Improved Algorithm for Frequent Itemsets Mining Based on Apriori and FP-Tree

Frequent itemset mining plays an important role in association rule mining. The Aprior

Biodiversity Status, Distribution and Use Pattern of Some Ethno-Medicinal Plants

The erosion of plant biodiversity is a matter of global concern. Due to unawareness the building blocks of entire ecosystems are disappearing. Some medicinal plants like Taxus baccata Linn., Thymus serpyllum Linn., Coleus forskohli Will., Oroxylum indicum Linn., Valeriana hardwickii Wall., Malaxis acuminata D.Don, Habenaria edgeworthii Hook. f.ex.Collett., Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm., Dioscorea deltodea Wall., Gloriosa superba Linn., Polygonatum cirrhifolium Wall. and Polygonatum verticillatum Linn., Thalictrum foliolosum DC., Berberis aristata DC., Baliospermum montanum Will., Bergenia ciliata (Haworth) Sternb., Clerodendrum serratum Linn., Valeriana jatamansii Jones, Celastrus paniculatus Will., Habenaria intermedeia D. Don, and Curculigo orchioides Gaerth are reached on the border of extinction. The 2008 IUCN Red List shows that the number of threatened plant species is increasing gradually (IUCN 2008). Therefore, there is an immediate need for conservation steps to be taken up along with promotion of conservation of medicinal plants

Pancytopenia: a clinico hematological study

Background: Pancytopenia is very common consequence of many haematological diseases. It is the shortage of all types of blood cells. It happens in many serious and life-threatening illnesses, ranging from simple drug-induced bone marrow hypoplasia, megaloblastic anemia to fatal bone marrow aplasias and leukemias. It has different causes and severity based on which the treatment is directed and prognosis is implicated. Main objective of the study was to study the clinical presentations in pancytopenia due to various causes; and to evaluate hematological parameters, including bone marrow.Methods: It was a prospective study, and 50 pancytopenic patients were evaluated clinically, along with hematological parameters and bone marrow aspiration in Hematology Unit, Department of Pathology, Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India during the period of October 2013 to September 2015.Results: Among 50 cases studied, age of patients ranged from 1 to 80 years with commonest age group being 41-50 years, and male predominance. Most of the patients presented with generalized weakness, pain abdomen and bleeding. Bone marrow aspiration was conclusive in all cases. The commonest marrow finding was hypocellularity followed by hypercellularity with megaloblastic erythropoiesis. The commonest cause for pancytopenia was aplastic anemia (44%), followed by mrgaloblastic anemia (20%).Conclusions: The present study concludes that detailed primary hematological investigations along with bone marrow aspiration in cytopenic patients are helpful for understanding disease process and to diagnose or to rule out the causes of cytopenia. These are also helpful in planning further investigations and management

Role of offending out-door aero-allergen and CD14 C(-159)T polymorphism in development and severity of asthma in a Kolkata patient population

Objective: Present study involved identification of offending out-door aero-allergens and associated genetic pathway in nasso-bronchial asthma among Kolkata population.Methods: Skin-prick test was done among 950 asthmatic patients against 11 common aero-allergens and total serum IgE concentration was measured. PCR-RFLP was done in patients and non-asthmatic control (n=220 in each) to characterize functional polymorphism, C(-159)T, of CD14, a positional candidate gene for allergy. Association of genetic polymorphisms was made with clinico-pathological conditions.Results: We identified Cocos nucifera as the most common aero-allergen sensitizer among atopic patients in Kolkata. Patients with childhood-onset asthma were significantly more sensitive towards aero-allergens and had significantly higher serum IgE level than those of adult-onset (p< 0.0001). No significant difference was found in distribution of SNP genotypes of CD14 among case and control (p=0.178). However among patients, frequency of C allele is significantly higher in childhood-onset group thanthat of adult-onset and concordantly in former CC genotype was associated with significant higher level of serum IgE than CT and TT.Conclusion: In Kolkata, pollen is a common out-door aero-allergen and Cocos nucifera is predominant among pollens. Childhood- onset and adult-onset of asthma showed significant difference in allergen sensitivity as well as genetic background with respect to CD14 polymorphism.Keywords: Asthma, aero-allergen, skin prick test, total IgE, CD14 gene polymorphis

Probiotics for woman’s health focus on urogenital infections and reproductive outcomes

Depletion in vaginal Lactobacilli colonization is associated with poor urogenital health and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Probiotic supplements containing lactobacilli, when administered in adequate amounts, increased vaginal and gut colonization of Lactobacilli, reduced the incidence of bacterial vaginosis and other urogenital infections. Probiotic Lactobacilli reduced preterm births and improved fertility rates in women following in vitro fertilization. Probiotics may also improve implantation rate and live-birth rate in women undergoing IVF. The purpose of this review was to critically analyse the available literature for synthesizing evidence on the use of probiotics and its effect on urogenital and reproductive health in women

Knowledge and awareness about optometry profession among rural versus urban population in Eastern India: a survey-based study

Background: The main purpose of this study was to determine the awareness of optometry and to create awareness of optometry among rural and urban population of Kolkata.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among rural and urban population. A total of 671 participants- male=378 and female=293, were enrolled in this study. An amplified self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants through a survey camp.Results: Out of 671 subjects, (328 rural and 343 urban subjects), 62 (18.9%) and 166 (48.3%) (95%, CI: 1.93-1.88) were know about optometry in rural and urban population respectively. 4.9% and 14% (95%, CI: 1.97-1.94) did knew the difference between optometrist and ophthalmologists, while in participants opinion optometrist is assistant of ophthalmologist was 3.4% and 1.5% (95%, CI: 2.69-2.61) in rural and urban participants respectively. However, 18.2% (rural) and 32% (urban) (95%, CI: 2.31-2.17) participants think that optometrist is trained in detection and recognition of eye diseases while 22.6% and 26.8% (95%, CI: 3.20-3.02) thinks they can prescribe spectacles and contact lens independently in rural and urban participants respectively. All factors mentioned were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) with the Chi square and ANOVA test in SPSS version 21.Conclusions: These findings seem to indicate lack of awareness and knowledge about optometry profession. There is a need to increase campaign in these areas via educational programs, awareness survey camp, a poster explaining the eye care, social media regarding eye care provider’s duties and practices, exhibitions for public concerning the profession of optometry