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ABSTRACT Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients are a key source of Leishmania donovani parasites, hindering the goal of eliminating visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Monitoring treatment response and parasite susceptibility is essential due to increasing drug resistance. We assessed the drug susceptibility of PKDL isolates (n = 18) from pre-miltefosine (MIL) era (1997–2004) with isolates (n = 16) from the post-miltefosine era (2010–2019) and post-miltefosine treatment relapse isolates (n = 5) towards miltefosine and amphotericin B (AmB) at promastigote stage and towards sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) at amastigote stage. PKDL isolates were examined for mutation in gene-encoding AQP1 transporter, C26882T mutation on chromosome 24, and miltefosine-transporter (MT). PKDL isolates from the post-miltefosine era were significantly more susceptible to SAG than SAG-resistant isolates from the pre-miltefosine era (P = 0.0002). There was no significant difference in the susceptibility of parasites to miltefosine between pre- and post-miltefosine era isolates. The susceptibility of PKDL isolates towards AmB remained unchanged between the pre- and post-miltefosine era. However, the post-miltefosine era isolates had a higher IC50 value towards AmB compared with PKDL relapse isolates. We did not find any association between AQP1 gene sequence variation and susceptibility to SAG, or between miltefosine susceptibility and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs in the MT gene. This study demonstrates that recent isolates of Leishmania have resumed susceptibility to antimonials in vitro. The study also offers significant insights into the intrinsic drug susceptibility of Leishmania parasites over the past two decades, covering the period before the introduction of miltefosine and after its extensive use.IMPORTANCEPost-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients, a key source of Leishmania donovani parasites, hinder eliminating visceral-leishmaniasis. Assessment of the susceptibility of PKDL isolates to antimony, miltefosine (MIL), and amphotericin-B indicated that recent isolates remain susceptible to antimony, enabling its use with other drugs for treating PKDL.

Objective: The physiological delay in bedtime among adolescents, compounded with the early start of school, results in insufficient sleep, especially on school days. The present study compared the sleep pattern and moods of students attending two schools with different start timing. Materials and Methods: The study involved adolescents from two schools with different start times: School A (7 am) and School B (8 am). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale questionnaires were used to assess students' mood, sleep duration, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. The clinical trial registry number is CTRI/2022/06/043556. Result: A total of 640 students (mean age 13.7 ± 2.0 years; 47.5% male) participated in this study. Students from School B had longer sleep duration, with 72.9% reporting sleep deprivation compared to 87.1% of School A (P = 0.00001). School A students reported having (P ≤ 0.001) higher daytime sleepiness, higher daytime dysfunction (P = 0.023), and poorer sleep quality. Students at School A scored higher for all mood derangements, with significantly higher scores for depression (P = 0.041). Conclusion: The study illustrates that though not much differences are observed in the bedtime of adolescents of the two schools, however, due to the early school start time of School A, students have to compulsorily wake up early, leading to higher sleep deprivation and greater mood derangements among them.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a clinical entity that encompasses all types of cognitive impairment following an index stroke. Yoga has been proven to have a beneficial effect not only on cardiovascular risk factors but also on cognition. Hence, this study explored the PSCI spectrum and assessed the effect of yoga on PSCI. Methods: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in each yoga and control arm in this study. After the baseline assessment, control arm was administered standard care (including physiotherapy) while yoga arm received additional yoga intervention. Change in MoCA scores by 2 points in either direction, or FAB scale by 2 points at 6 months was taken as primary outcome, whereas improvement in MRS, CDPSS, CBS, and P300 values were considered as secondary outcomes. Results: Significant improvements were observed in MoCA, FAB, MRS, CPDSS, and CBS scores in both groups after 6 months. However, intergroup comparisons revealed better MoCA (25.5, IQR 22-27) and FAB scores (15.5, IQR 14-17) in yoga group compared to controls (24, IQR20-25.75) and (14, IQR12-15.75). Equivalent improvement was observed in MRS and CBS scores in both groups at 6 months; however, CDPSS score was better in yoga group (p = 0.0008). Both P300 amplitudes and latencies improved in all patients and median P300 amplitudes were significantly better in control group; however, no difference could be appreciated in P300 latencies improvement on intergroup comparisons at follow-up. Conclusion: Study reveals that early yoga intervention in stroke survivors leads to better improvement in cognitive abilities which would further facilitate in early reduction of caregiver burden.

Abstract Future projections of malaria transmission is made for Odisha, a highly endemic region of India, through numerical simulations using the VECTRI dynamical model. The model is forced with bias-corrected temperature and rainfall from a global climate model (CCSM4) for the baseline period 1975–2005 and for the projection periods 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s under RCP8.5 emission scenario. The temperature, rainfall, mosquito density and entomological inoculation rate (EIR), generated from the VECTRI model are evaluated with the observation and analyzed further to estimate the future malaria transmission over Odisha on a spatio-temporal scale owing to climate change. Our results reveal that the malaria transmission in Odisha as a whole during summer and winter monsoon seasons may decrease in future due to the climate change except in few districts with the high elevations and dense forest regions such as Kandhamal, Koraput, Raygada and Mayurbhanj districts where an increase in malaria transmission is found. Compared to the baseline period, mosquito density shows decrease in most districts of the south, southwest, central, north and northwest regions of Odisha in 2030s, 2050s and 2080s. An overall decrease in malaria transmission of 20–40% (reduction in EIR) is seen during the monsoon season (June-Sept) over Odisha with the increased surface temperature of 3.5–4 °C and with the increased rainfall of 20–35% by the end of the century with respect to the baseline period. Furthermore, malaria transmission is likely to reduce in future over most of the Odisha regions with the increase in future warm and cold nights temperatures.

The unprecedented situation of countrywide lockdown with closure of physical schools, social distancing, and home confinement which arose due to COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the sleep and mood of all age groups. Adolescence is the age of transition from childhood to adulthood. Students in this phase are anxious with planning for future and thus fall an easy prey to unhealthy lifestyle including irregular sleep cycle and eating habits. Freedom to follow self-decided sleep schedule with extensive use of digital media and sedentary lifestyle during the pandemic further added to the trend of unhealthy lifestyle among them. This perspective is aimed to explore the effect of nationwide or regional lockdowns enforced for curtailment of COVID-19 infection on the mood and sleep habits of adolescents. There were some positive as well as negative impacts on the sleep quality and mood of adolescents. Although home confinement gave a lot of opportunities to follow own sleep schedules and eating habits such as those on weekends or vacations, it also increased the separation stress from their peers, anxiety and fear of disease, erratic sleep schedule, and screen time among adolescents.

Antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections among patients in hospital settings are rising at an alarming rate. The World Health Organization has designated carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii as a priority pathogen for drug discovery. Based on the open drug discovery approach, we screened 400 compounds provided as a Pandemic Response Box by MMV and DNDi to identify compounds with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against two A. baumannii reference strains using a highly robust resazurin assay. In vitro screening identified thirty compounds with MIC ≤ 50μM having growth inhibitory properties against the planktonic state. Five compounds, with MMV IDs MMV396785, MMV1578568, MMV1578574, MMV1578564, and MMV1579850, were able to reduce metabolically active cells in the biofilm state. Of these five compounds, MMV396785 showed potential antibacterial and antibiofilm activity with MIC, MBIC, and MBEC of 3.125 μM, 12.5, and 25–100 µM against tested A. baumannii strains, respectively, showing biofilm formation inhibition by 93% and eradication of pre-formed biofilms by 60–77.4%. In addition, MMV396785 showed a drastic reduction in the surface area and thickness of biofilms. Further investigations at the molecular level by qRT-PCR revealed the downregulation of biofilm-associated genes when exposed to 50 µM MMV396785 in all tested strains. This study identified the novel compound MMV396785 as showing potential in vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy against A. baumannii.

Introduction: Colour vision deficiency is a common ocular disorder, but it often goes unnoticed due to lack of awareness and screening programmes. If detected early in life, it can help people choose suitable career paths and genetic counselling can help reduce the birth of colour-blind children and future disappointments in life. Aim: To determine the prevalence of congenital Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) among the general population in Belagavi at a tertiary level hospital and to spread awareness regarding CVD. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India (tertiary care hospital), from February 2022 to July 2022. The study population constituted 3131 people who visited the Ophthalmology Outpatient Department for routine eye examinations. A detailed ophthalmological examination was done, and colour vision was tested using Ishihara’s (38 plate) pseudoisochromatic test. Data was analysed using statistical software version 4.2.1 and Microsoft excel. Results: The mean age of the study population was 40.74±15.86 years. The overall prevalence of congenital CVD was 150 (4.79%). The prevalence of congenital colour vision defects was 13 (0.9%) in females, and 137 (8.12%) in males (p-value

BackgroundOmicron, a new variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first detected in November 2021. This was believed to be highly transmissible and was reported to evade immunity. As a result, an urgent need was felt to screen all positive samples so as to rapidly identify Omicron cases and isolate them to prevent the spread of infection. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 was planned to correlate disease severity with the genomic profile.MethodsAll the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases detected in the state of Rajasthan were sent to our Lab. Samples received from 24 November 2021 to 4 January 2022 were selected for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Processing was done as per protocol on the Ion Torrent S5 System for 1,210 samples and bioinformatics analysis was done.ResultsAmong the 1,210 samples tested, 762 (62.9%) were Delta/Delta-like and other lineages, 291 (24%) were Omicron, and 157 (12.9%) were invalid or repeat samples. Within a month, the proportion of Delta and other variants was reversed, 6% Omicron became 81%, and Delta and other variants became 19%, initially all Omicron cases were seen in international travelers and their contacts but soon community transmission was seen. The majority of patients with Omicron were asymptomatic (56.7%) or had mild disease (33%), 9.2% had moderate symptoms, and two (0.7%) had severe disease requiring hospitalization, of which one (0.3%) died and the rest were (99.7%) recovered. History of vaccination was seen in 81.1%, of the previous infection in 43.2% of cases. Among the Omicron cases, BA.1 (62.8%) was the predominant lineage followed by BA.2 (23.7%) and B.1.529 (13.4%), rising trends were seen initially for BA.1 and later for BA.2 also. Although 8.9% of patients with Delta lineage during that period were hospitalized, 7.2% required oxygen, and 0.9% died. To conclude, the community spread of Omicron occurred in a short time and became the predominant circulating variant; BA.1 was the predominant lineage detected. Most of the cases with Omicron were asymptomatic or had mild disease, and the mortality rate was very low as compared to Delta and other lineages.

IntroductionAcinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen, rapidly acquires antibiotic resistance, thus compelling researchers to develop alternative treatments at utmost priority. Phage-based therapies are of appreciable benefit; however, CRISPR-Cas systems are a major constraint in this approach. Hence for effective implementation and a promising future of phage-based therapies, a multifaceted understanding of the CRISPR-Cas systems is necessary.MethodsThis study investigated 4,977 RefSeq genomes of A. baumannii from the NCBI database to comprehend the distribution and association of CRISPR-Cas systems with genomic determinants.ResultsApproximately 13.84% (n = 689/4,977) isolates were found to carry the CRSIPR-Cas system, and a small fraction of isolates, 1.49% (n = 74/4,977), exhibited degenerated CRISPR-Cas systems. Of these CRISPR-Cas positive (+) isolates, 67.48% (465/689) isolates harbored type I-F1, 28.59% (197/689) had type I-F2, and 3.7% (26/689) had co-existence of both type I-F1 and type I-F2 systems. Co-existing type I-F1 and type I-F2 systems are located distantly (∼1.733 Mb). We found a strong association of CRISPR-Cas systems within STs for type I-F1 and type I-F2, whereas the type I-F1 + F2 was not confined to any particular ST. Isolates with type I-F1 + F2 exhibited a significantly high number of mean spacers (n = 164.58 ± 46.41) per isolate as compared to isolates with type I-F2 (n = 82.87 ± 36.14) and type I-F1 (n = 54.51 ± 26.27) with majority targeting the phages. Isolates with type I-F1 (p < 0.0001) and type I-F2 (p < 0.0115) displayed significantly larger genome sizes than type I-F1 + F2. A significantly reduced number of integrated phages in isolates with co-existence of type I-F1 + F2 compared with other counterparts was observed (p = 0.0041). In addition, the isolates carrying type I-F1 + F2 did not exhibit reduced resistance and virulence genes compared to CRISPR-Cas(–) and CRISPR-Cas (+) type I-F1 and type I-F2, except for bap, abaI, and abaR.ConclusionOur observation suggests that the co-existence of type I-F1 and F2 is more effective in constraining the horizontal gene transfer and phage invasion in A. baumannii than the isolates exhibiting only type I-F1 and only type I-F2 systems.

Owing to stress, sedentary lifestyle and changes in diet pattern, there is an increase in the surge of lifestyle and metabolic disorders. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 8–13% of reproductive-aged women. PCOS is characterised by menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). The efficacy of yoga as a therapy to tackle the direct and indirect cause of ailment in the management of PCOS is to be documented. This is the case study of a female patient age 25 years, a diagnosed case of PCOS was registered at the Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani,Siddha,Homeopathy (AYUSH), yoga OPD, with complaints of irregular menstruation, treated successfully by Yoga and Naturopathy (Y and N), i.e., yoga, diet and lifestyle modification. This is evident from the reduction in weight, regularisation of the menstrual cycle along with morphological changes in the ovary after a follow-up of 6 months.

The Philosophy and Science of Yagya (Yajóa) lies at the core of the great values, vast expanse, and universal importance of the Indian Culture and the Vedic Science of holistic wellbeing. Yagya was an integral part of the spiritual teachings and research experiments in the Gurukuls in ancient India. It was also prominent in the cultural activities and ethno practices (for the maintenance of good health, and purity and protection of the environment) in the Indian Society till the Medieval Age. Despite substantial cultural devolution and loss of original texts of wisdom in the medieval times of destructive foreign invasions, substantial information on Yagya may still be found in the Indian scriptures available today. Though in distorted form, it is also practiced as an important sacrament (as “fire-ritual”/havan) in many sections of the Indian society till date. However, the wisdom and science of Yagya is completely missing from the streams of science and education. In concordance with the noble objectives of the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidalaya (DSVV), the “Yagyavalkya Center for Yagya Research” of this university has initiated thorough interdisciplinary research and scientific experiments on Yagya for past three years. Towards advancement and expansion of this research, the centre had organized a one-day national symposium for a brain storming session and interaction among distinguished experts and researchers in different fields of medical, biological, chemical, and mathematical sciences, and engineering/technology. The symposium was held in the DSVV campus at Haridwar on December4, 2021. The present consensus paper outlines the background, purpose, and outcome of the symposium with a focus on the promising scope of advanced research on Yagya for holistic Health and a pure Environment.

Background: Various studies have shown that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have sleeping problems and disturbances associated with depression, anxiety, stress, drowsy driving, and other clinical symptoms. This study was taken to investigate the sleep status in POCS women according to the Rotterdam criteria. Aim: This was a pilot study to analyze the quality of sleep by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in patients with poly ovary cystic disease in Bhopal. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two PCOS patients (mean age-24.54 ± 2.63 years) and 31 healthy controls (mean age: 23.20 ± 3.9 years) were recruited from AIIMS, Bhopal, who were evaluated for specific sleep quality by means of PSQI questionnaires. A PSQI global score of ≥5 confirmed the presence of poor quality of sleep. Results: The POCS patients have a global score of 7.97 ± 3.61 than the non-POCS control group 5.42 ± 2.73, thereby indicating that POCS patients have poor sleep quality. Among the seven components, “sleep latency” has a maximum mean score of 1.85 ± 0.99 (control = 1.23 ± 0.85) and a minimum mean score of 0.32 ± 0.82 (control = 0.21 ± 0.75) was attributed to the “use of sleeping Medicine” component. The PSQI mean scores of POCS patients were 1.44 ± 1.44, 1.39 ± 0.61, and 0.89 ± 1.10 for “Subjective sleep quality,” “sleep disturbance,” and “sleep duration,” respectively, and the results were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) when compared to other components and control. Conclusion: This study on the basis of substantiation data found evidence that PCOS women have a relatively poor quality of sleep when compared with the normal control group.

Leishmaniasis significantly affects the population of the tropics and subtropics. Clinical features and infective species of Leishmania are the primary factors driving the direction of diagnosis. The rise in incidences of atypical presentations present a challenge in patient treatment. Knowledge of unusual/rare presentations can aid in having a broader perspective for including the different aspects during the examination and thus avoid misdiagnosis. A comprehensive literature survey was performed to present the array of atypical presentations confounding clinicians which have been seen in leishmaniasis. Case reports of unusual findings based on the localizations and morphology of lesions and infective species and the predominant geographical sites over almost five decades highlight such presentations in the population. Information regarding the clinical features recorded in the patient and the chosen treatment was extracted to put forward the preferred drug regimen in such cases. This comprehensive review presents various unusual observations seen in visceral leishmaniasis, post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. It highlights the need to consider such features in association with differential diagnosis to facilitate proper treatment of the patient.

Photocatalysis is an ecofriendly and sustainable pathway for utilizing solar energy to convert organic molecules. In this context, using solar light responsive graphene-based materials for C–N bond activation and coenzyme regeneration (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen; NADH) is one of the utmost important and challenging tasks in this century. Herein, we report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs)-eriochrome cyanine (EC) solar light active highly efficient “NGQDs@EC” composite photocatalyst for the conversion of 4-chloro benzylamine into 4-chloro benzylamine, accompanied by the regeneration of NADH from NAD+, respectively. The NGQDs@EC composite photocatalyst system is utilized in a highly efficient and stereospecific solar light responsive manner, leading to the conversion of imine (98.5%) and NADH regeneration (55%) in comparison to NGQDs. The present research work highlights the improvements in the use of NGQDs@EC composite photocatalyst for stereospecific NADH regeneration and conversion of imine under solar light.

Background: First Zika virus (ZIKV) positive case from North India was detected on routine surveillance of Dengue-Like Illness in an 85-year old female. Objective of the study was to conduct an investigation for epidemiological, clinical and genomic analysis of first ZIKV outbreak in Rajasthan, North India and enhance routine ZIKV surveillance. Method: Outbreak investigation was performed in 3 Km radius of the index case among patient contacts, febrile cases, and pregnant women. Routine surveillance was enhanced to include samples from various districts of Rajasthan. Presence of ZIKV in serum and urine samples was detected by real time PCR test and CDC trioplex kit. Few ZIKV positive samples were sequenced using the next-generation sequencing method for genomic analysis. Result: On outbreak investigation 153/2043 (7.48%) cases were found positive: 1/153 (0.65%) among contacts, 90/153 (58.8%) in fever cases, 62/153(40.5%) in pregnant females. In routine surveillance, 6/4722 (0.12%) serum samples were ZIKV positive.Majority of patients had mild signs and symptoms, no case of microcephaly and Guillain- Barre Syndrome was seen, 25 (40.3%) pregnant females delivered healthy babies, four (6.4%) reported abortion and three (4.8%) had intrauterine death, one (1.6%) child had colorectal malformation and died after few days of birth. ZIKV was found to belong to Asian lineage, mutation related to enhanced neuro-virulence and transmission in animal models was not found. Conclusion: ZIKV was endogenous to India belonging to Asian Lineage. Disease profile of the ZIKV was asymptomatic to mild. No major anomaly was observed in infants born to ZIKV positive mothers; however, long term follow up of these children is required. There is need to scale up surveillance in the virology lab network of India for early detection and control. Summary line: Zika virus infection was endogenous due to Asian Lineage with mild disease, no case of microcephaly or Guillain- Barre Syndrome was seen but children need to be followed for anomalies and surveillance of ZIKV needs to be enhanced in the country.

In autoimmune liver disease (AILD), including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and overlap syndrome of AIH and PSC (ASC), the presence of biliary injury portends a worse prognosis. We studied serum matrix metalloproteinase 7 (sMMP7) as a biomarker for pediatric sclerosing cholangitis (SC). We prospectively enrolled 54 children (median age, 16 years) with AILD (AIH, n = 26; ASC, n = 16; and PSC, n = 12) at our center. The sMMP7 concentrations were higher in patients with SC compared to those without cholangiopathy (P 23.7 ng/mL had a sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 96%, respectively, and outperformed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) in segregating patients with SC. Serum concentrations correlated with liver gene expression levels for MMP7 (r = 0.70; P

Acinetobacter baumannii has notably become a superbug due to its mounting risk of infection and escalating rates of antimicrobial resistance, including colistin, the last-resort antibiotic. Its propensity to form biofilm on biotic and abiotic surfaces has contributed to the majority of nosocomial infections. Bacterial cells in biofilms are resistant to antibiotics and host immune response, and pose challenges in treatment. Therefore current scenario urgently requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies for successful treatment outcomes. This article provides a holistic understanding of sequential events and regulatory mechanisms directing A. baumannii biofilm formation. Understanding the key factors functioning and regulating the biofilm machinery of A. baumannii will provide us insight to develop novel approaches to combat A. baumannii infections. Further, the review article deliberates promising strategies for the prevention of biofilm formation on medically relevant substances and potential therapeutic strategies for the eradication of preformed biofilms which can help tackle biofilm-associated A. baumannii infections. Advances in emerging therapeutic opportunities such as phage therapy, nanoparticle therapy and photodynamic therapy are also discussed to comprehend the current scenario and future outlook for the development of successful treatment against biofilm-associated A. baumannii infections.

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a clinical sequela of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), plays a critical role in the anthroponotic transmission of VL, particularly in the Indian subcontinent (ISC). The early, accurate, and feasible diagnosis of PKDL is essential for the attainment and sustenance of VL elimination goal in ISC. PKDL poses a stumbling block for this goal, considering the heterogeneity presented with regard to time after cure of VL and onset of PKDL, chronicity, and clinical variations. In most of the endemic regions the diagnosis is based on clinical examination, previous history of VL, by ruling out other disorders, and by the response to treatment. The conventional microscopic examination involving the demonstration of Leishman–Donovan bodies (LDB) in macrophages is pathognomonic, however, the method faces constraints in terms of being invasive, less sensitive, technically demanding, and difficult to be applied in field conditions. Serological evidences are of limited use because antileishmanial antibodies remain positive for years after VL treatment. Molecular tools such as PCR, nested-PCR, Q-PCR overcome these constraints and have become increasingly popular due to their high sensitivity and specificity along with their applicability in diverse clinical samples. Molecular methods not only play a key role in early detection but also provide quantification and monitoring of treatment effectiveness. NCBI PubMed search tool was used for locating, selecting, and extracting research articles pertinent for this review article by using various related terminologies on the molecular diagnosis of leishmaniasis.

Abstract Using a dynamical model (VECTRI) for malaria transmission that accounts for the influence of population and climatic conditions, malaria transmission dynamics is investigated for a highly endemic region (state of Odisha) in India. The model is first calibrated over the region, and subsequently numerical simulations are carried out for the period 2000–2013. Using both model and observations we find that temperature, adult mosquito population, and infective biting rates have increased over this period, and the malaria vector abundance is higher during the summer monsoon season. Regionally, the intensity of malaria transmission is found to be higher in the north, central and southern districts of Odisha where the mosquito populations and the number of infective bites are more and mainly in the forest or mountainous ecotypes. We also find that the peak of the malaria transmission occurs when the monthly mean temperature is in the range of ~28–29 °C, and monthly rainfall accumulation in the range of ~200–360 mm.

Context: Migraine is common debilitating disorders, affecting 10 to 20% of the world's population. However, proper diagnosis is delayed due to many factors. Aims: To determine various factors associated with delayed diagnosis of migraine. Settings and Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: Patients attending Neurology OPD of AIIMS Bhopal and satisfying diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society (ICHD-3β) for migraine were selected for study. MIDAS, MINI, and ROME-III were used. First diagnosis was considered as “Appropriate” if patients were previously diagnosed as “migraine” or getting treatment for it; otherwise labeled as “Inappropriate.” Statistical Analysis: Associations were tested by Chi-square, t-test, or Mann-Whitney test. Logistic regression analysis was used for identifying independent factors associated with inappropriate diagnosis. Results: Hundred patients (female = 77) of migraine were included. Mean age (SD) was 32.42 (10.74). Diagnosis was “inappropriate” in 65 patients. Number of inappropriate diagnosis/appropriate diagnosis was 10/40 (25%) by neurologists; 35/39 (89.3%) by physicians; 18/18 (100%) by ophthalmologists. Factors associated with “Inappropriate Diagnosis” were “Neurologist vs Other Doctors” {10 (25%) vs 55 (91.7%), P < 0.001}; throbbing vs other types of headache {51 (60.7%) vs 14 (87%), P = 0.047}; and temporal vs other sites {9 (42.9%) vs 56 (70.9%), P = 0.017}. Patients with “Inappropriate Diagnosis” had to expend more money {7000 (4,500; 12,500) vs 4000 (1000, 6000), P < 0.01; median (interquartile range) all in INR}. Other clinical parameters including vertigo, cervical pain, anxiety, depression, and functional gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with delayed diagnosis. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis is very frequent in migraine, leading to financial burden to patients. Management of common disorders like migraine should be addressed in undergraduate medical teaching curriculum.

Introduction: Students at nursing colleges encounter not only issues associated to individual life, but also learning difficulties. The rigor in professional training may predispose them to depression, anxiety and stress. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and psychometric condition such as depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in undergraduate nursing students. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 387 female nursing students, aged between 18-27 years (21.16±1.52) from AIIMS, Bhopal and Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. They were analysed using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42). This self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed through ‘WhatsApp’ web and e-mail, in the form of “Google form” to all the enrolled students. The Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and Statistical Package for The Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analysed the data using percentages. Results: The questionnaire was filled by 223 out of 387 students. The response rate was 57.62 percent. The mean age of the respondents were 21.16 years (±1.52 years). The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress prevalence were 36.7%, 49.33% and 34.98%, respectively. In the depression and anxiety traits, majority of students were in moderate stage (14.35%, 21.08%), while in stress, majority (17.04%) of students were in mild stage. Spearman correlation found a significant moderate positive relationship between depression and anxiety (r=0.592, p

Background: The resistance to colistin and carbapenems in Klebsiella pneumoniae infections have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. A retrospective observational study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular events contributing to colistin resistance.Methods: Clinical samples were screened for colistin resistance and underlying mechanisms were studied by PCR-based amplification and sequence analysis of genes of two-component regulatory system (phoPQ and pmrAB), regulatory transmembrane protein-coding mgrB, and mobilized colistin resistance genes (mcr-1-8). Gene expression of pmrC and pmrK was analyzed by qRT-PCR, and the genetic relationship was assessed by MLST. The putative effect of amino-acid substitutions was predicted by a combination of bioinformatics tools.Results: Of 335 Klebsiella spp. screened, 11 (3.2%) were identified as colistin-resistant (MIC range, 8 to >128 μg/ml). K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to clonal complex-11 (CC11) with sequence types (STs): 14, 16, 43, 54, 147 and 395, whereby four isolates conferred three novel STs (3986, 3987 and 3988) profiles. Sequence analysis revealed non-synonymous potentially deleterious mutations in phoP (T151A), phoQ (del87–90, del263–264, L30Q, and A351D), pmrA (G53S), pmrB (D150V, T157P, L237R, G250C, A252G, R315P, and Q331H), and mgrB (C28G) genes. The mgrB gene in three strains was disrupted by insertion sequences encoding IS1-like and IS5/IS1182 family-like transposase genes. All 11 isolates showed an elevation in the transcription level of pmrC gene. Mobilized colistin-resistance (mcr) genes were not detected. All but one of the colistin-resistant isolates was also resistant to carbapenems; β-lactamase genes blaNDM-1-like, blaOXA-48-like, and blaCTX-M-like were detected in eight, five, and nine isolates, respectively.Conclusion: All the studied colistin- and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were genetically distinct, and various mechanisms of colistin resistance were detected, indicating its spontaneous emergence in this bacterial species.

Herbal medicines have a history of long therapeutic use and are still serving a lot of the health needs of a big population of the world. However, the quality control still remains a challenge because of the variation of chemical constituents involved. There are numerous compounds in herbal drugs that are in complex matrices in which no single active constituent is responsible for the overall efficacy. This creates a challenge in establishing quality control standards and standardization of finished herbal drugs. Saraswati Panchak is a novel combination given by Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya for mental health. In this study, components of this novel herbal combination were explained for its potential utility in mental illness. In addition, the study also detailed how Saraswati Panchak Churna was converted into tablet form to increase the shelf life, make it easy to dispense, for dose fixation, etc. The tablet was subjected to organoleptic analysis and physico-chemical analysis to establish its efficacy. After performing complete analysis it was found that all the parameters are within the range. The coarse powder of these herbs may be used as havan samagri in brain related disorders because of the presence of nootropic herbs.

Withania somnifera is a traditional Indian herb described under the ‘Rasayana’ class in Ayurveda, which gained immense popularity as a dietary supplement in the USA, Europe, Asia, and the Indian domestic market. Despite enormous research on the pharmacological effect of withanosides and withanolides, bioanalytical method development and pharmacokinetics remained challenging and unexplored for these constituents due to isomeric and isobaric characteristics. In current research work, molecular descriptors, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity prediction (ADMET) of these constituents were performed using Molinspiration and admetSAR tools. A rapid, selective, and reproducible bioanalytical method was developed and validated for seven withanosides and withanolides as per USFDA/EMA guidelines, further applied to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of Withania somnifera root extract (WSE) constituents in male Sprague Dawley rats at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Additionally, an ex vivo permeability study was carried out to explore the absorption pattern of withanosides and withanolides from the intestinal lumen. In silico, ADMET revealed oral bioavailability of withanosides and withanolides following Lipinski’s rules of five with significant absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Upon oral administration of WSE, Cmax was found to be 13.833 ± 3.727, 124.415 ± 64.932, 57.536 ± 7.523, and 7.283 ± 3.341 ng/mL for withanoside IV, withaferin A, 12-Deoxy-withastramonolide, and withanolide A, respectively, with Tmax of 0.750 ± 0.000, 0.250 ± 0.000, 0.291 ± 0.102, and 0.333 ± 0.129 h. Moreover, at a given dose, withanoside V, withanolide B, and withanone were detected in plasma; however, the concentration of these constituents was found below LLOQ. Thus, these four major withanoside and withanolides were quantified in plasma supported by ex vivo permeation data exhibiting a time-dependent absorption of withanosides and withanolides across the intestinal barrier. These composite findings provide insights to design a clinical trial of WSE as a potent nutraceutical.

Leishmaniasis is a heterogeneous group of disease caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by Phlebotomus sandflies. Human leishmaniasis is usually classified as visceral, cutaneous (localized, diffuse, disseminated), mucocutaneous, and post-kala-azar leishmaniasis. Post-kala-azar leishmaniasis is a sequel of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani (LD) and seen in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sudan. In India, it develops in 5%–15% of treated VL cases within 2–5 years. It is characterized by multiple papular, nodular, and pleomorphic lesions over the sun-exposed areas such as face, neck, and arms, without systemic manifestations. It mimics a wide range of dermatoses, particularly leprosy in endemic areas for both the diseases. Inadequate immune response (Th1 and Th2) to infection during and after the treatment of VL plays a role in the pathogenesis. It is thought to be a good reservoir of LD and plays an important role in the treatment of VL. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is usually diagnosed by skin smears, immunological tests such as rK39, cutaneous leishmaniasis detection tests, and polymerase chain reaction. A combination of liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine is the first line of treatment. PKDL is a forgotten clinical entity in the nonendemic areas. We report a case of PKDL in a 52-year-old male from Andhra Pradesh, a nonendemic area for leishmaniasis. This case was treated successfully with combination therapy, liposomal amphotericin B, and miltefosine.

In the COVID19 pandemic, there is strong need of immune boosting and mental health approaches which are easily available and traditionally used for preventing as well as managing COVID19 infection. Since past 40 years, Dev Sanskriti University (DSVV) and parent institution (All World Gayatri Pariwar) has been working on various aspects of traditional herbal utility and Yagya Therapy. Vedic texts mentioned use of herbal fumes for health benefits as well as purifying air and removing seasonal pathogens from air through Bheshaj Yajnas (Yagya / Hawan). Bheshaj Yajna (herbal fumigation) was widely used in India to combat seasonal epidemics; scriptures described them in details. Studies have shown Yagya Therapy and herbal fumigation effects in various diseases i,e, common diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, as well as life threatening diseases such as cancer, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and in psychological ailments such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and PolyCystic Ovarian Disease, epilepsy, depression, etc., indicating potential of herbal fumes for boosting immunity and aiding psychological wellbeing; besides, the herbal fumes is made using herbs known for their immune boosting and mental health care potential in Ayurveda and traditional knowledge. Hence, the study narrated the selective herbs which are pan-available and widely used traditionally in Yagya Therapy or generating herbal fumes, which can help boosting immunity and aid psychological wellbeing.

Widespread resistance towards antimony and reports of relapses following miltefosine treatment has severely affected the management of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian subcontinent. Paromomycin (PMM), an aminoglycoside antibiotic, has been licensed for VL treatment in India in 2007. Although its use is still restricted in the field, unraveling the molecular mechanism of resistance towards PMM is the key to preserve the drug. In this study, PMM resistant lines were selected up to 100 μM of PMM in three distinct field isolates of Leishmania donovani at promastigote stage. The resistance induced at promastigote level was also evident in amastigotes which showed 6 fold decreases in PMM susceptibility. Comparative transcriptome profiling of PMM resistant (PMM-R) and the corresponding PMM sensitive (PMM-S) parasites revealed modulated expression of 500 genes (1.5 fold cut off) in PMM-R parasites. Selected genes were validated for their modulated expression by quantitative real-time PCR. Functional classification and pathway analysis of modulated genes indicated probable adaptations in drug resistant lines which included a) reduced oxidative phosphorylation; b) increased glycosomal succinate fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation; c) dependency on lipids and amino acids for energy generation; d) reduced DNA synthesis and increased DNA damage repair and e) decreased protein synthesis and degradation. Interestingly, PMM-R parasites showed a marked increase in PMM susceptibility in presence of verapamil and amlodipine, antagonists of Ca2+ channel that are also modulators of ABC transporters. Moreover, infection of macrophages by PMM-R parasites led to modulated nitric oxide (NO) levels while reactive oxygen species (ROS) level remained unaltered. The present study highlights the putative mechanisms of PMM resistance in Leishmania. Keywords: Leishmania donovani, Drug resistance, Paromomycin, Transcriptome, ABC transporters, Nitric oxide, Visceral leishmaniasis

To strengthen malaria surveillance, field-appropriate diagnostics requiring limited technical resources are of critical significance. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based malaria diagnostic assays are potential point-of-care tests with high sensitivity and specificity and have been used in low-resource settings. Plasmodium vivax–specific consensus repeat sequence (CRS)-based and Plasmodium falciparum–specific 18S rRNA primers were designed, and a two-tube LAMP assay was developed. The diagnostic performance of a closed-tube LAMP assay and Loopamp™ Malaria Detection (Pan/Pf, Pv) kit was investigated using nested PCR confirmed mono- and co-infections of P. vivax and P. falciparum positive (n = 149) and negative (n = 67) samples. The closed-tube Pv LAMP assay showed positive amplification in 40 min (limit of detection, LOD 0.7 parasites/µL) and Pf LAMP assay in 30 min (LOD 2 parasites/µL). Pv LAMP and Pf LAMP demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 95.96–100% and 89.85–100%, respectively). The LoopampTM Pan/Pf Malaria Detection kit demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, whereas LoopampTM Pv showed a sensitivity of 98.36% (95% CI, 91.28–99.71%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 87.54–100%). The developed two-tube LAMP assay is highly sensitive (LOD ≤ 2 parasite/µL), demonstrating comparable results with the commercial Loopamp™ Malaria Detection (Pf/pan) kit, and was superior in detecting the P. vivax co-infection that remained undetected by the Loopamp™ Pv kit. The developed indigenous two-tube Pf/Pv malaria detection can reliably be used for mass screening in resource-limited areas endemic for both P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), mainly caused by the Leishmania donovani parasitic infection, constitutes a potentially fatal disease, for which treatment is primarily dependent on chemotherapy. The emergence of a resistant parasite towards current antileishmanial agents and increasing reports of relapses are the major concerns. Detailed research on the molecular interaction at the host-parasite interface may provide the identification of the parasite and the host-related factors operating during disease development. Genomic and proteomic studies highlighted several essential secretory and cytosolic proteins that play vital roles during Leishmania pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify membrane proteins from the Leishmania donovani parasite and the host macrophage that interact with each other using 2-DE/MALDI-TOF/MS. We identified membrane proteins including activated protein C kinase, peroxidoxin, small myristoylated protein 1 (SMP-1), and cytochrome C oxidase from the parasite, while identifying filamin A interacting protein 1(FILIP1) and β-actin from macrophages. We further investigated parasite replication and persistence within macrophages following the macrophage-amastigote model in the presence or absence of withaferin (WA), an inhibitor of activated C kinase. WA significantly reduced Leishmania donovani replication within host macrophages. This study sheds light on the important interacting proteins for parasite proliferation and virulence, and the establishment of infection within host cells, which can be targeted further to develop a strategy for chemotherapeutic intervention.

Background & objectives: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an emerging nucleic acid based diagnostic approach that is easily adaptable to the field settings with limited technical resources. This study was aimed to evaluate the LAMP assay for the detection and identification of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infection in malaria suspected cases using genus and species-specific assay. Methods: The 18S rRNA-based LAMP assay was evaluated for diagnosis of genus Plasmodium, and species-specific diagnosis of P. falciparum and P. vivax, infection employing 317 malaria suspected cases, and the results were compared with those obtained by 18S nested PCR (n-PCR). All the samples were confirmed by microscopy for the presence of Plasmodium parasite. Results: The n-PCR was positive in all Plasmodium-infected cases (n=257; P. falciparum=133; P. vivax=124) and negative in microscopy negative cases (n=58) except for two cases which were positive for P. vivax, giving a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 97.04-100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI: 88.45-99.5%). Genus-specific LAMP assay missed 11 (3.2%) microscopy and n-PCR confirmed vivax malaria cases. Considering PCR results as a reference, LAMP was 100% sensitive and specific for P. falciparum, whereas it exhibited 95.16% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity for P. vivax. The n-PCR assay detected 10 mixed infection cases while species-specific LAMP detected five mixed infection cases of P. vivax and P. falciparum, which were not detected by microscopy. Interpretation & conclusion: Genus-specific LAMP assay displayed low sensitivity. Falciparum specific LAMP assay displayed high sensitivity whereas vivax specific LAMP assay displayed low sensitivity. Failed detection of vivax cases otherwise confirmed by the n-PCR assay indicates exploitation of new targets and improved detection methods to attain 100% results for P. vivax detection.

India is at risk of Zika virus transmission due to high prevalence of its vector Aedes aegypti. Rajasthan, a state in the north-west region of India, has also high prevalence of Aedes mosquito. First laboratory confirmed case of Zika virus disease in Rajasthan was reported on 21 September 2018 in Jaipur. The Government of Rajasthan quickly implemented a containment strategy to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of this disease. Strategy included active human and mosquito surveillance, laboratory testing and sequencing of the virus, integrated vector control measures, intersectoral coordination, risk communication and social mobilisation, all in a predefined geographic area around the epicentre. Timely action with appropriate coordination at all levels with multiple stakeholders contained the outbreak successfully. In all, 159 confirmed cases were reported from in and around the 3 km containment zone in Shastri Nagar area of Jaipur City and routine surveillance. Following this, a specially developed laboratory-based surveillance strategy was put in place to ensure that the disease does not spread beyond the containment zone. No fresh case was reported subsequently within or beyond the containment zone.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization has targeted elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian subcontinent (ISC) by 2020. Despite distinctive decline seen in the number of VL cases in ISC, there is still a quest for development of a diagnostic test which has the utility for detection of active infection and relapse cases and as a test of cure. The present study validated the sensitivity and specificity of SYBR Green I based closed tube LAMP assay reported by us for diagnosis of VL.MethodologyThe validation study was carried out at two endemic sites in India, located at Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna and Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. Standard operating protocols were provided at the two sites for applying LAMP assay on confirmed VL cases. The diagnostic accuracy of LAMP assay was evaluated by Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis. Furthermore, a simplified LAMP assay based on direct blood lysis, DBL-LAMP, was developed and verified for its diagnostic accuracy.Principal findingsA total of 267 eligible participants were included in the study which comprised of 179 VL cases and 88 controls. Sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay were 98.32% (95% C.I- 95.2-99.7%) and 96.59% (95% C.I.-90.4-99.3%), respectively. ROC curve analysis depicted no significant difference between area under curve (AUCROC) for LAMP assay and rK39 RDT, indicative of LAMP as an excellent diagnostic test. DBL-LAMP assay, performed on 67 VL and 100 control samples, yielded a sensitivity of 93.05% (95% C.I- 84.75-97%) and specificity of 100% (95% C.I.- 96.30-100%).Conclusions/significanceThe validated closed tube LAMP for diagnosis of VL will provide impetus to the ongoing VL elimination programme in ISC. The assay based on direct blood lysis promotes its scope for application in field settings by further reducing time and cost.

Current therapy for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), compromised by drug resistance, toxicity, and high cost, demands for more effective, safer, and low-cost drugs. Artemisinin has been found to be an effectual drug alternative in experimental models of leishmaniasis. Comparative genome and transcriptome analysis of in vitro-adapted artesunate-resistant (K133AS-R) and -sensitive wild-type (K133WT) Leishmania donovani parasites was carried out using next-generation sequencing and single-color DNA microarray technology, respectively, to identify genes and interlinked pathways contributing to drug resistance. Whole-genome sequence analysis of K133WT vs. K133AS-R parasites revealed substantial variation among the two and identified 240 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 237 insertion deletions (InDels), 616 copy number variations (CNVs) (377 deletions and 239 duplications), and trisomy of chromosome 12 in K133AS-R parasites. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of 208 genes (fold change ≥ 2) in K133AS-R parasites. Functional categorization and analysis of modulated genes of interlinked pathways pointed out plausible adaptations in K133AS-R parasites, such as (i) a dependency on lipid and amino acid metabolism for generating energy, (ii) reduced DNA and protein synthesis leading to parasites in the quiescence state, and (iii) active drug efflux. The upregulated expression of cathepsin-L like protease, amastin-like surface protein, and amino acid transporter and downregulated expression of the gene encoding ABCG2, pteridine receptor, adenylatecyclase-type receptor, phosphoaceylglucosamine mutase, and certain hypothetical proteins are concordant with genomic alterations suggesting their potential role in drug resistance. The study provided an understanding of the molecular basis linked to artemisinin resistance in Leishmania parasites, which may be advantageous for safeguarding this drug for future use.

Yagya (known as a fire-ritual) is an ancient Vedic Indian method of herbal inhalation therapy. It is also described as an excellent mode of environmental purification. Here, a comparative study of antimicrobial activity of smoke extract of Yagya and non-Yagya has been performed. ‘Yagya’ in this text, refers to the burning of wood, specific types of dried medicinal plant materials (hawan samagri) along with ghee with the citation of mantras, whereas the term Non-Yagya implies burning of wood, hawan samagri, along with ghee. In non-Yagya the mantra citation has not been done. An apparatus was designed to simulate the burning process, and the smoke fraction was captured for antimicrobial activity on human pathogens i.e Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typh. Antimicrobial activity was performed using disc diffusion method. Antimicrobial data revealed that the ‘smoke-extract’ obtained from Yagya experiments with mantra chanting had higher zone of inhibition values compared to that of same experiment conditions except presence of mantra chanting suggesting an important role of the mantra chanting in Yagya for medicinal applications

In modern agriculture, large numbers of pesticides are being used to inhibit pests to get maximum crop production .The rapidly growing industrialization along with an increasing population has resulted in the accumulation of a wide variety of chemicals. One promising treatment method is to exploit the ability of microorganisms to remove pollutants from contaminated sites. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of free-living bacteria that can be found in the rhizosphere and contribute to enhance the growth and yield of crop plants. In the last few decades, many microorganisms show positive effect on plant development. Azotobacter has been used as a potential nitrogenous fertilizer to increase crop growth. Azotobacter has the capacity of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, it include the production of plant hormones like auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins, nitrogen fixation, These qualities makes Azotobacter the most successful and widespread group among the PGPR, as well as they produce substances that change the plant growth and morphology. Co-inoculants of Azotobacter with Rhizobium has been reduced water stress and dual inoculation of Azospirillium and Azotobacter significantly increased the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Potassium, Megnisium, Nitrogen and total soluble sugars (TSS). Azotobacter increases the tolerance capacity of plants. Azotobacter inoculum with high yielding EPS (exopolysaccharides) and high nitrogen fixing ability can be utilized to satisfy the future demand of augmented crop production attributed to increase plant growth promoting agents.

BACKGROUND:Miltefosine (MIL) is an oral antileishmanial drug used for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian subcontinent. Recent reports indicate a significant decline in its efficacy with a high rate of relapse in VL as well as post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). We investigated the parasitic factors apparently involved in miltefosine unresponsiveness in clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani. METHODOLOGY:L. donovani isolated from patients of VL and PKDL at pretreatment stage (LdPreTx, n = 9), patients that relapsed after MIL treatment (LdRelapse, n = 7) and parasites made experimentally resistant to MIL (LdM30) were included in this study. MIL uptake was estimated using liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry. Reactive oxygen species and intracellular thiol content were measured fluorometrically. Q-PCR was used to assess the differential expression of genes associated with MIL resistance. RESULTS:LdRelapse parasites exhibited higher IC50 both at promastigote level (7.92 ± 1.30 μM) and at intracellular amastigote level (11.35 ± 6.48 μM) when compared with LdPreTx parasites (3.27 ± 1.52 μM) and (3.85 ± 3.11 μM), respectively. The percent infectivity (72 hrs post infection) of LdRelapse parasites was significantly higher (80.71 ± 5.67%, P

Introduction: College students, who are in a phase of transition from adolescence to adulthood, face numerous challenges. Due to stress overload, students easily fall prey to mood disturbances like stress, anxiety and depression compromising their quality of life. Aim: Present study was undertaken to see the effect of choice of professional course on quality of life and mood of the first year students of medical, engineering and arts students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 150 students, 50 participants from each stream. Enrolled subjects were administered questionnaires pertaining to their quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), mood disorders (DASS42) and sleepiness (ESS). Results: Medical students showed significantly higher levels of stress (p-value=0.0001), depression (p-value=0.002) and anxiety (p-value=0.002), 30% of medicos labelled their quality of life as very good compared to 48% and 50% of engineering and arts students. A 38% of medical student’s reported daytime sleepiness compared to 12% engineering and 6% arts students. Conclusion: Present study shows that medical students are maximally vulnerable to mood disorders and have a poor quality life. As the student community forms the backbone of any nation, we as, educators should try to strengthen each individual by promoting not only physical and mental development but also aiming for overall holistic development.

We have investigated the effect of melatonin (MLT) on specific growth rate (SGR% day−1), condition factor (k), gonado-somatic-index (GSI), histological structures of gonads, serum as well as gonadal protein and lipid in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. MLT treatment in the dose of 25 μg/L for three weeks reduced SGR% day−1 (0.9±0.04) as compared to control (1.23±0.026). The GSI value was significantly (p

Introduction: Diurnal variability in airways has most commonly been reported using peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Characteristics of variability in small, mid and large airways caliber are expected to be different but have not been studied. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess diurnal variation in small mid and large airways caliber using FEF25, FEF50, FEF75 and FEF25-75 along with PEF and FEV1 in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Spirometry was performed in 161 healthy subjects twice in a day. Diurnal variability in FEF25, FEF50, FEF75, FEF25-75, PEF and FEV1 were determined and compared. Results: It revealed that all parameters exhibit significant diurnal variability. Diurnal variability is highest in large airways and lowest in smaller airways. Conclusion: Proximal airways show greater diurnal variation in their caliber than distal airways as reflected by greater variability in PEF as compared to FEV1.

Single unidirectional photorefractive ring resonator (SUPRR) and coupled unidirectional photorefractive ring resonator (CUPRR) were considered with BaTiO3 and LiNbO3 crystals as inter-cavity photorefractive media. The relative oscillation intensity and oscillation frequency shift of two SUPRRs with BaTiO3 and LiNbO3 crystals in their cavities, and four CUPRRs with BaTiO3-BaTiO3, LiNbO3-LiNbO3, BaTiO3-LiNbO3 and LiNbO3-BaTiO3 combinations were analysed relative to cavity detuning parameters and compared the oscillation performance of SUPRR with that of CUPRR. In SUPRR, maximum value of relative oscillation intensity is found for BaTiO3 as compared to that of LiNbO3 for zero cavity detuning. In CUPRR, the oscillation intensity in secondary cavity increases with increasing cavities detuning whereas in primary cavity it decreases with increasing cavities detuning. Major finding of this study is that the BaTiO3-LiNbO3 combination of the coupled system provides the highest relative oscillation intensity.

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have shown significant decline in the final cure rate after miltefosine treatment in visceral leishmaniasis. This study evaluates the efficacy of miltefosine in the treatment of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients recruited over a period of 5 years with 18 months of follow-up. METHODOLOGY:In this study 86 confirmed cases of PKDL were treated with two different dosage regimens of miltefosine (Regimen I- 50mg twice daily for 90 days and Regimen II- 50 mg thrice for 60 days) and the clinical outcome assessed monthly. Cure/relapse was ascertained by clinical and histopathological examination, and measuring parasite burden by quantitative real-time PCR. In vitro susceptibility of parasites towards miltefosine was estimated at both promastigote and amastigote stages. RESULTS:Seventy three of eighty six patients completed the treatment and achieved clinical cure. Approximately 4% (3/73) patients relapsed by the end of 12 months follow-up, while a total of 15% (11/73) relapsed by the end of 18 months. Relapse rate was significantly higher in regimen II (31%) compared to regimen I (10.5%)(P2 fold) in comparison with the pre-treatment isolates (P