Background: Anemia accounts for a majority of the nutritional problem across the globe. The prevalence of anemia is inordinately higher among developing nations, because of low socioeconomic status and indigent access to the healthcare services. Adolescent period is signalized by marked physical activity and rapid growth spurt; therefore they need additional nutritional supplements and are at utmost risk of developing nutritional anemia. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 255 adolescent girls. After getting informed consent from the subjects, the information regarding age, sociodemographic status, menstrual history, and short clinical details were recorded. Blood samples were collected and analyzed using automated hematology analyser. Results and Discussion: Overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 48.63% ( n = 124). The majority of the anemic girls (55.64%, n = 69) were having mild degree of anemia. Among 255 girls, 188 (73.73%) were from the early adolescent age group (10–14 years). Prevalence of anemia (52.24%) was high among the late adolescents and those belonging to low socioeconomic class. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between anemia and socioeconomic status, dietary modification, nutritional supplementation, and helminth control; in addition, compliance with consumption of iron and folic acid tablets will prevent anemia to a great extent among adolescent girls.

Background: Today’s pharmaceutical markets are crowded with antibacterial agents, yet their toxicities and resistance are always contentious. Azadirachta indica is used in India as an age-old treatment for diverse medical conditions. This study was put forth to analyze the antibacterial action of A. indica bark extract on different bacterial pathogens. Materials and Methods: A. indica bark extract was prepared using Soxhlet extraction method. The bark extract of A. indica was screened for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion assay technique against Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Proteus mirabilis. Ciprofloxacin (5 µg per disc) was used as positive control. All assays were carried out under strict aseptic precautions. All the concentrations included were duplicated, and the results obtained were the average of two independent experiments. Broth microdilution method was used to study the minimum inhibitory concentration of the bark extract of A. indica . Results: A. indica bark extract has shown antibacterial activity against all concentrations of bark extract, whereas antibacterial activity against S. aureus was observed at higher concentration of >500 µg/mL. The bark extract of A. indica showed zone of clearance against E. faecalis , P. aeruginosa , and P. mirabilis at all concentrations. Zone of inhibition was observed in higher concentrations against S. aureus . Conclusion: This study has shown that A. indica bark extract has a potent antibacterial property against S. aureus , E. faecalis , P. aeruginosa , and P. mirabilis . Further isolation of bioactive compounds may lead to a new scope in the treatment of bacterial infections.

A Tertiary Care Hospital Kerala IntroductionColon is the primary site for various non neoplastic and neoplastic diseases. The spectrum of colonic lesions range from congenital diseases, Infections, Inflammatory conditions, Vascular diseases, Polyps and Colorectal tumours. Colorectal carcinoma is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality with an overall cancer incidence rate of 9%. [1,2] Development of flexible fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy revolutionized the diagnosis and management of colorectal diseases, for the reason that the procedure is safe with no serious complications. Application of therapeutic colonoscopy like colonoscopic polypectomy has replaced the open surgical procedure to a great extent. [3] In developing countries like India, where tuberculosis and infective colitis are more prevalent, the diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel disease is a great challenge. Colonic mucosal biopsies procured from colonoscopy plays a crucial role in specific diagnosis of patients with Inflammatory Bowel disease [4,5] and early detection of colonic epithelial tumours.[6] Histopathological interpretation of colonic mucosal biopsies when correlated with clinical findings help in definitive diagnosis and early treatment of patients with colonic lesions.The current study was carried out with an aim to study histopathological pattern of colonic mucosal biopsies and correlate them with clinical findings. Materials and MethodsThe present study was a two year retrospective study, conducted in the department of pathology DM Wayand Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala during the period from April 2015 to March 2017. 250 cases presented with symptoms were selected for the study. Patient's age, sex, presenting complaints, relevant past history were noted and colonoscopy was performed.All biopsies received were immediately fixed in 10% formalin. The tissue bits were counted, measured and processed completely as per routine histopathology processing. From each paraffin block 3 to 5 micron thick Abilash S C 1 * and Shreelakshmidevi S 2 1 Pathology, DM Wayanad Institute Of medical sciences, Naseera Nagar, Meppadi, Wayanad, Kerala, India 2 Pharmacology, DM Wayanad Institute Of medical sciences, Naseera Nagar, Meppadi, Wayanad, Kerala, India ABSTRACTBackground: Colon is the most common site for various diseases. Diseases affecting the colon may cause abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and bleeding per rectum. Colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the colon with a flexible optic fibers, this method allows visual examination of colonic mucosa and provides opportunity for mucosal biopsies. This study was carried out to study and correlate histopathological spectrum of colonic mucosal biopsies with clinical findings.Methods: This two years study was conducted during the period of April 2015 to March 2017. 250 colonoscopic biopsies were included in the study. All biopsies were fixed in formalin, processed as per routine histopathology processing, stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin stains and studied.Result: Out of...