Are artefacts misleading the diagnosis of in microscopy? Observations.

Stool has multiple components, which include undigested food material, plant, animal products, normal intestinal microbiome, and parasites. Due to the existence of all the elements, stool parasite examination is cumbersome, especially with identification of the eggs of . We examined 650 stool samples of pregnant women before anti-helminthic treatment.

Matrix design for optimal pancreatic β cells transplantation.

New therapeutic approaches to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus relies on pancreatic islet transplantation. Here, developing immuno-isolation strategies is essential to eliminate the need for systemic immunosuppression after pancreatic islet grafts. A solution is the macro-encapsulation of grafts in semipermeable matrixes with a double function: separating islets from host immune cells and facilitating the diffusion of insulin, glucose, and other metabolites.

Molecular detection of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium vivax isolates from a tertiary care setting in Puducherry.

Purpose: The study was aimed at detecting the mutation patterns in the drug targets in Plasmodium vivax that confer resistance to the common antimalarial agents used in India.

Methods: A total of 27 Plasmodium vivax isolates collected from whole blood samples over a three year period were subjected to PCR amplification followed by sequencing of the genes pvmdr1, pvdhfr, pvdhps and pvk12, which serve as the molecular targets to detect resistance to chloroquine, pyrimethamine, sulfadoxine and artemisinin respectively.

Results: The study found T958 M F1076L double mutants of pvmdr1 in 52 %(14/27) isolates, S58R S117 N double mutants of pvdhfr in 67 % (18/27) isolates, A383G A553G double mutant pvdhps in 59 % (16/27) isolates and wild type of pvk12 gene in all the isolates.

Performance of microscopy compared to conventional PCR in identification of soil-transmitted helminth infections among antenatal women in a low-prevalence setting.

Purpose: Traditional microscopy-based methods may provide inaccurate estimates of Soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections in mild intensity of infection. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of STH infections using molecular diagnostic methods and compare the diagnostic performance of microscopy with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in stool samples collected from pregnant women in primary care settings in Puducherry, India.

Methodology: A singleplex PCR assay was developed to detect three species of STHs, namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, and Ancylostoma duodenale, by targeting the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) of 5.

Metabolomics-mediated elucidation of rice responses to salt stress.

Role of salinity responsive metabolites of rice and its wild species has been discussed. Salinity stress is one of the important environmental stresses that severely affects rice productivity. Although, several vital physio-biochemical and molecular responses have been activated in rice under salinity stress which were well described in literatures, the mechanistic role of salt stress and microbes-induced metabolites to overcome salt stress in rice are less studied.

Prevalence of malaria: A 7-year trend analysis from a tertiary care center, Puducherry.

Background: Battle against malaria has been going on since time immemorial. Understanding the true burden of disease and the determinants of its transmission are important for implementing adequate control measures. This study intends to explore the local epidemiology and burden of malaria in Puducherry, a coastal Union territory located in the Southern part of India over a period of 7 years.

Allantoin improves salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis and rice through synergid activation of abscisic acid and brassinosteroid biosynthesis.

Soil salinity stress is one of the major bottlenecks for crop production. Although, allantoin is known to be involved in nitrogen metabolism in plants, yet several reports in recent time indicate its involvement in various abiotic stress responses including salinity stress. However, the detail mechanism of allantoin involvement in salinity stress tolerance in plants is not studied well.

Development of a new multiplex PCR to detect fecal coccidian parasite.

Background: Cryptosporidium spp., Cystoisospora belli and Cyclospora cayetanensis are common intestinal coccidian parasites causing gastroenteritis. The clinical presentation caused by each parasite is indistinguishable from each other.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among Antenatal Women in Primary Care Settings in Southern India: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Effect of Anti-Helminthic Treatment.

Community-based studies from India on prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections have reported estimates as high as 50% in children. However, prevalence estimates during pregnancy in India are lacking. We aimed to describe the burden, associated factors of STH and cure rate after deworming in primary care settings.

Assessment of histidine rich protein 2 and /3 () gene deletion or mutation in positive blood samples in a tertiary care centre in South India.

Rapid diagnostic card tests (RDTs) enable timely and appropriate diagnosis of malaria especially in remote areas. histidine rich protein 2 (PFHRP2) is the most targeted antigen for the detection of infections by rapid diagnostic card test. Genetic mutations and gene deletions are important emerging factors for false-negative RDTs, which may delay the provision of life-saving treatment for the patients.

A Comparative Analysis of Microscopy, Coproantigen Serology, and Nested Multiplex PCR in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica Infection.

 Amoebiasis is caused by the most common intestinal protozoan parasite . This parasite causes amoebic colitis, which is manifested by diarrhea, followed by dysentery. The laboratory diagnosis of intestinal amoebiasis in most cases is by microscopic examination of stool samples.

Molecular characterization of assemblages in children among the rural and urban population of Pondicherry, India.

Introduction: Giardiasis is one of the greatest public parasitic infections causing diarrheal and also known to be associated with high morbidity and mortality, among the children's particularly in developing countries with less cleanliness practices. Thus, studying genomic variety of aids to improve our perspective related to the variability in the genome of the parasite.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1006 stool samples were collected from the rural ( = 500) and urban settings ( = 506) from the children (<15 years) with and without symptoms and were screened for the presence of by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting triosephosphate isomerase gene.

Detection of and bacterial etiological agents in patients with clinically suspected cases of liver abscesses.

Liver abscess is one of the conditions having multiple etiological agents. It can be parasitic or can be due to bacterial among other causes. is one of the common protozoan parasites causing amoebic liver abscess.

Silver nanoparticles for biolistic transformation in L.

The present study reports the use of silver nanoparticles as a gene carrier, substituting gold microcarrier for biolistic gene delivery in L Efficiency of biolistic transformation using silver nanoparticles (100 nm) was compared with that of gold microcarriers (0.6 micron) under varying helium pressure (450 psi, 650 psi, 900 psi and 1100 psi) and target distance (6 cm and 9 cm). Among the different concentrations (0.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and its associated factors among children in Puducherry, South India: a community-based study.

There is paucity of studies at community level on prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among under 18 years age group. This cross-sectional community-based research aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal worm infections and its associated risk factors among 1 to 18 years age group in Puducherry, India. Sociodemographic, behavioral and other associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Tuberculosis-Learning the Impact of Nutrition (TB LION): protocol for an interventional study to decrease TB risk in household contacts.

Background: Comorbidities such as undernutrition and parasitic infections are widespread in India and other tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries. This study examines how these conditions as well as food supplementation and parasite treatment might alter immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and risk of progression to TB disease.

Methods: This is a 5-year prospective clinical trial at Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India.

Molecular detection of Cystoisospora belli by single-run polymerase chain reaction in stool samples.

Introduction: Cystoisospora belli (C. belli) is the only pathogenic species of the Cystoisospora genus responsible for severe diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Most common microscopic method of diagnosis is less sensitive due to intermittent shedding of oocysts.

Intestinal parasitic infections and its trends: a 5-year findings from a tertiary care centre, Puducherry, South India.

Intestinal parasitic infection (IPI) constitute a global health burden causing clinical morbidity in 450 million people. Many of these are women of reproductive age and children in developing countries. Mass deworming programmes with improvement in lifestyle are likely to reduce the intensity and prevalence of infection over the years.

Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in a case of adenocarcinoma of stomach: A rare case report.

species are commonly known to cause chronic intractable diarrhea in patients suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, however extra-intestinal presentations have been rarely reported. Hereby, we report a rare case of isolated pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in a 75-year-old HIV-negative patient with metastatic carcinoma of the stomach who was managed conservatively with hemostatic radiotherapy for palliative care. The patient had presented with cough with expectoration for 2 months.

and waterborne outbreaks - A mini review.

spp. is one of the prime agents of infectious diarrhea. spp.

'I was scared I will end up in another abortion': a mixed-methods study assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the antenatal care of pregnant women in Puducherry, South India.

Background: As a mitigation measure for COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown was implemented in India for a period of 2 months (24 March-31 May 2020). Disruption in antenatal care (ANC) provisions during lockdown is expected due to diversion of public health facilities on pandemic.

Objective: To assess the proportion of pregnant women who had not completed the ideal number of antenatal visits, availability of iron-folic acid (IFA) supplements and challenges in availing health services during the period of lockdown.

Plant-Based Natural Dye-Stimulated Visible-Light Reduction of GO and Physicochemical Factors Influencing the Production of Oxidizing Species by a Synthesized (rGO)/TiO Nanocomposite for Environmental Remediation.

Here, we report our findings related to the structural and photocatalytic considerations that influence the speed of electron-hole separation in semiconductor photocatalysis in the presence of reduced graphene oxide. A comparison of the exterior properties required for the degradation of the dye methylene blue and drug amoxicillin (CHNOS) as a probe by the synthesized photocatalyst reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/TiO nanowire with graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide; TiO alone reveals that TiO is significantly influenced by three factors: (1) rGO interactions with TiO in terms of electron and hole transfer, (2) mode of reduction strategies adopted for reducing graphene oxide, and (3) production of OH by the catalyst used. This work provides a thorough insight into the smooth, encouraging, and environment-friendly way developed for synthesizing reduced graphene oxide (rGO).

Comparision of the various routine diagnostic modalities of malaria and a new method: the Parasight™ platform.

Malaria is one of most important parasitic disease, which is still much prevalent in India. The burden of malaria in India is complex and the proportions of  and  vary across India, because of the highly variable malaria eco-epidemiological profiles, transmission factors, and the presence of multiple  species and  vectors. The diagnostic modalities which were being used currently, are at the risk of missing potential malaria cases, if a single test is being used for a given sample.