ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Dengue virus (DENV) transmission is known to be influenced by the environmental conditions. During 2017, the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) tested 78,744 suspected dengue fever (DF) patients, of whom, 21,260 were laboratory confirmed. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the hypothesis that spatial heterogeneity existed for DF patients and to identify significant determinants of DENV transmission in various districts across the Indian States during 2017. Methods: Laboratory confirmed DF cases were analysed from 402 districts spread across the Indian States. The determinants for DF transmission included in the model were population density, proportion of population living in rural areas, proportion o f forest cover area to the total geographical area, proportion of persons not able to read and write and who were aged greater than seven years; the climatic variables considered were minimum, maximum and average temperature, precipitation and cumulative rainfall. The spatial heterogeneity was assessed using spatial regression analysis. Results: DF cases showed strong spatial dependency, with Moran's I=4.44 (P <0.001). The robust measure for spatial lag (6.55; P=0.01) was found to be the best model fit for the data set. Minimum temperature and cumulative rainfall were significant predictors. Interpretation & conclusions: A significant increase in the number of dengue cases has occurred when the minimum temperature was 23.0-25.8癈 and the cumulative rainfall 118.14-611.64 mm across the Indian districts. Further in-depth investigations incorporating more number of demographic, ecological and socio-economic factors would be needed for robust conclusions.
ABSTRACT
This paper aimed to report a rare case of fusion of 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae, called as block vertebrae. Block vertebrae was observed in the Department of Anatomy, SRM Dental College. The bodies of C6 and C7 were completely fused. Anterioposterior radiograph of the fused vertebrae bodies showed hypoplastic inter vertebral disc. Lateral radiograph showed partial fusion of articular processes on left but remain unfused at the right side. Congenital cervical vertebral fusion results due to non-segmentation of sclerotomes. It may be asymptomatic or may result in various clinical symptoms with limitation of neck movements. Knowledge about the variations in vertebrae especially in cervical region is essential for orthopedic surgeons, oral-maxillofacial surgeons and physical therapists for planning any surgeries involving the neck region.
ABSTRACT
Success in neural tissue transplants at central nervous system suggest that the site may be immunologically privileged. However, this experimental study in which an antigen (Sheep Red Blood Cells) was administered into the third ventricle does not support the above concept. The antibody titre and soluble immune complex levels seen in these animals are similar to the levels seen in animals immunized with the same amount of antigen through the intraperitoneal route. Intraventricular immunization is rather a more potent modulator in decreasing the total WBC count (P < 0.05) and neutrophils (P < 0.001). Further a marked increase in lymphocytes (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood was observed in these animals. Intraventricular immunization also increased the killing power (NBT reduction) of the neutrophils (P < 0.05).