Comparing the effectiveness of two educational methods for oral health management in COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals.

AIM. The aim of this study was to train dentists on the different oral hygiene measures to be followed by COVID-19 patients via Webinar and Information Education Communication (IEC) Materials and compare the effectiveness of both. METHODOLOGY. A total of 100 dental professionals were included by non-probability convenience sampling. Webinar and IEC Materials on oral hygiene measures, oral symptoms, and management strategies during COVID-19 were created and training was conducted for all dental professionals who registered themselves. An online version of the self-administered questionnaire (English) was created on the official Edantseva website and circulated to all the registered participants to obtain the pre and post-training data. RESULTS. Out of the total 80 participants in the Webinar group, 47 were females and 33 were males. Comparing the mean total scores obtained by the participants in the webinar and IEC groups in the pre and post-test showed that there is a significant difference in the scores obtained by the participants in the two groups in the pre and post-test (p<0.01). CONCLUSION. Educating dentists via IEC Materials was effective in improving their knowledge regarding oral health management during the COVID-19 pandemic. IEC materials being handy and referable at any time was found to be more effective.

Inhibition of NRF2 signaling overcomes acquired resistance to arsenic trioxide in FLT3-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

De novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) have worse treatment outcomes. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been reported to be effective in degrading the FLT3 protein in AML cell lines and sensitizing non-APL AML patient samples in-vitro. We have previously reported that primary cells from FLT3-ITD mutated AML patients were sensitive to ATO in-vitro compared to other non-M3 AML and molecular/pharmacological inhibition of NF-E2 related factor 2 (NRF2), a master regulator of antioxidant response improved the chemosensitivity to ATO and daunorubicin even in non FLT3-ITD mutated cell lines and primary samples. We examined the effects of molecular/pharmacological suppression of NRF2 on acquired ATO resistance in the FLT3-ITD mutant AML cell line (MV4-11-ATO-R). ATO-R cells showed increased NRF2 expression, nuclear localization, and upregulation of bonafide NRF2 targets. Molecular inhibition of NRF2 in this resistant cell line improved ATO sensitivity in vitro. Digoxin treatment lowered p-AKT expression, abrogating nuclear NRF2 localization and sensitizing cells to ATO. However, digoxin and ATO did not sensitize non-ITD AML cell line THP1 with high NRF2 expression. Digoxin decreased leukemic burden and prolonged survival in MV4-11 ATO-R xenograft mice. We establish that altering NRF2 expression may reverse acquired ATO resistance in FLT3-ITD AML.

Cultural factors and family influences on adolescent oral health: qualitative research in a socially disadvantaged population.

AIM: This qualitative study sought to assess the influence of cultural factors and family on oral health behaviour of 12- to 15-year-old adolescents from the socially disadvantaged population. DESIGN: A qualitative design was developed with focus group discussions (FGDs) among 12- to 15-year-old adolescents. Four focus groups (n = 32 participants) were created from a selected sample to capture oral health beliefs and practices, oral health-seeking behaviour along with other relevant information. Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated. Data were analysed thematically and structural coding was applied. RESULTS: Three key themes that emerged from FGDs were importance of oral health; role of family in oral health behaviour; and beliefs influencing access, prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Cultural background, family values and beliefs were imperative in moulding the behaviour of adolescents towards oral health. The use of traditional oral hygiene aides was a norm in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the study provide greater insights into the authoritative role of family and cultural barriers in the uptake of dental services. The study also highlights the potential value of qualitative research and emphasizes the need to integrate oral health-associated cultural beliefs and attitudes of the adolescents towards a wider evidence base.

Assessment of soil microbial diversity and soil enzyme activities under inorganic input sources on maize and rice ecosystems.

Background: To increase crop productivity, modern agricultural practices comprises fertilizers, algaecides, herbicides and fungicides. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil microbial population and soil enzyme activity by the use of fertilizer in maize and inorganic input in the rice ecosystem. Methods: A field experiment (2021 to 2023) was carried out using synthetic fertilizer doses with maize crops followed by rice crops using inorganic inputs. Soil microbial population and enzyme activities were examined. Results: Maize field experiment revealed that the plots treated with 75 % Standardized Dose of Fertilizer (SDF) of NPK had the highest populations of diazotrophs (124 × 105cfu / g), Phosphobacteria (66.33 × 105cfu / g), and Azospirillum (0.409 × 105 MPN / g) than 100 % and 150 % SDF of NPK. The soil enzyme activity was higher in the unfertilized control plot than fertilized plot. These experimental results revealed that a low amount of fertilizer and no fertilizers favour the growth of soil microorganisms and soil enzyme activities, respectively. Followed by the rice field experiment, revealed that the soil microbial population was decreased by the application of inorganic inputs viz., fertilizer, algaecide, herbicide and fungicide. However, the maximum soil microbial population was found in algaecide application followed by herbicide and fungicide. Conclusion: The field experiment concluded that soil microbial population and enzyme activity were affected by inorganic amendments. Less inorganic fertilizers and no fertilizers improve soil microbial activities and soil enzyme activities.

Global perspective on child and adolescent oral health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of oral impacts on daily performance.

OBJECTIVE: Several prevalence studies have estimated the region-specific impact of oral diseases on oral health-related quality of life. However, none of them reported and compared the same from a global perspective. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate pooled epidemiologic data about child-oral impacts on daily performance (C-OIDP) globally. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct, SciELO, Semantic scholar, and Cochrane databases up to January 2023. Studies evaluating OIDP among 11-18-year-olds were included in the review. Quality of the included studies was evaluated using the health states quality index for cross-sectional studies. The meta-analysis used R package software version 4.3.0. A common effect model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD-NIHR) database with Reference ID CRD42023393798. RESULTS: The systematic literature search yielded 257 unique citations. After screening titles and abstracts, 214 irrelevant citations were excluded, leaving 55 for full-text review. Overall, 43 studies from 23 countries were included. The meta-analysis reported a pooled prevalence impact C-OIDP of 53.36% (CI: 52.78-53.95, 43 studies, 16,622 participants). The prevalence of C-OIDP scores among South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania was 83%, 63%, 58%, 33% and 47%, respectively. The maximum prevalence was reported in South America while the least prevalence was noted in the African population. CONCLUSION: Oral diseases affect the oral health-related quality of life of more than half of children and adolescents globally. Huge variations were noted in the prevalence of oral impacts across different regions. These findings can be utilized by policymakers to draft measures required for reducing impacts of oral diseases and improving the health-related quality of life.

Interprofessional collaboration in Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA) treatment: Assessment of professional orientation levels amongst otolaryngologists in South India.

Objective: The primary goal was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among otorhinolaryngologists regarding orthodontic intervention for Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA). Methods: An online survey was conducted by sending an email invitation to members of The Association of Otorhinolaryngologists of Karnataka, India. A total of 141 otorhinolaryngologists participated in the survey. Results: Most of the participants (70.2%) agreed that orthodontic interventions help in opening up the airway, but very few knew about its application in nasal obstruction management. Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngologists are aware of dental effects of POSA and they believe that an interprofessional team is essential for its management. This learning can also be used to initiate interprofessional collaborations and academic and curricular improvisations for enhanced health outcomes.

Risk factors and associated pathway for rural and urban unmet dental prosthetic needs among older adults in Central India.

AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the risk factors and associated pathways for unmet dental prosthetic needs among older adult population in Central India. METHODS: A total of 11,145 randomly selected older adults participated in the study; 4613 from urban region and 6532 form rural region. Oral examinations were conducted at individual households for recording dental caries, periodontal disease, prosthetic status and needs. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to examine relationship between a set of exogenous variables and unmet dental prosthetic needs with variables that remained significant in the adjusted multilevel logistic model. Path coefficients were calculated for all variables with 95% confidence interval. Goodness of fit of the model was assessed by several indices. RESULTS: A total of 8433 (75.7%) participants had never visited a dentist and 9139 (82%) had unmet dental prosthetic needs. Dental caries was observed among 3207 (69.5%) and 4644 (71.1%) study participants from urban and rural regions respectively (p < .05). Low utilization of dental services was associated with high dental prosthetic needs in upper arch and lower arch (PC = -0.05, 0.001) and DMFT was associated with lower utilization of dental services (PC = -0.09, 0.001). DMFT was also associated with age, annual income, level of education, paternal education, type of family, tobacco consumption and CPI score in the hypothesized model. The fit indices used indicated that the model was adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Dental prosthetic needs in the proposed pathway model was associated with low utilization of dental services, dental caries, periodontal disease and other socio-demographic factors.

Immortalised chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) line retains the immunomodulatory and chemoprotective properties of CML patient-derived MSCs.

Despite the success of Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), leukemic stem cells (LSCs) persist, contributing to relapse and resistance. CML Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) help in LSC maintenance and protection from TKIs. However, the limited passage and self-differentiation abilities of primary CML MSCs hinder extensive research. To overcome this, we generated and characterized an immortalised CML patient-derived MSC (iCML MSC) line and assessed its role in LSC maintenance. We also compared the immunophenotype and differentiation potential between primary CML MSCs at diagnosis, post-treatment, and with normal bone marrow MSCs. Notably, CML MSCs exhibited enhanced chondrogenic differentiation potential compared to normal MSCs. The iCML MSC line retained the trilineage differentiation potential and was genetically stable, enabling long-term investigations. Functional studies demonstrated that iCML MSCs protected CML CD34+ cells from imatinib-induced apoptosis, recapitulating the bone marrow microenvironment-mediated resistance observed in patients. iCML MSC-conditioned media enabled CML CD34+ and AML blast cells to proliferate rapidly, with no impact on healthy donor CD34+ cells. Gene expression profiling revealed dysregulated genes associated with calcium metabolism in CML CD34+ cells cocultured with iCML MSCs, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets. Further, cytokine profiling revealed that the primary CML MSC lines abundantly secreted 25 cytokines involved in immune regulation, supporting the hypothesis that CML MSCs create an immune modulatory microenvironment that promotes growth and protects against TKIs. Our study establishes the utility of iCML MSCs as a valuable model to investigate leukemic-stromal interactions and study candidate genes involved in mediating TKI resistance in CML LSCs.

Qualitative Analysis of Opinions and Beliefs Associated with the Use of Tobacco Dentifrice among Individuals Attending a Tobacco Counselling Session.

BACKGROUND: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is positively associated with oral, oesophageal, and pancreatic cancers. The tobacco dentifrice is a type of SLT which is applied to the teeth and gums. It is available in different forms which include mishri, gul/gulmanjan, gudhaku, snuff, red tooth powder, and creamy snuff. This qualitative study aims to explore the opinions and beliefs associated with the harmful effects of tobacco dentifrice use. METHODOLOGY: Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted among tobacco dentifrice users visiting a dental hospital. The data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti software 8. RESULTS: A total of 11 codes and six categories were generated which comprised of the reason for the initiation, awareness of health effects, perception of oral tobacco application, perception of quitting, the reason for continued use, and use in society. Family, peers, access to the product, curiosity were important factors to initiate the tobacco dentifrice use. Participants believed in the myth that tobacco dentifrice was beneficial for the teeth, gums, and bowel movements. The participants considered tobacco dentifrice to be less harmful than other forms of tobacco. However, some participants were aware of its adverse effects on health and have tried to quit in the past. None of the participants had taken any professional help for quitting. CONCLUSION: There were strong beliefs and myths among the participants that tobacco dentifrice was beneficial for oral and general health. There is a need to create awareness and improve the standard of the health warning of such products.

Effectiveness and Safety of Prochlorperazine in Indian Patients with Acute Vertigo: Results from a Large, Prospective, Post-marketing Observational Study.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of prochlorperazine in Indian patients with acute vertigo. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, open-label, post-marketing observational study, patients with acute peripheral vertigo of different etiologies received 5 mg prochlorperazine thrice a day for 5 days. The primary endpoints were percentage of patients with improvement in (1) vertigo symptoms and (2) clinical response as per scale for vestibular vertigo severity level and clinical response evaluation (SVVSLCRE) from baseline to end of treatment (Day 6). The key secondary endpoints were (1) improvement in nystagmus grading, and (2) safety and tolerability Efficacy of prochlorperazine by route of administration of first prochlorperazine dose (oral or intramuscular) was also assessed. Results: Of 1716 enrolled patients (mean [standard deviation, SD]) age (42.0 [12.95] years; 53.6% men), 57.4% were diagnosed with Meniere's disease, followed by vestibular neuritis (17.4%), labyrinthitis (16.7%), or ear surgery (8.5%). In the overall population, 91.1% of patients showed improvement in clinical response per SVVSLCRE grading at Day 6 (p < 0.0001 vs. non-responders). Nystagmus grading was improved in 99.7% (of patients. No adverse drug reactions events were reported. Tolerability of prochlorperazine was rated as good, very good, and excellent by 43.6%, 32.9% and 20.7% of patients, respectively. Among patients with postoperative vertigo, 80.1% showed improvement in clinical response. In the intramuscular and oral subsets, 85.5% and 92.1% of patients showed improved clinical response, respectively. Conclusion: Prochlorperazine showed improvement in severity of symptoms and clinical response in all subsets of vertigo patients, with a good safety and tolerability profile. Trial Registration Number: CTRI/2022/01/039287. Date of Registration: 10 January 2022.

Effect of premature loss of primary teeth on prevalence of malocclusion in permanent dentition: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of premature loss of primary teeth in children of mixed dentition age on the prevalence of malocclusion in permanent dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was conducted in Medline through PubMed, Cochrane databases, Google Scholar, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) through March 2023. All observational studies that evaluated the association between premature loss of primary teeth and malocclusion in permanent dentition were included for analysis. Quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.3. The association between different categories of malocclusion and premature loss of primary teeth was assessed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was explored through sensitivity analysis. Certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE analysis. RESULTS: This meta-analysis showed that the premature loss of primary teeth significantly increases the prevalence of overall malocclusion in permanent dentition (OR=2.54, P=0.003; I2: 83%). Subgroup analysis showed an insignificant relationship of premature loss of primary teeth with Class I malocclusion (OR=1.14, P=0.45; I2: 63%) and Class II malocclusion (OR=1.63, P=0.18; I2: 87%) but statistically significant relationship with Class III malocclusion (OR=3.73, P=0.006; I2: 71%). Sensitivity analysis reflected a significant reduction in I2 values. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides substantial evidence supporting the relationship between premature loss of primary teeth and malocclusion in permanent dentition. Notably, Class III malocclusions exhibited a significant association with premature loss of primary teeth.

First report on the occurrence of Gonyaulax polygramma bloom during the onset of Noctiluca scintillans bloom along the Tuticorin coast, southeast coast of India.

Dense and green-coloured patches were encountered on the sea surface waters of the Tuticorin coast on 22nd October 2022. Microscopic investigation revealed that the discoloration is caused by plankton, green Noctiluca scintillans. In order to find out the causes that trigger the bloom of N. scintillans, plankton samples were collected for 5 days in fourteen days duration from 22nd October to 4th November. During the peak bloom period, the abundance and biovolume of N. scintillans reached 1.56 × 104 cells/L and 21.8 × 1010µm3/L, respectively. The highest concentration (73.65 mg/m3) of chlorophyll-a was recorded during blooming period that was caused by Gonyaulax polygramma and endosymbiont, Pedinomonas noctilucae in N. scintillans. Formation of G. polygramma bloom is being reported for the first time in Tuticorin, southeast coast of India, with a species abundance of 36.9 × 104 cells/L. Present study concluded that besides the optimum hydrological conditions and eutrophic nature of the system, abundant prey (G. polygramma) facilitated the N. scintillans bloom.

Rare Presentation of Venous Malformation in Parapharyngeal Space.

Introduction: Venous malformations are commonly seen in muscles like masseter, temporalis, tongue musculature, oral and airway mucosa in the head and neck region but is rarely seen in parapharyngeal space. Case Summary: We report a case of a 60 year female patient who presented with foreign body sensation of throat, sticky sensation and dysphagia to solids for 2 years. She was subjected to relevant investigations including MRI and USG guided FNAC. Following which she underwent endoscopic parapharyngeal space tumour excision and specimen was sent for HPE. Post operatively patient is doing well and symptomatically better. She is being followed up on regular basis. Conclusion: Parapharyngeal space tumours accounts for only 0.5% of head and neck tumours, of which 70 to 80% are benign and the rest are malignant. Out of the benign tumours of parapharyngeal space we should also keep in mind rare tumours like venous malformations.

Clinicomycological Profile of Fungal Rhinosinusitis in South India.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is widely prevalent globally. Fungal rhinosinusitis is a subtype which requires early detection by using appropriate tests and to make an accurate decision regarding the treatment modality. This study aims at determining the clinicomycological profile of fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS). A total of 105 patients with CRS were included in the study which was prospectively done during a time period of 18 months in a tertiary care hospital. All patients were subjected to CT scans and diagnostic nasal examinations (DNE) preoperatively. The sinonasal specimens were subjected to KOH mount, fungal culture and histopathological examination following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). 53% of the patients with fungal sinusitis belonged to the age group 41-60 years. The prevalence of FRS was found to be 38% with aspergillus species accounting for about 85% cases. FRS is a disease which can have a wide spectrum of clinical presentations requiring early detection and appropriate treatment which is essential to avoid both short term and long term sequalae.

Modulating retinoid-X-receptor alpha (RXRA) expression sensitizes chronic myeloid leukemia cells to imatinib in vitro and reduces disease burden in vivo.

Introduction: The ligand-activated transcription factors, nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs), remain unexplored in hematological malignancies except for retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA). Methods: Here we profiled the expression of various NHRs and their coregulators in Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lines and identified a significant differential expression pattern between inherently imatinib mesylate (IM)-sensitive and resistant cell lines. Results: Retinoid-X-receptor alpha (RXRA) was downregulated in CML cell lines inherently resistant to IM and in primary CML CD34+ cells. Pre-treatment with clinically relevant RXRA ligands improved sensitivity to IM in-vitro in both CML cell lines and primary CML cells. This combination effectively reduced the viability and colony-forming capacity of CML CD34+ cells in-vitro. In-vivo, this combination reduced leukemic burden and prolonged survival. Overexpression (OE) of RXRA inhibited proliferation and improved sensitivity to IM in-vitro. In-vivo, RXRA OE cells showed reduced engraftment of cells in the bone marrow, improved sensitivity to IM, and prolonged survival. Both RXRA OE and ligand treatment markedly reduced BCR::ABL1 downstream kinase activation, activating apoptotic cascades and improving sensitivity to IM. Importantly, RXRA OE also led to the disruption of the oxidative capacity of these cells. Conclusion: Combining IM with clinically available RXRA ligands could form an alternative treatment strategy in CML patients with suboptimal response to IM.

Novel Rhinological Application of Polylactic Acid-An In Vitro Study.

A novel approach to the treatment of sinusitis is the use of nasal stents. The stent is loaded with a corticosteroid, which prevents complications in the wound-healing process. The design is such that it will prevent the sinus from closing again. The stent is 3D printed using a fused deposition modeling printer, which enhances the customization. The polymer utilized for the purpose of 3D printing is polylactic acid (PLA). The compatibility between the drugs and polymers is confirmed by FT-IR and DSC. The drug is loaded onto the polymer by soaking the stent in the drug's solvent, known as the solvent casting method. Using this method, approximately 68% of drug loading is found to be achieved onto the PLA filaments, and a total of 72.8% of drug loading is obtained in terms of the 3D-printed stent. Drug loading is confirmed by the morphological characteristics of the stent by SEM, where the loaded drug is clearly visible as white specks on the surface of the stent. Drug release characterization is conducted by dissolution studies, which also confirm drug loading. The dissolution studies show that the release of drugs from the stent is constant and not erratic. Biodegradation studies were conducted after increasing the rate of degradation of PLA by soaking it in PBS for a predetermined duration of time. The mechanical properties of the stent, such as stress factor and maximum displacement, are discussed. The stent has a hairpin-like mechanism for opening inside the nasal cavity.

Assessment of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) in Birth Asphyxiated Neonates.

One of the congenital abnormalities encountered in newborns is hearing loss. Birth hypoxia, asphyxia, and ischemia have all been implicated as primary causes of early hearing loss or deafness. Prospective study was done on neonates in NICU having APGAR scoring of < 7 in 5th minute or neonates diagnosed with birth asphyxia. OAEs were measured from both ears from 3rd to 5th day in sound-proof chamber. MRI reports of these neonates were collected and analyzed. The neonates who did not clear the 1st OAE testing further underwent a second OAE testing between 10 and 14th days. Results were further plotted. 21.9% of neonates had hearing loss. 28.1% of mothers had infections amongst which 6.3% were of hypothyroidism. 56% of neonates with normal OAE result had normal MRI findings. 71.4% of neonates showing a 'REFER' in OAE had normal MRI reports. 44% of neonates with normal OAE result had abnormal MRI report. 7 neonates who failed 1st OAE underwent secondary OAE testing after 10-14 days. 28.6% of the neonates with abnormal OAE report had abnormal MRI findings. There is no statistical correlation between OAE findings with MRI findings of the birth asphyxiated neonates. (p value = 0.671). Hence, there exists no correlation between hearing loss and birth asphyxia.

Chemotherapeutic drugs elicit stemness and metabolic alteration to mediate acquired drug-resistant phenotype in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines.

Chemotherapy resistance leading to disease relapse is a significant barrier in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Metabolic adaptations have been shown to contribute to therapy resistance. However, little is known about whether specific therapies cause specific metabolic changes. We established cytarabine-resistant (AraC-R) and Arsenic trioxide-resistant (ATO-R) AML cell lines, displaying distinct cell surface expression and cytogenetic abnormalities. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a significant difference in the expression profiles of ATO-R and AraC-R cells. Geneset enrichment analysis showed AraC-R cells rely on OXPHOS, while ATO-R cells on glycolysis. ATO-R cells were also enriched for stemness gene signatures, whereas AraC-R cells were not. The mito stress and glycolytic stress tests confirmed these findings. The distinct metabolic adaptation of AraC-R cells increased sensitivity to the OXPHOS inhibitor venetoclax. Cytarabine resistance was circumvented in AraC-R cells by combining Ven and AraC. In vivo, ATO-R cells showed increased repopulating potential, leading to aggressive leukemia compared to the parental and AraC-R. Overall, our study shows that different therapies can cause different metabolic changes and that these metabolic dependencies can be used to target chemotherapy-resistant AML.

Role of salinity on zooplankton assemblages in the tropical Indian estuaries during post monsoon.

The estuary is the transition zone between the riverine and marine environments, in which the zooplankton act as a trophic connector in the energy transfers from primary producers to secondary consumers. Zooplankton biovolume and species assemblages with reference to physical, chemical and biological properties in the Indian estuaries are rarely studied. To examine the zooplankton variability in abundance and diversity, we therefore, investigated seventeen Indian estuaries during the post monsoon of the year 2012. Based on salinity conditions, estuaries were classified into oligohaline, mesohaline and polyhaline. A marked spatial gradient in salinity was observed between the upstream and downstream estuaries. Relatively, salinity was high in downstream areas, resulting in high zooplankton biovolume and diversity perceived in downstream areas. In contrast, nutrient concentrations were higher in the upstream than the downstream estuaries, resulting in high phytoplankton biomass (in terms of chlorophyll-a) perceived in the upstream estuaries. Zooplankton abundance was numerically dominated by Copepoda, constituting approximately 76 % of the total zooplankton count. Zooplankton population was highly similar between upstream and downstream in the oligohaline estuaries. In contrast, heterogeneous assemblages were noticed between upstream and downstream in the mesohaline and polyhaline estuaries. Under oligohaline conditions, surface waters dominated by Acartia clausi, A. dane, A. plumosa, Cyclopina longicornis, Oithona rigida and Tigriopus sp. In contrast, under mesohaline and polyhaline conditions, Acartia tonsa, Acartia southwelli, Acartia spinicauda, Paracalanus spp. Centropages typicus, Temora turbinate, Oithona spinirostris and O. brevicornis become the key dominant species. Eucalanus spp., and Corycaeus spp. were indicator species in the downstream estuaries. Our findings suggest that zooplankton diversity and numerical abundance were chiefly governed by salinity rather than phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a) in the Indian estuaries during the post monsoon.