Risk Factors for Severe Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis During its Epidemic Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Postsecond wave of COVID?19 pandemic in the year 2021, rhino?orbital mucormycosis(ROM) was seen as an epidemic in the Indian community. Severe ROM disease has poor prognosis and requires a multidisciplinary approach for treatment. Hence, its prevention is better than cure. Studies done during the epidemic assessed predisposing factors, but this was a novel study which focused on assessing risk factors for severe disease of ROM. Ninety-four consecutive patients of ROM admitted at our designated nodal tertiary hospital of North India were enrolled, and data were collected and analyzed. Facial edema was the most common presenting complaint. Subclinical and mild COVID-19 infection was associated with severe ROM. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and prophylactic zinc supplementation were other significant risk factors for severe ROM. Public awareness among the general population for the above risk factors can prevent a debilitating disease like severe ROM.

Pesticides `contamination of lactating mothers’ milk in the north-western Himalayan region of India

Aim: The objective of the study was to develop and characterize the properties of sago (sabudana) from cassava based reconstituted dry starch with addition of pre-gelatinized starch and wet starch as binders.Methodology: The dry starch was soaked for 12 hrs at 30 % concentration and then sago was prepared at 40% moisture content with addition of pre-gelatinized starch and wet starch as binders in different treatment combinations. Results: The sago developed from the combination of reconstituted dry starch (75%) and wet starch (25%) had an optimal commercial size (3.36 mm) and shape (sphericity value, 76 %). The swelling power (5.98%) was high in reconstituted dry starch sago and solubility (13.42 %) was high in wet starch sago without the addition of any binders. The increase in cooking time (10.37%) and decrease in cooking loss (1.73%) were observed for sago developed with pre-gelatinized starch as binder. The lowest oil absorption index (0.45 g g-1) was noticed for sago prepared with wet starch as a binder. The storage modulus was comparatively lower for sago paste prepared using wet starch and thus the sago gel behaved like a dilute solution with increase in storage modulus and phase angle. Interpretation: The physico-functional properties of the cassava -based reconstituted dry starch sago can be improved by adding wet starch as a binder due to less retrogradation rate. Further, the addition of pre-gelatinized starch as a binder with reconstituted cassava dry starch can reduce the cooking loss in sago.

High-sensitivity detection of human malaria parasites by the use of rapid diagnostic tests and nested polymerase chain reaction in burdened communities of North East India

Background and Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of malaria through microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) analysis performed locally and the accuracy evaluated by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum from hotspot regions of North East (NE) India. Materials and Methods: One thousand one hundred and seventy-three blood samples were collected for identification of P. falciparum infection using microscopy and RDT analysis. DNA was extracted from whole blood using QIAamp DNA blood mini kit, and nested PCR was performed to confirm P. falciparum for evaluating sensitivity and specificity from various epidemiological surveys and geographical areas of NE India. Results: Of 1173 symptomatic malaria suspected patients, 15.6% (183/1173) patients were diagnosed as malaria positive by RDT and 67.94% cases (53/78) with microscopy. Of 183 malaria-positive patients, 42.62% (78/183) were diagnosed with P. falciparum and 84.61% (66/78) further confirmed to be P. falciparum positive by nested PCR. High sensitivity (97.9%) and low specificity (2.03%) of the RDT and high sensitivity (99.1%) and low specificity (0.9%) in microscopy against nested PCR results was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Epidemiological comparisons expressed highest incidences in Manipur (51.11%) followed by Meghalaya (48.93%) and Assam (35.16%). Overall incidence rate among the genders was observed to be higher in males than in females. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PCR, RDT and microscopy can potentially determine hotspots at moderate transmission intensities, but PCR testing has a diagnostic advantage as transmission intensity falls. Therefore, malaria control programs should consider PCR testing when the prevalence of infection is low.

Parenting in Children and Adolescents with Psychosis.

Need and Purpose of review: Psychotic symptoms appear in children and adolescents in the most crucial years, during the individual’s career development. The challenges faced by parents of psychotic children are in dealing with their disruptive behaviours, negative symptoms, cognitive deficits, delusions and hallucinations. This paper presents an overview of the childhood psychosis and how parenting can be done effectively for this population. Methods: Articles were retrieved from the Medline, Cochrane database, Google Scholar, Medscape; using the search terms ‘parenting and childhood psychosis’, and ‘childhood psychoses; and standard textbooks were consulted. Main conclusions: Educating parents how to recognize early symptoms, explaining treatment adherence, side effects of medications along with non-pharmacological measures like dealing with expressed emotions, lowering expectations, enhancing social supports, healthy lifestyle, and making patients independent. Awareness, early identification and effective parenting for psychosis may help bridge the wide gap between scarce skilled mental health professionals, inefficient resources and large paediatric population.

A study of habit of fast food eating among school going adolescents and parental advice and its relation with their nutritional status.

Background: A study of habit of fast food eating among school going adolescents and parental advice and its relation with their nutritional status. Methods: Design: an epidemiological analytic observational study. Subjects: 600 adolescents’ 15-19 years of age, studying in 11 and 12 classes and included both boys and girls. A single observer interviewed each student and gathered the information regarding their eating habits. It was recorded on a pre-tested open and closed ended Performa. Nutritional status was assessed by BMI. The adolescents for the purpose of analysis were broadly grouped in two groups. Group I (those having normal BMI ranging 18.5 to 25) and group II (Malnourished i.e. those having BMI <18.5 to >25). Group II adolescents were further divided into group IIa (Underweight, BMI<18.5) and group IIb is (Over weight and obese BMI >25). Results: Adolescents who took both fast food and soft drinks 73.1% were malnourished (group II) as compared to those who did not take both the things 13.7% in group II. Difference was found to be statistically significant (p value <0.01). Out of 73.1% who took both fast food and soft drinks 62.1% and 11.0% were in group IIa (Underweight, BMI <18.5) and group IIb (Over weight and obese BMI >25) subsequently. Incidence of malnutrition was significantly less in 12.4% adolescents’ interfered by their parents as compared to 69.6% of those where parents was not interfering. Difference was found to be statistically significant (P value <0.01). Conclusion: A habit of fast food eating and taking soft drink provokes malnutrition. Interference in eating by parents is beneficial among adolescents.

Assessment of bacteriological quality of ready to eat food vended in streets of Silchar city, Assam, India.

A total of 37 street vended food samples were examined for bacterial and the colony forming units counts ranged from 4.5 × 105 to 1.12 × 106. The isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (37.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.57%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.20%), Salmonella sp. (5.36%), Klebsiella sp. (10.71%), Shigella sp. (19.64%) and Enterobacter sp. (8.93%) respectively. All the 56 isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin while their susceptibility to the other drugs varied. These findings demonstrated that the ready‑to‑eat foods vended in Silchar city constitute an important potential hazard to human health and provision of health education to the vendors would improve quality of street foods.

Novel Eco-Friendly Approaches for the Reduction of Selected Carbonyl Compounds.

This paper reports reduction of (-)-verbenone, 1,3-indanedione, 3-indolyl methyl ketone and 2- furyl methyl ketoneinvolving two green and environment friendly methods viz. biotransformation using Baker’s yeast as microbial catalyst in free as well as immobilized form and electrochemical method. Microbial transformation was carried out in water – isopropanol mixture (4:1) for selected substrates. The electrochemical reduction of these substrates was also carried out at constant current by using Stainless Steel Electrode (SS- 316). The reduction products were isolated and purified by chromatographic techniques and characterized on the basisof spectral analysis.

Analysis of methyl parathion in biological samples using thin layer chromatography.

Pesticides are major contaminating chemicals in agriculture environment and a hazard to exposed population. The pesticides form a strong class of environment pollutants, as they are sometimes nonbiodegradable, damaged not only the environment and agriculture but also have entered into the food chain thereby affecting health and development. Methyl parathion is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide generally used to control a variety of insects. The present study was planned to develop a new method for analysis of Methyl parathion in human blood samples using thin layer chromatography technique, which is simple and quick. Methyl Parathion was extracted from blood using solvent extraction methods and then identified on the TLC plates. For chromatographic separation, various binary and tertiary solvent systems were used and for detection on developed plates, palladium chloride reagent was used which successfully increased the sensitivity without dispensing with the simplicity of the method. Statistical analysis was performed on four solvent systems namely benzene: chloroform (80:20), hexane: carbontetrachloride (50:50), hexane: carbontetrachloride (20:80), hexane: propanol (20:80) which included the calculation of mean Rf value, value of standard deviation and coefficient of variance. It is evident from the statistical data that hexane: carbontetrachloride (50:50), hexane: carbon tetrachloride (20:80) is preferably good solvent systems for parathion identification by thin layer chromatography.

Biocatalytic and electrochemical reduction of selected phenyl alkanones with antibacterial activity of the corresponding phenyl alkanols.

This paper reports the production of some phenyl alkanols by the biocatalytic and electrochemical reduction of selected Phenyl alkanones viz. Propiophenone, Butyrophenone, and Valerophenone. Baker‘s yeast was used in its free as well as immobilized form for biocatalytic reduction. Substrates showed the higher conversion rate when the cells were used in immobilized form. The electrochemical behavior of substrates was investigated cyclic voltammetrically to explore electrochemical reduction as alternative synthetic route for the preparation of alcohols. Results obtained from cyclic voltammetric studies were used for establishing optimum conditions for electrochemical reduction which was then carried out galvanostatically using economically viable stainless steel (SS-316) electrodes. The reduction products were isolated and purified by chromatographic techniques and characterized on the basis of spectral analysis. The products thus obtained also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against four strains of bacteria viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecaulis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Synthesis, characterization and biocidal studies of some aromatic alcohols.

The synthesis and characterization of aromatic alcohols such as 1-(4-bromo phenyl) ethanol, 1-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) ethanol, (4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzyl alcohol) employing biotransformation (using whole cells of Baker’s Yeast in their free as well as immobilized form in mixtures of glycerol and water) and Electrochemical technique are reported. The electrochemical behavior of 4-bromoacetophenone, 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone, and 4-Hydroxy-3- methoxybenzaldehyde was analyzed using cyclic voltammetry at glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and constant current electrolysis. Effect of scan rate and pH on the reduction peaks has been calculated. The kinetic parameters were also calculated and the process was found to be diffusion controlled. The products obtained were purified & then characterized by spectroscopic techniques. All the compounds have been tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms in order to assess their antimicrobial properties. Biocatalytic and Electrochemical procedures were found to be more effective, safe, economical, environmental friendly, easy to handle. These green methodologies over conventional chemical methods provide new and improved synthetic routes to many valuable compounds.

Synthesis, characterisation and antimicrobial screening of some AZO compounds.

In this study, a series of azo compounds were synthesized in excellent yields via the diazotization of different aromatic amines followed by coupling with 2-naphthol. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectral techniques. The synthesized compounds have been tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms in order to assess their antimicrobial properties using disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were also determined by the broath microdilution technique. Some of the products exhibited comparable activity with known standard drugs at same concentration.

Eco friendly synthetic routes for the reduction of carbonyl and the substituted carbonyl compounds.

Incorporation of green methodology via biocatalytic and electrochemical steps using Baker’s Yeast and electrons as reducing agent respectively have been employed as a novel and efficient route to furnish relevent chiral building blocks for fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Reduction of selected ketones such as 2-methylcyclohexanone, 3-methylcyclohexanone, 4-methylcyclohexanone and ethyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate have been carried out by biotransformation (using whole cells of Baker’s Yeast in their free as well as immobilized form in mixtures of glycerol and water) and via electrochemical method to the corresponding alcohols. Optimum conditions for electrochemical reduction like solvent, supporting electrolyte, reduction potential and pH were determined at glassy carbon electrode employing cyclic voltammetric technique. The effect of scan rate, pH were also studied. The electrochemical reduction was carried out at constant current using stainless steel (SS-316) electrodes. The products obtained were purified & then the results of both reduction routes (biocatalytic & electrochemical) were compared and then characterized by spectroscopic techniques.

Synthesis, characterisation and biocidal studies of some hydroxamic acids.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of hydroxamic acids derived from benzoylation or acylation of substituted aryl hydroxylamine or hydroxylamine hydrochloride are reported. Elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectral data of the compounds are discussed. All the compounds have been tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms in order to assess their antimicrobial properties.

Awareness, attitude and perceived barriers regarding implementation of the cigarettes and other tobacco products act in Assam, India.

Background : Tobacco use is a major public health problem in India. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) was developed to curb this epidemic. Because no study has been conducted on the awareness, attitude and perceived barriers regarding the implementation of COTPA, this study was undertaken. Materials and Methods : A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 adults (mean age 41 years, 52% men) selected by cluster sampling method from Guwahati Municipal Corporation. Information on awareness, attitude and their predictors and barriers for implementation was collected using a pretested, structured interview schedule. Multivariate analysis was done using SPSS. Results : Adults older than 50 years were 3 times (odds ratio [OR] 3.02, 95% CI 1.44-6.31) and those with more than 10 years of schooling were 4 times (OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.70-7.70) more likely to have good awareness of COTPA compared with their counter parts. Those belonging to the middle socioeconomic status (SES) were 3 times (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.13-10.01), those who reported secondhand smoking harmful were 3 times (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.45-7.62), and those with more than 10 years of schooling were 3 times (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.01-8.45) more likely to have positive attitude toward COTPA compared with their counterparts. Lack of complete information and awareness of the Act, public opposition, cultural acceptance of tobacco use, lack of political support, and less priority for tobacco control were reported as barriers for COTPA implementation. Conclusion : Efforts should be made to increase the awareness of COTPA focusing on younger population, less educated, and those belonging to the low SES.

Detection of endosulfan isomers and metabolites by GC-MS in the exhumed body of an infant.

Endosulfan is a broad spectrum, non-systemic contact, and alimentary insecticide. It is a mixture of two isomers. The analysis of this insecticide, its isomers a and b endosulfan and other metabolic fragments, especially endolactone and a chlorinated dicarboxylic product in the autopsy material of an infant was performed by GC-MS in an alleged case of infanticide related to a dowry demand case. It confirmed that the child had been poisoned with endosulfan prior to death. No autopsy material, except ash and bone were left of the mother, as her par-ents-in-law had cremated her body. A new method was developed on GC-MS for the detection of this insecticide, which can be highly useful for routine analysis of insecticides in forensic laboratories. A study of various metabolites of endosulfan was also performed which may be informative for metabolic pathways studies.

Groundwater quality assessment in different land-use areas of Faridabad and Rohtak cities of Haryana using deviation index.

Physico-chemical parameters were analysed to evaluate the groundwater quality of the two important cities of Haryana, Faridabad and Rohtak, and the pollution status of groundwater was compared using deviation index (DI). Groundwater of both the cities had high alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity. The groundwater of Faridabad showed low fluoride concentration whereas in 74% of groundwater samples of Rohtak the fluoride levels were high. Land use and waste disposal practices were found to have an important effect on groundwater pollution.

Hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of plumbagin in rabbits.

Plumbagin (2-methyl-5-hydroxy, 1:4 naphthoquinone) isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica when administered to hyperlipidaemic rabbits, reduced serum cholesterol and LDL-Chol. by 53 to 86 percent and 61 to 91 percent respectively. It lowered cholesterol/phospholipid ratio by 45.8 percent and elevates the decreased HDL-Chol significantly. Further, Plumbagin treatment prevented the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and aorta and regressed atheromatous plaques of thoracic and abdominal aorta. Plumbagin treated hyperlipidaemic subjects excreted more fecal cholesterol and phospholipids. In conclusion-Plumbagin feeding brings about a definite regression of atheroma and prevents the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and aorta.

T and B cell status in bronchiolitis and bronchial asthma.

Immunologic status of 43 children, 13 with bronchiolitis and 30 with bronchial asthma was studied, and compared with 10 infants and 16 healthy children of respective control groups. Humoral immunity was assessed by absolute eosinophil count and B cell count (EAC rosette method) and cellular immunity by T cell count (E rosette method) and DNCB skin test. B cell subset of lymphocytes were raised in both the study groups but associated significant eosinophilia was seen only in bronchial asthma. The study demonstrated significantly lower mean T cell count and depressed DNCB reactivity in children of bronchial asthma. Children with bronchiolitis too had significantly lower mean T cell count. Thus both humoral and cellular immunity were altered in children with bronchial asthma and bronchiolitis.

Phytobezoar extending from stomach to cecum.

We report a patient with a phytobezoar extending from the stomach through the small intestine to the cecum. The patient presented with acute intestinal obstruction and bezoar was suspected at exploration. The specimen showed two masses of cotton fibres connected with a long string of variable thickness.