Correlation of health with the extent of saturation of dietary oils is at best indirect. Our study involved associating the extent of saturation of plasma lipids directly with disease, namely diabetes mellitus. Our aim was to evaluate the significance of the iodine number of plasma lipids in health and disease (diabetes mellitus). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Puducherry involving diabetics and healthy controls. Iodine number was used as the prime variable in this experiment. Iodine number was found to be reduced in the cases (P<0.0005) than in the controls. Iodine number or iodine value has immense potential to be called as a new marker, but further studies are needed to substantiate this claim.

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Halitosis is a widespread condition and believed to affect one-quarter of the population around the world; also, most people have this condition from time to time. Breath malodour may be an important factor in social communication, and therefore may be the origin of concern not only for a possible health condition but also for frequent psychological alterations, leading to social and personal isolation. The most conspicuous malodorous compounds are termed volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs), with hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulphide accounting for roughly 90% of the VSCs. A number of oral bacteria, especially Gram-negative anaerobic species found in the subgingival plaque, produce a diverse array of malodorous compounds as byproducts of their metabolism, including VSCs and short-chain organic acids. Assessment and management of halitosis is of paramount importance in enhancing the overall health; moreover, dentists play a significant role in combating halitosis by reducing the oral microbial stack. Thus, the aim of the present review was to describe the aetiological factors, assessment tools, and therapeutic approaches related to halitosis.

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Background: The mitogenic and angiogenic effect of angiotensin II has been shown in breast cancer. Angiotensin II is converted from its inactive form to active form by the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE). Materials and Methods: To evaluate the effect of ACE gene in breast cancer patients and its effect on healthy control subjects, we studied 130 breast cancer patients and 220 healthy controls. Results: During our study, we found, the ACE genotype distribution in breast cancer patients were as follows: 62 (47.6%) had Deletion (DD), 43 (33.07%) had ID, and 25 (19.23%) had II (Insertion) genotypes, whereas in controls, 96 (43.63%) had DD, 107 (48.63%) had ID, and 25 (7.7%) had II genotypes. Conclusion: We conclude that our results implicate that ACE level/activity has been suggested to be protective against breast cancer, and therefore renin-angiotensin system may serve as a curative target for breast cancer detection, treatment, and prevention. Impact: Our study is the first report from India on Kashmiri population, suggesting that ACE activity can be a protective tool against breast cancer.

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The occurrence of different freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) parasites, found during the period from April to August 2007, was investigated in different freshwater wetlands of north and south 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal state in India. Eleven parasites - Zoothamnium, Epistylis, Gregarina, Amphileptus, Dileptus, Myxobolus, Chilodonella, Balladyna, Gozia, Rhabdochona, Indocucullanus, Procamallanus and Cucullanus - were found after examining 1,000 specimens of Macrobrachium rosenbergii of different-sized groups. The highest prevalence of the parasites was recorded in the size group of 81-85 mm and 136-140 mm. The intensity of ectoparasitic infection was observed to be high with an increase in size. The gills and the surface of the body were mostly infected. Endoparasites were found in the intestinal part, and mostly due to poor raw foods given to the prawns as their diets. The parasites get more shelter and space for them. The highest intensity of those parasites was found in the month of August due to favourable autumnal conditions, with little rain and favourable breeding time of the parasites. Stressed and weak prawns are more vulnerable to infestation under adverse environmental conditions.

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