Aggregates Characterization and Its Associated Organic Carbon in Two Contrasting Lowland Rice Soils of West Bengal

Aims: The present study investigated the effect of lowland rice soils of two regions viz. new alluvial and red-laterite on aggregate characterization and their associated organic carbon (SOC). Study Design: Randomized block design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: New alluvial soils were collected from Jangipara block of Hooghly, West Bengal and Red-laterite soils were collected from Raghunathpur block of Purulia, West Bengal during 2017-18. Methodology: For each soil types (New alluvial and Red-laterite) five locations were identified and soil samples were collected from three depths i.e. 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. The aggregate characteristics i.e. water-stable aggregates (WSAs), mean weight diameter (MWD), aggregate stability and aggregate size fractions along with the distribution of carbon in those aggregate size fractions were critically studied. Results: The aggregate size as well as the stability decreased with increasing soil depth from 0 to 30 cm in both soils. New alluvial soils showed higher aggregate stability than red-laterite soils. Mean weight diameter (MWD) values of new alluvial soils were 34, 29 and 87% more than red-laterite soils at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depth, respectively. Presence of higher amount of clay and organic matter in new alluvial made the difference in structural coefficient. The surface soil (0-10 cm) had more coarse aggregate (Cmac A >2000μ) fraction, however, microaggregates (<250μ) were dominant in lower depths in both soils. Water stable aggregates (WSA) in surface soils of new alluvial and red-laterite were 57 and 36%, respectively and were decreased with depth. Red-laterite produced higher micro aggregates as compared to new alluvial soils. Coarse macro aggregate fractions (>2000μ) retained maximum amount of soil organic carbon in both soils however, coarse micro aggregate associated carbon (Cmic AC<250μ) was captured in lower depths. New alluvial soils yielded aggregates with higher in diameter and stability coefficient that is due to higher amount of carbon stored in aggregates. Conclusion: The abundance of macro aggregate of New alluvial soils indicates better soil physical quality than Red-laterite soil which was dominated in higher micro aggregates leads to poor in structure and susceptible to water erosion.

A Study Of Retinopathy In Pre Diabetes In A Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease that has a prolonged prediabetic phase with specific microvasular complications like nephropathy ,retinopathy, neuropathy that can begin during prediabetic phase itself. objective: The study is intended to know the relative prevalence of retinopathy among prediabetes patients. Methodology: A total of 100 subjects with prediabetes ,visiting medicine OPD during the period of 6 months were included in the study. Qualifying patients underwent detailed history, clinical examination, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, Results: Among IFG and/or IGT (Prediabetes), 6% patients had very mild Non proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: Microvascular complications such as retinopathy can be present in Prediabetes, though their prevalence is low.

Colorectal carcinoma up to the second decade of life: An 8‑year experience in a tertiary care center.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the demographic pattern, incidence, and histological characteristics of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) in very young adults diagnosed in the center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved and reviewed slides and data pertaining to all the cases of CRCs and “segregated into decade wise age‑groups” from the archives of Department of Pathology. Patients with age ≤20 years diagnosed during the last 8 years (2006–2013) were further evaluated. RESULTS: Totally, 590 cases of CRCs diagnosed over last 8‑year period, of which 4.2% (25 cases) presented in the study group (age ≤20 years) with a mean age of 17 years. About 50% of the tumors were either signet ring cell, mucin‑secreting or poorly differentiated carcinomas. Four cases occurred in a background of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), three of which showed high‑grade dysplasia, while in one case, carcinoma‑in‑situ was diagnosed. In all but two cases, rectum was the site of involvement except FAP cases in which colorectal location was noted. CRCs show a sharp rise in earlier age onset (≤40 years) and an increasing trend was followed in patients between age groups third, fourth, and fifth decades of life over the last 8 years. CONCLUSION: Colorectal carcinomas show an increasing trend in young age (≤40 years). This change may be attributed to dietary, lifestyle changes, and newer genetic alterations in developing countries. In very young age group (≤20 years), a higher grade and stage at the time of diagnosis and predominantly rectal involvements are the distinct features.

Plankton diversity and dynamics in a polluted eutrophic lake, Ranchi.

The species diversity of a cultural eutrophic lake at Ranchi was studied in relation to external variables (forcing functions) and internal or state variables. The lake receives daily detergent inputs in the form of washings of a variety of objects. A model was constructed for the estimation of detergent inputs from the increase in the phosphate concentration, and from changes in the concentration of inorganic carbon. Nutrients such as inorganic carbon, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates were found to be high in contrast to natural unpolluted systems. The DOM, COD and BOD were also found to be high suggesting organic pollution of the system with an organic carbon load of 5.4 m moles l-1. The growth and development of the plankton constituents was studied in this regime. The natural planktonic rhythm was found to be modified by the polluted condition existing in the lake. The phytoplankton exhibited four peaks in March, May, August, and November while, the zooplankton showed three peaks in February, July and October. The abundance of zooplankton during the annual cycle oscillated with that of the phytoplankton. There was much more evenness in the zooplankton population in comparison to the phytoplankton. Analysis of both, the zooplankton as well as the phytoplankton population was done using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index, importance value index and Shannon-Weaver diversity index. The importance value index was found to provide a better evaluation of the plankton community than the diversity index. The phytoplankton population showed no correlation with nutrient availability as indicated by the correlation-regression analysis and the planktonic rhythm was not in tune with normal unpolluted conditions. The lake was classified as meso-polysaprobic using biological and chemical indices (Pantle and Buck index:3.5, BOD:60; DOM:9.3 and COD:130).

Radiation induced effects on viability and antioxidant enzymes of crustaceans from different habitats.

The paper describes differential tolerance of two fresh water crustaceans Mesocyclops hyalinus and Allodiaptomus satanus to 60Co gamma radiation. Mesocyclops hyalinus is dominant species at site 1, near a Thermal Power Plant at Kolaghat East Midnapore where fly ash deposition is a regular phenomenon. Allodiaptomus satanus is dominant species at site 2 at Kolkata, Ballygung where anthroponotic activities are more pronounced. M. hyalinus is naturally exposed to more stressful situation than A. satanus as revealed by comparing the hydrological parameters of the two habitats. Experimental exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in differential changes in viability, morphology and antioxidant enzyme activities in the two selected species. Survival experiments showed greater tolerance of M. hyalinus compared to A. satanus up to 8Gy (absorbed dose) after which it showed drastic fall in survival. More pronounced morphological changes were observed in A. satanus as compared to that in M. hyalinus. The pattern of changes in antioxidant enzyme activity is distinctly opposite in the two radiation exposed species. While in M. hyalinus stimulation in activity of both CAT (excepting at 10Gy absorbed dose) and SOD was observed A. satanus showed decrease in activity of both the enzymes when compared to their unirradiated counterparts.

Growth patterns of fossil vertebrates as deduced from bone microstructure: case studies from India.

Bone microstructure is affected by ontogeny, phylogeny, biomechanics and environments. These aspects of life history of an extinct animal, especially its growth patterns, may be assessed as fossil bone generally maintains its histological integrity. Recent studies on the bone histology of fossil vertebrates from India encompass different types of temnospondyls and dicynodonts from different Permian and Triassic horizons. The examined taxa show that they had distinct bone histology and varied growth patterns. The Early Triassic trematosaurids had an overall fast growth, which contrasts with that of the Middle and Late Triassic temnospondyl taxa examined. The dicynodonts on the other hand, were characterized by an overall fast growth with periodic interruptions, variable growth rates dependent on ontogeny and indeterminate growth strategy. A comparative study encompassing several neotherapsid genera including the dicynodonts shows signifi cant evolutionary trends towards determinate growth strategy and reduced developmental plasticity.

Nutrient cycling in a simulated pond ecosystem.

Mathematical modeling of ecosystems requires a considerable amount of knowledge about the subsystems functioning within the broad framework and the various rate processes and transfer coefficients that control the dynamic aspects. A detailed analysis of the transfer rates and budget of inorganic carbon and nutrients in a simulated pond was conducted for assessment and comparison with aquatic bodies that undergo cultural eutrophication. In these systems the processes are complicated by a variety of inputs. Such inputs interfere with the assessment of lake background conditions and water quality. We used the compartmental model of biogeochemical cycling to calculate transfer rate of inorganic carbon and nutrients through various processes. The major external variables or forcing functions considered were light and temperature, while the state variables included the biotic and the abiotic compartments. The major processes studied were: photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition that play an important part in balancing the nutrient content of the system and maintain a dynamic equilibrium. The study illustrates how computational modeling studies are useful for analysis and management of systems for control and optimization of processes. The system shows a perfect cycling of carbon and the rate of withdrawal is equal to the return keeping the system in balance. About 0.284 m moles l-1 is withdrawn from the reservoir for primary production each day and returned back through respiration and decomposition. The concentration of nitrates and phosphates resonate in tune with the utilization of carbon and productivity.

Variability in platelet response to a single daily dose of 150 mg enteric coated aspirin in a high risk population.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have reported inadequate anti-platelet effect in 0.4-35% of patients taking aspirin. Such studies have arbitrarily defined the terms "semi-responders", "non-responders" or "resistant" to variable doses of aspirin on the basis of absolute values derived from different ex-vivo platelet aggregation (PA) methods. Our objective was to define response to 150-mg dose of aspirin in terms of normally distributed values using an ex-vivo measure of PA in a population at high risk for vascular events. METHODS: We prospectively studied high risk patients with either established coronary artery disease (CAD) or stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) or peripheral vascular disease or with multiple atherothrombotic risk factors like diabetes plus one of the following-- hypertension, increased total cholesterol, cigarette smoking, micro-albuminuria, low-high density lipoprotein (HDL), family history of CAD and receiving single 150 mg dose of aspirin daily. PA was assessed by chronolog lumi-aggregometer (490-2D) using arachidonic acid (AA) reagent. RESULTS: 130 patients were studied. The response of subjects to aspirin followed a normal, bell shaped distribution curve with a mean and standard deviation (S.D.) of 13.1 +/- 4.4%. 3.1% patients had PA values more than 2 S.D. of the mean, hence termed as hypo-responders to aspirin while another 3.1% patients had PA values less than 2 S.D. of the mean, hence termed as hyper-responders to aspirin. CONCLUSION: There is minimal inter-individual variability in the response to aspirin when tested with AA as the reagent. The response to aspirin follows a normal Gaussian distribution. The prevalence of hypo-responders to aspirin in high risk population is only 3.1%. This is the first study to document "hypo" and "hyper-responders" to single daily dose of 150 mg aspirin. The clinical relevance of these findings remains to be determined.

A cohort study of correlation between body mass index and age at menarche in healthy Bengali girls.

There are contradictory reports of lowering of age at menarche due to increasing body mass index (BMI) in the population. It is not known if a greater BMI at menarche is associated with a lower menarcheal age in healthy Bengali girls of normal nutrition. In this study the age at menarche was determined in 273 Bengali girls of middle income families. It was assessed whether BMI standard deviation scores (SDS) at menarche, BMI SDS at one year preceding menarche and BMI increments during that year were in correlation with age at menarche. The age of the girls with adequate nutrition was 8-16 years. They were examined for BMI, pubertal breast staging and age at menarche over a 4-year follow-up period. BMI SDS were calculated from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) normative data. The median age at menarche of 12.0 (range 10.0 - 16.0) years did not correlate with BMI SDS at menarche or BMI SDS at one year preceding menarche in this cohort. In univariate analysis, BMI increments for a given breast stage did not significantly lower the age at menarche. The change of BMI in the year preceding menarche did not correlate with age at menarche. The age at menarche in healthy Bengali girls of middle income families was similar to that of other Indian observations. There was no influence of BMI increments or that of BMI SDS prior to or at menarche on age at menarche.

Body mass index in Bengali adolescents.

We describe a mixed longitudinal analysis of body mass index (BMI) in a group of Bengali adolescents (age 11-17 years) from a middle income family background and compare this against existing national and international data. Healthy school children, comprising of 416 boys and 343 girls were consented for annual repeat measurements of weight, height and pubertal staging between the years 1998 and 2001. The LMS method was used to construct smoothed BMI mean and standard deviation (SD) curves. Bengali adolescents have lower BMI than affluent Indian children and are -1 to -2 SD below US children. BMI increases in adolescence (boys: r = 0.49, p < 0.001, girls: r = 0.54, P < 0.001) with age but SMR does not have an independent effect on BMI.

Pseudoaneurysm following lateral wall myocardial infarction.

Pseudoaneursym (PA) formation of left ventricle (LV) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is uncommon and is usually believed to be associated with a grave prognosis. We describe a case of 55 year old male patient presented with AMI and heart failure with a systolic murmur later diagnosed to have PA of the lateral wall of LV on echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal, TTE andTEE). Cardiac MRI and coronary angiogram (CAG) were performed. CAG showed 60% lesion at origin of major obtuse marginal artery (OM1). The patientwas advised surgical treatment, but he refused and took discharge against medical advice on 27th dayof admission on stable condition.

Apert's syndrome.

Apert's syndrome (acrocephalosyndactyly) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by craniosynostosis, mid-facial malformations and symmetrical syndactyly. We present a 2-month-old girl having features of Apert's syndrome, with cerebral cortical atrophy and bifurcation of the right first metatarsal base, a hitherto undescribed finding.

Effectiveness of training on infant feeding practices among community influencers in a rural area of west Bengal.

Total 34 Influencers were trained in a subcentre area of South 24-parganas district of West Bengal. Knowledge was imparted to community influencers on infant feeding practices through lecture, group discussion, question-answer session and hand-on-training by trained health workers. Pre-assessment was done before initiation of training. Repeat training was conducted at frequent intervals within a period of 3 months. Mean score of knowledge of influencers during pre-training assessment was 13.3 and improved thereafter-following training to 20.8 (1st assessment), 20.6 (2nd assessment), 23.7 (3rd assessment) and 25.2 (final-assessment). Repeat training had also desired impact.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome: prevalence and clinical profile.

BACKGROUND: The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is defined as a triad of liver dysfunction, intrapulmonary vascular dilatations (IPVD) and arterial hypoxemia. There is paucity of Indian studies regarding the prevalence of IPVD and arterial hypoxemia particularly amongst patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), where liver dysfunction is not a feature. METHODS: All patients with portal hypertension and esophageal varices seen at a tertiary care hospital during 1995-98 were studied. Ultrasonography of abdomen, contrast-enhanced echocardiography (CEE), arterial blood gas analysis and assessment of alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient were done. RESULTS: Of 138 patients with portal hypertension seen during the study period, 88 fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These included 63 with cirrhosis, 15 with NCPF and 10 with EHPVO. CEE showed IPVD in 17 (27%) patients with cirrhosis, of which 11 (17.5%) fulfilled the criteria for HPS. IPVD were also noted in 4 (26.6%) cases of NCPF and 3 (30%) of EHPVO, though only 2 (13.3%) and 1 (10%) respectively had elevated alveolar-arterial gradient and liver dysfunction in addition. Age and sex distribution and duration of symptoms were not different in patients with HPS. Patients with HPS had higher incidence of dyspnea, platypnea, clubbing and spider nevi. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is present in 17.5% of cirrhotics, 13.3% of patients with NCPF and 10% with EHPVO. Patients with HPS had significantly higher incidence of dyspnea, platypnea, clubbing and spider nevi.

Solubilization and binding of DNA-CTAB complex with SDS in aqueous media.

Extent of binding (gamma 2(1)) of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) to the binary complex formed between calfthymus DNA and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been measured in mole per mole of nucleotide in the complex as function of concentration of SDS by using equilibrium dialysis technique at different temperatures and pH. Binding of SDS to thermally denatured DNA-CTAB complex has also been studied. The most interesting aspect to be noted in this experiment is that the water insoluble DNA-CTAB binary complex gets solubilized in the ternary mixture in presence of SDS but when DNA is thermally denatured, the ternary system DNA-CTAB-SDS remains insoluble. Significant change in the extent of binding has been noted with the variation of the relative composition of DNA and CTAB in their binary mixture. The data of binding of SDS to DNA-CTAB complex are compared more precisely in terms of the standard Gibbs' free energy decrease (-delta G degree) for the saturation of the binding sites in the complex with the change of SDS activity from zero to unity in the rational mole fraction scale.

Binding of cationic surfactants to DNA, protein and DNA-protein mixtures.

Extent of binding (gamma 2(1)) of cationic surfactants cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), myristyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (MTAB) and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) to calf-thymus DNA, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and to their binary mixture respectively have been measured as function of bulk concentration of the surfactant by using equilibrium dialysis technique. Binding of CTAB has been studied at different pH, ionic strength (mu), temperature and biopolymer composition and with native and denatured states of the biopolymers. The chain-length of different long chain amines plays a significant role in the extent of binding under identical solution condition. The binding ratios for CTAB to collagen, gelatin, DNA-collagen and DNA-gelatin mixtures respectively have also been determined. The conformational structures of different biopolymers are observed to play significant role in macromolecular interactions between protein and DNA in the presence of CTAB. From the experimental values of the maximum binding ratio (gamma 2m) at the saturation level for each individual biopolymer, ideal values (gamma 2m)id have been theoretically calculated for binary mixtures of biopolymers using additivity rule. The protein-DNA-CTAB interaction in mixture has been explained in terms of the deviation (delta) of (gamma 2m) from (gamma 2m)id in the presence of a surfactant in bulk. The binding of surfactants to biopolymers and to their binary mixtures are compared more precisely in terms of the Gibbs' free energy decrease (-delta G degree) for the saturation of the binding sites in the biopolymers or biopolymer mixtures with the change of the bulk surfactant activity from zero to unity in the rational mole fraction scale.

Antitumor activity of Hygrophila spinosa on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and sarcoma-180 induced mice.

Petroleum ether extract from H. spinosa root exhibited antitumor activity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma-180 bearing mice Processed extract suppressed significantly the tumor fluid volume at the end of 3 weeks experiment. It decreased about 50% of packed cell volume and increased life span of EAC/S-180 bearing mice in a day dependent manner. Red blood cell count, hemoglobin content and white blood cell count were more or less normal after processed extract treatment of the tumor bearing mice. In tumor control animals, neutrophils increased (273.7% in EAC and 263.4% in S-180 bearing mice respectively with respect to normal mice) whereas lymphocytes decreased (60.0% in EAC and 56.5% in S-180 bearing mice respectively with respect to normal mice). It also inhibited the rapid increase of body weight of tumor bearing mice.

HLA phenotype frequencies in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Susceptibility and/or immune response to tuberculosis may or may not be associated with particular histocompatibility leucocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype frequencies. The present study was undertaken to north eastern Indian population to verify any association between HLA phenotypes and immune response to mycobacterial antigen. HLA-typing was done in 60 well Tarasaki trays and T-cell subsets in each group were measured using Ficoll-hypaque nylon wool columns and dynabeads (M-450). No universal association with particular HLA-type and pulmonary tuberculosis has been confirmed.

Effect of severity of "risk region" on therapeutic intervention of myocardial infarction size.

Isosorbide dinitrate was tried in 27 patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with the purpose of reduction of infarction size. Overall average effect was not significant. But, it was found that, the small and moderate "predicted infarction size" (PIS) group of patients, were benefitted by the drug therapy. Effectiveness in the therapeutic intervention on ischaemic injury bore an inverse relation with the degree of PIS or the "risk region". Varying "risk region" may be an important factor responsible for the apparent discrepancy between results of different workers regarding therapeutic intervention of infarction size.