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The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella in 39 retail chicken meat shops located in 7 towns of North India. Overall, nontyphoidal Salmonella prevalence of 9.43% (70/742) was observed. Highest Salmonella prevalence was observed in Lalkuan (20.99%). Chicken meat samples (40%) showed highest Salmonella prevalence followed by poultry feces (20%). Three serotypes of Salmonella were identified, Salmonella Kentucky (S.Kentucky, 74.29%), Salmonella Virchow (S.Virchow, 17.14%) and Salmonella Typhimurium (S.Typhimurium, 7.14%). All isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) by disk-diffusion assay, showing resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. High resistance was observed to tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (100%), nalidixic acid (98.57%), ampicillin (95.71%) and ciprofloxacin (82.86%). Fifty-one (98.08%) S. Kentucky isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Of these, 49 S. Kentucky isolates showed MIC values in the range of 3 to >256 μg/ml. Twenty-nine (41.43%) Salmonella isolates were co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime by disk-diffusion test. The tet A gene was detected in all Salmonella isolates and the bla TEM was the most predominant (25.37%) β-lactam gene. Multiple virulence genes such as sip A, mgt C, s op E1, s tn , sop B, fli C, spv C and gip A were also detected. High resistance to quinolone, cephalosporin and tetracycline antibiotics in nontyphoidal Salmonella isolates of poultry origin points towards their extra-label use in poultry farms. • Salmonella Kentucky as the predominant serotype in retail chicken shops. • All Salmonella isolates (100%) are multidrug resistant. • 41.43% Salmonella isolates co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime. • High ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin MICs. • bla TEM (25.37%) is the most predominant β-lactam gene detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, the study of radioactive radon gas has gained huge momentum due to its possible role in health related hazards. In the present work, pin-hole twin chamber single entrance dosimeters have been used for track measurements of radon and thoron. The annual average radon concentration varies from 50.3 to 204 Bq/m3 at all locations. Almost all the values are below the safe range provided by ICRP. Radon concentration is found to be higher in winter as compared to other seasons. Variation of radon with quality of dwellings is also discussed. The values of annual effective dose due to radon and thoron are also well within the range provided by ICRP and WHO. Radon and thoron exhalation rates are measured using SMART RnDuo monitor. The radon mass exhalation rates ranged from 11 to 71 mBq/kg/h while the thoron surface values ranged from 36 to 2048 Bq/m2/h. All the values are on the lower side. A weak correlation is found between radon and thoron concentrations and their exhalation rates. When compared with the values of other parts of northern India, the values of present investigation are on higher side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate whether sexual dimorphism can be established by odontometric study of permanent maxillary canine teeth as well as inter-canine width in north Indian population. Study Design: The study was carried out at department of oral and maxillofacial pathology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India on students and patients reporting at OPD. Out of total 180 subjects examined 90 subjects were female and 90 were male. Impressions of the upper arch were made using alginate and casts poured in dental stone. The mesiodistal diameter (MD) of the crown of permanent maxillary canine both on right and left sides and inter-canine width were measured. From these measurements, maxillary canine index was calculated. The percentage of sexual dimorphism (SD) was assessed for all the parameters. Results: In the present study, the MD of maxillary canine for both right (P = 0.001) and left side (P = 0.005) was significantly higher among male subjects than females, Similar observation was found for inter-canine width too (P = 0.0001). However, the maxillary canine index for right and left was almost similar (P > 0.05) for both male and female subjects. The SD in right and left MDs of maxillary canine was 4.2% and 3.6% respectively. For, inter-canine width it was maximum (13.7%). However, SD in right and left canine index showed negative values (-2.1% and -0.9% respectively). Conclusion: There was SD in MD and inter-canine width of permanent maxillary canine teeth. SD was more on right permanent maxillary canine teeth than left permanent maxillary canine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was needed considering the high prevalence of diabetes in Indian population. The aim of the study was to assess the changes in neuronal conduction along the auditory pathway using brainstem auditory evoked potentials(BAEP). For this, Type 2 diabetic patients with normal hearing taken from Medicine OPD of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar were divided into three groups based upon the duration of disease and subjected to BAEP using RMS EMG EP Mark II version: 7.5.7,2 channel(PC based)machine in the department of Physiology, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab during 2007-2008. The parameters recorded were absolute latencies of waves I,III and V & Inter-peak latencies(IPL)I-III,I-V, IIIV. The results showed no statistically significant changes in any of the above parameters. This could be attributed to fairly good glycemic control of the patients included in the study. Thus, it can be concluded that there is no delay in conduction along the auditory pathway in patients with good glycemic control, irrespective of the duration of disease. However this study has its own limitations and further research is required to substantiate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]