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The study was conducted to determine the bacteriological quality of 112 infants’ feeding bottles. Samples were collected from the feeding bottles brought by the caregivers of infants in the OPD of Dept. of Pediatrics, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna from the period of August 2015 to October 2016. The study was selected because it has been observed that more number of babies were found to be sick that were bottle fed than breast fed infants presenting in the OPD, also bottle fed infants had multiple OPD visits compared to breast fed infants The coliform group of bacteria, like E.Coli,4 Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter spp.; enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic E.Coli, Salmonella, Shigela spp., S. aureus, and Bacillus cereus; fungus like Candida were isolated in the significant colony count of 104colonies/ml or more from inoculation of swab samples of feeding bottles or nipples in the appropriate culture media. Not only the milk, but the process of storage and milk preparation itself contributes to the growth of bacteria. Contamination due to improper cleaning, disinfection and handling of feeding bottles as well as repeatedly feeding of the milk kept in the feeding bottle over prolonged period of time has been observed to cause infections in bottle fed infants. In the results shown, high level of bacteriological contamination of milk is apparent which is caused due to the incorrect dilution, improper storage, inadequate cooking and poor hygiene. Nursing mothers should be taught on the proper handling of feeding utensils and emphasize on the superior quality of breast milk. To reduce the diarrheal diseases in infants, well controlled community based, longitudinal studies are recommended. Key​words:​ Feeding bottle, Bacterial contamination, Diarrheal illness, Recurrent illness.

INTRODUCTION: The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex anatomical structure that is concerned with mastication, deglutition, and speech. Ankylosis of the TMJ occurs when the condyle gets fused to glenoid fossa by bony or fibrous tissue. It is an incapacitating problem, commonly occurring in children and is usually associated with trauma or infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of ten patients with written informed consent having TMJ ankylosis (unilateral/bilateral) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for the study and were operated under general anaesthesia with arthrectomy followed by reconstruction of ramal condylar unit with SCG (Group I) or CCG (Group II). Pre-operative and post-operative evaluation assessments were done at regular intervals for maximum mouth opening, range of mandibular movements, and height of ramus. RESULTS: Statistical analysis shows that the increase in maximum mouth opening was found 1.1% higher in Group II (75.9%) as compared to Group I (74.9%). The increase in lateral excursion at affected side was found 1.3% higher in Group I (84.6%) as compared to Group II (83.3%). The increase in lateral excursion at non-affected side was found 10.3% higher in Group I (76.9%) as compared to Group II (66.7%). The increase in protrusive movement was found 17.5% higher in Group II (88.9%) as compared to Group I (71.4%). Six months post-operative height of ramus was found 10.5% higher in Group II as compared to Group I. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes the superiority of costochondral graft over sternoclavicular graft in terms of growth and function. Continued deliberation between the two grafts with larger sample size and a longer follow-up with multicentric consensus will be required to draw definitive indications of the two grafts.

Objectives: Natural killer (NK) cells are important effector lymphocytes. NK cells are considered to represent innate immune system. NK cells target and kill aberrant cells such as virally infected and tumorigenic cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of CD57 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to correlate the expression of CD57 with 3 years survival in patients with OSCC. Materials and Methods: About 100 histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSCC of various grades were divided into two groups, i.e., Group I (dead patients) and Group II (live patients) from the archives of Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology. CD57 was detected in these tissues by immunohistochemistry. Result: The results were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and students unpaired t-test. The mean CD57 labeling index in Group II was significantly higher than that found in Group I (P = 0.000). There was a significant correlation (P = 0.00) in the mean CD57 levels between Groups I and II and prognosis of patient. Conclusion: CD57 could be a good prognostic marker for OSCC patients.

Snails are well known as carriers of diseases and vectors of pests. Being largely herbivorous, land snails cause immense damage to both cultivated and useful non-cultivated plants. A large population of snails, however, inhabits freshwaters, where the larvae of parasitic trematodes also pass part of their life. Many aquatic snails act as vectors for the larvae of trematodes and thereby cause a number of diseases. Two diseases carried by aquatic snails, fascioliasis and schistosomiasis cause immense harm to man and his domestic animals. Snails are next only to insects in the harm they cause to mankind. The World Health Organization has tested thousands of synthetic compounds for the eradication of snails. Though effective, these pesticides have so far not proved themselves to be entirely satisfactory. With a growing awareness of environmental pollution which such compounds can cause, efforts are being made to find molluscicidal products of plant origin. Being the products of biosynthesis, these ar...

Two new glycosides, the triterpenoid glycoside 19α-hydroxyurs-12-ene-24,28-dioate 3-O-β- d -xylopyranoside and the phenol glycoside 2-isoprenyl-5-isopropylphenol 4-O-β- d -xylopyranoside have been isolated from the whole plant of Blumea lacera and their structures elucidated by means of spectral and chemical studies.

The latex of four plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae viz. Jatropha gossypifolia, Euphorbia royleana, Euphorbia antisyphlitica and Euphorbia lactea cristata caused significant reductions in the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in nervous tissue of the snail Lymnaea acuminata. The reduction in the activity of both the phosphatases was time and dose dependent; the order of effectiveness was as follows: Euphorbia lactea cristata > Euphorbia antisyphlitica > Euphorbia royleana > Jatropha gossypifolia. It has been suggested that the inhibition of these enzymes might be through activation of Protein Kinase C.

High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for analysis of seven gibberellins, i.e., GA3, GA4, GA7, GA3 methyl ester, GA7 methyl ester 3,13 diacetate, GA7 methyl ester, and fusaric acid, using an isocratic system. Method was used for estimation of gibberellins from different Fusarium strains. Gibberellins were extracted from 28 strains of Fusarium, out of which six strains of Fusarium were isolated from soil of different parts of India and 22 strains were procured from the Indian Type Culture Collection, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Extracts were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative estimation of gibberellins by thin layer chromatography and HPLC, respectively. On the basis of quantitative analysis of produced gibberellins by HPLC, they were categorized as low, moderate, and high gibberellin producing strain. For the first time, Fusarium solani was also reported as high GA3 producing strain.

25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is linked with predisposition to autoimmune type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to assess the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and thyroid autoimmunity. Subjects included students, teachers and staff aged 16–60 years (total 642, 244 males, 398 females). Serum free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), intact parathyroid hormone and 25(OH)D were measured by electrochemiluminescence and RIA, respectively. Thyroid dysfunction was defined if (1) serum TSH ≥ 5 μU/ml and TPOAb>34 IU/ml or (2) TSH ≥ 10 μU/ml but normal TPOAb. The mean serum 25(OH)D of the study subjects was 17·5 (sd 10·2) nmol/l with 87 % having values ≤ 25 nmol/l. TPOAb positivity was observed in 21 % of subjects. The relationship between 25(OH)D and TPOAb was assessed with and without controlling for age and showed significant inverse correlation (r − 0·08, P = 0·04) when adjusted for age. The prevalence of TPOAb and thyroid dysfunction were comparable between subjects stratified according to serum 25(OH)D into two groups either at cut-off of ≤ 25 or >25 nmol/l or first and second tertiles. Serum 25(OH)D values show only weak inverse correlation with TPOAb titres. The presence of such weak association and narrow range of serum 25(OH)D did not allow us to interpret the present results in terms of quantitative cut-off values of serum 25(OH)D. Further studies in vitamin D-sufficient populations with wider range of serum 25(OH)D levels are required to substantiate the findings of the current study.

Introduction Cachexia is characterized by progressive muscle loss. Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) affects over 50% of oncology patients, correlates with advanced disease stage, and shorter progression-free survival. TNF-α is implicated in CAC. TNF-α and klotho are antagonistic: decreased klotho causes susceptibility to inflammation. Notch receptors regulate muscle stem cell (MSC) function. Active Notch signaling inhibits differentiation and maintains MSC quiescence. Notch upregulates Pax7 expression, inhibiting MSC differentiation. Hes1 expression indicates active Notch signaling. Sarcomas are malignancies of the connective tissues. Sarcoma patients experience musculoskeletal impairment and are uniquely susceptible to cachexia. The mechanisms of sarcoma-associated cachexia (SAC) are unknown. Here we describe SAC in a mouse model of osteosarcoma (OS). Methods 1. Mouse Model of OS: 2 × 105 K7M2 OS cells were injected into right hindlimb tibias of 4-week old SCID/Beige mice. After 4 weeks, the right hindlimb was amputated to render mice free of primary but not metastatic disease. Mice were sacrificed 10 weeks post-injection. 2. Histology: Muscle tissues from the contralateral hindlimbs of tumor-bearing animals and the hindlimbs of control animals were harvested for histology. 3. Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Immunostains for Notch3 and Pax7 were performed on tumors, contralateral hindlimbs from tumor-bearing animals, and control hindlimbs. 4. RT-PCR: The expressions of TNF-α, klotho, and Hes1 were compared in tumor tissue, muscle from tumor-bearing animals, and control muscle. 5. Co-Culture:Muscle stem cells (MSCs) were co-cultured with other MSCs or OS cells in a transwell system. MSC differentiation was assessed with IHC for fast-type myosin heavy chain. Results 1. Atrophy was appreciated in uninjected hindlimbs of sarcoma-bearing animals compared with controls. 2. Muscle from sarcoma-bearing animals displayed smaller myofibers and greater fibrosis than controls, indicating atrophy and systemic inflammation. 3. IHC for Notch3 showed intratumoral positivity. Greater Notch3 positivity, Pax7 positivity, and colocalization were appreciated in atrophic muscle from experimental animals compared with control muscle. 4. There was greater TNF-α and less klotho expression in both tumors and skeletal muscle of sarcoma-bearing animals compared with normal muscle. Hes1 expression was greater in tumor and atrophic muscle than normal muscle. 5. Co-culture with OS cells resulted in decreased MSC differentiation. Co-culture in the presence of a Notch inhibitor rescued myogenic differentiation. Conclusion These data suggest that sarcoma may cause SAC via two mechanisms: (1)-TNF-α-mediated inflammation, and (2)-the dysregulation of MSC homeostatsis by aberrant Notch signaling. The inhibition of systemic inflammation and Notch signaling may represent novel strategies to combat SAC. Citation Format: Kurt R. Weiss, Xiaodong Mu, Rashmi Agarwal. Notch signaling and inflammation in a murine model of sarcoma-associated cachexia. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3435. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3435

Different dilutions of the latex of four plants of the family Euphorbiaceae, viz. Jatropha gassypiifolia, Euphorbia antisyphlitica, Euphorbia royleana and Euphorbia lactea cristata were administered for 24 h to the snail Lymnaea acuminata and the fish Colisa fasciatus in order to test their lethality. All the plants were lethal to both the snail and the fish. The LC 50 of the snail was, however, considerably lower than that of the fish. Twenty-four hour snail LC 30 , LC 50 , LC 70 and LC 80 of the latex of all four plants did not cause any mortality among fish in a mixed population of snails and fish. It is proposed that the latex of these plants can be used as a molluscicide for controlling the snail Lymnaea acuminata .