Changes in Morpho-physiological and Yield Parameters of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Response to Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) Radiation

A rice variety Jyothi (PTB 39) is a red kernelled with bold grain, popular in the region of Kerala, India used in the study. Plants were grown in pots under three different conditions, natural solar UV-B conditions, UV-B excluded condition using UV-B filters and supplemental UV-B using UV-B lamps along with ambient solar radiation. During the study period, UV-B radiation was in the range of 1.30 to 3.58 Wm2 which affected the productivity of the crop under open solar condition. A decrease in morphological traits like plant height, number of tillers, flag leaf angle and increase in leaf thickness were observed. Physiological parameters, leaf gas exchange parameters and biochemical constituents such as chlorophyll content also recorded less value under high UV-B condition along with the high content of protective compounds such as flavonoid content, catalase and PAL activity. The phenophases of the crop were also delayed by 4-5 days under UV-B radiation exposed conditions. All these negative impacts of UV-B radiation on crop leads to restricted filling of grain, lesser harvest index and grain development leading to a decrease in yield and yield attributing characters.

Button Battery with Magnet Ingestion in an Infant: Dual Peril – A Case Report

Foreign body ingestion is common among children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Nearly 80% will pass throughuneventfully and 20% will require some intervention, mostly endoscopic removal. Button batteries and magnets are frequentcomponents of children’s toys and a potential hazard for the child. We are reporting such a case and the complications whichfollowed, with a view to increasing public awareness.

Bronchial Carcinoid in a Child: A Case Report.

Bronchial carcinoid (BC) make up 80-90% of a group of lung tumors formerly called “bronchial adenomas,” which also included adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma; hence, their actual incidence was not accurately known. It is a rare entity in the pediatric population where metastatic lung tumors greatly outnumber primary lung tumors. BC account for 2-5% of all lung neoplasms in adults but are the most common primary lung neoplasm of childhood, accounting for 80% of malignant bronchopulmonary neoplasms in children. We have presented a case of left BC in an 11-year-old boy, with a short review of literature, and discussed the management. We have discussed the surgical procedure in detail, pointing out the possible pitfalls and their management.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient: A Rare Case Report.

The median arcuate ligament (MAL) syndrome is an infrequently described condition caused by compression of the celiac artery by the extended fibers of the MAL resulting in the classic triad of postprandial epigastric pain, nausea/vomiting, and weight loss. Mostly seen in young female adults there is no reported estimate in the pediatric age group. We report the case in a 15-year-old girl and discuss the surgical aspects of importance.

Rare Presentation of a Mesenteric Cyst: A Surgical Dilemma.

Cystic lesions of the mesentery are rare conditions and usually present due to their complications. This makes their presentation diverse and diagnosis difficult. Mesenteric cysts of lymphatic origin are seen in bowel mesentery, more often small bowel; they are also seen in the omentum and the retro-peritoneum. One of the rarest presentations of a mesenteric cyst is in an inguinal hernia, and very few case reports are present in literature. We present a case of a 9-day-old baby boy who presented with a right inguinal hernia, the content of which at operation was a mesenteric cyst. We wish to highlight the dilemma faced by the surgeon in the operating room and the problem faced in taking operative decisions in the light of ethical management and medico-legal consequences.

Omental Cyst, an Uncommon Entity, and the Problems Faced: The Travails of a Surgeon: A Case Report.

Cystic lesions of the mesentery are uncommon lesions. They are difficult to diagnose and may be located anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. However, they are most often seen in small bowel mesentery. Mesenteric and omental cysts are unique as they have a varied clinical presentation. They are diverse in etiology, radiologic features, and pathological characteristic. Omental cysts are rare and usually present with abdominal distension. Complete excision of the cyst is the treatment of choice. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl who presented with an acute abdomen. She had a short history that led to a laparotomy and complete excision of an infected omental cyst. We highlight the limitations in diagnosing the condition and the problems faced by the surgeon.

Symposium on bioethics: empowerment of research participants/patients.

YRG CARE conducted The YRG CARE Bioethics Symposium (TYBS) in collaboration with the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Chennai, through the National Institutes of Health Project “Centrally Coordinated Bioethics Education for India” and the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), ICMR, Chennai on January 6, 2013.

T-lymphocyte subpopulations in tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is associated with both qualitative and quantitative defects in the cell mediated immune response. The changes that occur in the lymphocyte profile in blood in children with tuberculosis are not well understood. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Referral hospitals. METHODS: Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry in 17 healthy tuberculin positive children, in 22 children with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and in 8 of these children after antituberculosis therapy. RESULTS: Absolute numbers and percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells were reduced in children with tuberculosis, compared to controls. CD4+ counts increased significantly following antituberculosis treatment, compared to baseline values. In contrast, the proportion of T cells expressing the gdT cell receptor was similar in tuberculosis patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Children with tuberculosis have a systemic decrease in the proportion and number of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells which reverses during therapy.