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The conversion of natural systems to cultivated systems contributes to changes in the activities of microbial communities and biochemical processes in the soil. A total of 80 surface soil samples (0-15 cm) from 6 rainfed land use systems viz. agriculture, horticulture, agri-horticulture, forest, agroforestry and eroded lands were analyzed for biochemical properties and to derive soil quality index. The soils are slightly acid to neutral in reaction (pH-6.4-6.9) with 0.09-0.23 dS m?1 electrical conductivity (EC), loamy sand to sandy loam in texture, 1.4-6.1 g kg?1 soil organic carbon (SOC), 86-406 kg ha?1 available nitrogen, 29.3-32.6 kg ha?1 available phosphorus,65-226 kg ha?1 available potassium,10.3-21.3 mg kg?1 DTPA-Mn, 12.1-34.2 mg kg?1 DTPA-Fe, 0.34-1.01 mg kg?1 DTPA-Cu and 0.76-1.15 mg kg?1 DTPA-Zn, respectively under different land use systems. Among soil biochemical properties, the enzymic activity among land use systemsis varied from 7.4 to 12.8 µg TPF g?1 h?1 for dehydrogenase activity, 22.3 to 34.5 µg pNP g?1 h?1 for acid phosphatase, 43.4 to 60.1 µg pNP g?1 h?1 for alkaline phosphatase, 3.31 to 4.77 µg NH4-N g?1 soil min?1 for urease activity-, basal soil respiration ?0.13 to 0.30 µg CO2 g?1 soil h?1 for basal respiration , 46.5 to 242.6 µg g?1 soil for soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and 8.68 to 30.6 g kg?1 for total easily extractable glomalin (TEGP), respectively. The principle component analysis showed that SOC, EC, TEGP, MBC and DTPA-Zn are robust soil quality indicators under different land use systems in submontane Punjab. The forestry system has higher values for physicochemical, biochemical properties and soil quality index as against agri-horticulture, horticulture, agroforestry, agriculture and eroded system. In subsystems, eucalyptus-based forestry and mango based agri-horticulture systems are served as a better system for soil quality assessment in submontane Punjab, India.
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Background: Mental retardation (MR), schizophrenia and cancer are chronic disorders, requiring long term treatment along with family support. Principal caregiver is usually nonprofessional family person who play a pivotal role in supporting the patient medically, emotionally and financially which in turn affects their own health and quality of life. To identify stressful life events, level of anxiety, stress, depression and Quality of life in these family caregivers (FC), this study was planned.Methods: After gaining consent, the FC were assessed on Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLE), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and WHO Quality of Life -Bref Scale (WHOQOL-Bref). Data so gained was analyzed by SPSS-21 and results were drawn.Results: 66 FC of cancer patients, 39 FC of MR patients and 53 FC of Schizophrenia patients were assessed. All three groups were found to be matched socio-demographically. On PSLE Mean of total stressful life events for cancer FC was 7±1.5, for MR 6.02±1.5 and for schizophrenia FC was 5.75±1.70 and this difference was statistically significant. Mean of total undesirable life events was 5.31±1.3, 4.33±1.34 and 3.86±1.46 respectively and this difference was also statistically significant. Similarly difference in mean stress score of total life events and for undesirable events was also statistically significant. On DASS scale no statistically significant difference was found within the groups. Quality of life was significantly low depicting high impact on physical health and social life of these care givers.Conclusions: Family Caregivers of cancer, mental retardation and schizophrenia groups are highly affected and there is urgent need to address these issues for early diagnosis and treatment.
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Background: Undernutrition refers to a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency of one or more essential nutrients. The term undernutrition encompasses wasting, stunting and underweight. As per National Family Health Survey IV (2015-16), prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among under-five children in India is 38.4%, 21% and 35.7% respectively. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban area of district Rohtak from July 2016 to June 2017 among 400 children (1-5 years of age) which were randomly selected from 14 anganwadi centers. The anthropometric measurement and nutritional status categorization among children was done using WHO guidelines. Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight to be 33.8%, 21.5% and 34.5% respectively. Undernutrition rates were found to be higher in children whose mothers were illiterate and working. Conclusion: It was revealed in this study that the prevalence of undernutrition was unacceptably high among the children. Every endeavor should be made to combat the undernutrition in children through multi-sectoral and multipronged approach.
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Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the brain. One of every ten people will have at least one epileptic seizure during a normal lifespan, and a third of these will develop epilepsy. In children the most com-mon forms of convulsion are febrile seizures. Water electrolyte imbalance occurs during acute febrile illness and hy-pocalcaemia is one of them. Hypocalcaemia is also present in cases of seizures. To find out significance of calcium levels in cases of seizures this study was conducted. Aims: To assess the level of ionized calcium in cases of febrile seizure. Methods:This Case –Control study was conducted on fifty cases of febrile seizures and fifty age, weight matched controls and calcium deficiency determined in both groups. The serum ionized calcium levels were estimat-ed by ion selective electrode method using Na, K, Ca analyzer. Results: Mean ionized calcium level was 4.62±0.26mg/dl and 4.88±0.27 mg/dl in study and control groups respectively and this difference was found statistically extremely significant (p<0.001). Conclusion:The findings suggest that a considerable percentage of children having febrile sei-zures are suffering from low level of calcium.
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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is consists of a variety of heart disease, illnesses and events that impact the heart & circulatory system, including high blood pressure &coronary artery disease (CAD). Vitamin D is one of the fat soluble vitamins also known as sunshine Vitamin due to its synthesis in the body following exposure to ultraviolet (UV) B rays. The aim of the study is to find the status of Vitamin D & there relation to Acute Coronary Syndrome. Materials and Methods:The present study included 50 cases of diagnosed acute coronary artery disease patients aged between 20 to 60 years and 50 apparently healthy controls and TMT negative matched for age and sex. Serum vitamin D was the measurement by ELISA method.Study Design: ProspectiveObservational Study.Results:The present study showed that significantly decreased levels of serum vitamin D (p<0.001) in acute coronary syndrome patients as compared with healthy controls.Conclusion:Decreased levels of vitamin D are a risk factor for the acute coronary syndrome, and also novel marker of CHD.
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Spinal dysraphism can present in various ways in the form of severity. Split cord is one of the presentations where two hemi cords are separated either by a fibrous septum or calcific spur. This may be accompanied with different other vertebral anomalies like block vertebra, hemi vertebra or spina bifida. We present a 8-years old girl who presented with weakness and gait disturbances since she started walking. She also had a tuft of hair on the back in the lumbar region. She underwent computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was diagnosed as diastematomyelia with other associated anomalies.
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Giant cell tumor (GCT) or Osteoclastoma of the tarsal bone is very rare as compared to that of long bones. The involvement of talus becomes unique in its presentation as it remains undiagnosed for a long time. The tumor usually occurs in younger age especially in small bones of hands and feet. We present a case of 34-years old male who presented with sprain of left foot and was finally diagnosed as giant cell tumor of the talus. This was possible with the help of various radiological modalities like plain X-ray, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). GCT of talus may be found as an incidental finding but the subsequent management depends upon the staging of the tumor as per the radiological evaluation.
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Background: Enamel demineralization is an event which is always an integral part of fixed orthodontic treatment due to which fluoride releasing bonding agents are considered to be the most effective but have lower bond strength. Thus, this in vitro study has compared the degree of demineralization and bond strength of conventional and fluoridated bonding agents. Materials and Methods: One hundred and five extracted human premolars divided into Group I evaluated to study demineralization and Group II to evaluate bond strength. Group I was subgrouped into (A, B, C, and D and Group II was subgrouped into A, B, and C (n = 15 in each subgroup). All samples were bonded with metal brackets using Transbond PlusTM, Discover LC orthodontic adhesiveTM, and Transbond XTTM; the first two being fluoride releasing and the third being a conventional bonding composite. Group I samples were followed by sectioning and studied for mean depth of demineralization at the margins of the brackets using polarized microscopy. Group II samples were evaluated only for shear bond strength. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. Observation and Results: The mean depth of enamel demineralization and standard deviation was compared between subgroups A and C and B and C and the P value obtained was 0.02 in each group, suggestive of a considerably lesser degree of demineralization in fluoride releasing composites compared to conventional composite. Similarly, when shear bond strength was compared between subgroups A and C and B and C the P value obtained was 0.04 and 0.00, respectively. Thus, the shear bond strength of the fluoride releasing composites was lesser than that of the conventional composite but well within the clinically acceptable range. Conclusion: Fluoride releasing composites can be used to avoid demineralization around the brackets.
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Aerophagia is excessive swallowing of air which goes to stomach through oesophagus and causes abdominal distention. This may alert the parents of pediatric age group especially neonates and causes anxiety. Although it’s a functional condition, the clinical presentation can suggest malabsorption or obstruction, leading to unnecessary tests and investigations. We present a 15 days -old neonate who was brought to the pediatric surgical emergency with one such condition and was managed conservatively after imaging studies ruled out any underlying pathology. The case was discharged without any surgical intervention.
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A validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometric method (UPLC-MS/MS) was used for the simultaneous quantitation of candesartan (CN) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in human plasma. The analysis was performed on UPLC-MS/MS system using turbo ion spray interface. Negative ions were measured in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The analytes were extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method by using 0.1 mL of plasma volume. The lower limit of quantitation for CN and HCT was 1.00 ng/mL whereas the upper limit of quantitation was 499.15 ng/mL and 601.61 ng/mL for CN and HCT respectively. CN d4 and HCT-13Cd2 were used as the internal standards for CN and HCT respectively. The chromatography was achieved within 2.0 min run time using a C18 Pheno-menex, Gemini NX (100 mm ~ 4.6 mm, 5 mm) column with organic mixture:buffer solution (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.800 mL/min. The method has been successfully applied to establish the bioequivalence of candesartan cilexetil (CNC) and HCT immediate release tablets with reference product in human subjects.
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BACKGROUND: Laboratory tests for the diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis lack adequate sensitivity and specificity and a trial of therapy is often used as a diagnostic test in difficult cases. However, the duration for which the trial should be undertaken is not clearly defined. Our previous study indicated that one month of therapy was adequate to detect a clinical response to treatment. However, about half the patients first reported after one month of treatment, some much later. METHOD: We therefore analysed the treatment records of 107 patients who received four-drug, short course, antitubercular therapy for a diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis in our hospital and who were asked to return for follow-up at biweekly intervals in the first month of treatment. RESULT: Twenty-one patients did not return for any follow-up visit, nine patients did not respond to treatment and treatment was stopped in one patient. Of the remaining 76 patients, 72 patients were recorded to have distinct clinical improvement within five weeks of starting treatment while only four patients showed improvement after 60-123 (8-17 weeks) days of therapy. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that five weeks appears to be an adequate duration of a therapeutic trial in patients suspected to have cutaneous tuberculosis, with the exception of tuberculids and patients showing minimal clinical activity before treatment. Patients who have not responded by this time are unlikely to do so with further treatment and should have their diagnosis reviewed.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Antitubercular Agents/administration & dosage , Child , Child, Preschool , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Tuberculosis, Cutaneous/diagnosisABSTRACT
A 46-year-old Kashmiri lady developed erythema ab igne on both legs. She subsequently developed multiple keratoses and a cutaneous horn in the involved skin. An uncommon association of these three clinical conditions is being presented.