The Mobile Identities: Crises of Mobility Portrayed in the Malayalam Film Pathemari

The present paper entitled The Mobile Identities attempts to examine the aftermath of migration especially from south India to gulf countries as portrayed in the film Pathemari directed by Salim Ahmed. He had already thrived in delineating the intricacies and conflicts in the lives of ordinary human beings through his previous award winning projects such as Abu, Son of Adam and Kujanathantekada. Pathemari also can be regarded as a similar attempt to project the stark realities of life faced by people during a particular time in history in particular and of present times in general. The paper attempts to analyze the life and character of the protagonist Narayan ranging from childhood to death by considering the different aspects of his livelihood such as family ties broken relationships, his unrelenting affection for his native place and the nature of treatment received from his homeland. The major objective of the study is to scrutinize how much the film succeeded to convey the undesirable effects of being driven from one’s own culture and community such as identity crisis, the feeling of alienation and the sense of disinheritance. Thus this study can be described as an endeavor to think over the various effects of kinesis; both individually and socially

A STUDY ON VARIATIONS OF SALIVARY pH WITH INTAKE OF FOOD

ABSTRACTObjective: Study the changes in salivary pH before and after consumption of food in college students. Methods: The study was conducted on 60 students from Saveetha Dental College by checking the pH of their saliva using a pocket pH meter and thedata was entered and compared in SPSS software along with their diet.Results: The data showed significant change in the pH of saliva before and after food intake and consumption on certain food types leads to alkalinityof the oral cavity.Conclusion: This study helped in concluding the role of types of food in changing the pH of the oral cavity and thereby helps the need for properselection on food is necessary and importance of buffering action in pH maintenance.Keywords: Saliva, pH, foo

A study on prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity, alcohol abuse, personality factors in tuberculosis default patients

CONTEXT: Tuberculosis is a chronic, debilitating illness whose global disease burden is very high. Treatment adherence is very important in the treatment. Poor treatment adherence results in default, relapse, failure and drug resistance. Many factors like drug side effects, lack of feasibility, drug abuse, poor support contributes to poor adherence. Among these factors, substance abuse and psychiatric illness plays a vital role in default though it is under estimated. AIM OF THE STUDY: A study on prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity, alcohol abuse, personality factors in tuberculosis default patients. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of psychiatric illness, alcohol abuse, personality factors among tuberculosis defaulter patients. To study the role of these factors in Anti tuberculosis drug discontinuation. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Government Thiruvoteeswarar Tuberculosis Hospital, a tertiary care tuberculosis hospital in Otteri, Tamilnadu. STUDY POPULATION: 110 subjects diagnosed as tuberculosis default lost to follow up were enrolled in the study. SCALES USED: Socio-demographic profile, SCID, AUDIT, 5 factor questionnaire, HAMD, YMRS, PDSS. RESULTS: 64 members stated that their alcohol habit was the reason for them to discontinue tuberculosis drugs. Factors found to have a positive association with tuberculosis default angry hostility, vulnerability, permissive and broad mindedness values, tender mindedness and compliance. 4 subjects were found to have psychiatric illness. CONCLUSION: In this study 79 members reported to abuse alcohol daily having a dependent pattern and nearly 64 stated alcohol as the reason for them to discontinue anti tuberculosis medications. Psychiatric illness was reported only by 4 people in this study and no correlation was found between it and drug default. Regarding personality factors, angry, vulnerability, anxiousness, assertiveness, depressiveness and impulsivity were found to be highly prevalent among the defaulter groups and it also had a positive correlation with alcohol use which states that patients with these factors are highly prone for poor drug adherence

COSMETIC CONTAMINATION AWARENESS AMONG ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Objective: Cosmetics, in today's world, have become a part and parcel of every women's life. The majority of the women who use cosmetics are unaware of the fact that makeup can harbor a variety of infections if not used in the appropriate manner. The purpose of the study is to determine theawareness of cosmetic contamination among adolescent females and spread awareness regarding the different ways to prevent the harmful effectsthat these contaminated cosmetics can have on the health of the users.Methods: This is a survey-based study. This study was conducted by observing cosmetic usage practices of adolescent females through the medium of analyzing questionnaires. The data collected were compiled and analyzed statistically.Results: The responses of the participants reveal that there is a rapid increase in the awareness regarding cosmetic contamination among adolescent females. Out of the 100 adolescent females who completed the survey, 87% of the females are aware of the presence of lead, carcinogenic substances, and preservatives that can become toxic over a period of time, the rest 13% are unaware of the fact and the harmful effects these can cause if not handled properly.Conclusion: The results of the study show the increase in cosmetic usage patterns and cosmetic contamination awareness among the adolescentfemales in the past few decades.Keywords: Cosmetic contamination, Microbial, Contamination, Awareness, Adolescent females, Toxicity

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICALS SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF LEMONGRASS OIL AND LAVENDER OIL

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare the free-radical scavenging activity of lemongrass oil and lavender oil.Methods: Lemongrass oil and lavender oil were used to assess their antioxidant effect by in vitro methods such as phytochemical tests, nitric oxideradical scavenging activity, and estimation of total phenolic content (TPC).Results: The oils were studied for different phytoconstituents and show the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, quinones, cardiac glycosides,terpenoids, phenols, and steroids in both the oils. These constituents can be used in the treatment of diarrhea, hemorrhage, cardiac failure, bacterialand fungal infections, dermatoses, burns and swollen joints, etc. The TPC of the oils were measured, and results show their use in anticancer andantioxidant effect. The nitric oxide assay of two oils shows their scavenging activity and their use in controlling blood pressure, platelet functions, etc.Conclusion: Both the oils show great antioxidant effect. They can be used as a medicinal supplement due to its natural availability and its use in cancertreatment.Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula angustifolia, Phytochemicals, Free radical scavengers, Antioxidants

ASSESSMENT OF INFLAMMATORY STATUS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS

Objective: The metabolic disorder, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a major health problem which is the risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accident, renal failure, and other macrovascular diseases. Inflammation is the major pathogenesis of all the above conditions. Therefore, there is a need to assess the inflammatory status using simple and reliable marker which would help to diagnose the disease and assess the prognosis of the disease. Hence, the aim of the current study is to estimate the level of simple inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) in Type 2 diabetes individual.Materials and Method: Fifty patients, reporting to Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, were enrolled in the study which includes 25 patients with T2DM and 25 healthy individuals. 5 ml of venous blood was collected and centrifuged. Then, it is analyzed for fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and CRP using the standard kit method. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS software.Results: The mean FBS, HbA1c, and CRP levels were higher in T2DM patients in comparison to healthy individuals. The serum FBS, HbA1c, and CRP levels in the control group and T2DM group were 85.08±8.47, 4.27±0.63, and 6.51±0.83 and 168, 7.38±0.9, and 27.23±19.06, respectively. There was a significant (p=0.000) difference in the mean CRP levels of the above groups.Conclusion: CRP level were consistently higher in T2DM individuals; hence, it could be a simple and reliable marker to assess the inflammatory status of the diabetic individuals

Efficacy of talc-based formulation of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (MZ749636) against two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch

Tetranychus urticae is one of the most important and destructive mite species infesting the vegetable crops, which is very important to control because of its wide host range. The damage caused by the two spotted spider mite can be eliminated by using entomopathogenic fungi, as the acaricidal control causes various problems such as resistance, resurgence and residue problems. Therefore, the present study was carried out with a view to evaluate the efficacy of the talc-based formulation of Beauveria bassiana (MZ749636) under pot-culture conditions against two spotted spider mite (TSSM), T. urticae in potted bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants, in comparison with fenazaquin 10 EC @ 1.5ml/l, azadirachtin 3000 ppm @ 2ml/l and crude formulation of B. bassiana, MZ749636 @ 1 x 108 conidia/ml. After two rounds of spraying at fortnight intervals, the talc- formulation of B. bassiana, MZ749636 resulted in 62.83 per cent cumulative reduction of TSSM over the control. However, fenazaquin 10 EC @1.5 ml/l recorded the maximum cumulative mortality of 80.07 per cent, followed by azadirachtin 3000 ppm @ 2ml/l, which recorded a cumulative mortality per cent of 71.06 per cent. Crude formulation of B. bassiana recorded 58.12 per cent reduction of TSSM over the control after two rounds of spraying. This was the first study that attempted to evaluate the efficacy of the talc formulation of the B. bassiana (MZ749636) isolate against TSSM

Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of Pouteria Campechiana (Kunth)

AIM OF PRESENT STUDY: In recent year there has been a tremendous increase in demand for herbal drugs due to its safety, efficacy and better therapeutic results and also due to its economic pricing as compared to synthetic or allopathic drugs, which have several therapeutic complications. The selection of this plant, Pouteria campechiana was made on the basis of its High therapeutic value, Easy availability, Degree of research work which is not done Very less pharmacological studies have been carried out on the leaves of Hence, I have decided to choose the Pouteria campechiana project on Which detailed studies on Preliminary Phytochemical and Pharmacological activities of Oral glucose tolerance, and In-vivo Anti- diabetic studies is done. THE PLAN OF WORK: The plan of work for the study of Pouteria campechianacarried out as follow. Collection and authentication of raw material Preliminary phytochemical studies: Preparation of extract Qualitative phytochemical studies Pharmacological studies Acute oral toxicity study: Oral glucose tolerance test Screening of Anti- diabetic activity. In-vivo study of anti-diabetic activity (Alloxan induced diabetic in high fat diet Rats) SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:The leaves of Pouteria campechiana belonging to the family sapotaceae has been examined to gain an insight of its phytochemical and pharmacological behavior. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of powdered Pouteria campechiana showed the presence of Carbohydrates, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Steroid, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Proteins and Amino acids. The pharmacological and acute toxicity studies of ethanolic extract was performed by following, OECD-423 guidelines (Acute toxic class method). No mortality or acute toxicity was observed upto 2000mg/kg of body weight. The Biological dose of extract Pouteria campechiana dose was selected 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in this dose possessed significant antidiabetic activity. Alloxan causes a massive destruction of β-cells of the isletsof langher-hans, resulting in reduced synthesis and release of insulin. The function of the insulin suppressed, which leads to high level of hyperglycemic and eventually to death,but the different extracts of pouteria campechiana showed antidiabetic effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats and reduced the mortality rate significantly. Overall, it can be concluded that ethanolic extract of Pouteria campechiana can be used as a natural source of anti-diabetic activity. Further pharmacological and biochemical studies are needed to isolate and characterize active compound responsible for the anti-diabetic activity

ESTIMATION OF SERUM COPPER AND ZINC IN ANAEMIC PATIENTS

Objective: Estimation of serum zinc and copper levels in anemic patients.Methods: The study design included 30 subjects presenting to clinical laboratory, global hospitals. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. TheGroup 1 consists of 15 healthy individuals and Group 2 consists of 15 anemic patients.Results: The serum copper and zinc levels were evaluated in anemic patients. The serum copper and zinc were found to be significantly lower in  anemic patients when compared with normal individuals.Conclusion: Thus, the study concludes that the serum zinc and copper in anemic patients is significantly less when compared to the control individuals.Hence, it is important to add adequate amount of zinc and copper rich food in their diet to control the prevalence of anemia.Keywords: Anemia, Zinc, Copper, Hemoglobin

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SERUM URIC ACID AND METABOLIC SYNDROME

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disease condition characterized by truncal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. An excessive circulating uric acid (UA) level even within normal range is always comorbid with metabolic syndrome and its components. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and serum UA level.Methods: A total of 60 subjects were divided into two groups of healthy (30 individuals) and metabolic syndrome patients (30 individuals) from dental outpatient department of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. 5 ml of fasting venous blood was collected in the plain collection tubes and centrifuged, and then serum was separated. Then, the serum was used to analyze the fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides (TGLs), and serum UA by GOD-POD, enzymatic colorimetric, and uricase method, respectively. A statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Result: Mean body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), TGL, and UA level of control group were 23.36±1.81, 84.45±13.1, 110.9±22.6, and 3.48±1.21 respectively. Mean BMI, FBS, TGL, and UA level of study group were 35.24±3.04, 122.85±23.3, 212.1±39.6 and 9.08±2.63 respectively. There is a significant difference between these two groups with p<0.0001.Conclusion: This study showed that those individuals with metabolic syndrome have higher UA level that indicates hyperuricemia which is a significant predictor of metabolic syndrome