Surface Ultrastructure of Antenna and Distribution of Sensilla in the Leptogenys chinensis (Mayr) (Fabricus) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera)

Ants have a well-developed pair of antenna with sensory system used in chemical communication for sociallives. The antennae comprise of two parts scape and funiculus. Funiculus contains single segmented pediceland ten segmented flagellum. The surface micro-morphology of the antennal sensilla of Leptogenys chinensisworker showsthe presence of various types ofsensilla viz.sensilla trichodea, sensilla trichodea curvata,sensillabasiconica,sensilla coeloconica,sensilla chaetica,sensilla coelocapitular. Sensilla trichodea is distributed on allparts of the antenna. Sensilla trichodea curvata type III is typically present on flagellar segments only. Sensillabasiconica with arrowhead present on scape ball is slightly different than the sensilla basiconica with roundedhead present on the flagellar tip. Sensilla coelocapitularis observed only on the flagellar tip. On the joint ofscapeball and pedicilar shaft, three types of sensilla trichodea are present on the ball ridge while sensilla basiconicadistributed on the dorso-lateral margin of the ball..

Sex Determination by Means of Inter-Canine Width - A Study in Karnataka Population.

Background: Sex determination using dental features is primarily based upon the comparison of tooth dimensions in males and females. Aims and Objectives: To determine the role of inter-canine width in identification of sex of individuals. Methods: 50 subjects were included in the study. Impressions were taken with alginate and study models prepared. Inter canine width was measured in all the cases and findings tabulated. Results: Inter canine width for males were higher than females in both maxilla and mandible. Conclusion: Inter-canine widths can be used as a tool in sex determination.

Knowledge Assessment of Undergraduate Dental Students about Oral Cancer -An Institutional Study.

Background: Oral cancer is one of the leading cause of death in Indian subcontinent. Early detection will definitely reduce its mortality rate. Aims and Objectives: To assess knowledge of undergraduate dental students about oral cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire with 10 questions related to basic aspects of oral cancer was designed and distributed to 100 undergraduate students from January 2015 to June 2015. The data was collected, tabulated and analyzed statistically for number and percentage using EPI-Info statistical software version 6. Results: Most of the students assessed were females making to 60% (60), while males were only 40% (40). 49 females and 32 males routinely check the oral mucosa completely. 56 females and 34 males ask the patients about their personal history like habits of tobacco and alcohol. Conclusion: Even though most of the students had adequate knowledge regarding basics of oral cancer, curriculum should be revised in such a way to enhance the knowledge of students about oral cancer.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue in a Young Patient - A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature.

Oral Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm affecting oral cavity, generally seen in individuals over 50 years of age and rarely before 40 years of age. As OSCC is rare in younger group, it may be often misdiagnosed resulting in inappropriate treatment leading to poor survival rates. Here we report a case of OSCC of left lateral border of the tongue in a 38 year old male patient and also review its literature.

Does Psychological Stress Cause ‘Cancer’?

Psychological stress is the mental, physical and emotional pressure experienced by the person. In recent years, our lifestyle as become more stressful compared with that in the past. The occurrence of cancer is also increasing rapidly in recent years. The rapidity as increased to such an extent that each of us has one or the other relative suffering from cancer. The purpose of the present review is to correlate stress as a major cause for cancer. Dr. Hamer, a German oncologist, developed cancer in the late 70s, shortly after his son's death. On that basis he began to investigate the history of his cancer patients and found that they too had a traumatic experience before being diagnosed with cancer. After studying over 40000 cases, over a number of years, he developed the theory that every disease originates from a shock or trauma. Interaction between emotions and immune functions might underlie the increased clinical susceptibility to infectious diseases or malignant tumours. Thus, better understanding of the interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune system in the development of cancer will help us to invent new treatment strategies for cancer.

Cochlear Implant Outcomes: A Comparison between Irradiated and Non-irradiated Ears

OBJECTIVES: Radiotherapy for head and neck tumors is known to potentially induce sensorineural hearing loss, which is possibly due to damage to the cochlear and/or auditory pathways. Since the success of cochlear implantation depends on a functional auditory nerve, this paper aims to study the hearing outcomes of cochlear implantation in irradiated ears. METHODS: A retrospective study of cochlear implant recipients from our institution who had previously received radiotherapy for head and neck cancers was performed. A control group with cochlear implants who did not receive radiotherapy was recruited. A review of case records, speech discrimination scores (SDS), and a validated subjective questionnaire in the form of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) was administered to the study group who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Global and category scores in both groups were averaged and statistically compared via non-inferiority (NI) testing. RESULTS: With the control group (n=8) as the reference, the -DeltaNI was defined, and a one-tailed lower 95% confidence interval was used for the irradiated group (n=8). The APHAB degree of improvement (%) results were as follows: global, 28.9% (19.32%, -DeltaNI=16.3%); ease of communication, 67.0% (58.36%, -DeltaNI=37.5%); background noise, 53.2% (44.14%, -DeltaNI=26.8%); reverberation, 41.7% (28.85%, -DeltaNI=32.7%); and aversiveness, -46.2% (-67.80%, -DeltaNI=-56.9%). The SDS was 66.9% (56.02%, -DeltaNI=51.0%). From the results, lower 95% confidence interval limits of global APHAB, SDS, ease of communication, and background noise scores of the irradiated group were within the defined -DeltaNI boundary and hence are not inferior to the control. The categories of reverberation and aversiveness could not be proven, however. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated marked improvements in hearing measured both objectively and subjectively. The overall hearing outcomes after cochlear implantation for post-irradiated patients were not worse than patients who have had no prior irradiation to ear structures.

On the transit dose from motorized wedge treatment in Equinox-80 telecobalt unit.

PURPOSE: To estimate the transit dose from motorized wedge (MW) treatment in Equinox-80 telecobalt machine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two plans were generated in Eclipse treatment planning system with universal wedge (UW) and MW each for 10 x 10 cm 2 . The transit dose was measured with 0.6 cc cylindrical ion chamber and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) chips at a depth of 5 cm with source to axis distance (SAD) 80 cm. RESULTS: The measured dose with ion chamber was in well agreement with the calculated dose from Eclipse within +/- 2%. The planned dose was 100 cGy while the measured absorbed dose with ion chamber for 15 degrees , 30 degrees , 45 degrees and 60 degrees MW treatment was found to be 100.94, 101.04, 100.72 and 99.33 cGy respectively. For 15 degrees , 30 degrees , 45 degrees and 60 degrees UW treatment, the measured absorbed dose was 99.33, 97.67, 97.77 and 99.57 cGy respectively. Similarly the measured absorbed dose with TLD was within +/- 3% with the planned dose for universal wedge (UW) and MW. From the experimental measurements, it was found that there was no significant contribution of transit dose during MW treatment. CONCLUSION: The actual measurements carried out with ion chamber in Equinox-80 machine for UW and MW revealed no variation between the doses delivered. The doses were comparable for both UW and MW treatments. The results from TLD measurements additionally confirmed no variation between the doses delivered with UW and MW. It was also demonstrated that the observed excess or less transit dose with MW does not have any significant clinical impact. This assured the safe dose delivery with MW.

Nasal septal perforation in a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and rhinitis on long term corticosteroids.

A 22-year-old male, referred to us as a case of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis was diagnosed as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) after serological and computed tomography confirmation. He was initiated on oral as well as inhaled corticosteroids along with nasal corticosteroid spray for his nasal complaints. One year subsequently, he developed a nasal septal perforation. Biopsy taken from the site did not reveal any granulomatous or atrophic changes and cultures of the biopsy did not yield any organism. The septal defect, repaired surgically by Hazeltine's method healed completely within 6 weeks. There have been anecdotal reports of septal perforation in patients with rhinitis on intranasal corticosteroids but hitherto not in patients with ABPA. A periodic examination of the nasal septum should be undertaken in patients with ABPA and rhinitis on long term inhaled oral and intranasal corticosteroids along with oral corticosteroids.