Introduction:Substance abuse may act as precursors and also can form outcomes of sexual behaviors. The confluence of drug use, mental stressors, poverty, sexually transmitted diseases, low self-esteem and high-risk partners forms a fertile ground for psychological morbidity.Aim:To assess the psychological morbidity among female commercial sex workers (CSWs) who use alcohol and other substance abuse.Materials and Methods:One hundred consecutive CSWs with alcohol and drug abuse patients attending the psychiatric OPD at Victoria hospital were assessed clinically. Relevant investigations were also carried out. General health questionnaire and substance use disorder identification tests were administered.Results:A total of 100 cases between 30-40 years of age were taken up for the study. All were abusing alcohol with tobacco chewing or smoking being (64). Eighty-seven were married. Fifty of them being illiterate. Seventy-eight were suffering from physical illness. Two were HIV patient on treatment. Seventy-eight were having psychological morbidity (depression and adjustment disorder).Conclusion:Preventive interventions, targeting substance abuse and stimulating healthier-environments and providing economically independent.

Glipizide microparticles made with Eudragit (RS 100 and RL 100), prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique were evaluated for various in-vitro properties viz. encapsulation efficiency, particle size and surface morphology, drug release pattern and in-vivo hypoglycaemic activity. The optimized formulation parameters were used to prepare smooth and spherical microparticles (2-32 microm) with higher entrapment efficiency (67-89%). Drug release patterns of glipizide microparticles of Eudragit RS 100 and Eudragit RL 100 with drug-to-polymer ratio of 1 : 4 (i.e. EGM14 and ELGM14) have shown gradual and extended release for 24 h with cumulative release of glipizide to the extent of 72.3% and 83.9%, respectively. However, EGM14 showed a significant in-vivo hypoglycaemic effect up to 12 h in rabbits while ELGM14 showed for 9 h. Hence, glipizide microparticles of Eudragit RS 100 (glipizide: polymer 1 : 4) is better suited for oral sustained release formulation.

Introduction:Larger health warning labels on cigarette packages were introduced in India in 2016 to more clearly inform consumers about the health risks associated with tobacco use. The aim of this study was to know the adolescent's perception on the introduction of new cigarette packaging and plain packaging of cigarette packs.Methodology:A qualitative study was carried out among adolescents aged 16–19 years. Eighteen participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Three focus group discussions with thefirst group consisting of 6 smokers and the second and third groups consisted of 6 quit smokers and 6 nonsmokers were conducted. The data were later transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory approach.Results:Nearly all participants were aware of tobacco products, brand names, colors, and pictorial warnings on tobacco products. While the nonsmokers perceived fear was greater regarding warning and the pictorial messages, the current smoker's perceptions were unaffected by fear appeals. Almost all participants reported that new cigarette warning labels were more visible, informative, and scarier than the older ones.Conclusion:Positive impact of warning labels was seen among nonsmokers and few quit smokers whereas the current smoker's perceptions were unaffected.

No abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the pattern of suicide and extent of depression among female commercial sex workers (CSWs). Methodology: 200 female CSWs classified as beginners and established depending on the number of years of sex work were referred to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, India, by an NGO called Swathi Mane which works for the betterment of these women. Results: The pattern of suicide and the number of attempts among both the groups were different indicating that the number of years of sex work played a major role among these women in deciding the number of attempts and pattern of suicide. The reasons for attempting suicide also are interesting to the fact that the women who are new to this profession suffer from depression and guilt and attempt suicide, while women who are into this profession for quite some time now are accustomed to this trade and have lesser or no suicide attempts. The depression scores among these two groups were also higher as per Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores.