On Contra -wgrα-Continuous and Almost Contra-wgrα-Continuous Functions

In this paper a new class of function called contra-wgrα continuous function is introduced and its properties are studied. Further the notion of almost contra wgrα-continuous function is introduced

Effectiveness of administration of quail’s egg on anthropometric measures among underweight preschool children in selected villages, Salem.

A study to evaluate the effectiveness of administration of Quail’s egg on anthropometric measures among underweight preschool children in selected villages, Salem. The study was conducted in Karipatty and Minnampalli villages. (experimental and control group respectively). Quasi experimental research design was used for this study. Permission was obtained from the Medical officer of both the villages and data collection was done over a period of 4 weeks. The investigator had selected 60 underweight preschool children, 30 from each village through convenience sampling technique. Oral consent was obtained and then the subjects from the experimental group were provided with 50gms of boiled Quail’s egg per day for the period of 30 days. This intervention was not given to control group and post test was done after 30 days for both the groups. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the findings of the study. There was a highly significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores after intervention mean pre-test and post-test score of weight was 12.89 and 13.95, height was 94.98 and 95.41 and mid arm circumference was 14.13 and 14.20 respectively. There was a significant association between Body Mass Index for age and their selected demographic variables like age and birth order and mid arm circumference and their selected demographic variables like type of family and occupation of father. The findings of the study showed that supplementation of Quail’s egg produced a significant increase in anthropometric measures of underweight preschool children. This study would help the Community health nurse to motivate the consumption of Quail’s egg and helps to maintain good nutritional status of preschool children

An Insilico Study of Quinic Acid Derivatives as Inhibitors of Com A, The Quorum Sensing Protein of Streptococcus Mutans Responsible for The Pathogenesis in Dental Caries

Dental caries is considered to be one of the important infectious diseases throughout the world. It was recognized that the Streptococcus mutans, plays an important role in cariogenesis. The oral streptococci in biofilms may communicate by a quorum-sensing CSP signalling system. The products of at least six genes, comAB, comX, and comCDE, are involved in CSP signalling. It has been proved that loss of Com A attenuates the formation of biofilm. In the present study quinic acid derivatives have been developed insilico as the inhibitors of Com A and a molecular docking study is performed to find its efficiency as inhibitors. The three-dimensional structure of Com A was retrieved from RCSB- PDB database. The possible binding sites of Com A were searched using binding site prediction 3DLIGANDSITE. The structure of quinic acid was obtained from ZINC database. A total of 100 ligands were generated with the help of software ACD chemsketch. Rapid virtual screenings of these compounds were performed in the docking tool iGEMDOCK v2.0. Based on the binding energy a total of five ligands were selected for the further study. The selected five ligands were then analyzed for drug- relevant properties based on “Lipinski’s rule of five” and other drug like properties. The docking of five ligands was performed using AutoDock 4.0 software. From the present study, it has been found that (1R)-1, 3, 4- trihydroxy-5-methylcyclohexane carboxylic acid, which is a novel compound, a derivative of quinic acid, can act has an inhibitor for the Com A

Dental Practitioners’ Opinions and Methods in the Management of Oral Mucosal Lesions and TMJ Disorders in Dakshina Kannada District: A Questionnaire Based Survey

INTRODUCTION: Oral mucosal lesions and temperomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are important areas of concern in the present dental practice due to their increasing prevalence. Timely management is important as it aids in maximal prognosis.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of dental practitioners in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, regarding various aspects of oral mucosal lesions and TMJ disorders. And also to know their interest in managing such disorders.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self- administered questionnaire was constructed and given to dental practitioners, selected through multistage cluster random sampling method; from Dakshina Kannada district. Chi-square test was performed and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS: The majority of dental practitioners had a dental practice of duration five to ten years. Many of the respondents (72%) indicated that oral ulcers are the most common mucosal lesions and prescribed topical anaesthetics for these. The investigations suggested were blood investigations (24%) for various oral mucosal lesions and radiographs (20%) for TMJ disorders. Different pharmacological treatments provided by the majority of the respondents were topical anaesthetics and multi vitamin supplements. About 34% dental practitioners routinely refer the patients to specialty practitioners.CONCLUSION: The present study shows that there should be emphasis on workshops and various other awareness programs for general dental practitioners for better understanding of the subject and about the latest protocols regarding referral of the patients to specialists

Quantity of Vaccine Poliovirus Shed Determines the Titer of the Serum Neutralizing Antibody Response in Indian Children Who Received Oral Vaccine

Replication of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in the intestine (ie, vaccine take) is associated with seroconversion and protection against poliomyelitis. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis to measure vaccine shedding in 300 seronegative infants aged 6–11 months and in 218 children aged 1–4 years 7 days after administration of monovalent or bivalent OPV. We found that the quantity of shedding correlated with the magnitude of the serum neutralizing antibody response measured 21 or 28 days after vaccination. This suggests that the immune response to OPV is on a continuum, rather than an all-or-nothing phenomenon, that depends on efficient vaccine virus replication

Methylparathion- and carbofuran-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest of several crops in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides are used on a large-scale to control Helicoverpa. Therefore, we studied the effect of methylparathion and carbofuran, an organophosphate and carbamate insecticide, respectively, on oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress in H. armigera larvae to gain an understanding of the different target sites of these insecticides. It was observed that state III and state IV respiration, respiratory control index (RCI), and P/O ratios were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by methylparathion and carbofuran under invitro and in vivo conditions. Methylparathion and carbofuran inhibited complex II by ∼ 45% and 30%, respectively. Lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased and glutathione reductase (GR) activity decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner in insecticide-fed larvae. However, catalase activity was not affected in insecticide-fed larvae. Larval growth decreased by ∼ 64 and 67% in larvae fed on diets with sub-lethal doses of methylparathion and carbofuran. The results suggested that both the insecticides impede the mitochondrial respiratory functions and induced lipid peroxidation, H2O2, and LDH leak, leading to oxidative stress in cells, which contribute to deleterious effects of these insecticides on the growth of H. armigera larvae, along with their neurotoxic effects

Characterization of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera, a pest resistant to insecticides

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DHLDH) was isolated from the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera, a destructive pest which has developed resistance to commonly used insecticides. The flavoenzyme was purified 17.98-fold to homogeneity with an overall yield of 10.53% by employing ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydroxylapatite chromatography and CM-Sephadex chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibited the specific activity of 18.7 U/mg and was characterized as a dimer with a subunit mass of 66 kDa. The enzyme showed specificity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide – hydrogen (NADH) and lipoamide, as substrates, with Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) of 0.083 mmol/L and 0.4 mmol/L, respectively. The reduction reaction of lipoamide by the enzyme could be explained by ping-pong mechanism. The spectra of DHLDH showed the maximum absorbance at 420 nm, 455 nm and 475 nm. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by mercurial and arsenical compounds. The N-terminal sequence of Ha-DHLDH showed homology with those of mammalian and arthropod DHLDH. Since H. armigera has developed high levels of resistance to commonly used insecticides, biochemical properties of the metabolic enzymes such as DHLDH, could be helpful to develop insecticidal molecules for the control of H. armigera, with a different mode of action

Interaction of plant cell signaling molecules, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, with the mitochondria of Helicoverpa armigera

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are the cell signaling molecules produced in response to insect attack in plants. The effect of these signaling molecules was investigated on the oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress of H. armigera. SA significantly inhibited the state III and state IV respiration, respiratory control index (RCI), respiratory complexes I and II, induced mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release in vitro. Under in vivo conditions, SA induced state IV respiration as well as oxidative stress in time- and dose-dependent manner, and also inhibited the larval growth. In contrast, JA did not affect the mitochondrial respiration and oxidative stress. SA affected the growth and development of H. armigera, in addition to its function as signaling molecules involved in both local defense reactions at feeding sites and the induction of systemic acquired resistance in plants

Effect of pyrethroids, permethrin and fenvalarate, on the oxidative stress of Helicoverpa armigera

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous pest of several crops in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean Europe. Pyrethroid insecticides are used to control noxious insects in agriculture, forestry, households and horticulture. Therefore, the effect of permethrin and fenvalarate was evaluated on the oxidative stress in H. armigera. Lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased and glutathione reductase (GR) activity decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner in insecticide-fed larvae. However, catalase activity was not affected in insecticide-fed larvae. Larval growth decreased by ~ 64 and 70% in larvae fed on diets with sub-lethal doses of permethrin and fenvalarate. The results suggested that both the insecticides induced lipid peroxidation, H2O2, LDH leak, and altered antioxidant enzymes leading to oxidative stress in cells, which contribute to deleterious effects of these insecticides on the growth of H. armigera larvae, along with their neurotoxic effects