Does unintended birth lead to zero dose of DPT vaccine among children aged 12-23 months in India?

Zero-dose children pose a key challenge in immunization programs due to their association with access to the health system and primary healthcare services. Examining zero-dose aids an in-depth understanding of healthcare disparities among children and caregivers. The disparity in utilization of maternal and child health services raises concerns about the potential consequences of unintended pregnancies on vaccine uptake.

Mission Indradhanush and Intensified Mission Indradhanush-Success Story of India's Universal Immunization Program and the Role of Mann Ki Baat in Bridging the Immunization Gap.

Child immunization is crucial for reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The program grew over the years, however, progress towards full immunization coverage (FIC) remained slow, with only 44% of children fully immunized in 1992-1993, and 62% in 2015-2016, as reported in the National Family Health Survey. To address this challenge, Government of India launched Routine Immunization intensification drive- Mission Indradhanush (MI) in 2014, with the aim of achieving 90% FIC.

Exploring Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake during COVID-19: A Review of PM's Mann Ki Baat Dialogue.

Public health programmes are interlinked and intertwined with communication, advocacy and social mobilisation for their success. The unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 brought a medical emergency all over the world, the like of which was probably not seen after the Spanish Flu outbreak, a century ago. First there seemed no solution in sight when tens of thousands of people lost their lives to the coronavirus in various countries, but when the vaccine arrived, there were, in general, doubts about its efficacy and safety.

Potential impact of rotavirus vaccination on reduction of childhood diarrheal disease in India: An analysis of National Family Health Survey-5.

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. In this study, we investigated the impact of rotavirus vaccination on the prevalence of diarrheal disease among children under five years of age in India. Research on the impact of the rotavirus vaccine on reducing diarrheal disease is therefore important in contributing to the growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of this intervention in improving child health outcomes.

Probing Molecular Chirality on the Self-Assembly and Gelation of Naphthalimide-Conjugated Dipeptides.

In this work, 1,8-naphthalimide (NMI)-conjugated three hybrid dipeptides constituted of a β-amino acid and an α-amino acid have been designed, synthesized, and purified. Here, in the design, the chirality of the α-amino acid was varied to study the effect of molecular chirality on the supramolecular assembly. Self-assembly and gelation of three NMI conjugates were studied in mixed solvent systems [water and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)].

Exploring the Pattern of Immunization Dropout among Children in India: A District-Level Comparative Analysis.

The dropout rate is one of the determinants of immunization coverage and program performance, program continuity, and follow-up. The dropout rate refers to the proportion of vaccine recipients who did not finish their vaccination schedules, and it is determined by comparing the number of infants who started the schedule to the number who completed it. It is the rate difference between the first and final dosage or the rate difference between the first vaccination and the last vaccine dropout; thus, it denotes that the first recommended dose of vaccine was received, but that the subsequently recommended dose was missed.

A convenient route to a vinylogous dicyano aryl based AIEgen with switchable mechanochromic luminescence properties.

Molecules with solid state luminescence and mechanochromic luminescence properties have attracted immense interest owing to their potential application in the areas of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), optoelectronic devices, fluorescence switches, mechano-sensors and data storage. Herein we report a convenient two step synthetic protocol to obtain a couple of luminescent molecules. Using these, a comparative study has been performed to showcase the importance of the weak π⋯π interactions to observe the aggregation induced emission (AIE) and solid-state mechanochromic luminescence.

Theoretical study of highly efficient all-inorganic SbS-on-Si monolithically integrated (2-T) and mechanically stacked (4-T) tandem solar cells using SCAPS-1D.

The power conversion efficiency of all-inorganic SbS-on-Si two-terminal (2-T) monolithically integrated and four-terminal (4-T) mechanically stacked tandem solar cells are investigated. A one-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) has been used to simulate the stand-alone antimony trisulfide (SbS) top sub-cell, silicon (Si) bottom sub-cell, 2-T monolithic, and 4-T mechanically stacked tandem solar cells. The stand-alone sub-cells are optimized by extensive studies, including interface defects density, bulk defects density, absorber layer thickness, and series resistance.

Tuning of the Supramolecular Helicity of Peptide-Based Gel Nanofibers.

Helical supramolecular architectures play important structural and functional roles in biological systems. The helicity of synthetic molecules can be tuned mainly by the chiral manipulation of the system. However, tuning of helicity by the achiral unit of the molecules is less studied.

Performance analysis of n-TiO/p-CuO, n-TiO/p-WS/p-CuO, and n-TiO/p-WS heterojunction solar cells through numerical modelling.

A new hetero-structure of n-TiO/p-WS/p-CuO is proposed as a potential candidate for solar energy generation using tungsten disulfide (WS) as an absorber layer. The proposed device performance is simulated by employing a one-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D). The numerical simulation studies compared the performances of n-TiO/p-CuO, n-TiO/p-WS/p-CuO, and n-TiO/p-WS hetero-structures based on various physical parameters like interface defects density, bulk defects density, absorber layer thickness, series resistance, shunt resistance, and operating temperature.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccination Coverage in India: An Exploratory Analysis.

Our paper examines the key determinants of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India and presents an analytical framework to probe whether vaccine hesitancy, socioeconomic factors and multi-dimensional deprivations (MPI) play a role in determining COVID-19 vaccination uptake. Our exploratory analysis reveals that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has a negative and statistically significant impact on COVID-19 vaccination coverage. A percentage increase in vaccine hesitancy can lead to a decline in vaccination coverage by 30 percent.

A review on multivesicular liposomes for pharmaceutical applications: preparation, characterization, and translational challenges.

Multivesicular liposomes (MVLs) are non-concentric, lipid-based micron-sized spherical particles. The usage of MVL for sustained drug delivery has seen progression over the last decade due to successful clinical and commercial applications. It provides attractive characteristics, such as high encapsulation efficiency, variety of sizes, structural stability, and different choices for the route of administration.

Recent development in antihyperalgesic effect of phytochemicals: anti-inflammatory and neuro-modulatory actions.

Introduction: Pain is an unpleasant sensation triggered by noxious stimulation. It is one of the most prevalent conditions, limiting productivity and diminishing quality of life. Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used as pain relievers in present day practice as pain is mostly initiated due to inflammation.

Activation of ERK signalling by Src family kinases (SFKs) in DRG neurons contributes to hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced thermal hyperalgesia.

Concomitant generation of reactive oxygen species during tissue inflammation has been recognised as a major factor for the development and the maintenance of hyperalgesia, out of which HO is the major player. However, molecular mechanism of HO induced hyperalgesia is still obscure. The aim of present study is to analyse the mechanism of HO-induced hyperalgesia in rats.

Resveratrol alleviates inflammatory hyperalgesia by modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzymes and ERK activation.

Objectives: Impact of ROS in development of hyperalgesia has recently motivated scientists to focus on ROS as novel target of anti-hyperalgesic interventions. However, role of ROS in molecular signaling of hyperalgesia is still poorly understood. The present study is aimed to analyze the effect of dietary antioxidant resveratrol on antioxidant defense system, ROS level and TNFR1-ERK signaling pathway during early and late phase of inflammatory hyperalgesia.

Anti-Nociceptive Effect of Resveratrol During Inflammatory Hyperalgesia via Differential Regulation of pro-Inflammatory Mediators.

Sensitization of nociceptive neurons by inflammatory mediators leads to hypersensitivity for normal painful stimuli which is termed hyperalgesia. Oxidative stress is an essential factor in pathological pain; therefore, antioxidants qualify as potential anti-hyperalgesic agents. The present study examines the efficacy of the natural antioxidant resveratrol in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced hyperalgesic rats.

Curcumin attenuates CFA induced thermal hyperalgesia by modulation of antioxidant enzymes and down regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.

Reactive oxygen species are signaling mediators of nociceptive pathways. Exogenous administrations of antioxidants show anti-hyperalgesic effect. However, very little is known about the role of endogenous antioxidant defense system in pain pathology.

Dual approach utilizing self microemulsifying technique and novel P-gp inhibitor for effective delivery of taxanes.

In the present work, concomitant use of self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) and a novel third-generation P-gp inhibitor, GF120918 (elacridar), for the effective transport of taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) across an in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium and uptake into tumor cells were investigated. On the basis of solubility studies and ternary phase diagrams, different SMEDDS formulations of taxanes were prepared and characterized. In caco-2 cell permeation study, paclitaxel-loaded SMEDDS along with GF120918 showed a four-fold increase in apparent permeability, while docetaxel-loaded SMEDDS in combination with GF120918 showed a nine-fold increase in permeability, as compared to plain drug solution.

Oral bioavailability enhancement of exemestane from self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS).

Limited aqueous solubility of exemestane leads to high variability in absorption after oral administration. To improve the solubility and bioavailability of exemestane, the self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was developed. SMEDDS comprises of isotropic mixture of natural or synthetic oil, surfactant, and cosurfactant, which, upon dilution with aqueous media, spontaneously form fine o/w microemulsion with less than 100 nm in droplet size.

High performance liquid chromatography method for the pharmacokinetic study of bicalutamide SMEDDS and suspension formulations after oral administration to rats.

Bicalutamide is a non-steroidal antiandrogen and is an oral medication that is used for treating prostate cancer. To evaluate the bioavailability of bicalutamide from bicalutamide self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) and bicalutamide suspension formulations, a sensitive, specific reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method using ultraviolet detection was developed and validated for the analysis of bicalutamide (BCT) in rat blood plasma. Letrozole (LZ) was used as the internal standard.

Exemestane loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS): development and optimization.

The purpose of this research work was to formulate and characterize self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system containing exemestane. The solubility of exemestane was determined in various vehicles. Pseudo ternary phase diagram was used to evaluate the micro-emulsification existence area.