Background: The importance of epidemiological monitoring of yeasts involved in pathogenic processes is unquestionable due to the increase in trend of infections caused by various species of Candida over the last decade; so are the changes observed in species causing Candidiasis and empirical antifungal treatment. Aims and Objective: To speciate the clinically isolated Candida species by phenotypic methods and to estimate the antifungal susceptibility of the isolated species against fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole by disc diffusion method. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 in the Department of Microbiology, J. N. Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi Karnataka. Ethical Clarence was obtained from institutional ethical committee J.N. Medical College. Results: Out of 59 Candida isolates, Candida tropicalis was the predominant species 41(69.49%), followed by Candida glabrata 5 (8.47%), Candida parapsilosis and Candida lusitaniae 4 (6.78%) respectively, Candidaguilliermondii and Candida kefyr 2 (3.39%) respectively and the least one was Candida krusei 1 (1.69%). Voriconazole showed the highest level of sensitivity whereas Itraconazole has shown the least sensitivity pattern by disk diffusion method. Out of 59 Candida species, 52 (88.13%) were sensitive to Voriconazole, 44 (74.57%) were sensitive to Fluconazole, 40 (67.79%) were sensitive to Ketoconazole and the least sensitivity was shown by Itraconazole 30 (50.84%). Candida krusei and Candida guilliermondii showed 100% sensitive to Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Ketoconazole and Itraconazole respectively. Conclusion: Non-albicans Candida species are being common isolates from cases of candidiasis. Candida tropicalis is the predominant isolate, followed by Candida glabrata, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr and Candida krusei. Most of the isolates were sensitive to Voriconazole.

Reinwardtia indica is traditionally used for wound healing. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the wound healing activity of leaves extracts of R. indica using the excision wound model in rats. The leaves of R. indica were collected from Gondrang, Chitwan, Nepal. Leaves were shade dried, extracted by double maceration and subjected to phytochemical screening. Then, the fusion method was used for the formulation of ointment and evaluated. Rats (n=24) were divided into four groups with 6 in each. Excision wound model was used, 2 cm diameter (314 mm 2 ), 2 mm depth wound was created. The treatment was given daily topically to all groups and the % mean wound contraction rate was calculated on days 4, 8, 12 and 16. The result was analyzed statistically using Graph pad prism version 5. Phytochemical test revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, phenol, terpenoid, carbohydrate, etc. All the evaluation parameters showed satisfactory results. The extract of R. indica ointment (2% w/w and 5% w/w) increased the wound contraction rate day by day. The % means wound contraction rate, on day 12, (80% and 88%), and on day 16, (97% and 100%) and statistically significant difference was at p<0.0001. The R. indica extract ointment showed an increased wound contraction rate. So, in further R. indica could be used for commercial production of wound healing ointment.

Background: Iodine is a nutritionally important trace element and its deficiency is a common health problem affecting a huge population, particularly pregnant women and children. The physiological role of iodine in the human body is synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyroxine is approximately 60% iodine by weight. If iodine intake falls below approximately 100μg/day, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) secretion is augmented, which increases plasma inorganic iodide clearance. Aims and Objective: To correlate urinary iodine with serum TSH in the second trimester of pregnant women. Material and Methods: One hundred five subjects were included in the study from tertiary care hospital. A random urine sample was collected. Iodine was estimated by ammonium persulfate method and TSH values were collected from the OBG department of the subjects enrolled. Statistics: Pearson correlation coefficient was done. Results: Median UI 138.50 (29.80-350.51) μg/L, median TSH 1.90(0.17-7.46) mIU/L. There was no significant correlation between UI and serum TSH with r = (0.0873, (p = 0.3756). Conclusion: Urinary iodine is a marker for population iodine status. A preferable biomarker is necessary to know the iodine status of individual which include not only nutritional biomarker and also required to organise reference range for TSH.