Background Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy suffer from a substantial psychosocial burden. However, there is a scarcity of documentation of the various sources of burden in low- and middle-income settings. Methods We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews among mothers of children with cerebral palsy attending a physiotherapy facility. We purposively sampled mothers from rural and peri-urban areas in Tamil Nadu, India, till the point of data saturation. We analysed the transcripts using the socio-ecological model to identify the major dimensions of psychosocial burden among these mothers. Results At the individual level the mothers perceived aches and pains due to the heavy physical activity of caregiving. They also suffered from a feeling of guilt about the child’s condition. Due to the difficulty in balancing family and work, they had significant financial burdens. They also perceived a lack of knowledge and awareness about possible options for the treatment of their child. At the interpersonal level, the mothers lacked support from their husband and family in the process of caregiving. They also had to suffer the ill effects of alcoholism and domestic violence from their husbands. They had to compromise on the care they provided to the other family members and their children without cerebral palsy. At the community level, the mothers had no support from the community members and felt isolated from others. The mothers also reported discrimination and lack of participation in social events. Environmental stressors like lack of inclusive public spaces, lack of options for public transport and unfriendly work timings and environment were major sources of burden. The mothers felt that the disability welfare support offered by the government was grossly insufficient and there was no platform for interactions with other peers and mothers suffering from a similar burden. Conclusion Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy have unique burdens in a typical low- and middle-income setting including an intersection of gender norms, poverty, stigmatization and non-inclusive public policy, which need to be addressed to improve the quality of life of caregivers.
Introduction: The marine environment is a rich source of biodiversity, with several of its inhabitants producing unique and physiologically active substances. The use of marine bacterial-derived chemicals over traditional pharmaceuticals is gaining traction due to their larger variety of targets and modes of action. To circumvent the drawbacks of current therapy options, researchers have looked to marine microbes for novel and effective anti-cancer compounds. In this study, we examine one of India's least-examined coastal areas in search of novel bacterial sources of anti-cancer chemicals. Method: Soil sediments from the Indian south coast region were collected and microbes were isolated using standard methods. The microorganisms were identified using 16s rRNA sequencing, and cytotoxic extracts were further examined using GC-MS. MTT, clonogenic, and spheroid tests assessed the extract's cytotoxicity and anti-tumor efficacy. Results: Our results indicated that the bacterial isolates with potent cytotoxic activity were Bacillus drentensis and Bacillus haikouensis and had 10 and 12 potent anti-cancer and other bioactive compounds. The extracts had an IC50 of 30.08 and 109.4 µg/ml in the HCT116 cell line, respectively, and strongly inhibited colony formation. The cell cycle analysis indicated that the extract induced cell death as indicated by the subG0 peak. We also showed that these methanolic extracts induced toxicity in a 3D spheroid model indicating a strong anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, we performed molecular docking for the compounds present in the extracts to VEGFR and nucleolin and found that ergostane had favorable binding energy only to VEGFR. Conclusion: The results indicate that the ME of B. drentensis and B. haikouensis contains potent anti-cancer compounds to exhibit cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer cells.
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the implications of social media and socio-economic activities on micro and small enterprises in India. Theoretical framework: The study will be based on the theories of social capital, network effects, and digital divide. Design/methodology/approach: The research will be conducted using a mixed-methods approach, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Surveys and interviews will be conducted with micro and small enterprise owners in India to gather data on their use of social media and their socio-economic activities. Findings: The findings of the study will explore the ways in which social media and socio-economic activities impact the growth and success of micro and small enterprises in India. This includes the potential for increased connectivity and networking opportunities, as well as the potential for digital divide and limited access to resources. Research, practical and social implications: The research will have implications for policymakers and small business owners in India, as it will provide insight into the potential benefits and challenges of using social media for small business growth and success. It will also contribute to the broader literature on the impact of digital technologies on small businesses in developing countries. Originality/value: This study fills a gap in the literature by focusing on the specific context of micro and small enterprises in India, and by using a mixed-methods approach to explore the implications of social media and socio-economic activities on these businesses.
Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), defined as a collection of medical and dental conditions affecting the Temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and/or masticatory muscles and associated structures, have an estimated prevalence in the adult population of around 10%. Symptoms of depression and anxiety have also been considered as risk factors for TMD. Aims and objective: To evaluate the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with a chronic Temporomandibular disorder. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 100 patients diagnosed with muscle or joint pain, consistent with the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) and was assigned to one of three groups: Muscle pain (MM) group, joint pain (TMJ) group, and mixed group. Variable of interest were derived from the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)-42 questionnaire. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) age for the whole sample was 37.74 ±11.3 years; 86% were women. The overall prevalence of depression was 48.1% and overall prevalence of anxiety was 74%. Patients in the MM group reported the highest prevalence of Depression and Anxiety. Patients in the MM group were significantly more likely to be depressed and anxious compared to patients in the TMJ and Mixed groups. Conclusion: Elevated levels of stress, depression, and anxiety were reported in a chronic TMD population, especially in those with chronic muscle pain, compared to the general population. These findings emphasize the need for screening for depression, anxiety and other comorbidities in TMD patients suffering from chronic pain.
Asthma affects people of all ages, India has an expected 15-20 million asthmatics according to world health organisation. Steroids are widely prescribed in asthmatic patients, forming a part of standard and most treatment for asthma. Henceforth, care should be exercised in the selection of steroid drugs and its dosage regimen. This study was carried out to assess the prescribing pattern and appropriateness of steroids in asthma. A prospective observational study was conducted at tertiary care teaching hospital located at Coimbatore, India. The data were analysed for the pattern of prescribed steroids. Out of 55, 56.36% (31) were male and 43.64% were female. The prescribing pattern defines the form of steroids used in patients. Maximum of steroids was prescribed in the form of nebulizers (41.4%3), and second most prescribed is systemic steroids (32.86%) and then 17.14% of them were given oral steroids, and the least prescribed with metered dose inhalers (8.57%). And the study assessed age wise prescription pattern. The drug interactions with the steroids were assessed, 10.91% of patients had major interaction with steroidal drugs, 36.36% of patients had moderate interaction with steroidal drugs and 52.73% of patients did not show any interaction with steroidal drugs. The above results reveals that a pharmaceutical care program for asthma patients were found to be effective and certainly improved the outcomes of the therapy.
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