Sequential Application of Lugol’s Iodine Test after Acetic Acid for Detecting Cervical Dysplasia: A Prospective Cohort Study

Applying Lugol’s iodine solution to the cervix followed by colposcopic assessment is an established standard test to identify low grade/high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL/HSIL). Here, we assessed the performance of Lugol’s iodine test during colposcopy using a standardized protocol with 5% acetic acid followed by 5% Lugol’s iodine solution and recording the most severe acetowhite (MSAWL) and iodine-negative (MSINL) lesions in a prospective cohort of consecutive women referred to our specialized colposcopy unit. The primary study endpoint was the sensitivity/specificity of MSINL for the detection of LSIL/HSIL. Secondary endpoints were the time to first appearance of the MSINL, MSINL staining intensity, and fading of MSINL. Three hundred and twenty women were included. The sensitivity and specificity of MSINL for the detection of LSIL/HSIL was 81.4 (95%—confidence interval (CI) 77.3–85.0)% and 29.5 (24.2–35.5)%, respectively. Ninety-six MSINL were identified exclusively by Lugol’s iodine test (no pathology, n = 46; LSIL, n = 29; HSIL, n = 21) (number needed to biopsy to identify one additional LSIL/HSIL = 1.9). In 17/320 (5.3%) patients, the clinical management was changed based on the result of Lugol’s iodine test. Video analysis showed an instant appearance of the MSINL within 10 s in 100% of cases. Intensity of MSINL significantly correlated with the presence/absence of LSIL/HSIL (Spearman rank order correlation; p < 0.0001). Fading of iodine-induced staining intensity over time was not observed. Thus, Lugol’s iodine showed moderate sensitivity and poor specificity, but changed clinical management in 5% of cases when used in addition to acetic acid.

Comparative Study of Bioactive Compounds in Different Varieties of Pears in Nepal

This study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical parameters, perform qualitative tests (for sugars and phytochemicals), and quantitative tests (phenolics, antioxidants, anthocyanins, tannins, vitamin C) of six different varieties of pears i.e. Bartlette, Chinese pears, Chojuro, Kosui, Pharping local, and Yakumo. The juices extracted from respective pears were used for the analysis. The phenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, antioxidants by the DPPH scavenging activity, and anthocyanins by a SO2 bleaching technique. The Pharping local pears were found to have the highest anthocyanins (85.95±0.1 mg/l), total phenolic content (600±0.01 mg GAE/l), antioxidants (IC50 value 250±0.00 mg of phenol/l) and vitamin C content (12.2±0.01 mg/100 ml) and tannins were observed to be highest in Yakumo pears (0.93±0.01 g/l). Likewise, the highest clarity i.e. 1.960±0.00 was observed in Bartlette pears and the highest acidity (2.01±0.01%) in Chojuro pears. Various sugar/carbohydrate tests like Molisch’s test, Benedict’s test, Barfoed test, Bial’s test, Seliwanoff test, Fehling’s test and Iodine test were performed for the pear varieties. All the pears gave positive results for all the sugar tests except Iodine test. The positive results for sugar/carbohydrate signifies the presence of various sugars that help for the better taste, texture, and aroma of pear. The pear varieties showed the presence of phytochemicals like flavonoids, terpenoids, catechins, cyclic glycosides, and proteins. The phytochemicals are responsible for fruit preservation and act as anti-carcinogenic components. Among the varieties of pears, Pharping local pears were observed to be most nutritional because of high antioxidants, phenols, anthocyanins, and vitamin C.

Behavior of the household mother availability and consumption of iodium salt and its impact on IDD

The purpose of this study was to determine the behavior of housewives, the level of availability, and the level of consumption of iodized salt with the incidence of IDD. This type of research is observational with a cross-sectional design. The sample is all mothers who have children in grades 3, 4, and 5 in the Buana Giri 7 public elementary school, totaling 80 people. Data were collected by interview, observation, and weighing methods. The quality of iodized salt was tested using the iodine test. Goiter grade was obtained by the palpation method. The data that has been collected were analyzed with Pearson correlation. The level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of iodized salt are still low so it needs to be improved. The level of availability of iodized salt on average still low (3.8 g/person/day) and the level of consumption of iodized salt (2.1 g/person/day). Goiter grade entire sample was normal. Behavior-related knowledge (r = 0.8) and practice (r = 0.8) of iodized salt, but the behavior is not related to the availability (r = 0.024) and iodized salt consumption (r = -0.09). Contributions behavior is very weak against the availability and consumption of iodized salt.

Short Communication: Lugol’s iodine test on Rafflesia patma–Tetrastigma leucostaphylum intersection tissue for preliminary starch visualization

Wicaksono A, Mursidawati S. 2020. Short Communication: Lugol’s iodine test on Rafflesia patma-Tetrastigma leucostaphylum intersection tissue for preliminary starch visualization. Nusantara Bioscience 12: 91-96. As holoparasitic plant, Rafflesia has no recognizable plastid genome, but it has plastid-like organelle. Despite the fact that it obtains nutrients from host plant, it is unknown if Rafflesia stores primary metabolites, such as carbohydrates, from its host. A study was performed to visualize the starch in Rafflesia patma Blume proximal tissue which was intersected to its host root, Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston, using modified Sachs’ test with Lugol’s iodine. The result revealed the absence of blackening in the R. patma tissue caused by starch reaction with the iodine, but occurred in the root cortical tissue of T. leucostaphylum. The absence of starch in R. patma tissue indicated that possibly the plastid-like organ has no similar function to amyloplast, and starch is not used for storage in the flower. It is likely that R. patma relies completely on the host’s photosynthate to maintain the flower metabolism during anthesis period. However, detailed histochemical analysis for starch or carbohydrate is needed for confirmation whether the starch is existing even in small quantity, and molecular genetic observation on sucrose intake and flowering (anthesis) regulatory genes will also be required to confirm if Rafflesia takes the photosynthate directly from its host and possibility if Rafflesia coordinates the formation of flower bud and anthesis between the endophytic tissues to prevent overexploitation of nutrients from its host.

Modified Activated Carbon Using NiO for Natural Gas Storage

The technology of natural gas adsorbed can be called Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) technology use porous adsorbents to adsorb natural gas. The material is activated carbon (AC), which has a large specific surface area. Activated carbon made from cassava peel waste because of abundance as agricultural waste in Indonesia. Cassava peel has a high cellulose and lignin content. Cassava peel through the carbonization process with furnace temperature 500 ° C in vacuum condition for 1.5 hours. Then, chemical activation with a different activator agent KOH and NaOH by mass ration (3:1). After that, physic activation with N2 and CO2 gas of 150 mL/minute using temperature muffle furnace 750 ° C. Product of physic activation modified using (Ni (NO3)2). Characterization of activated carbon performed with iodine test, SEM, EDX, adsorption, and desorption testers. The best of activated carbon is activated carbon impregnated KOH and with physic activation at 750 ° C, which has 612 mg / g of iodine number. Then, after activated carbon modified using (Ni (NO3)2) has the best performance with 1% NiO, has 662 mg / g of iodine number, and 657 m2 / g of SBET. Then, activated carbon through adsorption and desorption test by ANG technology has 0.02928 kg/kg of adsorption capacity and 39.17% of desorption percent.

DNA profiling of saliva traces habitually deposited on various documents: a pilot study

Background A study was conducted to determine whether the habitualness among individuals to apply saliva to their fingertips (for moistening) while shuffling through pages of a document can provide evidence in cases pertaining to handling of documents in forensic investigations. It involved 200 volunteers, 50% of which were male and 50% were female. The volunteers shuffled the pages of the three substrates (registers, books and magazines). An attempt was made to detect the transfer of saliva onto the substrate while shuffling and generation of DNA profiles from the transferred saliva. The presence of salivary stains was confirmed using iodine fuming test and starch iodine test. Afterwards, the DNA was recovered with substrate cutting method, extracted using QIAGEN® QIAmp DNA mini kit and amplified using the Power Plex® 21 System Kit. Results The results revealed that 83% of individuals applied saliva onto the documents and majority of females applied saliva. DNA could be successfully recovered from the stains detected on the three substrates, and complete STR profiles could be generated. Main finding A conclusion can be drawn out that majority of subjects under study were in habit of using saliva to turn pages, and this can be an important evidence to help criminal justice system as DNA profiles could be developed successfully from the substrates. This can be a very good evidence in respect of identifying the individual(s) who handled the document.