Precise assessment of the biological behavior and progression of squamous epithelial lesions of the larynx with a view to predict the prognosis and therapeutic challenges remains an elusive goal. The knowledge and data regarding the expression of proliferative markers indicating the biological activity in different histological grades of squamous epithelial lesions are lacking till date. To evaluate the relationship between Ki67, p27 and p53 expression as well as topographic distribution of Ki67 with the histological subtypes or grades of laryngeal squamous intraepithelial and invasive lesions. Sixty-two consecutive cases with histologically documented intraepithelial and invasive squamous lesion were studied for Ki67, p27 and p53 expression. MannWhitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman's correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. The mean Ki67 labeling index in hyperplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma were 12.15, 22.03 and 35.53 % respectively and this difference was statistically significant (P \ 0.05). There was strong positive correlation between Ki67 labeling index and increasing grades of squamous lesions. p27 expression was progressively decreased and p53 expression was progressively increased as the lesions progressed from hyperplasia to dysplasia and dysplasia to carcinoma. The topographic distribution of Ki67 positive cells increased with progressive grades of dysplasia. The Ki67 labeling index correlates well with the histological grade of both intraepithelial and invasive lesions of the larynx. And the topographic distribution of Ki67 expression depends on the grade of the dysplasia. Hence, Ki67 expression has a definite role in predicting the biological behavior of the lesions.

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"Mirik Lake" of Darjeeling Himalaya is an artificial reservoir of Mirik, the famous hill resort in the Kurseang subdivision of Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India at an altitude of 1767 meters above mean sea level. The Mirik Lake which was constructed in 1979 primarily for the facilitation of commercial tourism in Darjeeling is fed by both perennial streams and rain water. The Lake is used extensively for different recreational activities as well as supplies drinking water to local people of the Mirik Town. To investigate the seasonal variation of fecal coliform, total coliform and heterotrophic bacterial density of the Mirik Lake, surface water samples from seven sampling points of the Lake were collected on a monthly basis for two years. Seasonally, the highest MPN values of fecal coliform (29000/100 mL), total coliform (88667/100 mL) and heterotrophic bacteria (116667/mL) were recorded from Site 1 during monsoon season of the second year of the study period and the lowest values were recorded during winter season. The fecal coliform density of Site 1 and Site 2 were always higher than other sites might be due to the fecal contamination in these two sites where drains from houses and hotels directly discharge waste water into the lake. Both the total coliform and heterotrophic bacterial density exhibited positive and significant correlation with fecal coliform at all the sites. It was observed that fecal coliform, total coliform and heterotrophic bacteria were substantially high and much beyond the permissible limit of ISI and WHO. Result suggests that sampling station S-1, S-2 and S-6 found to be more disturbed than the others and special attention is needed to avoid health hazards. For the improvement of the quality of Lake water, the sewage must be treated before disposal into the lake.

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