Nanotechnological interventions in sustainable agriculture

The major problems associated with agriculture are the sustainable management of natural resources. With technological innovations and capital investments crop production has increased but care of ecological systems has not been given priorities and thus created imbalance in the natural cycle of the soil, crop productivity, salinization, moisture content, organic matter and seeping problems of pesticides. Nanotechnology provides a plethora of techniques to face the challenges of increasing population and food production, at the same time taking care of the environment, and has opened new avenues for sustainable agriculture. It has a myriad of applications, whether it is in medicine, electronics, agriculture, food technology, environment, cosmetics. Worldwide, there is improvement in sensing which is highly important in agriculture. Crop yield mainly depends on soil fertility, water supply and other environmental factors. Nanotechnology has revolutionised food production commonly referred to as “green nanoagroscience” which implements green chemistry in an eco-friendly manner and using biocompatible methods, which is cost-effective. This review mainly focuses on the latest development in nanobiotechnology and their applications along with challenges in sustainable agriculture developmentand the future prospects.

Candida Albicans Sub-Retinal Abscess following COVID-19

A 42-year-old male post-renal transplantation presented with sudden diminution of vision in the left eye. The right eye was lost following a failed vitreoretinal surgery 5 years ago. The patient had been hospitalized 4 months prior for coronavirus disease 2019 infection with a good recovery. The presenting visual acuity was 20/600 in the right eye and 20/250 in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed a sub-macular sub-retinal abscess in the left eye. Sub-retinal aspiration of the abscess revealed Candida albicans. The patient was managed with repeated intravitreal amphotericin B injections, following which the abscess resolved with scarring and vision improving to 20/60.

Clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of optic neuritis in a tertiary eye centre in Eastern India based on the status of serum aquaporin-4 antibody

Purpose: To elucidate the clinico?epidemiologic characteristics of optic neuritis based on the status of serum aquaporin?4 antibody (AQP4?Ab) in patients with optic neuritis (ON). Methods: Medical records of 106 patients with ON and a follow?up of 3 years were reviewed. For each patient, the following data were extracted: medical history, findings of the ocular examination, brain, orbital or spinal MRI, and serological tests for AQP4. The ON was classified as typical or atypical based on disc examination and improvement in vision after intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP). The clinical findings (typical or atypical), disease course, and outcomes were analyzed according to the serostatus of the ON. Results: 10 patients ((9.4%) were seropositive for AQP4?Ab; all had atypical ON. 96 patients (91%) were seronegative for AQP4?Ab: 36 atypical ON and 60 typical ON. Profound visual impairment at presentation was seen in all patients. However, at the end of the study period, seropositive and seronegative atypical ON had poor visual outcomes as compared to seronegative typical ON (P = 0.002). Five seropositive and four seronegative patients with atypical ON developed transverse myelitis. Bilateral disease with relapse was more in seropositive patients (80%); however, seronegative with atypical ON also had bilateral presentation and relapse in 42% and 41%, respectively. Conclusion: AQP4?Ab seropositive patients mostly present with atypical features such as bilateral recurrent ON, poor visual outcome, and increased incidence of transverse myelitis. However, atypical clinical features can also be seen in seronegative ON with a poor visual outcome and a recalcitrant course.

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among undergraduate medical students

Background: Depression has become one of the commonest mental ailments in current era. Its impact is far more in medical personnel than general population. Most of the medical students leave their houses for the first time and enter into the new environment of knowledge and responsibility. Though various studies have reported high prevalence of depression among undergraduate students, it was desirable to know its status in south Rajasthan. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on 302 undergraduate medical students to know prevalence and risk factors for depression. Along with the pre-designed questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scale was used as study tools. Cut off value of 17 and above was considered to define the depression on BDI scale. Results: Prevalence of depression was 10% among undergraduate medical students. Statistically, female gender and students studying in fifth semester were significant risk factors. Residence, socio-economic class and family history of depression were not significant associated factors. Conclusion: Prevalence of depression is higher among medical undergraduates as compared to general population with female gender and fifth semester students being important risk factors

Correlating cognition and cortical excitability with pain in fibromyalgia: a case control study

Abstract Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal symptoms, primarily attributed to sensitization of somatosensory system carrying pain. Few reports have investigated the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms on cognition, corticomotor excitability, sleepiness, and the sleep quality — all of which can deteriorate the quality of life in fibromyalgia. However, the existing reports are underpowered and have conflicting directions of findings, limiting their generalizability. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare measures of cognition, corticomotor excitability, sleepiness, and sleep quality using standardized instruments in the recruited patients of fibromyalgia with pain-free controls. Methods: Diagnosed cases of fibromyalgia were recruited from the Rheumatology department for the cross-sectional, case-control study. Cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination, Stroop color-word task), corticomotor excitability (Resting motor threshold, Motor evoked potential amplitude), daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index) were studied according to the standard procedure. Results: Thirty-four patients of fibromyalgia and 30 pain-free controls were recruited for the study. Patients of fibromyalgia showed decreased cognitive scores (p = 0.05), lowered accuracy in Stroop color-word task (for color: 0.02, for word: 0.01), and prolonged reaction time (< 0.01, < 0.01). Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients were found (< 0.01) and worsened sleep quality (< 0.01) were found. Parameters of corticomotor excitability were comparable between patients of fibromyalgia and pain-free controls. Conclusions: Patients of fibromyalgia made more errors, had significantly increased reaction time for cognitive tasks, marked daytime sleepiness, and impaired quality of sleep. Future treatment strategies may include cognitive deficits and sleep disturbances as an integral part of fibromyalgia management.(AU)

Study on gender preference and awareness regarding prenatal sex determination among married women of reproductive age group in urban slums of Raipur city

Background: Gender preference, especially male, is a matter of serious concern in our country. It happens due to misuse of recent advancement in medical technology for prenatal sex determination. Therefore, awareness of these issues needs to be evaluated. Objectives: The present study is conducted to assess the knowledge regarding issues of sex determination and also to identify the real picture of gender preference among married women (reproductive age group) residing in urban slums. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study using simple random sampling for the selection of slum and 230 urban slum dwellers married women in reproductive age group was interviewed. Results: It was found that 79% of women were aware of prenatal sex determination. Among them, 92.30% of women knew about ultrasonography technique for determining sex of the child. About 92.80% of women knew about criminal aspects of prenatal sex determination, but only 76.40% knew about the punishment associated with sex determination. The present study shows that there is no particular gender preference among the married women. About 70.80% have either sex preference in their next pregnancy, but 17.80% of women have preference for male child and 11.30% of women prefer female child. The present study also shows more male child preference among women having all female children in their previous births. Conclusion: There is a need for stronger implementation of existing legal measures such as Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and also creating awareness of them is felt. Information Education and Communication (IEC) pertaining to these issues must be promoted.

A study to assess receipt and utilization of janani suraksha yojana cash incentive among mothers in urban slums of Raipur city, Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) replaces the National Maternity Benefit Scheme. It was launched by the Government of India in April 2005. The aim was to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by increasing institutional delivery by providing cash incentive to the beneficiaries as well as the link worker ASHA. Objectives of this study was to assess receipt of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive and to assess fields of utilization of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) cash incentive.Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 mothers delivered within last one year in urban slum of Raipur city. Study centre was department of community medicine, Pt. J.N.M. medical college Raipur, Chhattisgarh. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview the study subjects.Results: Out of total 384 study subject’s cheque of JSY cash incentive was received by 70.83%. All (100%) beneficiaries who received cheque was stipulated amount as per JSY guideline. Reasons for not receiving cheque was no availability of BPL card for those who delivered in accredited private health facility. Other reasons were absconded after delivery, unaware of cash incentive, did not go back to get the cheque when called later, patient shifted to another ward. None of the study subjects who delivered at home received the cash incentive cheque. Realization of cheque was not done by 22.79% of study subjects due to complex procedure to open an account in bank. Cash incentive money was utilized in neonatal care, drugs, food, household activities and some deposited in bank.Conclusions: JSY scheme is definitely functioning well in terms of providing cash incentive cheque of JSY on delivery in Government Health facility. There is need to simplify the procedure to open an account so that beneficiaries can avail cash incentive money. There is need to address the problems to receive cheque in home delivery and accredited Private health facility in addition to motivation for institutional delivery.

Functional Capacity And Its Correlation With Pain And Function In Subjects With Post-Polio Syndrome Across Gujarat, India

Acute polio is no longer a constant threat to people in the polio-free areas of the world,but there are still thousands of polio survivors who are at risk of developing late manifestations of the disease, known as post-polio syndrome (PPS) which presents with new or increased muscle weakness and muscle fatigability as key symptoms.This study aims to determine the functional capacity in subjects with PPS and its correlation with pain and physicalfunction.Functionalcapacitystronglycorrelateswithpain(rho=-0.60,p=0.01)andweaklycorrelateswithphysical function(rho=0.33,p=0.003).Pain is a predictor of functional capacity, and accounted for 33.7% variance, highlighting the need of appropriate intervention strategies to improve the functional capacity in individuals with PPS

Role of HbA1c and duration of diabetes in predicting mortality in patients of diabetic ketoacidosis in type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Previous studies have reported the presence of diabetes ketoacidosis in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). India reported that up to 30% of hospitalized DKA cases result in inpatient death. Aims and objectives of the study was to study the role of HbA1c and duration of diabetes in outcome of patients of diabetic ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Hundred T2DM patients having DKA admitted in the Department of Medicine, Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, were included. Data on demography (age, sex and diabetes duration, random blood sugar (RBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were recorded for each patients. Outcome was also recorded and compared with duration of diabetes and HbA1c level.Results: DKA was more common in age group of51-55 years (21%) with mean age of 56.10±10.40 years. Male preponderance was observed. Mean duration of diabetes, hemoglobin, random blood sugar (RBS) and HbA1c were 7.28±3.81 years, 9.8±1.42 gm%, 351.72±22.32 mg/dl, and 7.14±0.10 respectively. Mortality was higher among the patients with longer duration of diabetes (23.1%; p=0.012) and higher HbA1c (25%, p>0.05).Conclusions: Duration of diabetes play a significant role in deciding mortality in T2DM patients with DKA however HbA1c has no role in that.

Daily Iron Requirements in Healthy Indian Children and Adolescents

Objective: This study aimed to define the estimated average requirement and therecommended dietary allowance of iron for Indian children and adolescents. Methods: TheEstimated average requirement was derived for children aged 1-17y, from the meanbioavailability-adjusted daily physiological iron requirement, which in turn was estimatedusing a factorial method. This consisted of mean daily iron losses from the body andadditional iron required for tissue growth and storage, while also defining the variance of eachfactor to derive the Recommended dietary allowance. Results: The estimated averagerequirement of iron for children ranged from 5.6 to 11.0 mg/d in children aged 1-9y. Foradolescents aged 10-17y, these ranged from 10.8 to 18.4 mg/d and 15.4 to 18.5 mg/d foradolescent boys and girls, respectively. Conclusion: New estimates of estimated averagerequirement for iron in Indian children are presented, and same may be used to inform ironsupplementation and food fortification policies.

Effect of information, education, and communication activity on health literacy of smoking and alcohol among school-going adolescents in Delhi

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)/lifestyle diseases account for a major cause of deaths every year. Risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption contributing to the development of lifestyle diseases were more prevalent in the developed countries decades back, but millions of productive years of life are lost due to NCDs in India too. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the health literacy of school-going adolescents regarding harmful effects of smoking and alcohol consumption and assess the improvement in their knowledge after different information, education, and communication (IEC) activities. Methods: It was a school-based interventional study conducted among students of class 6, 7, and 8. Assessment of health literacy of risk factors – smoking and alcohol use in lifestyle diseases was done by self-administered questionnaire among school-going adolescents. Intervention in the form of IEC was done three times, and the postintervention data were collected 2 weeks after the first and 3 months after the last intervention. Responses were scored and categorized as satisfactory and unsatisfactory. Results: There were a higher proportion of students with satisfactory level of knowledge of smoking and alcohol use effects in both the schools after 3 months of educational intervention, although the result was statistically significant for School 2 only where intervention was given by didactic lectures (P < 0.05). Conclusions: There was an improvement in scores of students in both the schools after 2 weeks and 3 months of educational intervention, though the results were statistically significant for 3 months only (P < 0.05).

Organization and workflow management of central sterile supply department of a tertiary care hospital of Haryana

Background: Nosocomial infection cause significant health issues and economic loss to the patients as well as the health care facilities. To combat hospital acquired infections, hospitals need an effective method of disinfection and sterilization which can be taken care by the central sterile supply department (CSSD). The objective of establishing a CSSD is to make reliably sterilized articles available at the required time and place. Aim and objectives were to study the organization and workflow management of CSSD of a tertiary care institution.Methods: This observational study was carried out from February 2018 to April 2018. An observation checklist was used for the purpose of study after obtaining permission from appropriate authorities.Results: CSSD of the institution is centrally located within the hospital premises and has 11 staff members. Linen, cotton, dressings, instruments and trays are sterilized in the CSSD. Sterilization is done by steam sterilization and gas sterilization with a total of seven autoclaves and two ETO machines. Physical, chemical and biological indicators are regularly used during the process of sterilization.Conclusions: CSSD of the institution is contributing its part towards reduction of nosocomial infections. Quality of standards for sterilization and disinfection is maintained.

Diabetes mellitus and its socio-demographic determinants: a population-based study from a rural block of Haryana, India

Background: Diabetes is growing alarmingly in India which is a home to more than 65.1 million people with this disease and this number would increase to 80 million by the year 2030. The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major threat to clinical management, economic growth and social wellbeing of patients. Studying socio epidemiology of diabetes among adults would help in decreasing the manifestation and severity of this NCD, so this study was conducted with the aim to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its associated socio-demographic factors.Methods: The present study was conducted in rural block of district Rohtak over a period of one year among 1000 study participants aged 15-64years. Fasting blood sugar was measured to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus.Results: Overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 9.2%. It was highest among 55-64years age group (26%), those engaged in service (11.6%), illiterates and upper middle SES (14.3%).Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes was high in the study population. A holistic approach targeting both individual and social factors is required to tackle this high prevalence.

Socio-demographic correlates of unmet need for family planning among rural women of Haryana, India

Background: The continuously growing population not only hampers the socio-economic development but the health of mothers and newborns. Progress made in improving social development in addition to strengthening the ongoing family planning programme will contribute towards the future pace of fertility and decline in unmet need. Objective of present study to assess the unmet need for family planning and role of socio-demographic factors among rural women.Methods: The present study was community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural area of Haryana from September 2015 to August 2016 among 500 currently married women (18-49 years).Results: The unmet need for family planning was 19.2% (4.8% spacing and 14.4% limiting). Education, occupation and SES were significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. The commonest reason for not using contraception among those with unmet need was fear of side-effects (37.5%) followed by in-laws disapproval (21.9%).Conclusions: The unmet need for family planning was high. Women education and empowerment by protecting their health, wellbeing and rights, including their reproductive rights would prove to be beneficial.

Vaginal Obstruction after Excision of a Transverse Vaginal Septum: A Rare Case Report

A vaginal obstruction often occurs as a result of complication in women who had previously undergone an excision of a transverse vaginal septum. Her we are reporting a case of 12 years old unmarried girl presented with complaint of secondary amenorrhea and cyclic pain lower abdomen since two months. She was operated for cryptomenorrhea four months back. On examination under anaesthesia Thick scarred septum was present in vaginal canal about 6-7 cm from vaginal introitus .After sharp dissection hematocopos bulge seen and drained, residual scar tissue excised , posterior and anterior vaginal wall reconstructed. Vaginal mould inserted to maintain patency

Solitary Intraosseous Myofibroma of the Zygomatic Bone: A Case Report.

Myofibroblasts have been implicated in most fibro-contractive diseases and even in developing and specialized normal body tissues. Myofibroma denotes benign neoplasms composed of contractile myoid cells arranged around thin-walled blood vessels affecting the soft tissue, bone, or internal organs at all ages with the intraosseous variant being an uncommon entity. Histologically, these tumors are characterized by being circumscribed masses of spindle cells, which may lead to confusion in diagnosis with more aggressive soft tissue spindle cell tumors. A case is reported of a 7-year-old female patient who presented with a solitary intraosseous myofibroma in the inferolateral aspect of the left orbit. This article describes the clinical, radiographic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of an intraosseous myofibroma in a female child.

Isolation and Optimization of Cellulolytic and Xylanolytic Microbes from Nepal and their Utilization for Lignocellulosic Biomass Degradation.

Microorganisms harbored by nature and guts of herbivorous animals can degrade different plant related biomass. One of the in-between steps for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol entails isolation and identification of microorganisms that could convert pretreated biomass into a suitable form, which could then be fermented into bioethanol. We isolated 36 different microorganisms from hot spring, 6 from ruminant’s (goat) gut, 2 sample from hay spray on the basis of their ability to secrete enzymes that hydrolyzed different plant constituents. Similarly 3 microorganisms were isolated from the rotten wood available around Kathmandu University on the basis of utilization of xylose and glucose. 3 varieties of thermophiles, gut microorganism and microorganism from hay spray that showed the highest cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities by saccharification of cellulose and xylan into their monosaccharide glucose and xylose units respectively were then applied on different biomass (rice straw, corn stover and sugarcane bagasse). Before Saccharification biomass was made accessible for the digestion by enzymes through 3 different pretreatment strategies (3.35% H2SO4, NaOH and H2O2 with 1:10 substrate: chemical ratio) following thermal strategy of steam explosion. Also, different conditions like incubation time, pH and temperature for saccharification were assessed with the highest liberation of reducing sugar at pH 5, temperature of 5̊ C and incubation time of 4 days. Microorganism from rotten wood was able to utilize both xylose and glucose and yielded highest amount (5.567 mg/ml) of bioethanol.