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. 

Exploring the Motivations of Millennials Opting for Temple Stays in India

Millennials are the most promising consumer segment of the tourism industry and the fast pace of development and emergence of newer trends has led to a drastic change in consumer behaviour. Temple Stays are emerging as a significant source of tourism for sites that are transforming traditional religious practices into a complete hybrid of leisure and recreation. Considering this, the current research is framed to analyse the factors that motivate Millennials to undertake spiritual tourism activities, with special focus on Temple Stay programs at various Buddhist sites / monasteries in India and the revisit intentions of Millennials. The research is qualitative in nature - semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with suitable respondents. Only those respondents who have stayed for 7 days or more in temples-stays were targeted by using purposive sampling techniques. The data were analysed using NVivo (12) and in order to achieve the objectives of the study thematic and content analysis were applied. The study identifies four motivational factors for Temple Stays, including comprehensive learning, self-growth, harmonising with nature, and spirituality. Analysis also revealed that travel motivations have a significant impact on life satisfaction among Millennials tourists that further reflects their revisit intentions to Temple Stays. The results of the present study will be helpful in realising the emerging market segment of tourism which is Millennials. Also, the study helps to provide a theoretical contribution by reflecting on the overall relationship between the various dimensions of spiritual tourism, life satisfaction and intention to adopt spiritual tourism practices again

Role of norepinephrine in the regulation of rapid eye movement sleep

Sleep and wakefulness are instinctive behaviours that are present across the animal species. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a unique biological phenomenon expressed during sleep. It evolved about 300 million years ago and is noticed in the more evolved animal species. Although it has been objectively identified in its present characteristic form about half a century ago, the mechanics of how REM is generated, and what happens upon its loss are not known. Nevertheless, extensive research has shown that norepinephrine plays a crucial role in its regulation. The present knowledge that has been reviewed in this manuscript suggests that neurons in the brain stem are responsible for controlling this state and presence of excess norepinephrine in the brain does not allow its generation. Furthermore, REM sleep loss increases levels of norepinephrine in the brain that affects several factors including an increase in Na-K ATPase activity. It has been argued that such increased norepinephrine is ultimately responsible for REM sleep deprivation, associated disturbances in at least some of the physiological conditions leading to alteration in behavioural expression and settling into pathological conditions

Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among pregnant women and their outcome

Background: Genitourinary infections either sexually transmitted or by other means are a major concern among women, particularly young adults and teens. The objective was to find out seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women and its effect on pregnancy outcome.Methods: the present study was carried out in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, King George Medical University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, over a period of September 2003 to July 2004. Total 120 pregnant women were included in the study, these pregnant women were selected according to their will in taking part in the study irrespective of age and parity. 2 ml of blood sample was collected and determination of antichlamydial IgM antibody was done by VIRCELL SL IgM ELISA Kit in microbiology department. Prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women were assessed and correlated with age group, parity, socioeconomic status, previous obstetric outcome, anaemia, PROM, mode of termination according to gestational age, perinatal outcome regards birthweight, and adverse neonatal outcome.Results: Out of 120 cases, total 70 (58.33%) were positive while the remaining 50 cases were negative. 80 cases were followed till delivery in which 66.25% were positive for antichlamydial IgM antibody. There was significant association of previous history of 2-3 abortion and preterm delivery with IgM positive cases. Low birth weight deliveries were 78% and very low birth weight was 100% in positive cases. Caesarean section at <37 weeks of gestation, IUGR and low APGAR score were significantly high in IgM positive group. 100% PROM cases were IgM positive.Conclusions: The prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection among pregnant women in our population is high and is strongly associated with premature rupture of membranes, IUGR, LBW, and low APGAR score deliveries

Pregnancy outcome in isolated oligohydramnios diagnosed in third trimester

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of pregnancies complicated by isolated oligohydramnios with the low risk pregnancies with normal amniotic fluid volume.Methods: The present study is a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies diagnosed with Isolated oligohydramnios (AFI≤5) in their third trimester (N=35). Pregnancy outcome was compared with a matched control group of low risk pregnancies with amniotic fluid volume >5 (N=30).Results: The overall incidence of Isolated oligohydramnios was 0.7-0.8%. In oligohydramnios group, significant association were found in null-parity (60% vs 23.33%, p-value<0.005), Fetal growth retardation (25.71% vs 0% p-value<0.02), preterm delivery (22.85% vs 3.33%, p-value 0.025), rate of Induction of labor (40% vs 10%) and cesarean rate for non-reassuring fetal heart rate (20% vs 3.33%, p-value<0.001). Likewise, the incidence of low birth weight was (54.28% vs 13.33%, p-value<0.001) and NICU admissions was (20% vs 0%, p-value<0.01), but there was no difference in Apgar score finding. NICU stay was of short duration and all babies discharged in stable condition, there were no stillbirth or early neonatal death in both groups.Conclusions: Isolated oligohydramnios has an adverse influence on pregnancy and neonatal outcome in the form of FGR, preterm delivery, increased rate of Induction and cesarean section. Despite the high incidence of low birth weight and NICU admissions, the overall early neonatal outcome was similar to the other low risk pregnancies

Comparative evaluation of antibacterial effect of nanoparticles and lasers against Endodontic Microbiota : an in vitro study

Present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating antimicrobial efficacy of silver (AgNP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) with and without Nd: YAG laser (L) irradiation against experimentally inoculated Enterococcus faecalis in infected human root dentin. 120 extracted single rooted human teeth were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 24 hrs. The teeth were then randomly divided into 4 experimental group: AgNPs group: irrigation for 3minutes with 50 ?l of 100 ppm, the AuNPs group: irrigation with 50 ?l of 100 ppm, the AgNPs & Nd: YAG lasers group: irrigation with 50 ?l of 100 ppm + irradiation with 1.5W laser for 60 seconds, the AuNPs & Nd: YAG lasers group: irrigation with 50 ?l of 100 ppm + irradiation with 1.5W laser for 60 seconds. One control group consisting of 2% CHX irrigation for 3 minutes was also there (n = 20). The specimens were collected from the canal before and after irrigation, and colony forming units were observed. Significant difference was found among all the groups in comparison to the control group (p&lt;0.05). The greatest reduction in CFU?s was observed with combination of AgNPs & Nd: YAG lasers group. AgNPs in combination with Nd: YAG laser irradiation has the potential to be used as root canal disinfectant

QTL Landscape for Oil Content in Brassica juncea: Analysis in Multiple Bi-Parental Populations in High and “0” Erucic Background

Increasing oil content in oilseed mustard (Brassica juncea) is a major breeding objective—more so, in the lines that have “0” erucic acid content (&lt; 2% of the seed oil) as earlier studies have shown negative pleiotropic effect of erucic acid loci on the oil content, both in oilseed mustard and rapeseed. We report here QTL analysis of oil content in eight different mapping populations involving seven different parents—including a high oil content line J8 (~49%). The parental lines of the mapping populations contained wide variation in oil content and erucic acid content. The eight mapping populations were categorized into two sets—five populations with individuals segregating for erucic acid (SE populations) and the remaining three with zero erucic acid segregants (ZE populations). Meta-analysis of QTL mapped in individual SE populations identified nine significant C-QTL, with two of these merging most of the major oil QTL that colocalized with the erucic acid loci on the linkage groups A08 and B07. QTL analysis of oil content in ZE populations revealed a change in the landscape of the oil QTL compared to the SE populations, in terms of altered allelic effects and phenotypic variance explained by ZE QTL at the “common” QTL and observation of “novel” QTL in the ZE background. The important loci contributing to oil content variation, identified in the present study could be used in the breeding programmes for increasing the oil content in high erucic and “0” erucic backgrounds

Association of SUMOlation Pathway Genes With Stroke in a Genome-wide Association Study in India

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants for stroke in an Indian population. METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, 8 teaching hospitals in India recruited 4,088 participants, including 1,609 stroke cases. Imputed genetic variants were tested for association with stroke subtypes using both single-marker and gene-based tests. Association with vascular risk factors was performed with logistic regression. Various databases were searched for replication, functional annotation, and association with related traits. Status of candidate genes previously reported in the Indian population was also checked. RESULTS: Associations of vascular risk factors with stroke were similar to previous reports and show modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption as having the highest effect. Single-marker–based association revealed 2 loci for cardioembolic stroke (1p21 and 16q24), 2 for small vessel disease stroke (3p26 and 16p13), and 4 for hemorrhagic stroke (3q24, 5q33, 6q13, and 19q13) at p < 5 × 10(−8). The index single nucleotide polymorphism of 1p21 is an expression quantitative trait locus (p(lowest) = 1.74 × 10(−58)) for RWDD3 involved in SUMOylation and is associated with platelet distribution width (1.15 × 10(−9)) and 18-carbon fatty acid metabolism (p = 7.36 × 10(−12)). In gene-based analysis, we identified 3 genes (SLC17A2, FAM73A, and OR52L1) at p < 2.7 × 10(−6). Eleven of 32 candidate gene loci studied in an Indian population replicated (p < 0.05), and 21 of 32 loci identified through previous GWAS replicated according to directionality of effect. CONCLUSIONS: This GWAS of stroke in an Indian population identified novel loci and replicated previously known loci. Genetic variants in the SUMOylation pathway, which has been implicated in brain ischemia, were identified for association with stroke

Use of training dentures in management of gagging

Gagging is a frequent impediment to the performance of dental procedures. This stimulation of the gagging reflex, or more accurately, the vomiting reflex, is a special problem in prosthodontic service. A hypersensitive gagging reflex often prevents the dentist from carrying out critical procedures or causes them to performat a less than satisfactory level. In addition, once having suffered an unpleasant gagging experience in a dentist′s office, the patients develop a fear of further visits to dentists. The purpose of this paper is to describe methods of managing the gagging patient that has a sound rationale based on modified treatment approaches starting from impression making to design of the prosthesis aided by training dentures to help the patient to tolerate prosthesis in mouth before fabrication of definite prosthesis