Economic and disease burden of dengue illness in India.

Between 2006 and 2012 India reported an annual average of 20,474 dengue cases. Although dengue has been notifiable since 1996, regional comparisons suggest that reported numbers substantially underrepresent the full impact of the disease. Adjustment for underreporting from a case study in Madurai district and an expert Delphi panel yielded an annual average of 5,778,406 clinically diagnosed dengue cases between 2006 and 2012, or 282 times the reported number per year.

Evolving social health scheme for workers in unorganized sector: key evidences from study of cycle rickshaw pullers in Delhi, India.

Background: In view of high out-of-pocket costs and low spending even for basic healthcare for the poor employed in the unorganized sector, policy makers in India have turned their attention to developing a financing mechanism for social health insurance with the desire to provide quality care to the poor and economically disadvantaged.

Objectives: This study aims to assess and determine the disease profile, treatment expenditure and willingness to pay for health insurance among rickshaw pullers in Delhi.

Methods: The study was conducted among 500 rickshaw pullers from five zones of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, taking a sample of 100 from each zone.

Self evolution: 1(st) domain of spiritual health.

While measuring physical, mental, and social health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), the basis of measurement is in terms of Determinants. Recently with the advent of health promotion activities, the emphasis is on enabling individuals, groups, and societies to have control on these Determinants. To measure the spiritual health, the 4(th) Dimension, a Spiritual Health Scale consisting of 3 Domains, 6 Constructs, and 27 Determinants of spiritual health were identified through a scientific process.

Prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in India through service integration: lessons from Mysore District, Karnataka.

Meeting the needs of HIV-positive pregnant women and their offspring is critical to India's political and financial commitment to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. This review of the strategy to prevent vertical transmission of HIV in Mysore district, Karnataka, highlights the need to integrate prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) and reproductive and child health (RCH) services. All key officials who were involved in the integration of services at the state and district levels were interviewed by use of semistructured protocols.

Spiritual health scale 2011: defining and measuring 4 dimension of health.

In the midst of physical comforts provided by the unprecedented developments in all spheres of life, the humanity is at cross roads and looking at something beyond these means. Spirituality has now been identified globally as an important aspect for providing answers to many questions related to health and happiness. The World Health Organization is also keen at looking beyond physical, mental and social dimensions of the health, and the member countries are actively exploring the 4(th) Dimension of the health i.

Complete sperm suppression induced by dienogest plus testosterone undecanoate is associated with down-regulation in the expression of upstream steroidogenic enzyme genes in rat testis.

Background: We had shown that dienogest (DNG) + testosterone undecanoate (TU) induced complete sperm suppression in rats when administered together every 45 days. On the other hand, individual drugs given alone in a similar fashion failed to achieve the same result.

Study Design: The present study was therefore undertaken to determine the reason for such a differential sperm suppression and to correlate it with the expression of steroidogenic enzyme genes in the rat testis.

Extended intervention time and evaluation of sperm suppression by dienogest plus testosterone undecanoate in male rat.

Background: The potential of using dienogest [DNG, 40 mg/kg body weight (bw)] plus testosterone undecanoate (TU, 25 mg/kg bw) in rats for development of a once-a-month male hormonal contraceptive has been reported earlier in our laboratories.

Study Design: In the present study, we report a separate efficacy evaluation of the same combination, DNG (40 mg/kg bw) and TU (25 mg/kg bw) in which interval of drug administration has been extended further to 45 and 60 days instead of every 30 days.

Results: Complete sperm suppression was observed in rats sacrificed either 60 or 90 days after DNG+TU administration, for two injections at 45-day interval.

Additional cash incentive within a conditional cash transfer scheme: a 'controlled before and during' design evaluation study from India.

Background: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) schemes have shown largely favorable changes in the health seeking behavior. This evaluation study assesses the process and performance of an Additional Cash Incentive (ACI) scheme within an ongoing CCT scheme in India, and document lessons.

Material And Methods: A controlled before and during design study was conducted in Madhya Pradesh state of India, from August 2007 to March 2008, with increased in institutional deliveries as a primary outcome.

N-acetyl-L-cysteine counteracts oxidative stress and prevents H2O2 induced germ cell apoptosis through down-regulation of caspase-9 and JNK/c-Jun.

The mechanism of H(2)O(2) induced oxidative stress leading to male germ cell apoptosis was earlier reported from our laboratory. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms by which N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, which is highly cell specific with strong antioxidant and anti-genotoxic properties), stimulated cell survival under such conditions. Co-incubation with 5 mM NAC significantly (P<0.

AR versus ER (α) expression in the testis and pituitary following chronic estrogen administration in adult rat.

Modulation of the testis-pituitary axis has direct relevance to the expression of androgen and estrogen receptors. Androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ERα) expression during hypospermatogenesis after chronic estrogen administration to rats was studied in the adult testis and pituitary utilizing immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and RT-PCR. Both organs demonstrated higher AR transcriptional activity gradually increasing from 15 days (d) to 30 d of estrogen treatment.

N-acetylcysteine counteracts oxidative stress and prevents hCG-induced apoptosis in rat Leydig cells through down regulation of caspase-8 and JNK.

We have earlier reported that following persistent stimulation with hCG, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in rat Leydig cells was mainly achieved through the extrinsic pathway. In the present study, the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in counteracting the oxidative stress and the mechanisms of inhibition of apoptosis under such conditions were investigated. NAC (1 mM) intervention with repeated hCG stimulation (50 ng/ml, four times, each with 30 min challenge) prevented the decline in Leydig cell viability and the rise in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species.

Altered levels of seminal nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, and enzymatic antioxidants and their association with sperm function in infertile subjects.

Objective: To investigate the association between specific reactive nitrogen species and sperm function among infertile subjects.

Design: Controlled trial.

Setting: Fertility clinic at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India.

Providers' knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of e-pills in government dispensaries of South district in delhi, India.

Background: South Delhi is one of the well developed districts in the capital with best public health care facilities. Knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of emergency contraceptive pills (E-pills) were assessed among health care providers of government dispensaries in South Delhi.

Study Design: A descriptive epidemiological study.

Primary health care and child survival in India.

The Primary Health Care (PHC) has been globally promoted as a comprehensive approach to achieve optimal health status and 'Health for all'. The PHC approach, although, initially received the attention but failed to meet the expectations of the people in India. The child health programs in India had been started for long as verticals programs, which later on integrated and had been planned in a way to deliver the services through the PHC systems.

Assessment of utilization of RCH services and client satisfaction at different level of health facilities in Varanasi District.

Objective: To assess the various factors influencing utilization and non-utilization of RCH services and extent of client satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during October to December 2008 at two selected blocks of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh. Principal study subjects were 509 women having children less than 12 months old, selected through a multistage sampling technique.

An assessment of institutional deliveries under JSY at different levels of health care in Jaipur District, Rajasthan.

Background & Objective: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) has been implemented in the country to enhance institutional deliveries. This study assess the gaps in delivery services and utilization of resources at Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care Centers (BEmOCs, & CEmOCs), accredited sub centers and private hospitals in district Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Methods: The study was undertaken during October-December 2008 in 31 selected health facilities (5 CEmOCs, 4 BEmOCs, 14 accredited subcentres and 8 accredited private hospitals) in district Jaipur.

A rapid appraisal of functioning of Rogi Kalyan Samitis in Uttarakhand.

Objectives: To study the structure and functioning of Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) in community health centers of Uttarakhand state and observe the availability and utilization of funds by RKS.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during September - December 2008 in two districts of the state. Eight community health centers (CHC), four from each district were selected by simple random sampling.

An assessment of performance based incentive system for ASHA Sahyogini in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Objectives: To assess the performance based incentive system for ASHA Sahyogini in Udaipur district of Rajasthan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three blocks (one each from rural, urban and tribal area) of Udaipur district during October-December 2008. From each block 60 ASHAs were selected randomly, thus a tola of 180 ASHAs were included.

Indigenous system of medicine lady doctors and general nurse midwives in operationalization of 24 x 7 services under NRHM in selected districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Objectives: To find out the status of utilization of MCH services after the induction of the indigenous system of medicine (ISM) lady doctors and CNMs for 24 x 7 services and the acceptance of this innovation by the health system and the community.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted during October to November 2008 in 10 blocks of 5 selected districts in Uttar Pradesh. Study subjects (CMO, MO I/C, ISM lady doctors, GNMs, PRI members) were interviewed and FGDs were also conducted.