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Preliminary survey on the current status of pebrine disease in Magadi taluk of Mysore seed area was conducted from November 2022 to April 2023. The results revealed that the disease incidence in pupae and mother moths samples collected from two Governament Model Grainages (Magadi and Kudur) was found to be on par with 6.66 per cent. However, the DFLs collected from both the grainages had no incidence of pebrine. The overall per cent mean pebrine disease incidence in two Government Model Grainages (Magadi and Kudur) in Magadi taluk of Mysore seed area was 4.44. On microscopic examination of each of the thirty samples collected from Mathikere and Koramangala CRCs no pebrine spores were detected, indicating no pebrine incidence in Mattikere and Koramangala CRCs of Magadi taluk in Mysore seed area. The pebrine disease incidence in late age silkworms collected from Soluru, Kudur and Kalya hoblies in farmer's field was 12.00, 8.00 and 8.00 per cent, respectively. The presence of pebrine in silkworm excreta collected from Soluru, Kudur and Kalya hoblies from farmer's field was 8.00, 4.00 and 4.00 per cent, respectively. The overall average disease incidence covering the three different hoblies including 15 villages surveyed in Magadi taluk of Mysore seed area was 9.33 per cent in late age silkworms and 5.33 per cent in silkworm excreta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, plant products have enjoyed a rich use for their medicinal properties in herbal medicine. Plant compounds with multiple anticancer characteristics are essential to be developed as anticancer drugs. In the same context, we have made an attempt to screen seven crude ethanolic extracts of medicinally vital plants for their antitumor activity using Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) model. Dioscoria bulbifera L. is a plant used as traditional medicine in mainland China, having antitumor effects in its extracts and/or ingredients. And since, our preliminary results indicated that, D. bulbifera rhizomes extract (DBRE) had the best antitumor, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic potential amongst other plants; it was chosen for further in vitro and in vivo studies. The peritoneum of mice treated with DBRE showed significant reduction in peritoneal angiogenesis, which was further confirmed by inhibition of neovascularization in rat cornea and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in vivo. Additionally, we noted attenuated micro vessel density (MVD) count and endothelial cell proliferation in the histological section of DBRE treated mice peritoneum. Quantitation of VEGF in the DBRE treated ascitic fluid of EAT mice showed significant reduction in VEGF secretion when compared to untreated controls. DBRE also exhibited excellent antiproliferative effects against EAT, choriocarcinoma, breast cancer cells, glioblastoma, endothelial cells in vitro in a dose dependent manner. Further, antiangiogenic activity of DBRE in the tube formation assay strengthened the presumption that D. bulbifera may be a potential supplementary source for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Technical innovations in radiation therapy treatment planning and delivery over the last two decades have changed the practice of radiation therapy dramatically. The benefit of improved dose homogeneity and better sparing of critical structures in helical tomotherapy compared with conventional linac-based IMRT has been reported. This study was conducted to compare acute toxicities (skin, mucous membrane, salivary gland and hematological) during treatment and overall treatment time in Head and Neck Cancer patients treated with IMRT and Helical Tomotherapy and to assess the quality of life of patients during treatment between two groups., Materials and Methods: The study involved thirty patients with histologically proven Squamous cell carcinomas of Head and Neck. They were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, to a dose of 60-70 Gray in 30-35 fractions. The study consists of 2 arms which are standard IMRT and Tomotherapy arm. Fifteen consecutive patients were treated under IMRT and 15 patients were treated under Helical tomotherapy, along with concurrent chemotherapy. After completion of planning, plans were evaluated and dose to the targets, organs at risk were tabulated. Patients were assessed weekly for acute toxicities (skin reactions, mucositis, xerostomia, haematological toxicities) during the course of the treatment as per RTOG criteria. Quality of life of patients were assessed using FACT/ NCCN HNSI questionnaire in local language at day 1, day 21 and at completion of radiotherapy., Results: Grade 2-3 skin reactions, mucositis, anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were predominant in both arms. Treatment time from start of radiotherapy to completion of radiotherapy varied from 39 days to 68 days. Majority of patients completed radiotherapy within 50-56 days. Mean quality of life score did not show much difference between IMRT and tomotherapy arms., Conclusion: The study did not show any statistically significant difference in overall treatment time, acute toxicities- skin reactions, xerostomia, mucositis& hematological toxicities and quality of life of patients during radiotherapy between IMRT and Helical Tomotherapy. Dosimetric benefits of Tomotherapy over IMRT do not translate into clinical benefit in terms of reduced acute toxicities, lesser overall treatment time and better quality of life of patients., Key Words: Head and Neck Carcinoma, IMRT, Tomotherapy, RTOG, toxicity, FACT/ NCCN HNSI, quality of life.

Purpose: To compare dose volume parameters of target and organs at risk in vaginal vault brachytherapy using ovoids or cylinder in post-operative endometrial carcinoma., Material and Methods: The study was done among 25 histologically proven post-operative endometrial carcinoma patients requiring vaginal brachytherapy. All patients underwent both cylinder and ovoids application alternatively on weekly basis. Ovoids size ranged from 2 to 3 cm diameter. Diameters of cylinder ranged between 2.5 and 3.5 cm. Bladder, rectum, urethra, and clinical target volume (CTV) were contoured on CT simulation images. Prescribed dose was 6-7 Gy in 2-3 fractions at 0.5 cm from the surface of applicator., Results: The mean values of D 90 , D 50 , V 150 , V 100 , V 90 , and V 50 of CTV were comparable between cylinder and ovoids plans. The mean dose of CTV was significantly higher with cylinder than with ovoids, and D 100 was significantly higher with ovoids (mean = 15.63 Gy vs. 14.64 Gy, p = 0.016, and D 100 = 37.82% vs. 42.86%, p = 0.042, for cylinder vs. ovoids). In the dosimetry of the vault, D 90 , D 50 , V 100 , V 90 , V 50 , and mean of the vault did not show any significant difference between cylinder and ovoids. The V 150 was significantly higher with cylinder plans than ovoids, and D 100 of the vault was significantly higher with ovoids plans (V 150 = 14.81% vs. 6.86%, p = 0.02, and D 100 = 37.77% vs. 44.80%, p = 0.029, for cylinder vs. ovoids). D 0.1cc , D 1cc , D 2cc , and mean for the bladder, rectum, and urethra were comparable between the cylinder and ovoid plans., Conclusions: The present study showed that the dose to organs at risk, most of the dosimetric parameters of CTV, and vault were comparable between the cylinder and ovoid plans. Both applicators provide good reproducibility. The choice of applicator will ultimately depend on the institutional policies and oncologist decision. However, in patients with dog-ear configuration of the vagina, ovoids may be preferred as per ABS guidelines., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Termedia.)