular protection, allowing the delivery of bioactive molecules, such as miRNA and drugs interacting with the renin angiotensin system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can affect the Cardiovascular system as secondary effects of the disease. The Electrocardiography is a good investigation for early recognition of any cardiac changes that occurs as a result of secondary effects of COPD. The vertical P-wave axis on ECG is a useful criterion for screening patients with COPD. The correlation between vertical P-wave axis and Emphysema was investigated on a number of controlled series to see if P-axis verticalization as lone criterion can be effectively used to screen emphysema in general population. Correlation between degrees of P-axis verticalization and the severity of the obstructive lung disease was also studied to see if this criterion can be used for gross quantification of the Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective of the study is to study the P wave axis and its correlation with severity of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PE_PGRS proteins have coevolved with the antigenic ESX‐V secretory system and are abundant in pathogenic Mycobacterium. Only a few PE_PGRS proteins have been characterized, and research suggests their role in organelle targeting, cell death pathways, calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. The PE_PGRS45 (Rv2615c) protein was predicted to contain mitochondria targeting sequences by in silico evaluation. Therefore, we investigated the targeting of the Rv2615c protein to host mitochondria and its effect on mitochondrial functions. In vitro experiments showed the Rv2615c protein colocalized with the mitochondria and led to morphological mitochondrial perturbations. Recombinant Rv2615c was observed to cause increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the adenosine diphosphate‐to‐adenosine triphosphate ratio. The Rv2615c protein also induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the generation of mitochondrial superoxide. We observed the release of cytochrome C into the cytoplasm and increased expression of proapoptotic genes Bax and Bim with no significant change in anti‐apoptotic Bcl2 in Rv2615c‐stimulated THP1 macrophages. Ca2+ is a key signaling molecule in tuberculosis pathogenesis, modulating host cell responses. As reported for other PE_PGRS proteins, Rv2615c also has Ca2+‐binding motifs and thus can modulate calcium homeostasis in the host. We also observed a high level of Ca2+ influx in THP1 macrophages stimulated with Rv2615c. Based on these findings, we suggest that Rv2615c may be an effector protein that could contribute to disease pathogenesis by targeting host mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]