Oral health status and knowledge among 10-15years old type 1 diabetes mellitus children and adolescents in Bengaluru

Context

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic systemic metabolic disease. This disorder affects mainly children and adolescents. The main complications of diabetes mellitus affect the organs and tissues rich in capillary vessels such as kidney, retina, and nerves. These complications are secondary to the development of microangiopathy. Similar changes in small vessels can be found in the oral tissues. There is a significant increase in gingival inflammation and plaque seen in children with T1DM.

Aims

The aim of this study is to assess the oral health status and knowledge among T1DM children and young adolescents aged 10-15 years in Bengaluru.

Subjects and Methods

One hundred and seventy-five 10-15 year-old children with T1DM and 175 age, sex, and socioeconomic status matched nondiabetic controls were included in the study. Oral health status was assessed using community periodontal Index and decayed/decayed-missing/missing-filled/filled teeth index (DMFT/dmft). Oral health knowledge was assessed using 11 item questionnaire. Chi-square test and Student's t-test were used in the statistical analysis.

Results

With regard to periodontal status, subjects with healthy periodontal tissue were less in diabetic than control group. Patients with bleeding and calculus were more in diabetic group than control group. The difference between diabetic group and control group was statistically significant (P = 0.001).The mean number of DMFT/dmft were less in diabetics (0.07 ± 0.006)/(0.26 ± 0.05) compared to control groups (0.1 ± 0.01)/(0.84 ± 0.2), respectively. Overall, oral health knowledge was more among diabetic patients (8.3 ± 1.7) compared to controls (7.5 ± 1.8).

Conclusions

The results of the present study showed more gingival changes and higher oral health knowledge in diabetic group when compared to control group.

Genetic transformation of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) inbred line with a phytase gene from Aspergillus niger

A full-length cDNA of phyA gene of Aspergillus niger, encoding phytase enzyme, was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 cells and assayed for its activity. The phyA cDNA consisted of 1404 bp, which encoded 467 amino acid residues. The phytase activity of purified phytase was 826.33 U/mL. The phyA gene under the control of endosperm-specific promoters was transformed into an Indian maize inbred line, UMI29, using particle bombardment-mediated transformation method to generate transgenic maize plants over-expressing phytase in seeds. PCR and GUS analyses demonstrated the presence of transgenes in T₀ transgenic plants and their stable inheritance in the T₁ progenies. Three transgenic events expressing detectable level of A. niger phytase were characterized by western blot analysis. Phytase activity of 463.158 U/kg of seed was observed in one of the events, JB-UMI29-Z17/2. The phytase activity of transgenic maize seeds was 5.5- to 7-fold higher than the wild-type UMI29 seeds and, consequently, the seeds had 0.6- to 5-fold higher inorganic phosphorus content.

Integrating Ethics into the Physiology curriculum: a scale-up study in three medical colleges in Karnataka, South India

A published pilot study showed the feasibility of integrating ethics into physiology in a single medical college. However, questions were raised about feasibility of scale-up and acceptance across different colleges. To assess feasibility of integrating ethics into Physiology, first year MBBS students of three medical colleges (n=449, College A=149; 59M, 90F; College B=150; 78M, 72F; College C=150; 48M, 102F) were exposed to the integrated ethics programme. Triggers related to theory or practicals were included. Faculty volunteers conducted the sessions with feedback from observers and students. Students across three colleges felt that the programme was relevant (92%-98%), effectively integrated (86%-98%) [significantly greater number of College A students: (p=0.003)], seldom interfered with physiology teaching (59%-66%). Greater number of students from College C followed by College B and A opined to continue the integrated programme for future years (p=0.004). A scale-up study of integration of ethics programme across different colleges was perceived to be feasible by students and observers.

Identification of mega-environments and rice genotypes for general and specific adaptation to saline and alkaline stresses in India

In the present study, a total of 53 promising salt-tolerant genotypes were tested across 18 salt-affected diverse locations for three years. An attempt was made to identify ideal test locations and mega-environments using GGE biplot analysis. The CSSRI sodic environment was the most discriminating location in individual years as well as over the years and could be used to screen out unstable and salt-sensitive genotypes. Genotypes CSR36, CSR-2K-219, and CSR-2K-262 were found ideal across years. Overall, Genotypes CSR-2K-219, CSR-2K-262, and CSR-2K-242 were found superior and stable among all genotypes with higher mean yields. Different sets of genotypes emerged as winners in saline soils but not in sodic soils; however, Genotype CSR-2K-262 was the only genotype that was best under both saline and alkaline environments over the years. The lack of repeatable associations among locations and repeatable mega-environment groupings indicated the complexity of soil salinity. Hence, a multi-location and multi-year evaluation is indispensable for evaluating the test sites as well as identifying genotypes with consistently specific and wider adaptation to particular agro-climatic zones. The genotypes identified in the present study could be used for commercial cultivation across edaphically challenged areas for sustainable production.

Internet of things enabled real time water quality monitoring system

Smart solutions for water quality monitoring are gaining importance with advancement in communication technology. This paper presents a detailed overview of recent works carried out in the field of smart water quality monitoring. Also, a power efficient, simpler solution for in-pipe water quality monitoring based on Internet of Things technology is presented. The model developed is used for testing water samples and the data uploaded over the Internet are analyzed. The system also provides an alert to a remote user, when there is a deviation of water quality parameters from the pre-defined set of standard values.

A Comparison of Practice Pattern and Outcome of Twice-weekly and Thrice-weekly Hemodialysis Patients

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) options and practice varies in countries worldwide and is influenced by patients' choice, nephrologists' practice patterns, health system, payer practice, public policy, and socioeconomic factors. In India, hemodialysis (HD) remains the dominant RRT modality, and the practice is largely influenced by socioeconomics of the region of practice since third party payer is limited. Resource stretch to maximize outcome benefit is essential and HD session twice weekly is an improvized and cost-effective clinical practice. However, within the country, the patient characteristics, practice patterns, and outcomes of twice-weekly HD compared against patients dialyzed thrice weekly remain unclear. We did a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent twice- and thrice-weekly HD in a single center under similar settings. The patients on thrice a week dialysis were older and with a higher proportion of diabetics and were insured by private payers. Weight gain, ultrafiltration rates, blood pressures, and hemoglobin remained more favorable in the thrice-weekly patients. There was no significant difference in the hospitalization rates or mortality rates in the two groups. Patients who undergo twice-weekly HD have poorer intermediate measures of the outcome; although, morbidity and survival were not different in a small study population with short follow-up. The small sample size and the short duration of follow-up may limit the scope of findings of our study.

Clinical profile of PanIN lesions in tropical chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) found in the tropical countries is known to have a higher risk for carcinoma of the pancreas. This study aimed to explore the clinical profile of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), one of the precursors of carcinoma of the pancreas, in tropical CP and to identify the possible clinical predictors of the same.

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective study was done enrolling patients who underwent either Frey's procedure or pancreatic resection for symptomatic CP, between January 2008 and December 2012. They were grouped into PanIN positive and PanIN negative based on histopathology. Their clinical and laboratory parameters were compared statistically to identify the predictors of the PanIN status.

RESULTS

Sixty-two tropical CP patients who had Frey's procedure or pancreatic resection were enrolled into this study; 38.7 % cases showed PanIN changes and 61.29 % had no PanIN changes. Majority of the clinical and laboratory parameters were found comparable between the two groups except obstructive jaundice and CA 19-9 value >137.5 which were there in 54.2 % of PanIN-positive cases. On histopathology, 54.83 % cases were benign CP and 45.16 % were malignant CP. Among the benign CP, 33.3 % were PanIN positive and among those with malignancy 66.7 % were PanIN positive. Low-grade PanINs were seen in 73 % cases of benign CP and in 26.1 % of malignancy whereas high-grade PanIN-3 lesions were seen exclusively in patients with malignancy.

CONCLUSION

High-grade PanIN-3 lesions showed significant association with pancreatic malignancy. Obstructive jaundice and CA 19-9 ≥ 137.5 could predict PanIN positivity.

Prevalence of classical swine fever in Karnataka, India

Aim:

The present study was conducted to know the current scenario of classical swine fever (CSF) in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Madikeri, Mandya, Bagalkot, Gadag, Yadgir, Koppal, and Bidar districts of Karnataka with the using of both antigen and antibody ELISA.

Materials and Methods:

We collected 218 sera and 121 blood samples from pigs from 10 different districts of Karnataka. Screening of sera for CSF IgG antibody and whole blood for CSF virus antigen were carried out using the CSF virus (CSFV) antibody and antigen ELISA kits, respectively.

Results:

The mean seroprevalence was 41% (89/218) and prevalence of CSFV antigen in blood samples was 32% (39/121) for the 10 districts of Karnataka. Seroprevalence of 61%, 29%, 20%, and 21%; and antigen prevalence of 40%, 50%, 13%, and 12% were recorded for Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, and Gulbarga divisions of Karnataka, respectively.

Conclusions:

The study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of CSF, both for the antigen (32%) and antibody (41%) in Karnataka. Southern Karnataka has the highest seroprevalence (61% in Bangalore and 29% in Mysore divisions), which confirms the endemicity of the disease in that region. This could be attributed to the intensive pig farming practices in the region as compared to Northern Karnataka (Seroprevalence of 20% in Belgaum and 21% in Gulbarga divisions), where the commercial pig farming is still in infantile stages.

A maize α-zein promoter drives an endosperm-specific expression of transgene in rice

An alpha-zein promoter isolated from maize containing P-box, E motif sequence TGTAAAGT, opaque-2 box and TATA box was studied for its tissue-specific expression in rice. A 1,098 bp promoter region of alpha-zein gene, fused to the upstream of gusA reporter gene was used for transforming rice immature embryos (ASD 16 or IR 64) via the particle bombardment-mediated method. PCR analysis of putative transformants demonstrated the presence of transgenes (the zein promoter, gusA and hpt). Nineteen out of 37 and two out of five events generated from ASD 16 and IR 64 were found to be GUS-positive. A histological staining analysis performed on sections of mature T1 seeds revealed that the GUS expression was limited to the endosperm and not to the pericarp or the endothelial region. GUS expression was observed only in the following seed development stages : milky (14-15 DAF), soft dough (17-18 DAF), hard dough (20-23 DAF), and mature stages (28-30 DAF) of zein-gusA transformed (T0) plants. On the contrary a constitutive expression of GUS was evident in CaMV35S-gusA plants. PCR and Southern blotting analyses on T1 plants demonstrated a stable integration and inheritance of transgene in the subsequent T1 generation. GUS assay on T2 seeds revealed that the expression of gusA gene driven by alpha-zein promoter was stable and tissue-specific over two generations. Results suggest that this alpha-zein promoter could serve as an alternative promoter to drive endosperm-specific expression of transgenes in rice and other cereal transformation experiments.

Seasonal Changes of Sedimentation Rates and Sediment Characteristics Status in the Gulf of Mannar Coral Island, India

Corals are known to flourish in various turbid environments around the world. The quantitative distinction between clear and turbid water in coral habitats is not well defined nor are the amount of sediment in suspension and rates of sedimentation used to evaluate the condition of reef environments well established. This study of sedimentation rate, sediment composition and pH, OC deposition was on a fringing reef flat off Thoothukudi and Vembar group of islands, Gulf of Mannar, India. In the present study the sedimentation rate ranged from 1.97 mg/cm2/day to 12.31 mg/cm2/day. The percentage of sand in the sediment was higher than silt and clay. The organic carbon level in all the study stations ranged from 0.03 to 2.54. The sediment pH of the six studied stations was highly acidic in nature at all the study sites in the Gulf of Mannar.

Seasonal Changes of Sedimentation Rates and Sediment Characteristics Status in the Gulf of Mannar Coral Island, India

Corals are known to flourish in various turbid environments around the world. The quantitative distinction between clear and turbid water in coral habitats is not well defined nor are the amount of sediment in suspension and rates of sedimentation used to evaluate the condition of reef environments well established. This study of sedimentation rate, sediment composition and pH, OC deposition was on a fringing reef flat off Thoothukudi and Vembar group of islands, Gulf of Mannar, India. In the present study the sedimentation rate ranged from 1.97 mg/cm2/day to 12.31 mg/cm2/day. The percentage of sand in the sediment was higher than silt and clay. The organic carbon level in all the study stations ranged from 0.03 to 2.54. The sediment pH of the six studied stations was highly acidic in nature at all the study sites in the Gulf of Mannar.

Faecal fat content in healthy adults by the 'acid steatocrit method'

Malabsorption syndromes causing steatorrhoea are quite common in India. Estimation of faecal fat is an important non-invasive investigation, which provides vital information regarding the occurrence of malabsorption. The aim of this study was to estimate the fat excretion per day in stools of apparently healthy adults on an unrestricted diet in random spot stool samples using the Acid Steatocrit Method, which provides an alternate, simpler and yet reliable method of stool fat estimation. Several studies have proved the correlation of the acid steatocrit method with the conventional methods. In India, however, there has been no published data regarding the normal levels of fat in the stools, by the acid steatocrit method. We follow the normal range values, as set by the United States and the European countries, not having a range for the Indian population. Hence, we took up a preliminary study, to estimate stool fat in a section of normal and healthy Indian population. The result obtained after screening 600 healthy and normal adults, showed the mean of stool fat to be 8.72 gms/24 hours, which is much higher than that, defined by Western literature (7 gms/24 hours). This can be accounted for, by the cultural and ethnic variations in dietary and food habits. Further studies are required in the same direction, involving larger population groups, and in different malabsorptive conditions.