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Objectives: Monitoring of Leishmania transmission is considered a strategic priority for sustaining elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in the Indian subcontinent. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether serological surveys can distinguish between communities with and without Leishmania transmission, and to assess which serological marker performs best. Methods: Seven villages were selected from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh state, India, and categorized as either currently endemic (CE), previously endemic (PE) or nonendemic (NE). Blood samples were analyzed with the rK39 RDT, direct agglutination test (DAT), and rK39 ELISA. Results: Contrary to the rK39 RDT and DAT, the rK39 ELISA showed a significant difference between all three categories of endemicity, with a seroprevalence of 5.21% in CE villages, 1.55% in PE villages, and 0.13% in NE villages. Even when only looking at the seroprevalence among children aged

This research aims to provide an efficient and cost-effective renewable energy supply. It assesses the potential for photovoltaic (PV) and hydro energy in Pirthala, Haryana, India, using HOMER Pro® v3.14.2. A Hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) can continuously power 855 homes. The optimal HRES configuration comprises well-optimized PV modules, hydro turbines, converters, and batteries. The top four configurations were selected based on criteria such as net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy production (COE). The most effective HRES configuration involves a 3461-kW solar array, a 98.1 kW hydro turbine, 304 lithium-ion batteries of 100 kWh, and a 2785-kW converter, achieving a 100 % integration of renewable energy. This ideal HRES was thoroughly assessed regarding economic, technical, and renewable energy considerations. The results and the optimized HRES configuration can serve as a valuable reference for similar initiatives in rural areas, contributing to adopting renewable energy sources and enhancing energy access and reliability.

Nanoindentation technique is generally used for measuring thinfilm mechanical properties such as hardness, modulus and stiffness. Nanoindentation of ceramic thinfilms of SiO2, Si3N4 and Al2O3 was deposited by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering on the stainless steel (SS304) substrates using a nanoindenter. Under varied sputtering conditions, the “as-deposited” film was amorphous. The as-deposited thin film had a thickness of 200 nm. The amorphous film was loaded/unloaded only once while operating in load control mode. Hardness and Young's modulus, two mechanical properties of the ceramic thinfilms, were also measured. When SiO2, Si3N4, and Al2O3 thinfilms are deposited onto stainless steel substrates using an RF magnetron sputtering, the roughness of the ceramic thinfilms is in the range of 8 to 12 nm. The nanoindentation results were compared, the hardness of the coatings is in the range of 6 to 9 GPa, and these ceramic coatings can be used as an adhesive layer for multilayer thin film coating.

The coating materials, thickness and number of layers directly influence the reflectance and absorptance properties of the thin films. However, while selecting the materials for single and coatings, the substrate’s refractive index; bond layer, functional layer and protective layer have to be carefully chosen to obtain the desired reflectance and absorptance values. Hence, modelling and simulating the thin film coatings is essential before conducting the experiments to get meaningful results. The simulation results of single coatings have been discussed. Generally, glass is one of the widely used substrate materials for solar reflectors, aluminum is the optimal functional material, with a reflection of 93 % of light. Nickel would be a preferable functional layer with a reflection of 64 % and absorptance of 36 %, Si3N4 being the acceptable bond layers and protective layers with a reflection of 68 % some solar thermal receiver tube applications however research effort is being made to find alternate lightweight materials for this application. Polycarbonate has been chosen as an alternate material for the substrate because it is light in weight with a reflection of 93 %, which is durable and not fragile.

Azobenzene is a typical photoisomerization material that is widely used in photochemical energy conversion. However, it's generally operated below 200 °C to avoid thermal decomposition. To improve the thermal stability of azobenzene for higher temperature applications, this paper discussed an option that grafting azobenzene onto graphite-like carbon nitride sheets. The synthesis was evaluated based on the performance of micro morphology and structure, thermal stability, and photochemical energy conversion. Furthermore, the photochemical conversion performance was analyzed with diverse irradiation intensities. The results demonstrate that the synthesis has a strong thermal stability below 530 °C. In this study, the most favorable excitation wavelength for photochemical conversion was 445 nm with an irradiation intensity of 40 mW/cm2.

Abstract Objective Bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria (BFPP) is a rare genetic‐related migration disorder. It has been attributed to loss‐of‐function of the ADGRG1 gene, which encodes an adhesion G protein‐coupled receptor, ADGRG1/GPR56. We report the EEG findings of BFPP in three Asian patients, and confirmed that change in protein function was caused by the novel missense variant (p.Leu290Pro). Methods We reviewed the medical records of three siblings with BFPP including one elder girl and two identical twin boys from birth to adulthood. The clinical symptoms, electroencephalography (EEG), brain MRI, whole‐exome sequencing, treatment including medications, neuromodulation, and epilepsy surgery, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. The protein structure of a novel missense variant (p.Leu290Pro) was predicted by in silico studies, and molecular analysis was performed via typical flow cytometry and Western blotting. Results The elder girl (Patient 1) was 22 years old and the twin boys (Patients 2 and 3) were 20 years old at the time of publication. All of them presented with typical clinical symptoms/signs and MRI findings of BFPP. Whole‐exome sequencing followed by Sanger confirmation showed that all three patients had compound heterozygous variants in the ADGRG1 gene. The missense variant (p.Leu290Pro) was confirmed to be related to a reduction in cell surface GPR56 expression. High‐amplitude rhythmic activity was noted in sleep EEG during infancy, which may have been due to excessive sleep spindle, and the rhythm disappeared when they were of pre‐school age. Partial callosotomy provided short‐term benefits in seizure control in Patients 1 and 2, and combined vagus nerve stimulation and partial callosotomy provided longer benefits in Patient 3. Significance Sleep EEG findings of high‐amplitude rhythmic activity in our BFPP cases were only noted during infancy and childhood. We also confirmed that the missense variant (p.Leu290Pro) led to loss of function due to a reduction in cell surface GPR56 expression.

BackgroundCo-endemicity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) necessitates that these diseases should be considered concomitantly to understand the relationship between pathology and to support disease management and control programs. The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of filarial infection in asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infected individuals and the correlation of Wuchereria bancrofti infection with progression to clinical visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Bihar, India.Methodology/principal findingsWithin the Muzaffarpur-TMRC Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area, a cohort of Leishmania seropositive (n = 476) or seronegative individuals (n = 1130) were sampled annually for three years for filarial infection and followed for progression to clinical VL. To corroborate the results from the cohort study, we also used a retrospective case-control study of 36 VL cases and 71 controls selected from a subset of the HDSS population to investigate the relationship between progression to clinical VL and the prevalence of filarial infection at baseline. Our findings suggest a higher probability of progression to clinical VL in individuals with a history of filarial infection: in both the cohort and case-control studies, progression to clinical VL was higher among filaria infected individuals (RR = 2.57, p = 0.056, and OR = 2.52, p = 0.046 respectively).ConclusionThis study describes that progression to clinical VL disease is associated with serological evidence of prior infection with W. bancrofti. The integration of disease programs for Leishmania and lymphatic filariasis extend beyond the relationship of sequential or co-infection with disease burden. To ensure elimination targets can be reached and sustained, we suggest areas of co-endemicity would benefit from overlapping vector control activities, health system networks and surveillance infrastructure.

BackgroundIt has been amply described that levels of IgM antibodies against Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) correlate strongly with the bacterial load in an infected individual. These findings have generated the concept of using seropositivity for antibodies against M. leprae PGL-I as an indicator of the proportion of the population that has been infected. Although anti-PGL-I IgM levels provide information on whether an individual has ever been infected, their presence cannot discriminate between recent and past infections. Since infection in (young) children by definition indicates recent transmission, we piloted the feasibility of assessment of anti-PGL-I IgM seroprevalence among children in a leprosy endemic area in India as a proxy for recent M. leprae transmission.Material and methodsA serosurvey for anti-PGL-I IgM antibodies among children in highly leprosy endemic villages in Bihar, India, was performed, applying the quantitative anti-PGL-I UCP-LFA cassette combined with low-invasive, small-volume fingerstick blood (FSB).ResultsLocal staff obtained FSB of 1,857 children (age 3–11 years) living in 12 leprosy endemic villages in Bihar; of these, 215 children (11.58%) were seropositive for anti-PGL-I IgM.ConclusionThe anti-PGL-I seroprevalence level of 11.58% among children corresponds with the seroprevalence levels described in studies in other leprosy endemic areas over the past decades where no prophylactic interventions have taken place. The anti-PGL-I UCP-LFA was found to be a low-complexity tool that could be practically combined with serosurveys and was well-accepted by both healthcare staff and the population. On route to leprosy elimination, quantitative anti-PGL-I serology in young children holds promise as a strategy to monitor recent M. leprae transmission in an area.

Background: The current issue of improving mortality and care in paediatric patient is very challenging. Early anticipation and intervention will be helpful in improving the outcome in emergency and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) by the use of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) score. Decreasing in GCS and FOUR score is associated with worsening level of consciousness. Aim: The Aim of the study was to compare the prognostic value of FOUR and GCS score in unconscious children to predict the survival in unconscious children to predict the morbidity pattern. Materials and Methods: The present observational study was done from June 2019 to June 2020 at PICU of Department of Paediatrics, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, following Ethical Clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee of BRD Medical College. All the admitted unconscious children in PICU were included in our study. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical test. Results: In our study, 65 (50.0%) patients were 9–12 years old and male was predominant. Seventy-eight (60%) patients had symptoms of

Introduction: Modern society is experiencing a noticeable increase in the prevalence of colorectal disease due to a variety of causes, including changes in lifestyle and dietary habits as well as increased use of a variety of chemicals in the form of preservatives flavouring agents and stabilisers. Colorectal diseases are a cause of significant morbidity, hence, often gaining attention early in the disease. Although colonoscopy is a standard, the preferred tool for diagnosis and at times for management is often uncomfortable for the patient besides being incomplete in a significant percentage of patients. Hence, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained importance in recent years for the evaluation of colorectal diseases not only due to its non-invasive nature but also due to lack of radiation, a boon over computed tomography, which is considered a standard imaging tool. Hence, we planned this pilot study to evaluate the role of MRI in our tertiary care, medical college and hospital. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with signs and symptoms of colorectal disease were evaluated by 1.5T MRI followed by conventional, flexible, fibreoptic colonoscopy on the same day after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee and after obtaining written informed consent using strict criteria. Appropriate statistical methods and tools were used to evaluate the results from the data of MRI and colonoscopy that was recorded in predesigned pro forma and compared with the final tissue diagnosis. Results: Both the median and mean age of patients in our study were 40–45 years with male predominance (M:F = 4:1). Altered bowel habits followed by bleeding per rectum were the most common presentations seen in more than 90% of patients. Both MRI and colonoscopy misdiagnosed the lesions as malignant with higher errors by MRI. MRI had high sensitivity and negative predictive value in diagnosing a malignant lesion with moderate accuracy approaching 70%. In contrast, colonoscopy was superior in specificity and positive predictive value with higher accuracy of 80%. Conclusion: Although conventional colonoscopy is the standard tool for the diagnosis of colorectal diseases, several shortcomings of colonoscopy, including its invasive nature, several contraindications and risk of complications coupled with low yield limits, are used as a screening tool. However, non-invasive and radiation-free MRI with its high sensitivity and negative predictive value for malignant lesions make it preferable as a screening tool in the evaluation of colorectal diseases.

This article explores the charge compensation method by synthesising Sr _2 SnO _4 , Sr _2 Sn _0.99 Nb _0.01 O _4 , and Sr _1.995 Sn _0.99 Nb _0.01 O _4 . The synthesis of a monophasic, tetragonal sample was achieved using a typical ceramic approach and high-temperature heat treatment. The XRD followed by Rietveld refinement, confirmed the crystallization of material under the space group I4/mmm. The crystallite sizes for all samples determined to be less than 50 nm, while the micro-strain falls within the range of (1.78–2.93) × 10 ^–3 . The microstructure exhibits a cuboidal shape for all samples, and the grain size is observed to decrease with the addition of Nb. The dielectric characteristics of the samples indicate the existence of Maxwell-Wagner and Orientational polarization in the sample. The sample Sr _2 Sn _0.99 Nb _0.01 O _4 demonstrates a greater conductivity value compared to Sr _1.995 Sn _0.99 Nb _0.01 O _4 . This is attributed to the presence of excess electrons that compensate for the overall charge, as opposed to Sr _1.995 Sn _0.99 Nb _0.01 O _4 where the extra charge is compensated by a cationic vacancy ${V}_{{Sr}}^{{\prime\prime} }.$ The time-temperature-superposition principle (TTSP) is applicable to all compositions and indicates that similar sources are responsible for both conduction and relaxation processes. The dielectric permittivity and dissipation factor are found to be in the range of 150 to 175 and 0.2 to 0.5, respectively. This suggests that they have potential for future use in millimeter-wave communication with dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs). Due to the presence of oxygen ions and the ability to conduct both ions and electrons, at temperatures above 400 °C, it is a suitable choice for electrode materials in the application of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFCs). Exploring the manipulation of defects using electrical and ionic charge compensation methods shows potential for enhancing materials in semiconductor technology.

Making reliable predictions of the mechanical behavior of alloys with a prolonged service life is beneficial for many structural applications. In this work, we propose an interpretable machine learning (ML) approach to predict fatigue life cycles (Nf) and creep rupture life (tr) in titanium-based alloys. Chemical compositions, experimental parameters, and alloy processing conditions are employed as descriptors for the development of gradient boost regression models for log-scaled Nf and tr. The models are trained on an extensive experimental dataset, predicting log-scaled Nf and tr with a very small root mean squared error of 0.17 and 0.15, respectively. An intuitive interpretation of the ML models is carried out via SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to understand the complex interplay of various features with Nf and tr. The SHAP interpretation of the ML models reveals close agreement with the general creep equation and Wöhler curve of fatigue. The approach proposed in this study can accelerate the design of novel Ti-based alloys with desired properties.

Tinplating on steel is a useful industrial process extensively used for food packaging. Cold-rolled annealed steel coated with tin gives the steel corrosion resistance property and a beautiful luster. Tinplating on steel is a complex process where rolled and annealed steel sheets are cleaned with acid to remove rust, grease, or oil from the surface. Pure tin is electrodeposited on this freshly prepared surface after the electrodeposition of tin on the steel strip; the surface becomes lustrous, the color of pure tin appears, and the finish is called matte. Very often, the flowing heat treatment is just about the tin melting point of 232°C–265°C. After electrodeposition, pure tin deposits on the steel surface; however, a chemical reaction between tin and iron occurs during the brightening treatment. This process results in iron–tin intermetallic formation; their orientation grain structure and orientation of substrate steel all have a synergistic effect on the final properties of tin-coated steel. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study this parameter in detail. A total of five commercially produced tin-plated steel have been selected for the present purpose, and both tin coating and substrate steel have been thoroughly characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the crystallographic texture point of view; however, the best result has been discussed in this paper. The different phases of tin and the iron–tin compound have been identified using XRD, X-ray, and a texture goniometer that are used to find out the crystallographic texture observed in the presence of FeSn2, FeSn, and Sn in tin coating; the volume fraction of these phases is observed to vary from one sample to another. This variation may affect tinplating steel’s final property, which can be studied in the future work.

RADAR plays a vital role in military applications since its origin in the 2nd world war. Recently it has been used in surface inception, health monitoring, infrastructure health monitoring, etc. In these applications, Ultra-wideband RADAR systems are more popular than traditional RADAR systems. Impulse RADAR is a special kind of ultra-wideband RADAR, which is mostly used for surface penetration, through-wall imaging, antimissile detection, anti-stealth technology, etc. because of its high resolution and low center frequency. Out of all these applications, impulse RADAR has been used intensively as a ground-penetrating RADAR for the detection of land mines, underlying pipelines, buried objects, etc. This report has attempted to provide the steps for designing the impulse ground penetrating RADAR (GPR) as well as provides the value of crucial parameters required in the design process of commercial GPR systems.

The recent advancement in nanofabrication technology has enabled realization of vacuum electron devices with nanogap spacing. These devices have advantages over semiconductor counterparts due to possible operation under hard conditions and some unique functionalities. The challenging task, however, lies with the full understanding of their current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, resulting from various electron emission mechanisms. The reliable extraction of device parameters is, therefore, vital for its potential applications. An attempt has, therefore, been made here to fabricate two three-dimensional overhanging electrodes of tungsten and platinum with a nanoscale gap of 70–100 nm on glass substrates using chemical vapor deposition and focused ion beam milling. Their (I–V) characteristics measured in situ at ∼10−6 mbar are shown to follow the Child–Langmuir law and Fowler–Nordheim field emission at low and high-bias conditions, respectively. The extraction of parameters with a simple procedure suggested earlier yields an effective emission area of ∼3510 Å2, work function of ∼2.5 eV, and field enhancement factor (β) of ∼ 1.8 for tungsten; the values for platinum are 12.5 Å2, 3.0 eV, and 5.0, respectively. The higher β in the case of platinum can be attributed to the formation of a comparatively rough emitter surface with some fine protrusions. The nanostructure gives a current spike at high voltages, which marks its transition to an explosive emission state, breakdown, and dispersion of spherical metal particles over the substrate.

GPR56/ADGRG1 is a versatile adhesion G protein-coupled receptor important in the physiological functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, reproductive system, muscle hypertrophy, immune regulation, and hematopoietic stem cell generation. By contrast, aberrant expression or deregulated functions of GPR56 have been implicated in diverse pathological processes, including bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria, depression, and tumorigenesis. In this review article, we summarize and discuss the current understandings of the role of GPR56 in health and disease.

Leishmaniasis on the Indian subcontinent is thought to have an anthroponotic transmission cycle. There is no direct evidence that a mammalian host other than humans can be infected with Leishmania donovani and transmit infection to the sand fly vector. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of sand fly feeding on other domestic species and provide clinical evidence regarding possible non-human reservoirs through experimental sand fly feeding on cows, water buffalo goats and rodents. We performed xenodiagnosis using colonized Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies to feed on animals residing in villages with active Leishmania transmission based on current human cases. Xenodiagnoses on mammals within the endemic area were performed and blood-fed flies were analyzed for the presence of Leishmania via qPCR 48hrs after feeding. Blood samples were also collected from these mammals for qPCR and serology. Although we found evidence of Leishmania infection within some domestic mammals, they were not infectious to vector sand flies. Monitoring infection in sand flies and non-human blood meal sources in endemic villages leads to scientific proof of exposure and parasitemia in resident mammals. Lack of infectiousness of these domestic mammals to vector sand flies indicates that they likely play no role, or a very limited role in Leishmania donovani transmission to people in Bihar. Therefore, a surveillance system in the peri-/post-elimination phase of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) must monitor absence of transmission. Continued surveillance of domestic mammals in outbreak villages is necessary to ensure that a non-human reservoir is not established, including domestic mammals not present in this study, specifically dogs.

Abstract Creating a single surfactant that is open to manipulation, while maintaining its surface activity, robustness, and compatibility, to expand the landscape of surfactant-dependent assays is extremely challenging. We report an oxidation-responsive precursor with thioethers and multiple 1,2-diols for creating a variety of functional surfactants from one parent surfactant. Using these multifunctional surfactants, we stabilize microfluidics-generated aqueous droplets. The droplets encapsulate different components and immerse in a bioinert oil with distinct interfaces where an azide-bearing surfactant allow fishing of biomolecules from the droplets, aldehyde-bearing surfactant allow fabrication of microcapsules, and hydroxyl-bearing surfactants, with/without oxidized thioethers, allow monitoring of single-cell gene expression. Creating multifunctional surfactants poses opportunities for broad applications, including adsorption, bioanalytics, catalysis, formulations, coatings, and programmable subset of emulsions.

Introduction: Colorectal disease, especially carcinoma, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in modern era. With rising incidence of colorectal diseases and due to limitations of conventional flexible fiber-optic colonoscopy (gold standard tool), imaging plays a significant role in evaluation of these patients. Recent technical advancements coupled with noninvasive and radiation-free nature has made magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) an acceptable screening tool in colorectal diseases. Hence, we planned this study to evaluate role of MRI in colorectal diseases in our tertiary care, medical college, hospital. Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients with signs and symptoms of colorectal disease were evaluated by 1.5 Testa MRI followed by conventional, flexible, fiber-optic colonoscopy on the same day after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee and after obtaining written informed consent using strict criteria. Bowel preparation was done using polyethylene glycol. Data from MRI and colonoscopy were recorded in predesigned pro forma and compared with the final diagnosis. Appropriate statistical methods and tools were used to evaluate the results. Results: Majority of the patients in the study were in the age group of 21–40 years with male predominance. Altered bowel habit followed by bleeding per rectum was the most common presentations. Both MRI and colonoscopy overdiagnosed the lesions as malignant with higher errors by MRI. MRI was very effective in the detection of growth, strictures, diverticulosis, mucosal thickening/edema, and extracolonic manifestation but failed in detecting small polyps and ulcers. MRI had high sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% with an accuracy of more than 70%. Conclusions: Although conventional colonoscopy is considered as a gold standard tool in the diagnosis of colorectal diseases, it has several limitations including its invasive nature and low yield as a screening tool. Hence, MRI with its noninvasive and radiation-free nature along with its high sensitivity and NPV for malignant lesions should be considered over colonoscopy as well as computed tomography in evaluation of colorectal diseases.

Introduction: Wrist joint is a commonly used joint in day-to-day activities and hence is not only susceptible to various pathologies but is also the cause of significant morbidity in cases of painful wrist. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the usual imaging investigation preferred for the evaluation of painful wrist joint, its inherent limitations in form of high cost, limited availability, higher scan time, and lack of comparison with contralateral side have prompted us to design a study comparing the role of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) with MRI in such cases. Materials and Methods: Forty patients of painful wrist joint were evaluated with HRUS and MRI following approval of IEC and after informed consent. The two imaging modalities were compared not only in the detection of various findings related to painful wrist joint as joint effusion, synovitis, synovial hypertrophy, tenosynovitis, rice bodies, bone erosions, etc., but also in diagnosing the final group of disease. Appropriate statistical tests were then used to analyze the results. Results: Our study revealed that HRUS is similar to MRI in the detection of joint effusion, synovitis, synovial hypertrophy, tenosynovitis, rice bodies, etc., but is very poor in the detection of bony pathologies, especially marrow edema or chronic fractures. In our study, HRUS was equivalent to MRI in the final diagnosis in 67.5% cases, was inferior to MRI in 30% cases and was superior to MRI in 2.5%. Conclusions: Since HRUS has a high accuracy in detecting the pathologies in cases of painful wrist joint, it should be used as the first imaging modality. Patients with equivocal diagnosis or requiring surgical planning may, however, be subjected to MRI.

Aims: Congenital colonic stenosis (CCS) is an extremely rare cause of low-intestinal obstruction in neonates/child. We report our experience with seven cases of CCS presenting with low-intestinal obstruction and diagnosed intraoperatively and also propose an algorithm for its appropriate treatment for the adequate outcome. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective study of seven patients of CCS including two neonates (5-days and 15-days old), four infants (age range – 2–11 months), and one 24-month-old child admitted from 2014 to 2019. Information regarding the age of presentation, clinical presentation, physical findings, radiological and laboratory findings, details of surgery, and outcome was retrieved and analyzed. Results: The male-to-female ratio was 5:2. Patients were initially diagnosed as cases of Hirschsprung's disease in five and ileal atresia in two. A final diagnosis of CCS was made during surgery and histopathological examination of resected stenotic segment. The segment involved was ascending colon in three, transverse colon in two, and sigmoid colon and junction of descending and sigmoid colon each in one patient. Resection of stenotic colonic segment and primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed in two, divided stoma after resection of the stenotic segment and secondary anastomosis in three, and proximal loop terminal ileostomy followed by resection of the stenotic colonic segment and ileocolic anastomosis after 10–12 weeks in two. Conclusions: CCS is a rare but possible cause of large-bowel obstruction, in neonatal, infant, and children particularly when associated with a history of chronic constipation since birth. It should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis while managing a case of neonatal and pediatric intestinal obstruction, particularly low-bowel obstruction along with a history of chronic constipation. Treatment should be individualized for each patient based on clinical status and associated anomalies to give the best results with less morbidity.

This article presents a Stefan problem including thermal conductivity and heat capacity as the functions of temperature. At α=β, the exact solutions to the proposed problem are discussed for two different specific cases, i.e. m=n=1 and m=n=2. For the general case, estimation of the solution to the problem is deliberated with the help of shifted Chebyshev tau method. To exhibit the accurateness of the obtained approximate solution, the comparison between exact and approximate solution are depicted through tables which shows that the approximate results are in good agreement with the exact solution. We also present the impact of parameters appeared in the considered problem on temperature profile and location of moving interface. It is found that the melting of the material effectively enhances when we increase either the value m or[spsbacksalsh]and n or Stefan number. Keywords: Moving boundary problem, Similarity variables, Operational matrices, Tau method, Temperature-dependent thermal coefficients

Cancer-associated thrombosis is a challenging problem when treating patients with cancer. It is recurrent and difficult to treat because of the increased risk of bleeding. Low-molecular-weight heparin is the standard of care for treating cancer-associated venous thromboembolism/pulmonary embolism (VTE/PE). Recently, there have been emerging data favoring the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for treating cancer-associated VTE/PE. They are well tolerated because of oral administration and favorable side effect profile. Rivaroxaban was the first DOAC to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the history, chemistry, mechanism of action, indications, dose modifications, and drug–drug interactions of rivaroxaban. We also discuss briefly the results of various clinical trials related to DOACs.

In this paper, a one phase Stefan problem with time and temperature dependent thermal conductivity is investigated. With the help of similarity transformation and tau method based on shifted Chebyshev operational matrix of differentiation, an approximate solution of the problem is discussed. For a particular case, an exact solution of the proposed problem is also discussed and it is used to check the accuracy of the obtained approximate results. The effect of some parameters involved in the model on temperature distribution and movement of phase front is also analysed. Keywords: Stefan problem, Similarity transformation, Shifted Chebyshev polynomials, Hypergeometric function, Hermite function

The self-assembled V _2 O _5 and TiO _2 nanowires are prepared hydrothermally from vanadium (V) hydroxylamido complex and titanium oxide powder, respectively, and studied for their crystalline phase, morphology, and electron emission characteristics. V _2 O _5 is shown to exhibit an orthorhombic phase with preferential growth of the (010) face along the [010] direction; wire size being diameter 100–400 nm, and length several micrometers. TiO _2 nanowires depict a monoclinic β -phase with a typical diameter of ∼ 30 nm. Their bundles serve as potential cathodes giving electron emission following the Fowler–Nordheim (F-N) mechanism but from infinitely small areas with large field enhancement factors. In comparison, β -TiO _2 provides better emission characteristics at similar operating parameters (e.g., low threshold voltage 250–400 V and current density 10 ^9 −10 ^13 A m ^−2 ). The unique properties (viz., tip geometry, roughness, and local field enhancement) of one-dimension (1D) nanowires make them prospective candidates for high-brightness electron sources and development of the display devices [1–7]. A simple procedure developed by the authors is applied successfully in actual evaluation of the field emission parameters from the current–voltage data. This involves F-N formulation with physical considerations like variation of work function, effective emission area, and field enhancement factor [31].

Abstract Alkaline pectinase is the utmost significant industrial enzyme of the bioscouring process. By considering bio scouring of cotton, 30 microbial isolates from fruit and vegetable waste rich dump soil of Solang Valley and Vasishta (Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India) were isolated and screened for the alkaline pectinase production in the current research work. Only four isolates P3, P16, P21, and P27 were capable to produce extracellular alkaline pectinase at pH 9. Further by applying submerged fermentation, the alkaline pectinase production was quantitatively screened. The most efficient isolate was P3 identified as Bacillus tropicus, based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. Molecular characteristics confirmed by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The nucleotide sequence of the isolate was novel with a 97% similarity index and submitted to the GenBank with accession number MK332379. The Bacillus strain selected was active at broad pH range from 8-10.5 and a temperature range from 25-50 oC. Optimum pH and temperature observed were 9 and 37 oC respectively and can be suitably used for the bio scouring process for the pretreatment of the fabrics.

Background: Meconium ileus (MI) is defined as an intestinal obstruction caused by the impaction of inspissated meconium in the terminal ileum. In this study, we have evaluated the nonoperative management of patients of simple MI without fluoroscopic support –an important requisite of the Noblett's criteria. Besides this, surgical management in cases of failed conservative management and complicated MI was also assessed. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Various clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated. Conservative management included the use of water-soluble contrast diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium. In case of nonpassage of meconium in 24 h from first intervention, exploratory laparotomy with ileostomy was performed. All complicated MI underwent exploratory laparotomy with creation of stoma as and when needed. Results: The duration of this study was 6½ years. Twenty-five neonates of MI were admitted. Of these, 22 had simple MI and remaining three had complicated MI. Eighteen neonates responded to the conservative management. In four neonates, who did not respond, exploratory laparotomy was performed. All three neonates having complicated MI underwent exploratory laparotomy. One patient expired in follow-up. Conclusion: MI is an important neonatal emergency, which needed immediate attention of a pediatric surgeon. Proper evaluation of the patient, careful application of principals of conservative management, and timely surgical intervention may fetch satisfactory results.

BackgroundIn the endgame of the elimination initiative of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) on the Indian subcontinent, one of the main questions remaining is whether asymptomatically infected individuals also contribute to transmission. We piloted a minimally invasive microbiopsy device that could help answer this question. While the potential of this device has been previously illustrated in Ethiopia, no such information is available for the setting of the Indian subcontinent. In this proof of concept study we aimed to assess 1) to what extent skin parasite load obtained with the new microbiopsy device correlates with disease status, 2) to what extent skin parasite load correlates with blood parasite load in the same subject, and 3) to what extent the skin parasite load obtained from different sampling sites on the body correlates with one another.MethodsWe performed a pilot study in Bihar, India, including 29 VL patients, 28 PKDL patients, 94 asymptomatically infected individuals, 22 endemic controls (EC), and 28 non-endemic controls (NEC). Presence of infection with L. donovani in the blood was assessed using Direct Agglutination Test, rK39 ELISA, Whole Blood Analysis measuring IFN-γ and qPCR. A skin sample was collected with the microbiopsy device on two different locations on the body. PKDL patients provided a third skin sample from the edge of a PKDL lesion. Parasite load in the skin was measured by qPCR.FindingsWe found a clear correlation between the skin parasite load obtained with the microbiopsy device and disease status, with both higher skin parasite loads and higher proportions of positive skin samples in VL and PKDL patients compared to asymptomatics, EC, and NEC. No clear correlation between skin parasite load and blood parasite load was found, but a moderate correlation was present between the skin parasite load in arm and neck samples. In addition, we found four positive skin samples among asymptomatic individuals, and 85% of PKDL lesions tested positive using this microbiopsy device.ConclusionsIn line with previous pilot studies, our results from an Indian setting suggest that the microbiopsy device provides a promising tool to measure skin parasite load, and – if validated by xenodiagnosis studies – could facilitate much needed larger scale studies on infectiousness of human subgroups. In addition, we advocate further evaluation of this device as a diagnostic tool for PKDL.

As India moves toward the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as a public health problem, comprehensive timely case detection has become increasingly important, in order to reduce the period of infectivity and control outbreaks. During the 2000s, localized research studies suggested that a large percentage of VL cases were never reported in government data. However, assessments conducted from 2013 to 2015 indicated that 85% or more of confirmed cases were eventually captured and reported in surveillance data, albeit with significant delays before diagnosis. Based on methods developed during these assessments, the CARE India team evolved new strategies for active case detection (ACD), applicable at large scale while being sufficiently effective in reducing time to diagnosis. Active case searches are triggered by the report of a confirmed VL case, and comprise two major search mechanisms: 1) case identification based on the index case’s knowledge of other known VL cases and searches in nearby houses (snowballing); and 2) sustained contact over time with a range of private providers, both formal and informal. Simultaneously, house-to-house searches were conducted in 142 villages of 47 blocks during this period. We analyzed data from 5030 VL patients reported in Bihar from January 2018 through July 2019. Of these 3033 were detected passively and 1997 via ACD (15 (0.8%) via house-to-house and 1982 (99.2%) by light touch ACD methods). We constructed multinomial logistic regression models comparing time intervals to diagnosis (30-59, 60-89 and ≥90 days with =90 days compared to the referent of

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is on the verge of elimination on the Indian subcontinent. Nonetheless, the currently low VL-incidence setting brings along new challenges, one of which is the validity of the diagnostic algorithm, based on a combination of suggestive clinical symptoms in combination with a positive rK39 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). With this study, we aimed to assess the positive predictive value of the diagnostic algorithm in the current low-endemic setting in India by re-assessing newly diagnosed VL patients with a qPCR analysis on venous blood as the reference test. In addition, we evaluated the specificity of the rK39 RDT by testing non-VL cases with the rK39 RDT. Participants were recruited in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. VL patients diagnosed based on the diagnostic algorithm were recruited through six primary health care centers (PHCs); non-VL cases were identified through a door-to-door survey in currently endemic, previously endemic, and non-endemic clusters, and tested with rK39 RDT, as well as—if positive—with qPCR on peripheral blood. We found that 95% (70/74; 95% CI 87–99%) of incident VL cases diagnosed at the PHC level using the current diagnostic algorithm were confirmed by qPCR. Among 15,422 non-VL cases, 39 were rK39 RDT positive, reflecting a specificity of the test of 99.7% (95% CI 99.7–99.8%). The current diagnostic algorithm combining suggestive clinical features with a positive rK39 RDT still seems valid in the current low-endemic setting in India.

Leishmaniasis remains a public health concern around the world that primarily affects poor folks of the developing world spanning across 98 countries with mortality of 0.2 million to 0.4 million annually. Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is the late skin manifestation of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). It has been reported that about 2.5% to 20% of patients recovered from VL develop PKDL having stilted macular or nodular lesions with parasites. In the Indian subcontinent (ISC), it manifests a few months after recovery from VL, though in Africa it can occur simultaneously with VL or a little later. New cases of PKDL are also observed without prior VL in the ISC. These individuals with PKDL represent an important but largely neglected reservoir of infection that perpetuates anthroponotic Leishmania donovani transmission in the ISC and can jeopardize the VL elimination program as these cases can infect the sand flies and spread the endemic. Therefore, it becomes imperative to eradicate PKDL as a part of the VL elimination program. With the limited treatment options besides little knowledge on PKDL, this review stands out in focusing on different aspects that should be dealt for sustained VL elimination.

Leukemia stem cells contribute to drug-resistance and relapse in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and BCR-ABL1 inhibitor monotherapy fails to eliminate these cells, thereby necessitating alternate therapeutic strategies for patients CML. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone downregulates signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and in combination with imatinib induces complete molecular response in imatinib-refractory patients by eroding leukemia stem cells. Thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone are, however, associated with severe side effects. To identify alternate therapeutic strategies for CML we screened Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs in K562 cells and identified the leprosy drug clofazimine as an inhibitor of viability of these cells. Here we show that clofazimine induced apoptosis of blood mononuclear cells derived from patients with CML, with a particularly robust effect in imatinib-resistant cells. Clofazimine also induced apoptosis of CD34+38− progenitors and quiescent CD34+ cells from CML patients but not of hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors. Mechanistic evaluation revealed that clofazimine, via physical interaction with PPARγ, induced nuclear factor kB-p65 proteasomal degradation, which led to sequential myeloblastoma oncoprotein and peroxiredoxin 1 downregulation and concomitant induction of reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis. Clofazimine also suppressed STAT5 expression and consequently downregulated stem cell maintenance factors hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and -2α and Cbp/P300 interacting transactivator with Glu/Asp-rich carboxy-terminal domain 2 (CITED2). Combining imatinib with clofazimine caused a far superior synergy than that with pioglitazone, with clofazimine reducing the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of imatinib by >4 logs and remarkably eroding quiescent CD34+ cells. In a K562 xenograft study clofazimine and imatinib co-treatment showed more robust efficacy than the individual treatments. We propose clinical evaluation of clofazimine in imatinib-refractory CML.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on blood biochemical profile, antioxidant activity and plasma immunoglobulin level in neonatal Murrah buffalo calves. The 90 day trial was conducted on 24 neonatal Murrah buffalo calves randomly divided into 4 dietary treatments, viz. CON (basal diet alone), T1 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 100 mL/calf/day having 108 CFU/mL), T2 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 200 mL/calf/day having 108 CFU/ml) and T3 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 300 ml/calf/day having 108 CFU/mL). Supplementation of probiotics improved the plasma glucose level in T2 and T3 as compared to CON. Total protein (TP), plasma albumin (A), plasma globulin (G) and A:G ratio did not change with the supplementation of probiotic in calves. Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels in plasma remained same in all the 4 groups. Total antioxidant (TA) activity was higher in T2 and T3 as compared to CON, whereas it was intermediate in T1. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in T1, T2 and T3 groups as compared to CON whereas catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity remained same in all groups throughout experimental period. The total plasma immunoglobulin and plasma IgG remained uninfluenced in all the groups. In conclusion, supplementation of L. acidophilus improved energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity in neonatal Murrah buffalo calves.

Introduction: The role of increased oxidative stress and alterations to the nitric oxide (NO) pathway have been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). The two pathways interact closely with each other but have not been studied simultaneously in MDD. This study aimed to assess and compare the levels of oxidative and nitrosative stress in the neutrophils (PMNs) of drug-naive MDD patients and their first-degree relatives. Methods: 29 drug-naive MDD patients and 27 healthy first-degree relatives and healthy controls aged 18–45 years were included in this study. An assessment of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrites, neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), and myeloperoxidase in PMNs, and cortisol in serum was carried out. Results: Compared to healthy controls, the generation of free radicals, myeloperoxidase activity, and nNOS mRNA expression in PMNs, and cortisol level in serum were significantly higher in drug-naive depression patients. Indeed, increased levels of myeloperoxidase and serum cortisol were also noted in first-degree relatives. The total nitrite content in the PMNs and plasma however was significantly lower in both patients and first-degree relatives. Interestingly, a positive correlation was established in the ROS levels in the PMNs, plasma and neutrophil nitrite, and the serum cortisol level between MDD patients and their first-degree relatives. Conclusion: The results of this study contribute towards a better understanding of the familial association of depressive disorder, and demonstrate for the first time that neutrophil ROS/RNS, plasma nitrite, and serum cortisol levels are positively correlated between MDD patients and their first-degree relatives. However, further studies in larger, more diverse samples are needed to extend these pathways as potential biomarkers to identify persons at high risk for psychopathology at an early stage.

Spontaneous perforation of common bile duct is a rare phenomenon; few cases are reported in literature. Hence, there is a dilemma for the management of these cases, but with modern radiological equipment and high degree of suspicion, it is possible to diagnose early. The overall prognosis of this condition is good, provided an early surgical intervention is instituted; we are reporting a case of a 6-year-old male with spontaneous perforation of common hepatic duct. Managed by repair of rent over T-tube, postoperative period was uneventful, T-tube was removed after 3 weeks, and the patient is doing well in follow-up.

Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), an important cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), is characterized by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. Autoantibodies to factor H (FH), a chief regulator of this pathway, account for a distinct subgroup. While high anti-FH titers predict relapse, they do not correlate well with disease activity and their functional characterization is required.Methods: Of 781 patients

BACKGROUND:Asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infections outnumber clinical presentations, however the predictors for development of active disease are not well known. We aimed to identify serological, immunological and genetic markers for progression from L. donovani infection to clinical Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). METHODS:We enrolled all residents >2 years of age in 27 VL endemic villages in Bihar (India). Blood samples collected on filter paper on two occasions 6-12 months apart, were tested for antibodies against L. donovani with rK39-ELISA and DAT. Sero converters, (negative for both tests in the first round but positive on either of the two during the second round) and controls (negative on both tests on both occasions) were followed for three years. At the start of follow-up venous blood was collected for the following tests: DAT, rK39- ELISA, Quantiferon assay, SNP/HLA genotyping and L.donovani specific quantitative PCR. RESULTS:Among 1,606 subjects enrolled,17 (8/476 seroconverters and 9/1,130 controls) developed VL (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-8.3). High DAT and rK39 ELISA antibody titers as well as positive qPCR were strongly and significantly associated with progression from seroconversion to VL with odds ratios of 19.1, 30.3 and 20.9 respectively. Most VL cases arose early (median 5 months) during follow-up. CONCLUSION:We confirmed the strong association between high DAT and/or rK39 titers and progression to disease among asymptomatic subjects and identified qPCR as an additional predictor. Low predictive values do not warrant prophylactic treatment but as most progressed to VL early during follow-up, careful oberservation of these subjects for at least 6 months is indicated.

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It most commonly affects the oral cavity with buccal mucosa being the most common site affected. Clinically it has proliferative finger-like projections or a cauliflower-like appearance which is a significant factor in its diagnosis. It is more common in tobacco user males. The histopathological diagnosis of VC is difficult and requires immense experience to report a case of VC. Though VC is described as a benign lesion with minimum aggressive potential but long-standing cases have shown transformation into squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, early diagnosis and surgical excision of the lesion are the most appropriate treatment modality of VC.

Squamous papillomas are common lesions of the oral mucosa with predilection for mucosa of hard and soft palate. As an oral lesion, it raises concern because of its clinical appearance, which may mimic an epithelial malignancy such as verrucous carcinoma or condyloma acuminatum. Pathogenesis of this lesion though largely unknown can be attributed to human papillomavirus infection, however, slight controversy regarding its viral origin exists. In this compilation, two cases of oral squamous papilloma are presented along with a review of literature.

It is documented that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can be differentiated into various types of cells to present a tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, the preservation of stem cells is a crucial factor for their effective long-term storage that further facilitates their continuous supply and transportation for application in regenerative medicine. Cryopreservation is the most important, practicable, and the only established mechanism for long-term preservation of cells, tissues, and organs, and engineered tissues; thus, it is the key step for the improvement of tissue engineering. A significant portion of MSCs loses cellular viability while freeze-thawing, which represents an important technical limitation to achieving sufficient viable cell numbers for maximum efficacy. Several natural and synthetic materials are extensively used as substrates for tissue engineering constructs and cryopreservation because they promote cell attachment and proliferation. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitors can improve the physiological function and postthaw viability of cryopreserved MSCs. This review proposes a crosstalk between substrate topology and interaction of cells with ROCK inhibitors. It is shown that incorporation of ionic nanoparticles in the presence of an external electrical field improves the generation of ROCK inhibitors to safeguard cellular viability for the enhanced cryopreservation of engineered tissues.

The goal of this paper is to elaborate swarm intelligence for business intelligence decision making and the business rules management improvement. The paper introduces the decision making model which is based on the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Essentially the business spatial data illustrate the group behaviors. The swarm optimization, which is highly influenced by the behavior of creature, performs in group. The Spatial data is defined as data that is represented by 2D or 3D images. SQL Server supports only 2D images till now. As we know that location is an essential part of any organizational data as well as business data: enterprises maintain customer address lists, own property, ship goods from and to warehouses, manage transport flows among their workforce, and perform many other activities. By means to say a lot of spatial data is used and processed by enterprises, organizations and other bodies in order to make the things more visible and self-descriptive. From the experiments, we found that PSO is can facilitate the intelligence in social and business behaviour

Studies employing serological, DTH or conventional PCR techniques suggest a vast proportion of Leishmania infected individuals living in regions endemic for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) remain asymptomatic. This study was designed to assess whether quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used for detection of asymptomatic or early Leishmania donovani infection and as a predictor of progression to symptomatic disease.The study included 1469 healthy individuals living in endemic region (EHC) including both serology-positive and -negative subjects. TaqMan based qPCR assay was done on peripheral blood of each subject using kDNA specific primers and probes.A large proportion of EHC 511/1469 (34.78%) showed qPCR positivity and 56 (3.81% of 1469 subjects) had more than 1 calculated parasite genome/ml of blood. However, the number of individuals with parasite load above 5 genomes/ml was only 20 (1.36% of 1469). There was poor agreement between serological testing and qPCR (k = 0.1303), and 42.89% and 31.83% EHC were qPCR positive in seropositive and seronegative groups, respectively. Ten subjects had developed to symptomatic VL after 12 month of their follow up examination, of which eight were initially positive according to qPCR and among these, five had high parasite load.Thus, qPCR can help us to detect significant early parasitaemia, thereby assisting us in recognition of potential progressors to clinical disease. This test could facilitate early intervention, decreased morbidity and mortality, and possibly interruption of disease transmission.

Asymptomatic persons infected with the parasites causing visceral leishmaniasis (VL) usually outnumber clinically apparent cases by a ratio of 4-10 to 1. We assessed the risk of progression from infection to disease as a function of DAT and rK39 serological titers.We used available data on four cohorts from villages in India and Nepal that are highly endemic for Leishmania donovani. In each cohort two serosurveys had been conducted. Based on results of initial surveys, subjects were classified as seronegative, moderately seropositive or strongly seropositive using both DAT and rK39. Based on the combination of first and second survey results we identified seroconvertors for both markers. Seroconvertors were subdivided in high and low titer convertors. Subjects were followed up for at least one year following the second survey. Incident VL cases were recorded and verified.We assessed a total of 32,529 enrolled subjects, for a total follow-up time of 72,169 person years. Altogether 235 incident VL cases were documented. The probability of progression to disease was strongly associated with initial serostatus and with seroconversion; this was particularly the case for those with high titers and most prominently among seroconvertors. For high titer DAT convertors the hazard ratio reached as high as 97.4 when compared to non-convertors. The strengths of the associations varied between cohorts and between markers but similar trends were observed between the four cohorts and the two markers.There is a strongly increased risk of progressing to disease among DAT and/or rK39 seropositives with high titers. The options for prophylactic treatment for this group merit further investigation, as it could be of clinical benefit if it prevents progression to disease. Prophylactic treatment might also have a public health benefit if it can be corroborated that these asymptomatically infected individuals are infectious for sand flies.

Asymptomatic persons infected with the parasites causing visceral leishmaniasis (VL) usually outnumber clinically apparent cases by a ratio of 4-10 to 1. We describe patterns of markers of Leishmania donovani infection and clinical VL in relation to age in Bihar, India.We selected eleven villages highly endemic for Leishmania donovani. During a 1-year interval we conducted two house to house surveys during which we collected blood samples on filter paper from all consenting individuals aged 2 years and above. Samples were tested for anti-leishmania serology by Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) and rK39 ELISA. Data collected during the surveys included information on episodes of clinical VL among study participants.We enrolled 13,163 persons; 6.2% were reactive to DAT and 5.9% to rK39. Agreement between the tests was weak (kappa = 0.30). Among those who were negative on both tests at baseline, 3.6% had converted to sero-positive on either of the two tests one year later. Proportions of sero-positives and sero-converters increased steadily with age. Clinical VL occurred mainly among children and young adults (median age 19 years).Although infection with L. donovani is assumed to be permanent, serological markers revert to negative. Most VL cases occur at younger ages, yet we observed a steady increase with age in the frequency of sero-positivity and sero-conversion. Our findings can be explained by a boosting effect upon repeated exposure to the parasite or by intermittent release of parasites in infected subjects from safe target cells. A certain proportion of sero-negative subjects could have been infected but below the threshold of antibody abundance for our serologic testing.

Monocrotophos (MCP) is a widely used organophosphate (OP) pesticide. We studied apoptotic changes and their correlation with expression of selected cytochrome P450s (CYPs) in PC12 cells exposed to MCP. A significant induction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels were observed in cells exposed to MCP. Following the exposure of PC12 cells to MCP (10(-5) M), the levels of protein and mRNA expressions of caspase-3/9, Bax, Bcl(2), P(53), P(21), GSTP1-1 were significantly upregulated, whereas the levels of Bclw, Mcl1 were downregulated. A significant induction in the expression of CYP1A1/1A2, 2B1/2B2, 2E1 was also observed in PC12 cells exposed to MCP (10(-5) M), whereas induction of CYPs was insignificant in cells exposed to 10(-6) M concentration of MCP. We believe that this is the first report showing altered expressions of selected CYPs in MCP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. These apoptotic changes were mitochondria mediated and regulated by caspase cascade. Our data confirm the involvement of specific CYPs in MCP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and also identifies possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of organophosphate pesticide-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells.