Blood Lead Level (BLL) in the Adult Population of Jodhpur: A Pilot Study

Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. Routes of exposure to lead include contaminated air, water, soil, food, and consumer products. The possibility of lead exposure in humans is therefore of great significance from health point of view. Occupational exposure is a common known cause of lead poisoning in adults but current status of adults exposed otherwise is not known. School teachers representing wide local population were selected and asked to furnish information regarding possible lead exposure. Blood lead level (BLL) was estimated using anodic stripping voltammetry. The mean BLL was 6.89 ± 9.5 μg/dl (<3.5–>65 μg/dl) in representative adult population. Out of the total 16 % were found to be having BLL >10 μg/dl which has significantly decreased from leaded gasoline era. Those with increased BLL (>10 μg/dl) were found to have common determinants like usage of old metallic pipes for plumbing, water consumption without any purification system, usage of cosmetics and Ayurvedic/herbal medicines.     

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016 was awarded to Yoshinori Ohsumi of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy [1].     

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource,rural context

Early child development has been influenced directly and indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these effects are exacerbated in contexts of poverty. This study estimates effects of the pandemic and subsequent population lockdowns on mental health, caregiving practices, and freedom of movement among female caregivers of children 6–27 months (50% female), in rural Bangladesh. A cohort (N = 517) was assessed before and during the pandemic (May–June, 2019 and July–September, 2020). Caregivers who experienced more food insecurity and financial loss during the pandemic reported larger increases in depressive symptoms (0.26 SD, 95% CI 0.08–0.44; 0.21 SD, 0.04–0.40) compared to less affected caregivers. Stimulating caregiving and freedom of movement results were inconsistent. Increases in depressive symptoms during the pandemic may have consequences for child development.     

Cognitive preferences of secondary science teachers in India: The example of uttar pradesh

Earlier studies on cognitive preferences have concentrated on students, whereas the subjects here are teachers of science. The study seeks to compare how cognitive preferences differ in groups of secondary school teachers identified by type of curriculum taught (traditional vs. enquiry-oriented), gender, length of teaching experience, and educational qualification.The Combined Cognitive Preference Inventory compiled by Pinchas Tamir was applied to 103 subjects drawn by random cluster sampling from urban schools. Inferential statistical analysis was employed, with a matched group design. With few exceptions the overall pattern of cognitive preferences that emerged for all the groups is Recall-Principles-Application-Questioning. These results do not confirm anticipated differences, and bring home the fact that teachers' congnitive preferences remain constant. The implications for implementation of innovative curricula and teacher education are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Frühere Studien über kognitive Präferenzen konzentrierten sich auf Studenten, während Thema dieses Artikels Lehrer im wissenschaftlichen Bereich sind. Die Studie will einen Vergleich anstellen, wie kognitive Präferenzen sich nach Gruppen von Sekundarschullehrern unterscheiden, die nach verschiedenen Kriterien wie Art des unterrichteten Curriculums (traditionell gegen Frageorientierte), Geschlecht, Länge der Berufserfahrung und Qualifikationen bestimmt wurden.Das von Pinchas Tamir aufgestellte zusammengefaßte Inventar der kognitiven Präferenzen wurde bei 103 Lehrern an städtischen Schulen durch Zufallsstichprobenerhebung angewandt. Eine zu Schlußfolgerungen führende statistische Analyse wurde erstellt, und zwar mit einem matched group design (parallelisiertes Gruppendesign). Das sich mit wenigen Ausnahmen für alle Gruppen ergebende Grundmuster der kognitiven Präferenzen ist Erinnerung-Grundsätze-Anwendung-Fragestellung. Diese Ergebnisse bestätigen die angenommenen Unterschiede nicht, und sie lassen erkennen, daß die kognitiven Präferenzen der Lehrer konstant bleiben. Die Auswirkungen auf die Einführung innovativer Curricula und auf die Lehrerausbildung werden diskutiert.

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Résumé Les études effectuées sur les préférences cognitives étaient focalisées au départ sur les apprenants, tandis que les questions étudiées ici portent sur les enseignants de science. La présente étude tente d'établir une comparaison entre les préférences cognitives des différents groupes d'enseignants du secondaire qui ont été identifiés d'après le type de programme enseigné (programme traditionnel contre programme orienté vers la recherche), le sexe, la longueur de l'expérience didactique et les qualifications pédagogiques.L'inventaire des préférences connitives combinées compilé par Pinchas Tamir a été appliqué à 103 matières sélectionnées au hasard à partir d'un échantillonnage d'écoles urbaines. On a employé l'analyse statistique déductive, avec un plan de groupe correspondant. Mises à part quelques exceptions, la structure générale des préférences cognitives qui s'est dégagée pour tous les groupes est la suivante: Rappel-Principes-Application-Interrogation. Ces résultats ne corroborent pas les différences anticipées et font comprendre le fait que les préférences cognitives des enseignants sont constantes. On examine les implications de ces résultats pour la mise en oeuvre de programmes d'étude novateurs et la formation des formateurs.

     

The influence of warning messages on the public's perception of substance use: A theoretical framework

We bring different theories together to develop a theoretical framework that helps to understand how early warning messages about (new) dangerous drugs can influence the public's perception of substance use. We bring together the agenda setting theory, framing theory, dual processing theory, social learning theory, health belief model, theory of planned behavior, and cultivation theory in order to explain how warning messages diffused through the mass media can have an impact on the receivers' perceptions. Based on these insights we construct the Integrated Media Effect Framework (IMFE) that takes into account the role of cultural and structural contexts in the realm of early warning systems (EWS). Ultimately, this framework provides valuable guidelines for conceptualizing EWS and for developing applications by governments.     

Perspectives of ‘STEM education and policies’ for the development of a skilled workforce in Australia and India

ABSTRACT

In an increasingly competitive world, it has been proved that invention, development, and profusion of new technologies through science and technology are the fundamental source of economic progress. Australia, which is one of the world leaders in education and India, which has the capacity to produce the highest number of young skilled manpower to lead the world, both understand the current situation and have signalled their commitment to restoring the national strategy for STEM education. The proposed study focuses on a comparative understanding of the interplay of inclusive policies, government’s initiatives, knowledge gap from the literature and potential future challenges that Australia and India could face in STEM education at the school level. The question we asked is: what are the important inferences and best practices in STEM education that can be mutually beneficial to broaden the Strategic Partnership? It is identified that the governments of both the countries are determined to utilise the young population to train them as skilled workforce in order to meet the future demand of industries. Australia’s constructivist approach to education and the well-defined system of vocational training outperform India, which is still following the traditional approach. However, Australia has failed to engage students adequately in STEM and needs to revisit the efficacy of the current education model, while India needs to espouse the well-defined Australian framework, which could help to enhance quality infrastructure, curriculum, constructivist teaching and transparent policy implementation. In addition, both the nations must work hard to attract bright students in the teaching profession in order to promote a conducive environment for scientific learning.     

Association Between Urinary IgG and Relative Risk for Factors Affecting Proteinuria in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abnormal glomerular permeability is the primary step towards the glomerulosclerosis. The progression rate of glomerulosclerosis is proportionate to abundance and severity of lesions created at incipient stage, which is reflected as proteinuria even though eGFR remains in the normal range. Therefore, there is a current need to find out the association between relative risks for the factors leading to proteinuria. The relations could be more informative, if it is with respect to the macromolecules like “IgG” excretion in urine. Type 2 diabetic patients were selected for this study with eGFR > 75 ml/min/1.73 m² and grouped into four quartiles based on UIgGCR. The markers of key factors affecting progression of proteinuria were estimated through biochemical tests. The impact of these markers on proteinuria was accessed by applying multinomial logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio for the UGAGCR was 1.186 (95 % CI: 1.061–1.327) P < 0.003 in highest quartiles of UIgGCR, followed by odds ratio for markers of collagen catabolism 1.051 (95 % CI: 1.025–1.079) P < 0.001, and USACR 1.044 (95 % CI: 1.013–1.077) P < 0.006 respectively. The marker of glycation, i.e., glycated hemoglobin showed the highest odds ratio 5.449 (95 % CI: 1.132–26.236) P < 0.035. In addition, odds for the systolic blood pressure was observed 1.387 (95 % CI: 1.124–1.712) P < 0.002. The higher odds inform and could help to discriminate the diabetic patients with fast progressive diabetic nephropathy. The study describes critical relationship between the urinary excretion of IgG and factors leading to proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients.     

Interleukin-6 Perpetrator of the COVID-19 Cytokine Storm

COVID-19 has emerged as a global pandemic. It is mainly manifested as pneumonia which may deteriorate into severe respiratory failure. The major hallmark of the disease is the systemic inflammatory immune response characterized by Cytokine Storm (CS). CS is marked by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Of these, IL-6 is found to be significantly associated with higher mortality. IL-6 is also a robust marker for predicting disease prognosis and deterioration of clinical profile. In this review, the pivotal role played by IL-6 in the immuno-pathology of COVID-19 has been illustrated. The role of IL-6 as a pleiotropic cytokine executing both pro and anti-inflammatory activities has been reviewed. ADAM 10, a metalloproteinase switches the anti-inflammatory pathway of IL-6 to pro inflammatory hence blocking the action of ADAM 10 could be a new therapeutic strategy to mitigate the proinflammatory action of IL-6. Furthermore, we explore the role of anti-IL6 agents, IL-6 receptor antibodies which were being used for autoimmune diseases but now are being repurposed for the therapy of COVID-19.