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Pulicat lagoon in the south-east coast of India is recharged with the highest fresh water influx annually during north-east winter monsoon. An abrupt heavy rainfall in November-December 2015 was a flood calamity in the region that inundated the lagoon. We investigated the physico-chemical characteristics and palynological profile of the surface sediments from the lagoon at water depth between 0.5 and 2 m to understand the impact of the 2015 event. On the basis of a 'marine index', three zones were demarcated, the 'LC zone' (Araniar river-lagoon confluence, south), the 'LM zone' and the 'LL zone' (Kalangi river confluence, north) showing values of 4.55, 1.25 and 0.25, respectively, indicating the extent of tidal influence. The dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity ranged between 6.4 and 9.6 mg/L, 7.96-9.23 and average ~ 12.3 ppt at different sites, respectively. The highest salinity (31 and 31.8 ppt) was in the LC zone along with the highest dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations (275-288 mmol/m3) too. The dissolved inorganic phosphates (DIP) ranged between 8.5 and 29.5 mmol/m3, which was relatively high. Sandy sediment, high sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions too indicate the landward extension of seawater influx. Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and beta-uranophane (Ca[(UO2)SiO3(OH)]2.(H2O) minerals show higher values with the dominance of olivine (MgFe)2SiO4) and quartz (SiO2) in this zone indicating magnitude of fresh water influx too through Araniar river. The highest calcium, magnesium and potassium ions were also observed in LC zone. Fe-rich goethite, calcite and aragonite were recorded at all sites but with dominance of illite in LL zone. Halite, an evaporite recorded from all sites shows inundation of the entire lagoon during flooding event. Results show a bloom of Biddulphia pulchella, B. biddulphiana and B. laevis in association with Cladophora in LC zone which serves as potential indicators of physico-chemical characteristics of the lagoon showing intense response to catastrophic events of floods due to above normal monsoon variability.

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to highlight the use of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) as salivary enzyme tumor marker and assess the activity and concentration of GGT in precancerous and cancer patients and compare it with the normal control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individuals in the age group of above 20 years were included in the study. In this study, salivary GGT was analyzed in 75 cases. The selected patients were divided into three main groups as group I (controls with normal health), group II (patients with precancerous lesions and conditions), and group III (patients with oral cancer lesions). All the selected individuals were analyzed for salivary GGT. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed between control and precancerous groups with GGT values at 5% level of significance. The mean GGT value is significantly higher in precancerous group as compared with control group (p < 0.05). A significant difference was observed between control and cancerous groups with GGT values at 5% level of significance. The mean GGT value is significantly higher in cancerous group as compared with control group (p < 0.05). A significant difference was observed between precancerous and cancerous groups with GGT values at 5% level of significance. The mean GGT value is significantly higher in cancerous group as compared with precancerous group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a remarkable increase in salivary GGT activity in both precancerous and cancerous conditions. The increased activity was more marked in cancerous conditions than in precancerous conditions. The GGT levels were two- to threefold increased in precancerous conditions as compared with control group. This finding was statistically significant and also suggested the strong correlation between GGT levels and presence of precancerous conditions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Integration of all these observation strengthens our thinking that elevation of salivary GTT in pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions can be a reliable biomarker in early detection and prevention of oral malignancy.

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Snake bite is a major public health problem specially in a rural region where agricultural work is the major source of employment. A retrospective study was undertaken of all cases of deaths due to snake bite autopsied at the Mortuary of Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni a rural area in Western Maharashtra over a period of 10 years from January 2004 to December 2014. Data of the study was gathered from autopsy reports and hospital records. The cases represented approximately 2.13% (54) of the total 2539 medico legal autopsies conducted during the study period. Most of the deaths (42.60%) occurred in the age group of 11-30 years and both males and females were affected in almost equal proportions. There was a marked increase in the number of cases in monsoon season (59.26%). The lower extremity was the most frequently involved site of bite (62.96%). Snakes were identified in 43 cases (79.63%) and among the identified cases the most common culprit was Viper amounting to 29.63% of cases followed by Krait causing 24.07% of the deaths. The findings in our study reflects the necessity of educating the rural community regarding the hazards of snake bite, importance of early medical attention and to avoid wasting vital time being engaged by traditional healers.

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Suicidal deaths involving explosives are rare. Their occurrence depends on both the availability of materials and the victim's expertise in handling explosive material. We report here a rare case from India of non-terrorist suicidal death involving explosives. The victim was around 25 years old, a blaster by occupation. He committed suicide by detonating dynamite in his mouth. The materials he used to operate this explosion were found near his body at the crime scene. There was characteristic bilateral symmetrical laceration around the oral cavity. Considering all the facts of the case in relation to history, location, nature, distribution and extent of injuries and recovered material at crime scene enables the cause and manner of death to be ascertained.

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A retrospective study was undertaken of all cases of deaths due to electrocution which were autopsied at the Mortuary of Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni a rural area in Western Maharashtra over a period of 10 years from July 2004 to June 2014. Data of the study was gathered from autopsy reports and hospital records. The cases represented approximately 2.31% of all autopsy cases. All 53 deaths investigated were accidental in nature. The age range in our study was 2-67 years and majority of the victims (79.25%) were males belonging to the age group of 11-30 years. There was an increase in the electrocution deaths in monsoon season (49.06%). The upper extremity was the most frequently involved contact site (75.47%). No electrical burn mark was present in 5 cases (9.43%). 50 cases were brought dead in our rural hospital while three cases died in hospital. The findings of our study suggest that majority of the victims died in non-domestic environment in the rural region, most commonly in the farm which reflects the necessity of educating the farmers regarding proper use and precautions to be taken while handling electrically powered equipments.

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The evolutionary history of thecamoebians (testate amoebae) extends back to the Neoproterozoic Era. However, until now, these have had a restricted, discontinuous and modest record across the world. The studied sediment of Raniganj Formation (Godavari Graben), Andhra Pradesh, India has been assigned as Late Permian on the basis of co-occurring age-diagnostic Late Permian palynomorphs. About sixteen thecamoebian species and one taxon incertae sedis have been recorded here in the palynological slides on the basis of shell morphology and morphometry. Out of these, five belong to the family Arcellidae, seven to Centropyxidae, two to Trigonopyxidae, one to Difflugiidae, one to Plagiopyxidae, and one is regarded incertae sedis. The morphometric characteristics of fossil forms resemble their corresponding extant species studied from ecologically diverse fresh water wetlands in India. In general, the ratio of shell diameter and aperture diameter of Late Permian fossil and extant specimens show significant correlation in all the studied species. Except that, the ratio of shell length and breadth is the distinguishing feature between Centropyxis aerophila and C. aerophila 'sylvatica', rather than the ratio of shell length and longest diameter of the shell aperture in both fossil and extant forms. The study elucidates the minimal morphological evolution in thecamoebians and their survival during mass extinction periods and stressful environmental conditions over the geological timescale.

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Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological method which is widely used by medical and paramedical professionals for the management of acute and chronic pain in a variety of conditions. Similarly, it can be utilized for the management of pain during various dental procedures as well as pain due to various conditions affecting maxillofacial region. This review aims to provide an insight into clinical research evidence available for the analgesic and non analgesic uses of TENS in pediatric as well as adult patients related to the field of dentistry. Also, an attempt is made to briefly discuss history of therapeutic electricity, mechanism of action of TENS, components of TENs equipment, types, techniques of administration, advantages and contradictions of TENS. With this we hope to raise awareness among dental fraternity regarding its dental applications thereby increasing its use in dentistry. Key words:Dentistry, pain, TENS.

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BACKGROUND: Fatal road traffic accidents (RTA) are a major cause of concern all over the world. The outcome of injuries sustained in an RTA depends on various factors including but not limited to: the location of the event, type of vehicle involved, nature of the roads, the time of accident, etc. AIMS: This study aims to investigate and evaluate prospectively the socio-demographic profile and pattern of injuries in victims of RTA in the rural area of the Ahmedanagar district of Maharashtra state. METHOD: This prospective study included all victims of RTA that presented to our emergency room from 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2009 and were either found dead on arrival or died during treatment. All the victims were autopsied at the post-mortem centre of Rural Medical College, Loni. RESULTS: Ninety-eight RTA victims were studied during the period. The most commonly affected age group was 20-39 years. Men died in RTA more than women. Fatal RTA were more prevalent on the secondary road system (47.97 per cent) and especially involved pedestrian and two wheeler vehicle users. Large numbers (n=63, 64.28%) of victims either died on the scene or during transportation. Numbers of skeletal injuries (199) and internal organ injuries (202) exceeded the total number of victims (98) clearly indicating the multiplicity of injuries. The majority of RTA victims (n=46, 46.93%) died due to head injury. The study showed that most deaths in RTA, brought to a tertiary care rural hospital, took place either on the spot or within 24 hours of injury which is very alarming and highlights the need to take urgent steps to establish good pre-hospital care and provision of trauma services at site. CONCLUSION: A computerised trauma registry is urgently needed to highlight risk factors, circumstances and chains of events leading to accidents. This would be extremely helpful in policy making and health management in India.

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The plant organic matter in the peat layer deposited around 6650+/-110 and 4800+/-80 years BP, during the transgressive and regressive phases of sea level changes, respectively in the dried part (playa) of the present Pulicat lagoon in Palar Basin (southeast coast of India) was studied to elucidate the biogenic pyrite generation and associated trace elements. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations show strongly curved unique C-shaped bacteria of uniform coccoidal shape and size (1 microm) freely scattered on the plant epidermal microfragments. These form spheroidal microcolonies 8-15 microm in diameter attached to the epidermis in a linear fashion or haphazardly enclosed in the translucent sheath as observed in surface view. These colonies are dense with a number of toxic trace elements as analyzed under an SEM-EDX spectrometer indicating its affinity toward metal binding. On maturity the sheath ruptures disseminating tetrad form of bacteria along with some C-shaped bacteria and few rhombohedral crystals of framboidal pyrite. The pyrite crystals intact in spheroidal shape in cavities on the epidermal fragments indicate its biogenic precipitation mediated by the bacteria. The pyrite crystals are rich in sulfur, iron, and traces of arsenic when analyzed by the SEM-EDX spectrometer. It is suggested that cubic and pyritohedran forms of crystals are perhaps arsenopyrite precipitated biogenically in saturated coastal wetland ecosystem in the past mediated by tetrad strain of the observed coccoid bacteria. Thus, the strata-bound peat layer could be the potent residing place for arsenopyrite or other toxic trace elements that may contaminate the groundwater aquifer.

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