Maternal Nutrition, Body Composition and Gestational Weight Gain on Low Birth Weight and Small for Gestational Age-A Cohort Study in an Indian Urban Slum.

Maternal nutritional status and care during pregnancy are essential for adequate birth weight. In this prospective cohort study (N = 1061) in an urban slum, we investigated the association of maternal anthropometry, body composition, gestational weight gain and dietary intakes with low birthweight (LBW, <2.5 kg). About one-third of the women were short (<150 cm), 35% were underweight (<45 kg), 23% suffered from chronic energy deficiency (CED, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and another 30% were overweight/obese. The mean age and BMI were 23 years and 21.7 kg/m2, respectively, and haemoglobin was 10.73 g/dL. The mean birthweight (N = 605) was 2.81 ± 0.5 kg, and the average gestational age was 38 ± 2 weeks. About 15% of infants had LBW, and 48% were small for gestational age (SGA). Maternal body composition was assessed by skinfold thickness (SFT) in all trimesters. In the first trimester (N = 762), we found that mean fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage (% BF) were 38.86 kg, 11.43 kg and 21.55%, respectively. Low birthweight was significantly associated with preterm deliveries (p < 0.001) and less fat free mass (p = 0.02) in the third trimester. Among other factors were age (p = 0.017), maternal anthropometry (height: p = 0.031; weight: p = 0.059) and fewer antenatal check-ups (p = 0.037). Small size (SGA) was consistently associated with maternal bodyweight at all trimesters (term I, p = 0.013, term II, p = 0.003 and term III, p < 0.001), fat mass in the third trimester (p < 0.001) and maternal height (p = 0.003).

Corrigendum to "Cholesterol-Lowering Probiotics as Potential Biotherapeutics for Metabolic Diseases".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2012/902917.].

Oral Toxicity Study for Salmonella Killing Lytic Bacteriophage NINP13076 in BALB/c Mice and Its Effect on Probiotic Microbiota.

Viruses that infect bacteria are emerging as attractive biocontrol agents and biopreservatives for foods. Since these bacteriophages kill the target pathogens by lysis and are also consumed along with food, it is essential to evaluate their collateral toxicity on the probiotic gut microbiota. In this study, we examined the acute oral toxicity of a Salmonella phage isolated from sewage in mice. Acute oral administration of the Salmonella phage for five consecutive days did not show any significant pathological changes in the vital organs like lung, kidneys, heart, liver, and intestine. In addition, growth of typical probiotic microbiota remained unaffected even after incubation up to 24 h with the Salmonella phage. The results of this study clearly showed that oral administration of the lytic Salmonella phage did not have any significant adverse effects on the animals, may not harm the probiotic gut microbiota, and are likely to be safe for use in food preservation.

Effectiveness of biofeedback relaxation and audio-visual distraction on dental anxiety among 7- to 12-year-old children while administering local anaesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Local anaesthesia (LA) administration provokes dental anxiety in children. BrightHearts is a biofeedback relaxation application designed to reduce anxiety in children during painful procedural interventions. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of biofeedback relaxation (BR) and audio-visual (AV) distraction on dental anxiety among 7- to 12-year-old children while administering LA. DESIGN: A total of 70 children requiring dental treatment under LA for three visits were recruited for this single-blinded randomized control trial. They were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A received BR and Group B received AV distraction during LA delivery in the first two visits, and both groups did not receive any intervention during LA in third visit. Outcomes were measured using heart rate and a cartoon-based anxiety measuring scale (Chotta Bheem-Chutki (CBC) scale). RESULTS: AV group had statistically significant higher mean heart rates than BR group (P < .001) during needle penetration and post-intervention, respectively. CBC scale showed no statistical differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both the interventions are effective in reducing dental anxiety during LA administration. Based on objective measures, BR is found to be better than AV distraction. Subjective scores, however, show no differences between the two.

Deep Learning Models for Multiple Face Mask Detection under a Complex Big Data Environment.

The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic creates a worldwide health crisis. According to the WHO, the effective protection system is wearing a face mask in public places. Many studies proved that carrying a face mask is also one of the precautions to decrease the possibility of viral transmission. Strict monitoring of face mask being worn by people is now enforced in many countries. Manual observation and monitoring is quite tedious. Hence, automated systems have been researched using well-kwown face mask detection methods. However, this research paper, deals with some deep learning models which can be effectively used to detect multiple face masks in a crowded environment when the amount of incoming data from sensors is huge or in otherwise stated to a Big data problem. Hence, standalone face detection models are not quite suited. Deep learning models are required in such Big data scenario which forms the essence of this study.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of autotransplantation among the practicing pediatric dentists in Chennai - A questionnaire study.

Background: Autotransplantation is a minor surgical procedure which involves transplantation of teeth within the same oral cavity. For children, autotransplantation may be considered as a provisional measure with good survival probability. It offers a viable biological approach for replacing the missing teeth and also for orthodontic treatments in children. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of autotransplantation among pediatric dentists in Chennai, India. Methods: An 18-item questionnaire was developed, piloted, and distributed among 100 practicing pediatric dentists in Chennai, India. Descriptive statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test. Results: Seventy valid responses from the practicing pediatric dentists were obtained. Among them, 39.7% had an experience of 5-10 years, 47.1% practiced less than 5 years, and 13.2% had experience more than 10 years. Analysis of the responses showed that 76.5% of the pediatric dentists were aware of the procedure but have not observed autotransplantation being done. Among the respondents, 95.6% have not performed this technique and 40.6% of them were not sure of the prognosis. Atraumatic extraction of donor tooth was considered to be a major limitation in autotransplantation by 41.8% of the pediatric dentists. From the responses received, 95.6% were interested in gaining more information with majority opting for more hands on workshops on the technique of autotransplantation. Conclusion: Though most of the respondents were aware of autotransplantation procedure, they have not practiced it due to inadequate training.

Molecular Mechanisms and Biochemical Pathways for Micronutrient Acquisition and Storage in Legumes to Support Biofortification for Nutritional Security.

The world faces a grave situation of nutrient deficiency as a consequence of increased uptake of calorie-rich food that threaten nutritional security. More than half the world's population is affected by different forms of malnutrition. Unhealthy diets associated with poor nutrition carry a significant risk of developing non-communicable diseases, leading to a high mortality rate. Although considerable efforts have been made in agriculture to increase nutrient content in cereals, the successes are insufficient. The number of people affected by different forms of malnutrition has not decreased much in the recent past. While legumes are an integral part of the food system and widely grown in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, only limited efforts have been made to increase their nutrient content in these regions. Genetic variation for a majority of nutritional traits that ensure nutritional security in adverse conditions exists in the germplasm pool of legume crops. This diversity can be utilized by selective breeding for increased nutrients in seeds. The targeted identification of precise factors related to nutritional traits and their utilization in a breeding program can help mitigate malnutrition. The principal objective of this review is to present the molecular mechanisms of nutrient acquisition, transport and metabolism to support a biofortification strategy in legume crops to contribute to addressing malnutrition.

Nonclinical safety evaluation of oral recombinant anti-human papilloma virus vaccine (RHPV 16 & 18): Regulatory toxicology studies in mice, rats and rabbits - An innovative approach.

AIM: The human papilloma virus (HPV) type 16 and 18 causes nearly 70% of uterine cervical cancers. Oral administration of live Salmonella typhi Ty21a, expressing major capsid proteins (L1) of HPV 16 and 18 is a potential choice for immunization in adolescent girls under low resource settings. Present study aimed to assess the nonclinical safety of recombinant S. typhi expressing HPV 16 and 18 (rStHPV) proteins. METHODOLOGY: The acute toxicity of rStHPV was tested by intranasal single dose administration, of 10 and 50 folds higher than clinical prophylactic dose, in mice and rat followed by monitoring their survival for 14 days. Sub-chronic toxicity was evaluated in rats and rabbits with prophylactic and 5 times (average) to clinical prophylactic dosages on scheduled days (1st, 3rd & 5th day) through oral and intranasal routes. The immune/allergic response of rStHPV was assessed in mice through intranasal and intra-peritoneal routes. Experimental animals were daily monitored for live phase, and clinical chemistry, haematology, immunotoxicology, immunogenic response and histopathological examination of vital organs on 15th, 29th and 93rd days. RESULTS: No abnormal changes were noticed in live phase activity, clinical chemistry and haematology profile. The gross necropsy, organ weights and histopathology were found to be normal. No immunotoxicity was recorded as evaluated by tier I tests. Allergic immune response, as evaluated with IgE levels was also negative irrespective of test routes. On the other hand, a significant (P < 0.01) increase of anti-HPV IgG levels was noted in mice exposed through intranasal route. Though the pre-terminal mortality was noted in mice (6-15%), rats (10%) and rabbits (15%), the autopsy revealed no signs of toxicity related to rStHPV, as the changes neither significant nor dose dependent; and even noted in vehicle control also. CONCLUSION: The study results suggested 'no observable adverse effects' of rStHPV even at higher dosages (5, 10 & 50 folds) than intended clinical dose. A significant increase of anti-HPV specific IgG suggests the immunogenicity of vaccine. The innovative approach of current study is nonclinical toxicology evaluation of vaccine through intra-nasal route, an alternate route apart from stipulated regulatory guidelines.

Effect of Yoganidra on Blood Pressure, Hs-CRP, and Lipid Profile of Hypertensive Subjects: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Yoganidra is a systematic method of promoting a state of complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. It is a safe, inexpensive, and very effective method of management of hypertension when used along with standard pharmacological therapy. This study aims to assess the effect of yoganidra on blood pressure (both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)), Hs-CRP, and lipid profile of hypertensive subjects at the time of enrollment (subjects that are hypertensive at the time of enrollment). METHODS: Both treated and untreated subjects (n = 74) with hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg) and age between 35 and 70 years were included in this study after obtaining ICMR-NIN-IEC approval and written informed consent from all subjects. Subjects with critical illness and/or psychological disturbances were excluded from this study. The subjects in the experimental group (n = 31) practiced yoganidra for 45 minutes daily for 12 weeks under strict supervision. There was no intervention in the control group (n = 43). Weekly blood pressure was recorded in the experimental group, whereas it was performed at baseline and at endpoint for control groups. Hs-CRP and lipid profile were estimated at baseline and endpoint for both the groups. RESULTS: A significant reduction in mean SBP from 142.9 mm Hg (SD ± 16.46) to 118.68 mm Hg (SD ± 9.21; p value 0.0001) and DBP from 89.84 mm Hg (SD ± 10.42) to 77.03 mm Hg (SD ± 6.47: p value 0.0001) was observed among the experimental group after 12 weeks of yoganidra practice when compared with the control group. A significant reduction in mean Hs-CRP (2.21 ± 1.49 to 1.06 ± 0.82 mg/L, p < 0.001 ∗∗∗ ) was observed among the experimental group. There were no significant differences between triglycerides and total cholesterol levels, whereas LDL-C and HDL-C showed a trend of improvement in the experimental group after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, we observed a significant reduction in blood pressure and Hs-CRP in the yoganidra group compared with the control group. There were no significant side effects observed in the intervention group during the study period.

Topical anesthesia for stainless steel crown tooth preparation in primary molars: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Placement of full-coverage restorations such as stainless steel crowns (SSCs) for pulpectomy treated primary molars is essential for successful outcomes. The tooth preparation process for SSCs can cause discomfort to gingival tissues since the crown should be seated 1 mm subgingivally. The purpose of this prospective trial was to compare the effectiveness of subgingival and transmucosal application of topical anesthetics on dental pain during SSC tooth preparation among 6- to 8-year-old children. METHODS: A consecutive sample of 27 children, aged 6-8 years, who required an SSC after pulp therapy in primary molars were randomly divided into three groups. Group A received infiltration anesthesia before tooth preparation for SSC placement, whereas in Group B and C, only topical anesthesia was applied subgingivally and transmucosally. Wong-Bakers Faces pain rating scale (WBFPS) scores were recorded after tooth preparation. Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scores were evaluated by two blinded and calibrated investigators through video recordings of the patient during tooth preparation. Data were tabulated, and inter-group comparisons were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: Out of the 27 participants, 48% were boys and 52% were girls, with an overall mean age of 6.83 years. Group A showed the least pain scores according to both the scales, followed by Group B and Group C. The pain intensity was statistically significant on both the pain scales with P = 0.003 for FLACC and P < 0.001 for WBFPS. CONCLUSION: Subgingival application of topical anesthesia reduced pain to a certain extent but not as effectively as infiltration anesthesia during SSC tooth preparation in primary molars. Transmucosal application of topical anesthesia did not reduce discomfort when compared to the other two interventions.

Automatic localization of anatomical regions in medical ultrasound images of rheumatoid arthritis using deep learning.

The pace of population aging is growing faster worldwide. The quality of life of the aging population is mostly affected by rheumatic diseases. With the increasing rate of rheumatoid arthritis in the aging population, technological advances in the field of automatic image processing and analysis have paved way for automatic detection and diagnosis of arthritis based on how the grade of the synovial region is designed. The proposed method is based on spatial analysis using intensity-based approach to segment the skin border, thresholding and connectivity algorithm for bone region segmentation, hit-or-miss transform for bone line segmentation and distance measure with image profile to detect the joint region. After this process of localization, the synovial region is determined using the active contour technique. In arthritis condition, synovitis also occurs which is categorized into four different grades based on the fluid expansion in the synovial region. The different grades are defined and analyzed through deep learning. Convolutional neural network in a deep learning algorithm is used to diagnose the particular grade of synovitis to describe the nature of arthritis. With these results, a module to detect the nature of arthritis automatically is defined.

National Institute of Nutrition: 100 years of empowering the nation through nutrition.

The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has reached a remarkable milestone of completing 100 years of exemplary service to the nation. The long journey that started in a humble one-room laboratory at Coonoor (now in Tamil Nadu) in 1918 to a colossus of the nutrition research in the country today is dotted with several interesting vignettes. The NIN has always been at the forefront of need-based, pragmatic research. Its large-scale community-based interventions have been of great practical value in the nation's fight against malnutrition. The evolution of nutrition as a modern science almost coincides with the growth of the Institute. Being the oldest in the fraternity of institutes under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the NIN has grown from strength to strength due to the sheer relevance of its contributions in furthering nutrition science and promoting public health in the country. This article provides a historical overview of the evolution and contributions of ICMR-NIN in the areas of nutrition, food safety, public health and policy.

Undernutrition in children & critical windows of opportunity in Indian context.

It is intriguing to note that majority of the wasting among the under 5 yr in India is present at birth. The National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4) data analysis shows 31.9 per cent wasting at birth, which is decreasing to 17.7 per cent in the under five children; clearly suggesting that any reduction in wasting should come from improvement in foetal growth. In addition, children with both severe wasting and severe stunting, in whom the risk of mortality increases many folds, are <1 per cent in almost all the States; and these are the children in whom special care is required under the community-based management of severe acute malnutrition. This article presents an overview of nutrition status in children, their antecedents, and the critical phases; especially, nutrition status before pregnancy that plays a crucial role in all the nutrition status indicators of children. More attention on the critical phases is crucial to maximize the benefits from national programmes.

Effect of probiotic supplementation on total lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and short chain fatty acids in 2-5-year-old children.

​Background: Consumption of Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37 or Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 by 2-5-year-old children was found to reduce risk for diarrhoea and fever during the rainy season. Objective: Can changes in faecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) or branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) explain the observed positive influence of probiotics and their role on nutritional status and diarrhoea risk? Design: Faecal samples were analysed for SCFAs and BCFAs and correlated to Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus levels; both at the start and after nine months' consumption of either of the two probiotic strains, or placebo. Results: No differences in SCFAs, BCFAs, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium levels were found between boys and girls. Severely underweight children were observed to have the highest Lactobacillus levels. Probiotic intervention was found to be associated with higher levels of selected SCFAs and BCFAs in subjects who had experienced diarrhoea. Treatment with either of the probiotics led to changes in SCFAs and BCFAs. SCFAs, acetate, propionate and butyrate, were found to correlate with each other. Likewise, BCFAs isobutyrate, 2-methylbutyrate and isovalerate correlated with each other. After the intervention, L. paracasei Lpc-37 correlated positively with total Bifidobacterium counts and isovalerate levels. B. lactis HN019 counts were found to correlate positively with total bacterial counts and negatively with propionate levels. Conclusions: ​Nutritional status was associated with higher levels of faecal lactobacilli; the meaning of this requires further investigation. The intervention with the two probiotics was observed to influence the levels of faecal SCFAs and BCFAs and there is a differential response in those who developed diarrhoea and those who did not. It is, however, not clear to what extent this is a mechanism that explains the earlier observed effect the strains had on diarrhoea risk.

Rehabilitation of complicated crown-root fracture by invisible approach.

Dental trauma is one of the most common and significant problems met in all dental offices almost every day. In particular, injury to the anterior teeth is more vulnerable as it may affect the psychosocial behavior, severe emotional complications can occur leading to disturbances in their mental attitude. Cosmetic (lingual) orthodontics is the recent development in the field of dentistry in the last few decades. Patients are more concerned about their appearance during the treatment and are affected by psychosocial issues because of labially placed brackets, thus leading to the evolution of lingual orthodontic appliances. In this article, we are sharing our clinical experience treating a complicated crown-root fracture using the lingual orthodontic technique.

Phytochemical composition, GC-MS analysis, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial potential of clove flower bud (Eugenia caryophyllus) methanolic extract.

Plant derived pharmacologically active compounds have gained importance in food and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of the present study is to identify and study the antioxidant, antimicrobial properties of the phytochemicals present in the crude extract of Eugenia caryophyllus flower buds. The antioxidant activity of the methanol, acetone and chloroform extract was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The methanol extract showed better radical scavenging activity than other selected solvents. Preliminary screening of phytochemicals was carried out in methanol extract and total phenol content was found high. Antibacterial activity was determined by well diffusion assay and methanol extract was found effective against Klebsiella pneumonia. FTIR and GC-MS results indicate the presence of aromatic compounds and major constituents were found to be eugenol and eugenyl acetate. Results of this study implied that Eugenia caryophyllus flower bud extract could be considered as health nutriments in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Electrospun Nanofiber Mats as "Smart Surfaces" for Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (DESI MS)-Based Analysis and Imprint Imaging.

In this paper, desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI MS)-based molecular analysis and imprint imaging using electrospun nylon-6 nanofiber mats are demonstrated for various analytical contexts. Uniform mats of varying thicknesses composed of ∼200 nm diameter fibers were prepared using needleless electrospinning. Analytical applications requiring rapid understanding of the analytes in single drops, dyes, inks, and/or plant extracts incorporated directly into the nanofibers are discussed with illustrations. The possibility to imprint patterns made of printing inks, plant parts (such as petals, leaves, and slices of rhizomes), and fungal growth on fruits with their faithful reproductions on the nanofiber mats is illustrated with suitable examples. Metabolites were identified by tandem mass spectrometry data available in the literature and in databases. The results highlight the significance of electrospun nanofiber mats as smart surfaces to capture diverse classes of compounds for rapid detection or to imprint imaging under ambient conditions. Large surface area, appropriate chemical functionalities exposed, and easiness of desorption due to weaker interactions of the analyte species are the specific advantages of nanofibers for this application.