Study of various congenital anomalies in fetal and neonatal autopsy

Background: The study of dead is to save the livings. The growing awareness that still births and infant mortalities are unable to reduction has led to a wide spread desire for more information regarding the cause of these deaths. Congenital malformations have become important cause of fetal and neonatal (perinatal) mortality in developed countries and would very soon be increasingly important determinants of fetal and neonatal mortality in developing countries like India. In spite of antenatal diagnostic modality still the fetal autopsy plays the vital role in the conformation as well as identification of congenital anomalies and also for the counseling of the parents, to prevent the fetal congenital anomalies in further pregnancies. This study was undertaken with the purpose of finding out cause of death during the perinatal period at government maternity hospital and pediatric department S.V.R.R.G.G.H. & S.V. medical college Tirupati, and to study the clinical and pathological findings (Gross & microscopic) in fetal and neonatal death.Methods: The present study of congenital anomalies in fetal and neonatal deaths was done at S.V. medical college, Tirupati, over a time period of 2 years from September 2008 to 2010 August. Consent for autopsy in requested compassionately, respectfully and fully informed. The present study included dead fetus and neonates with gestational age above 20 weeks of intra uterine life and within 7 days of post natal life. All fetuses of gestational age <20 weeks and all neonates above 7 days of age were excluded from the study. The study also obtained clearance from the ethical committee of the institution. Autopsy was performed by standard technique adopted by Edith L. Potter. External and internal findings followed by histopathological examination, and autopsy findings were compared with available ultrasound findings.Results: A total of 46 Autopsies performed, 40 (87%) were fetal deaths, 6 (13%) were early neonatal deaths. In a total of 46 fetuses, there were 13 male and 33 female babies. On external examination of 46 fetal and Neonatal (perinatal) deaths, 8 (17.39%) babies showed congenital malformation. On internal examination of the 46 fetal and Neonatal (perinatal) deaths, 4 babies showed internal congenital anomalies. A total of 46 anatomical and histopathologic examinations were done among fetal and neonatal (perinatal) deaths. Out of 13 autopsies on male babies, 2 had congenital malformation and 33 autopsies on female babies, 7 had congenital malformations. Congenital anomalies were commonest in the birth weight group of 1000-1500 grams accounting for 9 cases. Malformations of central nervous system (33.33%) were most common followed by musculoskeletal system (16.66%), genitourinary and respiratory system (8.33%) respectively.Conclusion: Most number of perinatal deaths occurred in low birth weight and preterm babies. Study of malformations greatly helpful in genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in successive pregnancies

BioSim - a biomedical character-based problem solving environment

Understanding and solving biomedical problems requires insight into the complex interactions between the components of biomedical systems by domain and non-domain experts. This is challenging because of the enormous amount of data and knowledge in this domain. Therefore, non-traditional educational tools have been developed such as a biological storytelling system, animations of biomedical processes and concepts, and interactive virtual laboratories. The next-generation problem solving tools need to be more interactive to include users with any background, while remaining sufficiently flexible to target open research problems at any level of abstraction, from the conformational changes of a protein to the interaction of the various biochemical pathways in our body. Here, we present an interactive and visual problem solving environment for the biomedical domain. We designed a biological world model, in which users can explore biological interactions by role-playing &quot;characters&quot; such as cells and molecules or as an observer in a &quot;shielded vessel&quot;, both with the option of networked collaboration between simultaneous users. The system architecture of these &quot;characters&quot; contains four main components: (1) bio-behavior is modeled using cellular automata; (2) bio-morphing uses vision-based shape tracking techniques to learn from recordings of real biological dynamics; (3) bio-sensing is based on molecular principles of recognition to identify objects, environmental conditions and progression in a process; (4) bio-dynamics implements mathematical models of cell growth and fluid-dynamic properties of biological solutions. The principles are implemented in a simple world model of the human vascular system and a biomedical problem that involves an infection by Neisseria meningitide..

Homeostatic regulation of NCAM polysialylation is critical for correct synaptic targeting

During development, axonal projections have a remarkable ability to innervate correct dendritic subcompartments of their target neurons and to form regular neuronal circuits. Altered axonal targeting with formation of synapses on inappropriate neurons may result in neurodevelopmental sequelae, leading to psychiatric disorders. Here we show that altering the expression level of the polysialic acid moiety, which is a developmentally regulated, posttranslational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM, critically affects correct circuit formation. Using a chemically modified sialic acid precursor (N-propyl-D: -mannosamine), we inhibited the polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII, the principal enzyme involved in polysialylation during development, at selected developmental time-points. This treatment altered NCAM polysialylation while NCAM expression was not affected. Altered polysialylation resulted in an aberrant mossy fiber projection that formed glutamatergic terminals on pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region in organotypic slice cultures and in vivo. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that the ectopic terminals on CA1 pyramids were functional and displayed characteristics of mossy fiber synapses. Moreover, ultrastructural examination indicated a "mossy fiber synapse"-like morphology. We thus conclude that homeostatic regulation of the amount of synthesized polysialic acid at specific developmental stages is essential for correct synaptic targeting and circuit formation during hippocampal development

Abstracts of National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology (NCB4EBT-2021) Organized by the Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India held on 29–30 January 2021. This conference is the first of its kind organized by NIT-W which covered an array of interesting topics in biotechnology. This makes it a bit special as it brings together researchers from different disciplines of biotechnology, which in turn will also open new research and cooperation fields for them. Conference Title: National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental BiotechnologyConference Acronym: NCB4EBT-2021Conference Date: 29–30 January 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Indi