Acne Scars

Indian J Tuberc. 2009 Jan; 56(1): 10-6Kumar S, Radhakrishna , Chadha VK, Jeetendra R, Kumar P, Chauhan LS, Srivastava R, Umadevi , Kirankumar RBACKGROUND: There is paucity of information on epidemiological situation of Tuberculosis (TB) in the State of Kerala. The DOTS strategy under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was introduced in the year 1998 to cover the entire State by 2002. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of tuberculous infection among children attending 1-4th standard in a sample of selected schools in Kerala. METHODS: A cluster-sample school-based tuberculin survey was carried out in 70 schools selected by a two-stage sampling procedure. A total of 4821 children (including those with and without BCG scar) in the age group of 5-9 years were tuberculin tested using 1 TU PPD RT23 with Tween 80 and the maximum transverse diameter of induration was measured about 72 hours later. About 81% of the children were found to have BCG scars. Analysis was also undertaken by mixture model. RESULTS: While 67% of children without BCG scar and 62% with scar did not elicit any induration at the test site, the mode or anti-mode of reactions due to infection with tubercle bacilli could not be identified from the distribution graphs. Analysis by mixture model also did not provide the best fit thus precluding estimation of prevalence of infection. About 5% of children had reactions > or =10 mm, 3% had reactions > or =12 mm and 2% had reactions > or =14 mm. CONCLUSION: Low proportion of reactors indicated a low level of transmission of infection in Kerala. Considering the problems in interpretation of tuberculin survey data, it may not be feasible to use ARTI as an epidemiological parameter to monitor future trends of TB situation in the state.

Theor Appl Genet. 2009 Apr 30; Hua W, Liu Z, Zhu J, Xie C, Yang T, Zhou Y, Duan X, Sun Q, Liu ZPowdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide in areas with cool or maritime climates. Wild emmer (Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides) is an important potential donor of disease resistances and other traits for common wheat improvement. A powdery mildew resistance gene was transferred from wild emmer accession G-303-1M to susceptible common wheat by crossing and backcrossing, resulting in inbred line P63 (Yanda1817/G-303-1 M//3*Jing411, BC(2)F(6)). Genetic analysis of an F(2) population and the F(2:3) families developed from a cross of P63 and a susceptible common wheat line Xuezao showed that the powdery mildew resistance in P63 was controlled by a single recessive gene. Molecular markers and bulked segregant analysis were used to characterize and map the powdery mildew resistance gene. Nine genomic SSR markers (Xbarc7, Xbarc55, Xgwm148, Xgwm257, Xwmc35, Xwmc154, Xwmc257, Xwmc382, Xwmc477), five AFLP-derived SCAR markers (XcauG3, XcauG6, XcauG10, XcauG20, XcauG22), three EST-STS markers (BQ160080, BQ160588, BF146221) and one RFLP-derived STS marker (Xcau516) were linked to the resistance gene, designated pm42, in P63. pm42 was physically mapped on chromosome 2BS bin 0.75-0.84 using Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomic, ditelosomic and deletion lines, and was estimated to be more than 30 cM proximal to Xcau516, a RFLP-derived STS marker that co-segregated with the wild emmer-derived Pm26 which should be physically located in 2BS distal bin 0.84-1.00. pm42 was highly effective against 18 of 21 differential Chinese isolates of B. graminis f. sp. tritici. The closely linked molecular markers will enable the rapid transfer of pm42 to wheat breeding populations thus adding to their genetic diversity.

J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2009 Apr 27; Malik AM, Talpur AH, Laghari AAAbstract Objectives: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is categorized into intracorporeal appendectomy (ICA) and video-assisted extracorporeal appendectomy (VAECA). This study is conducted to compare feasibility and effectiveness of video-assisted extracorporeal appendectomy (VAECA) with open appendectomy (OA). Patients and Methods: This was a comparative descriptive study conducted at the Department of Surgery of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (Jamshoro, Pakistan) from June 2003 to November 2007. Two hundred and eighty-three patients of acute appendicitis were included and categorized into two groups: A and B. Group A included 150 (53%) patients operated on by the OA technique, while group B included 133 (47%) patients in whom VAECA was performed. VAECA was accomplished through three ports in the majority of patients (89%), while a few cases (11%) were completed by two ports only. Patients below 10 years of age and with suspected appendicular mass were excluded from the study. Both operative techniques and their merits and demerits were explained to all the patients and, depending upon their choice or by a simple flip of a coin, they were operated on by either of the techniques. A well-informed written consent was also taken from every patient. The results of both the groups were collected on a proforma and were compared in terms of cosmesis, total operative time, operative and postoperative complications, and total duration of hospital stay. Results: The mean operating time was much shorter in group B (p < 0.001), compared to group A patients. The incidence of postoperative infection was comparatively higher in OA, compared to VAECA. The rate of operative complications (p < 0.001), postoperative complications (p < 0.01), and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.001) were all significantly lower in the VAECA group. Cosmetic results were excellent in VAECA, compared to OA, as assessed by length of incision and the postoperative scar formation. Conclusion: VAECA can be a good alternate option in simple cases without much adhesions or mass formation.