ABSTRACT
Widespread incidences of sulphur (S) deficiency in agricultural crops and soils have been reported globally. To meet this gap, various new forms of S fertilizers are available in the market, and they are in the process of testing for their validations in varied type of crop species and soils. A current global trend of using these advanced S formulations for plant production has emerged to overcome the challenges of S nutrition in crops. This paper highlights the potential benefits of improved S fertilizers in agriculture as compared to conventional S fertilizers. However, there is also a need for increasing awareness among the growers to recognize the importance of S (fourth primary plant nutrient) and simultaneously exploring the options for elevating the efficiency of S.
ABSTRACT
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an important public health problem globally as well as in India. LF causes both acute and chronic morbidity with significant impediment to socio-economic development. The aim of this review was to analyze the current scenario in filariasis research. This debilitating disease which carried a serious social stigma and once thought to be difficult to treat, control, and eradicate, now could achieve significant success in its treatment and elimination globally by 2020, including from India. Achievement of success so far could be possible through series of evolution in understanding pathology of the disease, pathogenesis of the etiologic agent parasite, diagnostic tools, therapeutic and preventive approaches through new knowledge, techniques and development of investigative tools.
ABSTRACT
Sudden deaths in children due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) from a tribal dominated district of Malkangiri in Odisha, India, was reported during September-November, 2012. The investigation was carried out to search for the possible viral aetiology that caused this outbreak. Clinico-epidemiological survey and seromolecular investigation were carried out to confirm the viral aetiology. Two hundred seventy two suspected cases with 24 deaths were observed. The patients presented with low to moderate grade fever (87%), headache (43%), vomiting (27%), cold (18%), cough (17%), body ache (15%), joint pain (15%), rash (15%), abdomen pain (9%), lethargy (5%), altered sensorium (8%), convulsion (2%), diarrhoea (3%), and haematemesis (3%). Laboratory investigation showed Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgM in 13.8 per cent (13/94) in blood samples and JEV RNA in one of two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. Paddy fields close to the houses, high pig to cattle ratio, high density (33 per man hour density) of Culex vishnui mosquitoes, low socio-economic status and low health awareness in the tribal population were observed. This report confirmed the outbreak of JEV infection in Odisha after two decades.
ABSTRACT
Background. The sudden death of 10 children in a tribal village of Kandhamal district, Odisha in eastern India led to this investigation. Methods. We conducted a door-to-door survey to identify cases. Antibodies for Chandipura, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and West Nile viruses were tested by ELISA in probable cases. Chandipura virus RNA was tested from both human blood samples and sand flies by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We conducted vector surveys in domestic and peridomestic areas, and collected sand flies. Results. Entomological investigations revealed the presence of Phlebotomus argentipes and Sergentomiya sp. Thirty-five patients presented with fever, 12 of them had altered sensorium including 4 who had convulsions. The blood samples of 21 patients were tested; four samples revealed Chandipura virusspecific IgM antibody. Conclusion. Chandipura virus infection causing encephalitis affected this tribal population in eastern India at 1212 m above sea level. Natl Med J India 2015;28:185–7
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of cases in an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Setting: Hospitals and community in urban areas of Bhubaneswar city, Odisha. Methods: Upon clinical suspicion of the first case as HFMD, local pediatricians and dermatologists were sensitized for case referral to Dermatology department of Institute of Medical Science and SUM hospital (IMS&SH) for evaluation and follow up. Community survey was undertaken by household visit by the team from Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar in an outbreak area through hospital case tracing. Blood samples were tested for hematological counts and RT PCR assay done in a subset of samples for confirmation. Results: Seventy eight cases of HFMD were detected between R E S E A R C H P A P E R September 7 and November 6, 2009. Mean age (SD) was 5.13 (4.94) years (range 4 mo-31 yrs) and both sexes were equally affected. Fever and rash were the most common presenting symptoms with the rash distributed mostly over buttocks (83.3%), knees (77.5%), both surfaces of hands and oral mucosa (78.2%). Lesions healed in Mean (SD) 8.6 (1.5) days (range 7-15 d). Recovery was complete with minimal supportive treatment but, nail shedding was noted in three children within 4-5 weeks. CA16 was confirmed as the viral agent. Conclusion: Children (5-14 yrs) were majorly affected and complete recovery without neurological complications were noted. The characteristic clinical features described will be useful for early clinical diagnosis where laboratory confirmation is not feasible.
ABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA), which is an inherited blood disorder characterized primarily by chronic anemia and oxidative stress plays a major role in pathophysiology. Objective: This study aims to evaluate vitamin A (serum retinol) status and hematological parameters in children with homozygous and heterozygous sickle cell disorders and compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Materials and Methods:A sample of 80 referred cases (37 sickle cell disorders and 43 normal cases) aged 2-40 years were included in the study. Hematological parameters were measured in cell counter and serum retinol by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The mean hemoglobin (Hb) and serum retinol were significantly lower among cases with sickle cell disease than in sickle cell trait and normal. Vitamin A deficiency (retinol < 20 μg/dl) reported to be higher in homozygous cases (46.2%) as compared to either heterozygous (29.2%) or control (23.2%) groups. Serum retinol was correlated directly with Hb, RBC count, and hematocrit levels, and inversely with percentage of sickling among sickle cell disorder cases. Conclusion: The results indicate that deprived vitamin A status with inductive oxidative stress is mainly due to sickling and hemolysis in SCA cases.
ABSTRACT
Background: Violence against women is widely recognized as an important public health problem. However, the magnitude of the problem among pregnant women is not well known in several parts of India. Hence, the prevalence and characteristics associated with various forms of domestic violence against women in pregnancy were studied in Eastern India. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional sample survey covering married women with a history of at least one full-term pregnancy (n 1525) was carried out in the Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand states of India. Interviews were conducted using a pre-piloted structured questionnaire to inquire about physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence. Data on socioeconomic characteristics and behaviours were also collected. The association of independent variables with domestic violence were examined by using logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence during a recent pregnancy was found to be 7.1%, 30.6% and 10.4% respectively, and the lifetime prevalence during all pregnancies was 8.3%, 33.4% and 12.6% respectively. Urban living, higher maternal age and husbands’ alcoholism were the factors associated with domestic violence in pregnancy. Women belonging to lower social groups were less likely to have physical domestic violence. Factors such as higher prevalence of undesirable behaviours like denying adequate rest and diet, demand for more sex, not providing antenatal care and pressure for male child were also associated with domestic violence in pregnancy. Conclusions: Considerable proportions of women experience some type of domestic violence during pregnancy. Health-care providers should be able to recognize and respond to pregnant women’s victimization and refer them for appropriate support and care.
ABSTRACT
The global emergence and spread of malaria parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs is the major problem in malaria control. The genetic basis of the parasite's resistance to the antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) is well-documented, allowing for the analysis of field isolates of malaria parasites to address evolutionary questions concerning the origin and spread of CQ-resistance. Here, we present DNA sequence analyses of both the second exon of the Plasmodium falciparum CQ-resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene and the 5' end of the P. falciparum multidrug-resistance 1 (pfmdr-1) gene in 40 P. falciparum field isolates collected from eight different localities of Odisha, India. First, we genotyped the samples for the pfcrt K76T and pfmdr-1 N86Y mutations in these two genes, which are the mutations primarily implicated in CQ-resistance. We further analyzed amino acid changes in codons 72-76 of the pfcrt haplotypes. Interestingly, both the K76T and N86Y mutations were found to co-exist in 32 out of the total 40 isolates, which were of either the CVIET or SVMNT haplotype, while the remaining eight isolates were of the CVMNK haplotype. In total, eight nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed, six in the pfcrt gene and two in the pfmdr-1 gene. One poorly studied SNP in the pfcrt gene (A97T) was found at a high frequency in many P. falciparum samples. Using population genetics to analyze these two gene fragments, we revealed comparatively higher nucleotide diversity in the pfcrt gene than in the pfmdr-1 gene. Furthermore, linkage disequilibrium was found to be tight between closely spaced SNPs of the pfcrt gene. Finally, both the pfcrt and the pfmdr-1 genes were found to evolve under the standard neutral model of molecular evolution.