Milky Mangrove Excoecaria agallocha L. Plant as a source for potential mosquito larvicides.

Mosquitoes are one of the most dangerous vectors among the group of arthropods. Infections due to mosquitoes are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. In the present study, we determined the larvicidal activity of Methanol, Acetone, Hexane, Chloroform and Aqueous extracts of a mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha against (4th instar larvae) Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Mosquito larvicidal assays were conducted and their mortality rate was identified after 24hours to evaluate the larvicidal activity of the crude extract of Excoecaria agallocha.

Pediatric contact dermatitis.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in children, until recently, was considered rare. ACD was considered as a disorder of the adult population and children were thought to be spared due to a lack of exposure to potential allergens and an immature immune system. Prevalence of ACD to even the most common allergens in children, like poison ivy and parthenium, is relatively rare as compared to adults. However, there is now growing evidence of contact sensitization of the pediatric population, and it begins right from early childhood, including 1-week-old neonates. Vaccinations, piercing, topical medicaments and cosmetics in younger patients are potential exposures for sensitization. Nickel is the most common sensitizer in almost all studies pertaining to pediatric contact dermatitis. Other common allergens reported are cobalt, fragrance mix, rubber, lanolin, thiomersol, neomycin, gold, mercapto mix, balsum of Peru and colophony. Different factors like age, sex, atopy, social and cultural practices, habit of parents and caregivers and geographic changes affect the patterns of ACD and their variable clinical presentation. Patch testing should be considered not only in children with lesions of a morphology suggestive of ACD, but in any child with dermatitis that is difficult to control.

Emerging vancomycin resistance in enterococci in India.

Infection caused by vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) leads to adverse outcome and is a real challenge. Despite increasing reports of VRE in different countries, there is scanty data on this issue from India. A total of 685 enterococci were isolated from various clinical samples from January to December 2004. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed as prescribed by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Vancomycin resistance was confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Resistant phenotype was determined by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 685, 456 (67%) were E. faecalis and 229 (33%) were E. faecium. Resistance to various antibiotics in E. faecalis and E. faecium was as follows: ampicillin 33% and 54%, erythromycin 91% and 86%, ciprofloxacin 69% and 81%, tetracycline 50% and 54% and high level gentamicin resistance in 62% and 77% respectively. Vancomycin resistance was confirmed in 10 (1.4%) cases by MIC and all had Van A phenotype by PCR. Emergence of vancomycin resistant enterococci is of great concern because of its epidemic potential and scanty therapeutic options. Prompt diagnosis and efficient infection control measures can restrict its spread.

Food, nutrition and health in the Caribbean: a time for re-examination Part 1 - abstract

Today the countries of the English-speaking Carribean are at a crossroads. While the old problem of malnutrition in children has declined sharply, a large proportion of adults suffer from obesity. Estimates, according to Caribbean experts, are that 30 per cent of the population above 35 years of age are suffering from high blood pressure and 10-12 per cent from diabetes. The report "Health of the Americas" by the Pan American Health Organization shows that the countries are threatened with a massive epidemic of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke and cancer among adults, as these diseases are among the first five principal causes of deaths