Assessment of parental awareness about pediatric visual problems by Knowledge-Attitude-Practice survey in South India

Purpose

To find out parents' knowledge, attitude, and treatment practice (KAP) toward pediatric eye problems and to assess the effect of demographic factors such as gender, age, educational status, and number of children on KAP.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a hospital setting. Two hundred parents were randomly selected for the questionnaire. All parents had children who were included in Systematic Pediatric Eye Care Through Sibling Screening Strategies (SPECSSS) study. A survey with 15 questions on KAP of pediatric eye diseases was prepared and administered to parents coming to a tertiary eye hospital with varied experience and education qualifications.

Results

The mean age of 200 patients was 9.6 (3.4) years, with the majority of them male (n = 110; 55.0%). The majority of the children (n = 91, 45.5%) were between the age group of 6-10 years. Knowledge of visual problems among parents was of a good grade in 9% only. The attitude of the parents toward the visual problem was positive at 17%, and the responses regarding the practice were of excellent grade at 46.5% and good at 26.5%. Analysis suggests that the level of knowledge and practice were not significantly associated with the demographic factors (p > 0.05). The positive attitude toward the visual problems of the children was associated with education of the parents (p < 0.05) and the father occupation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Knowledge about pediatric eye diseases was poor among parents and it was significantly affected by education and occupation of parents. The parents have positive attitude toward enhancing their attitude in treatment.

Identification of potential barriers for timely access to pediatric sibling eye check-up in a tertiary eye care hospital

Purpose

To identify socio-economic, demographic, and clinical factors that may be associated with sibling access to ophthalmic check-up.

Methods

A cross-sectional, descriptive study investigated children in the age group of 0-15 years under a project on Systematic Pediatric Eye Care Through Sibling Screening Strategies (SPECSSS project). The siblings of pediatric patients (proband) with refractive errors, strabismus, cataract, glaucoma, and retinal pathologies were given a referral card for ophthalmic check-up. If parents do not bring siblings for check-up within 1 month of initial information and even after 2 SMS reminders, it was considered as failure to uptake of services. On follow-up later, they were provided a questionnaire. A questionnaire was given to the parent by interview through a project coordinator, and details were obtained from the parents or caretaker. Parents who were willing for telephonic interview were asked to respond to the questionnaire over phone on the scheduled date. The sibling details, parent-related details, and data from questionnaire forms were entered and analyzed.

Results

The mean age of 300 siblings was 9.3 ± 4.0 years with the majority of them being female (158). The most common reasons quoted by parents in the rural area compared with the urban area for not bringing siblings for eye exams were the travel distance from home to the hospital (n = 118, 83.7%), the travel time from home to the hospital (n = 109, 77.3%), more than one vehicle required to change (n = 111, 78.7%), and the transportation cost more than rupees 100 (INR) (n = 89, 63.1%) (p < 0.05). Unable to leave work responsibilities (n = 126, 79.3%) was stated more frequently by urban parents compared to rural (p = 0.039).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the financial factor, the distance factor, and social belief play an important role in timely uptake of sibling eye check-up. Targeting siblings with treatable pediatric eye diseases could help in reducing the burden of refractive error, strabismus, and cataract in the pediatric population.

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale1-3. Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter4; identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation5,6; analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution7; describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity8,9; and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes8,10-18.

Cellular models to study schizophrenia: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Advancements in cellular reprogramming techniques have made it possible to directly study brain cells from patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. We have systematically reviewed the applications of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) and their neural derivatives in understanding the biological basis of schizophrenia.

METHOD

We searched the scientific literature published in MEDLINE with the following search strategy: (Pluripotent) AND (Schizophrenia OR Antipsychotic OR Psychosis). Studies written in English that used IPSCs derived from patients with schizophrenia were included.

RESULTS

Out of 23 articles, which had used IPSCs from patients with schizophrenia, neurons or neural stem cells had been derived from them in a majority. Several parameters had been studied; the key cellular phenotypes identified included those of synaptic pathology, neural migration/proliferation deficits, and abnormal oxidative phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION

Cellular modelling using IPSCs could improve the biological understanding of schizophrenia. Emerging findings are consistent with those of other study designs (post-mortem brain expression, animal studies, genome-wide association, brain imaging). Future studies should focus on refined study designs (family-based, pharmacogenomics, gene editing) and a combination of cellular studies with deep clinical phenotyping.

Landscape of somatic mutations in 560 breast cancer whole-genome sequences

We analysed whole-genome sequences of 560 breast cancers to advance understanding of the driver mutations conferring clonal advantage and the mutational processes generating somatic mutations. We found that 93 protein-coding cancer genes carried probable driver mutations. Some non-coding regions exhibited high mutation frequencies, but most have distinctive structural features probably causing elevated mutation rates and do not contain driver mutations. Mutational signature analysis was extended to genome rearrangements and revealed twelve base substitution and six rearrangement signatures. Three rearrangement signatures, characterized by tandem duplications or deletions, appear associated with defective homologous-recombination-based DNA repair: one with deficient BRCA1 function, another with deficient BRCA1 or BRCA2 function, the cause of the third is unknown. This analysis of all classes of somatic mutation across exons, introns and intergenic regions highlights the repertoire of cancer genes and mutational processes operating, and progresses towards a comprehensive account of the somatic genetic basis of breast cancer.

Optimal Timing of Pulmonary Banding for Newborns with Single Ventricle Physiology and Unrestricted Pulmonary Blood Flow

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal timing of pulmonary artery band (PAB) placement in neonates with single ventricle physiology, unrestricted pulmonary blood flow, and no systemic outflow tract obstruction. Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent isolated PAB for single ventricle physiology between January 2005 and December 2014 was carried out. The influence of age at the time of PAB on operative mortality, the need for reoperation to adjust the PAB, the preparedness of the pulmonary vascular bed prior to the second-stage bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS), and the outcomes following BCPS were studied. The study cohort included 54 subjects (34 males). The median age at the time of PAB was 18 days. The overall mortality following PAB was 4 % (2/54). Reoperation for PAB adjustment was 7 % (4/54). Younger age at the time of PAB was not associated with mortality or increased risk of reoperation. There was a mild positive correlation between the age at PAB and the mean pulmonary artery pressure prior to BCPS. There was also a weak positive correlation between the age at PAB and the duration of ventilation following BCPS. Age at the time of PAB did not influence pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) prior to BCPS or the mortality and hospital stay following BCPS. PAB can be done safely and effectively soon after birth in neonates with single ventricle physiology, increased pulmonary blood flow, and no potential or actual systemic outflow tract obstruction. It may not be necessary to wait for a few weeks after birth for the neonatal PVR to fall before placing a PAB.

Multiple myeloma involving mandible: In an elderly female

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cell origin. It often has a multicentric origin within the bone. It makes about 1% of all malignancies and 15% of all hematologic malignancies. There is a monoclonal proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in this disease that arise from a single malignant precursor that has undergone uncontrolled mitotic division. These cells in turn produce one type of immunoglobulin light chain, either kappa or lambda. Unifocal, monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells is called plasmacytoma. Hereby, we present a case of a 65-year-old female patient who presented with a swelling of the mandible. The uniform sheets of plasma cells in the histopathology punched out radiolucencies in skull radiograph and the blood picture of anemia and hypercalcemia, confirmed the case as MM.

Sex determination in forensic odontology: A review

Forensic odontology is the application of dental principles to legal issues. Sex determination is a subdivision of forensic odontology and it is very important especially when information relating to the deceased is unavailable. Sex determination becomes the first priority in the process of identification of a person by a forensic investigator in the case of mishaps, chemical and nuclear bomb explosions, natural disasters crime investigations, and ethnic studies. This article reviews upon the various methods used in sex determination.

Oral pigmentation: A review

Pigmentations are commonly found in the mouth. They represent in various clinical patterns that can range from just physiologic changes to oral manifestations of systemic diseases and malignancies. Color changes in the oral mucosa can be attributed to the deposition of either endogenous or exogenous pigments as a result of various mucosal diseases. The various pigmentations can be in the form of blue/purple vascular lesions, brown melanotic lesions, brown heme-associated lesions, gray/black pigmentations.

Influence on Different Types of Mycorrhizal Fungi on Crop Productivity in Ecosystem

Mycorrhizal fungi greatly enhanced the ability of plants to take up phosphorus and other nutrients those are relatively immobile and exist in low concentration in the soil solution. Fungi can be important in the uptake of other nutrients by the host plant. Mycorrhizae establish symbiotic relationships with plants and play an essential role in plant growth, disease protection, and overall soil quality. Of the seven types of mycorrhizae described in current scientific literature (arbuscular, ecto, ectendo, arbutoid, monotropoid, ericoid and orchidaceous mycorrhizae), the arbuscular and ectomycorrhizae are the most abundant and widespread. This chapter presents an overview of current knowledge of mycorrhizal interactions, processes, and potential benefits to society. The molecular basis of nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and host plants is presented; the role of AM fungi in disease protection, alleviation of heavy metal stress and increasing grain production. Most land plants form associations with mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizas are mutualistic associations between fungi and plant roots. They are described as symbiotic because the fungus receives photo synthetically derived carbon compounds and the plant has increased access to mineral nutrients and sometimes water.

708 Common and 2010 rare DISC1 locus variants identified in 1542 subjects: analysis for association with psychiatric disorder and cognitive traits

A balanced t(1;11) translocation that transects the Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene shows genome-wide significant linkage for schizophrenia and recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD) in a single large Scottish family, but genome-wide and exome sequencing-based association studies have not supported a role for DISC1 in psychiatric illness. To explore DISC1 in more detail, we sequenced 528 kb of the DISC1 locus in 653 cases and 889 controls. We report 2718 validated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of which 2010 have a minor allele frequency of <1%. Only 38% of these variants are reported in the 1000 Genomes Project European subset. This suggests that many DISC1 SNPs remain undiscovered and are essentially private. Rare coding variants identified exclusively in patients were found in likely functional protein domains. Significant region-wide association was observed between rs16856199 and rMDD (P=0.026, unadjusted P=6.3 × 10(-5), OR=3.48). This was not replicated in additional recurrent major depression samples (replication P=0.11). Combined analysis of both the original and replication set supported the original association (P=0.0058, OR=1.46). Evidence for segregation of this variant with disease in families was limited to those of rMDD individuals referred from primary care. Burden analysis for coding and non-coding variants gave nominal associations with diagnosis and measures of mood and cognition. Together, these observations are likely to generalise to other candidate genes for major mental illness and may thus provide guidelines for the design of future studies.

Pharmacogistic Studies on Root of <i>Stachytarpheta jamaicensis</i>

The present study reveals the pharmacognostic studies root of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl. The objectives of the present work comprises of collection, identification, macroscopical, Ph of aqueous solution, soluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive, flouresence analysis of root. The root section was taken and microscopical studies were carried out, the root shows derived from the cork, the periderm tissue is formed, which replaces the epidermis in the outer layer. The next tissue identified inwards was the cortex. Sclerenchyma was seen as a ring in the roots, while as a group, formed from a group of cells, in the mature ones. In the middle, xylem tissue occupies a large area, just below the phloem tissue.

Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Plant Density, Growth, Yield and Fruit of Bell Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.)

The present research was carried out to evaluate response of Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) to plant density and nitrogen fertilizer under field conditions. Plant density at four levels (20×50 cm, 30×50 cm, 20×100 cm and 30×100 cm) and nitrogen treatments at four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg·N·ha-1) were applied. Plant height, lateral stem number, leaf chlorophyll content, yield, and were assessed at immature and mature stages. The results showed that vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, lateral stem number and leaf dry matter) and reproductive factors (fruit volume and fruit weight) decreased with increasing plant density, but total yield (kg·ha-1) increased with increasing plant density. The highest and lowest total yields were obtained by plant density 20×50 cm and 30×100 cm respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer was significantly affected on plant height, lateral stem number and leaf chlorophyll content. It was observed that fertilization with 150 kg·N·ha-1 resulted to the highest fruit volume and plant yield. There were significant differences between fruit volume and fruit weight by interaction between plant density and nitrogen treatments.

Effect of Inoculation of AM Fungi and Beneficial Microorganisms on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. (Finger Millet)

Biofertilizers have been used as sources to improve plant nutrients in sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers are low cost, renewable sources of plant nutrients which supplement chemical fertilizers. Mycorrhizal fungi are a major component of agricultural natural resources and members of kingdom fungi. The term ‘mycorrhiza’ is derived from Greek word which means ‘fungus root’. Earthen pot experiments were carried out to study the inoculation effect of ArbuscularMycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus mossease), Azospirillium brasilense and PSB on plant height, dry weight of root and shoot, per cent root colonization, spore number, P and N uptake. Experimental pots were filled with 4 kegs of sterilized soil and maintained in green house at 25-30 °C temperature. Single inoculation of AM fungi and combined inoculation of AM fungi with Azospirillium brasilense or PSB was found to be moderately increased in all the growth parameters. However triple inoculation of AM fungi,Azospirillium brasilense and PSB was found to have highest growth parameters.

Pharmacogistic Studies on Root of <i>Stachytarpheta jamaicensis</i>

The present study reveals the pharmacognostic studies root of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl. The objectives of the present work comprises of collection, identification, macroscopical, Ph of aqueous solution, soluble ash, alcohol soluble extractive, flouresence analysis of root. The root section was taken and microscopical studies were carried out, the root shows derived from the cork, the periderm tissue is formed, which replaces the epidermis in the outer layer. The next tissue identified inwards was the cortex. Sclerenchyma was seen as a ring in the roots, while as a group, formed from a group of cells, in the mature ones. In the middle, xylem tissue occupies a large area, just below the phloem tissue.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the gingiva

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is widely regarded as the commonest soft tissue sarcoma of adulthood which tends to occur in the deep soft tissues of the extremities and the retroperitoneum. Uncertain histogenesis and numerous subtypes make MFH a rather controversial entity. These tumours are relatively rare in the head and neck region accounting for only 1-3% of all cases of MFH. MFH exhibits a heterogenous histology of spindle cells in a characteristic storiform pattern with pleomorphic tumour cells and giant cells. A case is reported of an MFH of the gingiva in a 60-year-old woman who presented with a painful swelling originating from the left maxillary gingiva. The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings are discussed.

Benign cementoblastoma

Benign cementoblastoma is a rare odontogenic tumor characterized by the formation of a mass of cementum or cementum-like tissue attached to the roots of a tooth. Cementoblastoma are distinctive but relatively uncommon tumors. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of a case of benign cementoblastoma are presented in this paper along with a brief review of the literature.

Long-term nasogastric tube feeding in elderly stroke patients--an assessment of nutritional adequacy and attitudes to gastrostomy feeding in Asians

BACKGROUND

Gastrostomy feeding is superior to long-term nasogastric (NG) feeding in patients with dysphagic stroke, but this practice remains uncommon in Asia. We sought to examine the nutritional adequacy of patients on long term NG feeding and identify barriers to gastrostomy feeding in these patients.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective comparison of subjective global assessment (SGA), and anthropometry (mid-arm muscle circumference, MAMC; triceps skinfold thickness, TST) between elderly stroke patients on long-term NG feeding and matched controls was performed. Selected clinicians and carers of patients were interviewed to assess their knowledge and attitudes to gastrostomy feeding.

RESULTS

140 patients (70 NG, 70 oral) were recruited between September 2010 and February 2011. Nutritional status was poorer in the NG compared to the oral group (SGA grade C 38.6% NG vs 0% oral, p<0.001; TST males 10.7 + 3.7 mm NG vs 15.4 + 4.6 mm oral, p<0.001; MAMCmales 187.9 + 40.4 mm NG vs 228.7 + 31.8 mm oral, p<0.001). 45 (64.3%) patients on long-term NG feeding reported complications, mainly consisting of dislodgement (50.5%), aspiration of feed content (8.6%) and trauma from insertion (4.3%). Among 20 clinicians from relevant speciliaties who were interviewed, only 11 (55%) clinicians would routinely recommend a PEG. All neurologists (100%) would recommend a PEG, whilst the response was mixed among non-neurologists. Among carers, lack of information (47.1%) was the commonest reason stated for not choosing a PEG.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with stroke on long term NG feeding have a poor nutritional status. Lack of recommendation by clinicians appears to be a major barrier to PEG feeding in these patients.

Anemia as a risk factor for childhood asthma

Objective:

This prospective-(cohort) study was conducted to evaluate whether anemia is a risk factor for childhood asthma.

Materials and Methods:

Two hundred children in the age group of 2-18 years who attended the Outpatient Department with upper respiratory / lower respiratory tract infections were included in this study. One hundred children with anemia were taken as the study group and another 100, age - and sex-matched children without anemia were taken as the control.They were subjected to complete blood count (CBC) C-reactive protein (CRP) estimation, Mantoux test and chest X-ray. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed on those above six years showing evidence of asthma. Peripheral smear, serum ferritin and serum iron-binding capacity were estimated for all anemic children.

Results:

Asthma was present in 74 (74%) children in the study group and in 33 (33%) children in the control group. Iron-deficiency anemia was present in 85 (85%) anemia of chronic infection in 20 (20%) and the other five (5%) had hemolytic anemia. Anemia was found to be a risk factor for childhood asthma.

Conclusion:

Anemic children were 5.75 times more susceptible to asthmatic attacks when compared with nonanemic children.

Oral myiasis caused by Chrysomya bezziana

Oral myiasis is a rare disease caused by larvae of certain dipteran flies. It is mostly reported in developing countries and in the tropics. Herein, a case of oral myiasis in the maxillary anterior region of a 14-year-old mentally challenged boy is being reported. The myiasis was caused by the larvae of Chrysomya bezziana species. The clinical findings are presented. Etiology and the importance of oral health in special people are also discussed.

Return to work after spinal cord injury in Malaysia

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the employment outcomes of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the impact of various demographic, injury-related and work-related variables on these outcomes.

SETTING

People living with SCI in Malaysia who are members of a disability support organization.

METHODS

A total of 84 members of the Malaysian Spinal Injury Association, who have had traumatic SCI for at least 2 years and were between 15 and 64 years of age at the time of study, were interviewed through phone using a questionnaire to identify the association between demographic, injury-related and work-related variables and employment outcomes.

RESULTS

The return to work rate in this study was 57.1% (employed at the time of study). The overall employment rate after SCI was 76.2% (worked at some point after injury). Those who were younger at time of injury (<20 years of age), able to drive a modified vehicle, independent in personal care and mobility were positively related to being employed. On the other hand, being hospitalized in the preceding 1 year and receiving financial incentives were negatively related to employment.

CONCLUSION

Functional independence, especially ability to drive, was strongly associated with return to work and should be one of the priority goals of comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with SCI. The negative impact of recent hospitalization as well as financial compensation needs to be probed further.

Computer aided selection of candidate vaccine antigens

Immunoinformatics is an emergent branch of informatics science that long ago pullulated from the tree of knowledge that is bioinformatics. It is a discipline which applies informatic techniques to problems of the immune system. To a great extent, immunoinformatics is typified by epitope prediction methods. It has found disappointingly limited use in the design and discovery of new vaccines, which is an area where proper computational support is generally lacking. Most extant vaccines are not based around isolated epitopes but rather correspond to chemically-treated or attenuated whole pathogens or correspond to individual proteins extract from whole pathogens or correspond to complex carbohydrate. In this chapter we attempt to review what progress there has been in an as-yet-underexplored area of immunoinformatics: the computational discovery of whole protein antigens. The effective development of antigen prediction methods would significantly reduce the laboratory resource required to identify pathogenic proteins as candidate subunit vaccines. We begin our review by placing antigen prediction firmly into context, exploring the role of reverse vaccinology in the design and discovery of vaccines. We also highlight several competing yet ultimately complementary methodological approaches: sub-cellular location prediction, identifying antigens using sequence similarity, and the use of sophisticated statistical approaches for predicting the probability of antigen characteristics. We end by exploring how a systems immunomics approach to the prediction of immunogenicity would prove helpful in the prediction of antigens.

Discriminating antigen and non-antigen using proteome dissimilarity II: viral and fungal antigens

Immunogenicity arises via many synergistic mechanisms, yet the overall dissimilarity of pathogenic proteins versus the host proteome has been proposed as a key arbiter. We have previously explored this concept in relation to Bacterial antigens; here we extend our analysis to antigens of viral and fungal origin. Sets of known viral and fungal antigenic and non-antigenic protein sequences were compared to human and mouse proteomes. Both antigenic and non-antigenic sequences lacked human or mouse homologues. Observed distributions were compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The statistical null hypothesis was accepted, indicating that antigen and non-antigens did not differ significantly. Likewise, we could not determine a threshold able meaningfully to separate non-antigen from antigen. We conclude that viral and fungal antigens cannot be predicted from pathogen genomes based solely on their dissimilarity to mammalian genomes.

Discriminating antigen and non-antigen using proteome dissimilarity III: tumour and parasite antigens

Computational genome analysis enables systematic identification of potential immunogenic proteins within a pathogen. Immunogenicity is a system property that arises through the interaction of host and pathogen as mediated through the medium of a immunogenic protein. The overt dissimilarity of pathogenic proteins when compared to the host proteome is conjectured by some to be the determining principal of immunogenicity. Previously, we explored this idea in the context of Bacterial, Viral, and Fungal antigen. In this paper, we broaden and extend our analysis to include complex antigens of eukaryotic origin, arising from tumours and from parasite pathogens. For both types of antigen, known antigenic and non-antigenic protein sequences were compared to human and mouse proteomes. In contrast to our previous results, both visual inspection and statistical evaluation indicate a much wider range of homologues and a significant level of discrimination; but, as before, we could not determine a viable threshold capable of properly separating non-antigen from antigen. In concert with our previous work, we conclude that global proteome dissimilarity is not a useful metric for immunogenicity for presently available antigens arising from Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and tumours. While we see some signal for certain antigen types, using dissimilarity is not a useful approach to identifying antigenic molecules within pathogen genomes.

Discriminating antigen and non-antigen using proteome dissimilarity: bacterial antigens

It has been postulated that immunogenicity results from the overall dissimilarity of pathogenic proteins versus the host proteome. We have sought to use this concept to discriminate between antigens and non-antigens of bacterial origin. Sets of 100 known antigenic and nonantigenic peptide sequences from bacteria were compared to human and mouse proteomes. Both antigenic and non-antigenic sequences lacked human or mouse homologues. Observed distributions were compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The statistical null hypothesis was accepted, indicating that antigen and non-antigens did not differ significantly. Likewise, we were unable to determine a threshold able to separate meaningfully antigen from non-antigen. Thus, antigens cannot be predicted from pathogen genomes based solely on their dissimilarity to the human genome.

Hypercalcemia and metastatic calcification in a neonate with subcutaneous fat necrosis

We report a 30-day-old baby with subcutaneous fat necrosis and symptomatic hypercalcemia, who developed metastatic calcification in the subcutaneous tissue, kidneys, pericardium and brain. The baby also had anemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. He was managed with intravenous saline, furosemide, oral steroids and bisphosphonates and improved with treatment.

Hemoglobin level as a risk factor for lower respiratory tract infections

OBJECTIVE

This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the role of hemoglobin level, as a risk factor for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in children (LRTI).

METHODS

100 children who came to the outpatient department for LRTI were included in the study. Age and sex-matched 100 children, not having any respiratory illness, were taken as control. They were subjected to complete blood count (CBC),C-reactive protein estimation (CRP), Mantoux test and X-ray chest. Peripheral smear, serum ferritin and serum iron binding capacity were done for all anemic children. Results. Radiological evidence of pneumonia was present in 63 children(63%).Hyper inflated lungs were seen in 27 (27%). Mantoux was positive in 22 children (22%) of study group and none among control group. CRP > 6 mg/L was noted in 45 children (45%) of study group and 14 (14%) of control group. Seventy four of study group (74 %) and 33 of control group (33%) had anemia. Of the anemic children, 60 (60%) had iron deficiency,10 (10%) chronic inflammation and 4 (4%) had hemolytic anemia. These values were 30 (30%), 2 (2%) and 1 (1%)respectively for control group. Low hemoglobin level due to whatever etiology, was a risk factor (p=0.000).

CONCLUSION

Anemic children were 5.75 times more susceptible to LRTI compared to the control group. Prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology, will reduce the incidence of LRTI.

Developmental pattern formation of somatic embryos induced in cell suspension cultures of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

The sequence of events in the functional body pattern formation during the somatic embryo development in cowpea suspensions is described under three heads. Early stages of somatic embryogenesis were characterized by both periclinal and anti-clinal cell divisions. Differentiation of the protoderm cell layer by periclinal divisions marked the commencement of somatic embryogenesis. The most critical events appear to be the formation of apical meristems, establishment of apical-basal patterns of symmetry, and cellular organization in oblong-stage somatic embryo for the transition to torpedo and cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos. Two different stages of mature embryos showing distinct morphology, classified based on the number of cotyledons and their ability to convert into plantlets, were visualized. Repeated mitotic divisions of the sub-epidermal cell layers marked the induction of pro-embryogenic mass (PEM) in the embryogenic calli. The first division plane was periclinally-oriented, the second anti-clinally-oriented, and the subsequent division planes appeared in any direction, leading to clusters of pro-embryogenic clumps. Differentiation of the protoderm layer marks the beginning of the structural differentiation in globular stage. Incipient pro-cambium formation is the first sign of somatic embryo transition. Axial elongation of inner isodiametric cells of the globular somatic embryo followed by the change in the growth axis of the pro-cambium is an important event in oblong-stage somatic embryo. Vacuolation in the ground meristem of torpedo-stage embryo begins the process of histodifferentiation. Three major embryonic tissue systems; shoot apical meristem, root apical meristem, and the differentiation of pro-cambial strands, are visible in torpedo-stage somatic embryo. Monocotyledonary-stage somatic embryo induced both the shoot apical meristem and two leaf primordia compared to the ansiocotyledonary somatic embryo.

In vitro somatic embryogenesis from cell suspension cultures of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

We report, an efficient protocol for plantlet regeneration from the cell suspension cultures of cowpea through somatic embryogenesis. Primary leaf-derived, embryogenic calli initiated in MMS [MS salts (Murashige and Skoog 1962) with B5 (Gamborg et al. 1968) vitamins] medium containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), casein hydrolysate (CH), and L: -Glutamic acid-5-amide (Gln). Fast-growing embryogenic cell suspensions were established in 0.5 mg l(-1) 2,4-D, which resulted in the highest recovery of early stages of somatic embryos in liquid MMS medium. Embryo development was asynchronous and strongly influenced by the 2,4-D concentration. Mature monocotyledonary-stage somatic embryos were induced in liquid B5 medium containing 0.1 mg l(-1) 2,4-D, 20 mg l(-1) L: -Proline (Pro), 5 muM Abscisic acid (ABA), and 2% mannitol. B5 medium was found superior for the maturation of somatic embryos compared to MS and MMS media. The importance of duration (5 d) for effective maturation of somatic embryos is demonstrated. A reduction in the 2,4-D level in suspensions increased the somatic embryo induction and maturation with decreased abnormalities. Sucrose was found to be the best carbon source for callus induction while mannitol for embryo maturation and maltose for embryo germination. Extension of hypocotyls and complete development of plantlet was achieved in half-strength B5 medium supplemented with 3% maltose, 2500 mg l(-1) potassium nitrate, and 0.05 mg l(-1) thidiazuron (TDZ) with 32% regeneration frequency. Field-established plants were morphologically normal and fertile. This regeneration protocol assures a high frequency of embryo induction, maturation, and plantlet conversion.