Early-life family and school impacts on adolescent conduct problems: A path analysis.

Limited research has been conducted to examine the factors during early childhood that may contribute to conduct problems in later stages of life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between family and school environments during early childhood and conduct problems in adolescence. In Wave 1 (W1), the study recruited 502 participants, aged 5-6 years, from Hong Kong local kindergartens, with 51.4% boys. One of their parents provided information about family socioeconomic status (SES), parent-child recreational activities, and child screen time, whereas the class teacher rated their school readiness using the Chinese version of the Early Development Instrument. Data on the number of special facilities were obtained from the kindergartens. In Wave 2 (W2), the same parents of 395 participants were asked about their involvement in their children's education. Finally, in Wave 3 (W3), the parents of 206 participants completed the Conduct Problem scale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire to evaluate the level of conduct problems in the participants. The results of the path analysis revealed that higher W1 family SES was associated with fewer W3 conduct problems through an increase in W1 and W2 parental involvement in children's learning and play activities. Findings have implications for understanding the impact of early-life family and school environments on adolescent conduct problems. Early childhood interventions that promote family resources and positive parent-child interactions have the potential to reduce adolescent conduct problems.

Comparative Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus on Halitosis-Causing Bacteria: An Invitro Microbiological Study.

AIM:  To determine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in inhibiting halitosis-causing bacteria relative to other possible inhibitors, such as mouthwashes. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  This in vitro study was done using a diffusion test with three groups with 11 samples in each group: group A, Porphyromonas gingivalis; group B, Tannerella forsythia; and group C, Prevotella intermedia. At 24, 48, and 72 hours, the inhibitory effect of L. rhamnosus was tested. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was seen for halo formation in group A, where all 11 samples showed an inhibitory effect after 72 hours. After 48 hours, seven of the 11 samples in group B and nine of the 11 samples in group C showed inhibitory effects. CONCLUSION:  The study found that L. rhamnosus had an inhibitory effect on halitosis-causing bacteria like P. gingivalis after 72 hours, which was statistically significant. The same was true for T. forsythia and P. intermedia after 48 hours. This means that L. rhamnosus has an inhibitory effect on halitosis-causing bacteria like P. gingivalis.

Composition of gallbladder bile in healthy individuals and patients with gallstone disease from north and South India.

BACKGROUND: Gallstones (GS) in south India (SI) are predominantly pure pigment or mixed, while in North India (NI), these are either pure cholesterol or mixed. While cholesterol rich gallbladder (GB) bile predicts cholesterol GS, constituent of bile in primary pigment GS is not known. We compared the composition of GB bile from healthy liver donors and patients with GS from north and south India. METHODS: Gallbladder bile from healthy liver donors from north (10) and south India (8) served as controls. Cases were patients from north (21) and south India (17) who underwent cholecystectomy for GS disease. Gallbladder bile from both cases and controls was analyzed for cholesterol, lecithin (phospholipid), and bile salts. Gallstones were classified as cholesterol, mixed, and pigment based on morphology and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: The median cholesterol concentration in control bile from north was significantly high compared to south (p<0.001) with no difference in lecithin and bile salts (p NS). Except for one sample each from north and south, the cholesterol solubility of controls was within the critical micellar zone. Mixed GS were most frequent in north India (61.9 %) while pigment GS dominated in south (61.9 %). The median cholesterol concentration in bile samples of cholecystectomy patients from north India was significantly high GS (p < 0.00001) with significant lowering of bile salts and lecithin (p < 0.00001). In south India, patients with mixed GS had high cholesterol content in bile compared to controls and patients with pigment GS; bile in latter had significantly higher concentration of bile salt compared to controls and mixed GS. The ternary plot confirmed the composition of GB bile from north and south India. CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder bile in controls and patients with GS from north India had significantly high cholesterol concentration. In south India, patients with mixed GS had cholesterol rich bile while pigment GS had higher concentrations of bile salts.

Endonasal DCR with Silicon Tube Stents: A Better Management for Acute Lacrimal Abscesses.

Acute dacryocystitis, or inflammation of the lacrimal sac with lacrimal abscess, is almost always secondary to nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The standard practice for the treatment is incision and drainage because of concerns about the risks of exacerbation and spread of infection. Here we tried to evaluate primary EnDCR as a treatment for acute dacryocystitis with abscess formation. Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, KVG Medical College, Sullia. This is comparative case series analysis study done in our medical college hospital during the study period 61 months from January 2007 to November 2011. 31 cases of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal abscess managed were included in the study. 13 cases were operated primarily with EnDCR. Rest of the 18 cases was managed conventionally by incision and drainage and later by an external approach of DCR. Swelling disappeared intraoperatively in all EnDCR cases while medial canthal edema and erythema completely reduced within 2-3 days post-operatively. While in incision and drainage swelling disappeared partially intraoperatively and repeated draining was needed on the 2nd and 3rd day. The mean VAS score on first post operative day was 3.14 in group A and was 4.64 in group B. Group A had faster pain relief with 92.3% improvement in epiphora while group B had slower pain relief but epiphora remained. Mean intraoperative blood was 65 ml in group A and minimal in group B. Primary EnDCR is successful as a procedure of choice for acute dacryocystitis with abscess preventing further episodes of abscess formation and epiphora in the patients. We recommend EnDCR as the treatment of choice for acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal abscesses.

Sindbis virus replicase-based DNA vaccine construct encoding FMDV-specific multivalent epitope gene: studies on its immune responses in guinea pigs.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is still a perennial global menace affecting livestock health and production. It is imperative to figure out new ways to curb this disease. In this study, a sindbis virus replicase-based DNA vaccine, pSinCMV-Vac-MEG990, encoding a multivalent epitope gene (representing tandemly linked VP1 C-terminal halves of three foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes) was constructed. In vitro transfection studies in BHK-21 cells revealed that the construct was able to express FMDV-specific antigen but does not overproduce the antigen. Immunization of guinea pigs with the construct at dose rate of 10, 5, 2 and 1 µg per animal through intramuscular route showed significant neutralizing antibody induction at all doses against all serotype tested as compared to non-immunized controls. On viral challenge of guinea pigs 4 week post-immunization with 1000 GPID(50) of FMDV serotype A, it was observed that the immunization not only delayed the appearance and reduced the severity of FMD lesions significantly (P < 0.05) but also provided complete protection in several guinea pigs. In fact, two of six and one of six guinea pigs were completely protected in 10 and 5 µg immunized groups, respectively. These results suggest that the development of the replicase-based DNA vaccine may provide a promising approach as an alternative vaccine strategy for controlling FMD.

Tonsillo-Styloidectomy for Eagle's Syndrome: A Review of 15 Cases in KVG Medical College Sullia.

Elongated styloid process causing Eagle's Syndrome is a rare clinical entity and the diagnosis is often difficult as a result of its vague symptomatology. However, palpation of tonsillar fossa with radiological demonstration of the elongated styloid process confirms the diagnosis. This is a report of a retrospective study conducted at the KVG Medical College, Hospital, Sullia, Karnataka, India where 15 patients who were surgically treated for Eagle's syndrome in the ENT department were retrospectively studied. Fourteen patients became symptom free after surgery within three months of follow up. Tonsillo-styloidectomy is the treatment of choice for Eagle's syndrome with a high success rate.

Cardiovascular events associated with ipratropium bromide in COPD.

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with the use of ipratropium bromide. We sought to examine the association between ipratropium bromide use and the risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs). METHODS: We performed a cohort study of 82,717 US veterans with a new diagnosis of COPD between 1999 and 2002. Subjects were followed until they had their first hospitalization for a CVE (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, or cardiac dysrhythmia), they died, or the end of the study period (September 30, 2004). Cumulative anticholinergic exposure was calculated as the number of 30-day equivalents (ipratropium bromide) within the past year. We used Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates to estimate the risk of CVE associated with anticholinergic exposure and to adjust for potential confounders, including markers of COPD severity and cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: We identified 6,234 CVEs (44% heart failure, 28% acute coronary syndrome, 28% dysrhythmia). Compared with subjects not exposed to anticholinergics within the past year, any exposure to anticholinergics within the past 6 months was associated with an increased risk of CVE (hazard ratio [95% CI] for< or =four and>four 30-day equivalents: 1.40 [1.30-1.51] and 1.23 [1.13-1.36], respectively). Among subjects who received anticholinergics more than 6 months prior, there did not appear to be elevated risk of a CVE. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increased risk of CVEs associated with the use of ipratropium bromide within the past 6 months. These findings are consistent with previous concerns raised about the cardiovascular safety of ipratropium bromide.

Temporal variation in density and diversity of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in lakes at Nagpur (Maharashtra State), India.

Toxic cyanobacteria (TCB) are known worldwide for the adverse impacts on humans and animals. Species composition and the seasonal variation of TCB in water bodies depend on interactions between physical and chemical factors. The present investigation delineates temporal variations in physico-chemical water quality parameters, viz. nutrients and density, diversity, and distribution of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Lake Ambazari (21 degrees 7'52''N, 79 degrees 2'22''E) and Lake Phutala (21 degrees 9'18''N, 79 degrees 2'37''E) at Nagpur (Maharashtra State), India. These lakes are important sources of recreational activities and fisheries. Toxic cyanobacterial diversity comprised Anabaena, Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, Phormidium, and Microcystis, a well-known toxic cyanobacterial genus, as dominant. Chlorophyll-a concentrations in the lakes ranged from 1.44 to 71.74 mg/m(3). A positive correlation of Microcystis biomass existed with orthophosphate-P (p < 0.05) and nitrate-N (p > 0.05). Identification and quantification of microcystin variants were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with photodiode array detector. Among all the tested toxin variants, microcystin-RR (arginine-arginine) was consistently recorded and exhibited a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with Microcystis in both the water bodies. Microcystis bloom formation was remarkable between post-monsoon and summer. Besides nutrient concentrations governing bloom formation, the allelopathic role of microcystins needs to be established.

Cortical connections of the rat lateral posterior thalamic nucleus.

Spatial processing related to directed attention is thought to be mediated by a specific cortical-basal ganglia-thalamic-cortical network in the rat. Key components of this network are associative cortical areas medial agranular cortex (AGm) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), dorsocentral striatum (DCS), and lateral posterior (LP) thalamic nucleus, all of which are interconnected. Previously, we found that thalamostriatal projections reaching DCS arise from separate populations of neurons of the mediorostral part of LP (LPMR). The far medial LPMR (fmLPMR) terminates in central DCS, a projection area of AGm, whereas central LPMR terminates in dorsal DCS, a projection area of PPC. This represents segregated regional convergence in DCS from different sources of thalamic and cortical inputs. In the present study, thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections arising from and terminating in LPMR and neighboring thalamic nuclei were studied by anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques in order to further understand the anatomical basis of this neural circuitry. A significant finding was that within LPMR, separate neuronal populations provide thalamic inputs to AGm or PPC and that these cortical areas project to separate regions in LPMR, from which they receive thalamic inputs. Other cortical areas adjacent to AGm or PPC also demonstrated reciprocal connections with LP or surrounding nuclei in a topographic manner. Our findings suggest that the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamic network mediating directed attention in the rat is formed by multiple loops, each having reciprocal connections that are organized in a precise and segregated topographical manner.

Osteoprotective effect of Phaseolus vulgaris L in ovariectomy-induced osteopenia in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen-containing plants are currently being explored as potential candidates for the treatment of estrogen-related disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-osteoporotic effect of the phytoestrogen-rich plant Phaseolus vulgaris L, commonly known as French beans. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were either bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated. OVX and sham control groups were administered vehicle, whereas the other two OVX groups were given 0.15 mg/kg estradiol and 1 g/kg methanolic extract of P vulgaris L seeds (MPV) orally for 10 weeks (10 rats per group). At autopsy, blood, urine, bones, and uteri of the animals were collected. Serum was evaluated for estradiol, calcium (Ca), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, tartarate resistant acid phosphatase, and urine for Ca. The bone density, ash density, mineral content, and mechanical strength of bones was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of bones (tibia) was performed. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison test. RESULTS: Compared with the OVX control, MPV (1 g/kg PO) significantly decreased serum alkaline phosphatase and reduced serum tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and urinary Ca levels. It caused an increase in bone density, ash density, and bone mechanical strength and significantly increased bone Ca. Improvement in bone microarchitecture was indicated by image analysis of scanning electron microscopic photomicrographs. No increase in weight of atrophic uterus in OVX animals was observed with MPV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with MPV prevented estrogen deficiency-induced osteopenia without affecting the uterine mass. The promising results of the study warrant further investigation of French beans as a potential candidate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum inhibits ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.

Several animal and clinical studies have shown that phytoestrogens, plant-derived estrogenic compounds, can be useful in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen-containing plants are currently under active investigation for their role in estrogen-related disorders. The present study deals with anti-osteoporotic evaluation of phytoestrogen-rich plant Cuminum cyminum, commonly known as cumin. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and randomly assigned to 3 groups (10 rats/group). Additional 10 animals were sham operated. OVX and sham control groups were orally administered with vehicle while the other two OVX groups were administered 0.15 mg/kg estradiol and 1 g/kg of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum fruits (MCC) in two divided doses for 10 weeks. At the end of the study blood, bones and uteri of the animals were collected. Serum was evaluated for calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and tartarate resistant acid phosphatase. Bone density, ash density, mineral content and mechanical strength of bones were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of bones (tibia) was performed. Results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukeys multiple comparison test. MCC (1 g/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced urinary calcium excretion and significantly increased calcium content and mechanical strength of bones in comparison to OVX control. It showed greater bone and ash densities and improved microarchitecture of bones in SEM analysis. Unlike estradiol it did not affect body weight gain and weight of atrophic uterus in OVX animals. MCC prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats with no anabolic effect on atrophic uterus. The osteoprotective effect was comparable with estradiol.

Methods for determining microcystins (peptide hepatotoxins) and microcystin-producing cyanobacteria.

Episodes of cyanobacterial toxic blooms and fatalities to animals and humans due to cyanobacterial toxins (CBT) are known worldwide. The hepatotoxins and neurotoxins (cyanotoxins) produced by bloom-forming cyanobacteria have been the cause of human and animal health hazards and even death. Prevailing concentration of cell bound endotoxin, exotoxin and the toxin variants depend on developmental stages of the bloom and the cyanobacterial (CB) species involved. Toxic and non-toxic strains do not show any predictable morphological difference. The current instrumental, immunological and molecular methods applied for determining microcystins (peptide hepatotoxins) and microcystin-producing cyanobacteria are reviewed.