Factors determining non-compliance to mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis elimination in endemic districts of Nepal

BACKGROUND

Mass drug administration (MDA) has been implemented in Nepal since 2003 for elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). The objective of this study was to explore the factors that determine the non-compliance to MDA for Lymphatic Filariasis elimination in endemic districts of Nepal.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in three endemic districts namely Dhading, Kapilvastu and Kailali. A total of 900 people were interviewed with structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

The result shows that the respondents who knew the DEC contains Albendazole (84.9% vs 42.5%, P<0.001, Adjusted OR=2.89(1.946-4.29) at 95% CI), who were aware of MDA campaign (78.2% vs 33.8% P<0.001, Adjusted OR=2.87(1.73-4.74) at 95% CI), who were visited by health workers at their home during MDA campaign (75.9% vs 24.1% P<0.001, Adjusted OR=4.85(2.448-9.594) at 95% CI) had significantly higher compliance. The respondents who had knowledge of side effects during MDA campaign had lower prevalence of non-compliance as compared who did not have (9.4% vs 33.2%, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced age, primary or below education, ever married, inadequate knowledge on drug, inadequate awareness on MDA, no home visit by health workers during MDA, no belief on MDA drugs were significantly associated with higher non-compliance to MDA. In future, MDA program should focus on awareness campaigns related to composition of drugs, side effects of drugs and compulsory home visit during the campaign.

Thermodynamic stability and impedance measurements of perovskite LuRhO3(s) in the Lu–Rh–O system

The Gibbs energy of formation of LuRhO₃(s) has been determined using a solid-state electrochemical technique employing an oxide ion conducting electrolyte.

An occurrence of clinical eperythrozoonosis in a German Shepherd dog and its therapeutic management

Eperythrozoon spp.-a rickettsial (Mycoplasma) pathogen of the mammalian erythrocytic cell membrane, has been recognised to cause non specific, sporadic, febrile and haemolytic clinical disease in a variety of livestock, especially food animals. However, clinical eperythrozoonosis in companion animals seems not documented so far. An adult male German shepherd dog, aged 10.5 years and weighing 45 kg with clinical history of persistent mild fever in morning hours, depression and anorexia for the past 5 days and nasal bleeding for the past few months, was presented to clinicians for therapeutic management. Microscopic examination of Giemsa stained blood smear evidenced characteristic light pinkish to blue stained cocci and/or short rod shaped pathogens identified as Eperythrozoon canis, nesting in the depressions on the periphery of erythrocyte cell membrane as well as extra cellular free bodies in the plasma. Rhinoscopic detailed investigation failed to demonstrate any lesion in the nasal passage that could be attributed to the frequent nasal bleeding for the past few months. The dog was subsequently therapeutically managed with success using specific therapy and followed by supportive therapy. Finally, the predisposing factors of the disease, reasons for frequent nasal bleeding, clinical course of the disease in canines and its public health significance vis-à-vis future projections have been discussed.

Acute bilateral proptosis in a cross bred calf naturally infected with Theileria annulata

Ever since 1970, Bovine tropical theleriosis has been recognized major constraint to livestock improvement programme in the semi- arid and enzootic areas of Rajasthan. In contrast to other apicomplexan protozoan infections of blood, pathophysiological impact of Theileria annulata has been incriminated to in situ intra-leucocytic development of the pathogen. In continuation with recent manifestations documented on trans-placental T. annulata in a 3 day old cross bred calf and cerebral form of bovine theleriosis "Turning Sickness" in an adult cow, herein an another interesting manifestation of the disease "exophthalmos" incriminated to congenitally acquired T. annulata infection in a cross bred calf, its pathogenesis and impact are being presented and discussed.

Synthesis of oleic acid functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and studying their interaction with tumor cells for potential hyperthermia applications

In the present study, oleic acid (OA) functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MN) were synthesized following modified wet method of MN synthesis. The optimum amount of OA required for capping of MN and the amount of bound and unbound/free OA was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further, we have studied the effect of water molecules, associated with MN, on the variation in their induction heating ability under alternating current (AC) magnetic field conditions. We have employed a new approach to achieve dispersion of OA functionalized MN (MN-OA) in aqueous medium using sodium carbonate, which improves their biological applicability. Interactions amongst MN, OA and sodium carbonate were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Intracellular localization of MN-OA was studied in mouse fibrosarcoma cells (WEHI-164) by prussian blue staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using nile blue A as a fluorescent probe. Results showed MN-OA to be interacting mainly with the cell membrane. Their hyperthermic killing ability was evaluated in WEHI-164 cells by trypan blue method. Cells treated with MN-OA in combination with induction heating showed decreased viability as compared to respective induction heating controls. These results were supported by altered cellular morphology after treatment of MN-OA in combination with induction heating. Further, the magnitude of apoptosis was found to be ~5 folds higher in cells treated with MN-OA in combination with induction heating as compared to untreated control. These results suggest the efficacy of MN-OA in killing of tumor cells by cellular hyperthermia.

Effect of target material on fast-electron transport and resistive collimation

The effect of target material on fast-electron transport is investigated using a high-intensity (0.7 ps, 10(20)  W/cm2) laser pulse irradiated on multilayered solid Al targets with embedded transport (Au, Mo, Al) and tracer (Cu) layers, backed with millimeter-thick carbon foils to minimize refluxing. We consistently observed a more collimated electron beam (36% average reduction in fast-electron induced Cu Kα spot size) using a high- or mid-Z (Au or Mo) layer compared to Al. All targets showed a similar electron flux level in the central spot of the beam. Two-dimensional collisional particle-in-cell simulations showed formation of strong self-generated resistive magnetic fields in targets with a high-Z transport layer that suppressed the fast-electron beam divergence; the consequent magnetic channels guided the fast electrons to a smaller spot, in good agreement with experiments. These findings indicate that fast-electron transport can be controlled by self-generated resistive magnetic fields and may have important implications to fast ignition.

Field experience on indoor radon, thoron and their progenies with solid-state detectors in a survey of Kosovo and Metohija (Balkan region)

Since 1996/97, indoor radon has been measured in scattered locations around Kosovo. In the most recent campaign, apart from radon, thoron and Rn and Tn progenies have also been measured. The current survey involves 48 houses, in which different detectors have been deployed side-by-side in one room, in order to measure indoor radon and thoron gas with RADUET devices based on CR-39 detectors (analysed by Japanese collaborators) and with direct thoron and radon progeny sensor (DTPS and DRPS) devices based on LR-115 detectors (analysed by collaborators from India). Estimated arithmetic mean values of concentrations in 48 houses are 122 Bq m(-3) for radon and 136 Bq m(-3) for thoron. Those for equilibrium equivalent radon concentration and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentration based on measurements in 48 houses are 40 and 2.1 Bq m(-3), respectively. The arithmetic mean value of the equilibrium factor is estimated to be 0.50 ± 0.23 for radon and 0.037 ± 0.041 for thoron. The preliminary results of these measurements are reported, particularly regarding DTPS and DRPS being set up in real field conditions for the first time in the Balkan region. The results are to be understood under the caveat of open questions related to measurement protocols which yield reproducible and representative results, and to quality assurance of Tn and Rn/Tn progeny measurements in general, some of which are discussed.

Preliminary results from an indoor radon thoron survey in Hungary

More than half of the radiation dose of natural origin comes from radon. However, according to some surveys in certain cases, the radiation dose originating from thoron may be considerable. Among the factors disturbing the measurement of radon, the presence of thoron may also influence the measured radon value, making the estimated radiation exposure imprecise. Thoron has previously been surveyed, mainly in Asia; however, recent surveys for some European locations have found that significant thoron concentrations also need to be considered. In this survey, several types of commercially available SSNTDs (solid-state nuclear track detectors) capable of measuring both radon and thoron were placed at the same time in 73 houses and 7 workplaces in Hungary with 3-month exposition periods. In order to measure thoron, the distance of the detector sets was fixed as 15-20 cm from the walls. The radon concentration was measured with five types of SSNTDs: NRPB, NRPB SSI, Raduet, DTPS and DRPS. The first four types had relatively good accordance (within ± 10 %), but the results of the DRPS detectors were considerably lower when compared with other detectors for radon concentrations over 100 Bq m(-3). The thoron averages were provided by two different types of detectors: Raduet and DTPS. The difference between their average results was more than 30 % and was six times the maximum values. Therefore, the thoron measurement results were judged to be erroneous, and their measurement protocol should be clearly established for future work.

Deposition-based passive monitors for assigning radon, thoron inhalation doses for epidemiological studies

The International Commission on Radiological Protection dose limits for radiation protection have been based on linearly extrapolating the high-dose risk coefficients obtained from the Japanese A bomb survivor data to low doses. The validity of these extrapolations has been questioned from time to time. To overcome this, epidemiological studies have been undertaken across the world on populations chronically exposed to low-radiation levels. In the past decade, the results of these studies have yielded widely differing, and sometimes, contradictory, conclusions. While recent residential radon studies have shown statistically significant radon risks at low doses, high-level natural radiation (HLNR) studies in China and India have not shown any low-dose risks. Similar is the case of a congenital malformation study conducted among the HLNR area populations in Kerala, India. It is thus necessary to make efforts at overcoming the uncertainties in epidemiological studies. In the context of HLNR studies, assigning radon and thoron doses has largely been an area of considerable uncertainty. Conventionally, dosimetry is carried out using radon concentration measurements, and doses have been assigned using assumed equilibrium factors for the progeny species. Gas-based dose assignment is somewhat inadequate due to variations in equilibrium factors and possibly due to significant thoron. In this context, passive, deposition-based progeny dosimetry appears to be a promising alternative method to assess inhalation doses directly. It has been deployed in various parts of India, including HBRAs and countries in Europe. This presentation discusses the method, the results obtained and their relevance to dose assignment in Indian epidemiological studies.