October 2016

Biomass of mangrove seedlings serves as proxy to environmental health. Accurate assessment of mangrove seedling biomass at the site- scale is lacking, especially in the World Heritage Site of Indian Sundarbans. Sonneratia apetala (locally known as keora) is a common fresh water loving mangrove species. This study assessed the biomass of the vegetative parts (leaf, stem and root) of S. apetala seedlings from 18 sampling stations distributed in the western, central and eastern sectors of Indian Sundarbans with contrasting salinity profile. The study conducted during June 2016 revealed highest total biomass of the seedlings collected from the eastern sector (mean value = 11.313 gm m-2) followed by the western (mean value = 11.182 gm m-2) and central (mean value = 8.627 gm m-2) sectors. The role of salinity in regulating the growth and biomass of S. apetala seedlings is confirmed from the present study. Another aim of this study is to develop allometric equation considering the total biomass of the species as dependant variable (Y) and various vegetative parts (leaf, stem and root separately) as independent variables (X).

Paragangliomas are tumors arising from the paraglion tissue which is well represented in the head and neck. Carotid body tumor is a paraganglioma situated at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. We describe here a case of 32 year old male with painless swelling on the right side of the neck clinically diagnosed as right jugulodigastric region lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the swelling was done. On examination, the aspirate was haemorrhagic and showed cohesive clusters of round to oval neoplastic cells arranged in acinar pattern with finely granular chromatin and moderate amount of cytoplasm interspersed by spindle cells. Based on these cytologic findings and the location of the swelling, a diagnosis of carotid body tumor was made. The tumor was excised and findings confirmed on histopathological examination. This was a rare finding because diagnosis was made in a young male and was an incidental finding with no clinical history suggestive of carotid body tumor. This case adds to the existing literature on cytological diagnosis of carotid body tumor, further attesting to its safety and accuracy.

Introduction: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for 60% of viral hepatitis during pregnancy with a mortality rate approaching 20%. This mortality rate increases with gestational age. In Burkina Faso, few epidemiological studies have been conducted on HEV. This study aimed to detect HEV in pregnant women and to study the risk factors associated with infection. Methods: A total of 179 pregnant women were recruited at Saint Camille hospital of Ouagadougou (HOSCO). Anti-HEV IgM and IgG detection tests were performed using the ELISA method. Findings: Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were found with a prevalence of 10.6%. Regarding risk factors associated with infection: 42.1% of the IgG positive patients were illiterate; 31.6% lived mostly in unserviced areas; 21.0% were co-infected either with HIV, HBV or HCV; 15.8% had history of blood transfusion and 5.3% had no access to safe drinking water. Conclusion: Awareness on hygiene rules and a good education on HEV transmission modes could help reduce the prevalence rate of this infection among vulnerable populations.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is known to be associated with a reduced risk of developing a certain chronic diseases and cancers due to the presence of lycopene, a bioactive carotenoid. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity in tomato powder and TP extrudate (Tomato powder incorporated extrudate). The results of present study showed that flavonoid content in tomato powder incorporated extrudate of IC50 value in control extrudate (22.28±0.01) was more when compare to the TP extrudates (15.51±0.01). The results of phytochemical screening showed that carbohydrates, alkaloids, proteins, amino acids, flavanoids, fixed oils and fats, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins and phenols are present in TP extrudates. Identification of carbohydrates, alkaloids, proteins, amino acids, flavanoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and phenols were present in tomato powder. As the concentration increased the antioxidant activity increased in the extrudates. Lower IC50 value indicates the more antioxidant activity. IC50 value for control extrudates was 13.23±0.02, tomato powder 8.78±0.01 and TP extrudate 10.87±0.09.