Clinical profile of hypochromic microcytic anemia in Chittoor district, India

Background: Anemia is not a diagnosis by itself like fever but merely is an objective sign of the presence of disease. The correct diagnostic terminology for a child with anemia requires the detection of etiology, pathology, and pathogenesis of the anemia. To evaluate the role of therapeutic oral iron therapy as a diagnostic approach to hypochromic microcytic anemia.Methods: The present study is a retrospective study conducted at the teaching hospital, Chittoor district from September 2019 to December 2019. A total number of 350 cases of anemia were studied from both inpatient and outpatient services in the age group 2 months to 12 years. Hemogram, Hb Electrophoresis, and bone marrow study as necessary based on individual cases.Results: From the above analysis, the mean Hb% at the time of entry to study was 7.36gms%. The mean Hb% after the iron therapy was 11.8gms%. The mean increase in Hb was 4.4gms%. In this study, the average RBC count was 2.9 million cells/cumm.Conclusions: A therapeutic trial of oral iron is an appropriate initial step in the diagnostic approach of hypochromic microcytic anemia. Costly investigations like Hb electrophoresis and bone marrow study are required only in selected cases.

Correlation of serum level and selective blood indices in children with feberile seizures in Chittoor district, India

Background: A seizure or convulsion is a paroxysmal, time-limited change in motor activity and/or behavior that result from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are common in the pediatric age group and occur in approximately 10% of children. Most seizures in children are provoked by somatic disorders originating outside the brain, such as high fever, infection, syncope, head-trauma, hypoxia, toxins, or cardiac arrhythmias. To study the association between iron deficiency and the first febrile seizure.Methods: The present study is a retrospective study conducted at the teaching hospital, Chittoor district from August 2019 to December 2019. In this study to detect low iron status as a possible risk factor for first febrile seizures, 63 cases, and 63 age and sex-matched controls are studied and analyzed.Results: In this study family history of febrile seizures is seen only in 28.5% of cases. The mean serum ferritin level in this study is 14.5ng/ml. Thus the mean serum ferritin, HB, and MCV are found to be signed on the lower side among children with febrile seizures.Conclusions: Plasma ferritin level and blood indices are significantly lower in children with febrile seizures as compared to children without febrile seizures suggesting that iron-deficient children are more prone to febrile seizures.

Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial efficacy of silver, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans. Material and Methods: Serial dilution method was employed for preparing 1%, 0.5%, 0.25% concentrations of the three test compounds. ATCC 25175 strain of streptococcus mutans was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of test compounds. Equal quantity of BHI broth was dispensed in test tubes containing sectioned tooth and to this the prepared bacterial inoculum was added. Prepared concentrations of test compounds were added accordingly and incubated for 24hrs at 370C. Then, the sectioned tooth was removed and the adherent bacteria were transferred into saline solution by vortexing. These suspensions were transferred onto sterile blood agar plate to make lawn culture and were further incubated at 370C for 24hrs to determine viable bacterial count. The number of colonies were counted manually from each plate and recorded for further analysis. Decrease in number of colonies represents the effective concentration of the test compound against the inhibition of biofilm formation. Results: A significant difference in the colony forming units among all three concentrations of silver (Ag), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc (ZnO) nanoparticles was noted and the antimicrobial effect of nanoparticles was concentration dependent. Inter group comparison of colony forming units with 1%, 0.5% and 0.25% of the test compound revealed that the colony forming units on the ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated highest value followed by TiO2 and the least were with that of the Ag nano particles. Conclusion: Silver, Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide showed significant antimicrobial effects and the antimicrobial effect of nanoparticles was concentration dependent.

Maternal hormonal interventions as a risk factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder: An epidemiological assessment from India.

Globalization and women empowerment have led to stressful life among Indian women. This stress impairs women’s hormonal makeup and menstrual cycle, leading to infertility. National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) reports a decline in fertility status in India, indicating a rise in various infertility treatments involving hormonal interventions. No studies are available from India on the risk association link between maternal hormonal treatments and ASD. Hence, this study explores the association of maternal hormonal interventions with risk for ASD. Parents of 942 children (471 ASD and 471 controls) across 9 cities in India participated in the questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire was pilot tested and validated for its content and reliability as a psychometric instrument. Data collection was done at 70 centres through direct interaction with parents and with the help of trained staff. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using SAS 9.1.3. Out of the 471 ASD cases analysed, 58 mothers had undergone hormonal interventions (12.3%) while there were only 22 mothers among controls who underwent hormonal interventions (4.6%). According to logistic regression analysis maternal hormonal intervention (OR=2.24) was a significant risk factor for ASD.

Effect of clausena dent at a [WILLD.] M. Roem. against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Ethanol extract of Clausena dentata [Willd.] M. Roem [Rutaceae] was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats. The plant extract [250 mg/kg, p.o.] showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum markers for liver damage. Acetaminophen induced a signi-ficant rise in aspartate amino transferase [AST], alanine amino transferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase [GGTP] and decrease in total protein. Treatment of rats with ethanol extract [250 mg/kg] significantly [P < 0.001] altered serum marker enzymes levels to near normal against acetaminophen treated rats. The activity of the extract was comparable to the standard drug, silymarin [50 mg/kg, p.o.]. Histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. Results indicate that Clausena dentata possesses hepatoprotective effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats