Browsing by Subject "Asia"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A prospective observational description of frequency and timing of antenatal care attendance and coverage of selected interventions from sites in Argentina, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia
    (Springer Nature, 2015) Bucher, Sherri; Marete, Irene; Tenge, Constance; Liechty, Edward A.; Esamai, Fabian; Patel, Archana; Goudar, Shivaprasad S.; Kodkany, Bhalchandra; Garces, Ana; Chomba, Elwyn; Althabe, Fernando; Barreuta, Mabel; Pasha, Omrana; Hibberd, Patricia; Derman, Richard J.; Otieno, Kevin; Hambidge, K. Michael; Krebs, Nancy F.; Carlo, Waldemar A.; Chemweno, Carolyne; Goldenberg, Robert L.; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Moore, Janet L.; Wallace, Dennis D.; Saleem, Sarah; Koso-Thomas, Marion; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: The Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research is one of the largest international networks for testing and generating evidence-based recommendations for improvement of maternal-child health in resource-limited settings. Since 2009, Global Network sites in six low and middle-income countries have collected information on antenatal care practices, which are important as indicators of care and have implications for programs to improve maternal and child health. We sought to: (1) describe the quantity of antenatal care attendance over a four-year period; and (2) explore the quality of coverage for selected preventative, screening, and birth preparedness components. Methods: The Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) is a prospective, population-based birth and pregnancy outcomes registry in Global Network sites, including: Argentina, Guatemala, India (Belgaum and Nagpur), Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia. MNHR data from these sites were prospectively collected from January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2013 and analyzed for indicators related to quantity and patterns of ANC and coverage of key elements of recommended focused antenatal care. Descriptive statistics were generated overall by global region (Africa, Asia, and Latin America), and for each individual site. Results: Overall, 96% of women reported at least one antenatal care visit. Indian sites demonstrated the highest percentage of women who initiated antenatal care during the first trimester. Women from the Latin American and Indian sites reported the highest number of at least 4 visits. Overall, 88% of women received tetanus toxoid. Only about half of all women reported having been screened for syphilis (49%) or anemia (50%). Rates of HIV testing were above 95% in the Argentina, African, and Indian sites. The Pakistan site demonstrated relatively high rates for birth preparation, but for most other preventative and screening interventions, posted lower coverage rates as compared to other Global Network sites. Conclusions: Results from our large, prospective, population-based observational study contribute important insight into regional and site-specific patterns for antenatal care access and coverage. Our findings indicate a quality and coverage gap in antenatal care services, particularly in regards to syphilis and hemoglobin screening. We have identified site-specific gaps in access to, and delivery of, antenatal care services that can be targeted for improvement in future research and implementation efforts.
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    Alcoholic Liver Disease in Asia, Europe, and North America
    (Elsevier, 2016-06) Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Haber, Paul; McCaughan, Geoffrey W.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Alcoholic liver diseases comprise a spectrum of clinical disorders and changes in liver tissue that can be detected by pathology analysis. These range from steatosis to more severe signs and symptoms of liver disease associated with inflammation, such as those observed in patients with alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Although the relationship between alcohol consumption and liver disease is well established, severe alcohol-related morbidities develop in only a minority of people who consume alcohol in excess. Inter-individual differences in susceptibility to the toxic effects of alcohol have been studied extensively-they include pattern of alcohol consumption, sex, environmental factors (such as diet), and genetic factors, which vary widely among different parts of the world. Alcoholic liver disease is becoming more common in many parts of Asia, but is decreasing in Western Europe. Treatment approaches, including availability of medications, models of care, and approach to transplantation, differ among regions.
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    Detecting Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals through UV Spectrophotometry
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2015-04-17) Figueroa, Gabriela; Palacio, Luis A.; Ray, Bruce D.; Petrache, Horia I.; Lopez-Yunez, Alfredo
    According to the World Health Organization between 10%-30% of medicines, in Africa, Asia and South America, are counterfeit or sub-standard, affecting the health of millions of people. Currently, there is no effective way to check the quality of a medicine at the point of care, leaving many with treatable diseases at risk. The goal of this study is to identify UV-Vis (240nm - 500nm) absorbance patterns that would indicate if a drug is sub-standard or counterfeit. UV-Vis spectroscopy was selected as the method for testing due to the maturity and availability of the technology. Pure Acetaminophen and Tylenol were used as controls for proof of concept. Samples were prepared by dissolving different combinations of the pure active ingredient and adulterants such as cement, rice flour, vitamin C and lactose in three different types of solvents (H2O, 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 NaOH). Various concentrations (ranging from 0.01mg/ml to 0.04mg/ml) and mixing ratios were analyzed using a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. It was found that adulterants significantly decrease the absorption of acetaminophen at 245nm by interacting with its benzene ring, while showing a slight increase in other parts of the spectrum. UV-Vis scans show that the amount of change in absorbance at specific wavelengths, coupled with characteristic wavelength shifts produced by different solvents, can be used for detection of counterfeit drugs. The methods presented here could be used for quality control of medicines at or near the point of care in parts of the world at higher risk of encountering defective pharmaceuticals.
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    Region Report 2018: Southern and Southeastern Asia
    (2018) Ali, Muhammad; Maqsood, Shazia
    The Southern and Southeast Asian region includes South Asian countries: Nepal, India, and Pakistan, as well as Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. India, Pakistan, and Nepal are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) along with other South Asian nations. Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These intergovernmental organizations focus on stability through cultural and economic cooperation at the regional level.