Branding in children: a barbaric practice still exists in India

Branding is an inhuman traditional practice most commonly employed to treat various disorders in neonates and children in certain community in India. Though stringent law exists to prevent such harmful practices, cases of branding is not uncommon in current era.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Unusual complication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a five year old child

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is common agent causing community acquired pneumonia in children. However, the course of illness is usually benign and is rarely associated with pulmonary complications. We report a five-year-old child with massive pleural effusion and empyema secondary to Mycoplasma pneumonia infection. This potential yet rare source of infection should be considered in young patients where resolution of symptoms from pneumonia is delayed

SYNTHESIS & IN-VITRO PROTEIN DENATURATION SCREENING OF 2-[(1, 5-DISUBSTITUTEDPHENYL-4,5-DIHYDRO-1H-PYRAZOL-3-YL)OXY]BENZOIC ACID DERIVATIVES

Abstract Novel 2-[(1,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)oxy]benzoic acid (2a) & 2-[5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-Phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]benzoic acid (2b) were produced and examined for their in-vitro protein denaturation activities. It was discovered that compound 2b showed promise and had more potency than acetylsalicylic acid (NSAID) in inhibiting denaturation of bovine serum albumin. Docking research also supports this. The compound 2b has the highest docking scores with COX1(PDB ID 3N8Z), COX2 (PDB ID 4PH9), and TNF (PDB ID 2AZ5), respectively, of Etotal -233.75, -256.48, and -255.83. TLC and elemental tests were used to determine the compounds' purity. All of the generated molecules' analytical and spectral data (1H NMR, FTIR, and MS) were entirely consistent with the proposed structures

Quantification of Alectinib in spiked rabbit plasma using liquid chromatography- electro spray ionization-tandem mass spectrophotometry: An application to pharmacokinetic study

The current technique was developed to estimate the amount of alectinib present in spiked rabbit plasma using liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry. The liquid-liquid extraction method was used, and chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 (4.6mm id x 50mm) analytical column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water with 0.1% formic acid at a volume ratio of 75:25. Alectinib's product m/z +483.2 (parent) 396.1 (product) and the internal standard m/z +447.5 (parent) 380.3 (product) were both obtained using positive ion mode. The calibration curve was linear from 0.5 to 600 ng/ml. The percentage extraction recovery (98.15% → 98.86%), demonstrated excellent matrix and analyte selectivity (% interference = 0), and satisfactory stability study results in all types (% nominal 94.94% → 99.63%). The intra and interday accuracy with % nominal 97 → 98.8%, precision % CV ≤ 2% in all quality control levels. The rabbit model's pharmacokinetic parameters were examined, and alectinib's area under the curve (AUC 0—∞) was 4269 ± 8.13 hr.ng/ml. The half-life of elimination (t1/2) is 8.52 ± 6.66 hours. The currently established approach was used in rabbit blood samples for pharmacokinetic investigations of commercial formulations since it was thought to be a novel, verified bioanalytical method based on experimental results

CD40 gene polymorphism and its expression in children with Kawasaki disease from North India: a preliminary case–control study and meta-analysis

IntroductionCD40 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with susceptibility and development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) in Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese populations. However, data on SNPs of the CD40 gene in patients with KD from the Indian subcontinent are not available. We studied the CD40 gene polymorphisms and its expression in children with KD from North India.MethodsSNPs of the CD40 gene (rs4810485, rs1535045) were studied using Sanger sequencing. CD40 expression was studied by flow cytometry. Meta-analysis was carried out to assess the role of both SNPs of the CD40 gene in KD. GRADEpro GDT software (v.3.2) was used to assess the “certainty of evidence.”ResultsForty-one patients with KD and 41 age-, sex-matched febrile controls were enrolled. However, none of the alleles and genotypes of the CD40 gene were found to be associated with KD. CD40 expression was higher in KD and in KD with CAAs compared to controls, but it failed to reach statistical significance. In a meta-analysis, the T allele of rs153045 was found to be significantly associated with KD (OR = 1.28; 95% confidence interval (: 1.09–1.50; p = 0.002). The GRADE of evidence for this outcome, however, is of “ very low certainty.”ConclusionThe present study found no association between SNPs (rs4810485 and rs153045) and susceptibility to KD. This could be a reflection of a modest sample size. CD40 expression was higher in KD and in KD with CAAs. In the meta-analysis, the T allele of rs153045 was significantly associated with KD. Our study confirms a significant genetic heterogeneity in KD among different ethnicities

Unusual complication of Mycoplasma pneumonia in a five-year-old child

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is common agent causing community acquired pneumonia in children. However, the course of illness is usually benign and is rarely associated with pulmonary complications. We report a five-year-old child with massive pleural effusion and empyema secondary to Mycoplasma pneumonia infection. This potential yet rare source of infection should be considered in young patients where resolution of symptoms from pneumonia is delayed

A Comparative Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in Ambient Air and the Health Risks Assessment in Industrial, Urban and Semi-Urban Areas of West Bengal, India: An Evaluation of Carcinogenic, Non-Carcinogenic, and Additional Lifetime Cancer Cases

Air pollution is an immense problem due to its detrimental health effects on human populations. This study investigates the distribution of particle-bound heavy metals and associated health risks in three diverse areas (Durgapur as an industrial complex, Kolkata as an urban area, and Bolpur as a semi-urban region) in West Bengal, India. Twenty-one (84 samples) sampling sites were chosen, covering industrial, traffic, residential, and sensitive zones. The respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) samples were collected using a portable Mini-Vol Tactical Air Sampler, and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and As) were analyzed using ICP-OES. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were assessed using exposure concentration (EC), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and additional lifetime cancer cases. The results highlight variations in heavy metal concentrations across the regions, with industrial areas exhibiting higher levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) unveiled distinct metal co-variation patterns, reflecting sources such as industrial emissions, traffic, and natural contributors. The sum of non-carcinogenic risks (HI) of all heavy metals exceeded the US EPA’s risk limit (HI<1) in both Kolkata and Durgapur, except for Bolpur. Similarly, the sum of cancer risk in three distinct areas exceeded the USEPA limits (1.00E-06). The Monte Carlo simulation revealed the 5th and 95th percentile range of cancer risk was 9.12E-06 to 1.12E-05 in Bolpur, 3.72E-05 to 4.49E-05 in Durgapur and 2.13E-05 to 2.57E-05 in Kolkata. Kolkata had the highest additional lifetime cancer cases compared to Bolpur and Durgapur. This study provides information on the complex connections between heavy metal pollution and possible health risks in industrial, urban, and semi-urban regions

Large intradural craniospinal arachnoid cyst: A case report and review of literature

Presence of an arachnoid cyst at craniospinal junction is not very common. This is a very rare anatomic site, with only seven other cases reported in the literature. We report a case of large intradural craniospinal arachnoid cyst presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus and cranial nerve palsy. A 39-year-old male presented with 8-month history of neck pain, headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, diminished taste sensation, and numbness of face. He had bilateral papilledema on ophthalmoscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst extending down to the lower border of C5 vertebra. Posterior decompression was done through C5 laminectomy. He made a full recovery and was asymptomatic at 6-month follow-up examination. The clinical features, diagnosis, and management of these rare craniospinal arachnoid cysts are discussed

Physicochemical Parameters of Water and Its Implications on Avifauna and Habitat Quality

Wetland ecosystems are essential for maintaining biological diversity and are significant elements of the global landscape. However, the biodiversity of wetlands has been significantly reduced by more than 50% worldwide due to the rapid expansion of urban areas and other human activities. The aforementioned factors have resulted in drastic antagonistic effects on species composition, particularly aquatic avifauna. The decline in wetland avifauna, which can be attributed to changes in water quality that impact aquatic habitats, is a major concern. In this study, we evaluated the impact of physicochemical parameters on aquatic avifauna in India’s first Conservation Reserve, a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area. Water samples were collected on a monthly basis across nine different sites and various parameters, such as temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, biological oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids and salinity, were analyzed for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, while point count surveys were conducted to assess species richness and the density of waterbirds. Our findings show a positive correlation of species density with water temperature (r = 0.57), total dissolved solids (r = 0.56) and dissolved oxygen (r = 0.6) for pre-monsoon season and a negative correlation for dissolved oxygen (r = −0.62) and biological oxygen demand (r = −0.69) for post-monsoon season. We suggest that a synergistic effect of pH, salinity, biological oxygen demand and total dissolved solids may affect aquatic bird populations in Asan Conservation Reserve. Poor water quality was observed in a few sampling sites, which may negatively affect the number and density of waterbirds present. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of water quality in wetland conservation, particularly for aquatic avifauna