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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced inflammation increases the risk of developing various upper gastrointestinal conditions which may progress to gastric cancer (CA). Early prediction and detection of infection are crucial for reducing cancer-induced mortality rates. The present case-control study aimed to investigate the combination of serum and molecular markers and H. pylori-associated gastro-duodenal conditions as risk factors for predicting CA development in dyspeptic patients. Consecutive gastric biopsies and blood samples were collected from 100 adult dyspeptic patients. Serum IgG antibody levels against H. pylori were determined, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. The expression of the virulence genes cagA and vacA was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A significant association was reported between the disease condition and the status of several risk factors, such as family history, serum IgG antibody concentration, and the virulence genes cagA and vacA. Among the 71 H. pylori-positive patients, 35.2% (25/71) had CA. Both cagA and vacA genes were found in 46 out of 71 (64.7%) patients, and 92% (23/25) of CA patients carried the cagA+vacA s1 gene. ROC analysis of the serum IgG concentrations revealed AUC values of 0.81 and 0.78 for differentiating patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia from those with ulceration/inflammation and CA, respectively. The concordance between the IgG-positive and PCR-positive patients was 84% (k value=0.41). Patients who had a family history of CA with an increased serum IgG concentration and the presence of H. pylori cagA-vacA s1 genotypes may be considered strong predictors of future development of gastric pathologies, including CA.

“Giant cell epulis” nowadays known as “peripheral giant cell granuloma” (PGCG) is a soft tissue benign overgrowth seen in the oral cavity. It is a type of reactive exophytic lesion of gingiva whose etiology is still not specific. Peripheral giant cell lesion may not be a life-threatening condition but when the size of the lesion exceeds a certain limit it hampers day-to-day activity of the oral cavity. It may also have a psychological effect on the person. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy with a large peripheral giant cell lesion, which interfered with his chewing habits. The purpose of reporting this case is to create awareness about peripheral giant cell lesions and its treatment modality. Under general anesthesia, the soft tissue growth was excised using an electrocautery that was approximately 5.3 cm in length and 2 cm in width. The patient was reviewed on the 7th day (postoperative), followed by 10, 20, and 30 days. After this, the patient was reviewed monthly for 6 months. Healing was successful without any events. Proper history taking is mandatory before coming to a final diagnosis. Various diagnostic aids help in coming to a confirmatory diagnosis. Complete surgical excision and elimination of any irritant factor along with clearing of the base of the lesion is mandatory to avoid recurrence rate and have a complete uneventful healing.

Abstract This paper presents a simple method for detecting both biotic and abiotic stress in plants. Stress levels are measured based on the increase in nutrient uptake by plants as a mechanism of self-defense when under stress. A continuous electrical resistance measurement was used to estimate the rate of change of nutrients in agarose as the growth medium for Cicer arietinum (Chickpea) seeds. To determine the concentration of charge carriers in the growth medium, Drude’s model was used. For identifying anomalies and forecasting plant stress, two experiments were conducted and outliers were found in electrical resistance and relative changes in carrier concentration. Anomaly in the first iteration was detected by applying k-Nearest Neighbour, One Class Support Vector Machine and Local Outlier Factor in unsupervised mode on electrical resistance data. In the second iteration, the neural network-based Long Short Term Memory method was used on the relative change in the carrier concentration data. As a result of the change in resistance of growth media during stress, nutrient concentrations shifted by 35%, as previously reported. Farmers who cater to small communities around them and are most affected by local and global stress factors can use this method of forecasting.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the treatment outcome in oral cancer cases treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and upfront surgery in localized advance disease. Materials and Methods: A randomized, prospective study was conducted in 20 cases. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A was taken up for upfront surgery and group B was taken up for surgery after two to three cycles of NACT based on patients' response, performance, and compliance. Results: Neither group showed statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics. In the present study, satisfactory outcomes were seen in nine patients belonging to NACT group and eight patients of non-NACT group had satisfactory outcomes after surgery, which were found to be statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: NACT may be considered as a treatment option for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients, particularly those with locally advanced tumors. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings in patients.

Abstract Reconfiguration of protein conformation in a micro and nano particle (MNP) protein corona due to interaction is an often-overlooked aspect in drug design and nano-medicine. Mostly, MNP-Protein corona studies focus on the toxicity of nano particles (NPs) in a biological environment to analyze biocompatibility. However, preserving functional specificity of proteins in an NP corona becomes critical for effective translation of nano-medicine. This paper investigates the non-classical interaction between insulin and ZnO MNPs using a classical electrical characterization technique at GHz frequency with an objective to understand the effect of the micro particle (MP) and nanoparticle (NP) morphology on the electrical characteristics of the MNP-Protein corona and therefore the conformation and functional specificity of protein. The MNP-Protein corona was subjected to thermal and enzymatic (papain) perturbation to study the denaturation of the protein. Experimental results demonstrate that the morphology of ZnO particles plays an important role in preserving the electrical characteristics of insulin.

Oculodermal melanocytosis (ODM), though rare, is associated with a number of sight-threatening complications including glaucoma. The purpose of this Case Series study was to determine the ophthalmic features in patients diagnosed with ODM. Here, we describe five patients presented with ODM, with the most common ocular features identified being hyperpigmentation of the conjunctiva, sclera and heterochromia iridis. Others included hyperpigmentation of trabecular meshwork, glaucoma, cataract, retinal detachment and ocular hypertension in one patient. As such, all patients with ODM should have a comprehensive ocular evaluation.

Abstract Background The current study reports dissemination of highly stable bla OXA-10 family of beta lactamases among diverse group of nosocomial isolates of Gram-negative bacilli within a tertiary referral hospital of the northern part of India. Methods In the current study, a total number of 590 Gram negative isolates were selected for a period of 1 year (i.e. 1st November 2011–31st October 2012). Members of Enterobacteriaceae and non fermenting Gram negative rods were obtained from Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, India. Screening and molecular characterization of β-lactamase genes was done. Integrase gene PCR was performed for detection and characterization of integrons and cassette PCR was performed for study of the variable regions of integron gene cassettes carrying bla OXA-10. Gene transferability, stability and replicon typing was also carried out. Isolates were typed by ERIC as well as REP PCR. Results Twenty-four isolates of Gram-negative bacilli that were harboring bla OXA-10 family (OXA-14, and OXA16) with fact that resistance was to the extended cephalosporins. The resistance determinant was located within class I integron in five diverse genetic contexts and horizontally transferable in Enterobacteriaceae, was carried through IncY type plasmid. MIC values were above break point for all the tested cephalosporins. Furthermore, co-carriage of bla CMY-2 was also observed. Conclusion Multiple genetic environment of bla OXA-10 in this geographical region must be investigated to prevent dissemination of these gene cassettes within bacterial population within hospital settings.

Introduction: The high prevalence, severity, and prematurity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Indian population cannot be completely explained by the conventional lipid parameters and the existing lipid indices. Aims and Objectives: To calculate newly defined advanced atherogenic index (AAI) in premature CAD patients and compare it between cases and controls and Correlate its values with the existing indices. Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty premature CAD patients and an equal number of age and sex matched healthy individuals were included in this study. Lipid profile and nonconventional lipid parameters like oxidized Low density lipoprotein (OX LDL), small dense LDL (SD LDL), lipoprotein (a) apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) were estimated and their values were used to define AAI and existing lipid indices like AI, lipid tetrad index (LTI) and lipid pentad index (LPI). Results: The mean age of cases and controls was 37.29 + 4.50 and 36.13 + 3.53 years, respectively. The value of AAI was highly significant in cases (3461.22 ± 45.20) as compared to controls (305.84 ± 21.80). AAI has shown better statistical significance and correlation (P < 0.0001, r = 0.737) as compared to the earlier indices such as AI (P < 0.01, r = 0.52), LTI (P < 0.001, r = 0.677) and LPI (P < 0.001, r = 0.622) in premature CAD. Kolmogorov D statistic and cumulative distribution function plot has shown that AAI can discriminate cases and controls more accurately as compared to the earlier indices. Conclusion: Statistically AAI appears to be a better marker of consolidated lipid risk in premature CAD patients as compared to the earlier indices.

At the heart of this research is a description of the Meyor community, one of the least known tribes of the world. Geographically, this community is found in the Walong and Kibatoo circles of Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. Drawing upon ethnographic research, supplemented by interviews, this article aims to describe an account of this hidden tribe.

This research deals with the Zakhring tribe, one of the least known tribes of the world. They are found in small numbers (less than 1000) in the remote and frontier areas of Arunachal Pradesh, geographically located in India’s North East. This is a tribe, perceived to have migrated from Tibet and settled in the Walong and Kibito circle, Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, whose numbers seems to be decreasing over time and, thereby, facing gradual disappearance. Drawing upon ethnographic research and interviews in the Walong and in the Kibito circle in Arunachal Pradesh and in Tibet, I attempt to describe this tribe.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and has assumed alarming proportions in India with gradual increase in its incidence and prevalence over the last decade. India is in the middle of epidemic of coronary artery disease which is leading cause of hospital admissions, morbidity and mortality. In the Indian population, there is higher tendency to develop CAD at a younger age, which cannot be explained on the basis of conventional lipid parameters. Aim: The purpose of this study is to find advanced lipid parameters which correlate better with premature CAD, as compared to the conventional lipid parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty middle aged individuals suffering from premature CAD and 30 age and gender matched healthy individuals without any history of clinical evidence suggestive of CAD were studied. Fasting venous blood samples of all the subjects under study were collected after an overnight fasting and conventional lipid parameters and advanced lipid parameters (i.e. oxidized LDL, Lp (a), ApoA-1, small dense LDL, ApoB) were estimated. Correlation of conventional and advanced lipid parameters with premature CAD and among each other was calculated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: In our study the values of ox-LDL, sdLDL, Lp (a) and ApoB, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C were significantly higher while HDL-C and Apo A1 and were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Advanced lipid parameters have higher correlation with premature CAD as compared to conventional lipid parameters. OxLDL show the highest correlation coefficient (r=+0.89) among these parameters followed by Lp (a) (r=+0.86) and ApoB (r=+0.79). Conclusion: Advanced lipid parameters (i.e. oxidized LDL, Lp (a), ApoA-1, small dense LDL, ApoB) are better discriminator of premature CAD as compared to conventional lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein). Oxidised LDL, small dense LDL and lipoprotein (a) can explain occurrence of CAD in normolipidemic patients and proved to be better markers for explaining high degree of prematurity, morbidity and mortality of CAD in Indian population. They can prove to be better marker for early detection and intervention in premature CAD and site for targeted drug therapy.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced inflammation increases the risk of developing various upper gastrointestinal conditions which may progress to gastric cancer (CA). Early prediction and detection of infection are crucial for reducing cancer-induced mortality rates. The present case-control study aimed to investigate the combination of serum and molecular markers and H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal conditions as risk factors for predicting CA development in dyspeptic patients. Consecutive gastric biopsies and blood samples were collected from 100 adult dyspeptic patients. Serum IgG antibody levels against H. pylori were determined, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. The expression of the virulence genes cagA and vacA was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A significant association was reported between the disease condition and the status of several risk factors, such as family history, serum IgG antibody concentration, and the virulence genes cagA and vacA. Among the 71 H. pylori-positive patients, 35.2% (25/71) had CA. Both cagA and vacA genes were found in 46 out of 71 (64.7%) patients, and 92% (23/25) of CA patients carried the cagA+vacA s1 gene. ROC analysis of the serum IgG concentrations revealed AUC values of 0.81 and 0.78 for differentiating patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia from those with ulceration/inflammation and CA, respectively. The concordance between the IgG-positive and PCR-positive patients was 84% (k value=0.41). Patients who had a family history of CA with an increased serum IgG concentration and the presence of H. pylori cagA-vacA s1 genotypes may be considered strong predictors of future development of gastric pathologies, including CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot metal, the liquid iron and carbon alloy exiting the blast furnace, forms the vital first link in the steel industry's value chain. Its quality directly influences downstream processes, product characteristics, and the industry's economic and technological competitiveness. In the past decade, the Indian steel industries have seen a degrading shift in the raw material quality. Decreasing Fe content in iron ore, with increasing impurity concentration of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silica has potentially affected the blast furnace productivity and hot metal quality. However, the stringent quality norms for steel manufacturing have necessitated precise control of the quality of hot metal. In TATA steel the quality of hot metal has significantly improved over the last decade despite degrading raw material quality, with precise control on burden profile, blast parameters, slag composition, and hot metal temperature. This paper will transcribe the shift from contemporary control to the statistical approach which enabled the blast furnace operators to gradually improve the control over the hot metal quality over the past decade to cascade the benefits, shaping a more robust and sustainable future for the steel industry where molten metal becomes the catalyst for transformation, and quality ignites excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]