Malaria is endemic in several tribal-dominated districts in India. Partnering and educating the t... more Malaria is endemic in several tribal-dominated districts in India. Partnering and educating the tribal communities are key to malaria elimination efforts. A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) study was undertaken at Kandhamal, a tribal-dominated malaria endemic district in the state of Odisha, to assess the gaps in malaria awareness in this community for focused public health interventions. To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on malaria in the tribal-dominated regions of Kandhamal district, Odisha. A descriptive KAP survey was carried out in the Kandhamal district at the household level. Three hundred households/respondents from 6 blocks distributed in 44 villages were selected through convenient sampling. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (version 24), and ArcGIS software was used for GIS mapping. The respondents had good knowledge on the major malaria symptoms. Witchcraft, contaminated food/water, and contact with a malaria case were thought to tr...
Dioxins: Infamous man-made toxins, a top environmental hazard of great concern. The presence of h... more Dioxins: Infamous man-made toxins, a top environmental hazard of great concern. The presence of highly toxic dioxins, specifically polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), in drinking water is a matter of great concern due to their long-lasting nature and harmful effects. In this study, we detected three out of the five dioxin congeners: 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD). The investigation revealed that all three dioxins were present in samples collected during the winter season, while only TCDD and OCDD were found in samples from the summer season. The geometric mean concentrations of PCDDs were 229.9 ng/L in winter and 108.4 ng/L in summer. These concentrations exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 30 pg/L set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in surface water, Water Treatment Plant effluent, overhead tank, and drinking water samples. This indicates a seriou...
BackgroundIn India, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of mortality in child... more BackgroundIn India, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years. Mapping the hotspots of ARIs and the associated risk factors can help understand their association at the district level across India.MethodsData on ARIs in children under 5 years and household variables (unclean fuel, improved sanitation, mean maternal BMI, mean household size, mean number of children, median months of breastfeeding the children, percentage of poor households, diarrhea in children, low birth weight, tobacco use, and immunization status of children) were obtained from the National Family Health Survey-4. Surface and ground-monitored PM2.5 and PM10 datasets were collected from the Global Estimates and National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme. Population density and illiteracy data were extracted from the Census of India. The geographic information system was used for mapping, and ARI hotspots were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* spatial stat...
From infancy through to old age, the microbiome plays an important role in modulating the host-im... more From infancy through to old age, the microbiome plays an important role in modulating the host-immune system. As we age, our immune system and our gut microbiota change significantly in composition and function, which is linked to an increased vulnerability to infectious diseases and a decrease in vaccine responses. Our microbiome remains largely stable throughout adulthood; however, aging causes a major shift in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, as well as a decrease in diversity. Considering the critical role of the gut microbiome in the host-immune system, it is important to address, prevent, and ameliorate age-related dysbiosis, which could be an effective strategy for preventing/restoring functional deficits in immune responses as we grow older. Several factors, such as the host’s genetics and nutritional state, along with the gut microbiome, can influence vaccine efficacy or reaction. Emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome could be a significant deter...
India has made tremendous progress in reducing malaria mortality and morbidity in the last decade... more India has made tremendous progress in reducing malaria mortality and morbidity in the last decade. Mizoram State in North-East India is one of the few malaria-endemic regions where malaria transmission has continued to remain high. As Mizoram shares international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, malaria control in this region is critical for malaria elimination efforts in all the three countries. For identifying hotspots for targeted intervention, malaria data from 385 public health sub-centers across Mizoram were analyzed in the Geographic Information System. Almost all the sub-centers reporting high Annual Parasite Index (> 10) are located in Mizoram’s districts that border Bangladesh. Getis-Ord Gi* statistic shows most of the sub-centers located along the Bangladesh border in the Lawngtlai and Lunglei districts to be the malaria hotspots. The hotspots also extended into the Mamit and Siaha districts, especially along the borders of Lawngtlai and Lunglei. Analysis of terrai...
Contamination of drinking water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) raisesconcerns over th... more Contamination of drinking water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) raisesconcerns over the security and long-term sustainability of clean water supplies as well ashuman exposure via daily water intake. In this study, the seasonal disparity and occurrence ofsix phthalates and bisphenol A in the drinking water supply system and associated health risk wereexamined. DEHP was the most prevalent phthalate esters congener ranging from 1.14 - 8351.85 µg/L(winter) and 0.552 - 410.29 µg/L (summer) surpassing the permissible limit.Meanwhile, BPA concentrations were found under the permissible limit. The results suggested that PAEsconcentration displayed significant seasonal variations with the highest in winter and thelowest in the summer.The exposure toPAEs and BPA from drinking water was assessed, and the results indicated a possible healthrisk to humans with a Hazard Quotient (HQ) for DEHP.The findings necessitate an immediate scrutiny of these EDCs indrinking water supply system an...
Malaria is endemic in several tribal-dominated districts in India. Partnering and educating the t... more Malaria is endemic in several tribal-dominated districts in India. Partnering and educating the tribal communities are key to malaria elimination efforts. A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) study was undertaken at Kandhamal, a tribal-dominated malaria endemic district in the state of Odisha, to assess the gaps in malaria awareness in this community for focused public health interventions. To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on malaria in the tribal-dominated regions of Kandhamal district, Odisha. A descriptive KAP survey was carried out in the Kandhamal district at the household level. Three hundred households/respondents from 6 blocks distributed in 44 villages were selected through convenient sampling. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (version 24), and ArcGIS software was used for GIS mapping. The respondents had good knowledge on the major malaria symptoms. Witchcraft, contaminated food/water, and contact with a malaria case were thought to tr...
Dioxins: Infamous man-made toxins, a top environmental hazard of great concern. The presence of h... more Dioxins: Infamous man-made toxins, a top environmental hazard of great concern. The presence of highly toxic dioxins, specifically polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), in drinking water is a matter of great concern due to their long-lasting nature and harmful effects. In this study, we detected three out of the five dioxin congeners: 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD), and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD). The investigation revealed that all three dioxins were present in samples collected during the winter season, while only TCDD and OCDD were found in samples from the summer season. The geometric mean concentrations of PCDDs were 229.9 ng/L in winter and 108.4 ng/L in summer. These concentrations exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 30 pg/L set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in surface water, Water Treatment Plant effluent, overhead tank, and drinking water samples. This indicates a seriou...
BackgroundIn India, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of mortality in child... more BackgroundIn India, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years. Mapping the hotspots of ARIs and the associated risk factors can help understand their association at the district level across India.MethodsData on ARIs in children under 5 years and household variables (unclean fuel, improved sanitation, mean maternal BMI, mean household size, mean number of children, median months of breastfeeding the children, percentage of poor households, diarrhea in children, low birth weight, tobacco use, and immunization status of children) were obtained from the National Family Health Survey-4. Surface and ground-monitored PM2.5 and PM10 datasets were collected from the Global Estimates and National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme. Population density and illiteracy data were extracted from the Census of India. The geographic information system was used for mapping, and ARI hotspots were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* spatial stat...
From infancy through to old age, the microbiome plays an important role in modulating the host-im... more From infancy through to old age, the microbiome plays an important role in modulating the host-immune system. As we age, our immune system and our gut microbiota change significantly in composition and function, which is linked to an increased vulnerability to infectious diseases and a decrease in vaccine responses. Our microbiome remains largely stable throughout adulthood; however, aging causes a major shift in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, as well as a decrease in diversity. Considering the critical role of the gut microbiome in the host-immune system, it is important to address, prevent, and ameliorate age-related dysbiosis, which could be an effective strategy for preventing/restoring functional deficits in immune responses as we grow older. Several factors, such as the host’s genetics and nutritional state, along with the gut microbiome, can influence vaccine efficacy or reaction. Emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome could be a significant deter...
India has made tremendous progress in reducing malaria mortality and morbidity in the last decade... more India has made tremendous progress in reducing malaria mortality and morbidity in the last decade. Mizoram State in North-East India is one of the few malaria-endemic regions where malaria transmission has continued to remain high. As Mizoram shares international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, malaria control in this region is critical for malaria elimination efforts in all the three countries. For identifying hotspots for targeted intervention, malaria data from 385 public health sub-centers across Mizoram were analyzed in the Geographic Information System. Almost all the sub-centers reporting high Annual Parasite Index (> 10) are located in Mizoram’s districts that border Bangladesh. Getis-Ord Gi* statistic shows most of the sub-centers located along the Bangladesh border in the Lawngtlai and Lunglei districts to be the malaria hotspots. The hotspots also extended into the Mamit and Siaha districts, especially along the borders of Lawngtlai and Lunglei. Analysis of terrai...
Contamination of drinking water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) raisesconcerns over th... more Contamination of drinking water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) raisesconcerns over the security and long-term sustainability of clean water supplies as well ashuman exposure via daily water intake. In this study, the seasonal disparity and occurrence ofsix phthalates and bisphenol A in the drinking water supply system and associated health risk wereexamined. DEHP was the most prevalent phthalate esters congener ranging from 1.14 - 8351.85 µg/L(winter) and 0.552 - 410.29 µg/L (summer) surpassing the permissible limit.Meanwhile, BPA concentrations were found under the permissible limit. The results suggested that PAEsconcentration displayed significant seasonal variations with the highest in winter and thelowest in the summer.The exposure toPAEs and BPA from drinking water was assessed, and the results indicated a possible healthrisk to humans with a Hazard Quotient (HQ) for DEHP.The findings necessitate an immediate scrutiny of these EDCs indrinking water supply system an...
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