Objectives Background-Contraception is the intentional prevention of conception through the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs or surgical procedures. An effective contraception allows a physical relationship without fear of an unwanted pregnancy and ensures freedom to have children when desired. The aim is to achieve contraception in maximum comfort and privacy, with minimum cost and side effects. Some methods, like male and female condoms, also provide twin advantage of protection from sexually transmitted diseases. The burden of unsafe abortion lies primarily in developing countries. Here, contraceptive prevalence is measured among currently married women of reproductive age, and levels have not yet reached those that exist in developed countries. Conclusion In countries like India, there is a dire need for contraceptive methods to be more women friendly, accessible and provide adequate privacy. Providers also need to be sensitive to special needs of adolescents as they are at a critically vulnerable segment.

Curcumin, an important Asian spice, is part of many Indian food preparations. This work evaluates the antifungal activity of curcumin against 14 strains of Candida (10 clinical and 4 standard). Curcumin displayed antifungal properties against all tested Candida strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) varying from 250 to 2000 µg·mL⁻¹. The in vitro effect of curcumin on growth, sterol content, proteinase secretion, and H+ extrusion by plasma membrane ATPase was investigated for 2 standard strains Candida albicans ATCC 10261 and Candida glabrata ATCC 90030 and compared with the effect of fluconazole. At MIC, curcumin inhibited H+ extrusion in 2 species of Candida by 42% and 32% in the absence of glucose and by 28% and 18% in the presence of glucose. Respective inhibition of H+ extrusion caused by the MIC of fluconazole was 85% and 89% in the absence of glucose and 61% and 66% in its presence. Ergosterol content decreased by 70% and 53% for the 2 strains following exposure to curcumin at MIC; comparative values for fluconazole at MIC were 93% and 98%. Curcumin and fluconazole decreased proteinase secretion by 49% and 53%, respectively, in C. albicans and by 39% and 46%, respectively, in C. glabrata. In conclusion, curcumin is found to be active against all tested clinical and standard strains but is less effective than fluconazole. Antifungal activity of curcumin might be originating from alteration of membrane-associated properties of ATPase activity, ergosterol biosynthesis, and proteinase secretion.

Emergence of ceftriaxone less susceptible N. gonorrhoeae isolates is a cause for concern, although treatment failure was not observed. An active, continuous and comprehensive programme for monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance needs to be established in many laboratories, and a search for new effective agents needs to be initiated to respond to the emergence of resistant isolates.