Bacteria in the oral cavity of individuals consuming intoxicating substances.

Food habits and oral hygiene are critical attributes for physiochemical environment of the oral cavity. Consumption of intoxicating substances such as betel nut ('Tamul'), alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco may strongly influence the oral ecosystem including commensal microbes. Therefore, a comparative assessment of microbes in the oral cavity between individuals consuming intoxicating substances and non-consumers may indicate the influence of these substances.

At which temperature do the deleterious effects of ambient heat "kick-in" to affect all-cause mortality? An exploration of this threshold from an eastern Indian city.

Despite experiencing hot weathers, limited studies from India explored relationships between ambient heat and health. We studied associations between heat and all-cause mortality to estimate heat threshold(s) affecting health, and examine other affecting dimensions. We conducted time-series analysis with daily maximum temperature and all-cause mortality data of Bhubaneswar city (March-July, 2007-2017), and explored their interactions.

Leptospiral phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: a novel conserved antigen for the definitive diagnosis of Leptospirosis.

Identification and characterisation of novel antigenic proteins of Leptospira are necessary to unravel the secrets of the Leptospiral disease biology. Besides, the current scenario of Leptospirosis demands the development of advanced diagnostics with the potential of an early and specific diagnosis. This work reports the diagnostic efficacy of a PI-PLC (LA_1375) of Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai strain 56601.

extract arrests cell cycle progression, induces apoptosis, and impairs migration and invasion in HeLa cervical cancer cells.

Background: Koen. (Zingiberaceae) is traditionally used as medicine in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam for treatment of various ailments including cancer. However, in spite of its implied significance in cancer treatment regimes, there are no reports so far involving the anticancerous attributes of ethanol extract (HCEE) on cancer cells and a more comprehensive study on its mechanism is still lacking.

Nutritional status of Onges of Little Andaman Island - Current state and the change over the last fifteen years.

Onges, an indigenous vulnerable tribe, inhabit the Little Andaman Island. Study undertaken during 1997, recorded high prevalence of undernutrition among children. Subsequently, food rationing was modified by Andaman and Nicobar administration.

Antifolate drug resistance: Novel mutations and haplotype distribution in and from Northeast India.

Malaria is a major public health concern in Northeast India with a preponderance of drug-resistant strains. Until recently the partner drug for artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) was sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (SP). Antifolate drug resistance has been associated with the mutations at dihydropteroate synthase and dihydrofolatereductase genes.

Spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in relation to geo-ecological features in South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

The study was undertaken in South Andaman district, comprising three tehsils, viz. Port Blair, Ferrargunj and Little Andaman Tehsils, respectively. Intensive pupal infestation surveys were carried out along the National Highway (NH 223), the main passenger and trade route, referred to as Great Andaman Trunk Road.

Outbreak investigation of fever mimicking dengue in Havelock Island, an important tourist destination in the Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago, 2014.

An upsurge of fever cases of unknown origin, but resembling dengue and leptospirosis was reported in Havelock, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an important tourism spot, during May 2014. Investigations were carried out to determine the aetiology, and to describe the epidemiology of the outbreak. The data on fever cases attending Primary Health Centre (PHC), Havelock showed that the average number of cases reporting per week over the last 2 years was 46·1 (95% confidence interval 19·4-72·9).

Delay in diagnosis among pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Rayagada District, Odisha, India.

Background: India accounts for more than one-fifth of the world's tuberculosis (TB) burden. In spite of efforts taken by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, tribal areas of the state of Odisha report a high TB incidence over the years. One of the reasons could be delay in reporting to health facilities by the symptomatic patients.

Expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in Aedes aegypti (L) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae in response to thermal stress.

Climatic changes are responsible, to a certain extent for the occurrence and spread of arboviral pathogens world over. Temperature is one of the important abiotic factors influencing the physiological processes of mosquitoes. Several genes of heat shock protein (HSP) families are known to be expressed in mosquitoes, which aid in overcoming stress induced by elevated temperature.

Genetic characterization and molecular phylogeny of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) species from Sonitpur district of Assam, India based on COI and ITS1 genes.

Background & Objectives: Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is one of the major vectors of dengue which is an emerging threat in Northeast part of India. The morphological characterisation of mosquitoes is time consuming and lacks accuracy for distinguishing closely related species. Hence, molecular methods of mosquito identification, genetic diversity and molecular phylogeny have gained increased importance.

Antimicrobial and antimalarial properties of medicinal plants used by the indigenous tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

In this study, methanol extracts of six medicinal plants (Alstonia macrophylla, Claoxylon indicum, Dillenia andamanica, Jasminum syringifolium, Miliusia andamanica and Pedilanthus tithymaloides) traditionally used by Nicobarese tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were studied for antimicrobial and antimalarial activities as well as preliminary photochemical analysis. Plants were collected from Car Nicobar of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the ethnobotanical data were gathered from traditional healers who inhabit the study area. The methanol extracts were obtained by cold percolation method and the antimicrobial activity was found using agar well diffusion method.

Reinvestigation of carvotanacetone after 100 years along with minor terpenoid constituents of Blumea malcolmii Hook. F. essential oil.

Reinvestigation of essential oil constituents of Blumea malcolmii Hook. F. (Asteraceae) was carried out after 100 years using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Mutational prevalence of chloroquine resistance transporter gene among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Objective: The present study aims to find out the mutational prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) gene in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Methods: To fulfil the objective of the study, a total of 54 P. falciparum malaria positive samples were attempted for genotyping of Pfcrt gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing method.

Natural transmission of dengue virus serotype 3 by Aedes albopictus (Skuse) during an outbreak in Havelock Island: Entomological characteristics.

From May to June 2014, an outbreak of dengue virus (DENV) illness occurred in the Havelock Island, South Andaman. Entomological investigations were undertaken during the peak of the outbreak, from 26th May-4th June, to identify the primary vector(s) involved in the transmission so that appropriate public health measures could be implemented. Adult mosquitoes were collected by BG-Sentinel traps in houses and neighborhoods of clinically ill patients.

Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link Essential Oil from India: β-Caryophyllene and 1-Octen-3-ol Chemotypes.

Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link (Lamiaceae) is an annual, branched herb used in traditional medicine as an antipyretic and insecticide. The hydro-distilled essential oil was obtained from the aerial parts of L.

Essential Oil Composition, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Antiviral Activities of Teucrium pseudochamaepitys Growing Spontaneously in Tunisia.

The chemical composition, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antiviral activities of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Teucrium pseudochamaepitys (Lamiaceae) collected from Zaghouan province of Tunisia are reported. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Thirty-one compounds were identified representing 88.

Studies on insecticide susceptibility of Aedes aegypti (Linn) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) vectors of dengue and chikungunya in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Dengue and chikungunya are important arboviral infections in the Andaman Islands. Competent vectors viz. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are widely prevalent.

Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor variant and emergence of Haitian ctxB variant in the strains isolated from South India.

Cholera still continues to be an important cause of human infection, especially in developing countries that lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. In the present study, we report the emergence of new variant form of V. cholerae O1 El Tor biotype with a novel mutation in ctxB in strains isolated from various outbreaks during 2010-2014 in Belgaum situated in north-west Karnataka, India.

E,E-α-Farnesene rich essential oil of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde flower.

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde (Fabaceae) commonly known as 'Ashoka' is a highly valued medicinal plant categorised 'vulnerable' by International Union for Conservation of Nature. The hydro-distilled essential oil from the flowers of S.

Host-feeding pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in heterogeneous landscapes of South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Mosquito foraging behavior is a determinant of host-vector contact and has an impact on the risk of arboviral epidemics. Therefore, blood-feeding patterns is a useful tool for assessing the role in pathogen transmission by vector mosquitoes. Competent vectors of dengue and chikungunya viz.

Isolation of NDM-1-producing multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas putida from a paediatric case of acute gastroenteritis, India.

Pseudomonas putida is an uncommon opportunistic pathogen, usually susceptible to antimicrobial agents. Data concerning resistance to antimicrobial agents in clinical P. putida isolates are limited.