BackgroundHuman papilloma virus (HPV) associated Head and Neck Cancers (HNCs) have generated significant amount of research interest in recent times. Due to high incidence of HNCs and lack of sufficient data on high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) infection from North -East region of India, this study was conceived to investigate hr-HPV infection, its types and its association with life style habits such as tobacco, alcohol consumption etc.MethodsA total of one hundred and six primary HNC tumor biopsy specimens were collected. These samples were analyzed for hr-HPV DNA (13 HPV types) using hybrid capture 2 (HC2) assay and genotyping was done by E6 nested multiplex PCR (NMPCR).ResultsThe presence of hr-HPV was confirmed in 31.13% (n = 33) and 24.52% (n = 26) of the HNC patients by nested multiplex PCR (NMPCR) and HC2 assay respectively. Among hr-HPV positive cases, out of thirteen hr- HPV types analyzed, only two prevalent genotypes, HPV-16 (81.81%) followed by HPV-18 (18.18%) were found. Significant association was observed between hr-HPV infection with alcohol consumption (p <0.001) and tobacco chewing (p = 0.02) in HNC cases. Compared to HPV-18 infection the HPV-16 was found to be significantly associated with tobacco chewing (p = 0.02) habit.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption may act as risk factors for hr-HPV infection in HNCs from the North-East region of India. This was the first study from North-East India which also assessed the clinical applicability of HC2 assay in HNC patient specimens. We suggest that alcohol, tobacco and hr- HPV infection act synergistically or complement each other in the process of HNC development and progression in the present study population.
Fungal strain from dairy waste contaminated soil was isolated for lipase production. The isolated strain was checked for lipase production and the species was identified morphologically by SEM and phylogenetically by NCBI-BLAST analysis. The culture conditions for production of lipase using the isolated fungus with mustard oil as substrate were optimized for obtaining maximum lipase activity and biomass by response surface methodology. Morphological identification and NCBI-BLAST analysis revealed the fungal strain to be of Aspergillus aculeatus. The optimum culture conditions were1% mustard oil concentration, incubation temperature of 35 ⁰C and incubation time of 214.74 h. The lipase activity and biomass at the optimized condition were 9.51 U/ml and 549.88 mg respectively. It can be concluded from the present study that the strain of the fungus Aspergillus aculeatus isolated from dairy waste contaminated soil can be potentially used to produce lipase.
Background: Ageing is a physiological process that starts from birth, continues throughout life, and ends with death. Poor nutrition is not a natural concomitant of ageing; older adults are at risk for malnutrition due to physiological, psychological, social, dietary, and environmental risk factors. The objectives of the study were to assess the nutritional status of elderly living in rural India and to study the factors related to nutritional status.Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in the field practice area of Pacific Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Predesigned and pretested questionnaire and nutritional status were assessed using mini nutritional assessment scale for elderly people. Results: Out of the total 152 participants, 2 (1.3%) were having BMI less than 19, 11 (7.2%) were having BMI 19 to less than 21 and 43 (28.3%) were having BMI 21 to less than 23. Out of 152 participants, 30 (41.1%) males and 43 (54.4%) females were at risk of malnutrition. Six (8.2%) males and 5 (6.4%) females were suffering from malnutrition. However, the association of gender and nutritional status of elderly was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.258). Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence of elderly who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, a more detailed evaluation, regular follow up & dietary intervention to reverse the situation is required.
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