Social media’s effect on today's teenagers' mental and physical health.

The impact of social media on teenagers was explored through a comprehensive survey-based research initiative. Employing a well- organized electronic survey method, our study was conducted at major university colleges in Panvel and various other locations, focusing on individuals aged 15-20. The research delves into students' daily interactions with social media, marking the publication of a longitudinal study investigating the influence of social media on the health of today's teenagers. This investigation unveils the multifaceted effects of social media on teens, shedding light on its potential negative consequences such as distraction, sleep disruption, exposure to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic perceptions of others' lives, and peer pressure. The extent of these risks appears to be correlated with the frequency of social media use among teenagers. Through the survey, we meticulously analyzed the initial plans of recent graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared them to their actual decisions, providing valuable insights into the dynamic nature of their post-graduation choices.   &nbsp

Global Modeling of Spur Formation in Spiral Galaxies

We investigate the formation of substructure in spiral galaxies using global MHD simulations, including gas self-gravity. Our models extend previous local models by Kim and Ostriker (2002) by including the full effects of curvilinear coordinates, a realistic log-spiral perturbation, self-gravitational contribution from 5 radial wavelengths of the spiral shock, and variation of density and epicyclic frequency with radius. We show that with realistic Toomre Q values, self-gravity and galactic differential rotation produce filamentary gaseous structures with kpc-scale separations, regardless of the strength -- or even presence -- of a stellar spiral potential. However, the growth of sheared features distinctly associated with the spiral arms, described as spurs or feathers in optical and IR observations of many spiral galaxies, requires a sufficiently strong spiral potential in self gravitating models. Unlike independently-growing ''background'' filaments, the orientation of arm spurs depends on galactic location. Inside corotation, spurs emanate outward, on the convex side of the arm; outside corotation, spurs grow inward, on the concave side of the arm. Based on spacing, orientation, and the relation to arm clumps, it is possible to distinguish ''true spurs'' that originate as instabilities in the spiral arms from independently growing ''background'' filaments. Our models also suggest that magnetic fields are important in preserving grand design spiral structure when gas in the arms fragments via self-gravity into GMCs.Comment: 36 pages, 17 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ. PDF version with high resolution figures available at http://www.astro.umd.edu/~shetty/Research

Induction of Lipoxygenase in downy mildew resistant seedlings of pearl millet in response to inoculation with Sclerospora graminicola

Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was studied in seedlings of pearl millet genotypes resistant and susceptible to downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. An increase in LOX activity was observed during the incompatible host-pathogen interaction whereas the activity decreased in compatible ones. Resistant pearl millet seedlings exhibited a 2.4-fold increase in LOX activity after inoculation with the pathogen. The enzyme activity was maximum at 18 h after inoculation. The enzyme activity was maximum in shoot portion of resistant genotype after inoculation. The enzyme activity correlated well with the degree of host-resistance to the pathogen. Substrate-based gel assay revealed five isozymes (LOX-1, LOX-2, LOX-3, LOX-4 & LOX-5) in both susceptible and resistant genotype. An additional isozyme (LOX-6) was unique to only resistant genotype after inoculation

Meningioma - a Cause of Sudden Death

Background: Sudden unexpected death of an apparently healthy individual is an expected event in the life of a forensic expert. Neurological causes account for only 15% of all sudden deaths of which deaths from an undiagnosed primary intracranial neoplasm is exceptionally rare. Meningioma is a common intracranial tumor and it is rarely associated with sudden, unexpected deaths.Case Report: We report one such case of sudden death in a 32-year old male with an olfactory meningioma without any prior history of neurological symptoms raising queries regarding the cause of death.Conclusion: This case illustrates the possibility of meningioma remaining silent till middle age and can present with sudden onset of seizures which may lead to fatality

Miliary Tuberculosis: an Accidental Finding at Autopsy

Background: Forensic pathologists often encounter various disease conditions at autopsy which would not have been diagnosed ante-mortem and they often explain poor clinical outcomes in some patient.Case Report: The following is a case report of a 55-years old female who died of complications of degloving injury to the right lower limb.Conclusion: Miliary Tuberculosis was an accidental finding at autopsy and thus explained the deteriorating condition of patient and failure to respond to the treatment

Thrombocytopenia in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background: Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count of less than 150×103 μl. It is commonly diagnosed and has attracted more interest from researchers during recent years, especially in Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This study was done to estimate the incidence of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and to correlate its severity with the degree of thrombocytopenia.Methods: In the study 150 women admitted in the OBG Department at Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru during August 2015-August 2016 were included. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy cases were classified into: Gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, haemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet levels (HELLP) syndrome and eclampsia. The incidence and severity of thrombocytopenia along with maternal and foetal complications encountered in the five groups were analysed. Data were arranged in Microsoft Excel version 2010, and statistically analysed by SPSS version 23.Results: Preeclampsia- mild (29.25%) and severe (22.5%), accounted for most of the cases followed by eclampsia (3%) and gestational HTN (1.5%). Among these hypertensive patients, mild thrombocytopenia was noted in 60 cases (40%), moderate thrombocytopenia 48 (32%), severe thrombocytopenia 12 (8%), and normal platelet counts 30 (20%) were noted. Poor maternal outcome was seen 10.67% cases due to HELLP syndrome and postpartum haemorrhage. Poor foetal outcome was seen in 16% cases due to intrauterine growth restriction and perinatal mortality.Conclusions: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is recognized as a major cause of gestational thrombocytopenia. Careful follow up during and after pregnancy is recommended

Silicon-induced changes in antifungal phenolic acids, flavonoids, and key phenylpropanoid pathway genes during the interaction between miniature roses and the biotrophic pathogen <em>Podosphaera pannosa</em>

Application of 3.6 mm silicon (Si+) to the rose (Rosa hybrida) cultivar Smart increased the concentration of antimicrobial phenolic acids and flavonoids in response to infection by rose powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa). Simultaneously, the expression of genes coding for key enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and chalcone synthase) was up-regulated. The increase in phenolic compounds correlated with a 46% reduction in disease severity compared with inoculated leaves without Si application (Si−). Furthermore, Si application without pathogen inoculation induced gene expression and primed the accumulation of several phenolics compared with the uninoculated Si− control. Chlorogenic acid was the phenolic acid detected in the highest concentration, with an increase of more than 80% in Si+ inoculated compared with Si− uninoculated plants. Among the quantified flavonoids, rutin and quercitrin were detected in the highest concentrations, and the rutin concentration increased more than 20-fold in Si+ inoculated compared with Si− uninoculated plants. Both rutin and chlorogenic acid had antimicrobial effects on P. pannosa, evidenced by reduced conidial germination and appressorium formation of the pathogen, both after spray application and infiltration into leaves. The application of rutin and chlorogenic acid reduced powdery mildew severity by 40% to 50%, and observation of an effect after leaf infiltration indicated that these two phenolics can be transported to the epidermal surface. In conclusion, we provide evidence that Si plays an active role in disease reduction in rose by inducing the production of antifungal phenolic metabolites as a response to powdery mildew infection

Evaluation of analgesic activity of irbesartan in albino mice

Background: The objective was to evaluate the analgesic activity of irbesartan in albino mice.Methods: Swiss albino mice weighing 25-30 g of either sex were selected for the study. Six animals were allocated to each experimental group. The control group received normal saline (25 ml/kg, p.o.), standard group received pentazocine (10mg/kg, intraperitonial [i.p.]) and test group received irbesartan (20 mg/kg, p.o.). The above drugs were administered 1 hr prior to the experiments. In case of visceral pain model 0.6% acetic acid was given i.p. 30 mins prior to the experiment to induce writhing, in thermal pain model pretreated mice were placed on Eddy’s Hotplate maintained at 55°C and in mechanical stimulus pain model an artery clip was clamped at the base of the tail of pretreated mice. Decrease in total number of writhes in acetic acid induced writhing model and delay in reaction time in both Eddy’s hot plate and Tail clip method denoted analgesic activity respectively.Results: The test drug significantly decreased the total number of writhes in acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. The percentage inhibition of writhing was significant which was 84.35% in the standard group and 59.24% in the test group. The test drug significantly delayed the reaction time in both Eddy’s hot plate and tail clip method when compared to control group and standard group. Percentage increase in latency period when compared to standard drug was significant and measured 73.11% and 64.31% at 60 min in both Eddy’s hot plate and tail clip method, respectively.Conclusion: Irbesartan exhibits analgesic activity in albino mice

Novel psychoactive substances: An investigation of temporal trends in social media and electronic health records

Background: Public health monitoring is commonly undertaken in social media but has never been combined with data analysis from electronic health records. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the emergence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in social media and their appearance in a large mental health database. Methods: Insufficient numbers of mentions of other NPS in case records meant that the study focused on mephedrone. Data were extracted on the number of mephedrone (i) references in the clinical record at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK, (ii) mentions in Twitter, (iii) related searches in Google and (iv) visits in Wikipedia. The characteristics of current mephedrone users in the clinical record were also established. Results: Increased activity related to mephedrone searches in Google and visits in Wikipedia preceded a peak in mephedrone-related references in the clinical record followed by a spike in the other 3 data sources in early 2010, when mephedrone was assigned a ‘class B’ status. Features of current mephedrone users widely matched those from community studies. Conclusions: Combined analysis of information from social media and data from mental health records may assist public health and clinical surveillance for certain substance-related events of interest. There exists potential for early warning systems for health-care practitioners