Vitamin D-An Ignored Biomarker. Should We Supplement Vitamin D in Insufficient State or Monitor It as an Important Biomarker of MIND Association?

Vitamin D deficiency has become a global epidemic in the past 2 decades. The present review has enlightened us about the etiopathogenesis of this epidemic. A search of the literature and our previous studies were analyzed, and a conclusion was created.

A detailed model and Monte Carlo simulation for predicting DIP genome length distribution in baculovirus infection of insect cells.

Baculoviruses have enormous potential for use as biopesticides to control insect pest populations without the adverse environmental effects posed by the widespread use of chemical pesticides. However, continuous baculovirus production is susceptible to DNA mutation and the subsequent production of defective interfering particles (DIPs). The amount of DIPs produced and their genome length distribution are of great interest not only for baculoviruses but for many other DNA and RNA viruses.

A structured review of baculovirus infection process: integration of mathematical models and biomolecular information on cell-virus interaction.

The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is an emerging tool for the production of recombinant proteins, vaccines and bio-pesticides. However, a system-level understanding of the complex infection process is important in realizing large-scale production at a lower cost. The entire baculovirus infection process is summarized as a combination of various modules and the existing mathematical models are discussed in light of these modules.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection leads to the development of head and neck lesions but offers better prognosis in malignant Indian patients.

Head and neck cancers constitute a multifactorial global disease burden and are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) as a possible risk factor. The aim of the study is to understand the relationship between HPV and the development of head and neck lesions in Indian patients. To this end, frequency of HPV was assessed in relation to different demographic and etiological features and correlated with patient survival.

WITHDRAWN: Differential molecular signature alterations of RBSP3, LIMD1 and CDC25A in normal oral epithelium during oral tumorigenesis.

The Accepted Manuscript version of this article (published on 1 June 2016) was withdrawn on 24 November 2017 at the request of the authors.

MicroRNA profiling of cisplatin-resistant oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines enriched with cancer-stem-cell-like and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-type features.

Oral cancer is of major public health problem in India. Current investigation was aimed to identify the specific deregulated miRNAs which are responsible for development of resistance phenotype through regulating their resistance related target gene expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Cisplatin-resistant OSCC cell lines were developed from their parental human OSCC cell lines and subsequently characterised.

Frequent inactivation of SLIT2 and ROBO1 signaling in head and neck lesions: clinical and prognostic implications.

Objective: The protein SLIT2 and its receptor ROBO1 regulate different cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. In this study our aim is to understand the alterations of these genes during development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: First, molecular alterations of the genes were analyzed in 30 dysplastic lesions, 128 primary HNSCC samples, and 1 HNSCC cell line.

Synthesis and in situ observation of 3D superlattices of gold nanoparticles using oil-in-water emulsion.

In this work oil-in-water emulsion has been successfully used as a confined environment to grow 3D superlattices of gold nanoparticles. The superlattices were grown from 5 nm uniform gold nanoparticles using slow destabilization method. The confined environment was created by forming a stable emulsion where the gold colloid suspended in toluene was used as oil phase.

Anaesthetic management of a child with large occipital meningomyelocele.

A meningomyelocele is herniation of meninges along with neural elements through a congenital defect in the cranium or vertebral column. Reported incidence of occipital meningomyelocele is 1 in 5000 live births. Children with meningomyelocele may have varying degrees of sensory and motor deficits and other important associated congenital defects with clinical features of brain stem compression.

The effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on propofol requirement for maintenance of optimum depth of anaesthesia during elective spine surgery.

Background: Maintenance of adequate depth of anaesthesia in spine surgery is vital to prevent awareness, to reduce stress response and possible autonomic instability frequently associated with spine surgery. Dexmedetomidine, a α2-adrenoceptor agonist with analgesic and sedative adjuvant property has been found to reduce dose requirement of multiple anaesthetic agents both for induction and during the maintenance of anaesthesia.

Aim: The aim of this study is to observe the effect of dexmedetomidine, on the requirement of propofol for induction and maintenance of adequate depth of anaesthesia during spine surgery.

Anaesthetic management of a patient with motor neuron disease posted for microlaryngeal surgery.

Motor neuron disease (MND) typically affects upper and lower motor neurons without any sensory involvement. Regional anaesthesia is preferred in motor neuron disease patients to avoid aspiration and possibility of prolonged postoperative ventilation following general anaesthesia. As microlaryngeal surgery in a motor neuron disease patient needed airway protection, it was decided to perform the surgery under general anaesthesia with awake intubation following airway block and avoiding muscle relaxant agents completely to minimise unnecessary complications.

CHARGE Association.

We present here a case of 17-year-old boy from Kolkata presenting with obesity, bilateral gynecomastia, mental retardation, and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. The patient weighed 70 kg and was of 153 cm height. Facial asymmetry (unilateral facial palsy), gynecomastia, decreased pubic and axillary hair, small penis, decreased right testicular volume, non-palpable left testis, and right-sided congenital inguinal hernia was present.

Inactivation of 9q22.3 tumor suppressor genes predict outcome for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: This study examined the prognostic significance of candidate tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) PHD finger protein-2 (PHF2), Fanconi anaemia complementation group C (FANCC) and human homologue of Drosophila patched gene (PTCH1), in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated primarily with surgery, or surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Eighty-four patients with HNSCC were followed-up for recurrence/death for up to five years after diagnosis. Molecular alterations (deletion/methylation) of TSGs and human papilloma virus (HPV) status were determined in previous studies of our group.

A comparative study of duration of postoperative analgesia between epidural bupivacaine and epidural clonidine plus bupivacaine in lumbar laminectomy surgery under general anaesthesia.

A randomised prospective double-blind placebo controlled study was undertaken in 60 patients of ASA-I and II, scheduled for lumbar laminectomy under general anaesthesia using thiopentone, fentanyl, artracurium, N2O/O2 and isoflurane. After obtaining written Informed consent from all patients, they were randomly allocated to two equal groups ie, group A (n = 30) and group B (n = 30). Group A patients received clonidine 0.

A rare occurrence of isolated neutropenia with valproic acid: a case report.

Valproic acid, a conventional antiepileptic drug, is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, to provide rapid stabilization of the patient. Although thrombocytopenia is a potential threat, occurrence of suppression of the other cell lines in the bone marrow is also found rarely. Here in this study we report a case of a 28 year old female treated with valproic acid and risperidone for bipolar disorder, who developed isolated neutropenia within 6 months of commencement of therapy that got reversed soon after termination of valproic acid therapy.

Peri-operative flexometallic endotracheal tube malfunction--an unusual complication.

Increased difficulty was encountered during manual ventilation following change of position from supine to prone in a patient intubated with a fresh flexometallic cuffed endotracheal tube, posted for elective lumbar discectomy. Prompt Identification of the problem was made and managed with replacement of the damaged tube with a new endotracheal tube in supine position. Following proper securing of the airway and repositioning of the patient, rest of the surgery and anaesthetic maintenance were uneventful.

Association of FANCC and PTCH1 with the development of early dysplastic lesions of the head and neck.

Background: Alteration of chromosome 9q22.3 region is an early and frequent event in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to understand the association of candidate tumor suppressor genes PHF2, FANCC, PTCH1, and XPA located in this region in the development of HNSCC.

A randomized controlled trial of oral zinc in acute pneumonia in children aged between 2 months to 5 years.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of zinc supplementation as adjuvant in treatment of pneumonia.

Methods: Ninety-eight children with acute bacterial pneumonia, aged between 2 months to 5 years, were studied in a randomized controlled single blind design. They received either zinc supplementation, as zinc acetate syrup, or placebo, as vitamin B-complex syrup, for 14 days, concomitantly with antimicrobial treatment (49 per group).

Extreme levels of underweight and stunting among pre-adolescent children of low socioeconomic class from Madhyamgram and Barasat, West Bengal, India.

A cross-sectional study on 1206 children (788 boys, 618 girls) aged 1-12 years, belonging to low socioeconomic status, of Barasat and Madhyamgram, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to investigate age and sex variations in height and weight. It also evaluated the levels of underweight and stunting among them. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height.