Rooftop Gardening: Estimation of Income from a Score of Socio-Ecological Variables

Aims: To study the relationship of total income was incurred from the rooftop gardening with various socio economic and behavioural aspects and elicit the future opportunity for this innovative method in this global warming situation where the world is facing the increasing crisis of availability of the land resources, support sustainability, contamination of ground water, food accessibility, and economic sustainability. Study Design: The locale was selected by purposive sampling technique and the respondents following rooftop gardening had been interacted and was selected by the snowball sampling method. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out during 2017 and 2018. The place, Janai Road of Srirampur, Khanakul-I and Khanakul-II block of Hooghly district, Budge Budge-II, Bishnupur-I and Bishnupur-II of South 24 Parganas and various areas in Kolkata were selected for the study. Methodology: In this present study 50 respondents following rooftop gardens have been interacted and are selected by the snowball sampling method. A semi-structured schedule has been administered to generate women information regarding family composition, the rationale for opting rooftop gardening, the ecological views on roof gardening, and the cost opportunity analysis. The gathered data had been put into multivariate analysis (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V20.0 (SPSS) of IBM was used for analyzing the Coefficient of Correlation, Stepwise Regression and Path Analysis). Results: Education (X2), rooftop area (X4), diversity of plants (X6), labour charges (X8), organic manure (X11), fertilizer (X13) variables have been found to exert strong and determining contribution to total income. Respondents revealed that it had provided a certain amount of income in addition to the conventional farming income. Conclusion: The study had revealed that Rooftop gardening is not only eco-friendly horticulture but also a successful enterprise, having all the three critical echelons viz. economy, ecology, and equity as well.

A Study of Psychiatric Referrals in a Multidisciplinary Teaching Hospital.

Between April 2009 and June 2009, a three month period, a total of 130 inpatients from a tertiary care, multidisciplinary hospital were referred for psychiatric opinion. 35 cases were referred for attempted suicide and 95 cases for other reasons. An analysis of these two groups of referrals was done to study the referral trends. About 7% with organic disorders, 14.6% presented with drug dependence, 7.7% with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, 22.3% presented with mood disorders. Our findings were like other Asian countries with a significant group comprising of dissociative disorder (hysteria) unlike west.

High resolution ultrasound of ophthalmic patients in a tertiary hospital.

The study was done to find out pathologic processes in ophthalmic patients in different age group to understand the use, role and limitations of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ocular pathology in this locality. A prospective study was done on total 143 patients from September 2004 to January 2006 who attended Centre for Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Mymensingh for ultrasound evaluation of eye. Total 100 (69.93%, n=100) cases were male and 43 (30.06%, n=43) cases were female. The age ranges were 2 months to 80 years. A variety of ocular pathology was diagnosed with the help of high resolution ultrasound (HRUS) with unique ultrasound appearance. Bulk of the referral patients had history of ocular trauma (38.46 %, n= 38) and most commonly detected pathology in these group are vitreous hemorrhage (34.44%, n=34) and cataract formation (28.28%, n=28). Almost all of the patients did not have conclusive diagnosis clinically and by conventional means available before ultrasonography were performed. High resolution sonography may be used as a valuable tool for evaluation of ophthalmic pathology as a well suited, noninvasive method, and only practical imaging modality for assessing those cases particularly when light conducting media are opaque.

Prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia.

A 25 years old lady came to Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Mymensingh for ultrasonographic evaluation of gestational condition. Transabdominal ultrasonogram showed mal development of skeletal system with abnormally shortened limbs. This seems to be a case of achnodroplasia, which was proved subsequently true after termination of pregnancy.

Placenta previa and it's relation with maternal age, gravidity and cesarean section.

The placenta provides the essential connection between the mother and the developing fetus. Placental position were routinely mentioned in an ultrasound report starting from early second trimester to the end of third trimester when asked for pregnancy evaluation. The aim of this study was to see the prevalence of lower segment placenta (placenta previa) and its relations with previous cesarean section delivery, parity and maternal age. The study conducted in Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound (CNMU) Mymensingh in a period from January 2001 to December 2002. About 2536 pregnant women (those included in this study) underwent ultrasound examination during pregnancy at third trimester. The prevalence of lower segment placenta was 1.34%. The highest prevalence of placenta previa (2.58%) was seen in 3rd and higher gravida group. Also the highest prevalence were seen 30 yr. and above age group in compare to below 30 yr. age group. No increased prevalence of placenta previa were seen in previous cesarean section (C / S) delivery group (0.65%) in compare to normal delivery group (1.97%). From our study it was seen that development of lower segment placenta has relation with increased number of gravidity and maternal age but no increased prevalence were seen in subjects with previously done cesarean section

Prevalence of antithyroid microsomal antibody in thyroid patients of endemic goitre area.

The region of greater Mymensingh known for iodine endemicity, recently came under iodine supplementation as a result of mandatory universal iodination of salt program. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are among the most common human autoimmune disorders & presence of autoantibodies to the microsomal antigen (AntiMCAb) is a hallmark of disease activity. Both iodine deficiency & iodine supplementation precipitate increase rate of autoimmunity to the thyroid gland. Study was undertaken to determine prevalence of AntiMCAb positive cases among patients with various thyroid diseases. High resolution ultrasound (HRUS), serum thyroid hormone assays & scintiscan were used to classify the thyroid patients into 8 categories. 221 patients were studied during the stipulated period of 3 months. Male patients were 60 & female patients were 161. Age ranged from 11 to 65 years with median age 29.4 years. AntiMCAb test were done with radioimmunoassay (RIA). 126 patients had antimicrosomal antibody (57.01%). All form of hypothyroid (atrophic, goitrous, Hashimoto's) have very high rate of AntiMCAb positive cases. Highest 89.28% were seen in patients showing feature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis or generalized feature of AITD in HRUS with hypothyroidism, followed had 61.29% positive cases, However, antithyroid antibody was found in all form of thyroid disorders. Nodular goiter had 21.73% antiMCAb positive cases. AntiMCAb found positive at the rate of 33.33% in euthyroid patients with HRUS feature of AITD & diffuse euthyroid goiter, 40% in subclinical hypothyroid, 40% in subclinical hyperthyroid. Female rated higher in range of antimicrosomal antibody positivism. 59% of all thyroid patients among female subjects were AntMCAb positive, where as 51.67% male thyroid patients were positive. Highest number of positive cases found in the 30-35 age group. No definite pattern, however, was observed among age distribution. 20 age matched sample from patients unsuspected of thyroid disease shows 10% AntiMCAb positive compared to 73.33% of the same among same age group of thyroid patients. Frank Hashimoto's thyroiditis with positive antiMCAb and hypothyroidism were all detected by HRUS.

Hydrops fetalis: report of 3 cases.

Ultrasound is a well recognized imaging modality for prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital anomalies. Reported cases are hydrops fetalis diagnosed during ultrasonic evaluation of fetal condition in the Center for Nuclear Medicine and ultrasound (CNMU), Mymensingh. Only fetal ascites was detected in one case of 26 +/- 2 wks of gestation, fetal ascites with hydramnios and thick placenta was seen in another case of 28 +/- 2 wks of gestation. In third case, there was fetal ascites, scalp edema, hydrothorax and myelomeningocele with oligohydramnios at 20 +/- 2 wks of gestation; sonographic diagnosis was hydrops fetalis with myelomeningocele. Follow up was advised in first two cases and third case was terminated electively. To decrease the mortality rate and to improve the outcome of hydrops fetalis cases appropriate prenatal investigations and therapy is needed. Recent advances in prenatal ultrasound have made possible the early detection of hydrops fetalis which is helpful for proper management in time.

Incidence of bony secondary at presentation of breast carcinoma in our region.

Study is conducted to evaluate the incidence of bony secondary and to evaluate the need for routine bone scintigraphy at the time of presentation of breast carcinoma in this region. Of the total 130 patients evaluated by bone scan, sixty (n = 60, 46.15%) had secondary lesion in bone. Among the 54 preoperative patients, all with positive FNAC, twenty (n = 20, 37.03%) had bony metastases. Of the 76 post-operative patients, forty (n = 40, 52.63%) had secondary bone lesions. Single lesion was seen in only five (n = 5, 8.53%) cases. Rest fifty five (n = 55, 91.67%) had multiple bony secondaries. Most of the postoperative cases (n = 40, 52.63%) were invasive/infiltrative duct cell carcinoma. The very high incidence of bony secondary appears to be due to delayed presentation associated with poor socioeconomic condition, ignorance and also shyness. Bony metastases at the time of presentation suggests poor prognosis. As it can affect therapeutic management of these patients, routine bone scintigraphy at the time of presentation of breast carcinoma patients to a tertiary label hospital is proposed, against conflicting conclusion by papers in the developed countries.

Abdominal wall defect: a case report and review.

Ultrasound is well recognized imaging modality for prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital anomalies. However, precise diagnosis of fetal anomaly with gray scale ultrasound may not be possible at times. Color Doppler ultrasound compliments gray scale ultrasound in accurately diagnosing fetal anomaly. We report a case of an omphalocele with short lower limbs, diagnosed during 3rd trimester on the basis of color Doppler ultrasound. Gray scale ultrasound failed to diagnose the condition initially. Color Doppler sonography helped in accurate diagnosis. Findings were confirmed after termination of pregnancy.

Distribution of HIV-1 resistance-conferring polymorphic alleles SDF-1-3'A, CCR2-64I and CCR5-Delta32 in diverse populations of Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Polymorphic allelic variants of chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5, as well as of stromal-derived factor-1 SDF-1, the ligand for the chemokine receptor CXCR4, are known to have protective effects against HIV-1 infection and to be involved with delay in disease progression. We have studied the DNA polymorphisms at the loci that encode these proteins in 525 healthy individuals without any history of HIV-1 infection from 11 diverse populations of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The two protective alleles SDF-1-3'A and CCR2-64I at the SDF-1 and CCR2 loci, respectively, are present in all populations studied, although their frequencies differ considerably across populations (from 17% to 35% for the SDF-1-3'A allele, and from 3% to 17% for CCR2-64I). In contrast the CCR5-Delta32 allele is observed only in three populations (Yamani, Pathan and Kamma), all in low frequencies (i.e. 1% to 3%). The mean number of mutant alleles (for the three loci together) carried by each individual varies from 0.475 (in Vizag Brahmins) to 0.959 (in Bohra Muslims). The estimated relative hazard values for the populations, computed from the three-locus genotype data, are comparable to those from Africa and Southeast Asia, where AIDS is known to be widespread.

Angioplasty versus coronary artery by-pass surgery: a reappraisal.

Revascularisation is the main principle of treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease. This technique is available either by catheter intervention like angioplasty or by-pass surgery. The superiority of one over the other is still undetermined. In symptomatic single vessel disease angioplasty may be a better option than by-pass surgery. In two-vessel coronary artery disease angioplasty may also be preferred especially with good left ventricular function. In patients with double-vessel disease particularly involving proximal left anterior descending artery in association with diabetes mellitus surgery has better long term results. In multivessel disease by-pass surgery is a preferred option although initial results of angioplasty in this group may be very satisfactory. The incidence of further intervention either by surgery or repeat angioplasty is high in patients undergoing angioplasty in multivessel disease. Left main stem disease should be dealt with by-pass surgery. With continued advancement in the revascularisation technology of coronary artery disease both in catheter intervention and surgical fronts there is no room for unequivocal or universal strategy plan in the management of coronary artery disease. Both the techniques are complimentary to each other. Cost consideration is a major consideration in India. Choice should be made after proper evaluation of coronary anatomy, underlying clinical condition, local experience, social and especially economic circumstances.

Evaluation of pulmonary hypertension in chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation.

The incidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in 39 patients with angiographically proven chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation (MR) is reported. The overall incidence of PAH were found to be 76.9%. There were 51.3% patients with mild, 15.4% with moderate and 10.2% with severe PAH. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was present in 93% of patients below 20 years of age. Clinical and radiological assessment of PAH did not show any correlation with the haemodynamic data. Electrocardiographic right ventricular hypertrophy was seen in 4, and biventricular hypertrophy in 5 patients. All of them had moderate to severe PAH. Echocardiographic left atrial (LA) size showed an inverse correlation with mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (p less than 0.001), r = 0.63). Presence of mid-systolic notch in pulmonary valve echoes indicated mean PAP more than 37mmHg (mean 54.1 +/- 19.1). Fifty-six percent patients with mid-systolic notch had moderate to severe PAH. Sixteen (94%) out of 17 patients with raised left ventricular end diastolic pressure had elevated mean PAP, and 30% of them had moderate to severe PAH. This data shows that pulmonary hypertension is relatively common in our patients with chronic rheumatic MR, and that the severity of PAH correlates well.

Brain abscess in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Twenty-eight patients of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) complicated with brain abscess were reviewed. There were 22 males and 6 females with a mean age of 9.1 +/- 5.5 years. Tetralogy of Fallot was the commonest cyanotic CHD observed. Transposition of great arteries (PS), tricuspid atresia with VSD, PS and double outlet right ventricle with VSD comprised 25% of the cardiac lesions. Febrile illness was the commonest mode of presentation (42.86%). Frontal lobe was the commonest site of abscess localization (37.5%) followed by parietal lobe (32.5%). Multiple abscess were seen in 32.14% and in 35.7% the pus was sterile on culture. Twelve patients died (mortality -42.8%), and autopsy reports were available in 6. Infective endocarditis was suspected in 7 on clinical grounds, while at autopsy, out of 6 only 2 had evidence of right-sided endocarditis. There was no correlation of mortality with age, sex, type of micro-organism, site of abscess localization and the nature of heart disease. Multiple abscesses, features of raised intracranial tension and associated meningitis/ventriculitis predicted a grim outcome.