RESUMO OBJETIVO: Avaliar os fatores socioeconômicos e demográficos determinantes de anemia em crianças indianas de seis a 59 meses. MÉTODOS: A análise estatística foi feita na amostra transversal ponderada de 40.885 crianças da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde da Família de 2005-2006, Governo da Índia, com a técnica de regressão logística multimodal para avaliar a relevância de alguns fatores de risco em diferentes graus de anemia infantil. A anemia foi diagnosticada pelos pontos de corte de nível de hemoglobinas da OMS. O teste qui-quadrado de Pearson foi usado para justificar as associações da anemia com diferentes categorias de população estudada. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anemia foi de 69,5%, 26,2% de anemia leve, 40,4% de anemia moderada e 2,9% de anemia grave. A taxa de prevalência geral, juntamente com a de anemia leve e moderada, mostrou uma tendência de aumento até os dois anos e depois disso de queda. As crianças da zona rural têm maior taxa de prevalência. Dos 28 estados indianos do estudo, 10 apresentaram prevalência muito alta. Bihar foi o maior deles (77,9%). A ordem de nascimento elevada, o alto índice de pobreza, o baixo nível de escolaridade materna, a anemia materna, a não ingestão de suplementos de ferro durante a gravidez e o vegetarianismo materno aumentaram os riscos de todos os tipos de anemia entre crianças (p < 0,05). A população cristã tinha o menor risco; e as categorias casta reconhecida, tribo reconhecida e outras classes atrasadas tinham o maior risco de anemia. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de planejamento e implantação adequados de medidas preventivas contra a anemia infantil. Grupos economicamente carentes, a nutrição e a escolaridade maternas e o controle da natalidade devem ser prioridades nos programas.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate socio-economic and demographic determinants of anemia among Indian children aged 6-59 months. METHODS: Statistical analysis was performed on the cross-sectional weighted sample of 40,885 children from 2005 to 2006 National Family Health Survey by using multinomial logistic regression to assess the significance of some risk factors in different degrees of child anemia. Anemia was diagnosed by World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off points on hemoglobin level. Pearson's chi-squared test was applied to justify the associations of anemia with different categories of the study population. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 69.5%; 26.2% mild, 40.4% moderate, and 2.9% severe anemia. Overall prevalence rate, along with mild and moderate cases, showed an increasing trend up to 2 years of age and then decreased. Rural children had a higher prevalence rate. Of 28 Indian states in the study, 10 states showed very high prevalence, the highest being Bihar (77.9%). Higher birth order, high index of poverty, low level of maternal education, mother's anemia, non-intake of iron supplements during pregnancy, and vegetarian mother increased the risks of all types of anemia among children (p < 0.05). Christian population was at lower risk; and Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Class categories were at higher risk of anemia. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a need for proper planning and implementation of preventive measures to combat child anemia. Economically under-privileged groups, maternal nutrition and education, and birth control measures should be priorities in the programs.

Drug resistance to human infectious diseases caused by pathogens lead to premature deaths through out the world. Plants are sources for wide variety of drugs used for treating various diseases. Systematic screening of medicinal plants for the search of new antimicrobial drug candidates that can inhibit the growth of pathogens or kill with no toxicity to host is being continued by many laboratories. Here we review the phytochemical investigations and biological activities of Meliaceae. The mahogany (Meliaceae) is family of timber trees with rich source for limonoids. So far, amongst the different members of Meliaceae, Azadirachta indica and Melia dubia have been identified as the potential plant systems possessing a vast array of biologically active compounds which are chemically diverse and structurally complex. Despite biological activities on different taxa of Meliaceae have been carried out, the information of antibacterial and antifungal activity is a meager with exception to Azadirachta indica. Together we provide new insights of Meliaceae members demonstrating as a potential source as antimicrobial agents using in vitro studies.

A ciclização de Prins catalisada por iodo entre álcoois homoalílicos e cetonas foi investigada. Condições anidras e atmosfera inerte não são necessárias neste protocolo ausente de metais. A reação do 2-(3,4-di-hidronaftalen-1-il)propan-1-ol com seis cetonas simétricas alifáticas levou ao produto desejado em 67-77% de rendimento.A ciclização foi realizada com quatro cetonas alifáticas assimétricas, levando aos correspondentes piranos em 66-76% de rendimento. A ciclização de Prins também foi alcançada com quatro cetonas aromáticas com 37-66% de rendimento. Finalmente, a ciclização de Prins do monoterpeno isopulegol e acetona foi realizada com sucesso.

Iodine-catalyzed Prins cyclization of homoallylic alcohols and ketones was investigated. Anhydrous conditions and inert atmosphere are not required in this metal-free protocol. The reaction of 2-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)propan-1-ol with six aliphatic symmetric ketones gave the desired products in 67-77% yield. Cyclization was performed with four aliphatic unsymmetric ketones, leading to corresponding pyrans in 66-76% yield. Prins cyclization was also accomplished with four aromatic ketones in 37-66% yield. Finally, Prins cyclization of the monoterpene isopulegol and acetone was successfully achieved.

Fungos são conhecidos produtores de uma vasta coleção de metabólitos secundários que vem mostrando importância crescente na sua aplicação biotecnológica. Publicações anteriores sugerem que G. cingulata tem a capacidade de transformar vários componentes por diferentes ações enzimáticas. Logo, o foco deste estudo foi determinar a atividade antibacteriana e antifúngica do extrato bruto de G. cingulata obtido por acetato de etila utilizando-se um método envolvendo bloco de agar. O extrato bruto de G. cingulata demonstrou marcante atividade antifungica contra Rhizopus oryzae, Chrysoporium tropicum e Beauveria bassiana entretanto, não foi possível detectar, em nenhuma concentração, atividade antifungica contra Alternaria tenuissima e Aspergillus niger. O mesmo extrato não apresentou atividade antibacteriana, em nenhuma concentração, contra bactérias Gram negativa e positiva.

Fungi are known to produce a vast array of secondary metabolites that are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications. Early reports suggest that G. cingulata has the capability to transform many compounds by various enzymatic actions. Therefore, the focus of this study was to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activity of crude ethyl acetate extract of G. cingulata using agar cup bioassay method. Crude extract of G. cingulata exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against Rhizopus oryzae, Chrysoporium tropicum and Beauveria bassiana but no antifungal activity was found against Alternaria tenuissima and Aspergillus niger at any concentrations. The crude extract presented no antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at any concentration.

The manuscript describes a study on the blood cholinesterase (ChE) level in an exposed population at different interval of time after spraying with malathion suspension (SRES) use for kala-azar vector control in an endemic area of Bihar, India. The toxicity of a 5% malathion formulation in the form of a slow release emulsified suspension (SRES) was assessed by measuring serum ChE levels in spraymen and in the exposed population.The study showed a significant decrease in ChE levels in the spraymen (p < 0.01) after one week of spraying and in exposed population one week and one month after of spraying (p < 0.01), but was still within the normal range of ChE concentration, one year after spraying, the ChE concentration in the exposed population was the same as prior to spraying (p > 0.01). On no occasion was the decrease in ChE level alarming. A parallel examination of the clinical status also showed the absence of any over toxicity or any behavioural changes in the exposed population. Hence, it may be concluded that 5% malathion slow release formulation, SRES, is a safe insecticide for use as a vector control measure in endemic areas of kala-azar in Bihar, India so long as good personal protection for spraymen is provided to minimize absorption and it can substitute the presently used traditional DDT spray.