Assessment of heavy metals and environmental stress conditions on the production potential of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in indigenous microalgae isolated from the Gulf of Mannar coastal waters.

The present study evaluated the effects of heavy metals, viz., lead, mercury, and cadmium, on growth, chlorophyll a, b, c, carotenoids, and PUFA content of marine microalgae Chlorella sp. and Cylindrotheca fusiformis. At 96-h exposure, the IC50 values for Hg2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ were 0.85 mg/L, 2.4 mg/L, and 5.3 mg/L respectively, in Chlorella sp. In C. fusiformis, IC50 values for Hg2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ were 0.5 mg/L, 1.2 mg/L, and 3 mg/L respectively. The pigment contents of both microalgae were significantly affected upon heavy metal exposure. In Chlorella sp. and C. fusiformis, the exposed concentrations of Hg2+ averagely decreased the PUFA content by 76.34% and 78.68%, respectively. Similarly, Pb2+-exposed concentrations resulted in 54.50% and 82.64% average reductions in PUFA content of Chlorella sp. and C. fusiformis, respectively. Cd2+-exposed concentrations showed 32.58% and 40.54% average reduction in PUFA content of Chlorella sp. and C. fusiformis, respectively. Among the environmental stress conditions, the dark treatment has increased total PUFA content by 6.63% in Chlorella sp. and 3.92% in C. fusiformis. It was observed that the 50% nitrogen starvation (two-stage) significantly improved the PUFA production from 26.47 ± 6.55% to 40.92 ± 10.74% in Chlorella sp. and from 11.23 ± 5.01 to 32.8 ± 14.17% in C. fusiformis. The toxicity for both microalgae was followed in the order Hg2+ > Pb2+ > Cd2+. Among the two species, Chlorella sp. has shown a high tolerance to heavy metals and can be effectively utilized in PUFA production.

Case Report: Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis and Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia Co-Occurrence Masquerading as Refractory Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis.

Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia are a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiograph and elevated levels of eosinophils in the peripheral blood. Among patients with these disorders, reports of either allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) are common. However, the simultaneous occurrence of ABPA and TPE is not often reported. We present the case of a young man with a history of asthma who was diagnosed with ABPA and TPE. Initially, the patient exhibited a partial response to treatment of ABPA, but persistent symptoms and eosinophilia led to suspicion and subsequent diagnosis of TPE. With implementation of antifilarials and steroids, the patient experienced satisfactory clinical and serological improvements. This case underscores the importance of considering multiple diagnoses in patients with overlapping symptoms and highlights the need for comprehensive management strategies in complex lung diseases.

Congenital rubella syndrome surveillance in India, 2016-21: Analysis of five years surveillance data.

Background: In India, facility-based surveillance for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) was initiated in 2016 to estimate the burden and monitor the progress made in rubella control. We analyzed the surveillance data for 2016-2021 from 14 sentinel sites to describe the epidemiology of CRS. Method: We analyzed the surveillance data to describe the distribution of suspected and laboratory confirmed CRS patients by time, place and person characteristics. We compared clinical signs of laboratory confirmed CRS and discarded case-patients to find independent predictors of CRS using logistic regression analysis and developed a risk prediction model. Results: During 2016-21, surveillance sites enrolled 3940 suspected CRS case-patients (Age 3.5 months, SD: 3.5). About one-fifth (n = 813, 20.6%) were enrolled during newborn examination. Of the suspected CRS patients, 493 (12.5%) had laboratory evidence of rubella infection. The proportion of laboratory confirmed CRS cases declined from 26% in 2017 to 8.7% in 2021. Laboratory confirmed patients had higher odds of having hearing impairment (Odds ratio [OR] = 9.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6-16.2), cataract (OR = 7.8, 95% CI: 5.4-11.2), pigmentary retinopathy (OR = 6.7, 95 CI: 3.3-13.6), structural heart defect with hearing impairment (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2-12.2) and glaucoma (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2-8.1). Nomogram, along with a web version, was developed. Conclusions: Rubella continues to be a significant public health issue in India. The declining trend of test positivity among suspected CRS case-patients needs to be monitored through continued surveillance in these sentinel sites.

Impact of Steam Inhalation, Saline Gargling, and Povidone-Iodine Gargling on Clinical Outcome of COVID-19 Patients in Bengaluru, Karnataka: A Randomized Control Trial.

Context: In the absence of any specific treatment available for COVID-19, people started practicing traditional nonpharmacological preventive home remedies such as salt water gargling and steam inhalation. The available research evidence on some of these measures opines that steam inhalation, saline gargling, and povidone-iodine gargling does have virucidal properties and do provide symptomatic relief. Aims: The aim is to test this hypothesis, and the present trial was undertaken with an objective to assess the effect of steam inhalation, saline gargling, and povidone-iodine gargling among the COVID-19-positive patients with respect to early test negativity and clinical recovery. Methodology: Open-labeled, parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted among asymptomatic or mild COVID-19-positive patients in Bangalore from September 2020 to February 2021. In each group of steam inhalation, saline gargling, povidone-iodine gargling, and control, twenty participants were allocated. Daily follow-up was done for 21 days to assess early test negativity and clinical recovery. Trial Registry Number: Clinical Trial Registry India/2020/09/027687. Results: Among 80 participants recruited, 65 (81.3%) were symptomatic. Early test negativity was seen in povidone-iodine gargling group of 6 days (KaplanMeier survival curve, BreslowGeneralized Wilcoxon test P = 0.7 as per the intention-to-treat and as per-protocol P = 0.8). Significant clinical recovery was seen in saline gargling group (4 days, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Povidone-iodine gargling was effective in providing early test negativity, whereas saline gargling was effective in early clinical recovery.

Zika a Vector Borne Disease Detected in Newer States of India Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of Zika were reported from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, India in 2021. The Dengue and Chikungunya negative samples were retrospectively screened to determine the presence of the Zika virus from different geographical regions of India. Methods: During May to October 2021, the clinical samples of 1475 patients, across 13 states and a union territory of India were screened and re-tested for Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika by CDC Trioplex Real time RT-PCR. The Zika rRTPCR positive samples were further screened with anti-Zika IgM and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test. Next generation sequencing was used for further molecular characterization. Results: The positivity was observed for Zika (67), Dengue (121), and Chikungunya (10) amongst screened cases. The co-infections of Dengue/Chikungunya, Dengue/Zika, and Dengue/Chikungunya/Zika were also observed. All Zika cases were symptomatic with fever (84%) and rash (78%) as major presenting symptoms. Of them, four patients had respiratory distress, one presented with seizures, and one with suspected microcephaly at birth. The Asian Lineage of Zika and all four serotypes of Dengue were found in circulation. Conclusion: Our study indicates the spread of the Zika virus to several states of India and an urgent need to strengthen its surveillance.

Migrating rivers, consequent paleochannels: The unlikely partners and hotspots of flooding.

Furious floods have become an omnipresent reality with the dawn of climate change and its transition to adulthood. Since climate change has now become an accepted reality, analysing the factors that favour or disfavour floods are an urgent requirement. Here we showcase the role of paleochannels, a product of migrating rivers, in a catastrophic flood in the south-western part of the Indian Peninsula. This study exposes whether these geomorphic features facilitate or impede floods. For the purpose of extracting paleochannels and floodwater mapping, we utilized multiple satellite datasets and took advantage of diversified feature selection algorithms. Paleochannels were demarcated viz., initial identification of a few paleochannels from literature and confirmation through high-resolution Google Earth (GE) images, followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Sentinel-2 images using Google Earth Engine (GEE), and a supervised classification of the principal bands 1, 2, and 3. False-positives were eliminated using Object-Oriented Analysis (OOA), which reduced the 964,254 polygons to 23,254. These polygons were visually affirmed using GE images that resulted in 115 paleochannels as the final collection. A few locations were verified through Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using the Schlumberger method. The features were analysed with the floodwaters of the 2018 catastrophic flood, extracted from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, which was delineated for different temporal limits including the day of peak flood of August 17, 2018. During the peak flood, the inundation of the study area extended to 534.86 km2 with all the paleochannels getting immersed in floodwater. After 44 days of peak flood, the post-flood analysis revealed that when the floodwater receded 50%, the paleochannels emptied 87.39%, with the midland paleochannels discharging more than those of lowlands. Thus, such geomorphic features can be flood hotspots, but can be considered for discharging floodwater to mitigate flood risk in case of unprecedented rain.

Post-Renal Transplant Miliary Mottling: Not Always Tuberculosis.

A 28-year-old male, 3 years post renal transplant with stable graft function, presented with vomiting for 2 days. He had graft dysfunction and graft biopsy done revealed acute cell - mediated rejection BANFF-IA. After receiving glucocorticoids for rejection, he developed severe enterocolitis and impending respiratory failure. Chest X-ray and computed tomography of the chest revealed miliary mottling. Evaluation showed presence of filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis in the stool and sputum. A diagnosis of Strongyloides Hyperinfection Syndrome (SHS) was made. After a prolonged course of treatment with noninvasive ventilation, broad-spectrum antimicrobials, parenteral ivermectin and oral albendazole therapy, he eventually recovered. This case report is to highlight that Strongyloides Hyperinfection Syndrome should also be considered in the differential in any immunocompromised patient presenting with miliary mottling in imaging.

Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma Masquerading as Infantile Benign Neck Mass.

Despite being the second most common malignant bone tumor, Ewing's sarcoma remains uncommon in younger children and seldom seen in neonates and infants. Extraskeletal locations are even rarer, hardly ever suspected, and often misdiagnosed, causing delays in management. The histologic similarities of Ewing's sarcoma to more common pediatric small-blue-round-cell tumors such as lymphoma and neuroblastoma necessitate immunohistochemistry and molecular genetics for clinching the diagnosis. We report a soft-tissue Ewing's sarcoma in a 4-month-old female infant masquerading as a benign neck mass clinically, radiologically, cytologically, and intraoperatively. We also reviewed literature for any existing guidelines on when to biopsy neck masses in the pediatric population.

Creatine kinase and renal sodium excretion in African and European men on a high sodium diet.

Creatine kinase (CK) rapidly regenerates ATP for Na+ /K+ -ATPase driven sodium retention throughout the kidney. Therefore, we assessed whether resting plasma CK is associated with sodium retention after a high sodium diet. Sixty healthy men (29 European and 31 African ancestry) with a mean age of 37.2 years (SE 1.2) were assigned to low sodium intake (< 50 mmol/d) during 7 days, followed by 3 days of high sodium intake (> 200 mmol/d). Sodium excretion (mmol/24-h) after high sodium was 260.4 (28.3) in the high CK tertile versus 415.2 (26.3) mmol/24-h in the low CK tertile (P < .001), with a decrease in urinary sodium excretion of 98.4 mmol/24-h for each increase in log CK, adjusted for age and African ancestry. These preliminary results are in line with the energy buffering function of the CK system, but more direct assessments of kidney CK will be needed to further establish whether this enzyme enhances sodium sensitivity.

Health literacy in Suriname.

BACKGROUND: Low health literacy is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. However, data on health literacy in low- and middle-income countries are scarce. Therefore, we assessed the level of health literacy in Suriname, a middle-income country with a high cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: We estimated health literacy in a convenience sample at an urban outpatient center in the capital and at a semirural health center, using the validated Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine adapted for the Dutch language (REALM-D) instrument. REALM-D scores vary from 0 to 66 (all correct). The primary outcome was the level of health literacy. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of age, sex, ethnicity, disease history, research location, and level of education on health literacy with multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: We included 99 volunteers (52% men; 51% urban research location) with a mean age of 44.9 years (SD 13.4). The mean REALM-D score was moderate: 48.6 (SD 8.1). Greater health literacy was associated with male sex, an urban research location, and a higher educational level. CONCLUSION: Health literacy was moderate in these Surinamese participants. Health care workers should take health literacy into account, and targeted interventions should be developed to improve health literacy in Suriname.

Cardioprotective potential of curcumin against norepinephrine-induced cell death: a microscopic study.

Cardiomyopathy and associated heart failure continues to be one of the most severe complications that threaten a large population. Curcumin, one of the three curcuminoids of the spice turmeric, is very well known for a multitude of health benefits and functions. Norepinephrine (NE), a catecholamine and also a stress hormone may cause the cardiomyocytes to develop increased sensitivity to death with its increasing concentrations. In this study, we investigated the cardioprotective effect of curcumin in NE-induced cardiac apoptosis using several fluorescent and nonfluorescent microscopic techniques like DAPI, PI, Giemsa, PicroSirius and TUNEL. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of curcumin in preventing the occurrence of features underlying apoptosis such as nuclear disruption, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and alterations in mitochondrial membrane permeability. Our results show that curcumin protects the cardiomyocytes against apoptosis significantly and also helps them to revert to their normal physiological state. Hence, we propose that curcumin has the potential to act as a therapeutic agent for the attenuation of NE-induced cardiac cell death and modulation of apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

A descriptive study on awareness about oral health among pediatric practitioners in Kanchipuram district.

BACKGROUND: Pediatricians and other health-care providers could play an invaluable role in ensuring the maintenance of optimal preventive as well as curative dental health in children. This study was aimed at assessing the pediatrician's perspective on basic oral health care in children in Kanchipuram district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out among Pediatricians which covered various aspects of knowledge, attitude, and role of pediatricians in preventive dental care. The collected data were tabulated, and percent frequency distributions for responses to every question were assessed. RESULTS: None of the participants reported that pediatricians are responsible for infant oral health presumes that pediatricians are not examining the oral cavity as a part of routine. All of the pediatricians gave nutritional counseling to the parents but only 7% of them of caries. All the pediatricians liked the concept of an association between lack of knowledge among pediatricians and pediatric dentist and establishment of a dental home along with a medical home. CONCLUSION: From the present study, we conclude that there is a lack of awareness about prevention of dental caries among pediatricians in Kanchipuram district. To overcome this, advocating dentists as part of well-child care and establishing dental home along with medical home. Publishing pediatric journals concerning about the oral health to improve the knowledge is also essential in promoting good oral health hygiene.

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.

Understanding the dependence of transport parameters on carrier concentration within a Gaussian density of states in molecular organic semiconductors.

We study charge transport in molecular organic semiconductors using two terminal and three terminal field effect transistor devices. Using phthalocyanines as examples, we achieve unification of carrier mobility between the different configurations in a Gaussian density of states. We find that the current density-voltage characteristics for two terminal devices can be understood by introducing a concentration dependence of the carrier mobility, as described by Oelerich et al (2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 226403, 2010 Appl. Phys. Lett. 97 143302). Studying the evolution of the activation energy with the carrier density, we find results consistent with a percolation picture and a density dependent transport energy.

The Influence of Known Genetic Variants on Subclinical Cardiovascular Outcomes in Childhood: Generation R Study.

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for subclinical cardiovascular outcomes in adults. We examined the influence of these variants on the same outcomes in childhood. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a population-based prospective cohort study among 4137 children, we examined the associations of SNPs, individually and incorporated in genetic risk scores, which were identified in adults for cardiac (2 SNPs for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and 5 SNPs for aortic root diameter) and blood pressure outcomes (29 SNPs for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 22 SNPs for mean arterial pressure, and 10 SNPs for pulse pressure) with the same outcomes in children (median age of 6.0 years [95% range, 4.5-8.7]). Weighted and unweighted risk scores for aortic root diameter were associated with childhood aortic root diameter (difference per additional average risk allele 0.09 mm [95% CI: 0.05, 0.13]). Weighted and unweighted risk scores for pulse pressure were associated with childhood pulse pressure (difference per additional average risk allele 0.22 mm Hg [95% CI: 0.08, 0.35] and 0.18 mm Hg [95% CI: 0.05, 0.31], respectively), but not with childhood systolic or diastolic blood pressure or mean arterial pressure. The risk scores for blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were not associated with any of the childhood blood pressure outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic risk scores based on SNPs for aortic root diameter and pulse pressure in adults are associated with the same outcomes in children. SNPs related to cardiovascular outcomes in adulthood at least partly influence cardiovascular development from early life onwards.

CYP11A1 microsatellite (tttta)n polymorphism in PCOS women from South India.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition with central feature of hyperandrogensism that affects 5-12 % of women worldwide. P450sec the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme encoded by CYP11A1 gene is instrumental in the synthesis of sex hormones. A promoter pentanucleotide repeat (tttta)(n) polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with several hormone related diseases including PCOS. Here we aimed to examine the involvement of CYP11A1 polymorphism with PCOS susceptibility in a case-control study conducted among South Indian women. METHODS: A total of 542 subjects comprised of 267 PCOS patients and 275 controls were recruited. DNA was extracted from blood and CYP11A1 (tttta)(n) polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-PAGE. RESULTS: Fifteen different alleles ranging between 2-16 repeats were identified in the studied group and the most frequent allele observed in controls was of 8 repeats. The presence of >8 repeat allele was common in patients (64 % vs. 38 %) and showed a three-fold risk for PCOS susceptibility than controls (OR = 2.93; p < 0.05). PCOS women with higher BMI were markedly elevated in early quartile (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CYP11A1 (tttta)(n) repeat polymorphism appeared to be a potential molecular marker for PCOS risk in our population. Gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions with respect to obesity may play a role in the early onset of this multifactorial condition. This is the first report from South India; however, replicative studies considering other probable causative factors for PCOS risk are warranted.

Cell-death assessment by fluorescent and nonfluorescent cytosolic and nuclear staining techniques.

Apoptosis, a genetically programmed cellular event leads to biochemical and morphological changes in cells. Alterations in DNA caused by several factors affect nucleus and ultimately the entire cell leading to compromised function of the organ and organism. DNA, a master regulator of the cellular events, is an important biomolecule with regards to cell growth, cell death, cell migration and cell differentiation. It is therefore imperative to develop the staining techniques that may lead to visualize the changes in nucleus where DNA is housed, to comprehend the cellular pathophysiology. Over the years a number of nuclear staining techniques such as propidium iodide, Hoechst-33342, 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), Acridine orange-Ethidium bromide staining, among others have been developed to assess the changes in DNA. Some nonnuclear staining techniques such as Annexin-V staining, which although does not stain DNA, but helps to identify the events that result from DNA alteration and leads to initiation of apoptotic cell death. In this review, we have briefly discussed some of the most commonly used fluorescent and nonfluorescent staining techniques that identify apoptotic changes in cell, DNA and the nucleus. These techniques help in differentiating several cellular and nuclear phenotypes that result from DNA damage and have been identified as specific to necrosis or early and late apoptosis as well as scores of other nuclear deformities occurring inside the cells.

A study on the role of HLA-G 14bp and ACE IN/DEL polymorphisms in pre-eclamptic South Indian women.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy specific syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Defective placentation during early stages of pregnancy in combination with maternal and environmental factors could lead to systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and the manifestation of the clinical symptoms. HLA-G is considered essential for feto-maternal immune tolerance and successful placentation in pregnancy. ACE promotes decidualization, trophoblast proliferation and plays an important role in blood pressure homeostasis. The HLA-G 14bp and ACE IN/DEL polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with the development of pre-eclampsia (PE). The present study aimed at investigating the role of HLA-G and ACE gene polymorphisms in the aetiopathogenesis of PE. A total of 412 (206 PE patients and 206 normal pregnant women) blood samples were collected from Govt. maternity hospital, Hyderabad, India. Genotyping was carried out for both the genes using PCR followed by PAGE for HLA-G and AGE for ACE gene polymorphisms. DD(ACE) genotype was observed to be elevated (52.9% vs. 31.1%) in the patient group and ID(ACE) (29.6% vs. 54.8%) in the control group (p<0.05). However, HLA-G polymorphism did not differ between patients and controls (p>0.05). Further, combined genotype analysis revealed ID(HLA-G) DD(ACE) to be predisposing genotypes and ID(HLA-G) ID(ACE) to be protective toward preeclampsia in south Indian Women. The ACE genotype (DD(ACE)) is associated with high levels of angiotensin and seems to predispose the individual to PE. However, women carrying the intermediate levels of ACE and HLA-G associated combined genotype (ID(HLA-G) ID(HLA-G)) appear to be protective against developing PE.