Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs <p>Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences [APJHS] is an international journal published quarterly. It is a peer reviewed journal aiming to communicate high quality original research work, reviews, short communications, case report, Ethics Forum, Education Forum and Letter to editor that contribute significantly to further the scientific knowledge related to the field of health sciences. Articles with timely interest and newer research concepts will be given more preference.</p> <p>All articles published in this journal represent the opinion of the authors and not reflect the official policy of the Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences [APJHS]. All papers are subjected to double blinded peer-review.</p> <h3>WHY TO PUBLISH WITH US?</h3> <div class="row"> <div class="divstyle"> <div class="col-md-6"> <ul> <li class="show">Worldwide dissemination through open access,</li> <li class="show">Immediate access of research of global audience,</li> <li class="show">Includes all health specialities.</li> <li class="show">Fast and efficient online submission.</li> <li class="show">Double Blind Peer Review System.</li> <li class="show">Unique and extensive assistance to authors.</li> <li class="show">Quarterly 4 issues per year.</li> <li class="show">Free full text availability of articles in PDF.</li> <li class="show">Best Advisory &amp; Reviewer Board. Legends of Medicine &amp; Health sciences associated with APJHS team.</li> <li class="show">APJHS Team comprises Editorial board members from different parts of globe.</li> <li class="show">Cross Ref and DOI Citation.</li> <li class="show">Entire Issue/Journal can be downloaded free from the website.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> en-US <p>Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences applies the&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY)</a>&nbsp;license to published articles. Under this license, authors retain ownership of the copyright for their content, but they allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute and/or copy the content as long as the original authors and source are cited. Appropriate attribution can be provided by simply citing the original article.</p> editorapjhs@gmail.com (Dr. J. K. Mukkadan) infoapjhs@gmail.com (Priyanka) Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:52:05 +0000 OJS 3.2.1.4 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 A study of Extended Spectrum ß-Lactamases in Gram-negative Bacterial Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2977 <p>Background: Injudicious use of antimicrobials for any infection causes microbes to undergo changes through selective pressure and ultimately leads to the development of antimicrobial resistance. The production of ß-Lactamase is one of the most important mechanisms adopted by bacteria to evade action by penicillins and cephalosporins. Materials and Methods: This prospective in vitro study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai over a 6-month period with the aim of identifying extended spectrum b-lactamases (ESBLs) in Gram-negative bacteria in clinical isolates, by double disk diffusion test and E test. Results: Five thousand five hundred and forty-eight g-negative bacilli were isolated of which 2354 (42.42%) were ESBL producers. Maximum numbers of ESBL production were seen in isolates from the blood sample (53.91%) followed by pus (47%) and urine samples (42.27%). Conclusion: ESBL-producing organisms are increasing in the community; therefore, restricted and judicious use of the third generation cephalosporins is to be followed to prevent and control such types of resistance.</p> Anuradha Sharma, Leena Mandurke Gajbar, Priyanshu Kumar Shrivastava Copyright (c) 2023 Anuradha Sharma, Leena Mandurke Gajbar, Priyanshu Kumar Shrivastava https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2977 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 An Ethereal Study of Drakshavaleha and Punarnavadi Mandura in Managing Pandu Roga with Special Reference to Iron Deficiency Anemia https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2982 <p>Introduction: Anemia is a public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries with major consequences for human health as well as social and economic development. We can find the references for numerous medications indicated for the treatment of Pandu in various treatises of Ayurveda. The formulations Punarnavadi Mandura and Drakshavaleha when administered in combination are supposed to act as iron and nutrition supplement, which will improve the overall health of the patients especially females of reproductive age group. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the probable mode of action of Drakshavaleha and P. Mandura in Pandu Roga w.s.r to iron deficiency anemia. Materials and Methods: The information in this article is centered on various articles published in indexed and non-indexed journals of Ayurveda and Contemporary medical sciences, Ayurveda Samhitas, and their respective commentaries and textbooks of concerned subjects of both Ayurveda and Modern Medicine. Results: The ingredients of Drakshavaleha and P. Mandura mainly possess activities such as immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, and bio-availability enhancers which can act collectively against the symptomatology of P. roga. Ingredients such as ManduraBhasma, Gomutra, Punarnava, Haridra, and Guda are proven to enhance the process of erythropoiesis. Conclusion: Based on the review, it can be considered that P. Mandura, a poly herb-mineral formulation and Drakshavaleha, a Naimittika Rasayana which can act as nutritional supplement, can counteract most of the pathological manifestations related to Pandu.</p> Pashmina Joshi, Sushant Sud, Dilip Prajapati, Hitesh Ghetiya, Aparna Nandakumar Copyright (c) 2023 Pashmina Joshi, Sushant Sud, Dilip Prajapati, Hitesh Ghetiya, Aparna Nandakumar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2982 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Zinc-Oxide Eugenol Paste, Antimicrobial Gel, and Ayurvedic Medicament in the Management of Alveolar Osteitis: A Prospective and Comparative Study https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2993 <p>Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the three treatment strategies of zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE), metronidazole gel, and Aloe vera gel in the management of dry socket with respect to pain relief and mucosal healing. Methods: This was a comparative study in which 90 patients were recruited and randomly divided into three groups of 30. ZOE dressings were applied in Group A, Metronidazole gel in Group B, and Aloe vera gel was applied in Group C patients on the day of reporting. Patients were followed up for seven consecutive days. Day-wise pain and mucosal healing were assessed in each patient using the visual analog scale and mucosal healing index, respectively. Results: The mean age for the 90 patients recruited in the study was 44.02 (9.9). Male: Female ratio was 37:53. Higher values of pain were reported in Group A from day 1 to 6 (P &lt; 0.01). However, the difference was not significant among the three groups (P &gt; 0.05) on the 7th day. Significant differences were seen among groups (P &lt; 0.01) for mucosal healing on days 2–6 with higher mean values in Group A. On day 1 and day 7, a non-significant difference was seen for the values across all three groups (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Metronidazole and Aloe vera gels were found effective in early pain relief while producing a similar amount of mucosal healing. These gels offer the potential to be used as alternative home remedies, thus reducing the number of dental appointments required in the case of ZOE dressings. However, further randomized and clinical studies are required to evaluate the three strategies for their potential adverse effects.</p> Ifra Iftikhar, Priyanshu Kumar Shrivastava, Deborah Sybil Copyright (c) 2023 Ifra Iftikhar, Priyanshu Kumar Shrivastava, Deborah Sybil https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/2993 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 A Case of Full Mouth Rehabilitation of a 5-year-old Child with Severe Early Childhood Caries https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3014 <p>An important health problem worldwide that adversely impacts infants and children’s oral health is early childhood caries. Early loss of primary teeth due to trauma or caries can result in decreased masticatory function, reduced esthetics, incorrect pronunciation of sounds, and the development of aberrant oral habits. Every child has a fundamental right to live happily and healthily; therefore, it should be addressed and managed to prevent further complications. This case report gives insight into the dental rehabilitation of the patient with mutilated primary dentition.</p> Pradnya D Pathak, Laxmi S Lakade, Krishna V Patil, Rohan V Shah, Preetam P Shah, Shweta S Jajoo Copyright (c) 2023 Pradnya D Pathak, Laxmi S Lakade, Krishna V Patil, Rohan V Shah, Preetam P Shah, Shweta S Jajoo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3014 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Right-Sided Pleural Effusion Secondary to Acute Pancreatitis: A Rare Entity https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3015 <p>Pleural effusion as a consequence of acute pancreatitis is transient, usually left-sided, and straw colored and accounts for 1% of all cases.[1] Rarely, it can be right-sided, causing difficulty in establishing the diagnosis, especially if new symptoms are disproportionate to the pre-existing symptoms. We present a case of a young chronic alcoholic male patient with gross right-sided pleural effusion and moderate ascites.</p> Omarbi Lalsiddiqui, Ashfaq Hasan, Fahad Abdullah, Aleemuddin Naveed, Syed Mahmood, Moid Mir Siddiq Ali Copyright (c) 2023 Omarbi Lalsiddiqui, Ashfaq Hasan, Fahad Abdullah, Aleemuddin Naveed, Syed Mahmood, Moid Mir Siddiq Ali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3015 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Is There a Link between the 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in Europe and 2022 Excess All-Cause Mortality? https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3017 <p>Purpose: We primarily study a possible link between 2021 COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Europe and monthly 2022 excess all-cause mortality, that is, mortality higher than before the pandemic. Methods and Results: Analyses of 31 countries weighted by population size show that all-cause mortality during the first 9 months of 2022 increased more the higher the 2021 vaccination uptake; a one percentage point increase in 2021 vaccination uptake was associated with a monthly mortality increase in 2022 by 0.105% (95% CI, 0.075–0.134). When controlling for alternative explanations, the association remained robust, and we discuss the result emphasizing causality as well as potential ecological fallacy. Furthermore, the study shows that 2021 all-cause mortality was lower the higher the vaccination uptake, but this association became non-significant when controlling for alternative explanations. Conclusion: Despite a possible preventive effect in 2021, we cannot rule out that COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Europe has led to increasing 2022 all-cause mortality between January and September.</p> Jarle Aarstad, Olav Andreas Kvitastein Copyright (c) 2023 Jarle Aarstad, Olav Andreas Kvitastein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3017 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Determinants of Tobacco Use among Immigrant Workers Around a University in South India – A Qualitative Approach https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3019 <p>Background: According to the global adult tobacco survey – prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in India is highest in the world and 60% of tobacco users in India currently use SLT products. The prevalence of SLT use among women in Karnataka is 14.7%, among immigrant women daily wage workers is 87.2%. There is paucity of information about tobacco consumption among females, especially which calls for an urgent need to address the issue. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine underlying factors which initiated SLT use and their knowledge levels about its ill effects among immigrant daily wage workers in a University setting of South India. Settings and Design: This was a qualitative study conducted at office sites (n = 6) within University Premises of Manipal, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: The focus group and interview guides were semi-structure in nature and developed in the context of a guide to a conversation/discussion. It covered all research questions that could be answered by this qualitative approach. Statistical Analysis: Thematic analysis was used to report and interpret the findings. Results and Conclusion: A total of six focus group discussion’s (n = 55 participants) and 20 in-depth interview’s (n = 20 participants) were conducted. Themes emerged – “Factors for uptake of SLT use,” “Poor knowledge on adverse effects of SLT use,” “Easy Availability and Accessibility,” and “Thoughts and Suggestions on quitting.” Reappraising social determinants in access to tobacco prevention and cessation support services to migrant construction workers may be a promising strategy to reduce health harms of SLT use.</p> Roy Arora Swati, Kallol Roy Copyright (c) 2023 Roy Arora Swati, Kallol Roy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3019 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 A Study on Health-care Utilization and Health-care Seeking Behavior of People Approaching Two Institutions (Ayurveda and Allopathic PHCs) in Vengara Panchayat of Malappuram District, Kerala https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3028 <p>Background: To make health for all a reality, we need individuals and communities with access to high-quality health services to take care of their health and of their families. There is a need to undertake a more systematic analysis to examine AYUSH and Allopathic care utilization across regional, socioeconomic, and demographic groups. In a country like India, which is home to many traditional medicine systems, it is also essential to understand how Ayush coexists with allopathic system. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study design using a self-made questionnaire to find healthcare utilization and healthcare-seeking behaviour. Results: Factors determining health-care utilization such as prior experience in care (AOR 3.47; 95% CI 0.52–23.37), affordability (AOR 11.48; 95% CI 2.31–57.08), availability of essential medicines and their quality (AOR 35.28; 95% CI 5.32–234.20), and acceptability of treatment (AOR 4.51; 95% CI 0.91–22.41) were shown to be a positive predictor for choosing Allopathic PHC. At the same time, healthcare services such as screening and basic management of mental health ailments (AOR 0.20; 95% CI 0.02–2.26) and care in pregnancy and childbirth (AOR 0.54; 95% CI 0.12–2.32) were shown to be negative predictors for allopathic. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted the need for systematic information on the usage of healthcare services and people’s healthcare-seeking behaviours. It would help policymakers and stakeholders set up specific strategies to ensure the effective utilization and distribution of existing resources and enforce the country’s sufficient delivery of healthcare services.</p> Asif Asfan Parangodath, Ajitha Katta Copyright (c) 2023 Asif Asfan Parangodath, Ajitha Katta https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://www.apjhs.com/index.php/apjhs/article/view/3028 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000