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Long-standing thyroid swellings can present therapeutic and diagnostic challenges. Although benign, these nodules can harbour malignancies of diverse lineages ranging from those of follicular cell origin to rare malignancies such as lymphomas and paragangliomas. Here, the authors are sharing their three clinical experiences with thyroid neoplasms of long duration. The first case is a 42-year-old male patient who presented with an anterior neck swelling of 12 years’ duration. Postoperatively, a diagnosis of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) lymphoma was made based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. In the second case, a 43-year-old male presented with a neck swelling with eight years of history. Intraoperatively, the lesion was found to be locally aggressive with infiltration into the strap muscles and trachea. A tissue diagnosis of paraganglioma of the thyroid gland was made postoperatively. The third case involves a 72-year-old female who had undergone a left thyroidectomy 10 years back and presented to the Outpatient Department (OPD) with a history of right-sided neck swelling associated with dysphagia and a change in voice. The patient was diagnosed with anaplastic carcinoma, specifically squamous cell carcinoma. Thyroid lesions of abnormally large size create intraoperative problems concerning securing an adequate airway, locating anatomical structures, especially the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN), parathyroids, and great vessels of the neck. Postoperatively, the tissue features may be very uncharacteristic, making reaching a proper diagnosis difficult. The use of immunohistochemistry helps in determining the cell lineage and type of malignancy.

Abstract Detecting pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in its early stages and predicting late‐stage patient prognosis undergoing chemotherapy is challenging. This work shows that the activation of specific oncogenes leads to elevated expression of mRNAs and their corresponding proteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) circulating in blood. Utilizing an immune lipoplex nanoparticle (ILN) biochip assay, these findings demonstrate that glypican 1 (GPC1) mRNA expression in the exosomes‐rich (Exo) EV subpopulation and GPC1 membrane protein (mProtein) expression in the microvesicles‐rich (MV) EV subpopulation, particularly the tumor associated microvesicles (tMV), served as a viable biomarker for PDAC. A combined analysis effectively discriminated early‐stage PDAC patients from benign pancreatic diseases and healthy donors in sizable clinical from multiple hospitals. Furthermore, among late‐stage PDAC patients undergoing chemotherapy, lower GPC1 tMV‐mProtein and Exo‐mRNA expression before treatment correlated significantly with prolonged overall survival. These findings underscore the potential of vesicular GPC1 expression for early PDAC screenings and chemotherapy prognosis.

Rett syndrome is an acquired progressive neurodevelopmental disorder caused by de novo mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene which encodes a pleiotropic protein that functions as a global transcriptional regulator and a chromatin modifier. Rett syndrome predominantly affects heterozygous females while affected male hemizygotes rarely survive. Gene therapy of Rett syndrome has proven challenging due to a requirement for stringent regulation of expression with either over- or under-expression being toxic. Ectopic expression of MECP2 in conjunction with regulatory miRNA target sequences has achieved some success, but the durability of this approach remains unknown. Here we evaluated a nuclease-free homologous recombination (HR)-based genome editing strategy to correct mutations in the MECP2 gene. The stem cell-derived AAVHSCs have previously been shown to mediate seamless and precise HR-based genome editing. We tested the ability of HR-based genome editing to correct pathogenic mutations in Exons 3 and 4 of the MECP2 gene and restore the wild type sequence while preserving all native genomic regulatory elements associated with MECP2 expression, thus potentially addressing a significant issue in gene therapy for Rett syndrome. Moreover, since the mutations are edited directly at the level of the genome, the corrections are expected to be durable with progeny cells inheriting the edited gene. The AAVHSC MECP2 editing vector was designed to be fully homologous to the target MECP2 region and to insert a promoterless Venus reporter at the end of Exon 4. Evaluation of AAVHSC editing in a panel of Rett cell lines bearing mutations in Exons 3 and 4 demonstrated successful correction and rescue of expression of the edited MECP2 gene. Sequence analysis of edited Rett cells revealed successful and accurate correction of mutations in both Exons 3 and 4 and permitted mapping of HR crossover events. Successful correction was observed only when the mutations were flanked at both the 5′ and 3′ ends by crossover events, but not when both crossovers occurred either exclusively upstream or downstream of the mutation. Importantly, we concluded that pathogenic mutations were successfully corrected in every Rett line analyzed, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of HR-based genome editing.

Given the tubal origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), we sought to investigate intrauterine lavage (IUL) as a novel method of biomarker detection. IUL and serum samples were collected from patients with HGSC or benign pathology. Although CA-125 and HE4 concentrations were significantly higher in IUL samples compared to serum, they were similar between IUL samples from patients with HGSC vs benign conditions. In contrast, CA-125 and HE4 serum concentrations differed between HGSC and benign pathology (P =.002 for both). IUL and tumor samples from patients with HGSC were subjected to targeted panel sequencing and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Tumor mutations were found in 75 % of matched IUL samples. Serum CA-125 and HE4 biomarker levels allowed for better differentiation of HGSC and benign pathology compared to IUL samples. We believe using IUL for early detection of HGSC requires optimization, and current strategies should focus on prevention until early detection strategies improve.

Abstract Background and Aim Rift valley fever (RVF) virus (RVFV) is reportedly steadily circulating in Mauritania being repeated in 1987, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2020. Mauritania seems a preferred niche for RVF virus due to its persistent outbreak there. Lately, nine Mauritanian wilayas confirmed 47 (23 fatalities with 49% CFR) human cases between August 30 and October 17, 2022. Most of the cases were largely among livestock breeders associated with animal husbandry activities. The review aimed at understanding the origin, cause, and measures to counter the virus. Methods The facts and figures from the various published articles sourced from databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Scopus as also some primary data from health agencies like WHO, CDC, and so forth were evaluated and the efficacy of countermeasures reviewed. Results Among the reported confirmed cases, it was found that 3−70 year age‐group males outnumbered the females. Deaths after fever occurred primarily due to acute hemorrhagic thrombocytopenia. Human infections often occurred through zoonotic transmission mainly through mosquitoes in the population contiguous to cattle outbreak, a conducive site for local RVFV transmission. Many transmission cases were through direct or indirect contact with blood or organs of the infected animal. Conclusion RVFV infection was predominant in the Mauritanian regions bordering Mali, Senegal, and Algeria. High human and domesticated animal density as also the existing zoonotic vectors further contributed to RVF virus circulation. Mauritanian RVF infection data confirmed that RVFV was zoonotic that included small ruminants, cattle, and camel. This observation hints at the role of transborder animal mobility in RVFV transmission. In light of this, preventive approaches with effective surveillance and monitoring system following the One Health model is extremely beneficial for a free and fair healthy world for all.

Real-time water quality monitoring has advanced significantly with the integration of IoT-enabled pH and temperature sensors and the creation of a mobile application. This initiative intends to improve environmental management efforts by regularly measuring the temperature and pH of water bodies and giving stakeholders access to data that can be used to make decisions. Real-time pH and temperature data is collected by the monitoring system using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and it is then sent to a web-based interface for analysis and visualization. The web interface is complemented with a mobile application that gives stakeholders access to temperature and pH data in real time, lets them get warnings, and lets them submit observations from their mobile devices.In order to further improve water quality monitoring and management techniques, future additions will involve the integration of advanced analytics, remote calibration and maintenance capabilities, and community monitoring networks. All things considered, this initiative advances environmentally responsible water management techniques and environmental care.

The goal of this project is to create a complete water quality monitoring system using web-based technology and pH sensors. The system’s real-time pH level analysis allows it to continuously evaluate the quality of the water. It classifies the state of the water quality and provides customized suggestions for enhancement. A user-friendly online interface that makes data visualization and interaction possible is at the heart of the system. The technology guarantees accurate readings and dependable solutions through extensive testing and validation, advancing water quality management techniques in a variety of fields.

Infrastructure and also technological advancements have actually made life less complex for individuals, causing huge demand for vehicles. This results in an increase in road mishaps. An accident is a vulnerable and unintended occasion, as well as it can additionally occur because of the carelessness of the vehicle drivers. With the increasing number of road accidents and the high mortality rate associated with them, there is a growing need for a system that can detect accidents and provide timely assistance to the victims. In this project, we propose an IoT based Accident Detection and Rescue System that leverages various sensors, GSM, GPS, fire sensor, IR sensor, MQ135 Gas sensor, I2C LCD, DC Motor modules, to detect an accident and alert the concerned authorities. The proposed system has the potential to reduce the response time in the event of an accident, thereby improving the chances of survival for the victim. The project combines the latest advancements in IoT technology and Thingspeak to store the data.

This paper presents a method for measuring a wind turbine's MPP (Maximum Power Point) with a three-bladed VSWT that is driven by a DFIG (Double-Fed Induction Generator) (Variable Speed Wind Turbine). The rotor incorporates a DFIG with successive PWM voltage-source converters within its integrated rotor integrated circuit. Grid-side converters generate and establish sinusoidal currents while independently managing the active and reactive power drawn from the grid supply using vector control techniques. The rotor-side converter needs to be vector controlled in order for the speed range to function. The vector approach manages the permit circuit optimally to maximize the amount of wind energy gathered. The control needs of the permit circuit take this into account. Such a system is analyzed using MATLAB software

Palm vein identification relies on unique patterns within the palm veins, illuminated by Near Infrared Light (NIR) with wavelengths from 760 nm to 820 nm, penetrating the skin up to 5mm. Absorption of NIR by deoxygenated blood in veins creates distinct dark patterns. However, this high wavelength light may cause skin and tissue infection. Vein networks are captured via infrared-sensitive cameras, with captured images pre-processed to remove noise and features extracted for recognition. Feature extraction primarily involves network segmentation, creating reference maps for subsequent recognition. These feature maps serve as blueprints for neural networks, facilitating streamlined identification processes.

Fungal infections with non-Aspergillus species are increasingly reported even among immunocompetent individuals. We report a case of bilateral injection abscesses by Scedosporium apiospermum in an immunocompetent patient. This rare fungus was isolated and identified by culture from the surgical tissue and was confirmed by Vitek MS and sequencing of the internal transcribed spaces region of rDNA. The patient is being treated with Voriconazole for the past 3 months with no recurrence of the abscesses.

Introduction: Pain is a complex subjective sensation that is difficult to quantify in a repeatable manner. Surgical pain is observed to be more intense post-surgery and then fades in the next 24 h. Epidural anesthesia/analgesia is the most widely used technique for lower limb surgeries because of its good sensory and motor block property, reduces stress response, and maintains sufficient spontaneous respiration and hemodynamic stability. Materials and Methods: The study looked at 100 individuals between the ages of 20 and 60 who underwent elective lower limb surgery and were classified as ASA I and II. The patients were split into two 50-person groups. The adverse effects of nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, urine retention, and pruritus, as well as the quality and duration of postoperative analgesia, were investigated. The patient was monitored for 48 h after surgery. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, where the least age of the patient was 19 years and the greatest age was 75 years. In group T, maximum patients belong to the age group of 26–35 years, whereas in group F maximum patients belong to the age group of 36–45years. In group T, 41 (82%) were males and 9 (18%) were females. In group F, 37 (74%) were males and 13 (26%) were females. Conclusion: Our findings show that epidural tramadol and epidural fentanyl are equally effective, except for fentanyl’s shorter duration of action. Fentanyl also has a moderate sedative effect, which is beneficial in the postoperative period.

Baclofen is primarily a gamma-aminobutyric acid-Β receptor agonist. It is used in patients with dystonia and to reduce spasticity in neuromuscular disorders. It has dopaminergic antagonist properties that reduce craving in alcohol dependence. Somnolence, dizziness, and fatigue are common side effects. Rarely paresthesia, rigidity, dystonia, dysarthria, or seizures are reported. We hereby report a rare case of baclofen-induced dystonia and tremors in a patient with alcohol dependence. An alcohol-dependent patient was admitted and withdrawal symptoms were managed. Twenty mg baclofen was advised to reduce craving. He developed dystonia and tremors within a few hours of the first dose. On evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging of brain revealed non-specific changes and electroencephalography was normal. To our knowledge, this is one of the first case reports of drug-induced dystonia attributable to baclofen. The underlying pathophysiological processes involved remain unclear. Baclofen decreases pre-synaptic dopamine release in the nigrostriatal pathway, which may be the possible mechanism for dystonia.

Objective: In December 2019, the world experienced spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Measures to contain spread included movement restrictions (Lockdown), quarantine for contacts, and institutional care for those infected. Fear of contracting the infection, mortality rates, experience of a lockdown, and economic concerns exposed people to great stress. On this background, the present study was conducted to assess psychological distress in these times. Methods: Consenting individuals comfortable to respond to an online survey were included as subjects. The study is cross-sectional in design; descriptive analysis and Chi-square tests were done. Socio demographic details were collected. Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale was administered to assess psychological well-being. Results Psychological distress was seen in 68% of the sample, ranging from mild-to-severe, across all age group, except in those below 18 years. Those aged 30–59 years experienced psychological distress before lockdown as well. Females experienced more distress than males, as well as those of the group with lower income. Conclusions: Responsibility of maintaining psychological well-being rests with each of us. Healthcare workers and mental health professionals need to identify and address psychological issues in the population during this period. Governmental organizations must take on the responsibility to educate the public through newspapers, television, and social media about the importance of maintaining positive psychological health and contribute to the same by honest journalism.

Introduction: At present, 2.3 billion people are consuming alcohol worldwide. It is one of the most widely used substances, second only to tobacco. About 20–30% of all hospital admissions in India are due to alcohol-related problems. One gram of alcohol gives 7 kcal of energy. Energy consumed by alcohol comprises as much as 10% of average daily dietary intake. Most of the recent studies show that heavy drinking is associated with decreased body mass index (BMI). This study was planned as Indian literature in this area is sparse. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association of alcohol dependence with dietary intake and BMI. Materials and Methods: Sixty male patients admitted in the Department of Psychiatry, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome (ICD-10) were included in the study. Twenty-four-hour diet chart was collected and BMI calculated. Statistical analysis was done using non-parametric tests. Results: The mean age of the patient population was 41.53 years. Majority of them had completed primary education (47%), mostly engaged in skilled work (48%), and were self-employed (48%). Dietary proteins, fats, and total energy were deficient in 50, 42, and 57 patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal BMI (42%), while some were underweight (28%), overweight (18%), pre-obese (7%), and obese (5%). Results show that despite the majority of patients having a deficient macronutrient intake, BMI was normal. Conclusions: It is possible that a normal BMI was maintained in the study population despite being malnourished due to calorific contribution by alcohol.

The most commonly accepted hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the amyloid hypothesis caused due to formation of accumulation of Aβ42 isoform, which leads to neurodegeneration. In this regard, presenilin-1 (PSEN-1) and -2 (PSEN-2) proteins play a crucial role by altering the amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism, affecting γ-secretase protease secretion, finally leading to the increased levels of Aβ. In the absence of reported commercial pharmacotherapeutic agents targeting presenilins, we aim to propose benzophenone integrated derivatives (BIDs) as the potential inhibitors of presenilin proteins through in silico approach. The study evaluates the interaction of BIDs through molecular docking simulations, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations. This is the first ever computational approach to discover the potential inhibitors of presenilin proteins. It also comprises druglikeliness and pharmacotherapeutic potential analysis of the compounds. Out of all the screened BIDs, BID-16 was found to be the lead compound against both the presenilin proteins. Based on these results, one can evaluate BID-16 as an anti-Alzheimer's potential specifically targeting presenilin proteins in near future using in vitro and in vivo methods.

Microalbuminuria, a clinical marker associated with cancer and hypertension, defined by low albumin levels in the urine, is normally detected by immunoassay. Herein, a nanosensor paint was developed using a polymer to mimic fatty acid binding to albumin, transduced by carbon nanotube fluorescence.

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple investigation to evaluate the malignant tumors of the breast when compared to tru-cut biopsy. It is invaluable in the diagnosis of the common invasive carcinoma of the breast including its subtypes. The morphology of the uncommon subtypes and other rare tumors are the source of diagnostic confusion. Aims: The objective of this study is to assess the role of FNAC in diagnostically challenging malignant lesions of the breast. Methods and Material: The study included 526 female patients with palpable breast lumps subjected to FNAC for one year from November 2015 to October 2016 in the department of pathology. The cytology features of these patients were studied and correlated with histopathology. Results: Diagnostic difficulty was encountered in certain tumors having either bland cytology or a predominant discrete pattern or a combination of extracellular mucin and papillary pattern. These were reanalyzed in correlation with histopathology, clinical findings, radiology and immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: Awareness of the morphology of these rare lesions improves the diagnostic accuracy making cytology a more efficient tool for the preoperative assessment of malignant breast tumors.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, created an unprecedented need for comprehensive laboratory testing of populations, in order to meet the needs of medical practice and to guide the management and functioning of our society. With the greater New York metropolitan area as an epicenter of this pandemic beginning in March 2020, a consortium of laboratory leaders from the assembled New York academic medical institutions was formed to help identify and solve the challenges of deploying testing. This report brings forward the experience of this consortium, based on the real-world challenges which we encountered in testing patients and in supporting the recovery effort to reestablish the health care workplace. In coordination with the Greater New York Hospital Association and with the public health laboratory of New York State, this consortium communicated with state leadership to help inform public decision-making addressing the crisis. Through the length of the pandemic, the consortium has been a critical mechanism for sharing experience and best practices in dealing with issues including the following: instrument platforms, sample sources, test performance, pre- and post-analytical issues, supply chain, institutional testing capacity, pooled testing, biospecimen science, and research. The consortium also has been a mechanism for staying abreast of state and municipal policies and initiatives, and their impact on institutional and laboratory operations. The experience of this consortium may be of value to current and future laboratory professionals and policy-makers alike, in dealing with major events that impact regional laboratory services.

A very sensitive LC-MS/MS assay was developed implementing a liquid-liquid extraction step followed by mass spectrometry which was operated in both positive and negative ion modes. The assay was calibrated with readily available commercial calibrators and compared with international reference standards. This data is also presented in “Sensitive Simultaneous Quantitation of Testosterone and Estradiol in Serum by LC-MS/MS without Derivatization and Comparison with the CDC HoSt Program” (Schofield et al., 2017). This article includes the comparison of the LC-MS/MS assay with a commonly available chemiluminescencent immunoassay for the quantitation of both estradiol and testosterone. In addition we show baseline separation of estradiol and testosterone from other structurally related and/or isobaric compounds that could potentially interfere with the assay. In addition, various calibrator materials were tested and compared with internationally-recognized reference materials. Keywords: Testosterone, Estradiol, Mass spectrometry, Liquid chromatography, Method correlation, NIST SRM 971, BCR 571–579

The objective of this study was to examine the analytical performance of 14 comprehensive metabolic panel analytes on the Abaxis Piccolo Xpress® Point of Care analyzer in serum, plasma, and whole blood. A method comparison was performed on all three specimen types intended for use on the Piccolo Xpress®: serum, heparinized plasma, and whole blood. This data is also presented in Murata et al. (2015) [1]. This article includes the actual Bland-Altman bias plots of the difference in results obtained for analytes in the comprehensive metabolic panel from the Abaxis Piccolo Xpress and the comparison instrument, the Ortho Vitros. Keywords: Clinical chemistry, Point-of care testing

Cryptosporidium sp. is an enteric parasite with zoonotic potential, and can infect a wide range of vertebrates, including human. Determining the source of infection and the mode of transmission in a new endemic region is crucial for the control of cryptosporidiosis. In the present study, we have assessed the importance of dairy cattle as a potential source of Cryptosporidium infection for humans in a newly recognized endemic region. Cryptosporidium isolates from dairy calves, humans (farm workers) and nearby water bodies were genetically characterized based on 18SrRNA and hsp70 genes. A high incidence of Cryptosporidium infection was identified in our study region. This finding is of public health concern. Cryptosporidium ryanae rather than Cryptosporidium parvum has been identified as the most prevalent infecting species in the study region. Infections were associated with clinical symptoms of infected animals. An incomplete linkage disequilibrium (LD) value with potential recombination events at 18SrRNA locus were identified for the first time in C. ryanae, which was previously reported as a clonal population. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of identical genotypes of a Cryptosporidium sp. from dairy calves, farm workers and nearby water bodies and indicates an association between water contamination and zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidiosis in our study region. Keywords: Cryptosporidium sp., Dairy, Zoonotic, 18SrRNA, Association, Genetic recombination

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a distressing condition, generally controlled by benzodiazepines (BZD's). Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) agonist, has also shown promising results in controlling AWS. As there are few studies comparing the efficacy and tolerability of chlordiazepoxide with baclofen, the present study was taken up. The objective of this study was to compare efficacy and tolerability of baclofen with chlordiazepoxide in uncomplicated AWS. Methods: Sixty subjects with uncomplicated AWS were randomized into two groups of 30 each, to receive baclofen (30 mg) or chlordiazepoxide (75 mg) in decremented fixed dose regime for 9 days. Clinical efficacy was assessed by Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised Scale (CIWA-Ar) and tolerability by the nature and severity of adverse events. Lorazepam was used as rescue medication. Secondary efficacy parameters were Clinical Global Impression scores, symptom-free days, and subject satisfaction as assessed by visual analog scale. This study was registered with Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI/2013/04/003588), also subsequently registered with WHO's ICTRP clinical trial portal. Results: Both baclofen and chlordiazepoxide showed a consistent reduction in the total CIWA-Ar scores. However, chlordiazepoxide showed a faster and a more effective control of anxiety and agitation requiring lesser lorazepam supplementation, and also showed a better subject satisfaction compared to baclofen. Both the drugs showed good tolerability with mild self-limiting adverse events. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that baclofen is not as good as chlordiazepoxide in the treatment of uncomplicated AWS. However, baclofen might be considered as an alternative.

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a phenomenon, in which afflicted women experience spontaneous genital arousal, unresolved by orgasms and triggered by sexual or nonsexual stimuli, eliciting stress. The current case is a 40-year-old female who experienced such orgasms for about a month. Physical examination, investigations, and psychological testing were noncontributory. Carbamazepine (600 mg) was discontinued due to a lack of response. She improved significantly with supportive therapy. Various neuropsychological conditions, pelvic pathology, medications, etc., have been associated with this disorder. Pharmacologic strategies have included the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and analgesics. Validation, psycho-education, identifying triggers, distraction techniques, and pelvic massage have been tried. Living with PGAD is very demanding. There is a lack of understanding of the problem, shame, and hesitation to seek help. The syndrome has been recently described, and understanding is still evolving.

Thiolate-protected metal clusters can exchange ligands or metal atoms with other substances such as coexisting ligands, complexes, and metal clusters in solution. Using these reactions, it is possible to synthesize metal clusters with new physical and chemical properties. Although the occurrence of such reactions was recognized nearly 20 years ago, their details were not well understood. In recent years, techniques for the precise synthesis of metal clusters and their characterization have progressed considerably and, as a result, details of these reactions have been clarified. In this perspective, we focus on the most-studied thiolate-protected gold clusters and provide a summary of recent findings as well as future expectations concerning the exchange reactions of these clusters.

Background: Immunotherapy (IT) was first described by Noon and Freeman in 1911. The mechanism underlying successful immunotherapy is however not known. The protection from allergy is achieved long before IgE levels are de-creased, and they are indeed not frequently increased. Continued therapy may decrease IgE and skin reaction, although it may take years. Objective: The evaluation of effect of immunotherapy with specific pollen Gyn-andropsis gynandra. Material & Methods: Clinical subjects like skin test response, symptoms score, drugs intake and total sIgE levels were studied in sixty patients. Results: Both immediate and delayed skin test responses were highly significant. The intensity of symptoms score and medication was reduced and total sIgE levels were inconsistent after the course of IT. Conclusion: The decrease in clinical subjects may be attributed to the beneficial effect of immunotherapy with Gynandropsis gynandra.

Background : About 10 to 15 % of the Indian population is known to suffer from major allergic disorders such as Asthma, Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Urticaria. Aeroallergens play a major role in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic diseases. Among the aeroallergens, pollens are major causative agents. The predominance of pollen allergens necessitate the need to assess the specific immunotherapy (SIT) in allergic patients. Objective : To evaluate the effect of immunotherapy based on the presence of IgG and its subclass antibodies towards whole pollen antigen of Gynandropsis gynandra (G.gynandra) and its fractions. Material and Methods : A study was conducted in 30 bronchial asthma patients on immunotherapy, by assessing the levels of IgG and its subclasses specific to G. gynandra pollen. Results : There was a significant increase in IgG and its subclass antibodies to whole pollen antigen and its fractions i.e.> 90kD, 46-37kD and 36-32kD after the course of IT. Conclusion : The use of peptide fractions may be more appropriate instead of the whole pollen antigen to test the effect of immunotherapy.

Cherubism is a rare non-neoplastic disease of the bone characterized by bilateral painless enlargement of the jaws giving a cherubic appearance to the patient. It is an autosomal dominant disorder but may occur sporadically. In this paper, we have tried to explain about the clinical, radiological and histopathologic features of cherubism by presenting a case study. A case study of a 7 year old male patient, who first presented with mandibular bilateral swellings to our department in 1998, has been presented. In-depth clinical, radiological and histopathologic examination was done. An extensive long-term follow-up till 11 years was maintained. When presented for the first time, radiological investigation showed characteristic multilocular lytic lesions of the mandible bilaterally. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen showed proliferating fibrous connective tissue interspersed by multinucleated giant cells. It was diagnosed as a case nonfamilial cherubism. Follow-up after 5 years showed involvement of the maxilla as well, which was then corrected by surgical methods. Upon follow up 11 years after the first presentation, it was seen that the lesion was regressing by itself and there was improvement in facial contour. The natural course of Cherubism through its progression, stabilization and involution of the disease after puberty, has been highlighted in this case. More, in-depth studies to understand the nature and the pathogenesis of this condition better are required.