Differential regulation of key triterpene synthase gene under abiotic stress in Withania somnifera L. Dunal and its co-relation to sterols and withanolides

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), is one of the most reputed Indian medicinal plants, having immense pharmacological activities due to the occurrence of withanolides. The withanolides are biosynthesized through triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway with the involvement of WsCAS leading to cyclization of 2, 3 oxidosqualene, which is a key metabolite to further diversify to a myriad of phytochemicals. In contrast to the available reports on the studies of WsCAS in withanolide biosynthesis, its involvement in phytosterol biosynthesis needs investigation. Present work deals with the understanding of role of WsCAS triterpenoid synthase gene in the regulation of biosynthesis of phytosterols & withanolides. Docking studies of WsCAS protein revealed Conserved amino acids, DCATE motif, and QW motif which are involved in efficient substrate binding, structure stabilization, and catalytic activity. Overexpression/silencing of WsCAS leading to increment/decline of phytosterols confers its stringent regulation in phytosterols biosynthesis. Differential regulation of WsCAS on the metabolic flux towards phytosterols and withanolide biosynthesis was observed under abiotic stress conditions. The preferential channelization of 2, 3 oxidosqualene towards withanolides and/or phytosterols occurred under heat/salt stress and cold/water stress, respectively. Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol showed major contribution in high/low temperature and salt stress, and campesterol in water stress management. Overexpression of WsCAS in Arabidopsis thaliana led to the increment in phytosterols in general. Thus, the WsCAS plays important regulatory role in the biosynthetic pathway of phytosterols and withanolides under abiotic stress conditions.

The food-energy-water-carbon nexus of the rice-wheat production system in the western Indo-Gangetic Plain of India: An impact of irrigation system, conservational tillage and residue management

The conventional rice-wheat system in the western Indo-Gangetic plain of India is energy and water intensive with high carbon footprint. The transition towards resource-efficient eco-friendly production technologies with lower footprint is required for inclusive ecological sustenance. A five-year (2016-17 to 2020-21) field experiment was conducted in RWS with hypothesis that pressurized irrigation systems [drip (DRIP) and mini-sprinkler (MSIS)] in conservation tillage [reduced (RT)/zero (ZT)] and crop residue management [incorporation (RI)/mulch (RM)] might result in higher resource use efficiency with lesser carbon footprint compared to conventional system. Experiment consisted five treatments namely (1) puddled transplanted rice followed by conventionally tilled wheat (PTR/CTW), (2) DRIP irrigated reduced till direct seeded rice (RTDSR) followed by zero-till wheat with 100 % rice residue mulching (ZTW + RM) (DRIP-RTDSR/ZTW + RM), (3) surface irrigated RTDSR followed by ZTW + RM (SIS-RTDSR/ZTW + RM), (4) MSIS irrigated RTDSR followed by ZTW + RM (MSIS-RTDSR/ZTW + RM), and (5) MSIS irrigated RTDSR with 1/3rd wheat residue incorporation followed by ZTW + RM (MSIS-RTDSR + RI/ZTW + RM). The pressurized irrigation system in RWS established under conservational tillage and residue management (DRIP-RTDSR/ZTW + RM and MSIS-DSR + RI/ZTW + RM) produced at par system productivity compared to PTR/CTW. Substantial nitrogen (79-114 ka ha^-1) and irrigation water (536-680 mm) savings under pressurized irrigation systems resulted in 41-64 % higher partial factor productivity of nitrogen with 48-61 % lower water footprint. These systems had lower energy consumption attaining 15-21 % higher net energy, 44-61 % higher energy use efficiency, and 31-38 % lower specific energy. Efficient utilization of farm inputs caused lower greenhouse gas emission (39-44 %) and enhanced carbon sequestration (35-62 %) resulting 63-76 % lower carbon footprint over PTR/CTW. The information generated here might useful in developing policies for resource and climate-smart food production system aiming livelihood security and ecological sustainability in the region. Further, trials are needed for wider adaptability under different climate, soil and agronomic practices to develop site-specific climate smart practices.

Study on Status of Serum Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in COVID-19 Positive Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents clinically a variety of pathological and clinical organ dysfunctions, ranging in severity from asymptomatic to fatal. The care and monitoring of COVID-19 patients may benefit from the use of biochemical and hematological markers. Objective To observe the alteration of serum biochemical and hematological parameters in COVID-19 positive patients, attending a Tertiary Care Hospital. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on all COVID-19 positive patients attending Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal from 15th December 2021 to 15th February 2022. The test results of different serum biochemical and hematological parameters done for these patients were recorded in clinical laboratory services and obtained retrospectively for the analysis. The data were entered in MS excel and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Result Out of 1537 COVID-11699 declared positive patients, 712 (46.32%) were male and 825 (53.68%) female. Mean age of COVID positive patients was 40.03±20.08 years. The level of serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP and GGT was significantly elevated in 39.9%, 42.8%, 32.3% and 47.2% of COVID positive patients respectively. Blood Urea, creatinine, uric acid and sugar level were significantly elevated in 63%, 56.1%, 33.1% and 47.6% patients respectively. The serum level of LDH, D-dimer, CRP and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly increased in 52.1%, 75.9%, 71.6% and 61.2% of patients respectively. The serum value of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL were significantly lowered in 52.2%, 43.8%, 70.1% and 60.3% of patients respectively. RBC concentration and level of hemoglobin was reduced in 56.6% and 53.6% of COVID positive patients respectively whereas total leukocyte count was elevated in 80.7% with increase in neutrophil in 87.9% and decrease in lymphocyte in 79.4%. Conclusion A portion of COVID-19 positive patients showed drastically altered test results for various serum biochemical and hematological markers, although many of them had normal findings.

Renal Outcomes of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury: a Single Centre Experience in India

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) during pregnancy in Indian population. Materials and methods:A prospective observational study was conducted in pregnant patients admitted to Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India. Acute kidney injury was assessed using Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of function, and End-stage renal disease (RIFLE) criteria. Patients were analyzed on the basis of demographic data, detailed history, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations. The primary outcome was maternal renal outcome, including return to normal renal function and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The secondary outcomes included the mode of delivery, complications of pregnancy, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and maternal death. Results:A total of 51 patients with an average age of 29.5 years were included in the present study. About 49.9% of subjects had severe anemia and 41.2% were primigravida. The main cause of AKI was pre-eclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage. There was a marked improvement in renal outcome with 33 patients having complete renal recovery and six patients developed CKD was observed during three months follow-up period. The peaked median value of blood urea was 62.0 mg% in patients with normal renal function, 178.5 mg% in those with CKD and 120.0 mg% in expired patients (P=0.001). A statistically significant change in serum potassium (P=0.010) and creatinine levels (P<0.001) was observed during the follow-up period. Liver enzymes, including serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, were high in all patients at the time of admission, but decreased to normal on follow-up. Conclusion:Our study indicates that pregnancy-related AKI patients present with multiorgan complications and many of them require mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy. Most of these patients have poor outcome. Hence, the management of pregnancy-related AKI presents a challenge that requires proper evaluation of causative factors to facilitate appropriate treatment.

Seed and seedling diversity delimitation and differentiation of Indian populations of Melia dubia cav

Melia dubia is one of the most important industrial tree species in the South East Asia. In last few decades, the populations of M. dubia has rapidly expanded in the Indian sub-continents, leading to an increase in the genetic diversity of species. However, very less information is available on intra-specific variation in Melia under the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, a present investigation was undertaken, to assess the level of diversity in seed and saplings of the Melia populations (ecotypes) collected from three agro-ecological regions of India. Results revealed that the seed and saplings of all the ecotypes are significantly different for all the traits, except for number of branches per plant, and the maximum variability was recorded in germination percentage, seed weight, internodal length, and sapling height of the species. The high heritability for seed weight (0.99), length (0.99), and width (0.97), and germination percentage (0.99) indicated that selection and genetic gain for these traits would be effective during the commencement of improvement program. Trait association analysis explained that higher seed weight significantly reduced sapling height, collar diameter, number of leaves per plant, internodal length, petiole length, and germination percentage (r = −0.86; p < 0.001) that ultimately reduced the seedling vigor in Melia dubia. Interestingly, the number of branches per plant were not associated with any of the morphological traits. The first principal component explained 50.09% of the entire variation and all the traits contributed greatly to the variation for this principal component, except for number of branches, leaf width and seed length. The clustering approach assorted geographic variation of M. dubia populations into three main sub-clusters i.e. South, North, and North East populations each consisting of five, seven and one populations (including cultivar), respectively. Among different ecotypes, Bahumukhi, Varsha and US Nagar seed sources outperformed all others in seedling vigour (sapling height) and rest of the growth parameters. Overall, findings explained that considerable scope exists for the development of superior planting material of M. dubia through exploration of seeds and selection at the early seedling stage.

Microwave observations reveal the deep extent and structure of Jupiter's atmospheric vortices

[Figure: see text].

Frequency of Osteoporosis among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Attending Respiratory Medicine Out Patient Department, BSMMU

Osteoporosis is an important systemic manifestation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Osteoporosis is a systemic disease of bone which may present as low bone mass and micro-architectural disarray that increases the risk of fracture. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as bone density ≥2.5 standard deviations below the bone density of a normal young adult. Osteopenia, a less severe form of bone loss, is defined as a bone density between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations below that reference point. The aetiology of osteoporosis in COPD patients remain unclear, but several factors significantly correspond to reduced bone density in COPD, including older age, female sex and body mass index (BMI). However, the relationship to other factors, such as FEV₁, tobacco smoking, physical inactivity and corticosteroid therapy, are still an unresolved issue. This cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, BSMMU from March 2018 to March 2019. A total of 86 patients of which prevalence of osteoporosis is 29.1%, osteopenia 50% and normal BMD in 20.9%, majority of them was belonging to age group 51-60 years. Male were predominant with male-female ratio of 3.5:1. The frequency of osteoporosis was 32.0%, 64.0% and 4.0% in moderate, severe and in very severe COPD patients, respectively. The frequency of osteopenia was 14.0% in mild, 53.5% in moderate, 20.9% in severe and 11.6% were in very severe COPD patients. The p value (p=0.018) was significant for prevalence osteoporosis and osteopenia with increase in severity of COPD. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was high in COPD patients under study. The frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia was more with severity of COPD.

Biochemical and functional attributes of raw and boiled potato flesh and peel powders for suitability in food applications

Four different potato cultivars, namely, Kufri Chipsona 1 and Kufri Frysona (processing purpose), Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Bahar (table purpose) were converted into flesh and peel powder (raw and after boiling) and studied for their respective biochemical and functional attributes to get an idea of possible dynamics of their utilization in different food formulation as bioadditives. The 16 variants of powder obtained retained less than 10% moisture content and demonstrated 'very good' to 'fair' flowability. Peel powders recorded a higher total mineral, fiber, phenolic contents and total antioxidant activity than the flesh powders which were significantly affected by boiling. Among raw and boiled flesh powders, highest reducing and total sugars were recorded for Kufri Bahar while least was observed in Kufri Chipsona 1. Colour coordinate showed that boiling imparts brightness to flesh powder while peel powder got darkened. Boiling of the tubers resulted in an increase in the resistant starch (~ 29% maximum) and flavour (~ 180% maximum) component. Peel exhibited a total glycoalkaloid content in the range of 0.75 (Kufri Frysona) to 1.7 mg/100 g (Kufri Bahar) that is well within the acceptable limits. Rheological study of the flesh powders revealed a reduction of about 11-18 °C in pasting temperature and about 87-90% in peak viscosity, setback, breakdown value and final viscosity upon boiling. This study revealed that the traditional processing method such as boiling can significantly modify the techno-functional characteristics of potato flesh and peel powders which can further govern their end use in various food formulations.

Salicylic acid and thiourea mitigate the salinity and drought stress on physiological traits governing yield in pearl millet- wheat

Plant growth is often affected with hampered physiological and cellular functioning due to salinity and drought stress. To assess the effectiveness of plant bioregulators (PBRs) in mitigating abiotic stresses, a double spilt plot field study was conducted with three replications at ICAR-CSSRI, research farm, Nain, Panipat. The study comprised of three deficit irrigation regimes viz., 100, 80 and 60% of crop evapo-transpiration (ET_c) (I₁, I₂ and I₃), four levels of irrigation water salinity i.e. 2, 4, 8, 12 dS m⁻¹ (S₀, S₁, S₂ and S₃) and two PBRs salicylic acid (SA; G₁) and thiourea (TU; G₂). Irrigations, as per regimes and salinity, were applied at identified critical stages of wheat and if needed in pearl millet. PBRs were applied as seed priming and foliar sprays at two sensitive stages of respective crops. The trend of plant height, and physiological and biochemical traits was similar under different treatments at both stages, but differed significantly only at reproductive stage. Water deficit caused significant reduction in pearl millet (5.1%) and wheat (6.7%) grain yields. The reduction in grain yield under 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹ was 12.90 and 22.43% in pearl millet and 7.68 and 32.93% in wheat, respectively compared to 2 dS m⁻¹. Application of either SA (G₁) or TU (G₂) significantly enhanced plant height and grain yield, but magnitude of the increment was higher with SA in pearl millet and with TU in wheat. Application of SA and TU increased grain yield by 14.42 and 12.98 in pearl millet, and 12.90 and 17.36% in wheat, respectively. The plant height, RWC, TC, MI, LP, proline, Fv/Fm and Na/K ratio significantly reduced by salinity stress in pearl millet and both water and salinity stress in wheat. Application of both PBRs proved beneficial to mitigate adverse effect of water deficit and salt stress by significantly improving physiological traits, biochemical traits and ultimately grain yield in both crops.

Prosthetic Management of Microstomia with Customized Dynamic Splint

Microstomia is a clinical condition of reduced mouth opening that can be acquired or congenital in origin. Problems associated with microstomia can be related to function, esthetics, or both. Management of microstomia due to facial burns is complex due to the presence of hypertrophic and contracture scars. Available treatment options can be broadly classified as surgical, nonsurgical, or both. Splints can be used to prevent the contraction of perioral musculature or to recuperate lost mouth opening. Various intraoral or extraoral, tooth-borne or tissue-borne, and static or dynamic appliances are in clinical use, but their designs are case specific. This case report explains the management of microstomia secondary to facial burns by using a dynamic splint in combination with intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide and hyaluronidase.

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and their Co-Relation with the Demographic Variables

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging health problem in both developed and developing countries. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with chronic disease, but remain undertreated despite significant negative consequences on patients' health. Assessment of key components of mental health early in disease course will help to identify high risk subjects in whom modifying these predictors will help in providing active and healthy life in CKD patients.

METHODS

We did a cross sectional study in 200 patients of CKD stage III to V-D fulfilling the eligibility criteria who were on follow up in a single tertiary care center in the state of Haryana, India. We assessed the prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia and their correlation with demographic variables in these patients. The structured questionnaire used in this study gathered information on respondent demographic and disease characteristics, and information obtained from the HADS and PSQI questionnaire. Factors associated with anxiety, depression and insomnia were examined by a multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia were found to be 71%, 69% and 86.5% respectively. As the CKD stage advanced, the prevalence as well as severity of these parameters increased. Anxiety, depression and sleep quality were found to be significantly correlated to unemployment, low income, low education, urban residence and presence of co-morbidities. The anxiety, depression and insomnia scores were found to have a strong negative correlation with eGFR, hemoglobin, serum calcium (p <0.01) and a positive correlation with TLC, blood urea, serum creatinine and serum phosphate (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

We observed a high prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia in CKD patients. There is a need to develop strategies to accurately identify "high risk" subjects who may benefit from preventive measures before complications occur. By identifying CKD patients with high risk of developing these mental health related issues, healthcare provider may be better able to ensure the provision of appropriate rehabilitation to this population.

Interspecies comparative features of trichomes in Ocimum reveal insights for biosynthesis of specialized essential oil metabolites

Ocimum species commonly referred to as "Tulsi" are well-known for their distinct medicinal and aromatic properties. The characteristic aroma of Ocimum species and cultivars is attributed to their specific combination of volatile phytochemicals mainly belonging to terpenoid and/or phenylpropanoid classes in their essential oils. The essential oil constituents are synthesized and sequestered in specialized epidermal secretory structures called as glandular trichomes. In this comparative study, inter- and intra-species diversity in structural attributes and profiles of expression of selected genes related to terpenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways have been investigated. This is performed to seek relationship of variations in the yield and phytochemical composition of the essential oils. Microscopic analysis of trichomes of O. basilicum, O. gratissimum, O. kilimandscharicum, and O. tenuiflorum (green and purple cultivars) revealed substantial variations in density, size, and relative proportions of peltate and capitate trichomes among them. The essential oil yield has been observed to be controlled by the population, dominance, and size of peltate and capitate glandular trichomes. The essential oil sequestration in leaf is controlled by the dominance of peltate glandular trichome size over its number and is also affected by the capitate glandular trichome size/number with variations in leaf area albeit at lower proportions. Comprehension and comparison of results of GC-MS analysis of essential oils showed that most of the Ocimum (O. basilicum, O. tenuiflorum, and O. gratissimum) species produce phenylpropanoids (eugenol, methyl chavicol) as major volatiles except O. kilimandscharicum, which is discrete in being monoterpenoid-rich species. Among the phenylpropanoid-enriched Ocimum (O. basilicum, O. gratissimum, O. tenuiflorum purple, O. tenuiflorum green) as well, terpenoids were important constituents in imparting characteristic aroma. Further, comparative abundance of transcripts of key genes of phenylpropanoid (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, COMT, and ES) and terpenoid (DXS and HMGR) biosynthetic pathways was evaluated vis-à-vis volatile oil constituents. Transcript abundance demonstrated that richness of their essential oils with specific constituent(s) of a chemical group/subgroup was manifested by the predominant upregulation of phenylpropanoid/terpenoid pathway genes. The study provides trichomes as well as biosynthetic pathway-based knowledge for genetic improvement in Ocimum species for essential oil yield and quality.

Rapid prototyping technology for cranioplasty: A case series

Cranial vault defects may be acquired or congenital in origin. Rehabilitation of these patients often poses challenge to the operating team and prosthodontist. Polymethylmethacrylate is a commonly used alloplastic graft material which is used for the fabrication of cranial prosthesis. Nowadays, with the advancement in the bioengineering, custom-made template and cranial prosthesis can be made by rapid prototyping technology (RPT) by patient three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) scan images. This series of two cases explained two different techniques for the rehabilitation of the patient with frontotemporoparietal cranial defect. Case 1 had a history of cerebrovascular accident, followed by decompression craniotomy which led to frontotemporoparietal defect of the left side. This defect area was associated with the cerebrospinal fluid accumulation which made delineation of underlying bony margins difficult and interfered with conventional impression procedures. Case 2 had a road traffic accident which led to intracerebral hemorrhage followed by decompression craniotomy which resulted in frontotemporoparietal defect of the right side. The patient had a poor neuromuscular control which impedes with the upright posture of the head during impression making of the defect area. Therefore, these cases were planned to rehabilitate by RPT. In these techniques, the prosthesis was made using custom-made skull template produced by RPT, using the data of 3D-CT scan images. This technique resulted in the prosthesis with good esthetics and better fit of the prosthesis. The contours of the prosthesis were replicated in the same manner as compared to the contralateral side. RPT is an additive manufacturing technology which is now used in the field of dentistry too. This technique is easy to use; fabricate prosthesis with high precision is less time-consuming and has fewer chances of error.

Municipal solid waste (MSW): Strategies to improve salt affected soil sustainability: A review

Salt-induced soil degradation is a serious threat to global agriculture which is responsible for diminished productivity of agro-ecosystems. Irrigation with poor quality water and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers to increase crop productivity creates salt accumulation in soil profile thereby reducing crop sustainability. High concentration of salts in soil inhibits plant growth due to low osmotic potential of the soil solution, ion toxicity and imbalance reduces nutrient uptake, crop yields. Low productivity of saline soils is not only due to salt toxicity or excess amounts of soluble salts but also lack of available mineral nutrients especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil organic matter. Hence, sustainable management of salt-affected soils are paramount importance to meet the demands of food grain production for an ever-rising population in the world. Recently, municipal solid waste has gained importance as an organic amendment for restoring soil fertility and finally contributing to productivity of salt-affected soils. This paper compares extant waste generation, their properties and standards pertinent to municipal solid waste in different countries and explores the unique recent history in some countries that shows high environmental regard and rapid changes and also suggests policy experiencing from high environmental regard and rapid changes from other countries, so that policy makers can propose new or revise current municipal solid waste standards for salt affected soils. Municipal solid waste compost improves soil biological, physical and chemical properties because of high soil organic matter and lower concentration of pollutants. Therefore, the use of municipal solid waste in salt-affected soils could be an alternative to costly chemical amendments as well as reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for increasing productivity of salt-affected soil. The municipal solid wastes significantly improve crop yields. However, further long-term experimental investigations are needed to re-validate the application of municipal solid waste compost in improving physical, chemical and biological properties and to step up organic fertilization use in a wide range of both saline and sodic soils. In future, research should be directed to address these issues globally to minimise ecological disturbances and to set environmental standards, and evaluate the feasibility of the policies in different countries and their impact on socio-economic conditions of local people.

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Microalbuminuria in Patients with Essential Hypertension - A Tertiary Care Center Cross Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Albuminuria is predictor of target organ damage and worse cardiovascular outcomes. Microalbuminuria has been found in a large number of patients with essential hypertension. Aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of microalbuminuria in essential hypertension and to study its correlation with severity of hypertension and target organ damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient clinic of General Medicine department of Pt. B D Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. Hundred patients of essential hypertension (group A) in the age group of 18-65 years were included in the study. A control group (group B) consisting of hundred healthy normotensive, age and sex matched volunteers were also entered into the study. Arterial blood pressure was measured by digital sphygmomanometer after five minutes of rest; the values reported represented the average of three consecutive measurements taken over a 15-minute period. Urine albumin excretion (UAE) was estimated by an immunoturbidometry method. Microalbuminuria was defined as UAE between 30 and 300 mg/24 hours. Statistical analysis was performed by standard methods to measure rates and proportions; chi square test was used for analyzing the associations between the variables.

RESULTS

In this study it was observed that prevalence of microalbuminuria in essential hypertension was 47%. Risk factors for microalbuminuria included higher age, SBP and MAP. Microalbuminuria was associated with dyslipidemia, deranged renal parameters and end organ damage in form of LVH, ischemic changes, hypertensive retinopathy and renal dysfunction. In conclusion, this study confirmed that increased urinary albumin excretion is associated with a worse pattern of cardiovascular risk factors and is a marker of concomitant cardiovascular damage in essential hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Microalbuminuria can therefore be regarded as a useful, relatively inexpensive, integrated marker to help identify patients at higher cardiovascular risk for whom more aggressive preventive strategies and additional treatment measures may be advisable.

Long-term impact of manuring and fertilization on enrichment, stability and quality of organic carbon in Inceptisol under two potato-based cropping systems

Soil organic matter (SOM) stability is a prerequisite for long-term C sequestration. The long-term effect of manuring and fertilization on stability of SOM in rice-potato-wheat (R-P-W) and maize-potato-onion (M-P-O) cropping systems was studied in an Inceptisol of semi-arid subtropical India. Soil samples were collected (0-15 and 15-30cm soil depths) from the following treatments: control, 100% NPK-Fertilizer, 100% N-Vermicompost (VC), 50% NPK-Fertilizer+50%N-Vermicompost (VC), 100%NPK-Fertilizer+crop residue (CR), 100% N-VC+CR. The stability of SOM was studied by correlating the ammonium oxalate extractable Fe, Al and Si with stable soil organic C (SOC). Application of 100% N-VC and 100% N-VC+CR increased the SOC stock by 66% and 32%, respectively over 100% NPK in R-P-W cropping system, while in M-P-O system, the above treatments increased the SOC stock by 28% and 12%. As compared to 100%NPK, the integrated use of 50%NPK+50%N-VC increased the SOC stock by 58% and 35% in R-P-W and M-P-O system, respectively. The extractable Fe, Al and Si significantly correlated with stable OC and the multiple regression model developed between these parameters could well predict the stable OC in soil. Complete or partial substitution of chemical fertilizer N with VC could be a promising nutrient management strategy for enhancing the SOC stock in Inceptisol under potato-based cropping systems of semi-arid sub-tropical India. However, the integrated use of 50%NPK+50%N-VC could be promising due to lowest yield reductions and moderate SOC sequestration potential. The enrichment (47%), as well as quality (81%) of SOC was higher in R-P-W system than in M-P-O system. The organic treatments like 100%NPK+CR and 100%N-VC+CR showed higher stability of SOC in R-P-W (31% and 26%) than in M-P-O cropping system. The stability of SOC could well be predicted by extractable amorphous and poorly crystalline Fe, Al and Si and SOC in both the cropping systems.

Health-related quality of life in different stages of chronic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION

Improved survival of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients has led to an increased focus on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for evaluating treatment effectiveness and assessing health outcomes of these patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate HRQoL in patients in different stages of CKD and to explore possible correlating and influencing factors.

METHODS

Cross-sectional design with 200 patients from India in CKD stages 1-5 assessed for HRQoL through 36-item short-form together with biomarkers. Patients were divided into four groups according to their estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR); group A with GFR range > 90 ml/min/1.73 m², group B with GFR range 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m², group C with GFR range 15-29 ml/min/1.73 m² and group D with GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m² RESULTS: HRQoL scores in all dimensions impaired progressively and significantly across renal function levels and CKD stages. A statistically significant decreasing trend in physical composite summary and mental composite summary scores was found in patients from group A to D (P< 0.001). Patients with eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m², Diabetes Mellitus, Cardio vascular disease (CVD), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 5 mg/l, Hemoglobin  ≤ 90 g/l, erythrocyte sedimentation rate  ≥ 20 and mean arterial pressure  ≥ 100 mm hg had significantly lower scores on all HRQoL dimensions. Among these CRP, reduced GFR and CVD were the most important predictors of impaired HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Considering the worldwide growing prevalence of CKD and increasing importance of HRQoL in chronic diseases, improving our knowledge about HRQoL and its predictors in CKD patients is important. Assessment of HRQoL early in disease course will help to identify high risk patients in whom modifying these factors may help them lead an active and healthy life.

Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as fulminant lupus pneumonitis: a rare case report

We report a case of 19 year-old female patient diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with fever and diffuse cutaneous lesions. During the hospital stay she had acute pneumonia, pleural effusion and respiratory failure, which required intensive care unit (ICU) care and mechanical ventilator support. A fulminant course of the disease, decreased values of complement levels and positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in pleural fluid and repeated negative sputum for acid-fast bacillus, blood cultures enabled diagnosis of fulminant lupus pneumonitis. Fulminant lupus pneumonitis is a rare but potentially life threatening complication of SLE. Management requires involvement of multiple specialties and rigorous efforts in reviving the patient.

A study of coronary artery variants and anomalies observed at a tertiary care armed forces hospital using 64-slice MDCT

BACKGROUND

Isolated coronary artery anomalies are usually clinically silent and mostly detected incidentally during angiography or autopsy. However, few of them may be implicated in cases of sudden cardiac death even in the absence of additional heart abnormalities. Prior knowledge of such variants and anomalies is necessary for planning various interventional procedures. Multiple detector computed tomography coronary angiography has proved a very useful non-invasive modality in this field given its superiority over conventional coronary angiography in providing detailed coronary artery anatomy.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the coronary CT angiography studies was carried out at our center between August 2014 and December 2015 with the purpose of describing the coronary artery variants and anomalies that we came across in our cohort.

RESULTS

In our cohort, about 77% (n=391) of the patients had a right dominant system while left dominant and co-dominant systems were seen in 12% (n=61) and 11% (n=56) respectively. Coronary CT angiography was successful in visualizing smaller branches, such as the conus artery (96.25%, n=489), the sinus node artery (83.07%, n=422), and the septal branches (95.27%, n=484). Coronary anomalies were observed in the 10.04% of our population (n=51). Eleven anomalies of origin and course were found.

CONCLUSION

Coronary CT angiography gives us a good understanding of the variations and anomalies of the anatomy of the coronary arteries. This can be of immense help to the clinician planning interventional procedures.

Accumulation of Metals in Soils, Groundwater and Edible Parts of Crops Grown Under Long-Term Irrigation with Sewage Mixed Industrial Effluents

Farmers in developing countries irrigate crops using raw urban and industrial effluents with consequent risks from metal contamination. Therefore, soils, crops and groundwater from an effluent irrigation use site were assessed for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb. Total and available contents of metals in soil followed the order Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. Crops accumulated more Pb, followed by Cd, Ni and Cr. Pb exceeded the permissible limit with wastewater irrigation only, but Cd exceeded the limit even with combined irrigations of wastewater and groundwater. Among crops, sugar beet assimilated highest Cd (3.14 μg g(-1)) and Pb (6.42 μg g(-1)) concentrations. Legumes accumulated more metals than cereals. Long-term use of wastewater and its conjunctive use with groundwater led to toxic accumulations of Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr. Cd with higher availability and mobility indices and lower toxicity limit, posed the maximum risk of food-chain contamination.

Antimicrobial activity and identification of potential antimicrobial compounds from aquatic pteridophyte, Azolla microphylla Kaulf

Azolla microphylla Kaulf. is an aquatic nitrogen fixing pteridophyte commonly found in aquatic habitats including paddy fields. Methanolic extract of the fronds of A. microphylla was subjected to partial purification by solvent partitioning with diethyl ether and ethyl acetate followed by hydrolysis, and further partitioning with ethyl acetate. The two fractions, thus obtained were tested for antibacterial activity. It was observed that the ethyl acetate fraction inhibited the growth of the pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae. The GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction showed several prominent peaks with retention time ranging from 8.83 to 45.54 min. A comparison of these peaks with the GC-MS libraries revealed that it could be eicosenes and heptadecanes with potential of antimicrobial activity.

The characteristics of Bax inhibitor-1 and its related diseases

Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is an evolutionarily-conserved endoplasmic reticulum protein. The expression of BI-1 in mammalian cells suppresses apoptosis induced by Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. BI-1 has been shown to be associated with calcium (Ca²⁺) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cytosolic acidification, and autophagy as well as endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathways. According to both in vitro and clinical studies, BI-1 promotes the characteristics of cancers. In other diseases, BI-1 has also been shown to regulate insulin resistance, adipocyte differentiation, hepatic dysfunction and depression. However, the roles of BI-1 in these disease conditions are not fully consistent among studies. Until now, the molecular mechanisms of BI-1 have not directly explained with regard to how these conditions can be regulated. Therefore, this review investigates the physiological role of BI-1 through molecular mechanism studies and its application in various diseases.

A comparative study of efficacy of epidural versus interpleural bupivacaine for post operative analgesia after open cholecystectomy

Background The conventional methods of administering the prescribed doses of intramuscular or intravenous analgesics at fixed time intervals results in widely fluctuating and inadequate plasma level leads to poor post operative pain relief. Despite all advances made in the field of medicine, this symptom called “Pain” has not been combated well. Objective The present study was carried out to compare the efficacy of epidural verses interpleural administration of bupivacaine(0.5%) with adrenaline for post operative pain relieve in patients undergoing open cholecystectomy. Methods We prospectively randomized and compared the post operative pain relieve with the reference of visual analog score (VAS) in patients undergoing elective open cholecystectomy in college of medical sciences-teaching hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan. Forty adult patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy were divided into two groups. Twenty patients in each group were subjected to a different technique of post-operative analgesia, namely thoracic epidural and interpleural instillation of 0.5% bupivacaine. These two groups were then compared in relation to changes produced in the pain scores, vital parameters and complication and side effects associated with the two techniques. The study was conducted for 24 hour postoperatively. Observation: Both thoracic epidural and interpleural instillation of 0.5% bupivacaine compared favorably with regard to analgesia in the present study. In general, the pain relief following thoracic epidural was more complete compared to interpleural but this was not clinically significant. Conclusion The present study shows that both the techniques are equally effective in providing analgesia following cholecystectomy. However, neither technique rendered the patients completely pain free at all times during first 24 hours. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-4, 15-23 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i4.10232

Retinal nerve fiber layer evaluation of spectral domain optical coherence tomograph and scanning laser polarimeter to diagnose glaucoma

PURPOSE

To compare the abilities of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters of spectral domain optical coherence tomograph (SDOCT) and scanning laser polarimeter (GDx enhanced corneal compensation; ECC) in detecting glaucoma.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 215 eyes of 165 subjects (106 eyes of 79 glaucoma patients and 109 eyes of 86 controls) referred by general ophthalmologists for glaucoma evaluation underwent RNFL imaging with SDOCT and GDx ECC. Ability of RNFL parameters of SDOCT to discriminate glaucoma eyes from control eyes was compared with that of GDx ECC using area under operating characteristic curves (AUCs), sensitivities at fixed specificities, and likelihood ratios (LRs).

RESULTS

AUC of the average RNFL thickness of SDOCT to differentiate glaucoma from control eyes (0.868) was comparable (P=0.32) to that of GDx ECC (0.855). Sensitivity at 95% specificity was 63.2% for average RNFL thickness of SDOCT and 48.1% for the average RNFL measurement of GDx ECC. LRs of outside normal limits category of SDOCT parameters ranged between 5.6 and 7.7 while the same of GDx ECC parameters ranged between 3.1 and 3.7. LRs of within normal limits category of SDOCT parameters ranged between 0.18 and 0.24 while the same of GDx ECC parameters ranged between 0.20 and 0.32.

CONCLUSION

Though AUCs and sensitivities at fixed specificities were comparable between the RNFL parameters of SDOCT and GDx ECC in diagnosing glaucoma, LRs indicated that the RNFL parameters of SDOCT were better in 'ruling in' glaucoma.

A clinical comparison of high dose and low dose of Suxamethonium

Background: Suxamethonium having its rapid onset and short duration of action makes this drug unique amongst the neuromuscular blocking drugs described so far. However, use of suxamethonium is associated with a large number of undesirable side effects. Objective: To evaluate clinical effects of high and low dose of suxamethonium and to determine whether lower dose of suxamethonium can be used for any beneficial effects in terms of its various adverse effects e.g. cardiovascular responses, post-operative muscle pains and intraocular pressure. Methods: A total of 100 patients were included in this prospective study. All these patients on preoperative clinical evaluation were assessed to have adequate airway. All the patients were divided in two groups, low dose group (group I) and High dose group (group II) with 50 patients in each at random. A standard anesthetic technique was adhered to all the patients and following parameters were observed on comparative basis: a. Fasciculation and post operative myalgia. b. Cardiovascular effects, c. Intraocular pressure. Observation: The incidence of post Suxamethonium pain was significantly greater in group II. Increase in heart rate from baseline was significant in both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the diastolic pressure but rise in systolic blood pressure was significant at all assessment times in both groups. This rise from control was statistically significant. Conclusion: Suxamethonium can be used in lower doses (0.5 mg/kg) in elective cases without airway compromise. It gives benefits of reduced muscle pains, cardiovascular responses and intraocular hypertension. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-2, 1-8 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i2.9677

A comparison of serum potassium level between high dose and low dose of Succinylcholine

Aims: Succinylcholine is a depolarizing type of neuromuscular blocking drug. Aim of this study is to evaluate and compare serum potassium level with upper dose limit of succinylcholine (1.5mg/kg), which is used normally in anesthetic practice with low dose of succinylcholine (0.5mg/kg). Materials and methods: A total of 100 patients attending for elective surgery in College of Medical Sciences -Teaching Hospital( CMSTH)), Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal were studied. Two blood samples were collected, one before surgery and another at 4 min after injection of succinylcholine and send to central lab for estimation of serum potassium level. Result: The serum potassium levels recorded during the study showed that there were neither significant differences observed within the groups nor was there any difference between the groups. Conclusion: In absence of pathological conditions related to raised serum potassium level, both high and low doses of succinylcholine can be used safely as there is no statistically significant differences in serum potassium level between high and low dose of succinylcholine. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-1, 19-22 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i1.9669

Effect of prolonged water stress on specialized secondary metabolites, peltate glandular trichomes, and pathway gene expression in Artemisia annua L

Artemisia annua L. accumulates substantial quantities of unique sesquiternoid artemisinin and related phytomolecules and characteristic essential oil in glandular trichomes, present on its leaves and inflorescence. Water stress is a major concern in controlling plant growth and productivity. In this study, our aim was to find out the modulation of artemisinin and essential oil constituents in plants grown under prolonged water stress conditions. A. annua CIM-Arogya plants grown in pots were subjected to mild (60% ± 5) and moderate (40% ± 5) water stress treatment and continued during entire developmental period. Results revealed that artemisinin, arteannuin-B, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid and essential oil content were positively controlled by the growth and development however negatively modulated by water deficit stress. Interestingly, some of minor monoterpenes, all sesquiterpenes and other low molecular weight volatiles of essential oil components were induced by water deficit treatment. Camphor which is the major essential oil constituents did not alter much while 1, 8 cineole was modulated during development of plant as well as under water stress conditions. Water deficit stress induces a decrease in glandular trichome density and size as well. The dynamics of various secondary metabolites is discussed in the light of growth responses, trichomes and pathway gene expression in plants grown under two levels of prolonged water stress conditions.

Low dose ct in chronic sinusitis

Role of low dose CT was assessed in 50 patients of chronic sinusitis. CT easily picks up the disease and predisposing anatomic variants, which were observed, in 78% of cases. The commonest anatomical variants was deviated nasal septum (38%),other variants found were concha bullosa in (28%) and Helle cell in 28% cases. The commonest disease pattern was osteomeatal unit pattern in 36% case. Infundibular pattern was seen in 23%, sphenoethmoidal recess pattern in 12% and sino-nasal polypopsis pattern was present in 16% of the cases. Low dose CT is preferred as it gives as good results as standard CT There is very little chances of irradiation hazard even when it has to be employed repeatedly.

Pheochromocytoma: reporting of two cases with a brief review

Pheochromocytoma arise from the chromaffin cells of adrenal gland or cells of sympathetic ganglion. The tumors secrete excessive adrenaline and nor-adrenaline and may cause severe elevation of blood pressure. Cardinal symptoms of pheochromocytoms are headache, diaphoresis, palpitation and high blood pressure which may be paroxysmal in nature. However, 10% of pheochromocytomas are only incidentally discovered during investigation of the patient for other reasons not related to suprarenal disease. We have reported here two cases of suprarenal tumors (pheochromocytoma), one of which is incidentally found while investigating her chest and epigastric pains. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2011,Vol-7,No-4, 78-86 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v7i4.6817

A Comparative study of efficacy of high dose versus low dose of suxamethonium for endotracheal intubation

As use of suxamethonium is associated with a large number of undesirable and serious side effects, including cardiac arrhythmias and malignant hyperthermia. These undesirable effects have prompted anesthesiologists to restrict use of suxamethonium. The low dose of the drug is expected to have lower side effects without compromising its neuromuscular blocking properties as the dose dependent side effects have been known for long, so the present study carried out to compare the efficacy of high dose (1.5mg/Kg) of suxamethonium to that of low dose (0.5mg/Kg) assessed by intubation condition with neuromuscular blockade. We prospectively randomized and compared the intubating conditions with neuromuscular monitoring in 100 patients undergoing elective abdominal, gynaecological and limb surgery in CMS-TH and found duration of apnoea and time taken for recovery of twitch height was significantly shorter. Without compromising the quality of neuromuscular blockade. Suxamethonium or Succinylcholine can be used in lower doses (0.5 mg/kg) in elective cases without airway compromise to achieve intubation. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2011,Vol-7,No-4, 53-57 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v7i4.6812 

Molecular diversity of native rhizobia trapped by five field pea genotypes in Indian soils

Five pea cultivars; HFP 4, HVP 3-5, HFP 9426, Jayanti and Hariyal, being grown in CCS Haryana Agricultural University farm were used to isolate native rhizobia. Selected 54 rhizobia, from all cultivars, were authenticated as rhizobia by plant infectivity test. Along with nodulation, symbiotic effectiveness in terms of symbiotic ratios showed wide range of effectiveness of pea rhizobia from 1.11 to 5.0. DNA of all the 54 rhizobia was extracted and amplified by PCR, using ERIC and 16S rDNA primers. Dendrogram based on ERIC profiles of these 54 rhizobia showed the formation of 13 subclusters at 80% level of similarity. Dendrogram based on RFLP of 16S rDNA by three restriction endonucleases; Msp I, Csp 6I and Rsa I; also formed 13 subclusters at 80% level of similarity. However, positioning of subclusters was different from that of ERIC based dendrogram. Majority of the isolates i.e. 64.8% by ERIC profiles and 44.4% by RFLP of 16S rDNA formed one cluster. Isolates from same nodule were not 100% similar. Considering each cluster representing a rhizobial genotype, both techniques used to assess molecular diversity indicated the presence of 13 genotypes of field pea rhizobia in CCS Haryana Agricultural University farm soil. Two pea rhizobial genotypes were able to nodulate all the five pea cultivars. Furthermore, high strain richness index (0.43-0.5) of field pea rhizobia was observed by both the techniques.

Lipoprotein-A and carotid intima media thickness as cardiovascular risk factors in patients of chronic kidney disease

Patients in all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are considered in the "high-risk group" for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study was undertaken in 60 adult patients of chronic renal failure. The patients were divided into three groups: Group I had subjects with CKD (stages 1 and 2); Group II had subjects with CKD (stages 3 and 4) on conservative therapy for 3 months; and Group III had subjects with CKD (stage 5) on regular hemodialysis for at least 3-4 weeks. Carotid sonography was done in all patients at the time of inclusion in the study. The patients in all the groups were then followed for 6 months and the relevant investigations were carried out, initially at the time of presentation, and then at third- and sixth-month interval. The patients were monitored for various renal parameters along with serum lipoprotein-A [Lp (A)]. The value of carotid intima media thickness (CA-IMT) was increased in group II and III as compared to group I. The calcification of carotids was higher in patients of group III. The maximum number of patients having plaques and stenosis in the carotids were seen in group III (50%), followed by group II (20%). Patients in group III had 5-10 times higher levels of Lp (A) as compared to patients in group I. The comparison of Lp (A) levels between group I and group II was also highly statistically significant.

Contamination of ground water as a consequence of land disposal of dye waste mixed sewage effluents: a case study of Panipat district of Haryana, India

Spatial samples of surface and ground water collected from land disposal site of dye waste mixed sewage effluents at Binjhole, in Haryana, India were analyzed to evaluate its effect on quality of pond, hand pumps and ground waters for human health and irrigation purposes. It was found that average COD and TDS of dye houses discharge (310 and 3,920 mg/L) and treated sewage (428 and 1,470 mg/L) on mixing acquired the values of 245 and 1,780 mg/L and only Pb (0.24 microg/L) was above the permissible limit for irrigation purpose. Disposal of this mixed water to village pond changes the COD and TDS to 428 and 1,470 mg/L, respectively. COD and TDS of hand pump water samples were 264 and 1,190 mg/L, where as in tube well water these values were 151 and 900 mg/L. Though the ground water contamination seemed to decrease with the increasing distance from the pond but COD, TDS and BOD values continued to be quite high in water samples drawn from the hand pumps up to a distance of 500 m from pond. However, the major cause of the concern in these waters was Pb (0.11-0.45 ppm). Crops grown with this water shows accumulation of heavy metals like Pb,Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Zn but in few crops they (Zn, Pb and Cd) exceed the safe limits. Regular consumption of these crop products may lead heavy metal toxicity. It was concluded from this study that the deep seepage of effluents led to deterioration of ground water quality for drinking purposes and the well waters rendered unfit for irrigation purposes within a span of 2 years. This warrants appropriate disposal measures for sewage and dye industry effluents in order to prevent deterioration of ground water and health of human and animals.

Marginal Accuracy of Castings Produced with Different Investment Systems

BACKGROUND

The use of casting ring to produce accurate castings has been challenged with the introduction of a ringless casting technique. This study compared the marginal accuracy of all - metal complete coverage crowns fabricated with ringless, split plastic ring and metal ring investment systems.

METHODS

A total of 40 all- metal complete coverage crowns were fabricated on a metal die. The crowns were divided in 4 groups (Group A, B, C and D) of 10 patterns each. A ringless system of investing and casting was used for group A whereas a split plastic ring system was used for group B. Groups C and D utilized metal ring with single and double layers of asbestos free cellulose acetate liner respectively for investing and casting procedures. The restorations were seated on the metal die and the vertical marginal discrepancy was evaluated by measuring the gap between the finish line on the die and the margins of the crown on four specific sites with an optical microscope. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA and multiple comparison "t" test.

RESULT

The mean vertical marginal discrepancy for groups A, B, C and D was 95μm, 136μm, 128μm and 104μm respectively. Vertical marginal discrepancy on each surface was compared among the four groups. Difference of vertical marginal discrepancy on buccal surface (p<0.0001) as well as distal surface (p<0.005) was highly significant whereas it was non-significant on lingual and mesial surfaces (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Accurate castings with better marginal fit can be produced with ringless casting technique.

Extraction of cadmium and tolerance of three annual cut flowers on Cd-contaminated soils

To evaluate the production potential and Cd removal by three flower crops, viz.: marigold (Tagetes erecta), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum) and gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus), an experiment was conducted on differentially contaminated soils (DTPA-Cd 0.6-68.4 mg kg(-1)). Biotoxicity of Cd lead to reductions in growth and flower yield of marigold at DTPA-Cd >or= 7.9 mg kg(-1) soil, while the productivity of chrysanthemum and gladiolus was sustained up to 21.2 mg kg(-1). DTPA-Cd for 50% yield reduction (C(50)) was 85, 106 and 215 mg kg(-1) soil for marigold, chrysanthemum and gladiolus, respectively, that indicates a better Cd-tolerance in gladiolus. The uptake of Cd increased with contents in soils and the maximum accumulation occurred in leaves. Among the economic parts, gladiolus spikes accumulated the highest Cd (7.2) followed by flowers of marigold (6.5) and chrysanthemum (4.0 mg kg(-1)). But, because of higher biomass, the total Cd removal was the maximum with chrysanthemum (8.3) followed by gladiolus (6.0) and the minimum (2.6 mg m(-2)) with marigold. Gladiolus with highest tolerance and Cd-content in saleable part holds potential to clean up the moderately contaminated soils.

A Comparison of Clinically Atypical with Typical Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of prospective studies evaluating the atypical features of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

AIMS

To compare clinical and electrodiagnostic features of clinically typical and atypical CIDP patients.

METHODS

The patients with typical and atypical CIDP diagnosed according to the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society were included. The disability was graded on a 0-10 scale. Neurophysiological study included motor and sensory nerve conduction and F wave studies of both upper and lower limbs. The patients were treated with prednisolone with or without azathioprine. The outcome was evaluated at 6 months and improvement was defined as at least 2 grades improvement.

RESULTS

Eight out of 37 CIDP patients had atypical features, which included asymmetry in 2, dysautonomia in 3 and pure motor weakness, amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-like syndrome and distal weakness in 1 patient each. Tendon reflexes were retained in 3 patients. The mean duration of symptoms was 43 weeks in the typical and 30 weeks in the atypical group. The age, sex, disability, therapeutic response and neurophysiological features were similar in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

About one fifth of CIDP patients may have atypical clinical features; however, their electrodiagnostic features and response to treatment are no different from typical CIDP.

A comparative study of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with and without diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is occasionally associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) raising the question of coexistence or etiological link. The study compares, neurophysiological and outcome of CIDP patients with and without DM. Consecutive CIDP patients were subjected to detailed clinical evaluation, haematology, serum chemistry, vasculitis profile, paraproteins, myeloma screening and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. Electrodiagnostic (EDx) tests included motor and sensory conduction and F-wave studies. The patients were treated with oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day with or without azathioprine 1-2 mg/kg and followed up for 6 months. The clinical and EDx finding in CIDP with and without DM were compared. Thirty-five CIDP patients were included and nine had DM. CIDP with diabetes (CIDP-D) had higher frequency of autonomic dysfunction. In CIDP-D, motor (38.9% vs. 16.7%) and sensory (40.7% vs. 14.1%) nerve conductions were more frequently unrecordable or had reduced compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude. F-waves were also more frequently unrecordable in CIDP-D (28.8% vs. 12.8%) compared with idiopathic CIDP (I-CIDP). The degree of conduction block was more in I-CIDP. At 6-month follow up, I-CIDP patients improved better than CIDP-D. CIDP-D patients present with higher frequency of autonomic dysfunction, electrophysiological evidences of associated axonal loss and had a poorer outcome at 6 months compared with I-CIDP.

Structural, electronic and vibrational properties of small Ga(x)N(y) (x+y = 2-5) nanoclusters: a B3LYP-DFT study

An ab initio study of the stability, structural and electronic properties has been made for 49 gallium nitride nanoclusters, Ga(x)N(y) (x+y = 2-5). Among the various configurations corresponding to a fixed x+y = n value, the configuration possessing the maximum value of binding energy (BE) is named as the most stable structure. The vibrational and optical properties have been investigated only for the most stable structures. A B3LYP-DFT/6-311G(3df) method has been employed to optimize the geometries of the nanoclusters fully. The binding energies (BEs), highest-occupied and lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps and the bond lengths have been obtained for all the clusters. We have considered the zero-point energy (ZPE) corrections ignored by the earlier workers. The adiabatic and vertical ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs), charge on atoms, dipole moments, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities (IR Int.), relative infrared intensities (Rel. IR Int.) and Raman scattering activities have been investigated for the most stable structures. The configurations containing the N atoms in majority are seen to be the most stable structures. The strong N-N bond has an important role in stabilizing the clusters. For clusters containing one Ga atom and all the others as N atoms, the BE increases monotonically with the number of the N atoms. The HOMO-LUMO gap and IP fluctuate with the cluster size n, having larger values for the clusters containing odd number of N atoms. On the other hand, the EA decreases with the cluster size up to n = 3, and shows slow fluctuations thereafter for the larger clusters. In general, the adiabatic IP (EA) is smaller (greater) than the vertical IP (EA) because of the lower energies of the most stable ground state of the cationic (anionic) clusters. The optical absorption spectrum or electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) is unique for every cluster, and may be used to characterize a specific cluster. All the predicted physical quantities are in good agreement with the experimental data wherever available. The growth of these most stable structures should be possible in experiments.

Prevalence and control of pathogenic contamination in some sewage irrigated vegetable, forage and cereal grain crops

A total of 344 samples comprising of different vegetables, fodder and grain crops were obtained from a long-term experiment under sewage irrigation. The aerobic bacterial plate counts for vegetables, fodder and grain crops ranged between 2 x 10(6) and 3.5 x 10(7), 6 x 10(6) and 3 x 10(8), 2 x 10(5) and 3.8 x 10(10), respectively, while the corresponding Faecal coliform ranged between < 2 and 9 x 10(5), 9 x 10(2) and 2 x 10(5) and < 2, indicating that the pathogenic loads got reduced below permissible level in the produce that was harvested after sun drying in the field itself, whereas the parts coming in direct contact were the most severely contaminated. The health hazards could be markedly lowered with adoption of some of the low cost practices such as repeated washings, exposure of the produce to sunlight and raising the crops on beds. The coliform counts in vegetables were within permissible limits by two washings with water, exposing these to sunlight for about 4 h and removing the two outmost leaves of cabbage. Also, cutting above some height from ground level (0.10 m) in sorghum reduced the pollution load in fodder crops.

Force field calculations for 2-amino-5-chloro- and 2-amino-5-bromo-benzotrifluorides

Force field calculations have been carried out for 2-amino-5-chloro- and 2-amino-5-bromo-benzotrifluorides using the earlier (Ref. of this article) reported IR and Raman spectra. As the frequencies of the corresponding modes for the C-Br and the C-Cl groups do not differ widely the two molecules are assumed to be isotopomers for the purpose of the force field calculations. The calculated and the observed frequencies match nicely for both the molecules. Consistent assignments have been proposed for the ring modes and the internal modes of the CF3 and the NH2 groups based on the potential energy distributions (PEDs), the IR and the Raman intensities and the depolarisation ratios of the Raman lines.

Pleomorphism of the clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) remains a major public health problem in developing countries as it is the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations are non-specific and pleomorphic. Case reports on uncommon presentations of NCC are few. We report six interesting cases of NCC with unusual clinical presentation that demonstrate this spectrum of pleomorphism. These include extrapyramidal disease (parkinsonism and focal dystonia), Kluver-Bucy syndrome, Weber's syndrome, dementia and cortical blindness. The clinical details and possible mechanisms for the uncommon presentations are also discussed. Thus, a high level of suspicion should be kept for NCC, especially in endemic zones and developing countries.

Neuromyotonia with neuropathy and muscle hypertrophy: association or cause?

Continuous muscle fibre activity in a patient with demyelinating neuropathy is rare. We report an 18 year old boy who presented with walking difficulty and continuous rippling in muscles of upper and lower limbs. He had dysarthric speech, hypertrophied arm and calf muscles with normal power, tone, reflexes and sensations. Myokymic discharges were seen in deltoid, biceps, quadriceps and calf muscles. His blood counts, chemistry, thyroid profile, DNA, Rh factor were normal and CPK was raised. CSF showed protein 50 mg/dl and 4 lymphocyte/mm3. Nerve conduction study revealed conduction block and absence of peroneal F wave. EMG showed neuromyotonic discharges which disappeared on regional neuromuscular blocker but not on nerve block or general anaesthesia. He responded partially to prednisolone. Acquired demyelinating neuropathy may result in neuromyotonia and muscle hypertrophy which may partially respond to prednisolone.