Incidence of HIV infection in eastern Uttar Pradesh: HIV counseling and testing services record based retrospective study

Background: India has approximately 2.4 million of people living with HIV and out of these two thirds live in rural areas. This study may yield significant data to understand epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in this region that would help in designing techniques for effective implementation to prevent this infection.Methods: The present study was a comprehensive retrospective hospital-based investigation of the HIV infection in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India based on a large number of clinical samples at HCTS centre, representing different geographic regions and has been functional since 2002, conducting HIV tests, counselling of patients as well as maintains proper records.Results: A total of 444 HIV positive clients were registered in this retrospective study. The male and female ratio among all positive clients was 1.67:1 and the most common age group for both the genders was 35-49 years. Among 444 HIV positive clients, HIV-TB co-infection found in 72 (16.21%) cases. Out of 444 clients, 177 (40%) and 167 (38%) found extremely immunocompromised with low CD4 cells count in range between of 0-100 cells/mm3 and >100-350 cells/mm3 respectively. Mortality was seen in 72 (16%) out of 444 HIV positive clients.Conclusions: There is an urgent need of information, education about this disease and by providing suitable occupation or to make them aware, which will markedly help in preventing the spread of HIV pandemic in this geographical region

Структурні та оптичні властивості полікристалічного нанопорошку ZnO, синтезованого методом прямого осадження

Нанопорошок ZnO був синтезований методом прямого осадження в умовах навколишнього середовища, використовуючи хлорид цинку та гідроксид натрію як первинні прекурсори. Структурні, морфологічні та оптичні властивості нанопорошку ZnO були досліджені за допомогою рентгенівської дифракції (XRD), польової скануючої електронної мікроскопії (FE-SEM), енергетично-дисперсійної спектроскопії (EDX), FT-IR, та UV-Visible спектроскопії дифузного відбиття. Аналіз XRD показує, що нанопорошок ZnO має полікристалічну природу та структуру вюрциту. Синтезований нанопорошок складається з однофазних кристалітів, високоорієнтованих у площині відбиття (101). Аналіз EDX підтверджує наявність у нанопорошку вмісту окремих Zn та O, склад яких є майже стехіометричним у пропорції. Морфологія поверхні нанопорошку ZnO була проаналізована методом FE-SEM і було встановлено, що надмірна поверхнева енергія наночастинок відповідає за випадкову орієнтацію та агломерацію. Взаємодія різних функціональних груп під час синтезу була визначена з спектру FT-IR. Наявність чітких піків поглинання та смуг для стандартних хвильових чисел підтверджує успішне утворення ZnO з різних хімічних речовин, що використовуються в синтезі. Ширина оптичної забороненої зони була оцінена за графіком Кубелка-Манка шляхом екстраполяції лінійної частини кривої на вісь енергій. Наявність частинок у нанодіапазоні та високе значення ширини оптичної забороненої зони підтримують ефект квантового утримання в нанопорошку ZnO.ZnO nanopowder has been synthesized by direct precipitation technique at ambient conditions using zinc chloride and sodium hydroxide as primary precursors. The structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO nanopowder have been examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field effect scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), FT-IR, and UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The XRD analysis shows that ZnO nanopowder is polycrystalline in nature and has a wurtzite structure. The synthesized nanopowder possesses single-phase crystallites which are highly oriented in (101) reflection plane. EDX analysis confirms the presence of lone Zn and O content in the nanopowder which is almost stoichiometric in the proportion. The surface morphology of ZnO nanopowder has been analyzed by FE-SEM and it was found that the excessive surface energy of the nanoparticles is responsible for the random orientation and agglomeration. The interaction of different functional groups during the synthesis has been identified from the FT-IR spectrum. The presence of distinct absorption peaks and bands at respected wavenumbers confirms the successful formation of ZnO from the different chemicals used in the synthesis. The optical bandgap has been estimated from the Kubelka-Munk plot by extrapolating the linear portion of the curve on the energy axis. The existence of the particles in the nanorange and a high optical bandgap value support the quantum confinement effect in ZnO nanopowder

Deciphering the kinetics and pathway of lindane biodegradation by novel soil ascomycete fungi for its implication in bioremediation

Lindane, an organochlorine pesticide, negatively affects living beings and the ecosystem. In this study, the potential of 9 Ascomycetes fungi, isolated from an hexachlorocyclohexane dumpsite soil, was tested for biodegradation of lindane. The strain Pleurostoma richardsiae (FN5) showed lindane biodegradation rate constant (K value) of 0.144 d-1 and a half-life of 4.8d. The formation of intermediate metabolites upon lindane degradation including & gamma;-pentachlorocyclohexene, 2,4-dichlorophenol, phenol, benzene, 1,3- cyclohexadiene, and benzoic acid detected by GC-MS and the potential pathway adopted by the novel fungal strain FN5 for lindane biodegradation has been elucidated. The study of gene profiles with reference to linA and linB in strain FN5 confirmed the same protein family with the reported heterologs from other fungal strains in the NCBI database. This study for the first time provides a thorough understanding of lindane biodegradation by a novel soil-borne Ascomycota fungal strain for its possible application in field-scale bioremediation

Cell Cannibalism: A cytological study in effusion samples

Background: Cytological examination of effusion fluid is a relatively easy and quick method for the diagnosis of primary or secondary malignancy. Aims: To analyze the cytological significance of cell cannibalism in malignant effusion samples. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 100 cases of malignant effusion was done. These 100 cases included 50 cases of contiguous, local spread to pleural/ascitic fluid. The remaining 50 cases were of disseminated malignancy. Effusions due to hematolymphoid malignancies were excluded. Smears from these cases were assessed for the presence of cell cannibalism, tumor cell within a tumor cell. Results: The cannibalistic cells were more common in effusions with disseminated malignancy (nine out of 50 cases i.e. 18%) compared with cases of contiguous, local spread (two out of 50 cases i.e. 4%). Chi square test showed this difference to be statistically significant (x2 5.005, P=0.025). The majority of the cases were of carcinoma lung (6/11). Cytomorphologically, histiocytes displaying phagocytosis can simulate tumor cells and need to be distinguished. Conclusions: Presence of cell cannibalism in malignant effusions is more often an indicator of disseminated malignancy with secondaries and higher tumor stage. Furthermore, cannibalism may provide a reliable predictor of progression of tumor from primary to the metastatic site

Implications of lifestyle medicine in medical practice

Globally, we are seeing a rise in non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, etc., due to stressful lifestyle in this competitive world. Most of the non-communicable diseases are associated with lifestyle behavior. Presently, the role of lifestyle medicine is very critical and important in the management of chronic lifestyle-associated disorders. Considering the above facts, we decided to review the literature to gain a deeper insight into the implications of lifestyle medicine in medical practice. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. We observed that lifestyle medicine intervention is a growing and newer discipline and is being employed along with conventional management of non-communicable diseases by medical practitioners today, as they are strongly associated with lifestyle behaviors and practices. Motivation for change in lifestyle is challenging because it depends on the patient's determination and eagerness to adapt and accommodate to the newer lifestyle pattern. The medical practitioners should spend time in coaching patients on lifestyle-related health education. Guidance and coaching by medical practitioners will help patients adapt to practices of maintaining regular physical activity, a balanced diet, good sleep hygiene, and avoid addictions of tobacco and alcohol as part of life. Introducing real and progressive evidence-based behavioral changes to reduce the risks of lifestyle-related acute and chronic diseases in medical practice will reduce the burden of non-communicable disease