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Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and incomplete differentiation of epidermis, and accumulation of neutrophils and proinflammatory T cells in epidermis and dermis. Chemokines are believed to be the main players mediating the chemotaxis of leucocytes to the lesional site. Previous studies have established the role of various chemokine ligands and receptors at the lesional site in psoriasis. Aims: In this study, we have compared the serum levels of various chemokines, namely, inducible protein-10 (IP-10) (CXCL10), MCP-1 (CCL-2), monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG) (CXCL-9), RANTES (CCL5), interleukin (IL)-8, and eotaxin in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis with that of healthy controls. We also studied whether the chemokine levels varied within different patient groups based on various clinical and demographic parameters, and if any of these chemokines correlated with disease activity. Methods: We studied 40 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis from a single center. Their clinical and demographic details were recorded in predesigned prforma. Patients with unstable forms of psoriasis like guttate, erythrodermic, or pustular psoriasis were excluded. The serum chemokine levels were measured by flow cytometry–based bead array set system. The serum levels of the patients were compared with that of 25 healthy controls. A subgroup analysis was also done to study the correlation of chemokine levels with age, sex, duration, and severity of disease. Results: We observed a significant decrease in serum level of all these chemokines in patients, when compared with that of healthy controls. We also found that MIG levels showed a positive correlation with disease severity based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Limitations: The major limitation of the study is lack of data on the lesional chemokine levels compared to serum chemokines. Conclusion: The inflammatory process in psoriasis is orchestrated through chemokines. MIG is a potential serum biomarker for assessing disease severity.
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Background: Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and education can influence health and nutritional outcomes, especially in adolescent girls. Aims and objectives of research work was to study of sociodemographic factors and their relationship with the morbidity among adolescent girls residing in slum areas of Pune region.Methods: A cross-sectional study of the urban slum population from October 2011 to September 2012. Adolescent girls of the age group 10-19 years who gave consent and are living in a slum area for more than 6 months were enrolled. Information on health status including morbidity was collected by health examination.Results: Majority of the adolescent girls (54.02%) had to age between 14-16 years. Majority of the adolescent girls (96.4%) were studying and were underweight (41.07%; of which majority 59.78% were in the age group 14-16years). Out of the 41.07% underweight girls, the majority (84.78%) had anaemia (p<0.05). A total 26.34% study subjects were stunted and 12.95% were thin (for both, commonly reported in the age group of 14-16 years). Majority of the girls (48.2%) belonged to class III SES. In class III socioeconomic status group mild, moderate and severe anaemia was reported in 50.45%, 41.51%, and 36.36% cases, respectively.Conclusions: Among the studied sociodemographic factors lower socioeconomic status and overcrowding had an impact on the morbidities. However, we noted a significant impact of morbidity in underweight girls.
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Background: As per WHO childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century, it is a global problem affecting many low and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. Childhood obesity affects adulthood and becomes the cause of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Overweight and their related diseases are preventable with early intervention and lifestyle modifications. Here we aimed to find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity of school going children of Meerut city.Methods: Four Hundred children from four schools of Meerut city were studied. Age, weight, height, socioeconomic status, food habits, and family history were recorded for further analysis.Results: Out of 400 children, 7% were overweight and 4% had obesity. We observed that obesity was more prevalent in private school going students. Leisure time and fast food are the major causes of obesity.Conclusions: A total of 11% of school going children were overweight and obese which is alarming and should be tackled in a more proactive and urgent manner. This study concludes that there is dire need of awareness against the junk foods at the same physical activities, games, health education and awareness programs should be included in the education system for students, parents, and teachers to understand and fight the obesity.
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Genomic DNA was extracted from eight medicinal plants using the present DNA extraction protocols (CTAB extraction method) with some modifications. Leaves were fixed in different fixing solutions containing absolute alcohol (99.99%), chloroform and EDTA, but without liquid nitrogen. DNA quality and quantity obtained were comparable to those isolated with liquid nitrogen, as the λ260/λ280 ratio with liquid nitrogen was in range 1.3-1.7 and with other fixing solutions it was 1.1-1.5. Absolute alcohol showed best results as fixing solution. Good quality of DNA was isolated without using liquid nitrogen from different medicinal plant species. DNA isolated by this method was suitable for various molecular biology applications.