Abstract : Wood-decomposing fungi colonizing dead or dying tree trunks and stumps utilize cellulose while modifying the hemicellulose and lignin constituents cause either brown-rot or more commonly, white-rot via the utilization of hemicellulose and cellulose during the degradation of lignin. White Rot fungi (WRF) produce different types of enzymes that are characterized by different or specialized group of Peroxidases. Versatile Peroxidase (syn. Hybrid peroxidase, manganese- lignin peroxidase) is a new ligninolytic enzyme, combining catalytic properties of manganese peroxidase, oxidation of Mn (II), lignin peroxidase (Mn-independent oxidation of non-phenol aromatic compounds) and plant peroxidase (oxidation of hydroquinone and substituted phenols). The ligninolytic enzymes of white-rot fungi have broad substrate specificity and have been implicated in the transformation and mineralization of organopollutants with structural similarities to lignin.

Keyword : Rot Fungi, Ligninolytic enzyme

Abstract : Tobacco smoking is globally far more widespread than use of any other form of substance abuse. Its use remains the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, each year causing more than 6 million deaths globally. The World Health Organization estimates there are 1.3 billion smokers worldwide and each year 5 million smokers die because of tobacco-related diseases. Data suggest that up to 70% of current smokers want to quit and 40% attempt to do so each year. Timely intervention in smoking cessation not only reduces the risk of major disease, but also modifies the clinical course and outcome of certain diseases. There are various pharmacological and non pharmacological measures available which need to be implemented properly and timely. Strategies for assisting smoking cessation include non-pharmacological therapies to enhance motivation and to support attempts to quit and pharmacological intervention to reduce nicotine reinforcement and withdrawal from nicotine. The pharmacological interventions include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and antidepressants. Non-pharmacologic interventions includes behavioral interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual or group consoling, telephone counseling and self –help counseling. The present review aims at analyzing the current knowledge of various smoking cessation strategies

Keyword : tobacco addiction, pharmacological, no pharmacological, vaccines.

Abstract : Abstract- Overlap myositis are the group of conditions characterized by varying degree of muscle weakness in an underlying connective tissue disorder like Systemic lupus erythematosis, Systemic sclerosis and Rheumatoid arthritis . Overlap myositis presents subacutely and muscle weakness may not be present at the time of presentation of the underlying connective tissue disease. Many cases tend to have vague clinical features which causes the diagnosis more difficult. The myositis tends to be diagnosed during follow up of these diseases. Here we present three cases in which patients developed muscle weakness later then the initial presentation of the primary disease. Hence we emphasize the importance of regular follow up of the patients having connective tissue disorder and to specifically enquire regarding muscle pain and weakness. This will help in the early diagnosis of overlap myositis.

Keyword : - Overlap myositis, Follow up, Systemic sclerosis, Muscle biopsy

Abstract : Background: Thyroid disorders are one of the most common health issues worldwide including India. However, many people, even today, are not aware about the location of the thyroid gland and its function. As impaired function of the thyroid gland has a profound impact on health, it is imperative to gauge the existing level of awareness in society about thyroid gland and its disorders, in order to ascertain what additional steps need to be taken. Moreover there is paucity of studies on awareness of thyroid diseases among the general population. The present study determines the level of awareness in the community about the thyroid gland and its functions and to assess impact of level of education on awareness. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on randomly selected people in two different residential areas of Chennai city, Tamilnadu. Total of 132 people were evaluated with a questionnaire during the period September 2016 to March 2017. Result: In the present study, out of 132 participants only 93 (70.5 %) knew that thyroid is a normal gland present in the neck. With respect to symptoms only 58 (43.9%) knew about one or more symptoms of hyper or hypothyroidism of which 35 (26.5%) were graduates, 6 (4.5%) were educated upto secondary school and 17 (12.9%) upto higher secondary school. Among the participants 87 (65.9 %) were aware about iodised salt but the connection between iodised salt and hypothyroidism was not known. Conclusion : This study shows that people lack basic knowledge about thyroid disorders despite their level of education. Promotion of awareness should be undertaken at all levels. Appropriate use of social and other media should be considered to make the community, health workers, and policy makers aware of the prevalence of thyroid disorders and to clarify commonly held beliefs so that incidence of hypothyroidism in the country can be decreased and eventually prevented.

Keyword : Thyroid gland, Hypothyroidism, Iodised salt, Public awareness

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) regulates blood pressure and its increased level has been implicated in the microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus. These complications arise by chronic hyperglycaemia progressively causing formation of advanced glycation end products generating free radicals that lead to tissue damage. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the serum level of angiotensin converting enzyme in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHOD: A cross-sectional study conducted on 120 confirmed cases of adult type 2 diabetes patients who were on hypoglycaemic medication (but not taking ACE inhibitors) and 120 apparently healthy age-matched control subjects. Blood was collected in plain and lithium heparin bottles (for ACE and other analytes) respectively. Serum ACE levels were estimated with Eton Bioscience ELISA kits. Plasma electrolytes were analysed with ion selective electrodes while plasma urea and creatinine were estimated with Randox test kits, to assess renal function. Data generated was analysed with SPSS version 20.0. RESULTS: The mean ACE level in diabetic subjects was 25.61 ± 0.63 IU/L, and 23.69 ± 0.84 IU/L for control subjects (p = 0.01). While there was difference in ACE levels among the male diabetic subjects and control subjects (p = 0.04), there was no such difference among the females (P = 0.10). There was no association between the ACE levels and the parameters of renal function. CONCLUSION: The study found out that serum ACE was higher in diabetes male subjects. Despite the progressive effect of diabetes on renal function, the enzyme level was not affected by the duration of diabetes.

Keyword : Angiotensin converting enzyme, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Nigeria

Abstract : Blood pressure is a biological variable that varies with time. A series of factors linked to daily activities and independent neurohormonal mechanisms cause blood pressure to vary significantly within the 24 hours of the day: it increases during physical activity and decreases considerably following acute exercise (post-exercise hypotension); it increases in conditions of physical or emotional distress and tends to decrease after meals and during sleep.1 Blood pressure variation throughout the sleep-wake cycle is well known, with lower values observed during night time sleep than in daytime wakefulness. The advent of non-invasive methods to measure blood pressure for 24 hours such as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) shed more light onto the behaviour of blood pressure. Changes in blood pressure during sleep have also been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease in the long term: it is the classical description of inadequate or absent drops in blood pressure during sleep seen in attenuated dippers and non-dippers, respectively, associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertensive retinopathy, and proteinuria.2 A mathematical formula based on the different blood pressure levels observed in subperiods of the sleep-wake cycle was recently proposed to estimate the early morning rise in blood pressure. Pronounced rises in blood pressure during this time of the day (“early morning surge”) have also been used to independently predict mean 24-hour, wake, and sleep blood pressure and the Blood pressure variability3

Keyword : Blood pressure, Diabetes