A systematic review of community-based studies on mental health issues among tribal populations in India

Background & objectives: Globally, mental disorders are rising with increasing urbanization. India has the world’s second-largest tribal population and it is critical to appreciate the mental health problems in this population. However, the extent of mental health issues among tribal populations is unknown. Against this background, we systematically reviewed community-based studies on mental health issues among tribal populations in India. Methods: Online databases PubMed, Embase, ProQuest databases and Google Scholar were searched and articles published between January 1990 and May 2021 including primary community-based quantitative observational studies focused exclusively on tribal population were retrieved. PRISMA guidelines were followed and this review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020178099). Results: A total of 935 articles were identified, of which 63 were selected for full-text review, and finally, 11 studies were included. Seven studies examined alcohol use disorder with a pooled prevalence of 40 per cent. Two studies reported on suicidal attempts. A few studies mentioned anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. Interpretation & conclusions: This systematic review established that a few community-based primary studies were conducted on mental health issues among tribal populations over the last three decades. Among these, fewer studies focused exclusively on tribal communities. The studies differed in their study design and the tools used. The findings of these investigations highlighted a limited range of mental health issues, primarily alcoholism, anxiety, depression and suicide.

Oncocytic Carcinoma of Parotid Gland: A Case Report

Introduction: Oncocytic carcinoma (OC) of salivary glandorigin is an extremely rare proliferation of malignant oncocyteswith adenocarcinomatous architectural phenotypes, includinginfiltrative qualities. To help clarify the clinicopathologicfeature of this tumor group, herein, we report a case ofoncocytic carcinoma arising from the salivary glands, togetherwith radiological and immunohistochemical observations.Case report: The tumor was reported in the parotid regionof a 50 year old female. The tumors were unencapsulatedand was seen invading into the nearby lymphatic tissues. Theneoplastic cells had eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and roundvesicular nuclei with prominent red nucleoli. Cellular atypiaand pleomorphism was mild. Immunohistochemistry reveleadDOG1 and p63 positivity. In summary, OC of salivary glandorigin is a high-grade tumor, often with local recurrence,regional or distant metastasis, diagnosis of which is based ona combination of clinical and histopathological features.Conclusion: Complete surgical excision is the treatment ofchoice while the role of radiotherapy or chemotherapy iscontroversial, and careful follow-up is necessary.

Correlation of placental thickness with gestational age in antenatal women

Background: Accurate estimation of gestational age and fetal wellbeing is mandatory to ensure safe pregnancy and healthy delivery. With recent development in USG, basic scan, Doppler imaging and interventional radiology helped greatly in accurate estimation of gestational age and delivering timely care. The objectives of this study was to determine the USG placental thickness at the level of insertion of cord in antenatal women from gestational age 11 to 40 weeks. To correlate placental thickness with gestational age. To calculate composite gestational age from USG parameters; CRL, BPD, HC, AC, FL. To compare the relationship of menstrual gestational age with placental thickness and composite gestational age separatelyMethods: It is a comparative study of 2 years duration. Total 322 patients were included. Gestational age was determined from LMP. Patient’s routine obstetric USG was done and composite gestational age was calculated from fetal parameters like BPD, HC, AC and FL (CRL in 11 to 14 weeks). At the same time placental thickness was determined at the level of insertion of umbilical cord. The plane of USG image was adjusted so that the thickness measured from cord insertion is perpendicular to the margin of uterine wall.Results: The following parameters were noted: correlation of period of gestation (weeks) with composite gestational age (weeks) correlation of period of gestation (weeks) with gestational age calculated by placental thickness (weeks).Conclusions: Placental thickness can give an estimation of gestational age. The linear correlation and statistical compatibility of placental thickness makes it an alternate parameter for gestational age. Knowledge of correct gestational age helps in delivering proper antenatal care, assessing fetal wellbeing, identifying pathology at the earliest and timely decision of termination and providing safe motherhood.

Cytomorphological Study of Palpable Breast Lumps: Spectrum of Lesions and Diagnostic Utility of FNAC.

Background: Palpable breast lumps are quite common which can be benign or malignant. Carcinoma breast is the second most common cancer after cervical cancer. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a minimally invasive, rapid, reliable and cost-effective outdoor procedure to provide effective diagnosis and way to further planning of treatment without need for biopsy. The objective of the study is to study the spectrum of various breast lesions on cytomorphology and its histopathological correlation. Methods: This was a two years retrospective study from June 2014 to May 2016 including 280 cases aspirated from palpable breast lumps. Physical examination of breast lumps by palpation was done. Cytological diagnosis was made and histopathological correlation was done, wherever available. Results: On cytomorphological study of 280 breast lump aspirates 32 (11.43%) were inflammatory lesions, 180 (64.29%) benign, 6 (2.14%) atypical/probably benign, 8 (2.86%) suspicious of malignancy, 46 (16.43%) malignant and 8 (2.86%) were unsatisfactory for evaluation, of these 280 cases, 70 (25%) were available for histopathological examination. The most common benign lesion in the present study was fibroadenoma 115 (41.07%) and the most common malignant lesion was ductal carcinoma 43 (15.36%). Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid and reliable tool to provide effective diagnosis in palpable breast lumps. It should be used as routine diagnostic procedure to provide the effective health care to the patients with breast lesions.

Curing efficiency of three light emitting diode units at different curing profiles.

Context: High‑intensity light emitting diode lamps with reduced exposure time to bond orthodontic attachments have been introduced to save the valuable clinical time. Aims: To evaluate the shear bond strength of brackets cured using three different light emitting diode curing units having different intensities and curing times, to compare the effect of different exposure methods on bond strength, and to compare the amount of remnant adhesive on tooth after debonding. Settings and Design: Study conducted on 120 brackets bonded to extracted premolar teeth cured by using three light‑emitting diode (LED) units. Methods: One hundred and twenty adhesive precoated metal brackets (Gemini series, 3M Unitek) were cured using three LED curing units (3M ESPE, ELIPAR, S10; Ortholux™ LED; Ortholux™ Luminous Curing Light). Universal testing machine was used to record shear bond strength. Residual adhesive remaining on the teeth was assessed by the modified adhesive remnant index. Statistical Analysis: After calculating mean and standard deviation for each group, post hoc Tukey and Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed to find the significant difference. Results: Comparison showed highest shear bond strength for Group 1A followed by 3A and lowest for Group 3B. Statistically significant difference was noticed in comparing shear bond strength recorded in Group 1A, Group 2A, and Group 3A with Group 1B, Group 2B, and Group 3B. Conclusions: Reduction of exposure time to 6 s with high‑intensity curing light seemed to be clinically acceptable and should be recommended. Curing of metal brackets with single exposure from buccal side showed lower shear bond strength values.

Bioprospecting of plant growth promoting psychrotrophic Bacilli from the cold desert of north western Indian Himalayas.

The plant growth promoting psychrotrophic Bacilli were investigated from different sites in north western Indian Himalayas. A total of 247 morphotypes were obtained from different soil and water samples and were grouped into 43 clusters based on 16S rDNA-RFLP analysis with three restriction endonucleases. Sequencing of representative isolates has revealed that these 43 Bacilli belonged to different species of 11 genera viz., Desemzia, Exiguobacterium, Jeotgalicoccus, Lysinibacillus, Paenibacillus, Planococcus, Pontibacillus, Sinobaca, Sporosarcina, Staphylococcus and Virgibacillus. With an aim to develop microbial inoculants that can perform efficiently at low temperatures, all representative isolates were screened for different plant growth promoting traits at low temperatures (5-15°C). Among the strains, variations were observed for production (%) of indole-3-acetic acid (20), ammonia (19), siderophores (11), gibberellic acid (4) and hydrogen cyanide (2); solubilisation (%) of zinc (14), phosphate (13) and potassium (7); 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity (6%) and biocontrol activity (4%) against Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Among all the strains, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus muralis, Desemzia incerta, Paenibacillus tylopili and Sporosarcina globispora were found to be potent candidates to be developed as inoculants as they exhibited multiple PGP traits at low temperature.

Radiographic Presentation of Fibromyxoma: An Uncommon Entity.

Fibromyxoma is a rare, locally destructive, benign odontogenic mesenchymal tumor which is found exclusively in the jaw region. The maxilla and anterior part of the mandible are rarely affected. It can usually lead to extensive bony destruction with extension into the surrounding structures. The lesion often grows without symptoms and presents as a painless swelling. Histologically and radiologically it is difficult to differentiate this tumor from other odontogenic tumors and may be mistaken occasionally for a malignant pathology. A similar situation happened with our case that was clinically misdiagnosed as malignant lesion initially, but after two repeated biopsies diagnosed as a fibromyxoma.

Detection of histidine rich protein & lactate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria patients by sandwich ELISA using in-house reagents.

Background & objectives: Despite major control efforts, malaria remains a major public health problem that still causes high mortality rate worldwide especially in Africa and Asia. Accurate and confirmatory diagnosis before treatment initiation is the only way to control the disease. The present study was undertaken to develop reagents using sandwich ELISA for simultaneous detection of PfHRP2 (Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein) and PfLDH (P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase) antigens in the proven malaria cases. Methods: The antibodies were raised against two epitopes of PfHRP2 protein and three unique and unexplored epitopes of PfLDH protein. These antibodies were able to detect PfHRP2 and PfLDH antigens in culture supernatant and parasitized RBC lysate of P. falciparum, respectively up to 50 parasites/μl. The in-house reagents were tested in 200 P. falciparum positive patients residing in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Results: Microsphere (PLGA) with CpG ODN were used to generate high titre and high affinity antibodies against selected peptides of PfHRP-2 and pLDH antigen in mice and rabbit. The peptide specific peak titre varied from 12,800 - 102,400 with an affinity ranging 0.73 - 3.0 mM. The indigenously developed reagents are able to detect PfHRP2 and PfLDH antigens as low as 75 parasites/μl of blood with a very high sensitivity (96-100%) and specificity (100%). Interpretation & conclusions: The study highlight the identification of unique epitopes of PfHRP2 and PfLDH, and the generated antibodies against these antigens were used for quantitative estimation of these two antigens using sandwich ELISA. No corresreactivity with P. vivax infected patients was observed with the sera.

Success of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C infection relates to functional status of myeloid dendritic cells.

The pure recombinant and synthetic antigens used in modern day vaccines are generally less immunogenic than older style live/attenuated and killed whole organism vaccines. One can improve the quality of vaccine production by incorporating immunomodulators or adjuvants with modified delivery vehicles viz. liposomes, immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMs), micro/nanospheres apart from alum, being used as gold standard. Adjuvants are used to augment the effect of a vaccine by stimulating the immune system to respond to the vaccine, more vigorously, and thus providing increased immunity to a particular disease. Adjuvants accomplish this task by mimicking specific sets of evolutionary conserved molecules which include lipopolysaccharides (LPS), components of bacterial cell wall, endocytosed nucleic acids such as dsRNA, ssDNA and unmethylated CpG dinucleotide containing DNA. This review provides information on various vaccine adjuvants and delivery vehicles being developed to date. From literature, it seems that the humoral immune responses have been observed for most adjuvants and delivery platforms while viral-vector, ISCOMs and Montanides have shown cytotoxic T-cell response in the clinical trials. MF59 and MPL® have elicited Th1 responses, and virus-like particles (VLPs), non-degradable nanoparticle and liposomes have also generated cellular immunity. Such vaccine components have also been evaluated for alternative routes of administration with clinical success reported for intranasal delivery of viral-vectors and proteosomes and oral delivery of VLP vaccines.