MRI brain findings of cerebral malaria in children with acute encephalitis syndrome: a prospective study in 60 patients

Background: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is defined as a person of any age group, at any time of the year with the acute onset of fever and change in mental sensorium (including confusion, disorientation, coma or inability to talk) and/or new onset of convulsions (excluding febrile seizures). Encephalitis is a inflammation of brain tissue which presents as a diffuse and/or a focal neuropsychological dysfunction and inflammation of adjacent meningitis. Objectives were to determine clinicoepidemiological profile in AES with special to reference cerebral malaria and to study various MRI findings in patients of AES especially in cerebral malaria.Methods: A prospective study of all cases of fever with unconsciousness or altered sensorium with or without convulsions admitted in PICU of MYH and CNBC Indore. Inclusion criteria was all those children who were previously neurologically normal, of age 1-14 years, patients with fever (6 in most cases, fundus abnormality and meningeal irritation was absent in all cases of cerebral malaria. MRI of brain in cerebral malaria was mostly normal, in (47.05%), second most common we get hyperintensity in periventricular and corpus callosum areas (23.52%), hyperintensity in basal ganglia and thalamus was found in17.64% cases and white matter changes in 2 cases. The final outcome of all cerebral cases was good, all were discharged, and there was no mortality.Conclusions: Our result demonstrate that cerebral malaria is a common cause of acute febrile encephalopathy in children. Presence of plasmodium falciparum is essential for diagnosis of cerebral malaria. No specific lesions have been identified in MRI brain. 

Impact of oral contraceptives on periodontal health

Background: Oral contraceptives pills (OCPs) are common and a convenient form of contraception. The use of hormonal contraceptives by women has been considered to influence gingival and periodontal disease progression.Aim: This study was conducted to assess the effect of oral contraceptive pills on the periodontal health.Materials and method: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 200 females aged 18 years and above of Jaipur city. The study subjects were divided into two groups i.e. contraceptive users and non-contraceptive users, each group consisted 100 females. Data was collected using Modified WHO Performa (1997). Periodontal status was examined using Com- munity Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA). Chi-square test and one sample t-test was used for statistical analysis and P value was set (p< 0.05) as significant.Results: Mean CPI score in subjects and non-contraceptive users was 2.34+ 0.81 and 1.16+ 0.89 respectively. Mean LOA score in each group was 0.28+ 0.45 and 0.19+ 0.50 respectively.Conclusion: Oral Contraceptive pills had adverse effects on periodontal health.Keywords: Oral contraceptive, community periodontal index, loss of attachment, periodontal healt

Molecular Docking studies of Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin as potential target against spike receptor protein of SARS COV

COVID-19 has been categorized as a pandemic in early 2020 and is known to cause by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS–CoV2). Numerous investigators and people in the scientific community are trying to find a superlative way to avert and cure the ailment by using phytochemicals. Abundant studies have revealed that flavonoids can be very operative in averting virus-mediated infection. The purpose of this study was to accomplish molecular docking studies among plant-derived flavonoids (Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin) and spike receptor (PDB ID: 2AJF) protein of coronavirus. Pyrx virtual screening tool and biovia discovery studio visualizer were utilized in the current molecular docking investigations. Outcomes of docking studies exposed that selected phytochemicals have interacted with targeted spike receptor protein with binding energies in the range of -6.3 to -7.3 kcal. In conclusion among the various selected ligands, quercetin may be a better inhibitor for the deactivation of SARS-Coronavirus

Impact of oral contraceptives on periodontal health

Background: Oral contraceptives pills (OCPs) are common and a convenient form of contraception. The use of hormonal contraceptives by women has been considered to influence gingival and periodontal disease progression. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the effect of oral contraceptive pills on the periodontal health. Materials and method: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 200 females aged 18 years and above of Jaipur city. The study subjects were divided into two groups i.e. contraceptive users and non-contraceptive users, each group consisted 100 females. Data was collected using Modified WHO Performa (1997). Periodontal status was examined using Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA). Chi-square test and one sample t-test was used for statistical analysis and P value was set (p< 0.05) as significant. Results: Mean CPI score in subjects and non-contraceptive users was 2.34+ 0.81 and 1.16+ 0.89 respectively. Mean LOA score in each group was 0.28+ 0.45 and 0.19+ 0.50 respectively. Conclusion: Oral Contraceptive pills had adverse effects on periodontal health. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.56 Cite as: Prachi S, Jitender S, Rahul C, Jitendra K, Priyanka M, S D. Impact of oral contraceptives on periodontal health. Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1). 1795-1800. https:// dx.doi. org/10.4314/ ahs. v19i1.5

Management of Infertility due to Bilateral Tubal Blockage, PCOD & Endometrial Polyp by Ayurvedic Regime: A Case Study

Infertility is one of the predominant health issues, affecting 10-15% of reproductive- aged couples. An infertility evaluation should be considered in any couple that has failed to conceive in one year. Infertility can be subdivided into primary infertility (no prior conception) and secondary infertility (infertility following at least 1 prior conception). Here it is the case of primary infertility. In Ayurveda it can be correlated with Anaptaya Vandhya (that is who never has conceived) and Apraja Vandhya (that lady who never have conceived but can conceive by eliminating the underlying cause). In this case study, Ayurvedic management successfully treat the primary infertility. Main clinical finding: A married Hindu female patient of 28 years of age visited to OPD of National institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur on 24 October 2020 with chief complaint of wants issue since 3 years. She had associated complaint of sometimes milk like discharge from breast since 3 years. Diagnosis: Her HSG scan suggestive of right fallopian tube fimbrial block & left fallopian tube cornual blockage. Her USG scan suggestive of bilateral polycystic ovary & a tiny echogenic polyp of size 3.7x2.3mm in mid part of endometrial cavity. Her prolactin level was found elevated. Interventions: Treatment given was Beejasamskara, Uttarbasti with Apamarga kshara tail & Shudah bala tail along with oral medication. Outcome: She conceived after taking 6 months of treatment. She was given proper antenatal care along with garbhsamskara. She delivered a healthy female baby of weight 3.03kg on 7th Jan 2022. Conclusion: This case study shows the potential of Beejasamskara, Uttarbasti in the management of infertility and the role of Garbhsamskara during the antenatal period

Optimization of chromium and tannic acid bioremediation by Aspergillus niveus using Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology

Abstract A chromium and tannic acid resistance fungal strain was isolated from tannery effluent, and identified as Aspergillus niveus MCC 1318 based on its rDNA gene sequence. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of the isolate against chromium and tannic acid was found to be 200 ppm and 5% respectively. Optimization of physiochemical parameters for biosorption of chromium and tannic acid degradation was carried out by Plackett–Burman design followed by response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum chromium removal and tannic acid degradation was found to be 92 and 68% respectively by A. niveus. Chromium removal and tannic acid degradation was increased up to 11 and 6% respectively after optimization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate biosorption phenomena

MOESM1 of Optimization of chromium and tannic acid bioremediation by Aspergillus niveus using Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology

Additional file 1. Additional tables and figures

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Insects

Only a small subset of all the transcribed RNAs are used as a template for protein translation, whereas RNA molecules that are not translated play a very important role as regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Besides traditionally known RNAs (ribosomal and transfer RNAs), ncRNAs also include small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The lncRNAs, which were initially thought to be junk, have gained a great deal attention because of their regulatory roles in diverse biological processes in animals and plants. Insects are the most abundant and diverse group of animals on this planet. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of lncRNAs in almost all aspects of insect development, reproduction, and genetic plasticity. In this review, we describe the function and molecular mechanisms of the mode of action of different insect lncRNAs discovered up to date

A draft of the genome and four transcriptomes of a medicinal and pesticidal angiosperm <it>Azadirachta indica</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>Azadirachta indica</it> (neem) tree is a source of a wide number of natural products, including the potent biopesticide azadirachtin. In spite of its widespread applications in agriculture and medicine, the molecular aspects of the biosynthesis of neem terpenoids remain largely unexplored. The current report describes the draft genome and four transcriptomes of <it>A. indica</it> and attempts to contextualise the sequence information in terms of its molecular phylogeny, transcript expression and terpenoid biosynthesis pathways. <it>A. indica</it> is the first member of the family <it>Meliaceae</it> to be sequenced using next generation sequencing approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The genome and transcriptomes of <it>A. indica</it> were sequenced using multiple sequencing platforms and libraries. The <it>A. indica</it> genome is AT-rich, bears few repetitive DNA elements and comprises about 20,000 genes. The molecular phylogenetic analyses grouped <it>A. indica</it> together with <it>Citrus sinensis</it> from the <it>Rutaceae</it> family validating its conventional taxonomic classification. Comparative transcript expression analysis showed either exclusive or enhanced expression of known genes involved in neem terpenoid biosynthesis pathways compared to other sequenced angiosperms. Genome and transcriptome analyses in <it>A. indica</it> led to the identification of repeat elements, nucleotide composition and expression profiles of genes in various organs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study on <it>A. indica</it> genome and transcriptomes will provide a model for characterization of metabolic pathways involved in synthesis of bioactive compounds, comparative evolutionary studies among various <it>Meliaceae</it> family members and help annotate their genomes. A better understanding of molecular pathways involved in the azadirachtin synthesis in <it>A. indica</it> will pave ways for bulk production of environment friendly biopesticides.</p