ABSTRACT
Background: Objective of the research was to study the prevalence of blindness in adult patients coming to a tertiary eye care centre in Western Uttar Pradesh and assess their causes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients coming to the outpatient department of a tertiary eye care centre over a period of 3 months and 375 patients were identified as having blindness. Complete ophthalmological examination was conducted to find out the cause for the same. Results: The prevalence of blindness was found out to be 4.096%. The major causes for blindness in adults were identified as cataract (33.06%), glaucoma (13.6%), ARMD (5.6%), diabetic retinopathy (5.06%), corneal scar/opacity/dystrophy (26.93%), amblyopia (3.2%) and trauma (2.13%). Conclusions: Knowledge of prevalence of blindness in a region is important in developing and implementing eye care services. Avoidable blindness needs to be identified and treated as soon as possible.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate and correlate the functional treatment response using microperimetry (MP3) with the morphological findings on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in wet AMD pre- and post-treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This was a single-centre prospective, interventional study. Methods: Patients with wet AMD were treated with 3 injections of intravitreal anti-VEGF at monthly intervals for 3 months and followed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months postinjection. Using “overlay” features, morphologic characteristics of OCTA at the site of choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) lesion were analyzed and correlated functionally with MP3. Data were collected including visual acuity at presentation and follow-up with multimodal imaging features, treatment details, complications (if any), and treatment given for that complication. Descriptive observational analysis and paired t-test was used to compare the appearance of the neovascular network on OCTA imaging with retinal sensitivity on MP3. Results: OCTA in the pretreatment phase revealed CNVM as an abnormal vascular network arising from the choroid and invading the subretinal space. On MP3, decreased retinal sensitivity was observed corresponding to the area of CNVM. Post-treatment, OCTA revealed reduction in abnormal vascular network in 51 (91.07%) eyes that correlated with increased retinal sensitivity at the corresponding area on MP3. Statistical analysis showed baseline mean retinal sensitivity at the site of CNVM as 320.07 dB, which improved to 521.53 and 730.20 dB at 1 and 3 months postinjection follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: Combining the findings of OCTA and MP3 using “overlay” features gives us precise information of structure–function correlation at presentation and also in response to treatment. It also helps to improve patient's compliance, confidence to treatment, and their understanding of the disease process as well.
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To assess the extent of genetic diversity within and between three populations of the catfish, Clarias batrachus, an analysis for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variations were carried out. Five out of ten random primers produced constant and reproducible pattern of RAPD products. These five primers produced 72 scorable DNA fragments out of which 68 (86.66%) were polymorphic. Populations showed significant differences in their degree of polymorphism. Differences however, were observed in the primers in producing similarities in the populations.
ABSTRACT
A pot experiment was conducted at six graded levels of copper (Cu) viz., 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg kg-1 to test the response of wheat plants grown in a copper-responsive alluvial soil (entisol) under glass house conditions. The growth attributes like plant height, fresh and dry matter yield, percent dry matter enhanced with increasing Cu levels and was maximum at 1.5 mg kg-1 Cu while the number of tillers was minimum at this level. The grain yield at 1.5 mg kg-1 Cu was enhanced by 62.9% from the control. The increase in weight of 1000 grains ranged from 33.93 to 41.35 g in comparison to control (32.58 g). Harvest index (%) also increased and ranged from 39.42 to 47.73 in different treatments in comparison to control (35.92). Both 1000 grain weight and harvest index were maximum in the plants at 1.5 mg kg-1 copper. Cu concentrations in leaves, grain and straw enhanced with increasing levels of Cu application. The Fe concentration in leaves was significantly reduced by Cu application and the reduction was 10.3% at 2.5 mg kg-1 Cu and was not influenced in by Cu application in grain and straw. The Mn concentration was not affected by Cu application in any of the plant part studied. However, Zn concentration decreased significantly at higher levels of Cu (2.0 and 2.5 mg kg-1) in leaves and remained unaffected in the grain and straw.
ABSTRACT
The essential oils tested viz., Cardiaca Oil, Mentha Oil, Artemisia Oil and Geranium Oil against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Significant activity of all oils was found against all microorganisms. All the four oils showed a higher inhibition against all the microorganisms, except S. epidermidis at different level of concentrations used (1000 ppm and 500 ppm). It is clearly indicated that inhibition activity increased approximately 1 to 2 folds at 1000 ppm concentration as compared to 500 ppm. S. epidermidis has shown resistant towards all the oils at both the concentration while M. smegmatis and S. mutans have shown higher inhibition as compared to S. epidermidis.