Efficient Inference in Structured Spaces.

Whittington et al. demonstrate how network architectures defined in a spatial context may be useful for inference on different types of relational knowledge. These architectures allow for learning the structure of the environment and then transferring that knowledge to allow prediction of novel transitions.

High glucose-induced human cellular immune response is governed by miR-2909 RNomics.

Regulation of NFkB family member RelA translocation by tumour suppressor genes encoding p53 and KLF4, has been widely recognized as the critical for human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to meet their energy requirement for tailoring their immune response against any perceived threat. Our study was addressed to understand as to how human PBMCs respond to high glucose threat in terms of their genomics-directed immune response. The results of such a study revealed for the first time that NFkB induced miR-2909 RNomics is crucial for the regulation of RelA translocation within human PBMCs exposed to high glucose thereby enabling these epigenetically programmed cells to tailor immune response involving genes coding for CCL5; IFN-γ and IL-17. Based upon these results an attempt was also made to propose a mechanistic pathway that links high glucose induced cellular miR-2909 RNomics with the genes involved in energy metabolism and immune response.

Effectiveness of Parent-to-Parent Support Group in Reduction of Anxiety and Stress Among Parents of Children With Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Background: Parental interventions are efficacious and robust in managing children's behavioral problems. Yet, research addressing their role in parental stress and anxiety is sparse. Our first aim was to assess the extent of anxiety and stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The second was to assess the effectiveness of a parent-to-parent support group for addressing the stress and anxiety among those parents. Methods: We selected a single group pretest posttest design. We recruited 24 parents from the two in-patient facilities of child and adolescent psychiatry. The intervention consisted of a parent-to-parent support group. We assessed parental stress and anxiety before and after the intervention. Results: The differences in anxiety and stress scores prior to and after the intervention were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Before the intervention, low level of parents' education and lower family income had a statistically significant relationship with higher parental stress. Also, parents who were employed had lesser anxiety. Conclusion: The parent-to-parent support group effectively reduced stress and anxiety among parents of children with ASD and ADHD. These are preliminary findings. The lack of a control group is a major limitation.

Endoscopic Adenoidectomy Replacing the Outdated Curette Adenoidectomy: Comparison of the Two Methods at a Tertiary Care Centre.

To compare intraoperative and postoperative parameters of the two techniques of adenoidectomy, endoscope and microdebrider powered adenoidectomy and conventional adenoidectomy. Study Design Prospective study. Setting: Academic tertiary referral centre. In our study, cases of adenoid hypertrophy were randomly selected from the outpatient department of department of ORL & HNS. Out of these patients, 30 underwent Endoscopic adenoidectomy (EA) (Group A) and 30 underwent Conventional adenoidectomy (CA) (Group B). All of the patients were assessed pre-operatively, intra-operatively and post-operatively to compare the various parameters. The most common complaint in both the groups was mouth breathing with snoring. Intra-operative bleeding was 29.15 ml in group EA and 15.2 ml in group CA. Operative time for CA was shorter at 21.8 min as compared to 32.1 min for group EA. Residual adenoids and injury to adjacent structures were more common in group CA. Hospital stay was 3.2 days for EA patients and 3.43 days for CA patients. Resolution of symptoms was near comparable in both groups. Operative time and intra-operative bleeding are both significantly reduced with the CA as opposed to EA. However, injury to adjacent structures and residual adenoids occur significantly less in group EA. After weighing the risks and benefits, we can conclude that EA is comparatively better than CA.

Synthesis and 2D QSAR of O-sulphonated ß-aminols derivatives as novel antifungal and antibacterial agents.

Synthesis of a series of ß-aminol derivatives using regioselective opening reaction catalyzed by SiO(2) (60-120mesh) and O-sulphonation in THF-KOH system, comprising tert-butoxycarbonyl at secondary nitrogen and evaluate for various stains of bacteria and fungi. SAR study of synthesized compound using backward regression analysis.

Pediatric fine-needle aspiration cytology: An audit of 266 cases of pediatric tumors with cytologic-histologic correlation.

OBJECTIVES: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), a well-accepted minimally invasive diagnostic technique utilized in adults, is gradually gaining ground for pediatric patients as well. However, there are very few comprehensive reports in the literature on utility of FNA in pre-operative diagnosis of pediatric tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted at a cancer research center and a pediatric tertiary care hospital over a 5-year period. A cytologic-histologic correlation was performed for FNACs performed in pediatric patients for a clinical diagnosis of neoplastic lesions at both the centers. Relevant clinical details and histopathology, wherever available, were retrieved. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FNAC in diagnosis of malignant lesion were calculated from the cases with available histologic correlation. RESULTS: Of the 266 cases included, there was a slight male predominance with lymphadenopathy being the most common presentation and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as the most frequent diagnosis in cases clinically suspected to have a neoplasm. Histologic correlation was available in 112 cases with 100% concordance in liver and kidney tumors. Few rare cytologic diagnoses such as papillary renal cell carcinoma, mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver, and thymolipoma could be accurately rendered on FNAC smears in conjunction with the clinic-radiologic features. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FNA in diagnosing malignant pediatric tumors were found to be 100%, 92.6%, and 97.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study underscores the high sensitivity and accuracy of FNAC in diagnosis of pediatric tumors, both in superficial and deep-seated locations. Awareness of the cytomorphologic features and clinic-radiologic correlation may assist the cytopathologists in rendering a precise diagnosis of rare pediatric tumors as well.

Prevalence of areca nut chewing habit among high school children of Parsa district of Nepal.

AIM: Consumption of areca nut products among school going children has become very common social evil in some areas of Nepal especially adjoining the Indian subcontinent. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of areca nut chewing habit among high school children in Terai belt of Nepal. The use of areca nut has become indigenous in this part and is being used by itself and in various formulations. The regular use of areca nut has been recognized as being carcinogenic to humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on areca nut chewing habit among high school children was collected from 1359 students of age group 14-18 years from 13 schools of Parsa district of Nepal by random selection and the information was obtained from self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The results from this study shows that the areca nut chewing habit is significant among the students of Parsa district (30.4%) and the frequency of chewing plain Supari was reported to be high (81.6%) followed by pan masala (10.4%) and gutkha (08.0%) and the habit increased with age. CONCLUSION: It is mandatory to motivate the children not to initiate the habit and to enable the adolescent children to realize the potential health risk of areca nut products.

Tuberculosis of the Thyroid in a Child: A Rare cause of Thyromegaly.

Tuberculosis of thyroid gland is extremely rare in children. We describe the case of a 6-year girl child, presenting with a multinodular thyroid swelling. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed extensive necrosis with few epithelioid cell granulomas and occasional acid-fast bacilli, suggesting a diagnosis of tuberculosis. The child was put on anti-tuberculous drugs with significant improvement. Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland, although rare, should be considered in differential diagnosis of thyroid swelling, especially in endemic areas.

Early prediction of mandibular third molar eruption/impaction using linear and angular measurements on digital panoramic radiography: A radiographic study.

BACKGROUND: The impaction rate is higher for the third molars than for any other tooth in modern human population. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the validity of linear and angular measurements on the digital panoramic radiograph as a reference for early prediction of mandibular third molar eruption/impaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital panoramic radiographs of 200 subjects were selected based on their status of eruption of mandibular third molars; fully erupted (Group A), partially erupted (Group B), fully developed but not erupted (Group C) and partially developed groups (Group D). Each group comprised 50 subjects with 25 males and 25 females. Nine variables (linear measurements, angles, and ratios) were determined and measured bilaterally by two observers and values were compared between the study groups and genders. RESULTS: The data thus obtained were analyzed for comparison among all the study groups. It was found that the difference in the mean values of lower eruption space (LES) measurements, α-angle (angle between long axis of the third molar and gonial-symphyseal plane) and ß-angle (angle between long axis of mandibular second and third molars) were significant (P < 0.05). The mean values of mesiodistal width, LES-ramus, LES-Xi point and ß-angle were found more in males than in females. No significant difference was observed between the sides. CONCLUSION: α- and ß-angle together with LES measurements give the accurate information on early prediction of lower third molar eruption or impaction.

Therapeutics of stem cells in periodontal regeneration.

The structure and composition of the periodontium are affected in many acquired and heritable diseases, and the most significant among these is periodontal disease. Periodontal regeneration is considered to be organically promising but clinically capricious. The principal requirements for tissue engineering are the incorporation of appropriate numbers of responsive progenitor cells and the presence of bioactive levels of regulatory signals within an appropriate extracellular matrix or carrier construct. Stem cell therapy is a treatment that uses stem cells, or cells that come from stem cells, to replace or to repair a patient's cells or tissues that are damaged. And, recent progress in stem cell research and in tissue engineering promises novel prospects for tissue regeneration in dental practice in the future, with regeneration of a functional and living tooth as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for the replacement of a diseased or damaged tooth.

Biofilm: A dental microbial infection.

Recent advances in research technology have allowed researchers to study bacteria in their natural environment. Dental biofilm forms via an ordered sequence of events, resulting in structured and functionally organized species rich microbial community and modern molecular biological techniques have identified about 1000 different bacterial species in the dental biofilm, twice as many as can be cultured. Sites for biofilm formation include all kinds of surfaces: natural materials above and below ground, metals, plastics, medical implant materials-even plant and body tissue. Wherever you find a combination of moisture, nutrients and a surface, you are likely to find biofilm. The biofilm is used to describe the communities of micro-organisms attached to a surface; such microbes are usually spatially organized into three-dimension structure and are enclosed in matrix of extracellular material derived both from the cells themselves and from the environment. Dental biofilm pathogenicity in the oral cavity is magnified by specific biofilm characteristics and modern molecular biological techniques have identified about 1000 different bacterial species in the dental biofilm, twice as many as can be cultured. Adaptation to a biofilm lifestyle involves regulation of a vast set of genes, and the micro-organisms are thus able to optimize phenotypic properties for the particular environment.

MAP Kinase analyser: A tool for plant kinase and substrate analysis.

MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) is a Ser/Thr kinase, which plays a crucial role in plant growth and development, transferring the extra cellular stimuli into intracellular response etc. Manual identification of these MAPK in the plant genome is tedious and time taking process. There are number of online servers which predict the P-site (phosphorylation site), find the motifs and domain but there is no specific tool which can identify all them together. In order to identify the P-Site, phosphorylation site consensus sequences and domain of the MAPK in plant genome, we developed a tool, MAP Kinase analyzer. MAP kinase analyzer take protein sequence as input in the fasta format and the output of tool includes: 1) The prediction of the phosphorylation site viz., Serine (S), Threonine (T), and Tyrosine (Y), Contex, Position, Score and phosphorylating kinase as well as the graphical output; 2) Phosphorylation site consensus sequence pattern for different kinases and 3) Domain information about the MAPK's. The MAP kinase analyser tool and supplementary files can be downloaded from http://www.bioinfogbpuat/mapk_OWN_1/.

Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections.

Oral sex is commonly practiced by sexually active male-female and same-gender couples of various ages, including adolescents. The various type of oral sex practices are fellatio, cunnilingus and analingus. Oral sex is infrequently examined in research on adolescents; oral sex can transmit oral, respiratory, and genital pathogens. Oral health has a direct impact on the transmission of infection; a cut in your mouth, bleeding gums, lip sores or broken skin increases chances of infection. Although oral sex is considered a low risk activity, it is important to use protection and safer sex precautions. There are various methods of preventing infection during oral sex such as physical barriers, health and medical issues, ethical issues and oral hygiene and dental issues. The lesions or unhealthy periodontal status of oral cavity accelerates the phenomenon of transmission of infections into the circulation. Thus consequences of unhealthy or painful oral cavity are significant and oral health should be given paramount importance for the practice of oral sex.

Nanotechnology: the future medicine.

Nanotechnology is an exciting new area in science, with many possible applications in medicine. This article seeks to outline the role of different areas such as diagnosis of diseases, drug delivery, imaging, and so on.

Comparative microarray data analysis for the expression of genes in the pathway of glioma.

Our present work focuses on the set of genes, which are involved in primary brain tumors - the glioma pathway. These gliomas are mostly malignant (cancerous) in nature and are difficult to be cured and that's why they attract the attention of all the workers. To understand the relative functionality of these genes, we analyzed the expression pattern of all genes, using gene expression data, at genomic level, and then to check their universality in all other cancers, we compared their expression levels and patterns in all other types of cancers by using gene expression graphs, and observed their expression levels in all these cancers, whether they are over or under expressed. We found that every gene has its own unique expression pattern and level and on that basis it can be classified. We also found that oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that were involved in the glioma pathway were showing similar expression patterns in other cancers too but their expression level is low.