One Health research and training and government support for One Health in South Asia

Introduction: Considerable advocacy, funding, training, and technical support have been provided to South Asian countries to strengthen One Health (OH) collaborative approaches for controlling diseases with global human pandemic potential since the early 2000s. It is essential that the OH approach continues to be strengthened given South Asia is a hot spot for emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases. The objectives of this article are to describe OH research and training and capacity building activities and the important developments in government support for OH in these countries to identify current achievements and gaps. Materials and methods: A landscape analysis of OH research, training, and government support in South Asia was generated by searching peer-reviewed and grey literature for OH research publications and reports, a questionnaire survey of people potentially engaged in OH research in South Asia and the authors’ professional networks. Results: Only a small proportion of zoonotic disease research conducted in South Asia can be described as truly OH, with a significant lack of OH policy-relevant research. A small number of multisectoral OH research and OH capacity building programmes were conducted in the region. The governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan have established operational OH strategies, with variable progress institutionalising OH in other countries. Identified gaps were a lack of useful scientific information and of a collaborative culture for formulating and implementing integrated zoonotic disease control policies and the need for ongoing support for transdisciplinary OH research and policy-relevant capacity building programmes. Discussion: Overall we found a very small number of truly OH research and capacity building programmes in South Asia. Even though significant progress has been made in institutionalising OH in some South Asian countries, further behavioural, attitudinal, and institutional changes are required to strengthen OH research and training and implementation of sustainably effective integrated zoonotic disease control policies

Endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies of the aerodigestive tract: The Bugando Medical Centre experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract continue to be a common problem that contributes significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to describe our own experience with endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract, in our local setting and compare with what is described in literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective descriptive study which was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre between January 2008 and December 2009. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 15.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 98 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.1:1. Patients aged 2 years and below were the majority (75.9%). The commonest type of foreign bodies in airways was groundnuts (72.7%) and in esophagus was coins (72.7%). The trachea (52.2%) was the most common site of foreign body's lodgment in the airways, whereas cricopharyngeal sphincter (68.5%) was the commonest site in the esophagus. Rigid endoscopy with forceps removal under general anesthesia was the main treatment modality performed in 87.8% of patients. The foreign bodies were successfully removed without complications in 90.8% of cases. Complication rate was 7.1% and bronchopneumonia was the most common complication accounting for 42.8% of cases. The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.4 days and mortality rate was 4.1%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Aerodigestive tract foreign bodies continue to be a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in our setting. Rigid endoscopic procedures under general anesthesia are the main treatment modalities performed. Prevention is highly recommended whereby parents should be educated to keep a close eye on their children and keep objects which can be foreign bodies away from children's reach.</p

Hydrothermal Treatment: A Critical Research on Improving Milling Efficiency Using the Parboiling Process for Pearl Millet

Hydrothermal treatment, particularly through the parboiling process, has emerged as a critical method for enhancing milling efficiency in pearl millet. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the various aspects related to parboiling as a means to improve the quality and yield of milled pearl millet grains. The study begins by elucidating the significance of milling efficiency in pearl millet processing, considering its nutritional value and widespread consumption in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It then delves into the principles underlying the parboiling process, including soaking, steaming, and drying stages, and their impact on the physicochemical properties of millet grains. Key factors influencing milling efficiency, such as soaking temperature, duration, and steaming conditions, are thoroughly examined based on recent research findings and empirical evidence. The study highlights the critical role of gelatinization in starch transformation, protein denaturation, and fiber preservation during the parboiling process, contributing to improved milling outcomes. Furthermore, the review explores the effects of parboiling on reducing grain breakage, enhancing milling yield, and minimizing nutrient losses, thereby optimizing the overall milling efficiency of pearl millet. It discusses the implications of parboiling on nutritional quality, food safety, and economic viability, underscoring its potential to address challenges in millet processing and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The study concludes by outlining future research directions and practical considerations for optimizing the parboiling process in pearl millet production. It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer to realize the full benefits of hydrothermal treatment in improving milling efficiency and enhancing the value chain of pearl millet. In summary, this critical review provides valuable insights into the role of parboiling as a transformative technique for enhancing milling efficiency in pearl millet processing, offering implications for research, policy, and practice in the domains of food security, nutrition, and agricultural development

Plasmid profile and curing analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as metal resistant

The isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited resistance to heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead. Plasmid DNA was isolated from P. aeruginosa and designated as pBC15. The size of the plasmid DNA was approximately 23 kb. Escherichia coli DH5a was transformed with plasmid pBC15 subsequired resistance to nickel and ampicillin. The same size of the plasmid was isolated from E. coli transformant and separated on 0.7 % agarose gel electrophoresis. The restriction analysis of pBC15 showed that the plasmid DNA has single site for Bam HI and Eco RI and three sites for Xho I which were compared with 1 Kb DNA and λ Hind III digest molecular markers. Therefore, the size of the plasmid DNA of pBC15 was confirmed to be 23 kb. Curing was carried out by ethidium bromide, acridine orange, novobiocin, sodium dodechyl sulphate and elevated temperature (40 °C). Transformation and curing results suggest that nickel and ampicillin resistance gene was conferred by plasmid DNA. Cadmium resistant gene was present on chromosomal DNA along with the gene for chromium resistance. Lead resistance gene was shown to be present on the chromosomal DNA rather than the plasmid DNA as the cured and uncured cultures remained similar in lead resistance. Therefore, the ability of P. aeruginosa resistant to nickel and ampicillin is plasmid mediated and transferable to other strains whereas cadmium, chromium and lead could be chromosomal encoded. The heavy metal and antibiotic resistances of P. aeruginosa can be used to exploit for clean up industrial wastewater and bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil

Cobalt-chromium toxic retinopathy case study

Purpose: To report the clinical case of a 65-year-old male who developed retinal dysfunction following cobalt-chromium toxicity. Methods: A review of the clinical, haematological, radiological and electrophysiological investigations into a single patient was performed in order to form a case report. Results: A 65-year-old male presented to his ophthalmologist with a 1-year history of worsening vision on the background of a multisystem illness including motor axonopathy, pericardiomyopathy and bulbar palsy. His medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and a metallic hip prosthesis. Ocular examination revealed significantly reduced visual acuity bilaterally along with very poor colour vision. Cornea, fundi and optic discs all appeared normal. Bilateral moderate nuclear sclerosis was noted. Basic investigations including mitochondrial studies, auto-immune screen and MRI of brain were unremarkable. Further investigations showed significantly elevated plasma cobalt and chromium levels. Electrophysiological studies revealed an abnormality in all phases of the ERG including a negative b-waveform, suggestive of inner retinal pathology. Following subsequent revision of the hip, cobalt and chromium levels decreased and the patient's vision improved. Further electrophysiological testing indicates a persistent ERG abnormality despite a significant improvement in both the patient's visual acuity and colour vision. Conclusions: These results suggest that cobalt-chromium toxicity can cause inner retinal dysfunction