ABSTRACT
The question of an analogue evolution of plant - insect interaction in gymnosperms has remained unanswered until recently, in spite of indications of insect pollination in the extant cycad genera. Earlier observations on insect pollination have now been verified by convincing experiments with several cycads in which anemophilous pollination was excluded. Insects have long been known to visit cycad cones and now it is established that in rest of the cycad species where both male and female reproductive organs are organized in compact cones, these insects help in the pollination. But Cycas is the only genus where female megasporophylls do not form a cone and its pollination mechanism has not been fully comprehended. The present investigation was carried out in the natural habitats of Cycasspecies from the Western Ghats, India. Five coleopteran insects were found abundantly in the male cones of Cycas and our observations on the role of these insects led us to believe that Cycas among cycads which appear to be true remnants of pteridospermous line have somehow has also maintained mutualism with the primitive plant chewing insects like coleopterans couldbe the results of an ancient co-evolution.
ABSTRACT
Objectives To investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant women and possible risk factors for perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. Methods Four thousand pregnant women were evaluated using history, examination, and test for serum HBsAg using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits. For HBsAg positive women, liver function tests and a test for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was done. HBV DNA analysis was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Of 4,000 women studied, 37 (0.9%) tested positive for HBsAg. Of these 37 women, 6 (16%) presented with acute hepatitis and 31 (84%) were asymptomatic. The highest HBsAg positivity rate was seen in the age group of 21– 25 years (1.15%) followed by 26–30 years (0.86%). Assessment of risk factors revealed history of tattooing in 29/37 (78.4%) women. HBeAg was positive in 21 of 37 (56.8%) women. Of the 16 HBeAg negative women, 5 were positive for HBV DNA and anti-HBe antibody, 6 had only anti-HBe antibody and 5 had neither HBV DNA nor anti-HBe. Vertical transmission was seen in 65% (13/20) of babies born to mothers who were positive for HBeAg and HBV DNA. In contrast, it was only 9.1% (1/11) for babies born to mothers who were negative for both HBeAg and HBV DNA. Of the 25 babies delivered vaginally, 15 (60%) developed vertical transmission. None of the four babies delivered by elective cesarean section had evidence of vertical transmission. Conclusions Seroprevalence of HBsAg in antenatal women was found to be 0.9%. HBe-antigen and HBV DNA positivity was associated with a higher chance of vertical transmission
ABSTRACT
Aims: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) control, visual prognosis and complications following manual small incision cataract surgery among eyes with phacomorphic glaucoma. Materials and Methods: This prospective, non-randomized interventional consecutive case series included all patients with phacomorphic glaucoma who presented to a tertiary eye care referral center in South India between March 2006 and April 2007. All patients underwent slit-lamp bio-microscopy, applanation tonometry and gonioscopy of the other eye to rule out angle closure. Small incision cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation was performed in all affected eyes. Complete ophthalmic examination was done at each follow-up visit. Results: A total of 74 eyes with phacomorphic glaucoma were included in this study. The preoperative mean IOP was 38.4±14.3 mmHg and mean IOP at last follow-up was 12.7±2.4 mmHg. There was a statistically significant difference between IOP at presentation and IOP at last follow-up (P< 0.001). None of the eyes required long-term antiglaucoma medication. No significant intraoperative complications were noted. The final postoperative best corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 51 patients. Eighteen eyes had corneal edema and 36 eyes had anterior chamber inflammation. Both conditions resolved with standard medical therapy. Conclusion: Manual small incision cataract surgery is safe and effective in controlling IOP and achieving good functional visual acuity with minimal complications in the management of phacomorphic glaucoma in developing countries.