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Introduction: Recent advancements in biomedicine have revolutionized nanomedicine as a therapeutic moderator in the management of both infectious and noninfectious diseases. Purpose: In the current study we demonstrated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Lasiosiphon eriocephalus as a capping and reducing agent and evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Methods: The biosynthesized LE-AuNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and Zeta potential analysis. The antibacterial activity was checked by a minimum inhibitory concentration assay. The anticancer potential of biogenic LE-AuNPs was checked by cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assay against HeLa and HCT-15 cells. Results: The characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak of the colloidal solution at 538 nm by UV-Vis spectrum confirmed the formation of LE-AuNPs in the solution. The SEM, TEM, and XRD revealed 20-60 sized hexagonal and crystalline LE-AuNPs. The LE-AuNPs displayed significant inhibition potential against DPPH and ABTS radicals in vitro. The LE-AuNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial potential. The results of cytotoxicity interpreted that biogenic gold nanoparticles exhibited strong dose and time-dependent cytotoxicity effect against selected cancer cell lines where IC50 of LE-AuNPs required to inhibit the growth of HeLa cells after 24 h and 48 h exposure were 5.65± 0.69 μg/mL and 4.37±0.23 μg/mL respectively and that of HCT- 15 cells was 6.46 ± 0.69 μg/mL and 5.27 ± 0.34 μg/mL, 24h and 48h post-exposure respectively. Conclusions: Findings from this study revealed that gold nanoparticles synthesized using L. eriocephalus, showed remarkable antioxidant, antimicrobial, and extensive cytotoxicity and genotoxicity activities.

In last few years several studies all over the world discovered the genetic polymorphisms in different cytochrome P450 genes associated with risk of various cancers, but contradictory outcomes were evidenced in case of cervical cancer risk. In this case-control study we aimed to see whether the polymorphism of CYP2D6 or CYP2E1 genes may or may not be associated with cervical cancer risk in women of rural Maharashtra.In this case-control study, the association of CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 gene polymorphism with cervical cancer risk was studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The study was conducted with 350 clinically confirmed cervical cancer patients and 350 healthy women in a population of South-Western Maharashtra. The Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval and p-value were evaluated, where p ≤0.005 was considered as statistically significant.After the analysis of SNP (rs389209) of CYP2D6 and SNPs (rs2031920, rs6413432, rs6413420) of CYP2E1, we noticed that variant allele A of CYP2E1*6 showed significant increase in cervical cancer cases (OR=4.81; 95% CI: 1.57- 14.77; p=0.005). The genotypic distribution of heterozygote G/A genotype of CYP2D6*4 showed negative association with cervical cancer development when age of cancer occurrence (OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.27- 0.61; p0.0001) and tobacco history (OR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.20- 0.59; p=0.0001) was considered.The findings from this study supported that rs6413432 SNP of CYP2E1*6 increased cervical cancer risk in the studied rural women population.

Last few years, several studies all over the world revealed the association of DNA repair genes with risk of developing different type of cancers, but were ambiguous to support the evidences in case of cervical cancer risk. These differences in earlier studies directed us to study the association of polymorphisms of BER genes (XRCC1, hOGG1, XPC) and NER genes (XPC, XPD) with cervical cancer susceptibility in the women of rural population of Maharashtra.The genetic polymorphism in BER and NER pathway genes was studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method using DNA isolated from intravenous blood samples of patients and normal controls. The study included 400 clinically confirmed cervical cancer patients and 400 healthy women from a tertiary care hospital (Krishna Hospital and Medical Research Centre) of south-western Maharashtra. The association of polymorphisms was confirmed by Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval.The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of BER genes including XRCC1, hOGG1 and APE1 were analyzed and the results were noted that 27466AA (OR=4.88; 95% CI: 3.61- 6.60; p0.0001) and 28152AA (OR=2.89; 95% CI: 1.57- 5.31; p=0.0005) genotypes of XRCC1 (rs25489, rs25487) were significantly associated with cervical cancer risk. The 1245GG genotype of hOGG1 (rs1052133) (OR=45.30; 95% CI: 3.76- 7.46; p=0.001) also showed significant correlation, whereas 2197GG genotype of APE1 (rs1130409) gene showed negative association with cervical carcinogenesis (OR=0.59; 95% CI: 0.35- 0.97; p=0.005). Similarly when we studied SNPs of NER genes including XPC and XPD genes, 21151TT genotype of XPC (rs 2228000) was positively associated with cervical cancer development and 23591AA genotype of XPD (rs1799793) showed negative association (OR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.17- 0.64; p=0.001).The findings from this study supported that rs25489, rs25487SNPs of XRCC1, rs1052133 of hOGG1 and rs2228000 of XPC may increase cervical cancer risk, whereas rs1130409 SNP of APE1 and rs1799793 SNP of XPD gene lower the risk of cervical cancer in the studied population.

Introduction: In last few years, Gram-negative bacilli are isolated capable of producing various classes of carbapenemases with ability of hydrolyzing the ?-lactam antimicrobial. Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been reported worldwide. There is a serious threat to public health due to the emergence and rapid spread of CRE. Aims: To find prevalence and bacterial profile of CRE in clinical isolates in indoor patients from a rural tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western India, June 2016 to April 2018. The clinical specimens received in microbiology laboratory were processed by the standard method. Bacteria were identified by VITEK 2 compact (Biomerieux) automation system, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done with the same system to detect minimum inhibitory concentrations for carbapenem group of antimicrobials. CLSI 2016 guidelines were used to detect CRE. Results: Total 535 Enterobactericaeae clinical isolates were included in the study. Of these, 31.77% (n=170) were CRE. Specimens like urine, pus/ wound swab and endotracheal tube secretion were the major contributors for CRE isolates.82% of CRE were Klebsiella pneumoniae (63%) and E.coli (19%). Conclusions: A high prevalence of 31.77% carbapenem resistance was observed among Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Early detection, isolation and contact precaution of CRE patients will help to prevent rapid dissemination of CRE infection. Keywords: Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, CRE, Carbapenemase, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Introduction: The emergence of novel nanobiomedicine has transformed the management of various infectious as well as non-infectious diseases. Lasiosiphon eriocephalus, a medicinal plant, revealed the presence of active secondary metabolites and biological potentials. Objective: The present study was aimed to demonstrate the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using L. eriocephalus leaf extract (LE-AgNPs) and their biological properties, such as antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer potential. Methods: The biosynthesized LE-AgNPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The antibacterial activity was checked by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The anticancer potential of biogenic LE-AgNPs was checked by cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assay against human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Results: UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles by measuring the surface plasmon resonance peak of the colloidal solution at 410-440 nm. The results of SEM and TEM revealed the distribution and spherical shape of 20-50 nm sized AgNPs. XRD spectrum confirmed the characteristic peaks at the lattice planes 110, 111, 200, 220 and 311 of silver which confirmed the crystalline nature of biosynthesized LE-AgNPs. FTIR spectrum of plant extract and biogenic LE-AgNPs was recorded in between 1635-3320 cm-1 which confirmed stretching vibrations of possible functional groups C=C and O-H, responsible for the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. The in vitro antioxidant potential of LE-AgNPs was evaluated using DPPH (IC50 = 26.51 ± 1.15 μg/mL) and ABTS radical assays (IC50 =74.33 ± 2.47 μg/mL). The potential antibacterial effects of LE-AgNPs confirmed that 92.38 ± 2.70% growth inhibition occurred in E. coli in response to 0.1mg/mL concentration of LE-AgNPs followed by P. aeruginosa (75.51 ± 0.76), S. aureus (74.53 ± 1.26) and K. pneumoniae (67.4 ± 3.49). The cytotoxicity results interpreted that the biogenic silver nanoparticles exhibited strong dose and time dependent cytotoxicity effect against selected cancer cell lines where IC50 concentration of LE-AgNPs required to inhibit the growth of HeLa cells after 24 h exposure was 4.14 μg/mL and MCF7 cells 3.00 μg/mL, respectively. Significant DNA fragmentation was seen in the DNA extracted from HeLa and MCF-7 cells exposed to more than 2.5 to 10 μg/mL concentrations of LE-AgNPs. Conclusion: The overall findings from the present investigation indicated that the AgNPs synthesized using L. eriocephalus exerted strong biological potentials such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and extensive cytotoxicity and genotoxicity activities.

Acute viral hepatitis(AVH) is caused by Hepatitis A (HAV) and Hepatitis E(HEV). It is major health burden in India. Both the viruses HAV and HEV are primarily transmitted via the faeco-oral course. Study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HAV, HEV and rate of co-infection in AVH patients attending rural tertiary care centre. A retrospective laboratory record based study was carried out in rural tertiary health care center located in Western Maharashtra. Laboratory and Medical records of suspected acute viral infection patients were analyzed during study. Study period was June 2014 to July 2018. Commercially available ELISA kits of IgM anti-HAV and IgM anti-HEV were used to analyze serum samples of suspected study participants. Tests were carried out as per the manufacturer’s instructions. A total of 778 acute viral hepatitis cases were included in the study from July 2014 to July 2018 among which 85/778 (10.9 %) detected positive for HAV and 121/778 (15.6%) detected positive for HEV. Co-infection was identified in 6/778(0.8 %). Jaundice, fever fatigue and hepatomegaly were common clinical presentation in HAV, HEV and confection with both viruses in acute viral hepatitis patients. Study indicated low exposure to HAV in childhood bellow 16 years. Co-infection rate was detected high in 16-25 years age group. Vaccination policy against HAV in adolescent age group needed as there is change epidemiological shift of HAV which has been observed in the current study. These data will helps for planning future vaccination strategies, better implementation sanitation program, and safe water supply in this geographic area.

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C is global health problem affecting a significant portion of the world's population. Available data in Western Maharashtra on seroprevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution are very limited. Objectives: The present study was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence, factors influencing transmission and distribution of genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a hospital-based population. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. A total of 25193 serum samples were tested for HCV and HBV infection. All samples from HCV antibody-positive patients were subjected for HCV RNA detection and genotype. Chi-square, unpaired t-test, logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results: The seroprevalence for anti-HCV-Ab was 0.46%. Backward multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed increasing age; alcoholic, blood transfusion and dialysis were significant risk factors. Of 116 patients with HCV, 8 (6.89%) patients had HCV-HBV co-infection. The most common genotype (61.90%) was 3 followed by Genotype 1 (38.09%). Conclusions: In the present study, significant risk factors were a history of blood transfusion, habit of alcohol, dialysis. The prevention of HCV infection can be achieved by screening of blood and blood products and creating awareness about risk factors. Since the efficacy of current and new therapies differ by genotype, genotype study is essential.

Aim: The aim is to study the bacteriological profile of indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) among patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Settings and Design: The study was conducted on admitted patients with indwelling CVC in medical ICU, surgical ICU, and critical care unit of Krishna hospital, Karad. The study design was a prospective observational study. Materials and Methods: Two hundreded patients admitted with an indwelling, CVC. These patients were followed daily for the development of catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) 48 h after insertion of CVC, in which case two sets of blood samples were drawn along with catheter tip and skin swab for culture. Statistical Methods: Incidence of CRBSIs was measured per 1000 catheter days. Results: Among 200 suspected cases with indwelling CVC, 1028 catheter days were observed, and CRBSI rate was 61.28/1000 catheter days. The incidence of CRBSIs were detected in 63 (31.5%) patients. Conclusions: This prospective study has highlighted the incidence, aerobic bacteriological profile of CVC infections, and also the changing trends in the susceptibility pattern of the isolates to routinely used antibiotics in our tertiary care centre. Combined efforts of the microbiologist, clinicians, and hospital infection control team are needed to tackle CRBSI. A proper training program of hospital staffs, maintenance of proper hand hygiene, following up of proper guidelines of catheter insertion, and maintaining aseptic precaution, prior to CVC insertion can reduce CRBSI.

Introduction: Carbapenems have become one of the last resort of antimicrobials. But in last few years, Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been reported worldwide. Various phenotypic tests have been proposed for detection of carbapenemase activity including the newer modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (mCIM) as advised by Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) 2017 guidelines. Aim: Detection of CRE from clinical specimens with new mCIM method and its comparative evaluation with phenotypic and genotypic methods. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted between January 2017 and December 2017 at KIMS, Karad. Total 66 CRE, isolated from 1634 clinical specimens and identified by VITEK 2 (Biomerieux, France) were included in the study. Phenotype screening was done by mCIM (CLSI 2017) method and was compared with Modified Hodge test (MHT) and Combined Disc Test (CDT) methods. Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC BAA-1705 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC BAA-1706 were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Molecular confirmation of these isolates for carbapenemase producing genes blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48, blaKPC was done by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) study. Results: Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=35) outnumbered the other bacterial species among 66 CRE included in the study. mCIM was positive for 65 (98.48%) out of 66 isolates while MHT and CDT was positive for 50 (75.75%) and 59 (89.39%) of CRE isolates respectively. All the CRE isolates showed presence of at least one carbapenemase producing gene. Conclusion: The mCIM method is simple, less subjective, cost effective, reproducible and most sensitive method and plays important role in detection and prevention of spread of CRE, thereby, reducing morbidity and mortality, especially where there is lack of automation and molecular diagnostic facility.

An analytical method based on liquid-liquid extraction has been developed and validated for analysis of agomelatine in human plasma. Fluoxetine was used as an internal standard for agomelatine. A Betasil C18 (4.0 × 100 mm, 5 µm) column provided chromatographic separation of analytes followed by detection with mass spectrometry. The method involves simple isocratic chromatographic conditions and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using an API-4000 system. The proposed method has been validated with linear range of 0.050-8.000 ng/ml for agomelatine. The intra-run and inter-run precision values are within 12.12% and 9.01%, respectively, for agomelatine at the lower limit of quantification level. The overall recovery for agomelatine and fluoxetine was 67.10% and 72.96%, respectively. This validated method was used successfully for analysis of plasma samples from a pharmacokinetic study.

Background: Adolescent is a transitional phase between childhood and adulthood. Apart from height and weight other anthropometric measurements such as sitting height and leg length are also useful in assessment of physical growth pattern. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of this study is to develop mean and standard deviation (SD) for sitting height, leg length, biacromial diameter, bicristal diameter etc., and to compare them with the national Indian council of medical research standard and other study reference values. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional school-based study was carried out in Satara district. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 for windows. Results: During 10–15 years of age, sitting height increased by 12.10 and 8.44 cm for boys and girls, respectively. The peak sitting height velocity was observed at 13–14 years in boys and 12–13 years in girls. During 10–15 years of age leg length was increased by 14.86 and 10.58 cm for boys and girls, respectively. Thus, both boys and girls have more increase in leg length as compared to sitting height. There is proportionately more increase in shoulder width than the hip width in case of boys whereas girls showed a more increase in hip width. Conclusions: As there are very less studies regarding other anthropometric measurements such as sitting height, leg length, and biacromial diameter it is necessary to carry out regional and national studies to develop standard/reference values for these anthropometric measurements.

Bacteria of the genus Salmonella are highly adapted for the growth in both humans and animals and cause a wide spectrum of disease. The growth of Serotypes S. typhi and S. paratyphi is restricted to human hosts, in whom these organisms cause enteric (typhoid) fever. The remaining Serotypes (non typhoidal Salmonella or NTS) can colonize the gastrointestinal tracts of the broad range of animals, including mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. The usual clinical presentation of non-typhoidal salmonellae (NTS) infection is self limited gastroenteritis; however bacteremia and focal extra intestinal infection may occur. However salmonella localization to the skin presenting as cutaneous ulceration is regarded as a rare event. Rates of morbidity and mortality associated with NTS are highest among the elderly, infants, and immunocompromised individuals, including those with hemoglobinopathies, HIV infection, or infections that cause blockade of the reticuloendothelial system. We isolated S.infantis in 50 years old man with left leg cellulitis. The serotype was confirmed at Central Research Institute, Kasauli.

An analytical method based on liquid-liquid extraction has been developed and validated for analysis of agomelatine in human plasma. Fluoxetine was used as an internal standard for agomelatine. A Betasil C18 (4.0 × 100 mm, 5 µm) column provided chromatographic separation of analytes followed by detection with mass spectrometry. The method involves simple isocratic chromatographic conditions and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using an API-4000 system. The proposed method has been validated with linear range of 0.050-8.000 ng/ml for agomelatine. The intra-run and inter-run precision values are within 12.12% and 9.01%, respectively, for agomelatine at the lower limit of quantification level. The overall recovery for agomelatine and fluoxetine was 67.10% and 72.96%, respectively. This validated method was used successfully for analysis of plasma samples from a pharmacokinetic study.

This case reports a unique presentation of two different clinical entities amidst few similarities and differences. Usually, aggressive periodontitis and gingival fibromatosis occur independently. Their simultaneous occurrence is rarely found. This report deals with the clinical features and management aspect of such a case.