A comprehensive yoga programme for weight reduction in children & adolescents with obesity: A randomized controlled trial

Background & objectives: Obesity is a rising pandemic in childhood. There is scarcity of evidence on the efficacy of yoga in achieving weight loss in overweight/obese children. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of family-based comprehensive yoga intervention in the reduction of body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese children, in comparison to standard dietary and lifestyle counselling and control group. Methods: This was an open-label randomized controlled study. Children aged 8-15 yr who were overweight or had obesity were randomized to one of the three arms for 18 wk; standard weight management (group 1), yoga with dietary modification (group 2) and control (no intervention; group 3). Reduction in BMI and improvement in physiological, biochemical and psychological parameters from baseline to 18 wk was compared between the three arms. Late follow up was also done at 6-12 months. Results: A total of 165 children with mean±standard deviation (SD) age of 11.6±1.8 yr and mean BMI 26.3±4.2 kg/m2 were enrolled. Outcome analysis at 18 wk was performed for 109 children. Improved diet quality and reduced intake were observed in both intervention arms. The median (IQR) reduction in BMI in standard and yoga arms was similar [?1.4 (?3.1, ?0.5) kg/m2 and ?1.2 (?2.3, ?0.6) kg/m2, respectively], while it increased by +0.3 (?0.3, 0.1) in the control arm. In the yoga arm, mean systolic BP reduced from 118 (10) to 114 (8) mmHg, (P=0.019). In the standard arm, significant improvement in psychological scores was noted. In group 3, the mean fasting glucose increased from 93±10 to 102±12 mg/dl (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that yoga in conjunction with dietary modification is equally effective as the standard weight management for BMI reduction in the paediatric age group.

Outbreak of cholera in a remote village in western India

Background & objectives: Atypical El Tor strains of Vibrio cholerae are frequently implicated in outbreaks of cholera. It is important to understand genetic variations of such strains which impact clinical and epidemiological outcomes. The present study was carried out to characterize an outbreak of cholera which occurred between July 8 and 13, 2018, in a remote settlement in Nashik district, Maharashtra. Methods: A large number of acute diarrhoea cases were reported in Rahude village, Nashik, Maharashtra since July 8, 2018. Molecular characterization of the isolated strains of V. cholerae was done. Results: 195 cases of cholera were detected from a population of 850 (attack rate 22.9%) with two deaths (Case Fatality Ratio of 1.03). A non-haemolytic polymyxin B sensitive strain of V. cholerae O1 Ogawa was isolated from 5/14 fecal samples. Molecular characterization of the isolates indicated that this strain was an altered El Tor (AET) strain. Deletion of the trinucleotide ‘GTA’ in the rstB gene, a unique feature of classical strains, was observed. Interpretation & conclusions: A cholera outbreak caused by a non-haemolytic polymixin B sensitive AET strain, occurred from July 8 to 13, 2018, in a remote settlement in western India. The molecular characterization of the outbreak strains highlighted an assortment of genetic determinants, stressing the need to monitor the genetic attributes of V. cholerae O1 in outbreaks for better understanding and mapping of clinical and epidemiological changes.

Natural compounds as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: An in-silico study

Objective:To explore natural compounds as potential inhibitors against main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2. Methods:In the current study, systematic molecular docking analysis was conducted using AutoDock 4.2 to determine the binding affinities and interactions between natural compounds and Mpro. Selected natural compounds were further validated using a combination of molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and molecular mechanic Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) free energy calculations. Results:Out of twenty natural compounds, four natural metabolites namely, amentoflavone, guggulsterone, puerarin, and piperine were found to have strong interaction with Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 based on docking analysis. During MD simulations, all four natural compounds bound to Mpro at 50 ns and MM/G/P/BSA free energy calculations showed that all four shortlisted ligands had stable and favorable energies with strong binding to Mpro protein. Conclusions:Guggulsterone is a potential inhibitor of COVID-19 main protease Mpro. Further in vitro and pre-clinical studies are needed.

Surgical Management Of Penile Mondor’s Disease: Case Report And Brief Review Of Literature

Penile Mondor’s disease (PMD) is a rare condition characterized by thrombosis of superficial dorsal vein of the penis. PMD is usually caused due to vigorous sex or repeated trauma to the penis leading to painful swelling of the penis. Most of the patients improve gradually on conservative treatment. Very rarely cord like lesion persists and causes painful erection and intercourse, meriting surgical management. Here, we report the case of a traumatic Thrombophlebitis of Superficial Dorsal Vein of Penis managed surgically along with a brief explanation of the surgical technique. Color Doppler was helpful in delineating the whole extent of thrombus in the vein. Excision of the whole length of the thrombosed vein was done. Abstinence from sex was advised for six weeks and the patient improved symptomatically

Bio-control potential of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL - 461), against a noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

The phenological survey of Parthenium hysterophorus L., in and around the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was done for about two years (2004-06). During Nov. 2004, a few Parthenium plants were found diseased, and symptoms were restricted to the flowers, buds, and inflorescences. The disease causes sterility and reduces seed viability, which was observed with seed germination test from infected and healthy plants. The fungal pathogen was isolated and identified as Cladosporium sp. (MCPL-461). The severity of pathogen to the reproductive organs led to serious damages of the Parthenium plants. Thus in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the bio-control potential of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) against Parthenium weed. A combinatorial effort of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) bio-control potential was evaluated with different culture media, incubation periods and spores strength. Spore suspension of 105 to 1012 spores ml-1 were used to spray on healthy Parthenium plants, and it was found that severe infection symptoms were appeared at 1010 to 1012 spores ml-1 suspension. LD50 was found at 107spores ml-1. To enhance the myco-herbicide activity 3% sucrose was added to the spore suspension, which further resolute the bio-control efficacy of the isolates. Only 20-30 % seeds of infected plants could germinate. However the safety of non-targeted and wild plants was also tested with Lantana camera, Chromolaena odorata and found that suspension up to 1012 spores ml-1 were not sufficient for disease outbreak in them.

Molecular vibrations and normal modes in L-prolyl-glycyl-glycine using Wilson GF matrix method.

Collagen is one of the most important proteins containing mostly proline hydroxyproline and glycine. In collagen, approximately 33 percent of the amino acid residues are glycine and they occur at every third position, whereas remaining percentage is constituted by mainly proline or hydroxyproline and some part by alanine etc. having no definite positional placement in the chain. Thus, a study of conformation of proline and glycine containing dipeptides and tripeptides is important for understanding the conformation of collagen as a sequence of its constituent amino acids. In the present communication, we have studied spectral features of L-proline, L-prolyl-glycine (PG), L-prolyl-alanine (PA), L-glycylglycine (GG), Collagen and L-prolyl-glycyl-glycine (PGG). We have carried out detailed normal mode analysis of only PGG, because interpretation of spectra of other proline and glycine containing peptides can be treated as derivatives of this molecule. Urey-Bradley force field, which involves non-bonded interactions in the gem and cis configurations is used for calculation of normal modes. The "best-fit" set of constants are generated for PGG.

Antagonistic potential of fluorescent pseudomonads and control of charcoal rot of chickpea caused by Macrophomina phaseolina.

The effectiveness of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria especially Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates were tested against charcoal rot of chickpea both in green house as well as in field conditions. Most of the isolates reduced charcoal rot disease and promoted plant growth in green house. A marked increase in shoot and root length was observed in P. fluorescens treated plants. Among all the P. fluorescens isolates Pf4-99, was found most effective in the improvement of chickpea crop in green house as well as in field. Pf4-99 effectively promoted plant growth and produced indole acetic acid in culture medium. This isolate also inhibited the mycelial growth of the M. phaseolina under in vitro conditions and reduced the disease severity Potential isolate (Pf4-99) also significantly increased the biomass of the chickpea plants, shoot length, root length and protein content of the chickpea seeds. A part from these, the total number of seeds per plant and their weight were also enhanced. The colonization of Pf4-99 reduced the incidence of seed mycoflora by which indirectly enhanced the seed germination and vigour index of seedlings. The observations revealed that isolate Pf4-99 is quite effective to reduce the charcoal rot disease both in field and greenhouse, and also increases seed yields significantly Therefore, this isolate appears to be an efficient biocontrol agent against charcoal rot disease as well as yield increasing rhizobacterium.

Impact of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) on biogassification of potato waste.

A study was conducted on anaerobic digestion of potato waste and cattle manure mixture, inoculated with 12% inoculum and diluted to 1:1 substrate water ratio at 37 +/- 1 degrees C. Initially pH of substrate was found to be 4.5 to 5.0. Lime and sodium bicarbonate solutions were employed to adjust the pH to 7.5. Biogas production continued up to 10 and 7 days, when lime and sodium bicarbonate solutions were used to adjust the pH, respectively. Biogassification potential was studied in response to different ratio of waste and cattle manure. Biogas production rate was higher when potato waste and cattle manure were used in 50:50 ratio. Effect of two different concentrations (2.5 and 5.0 ppm) of three heavy metals viz. (Ni (II), Zn (II) and Cd (II)) on anaerobic digestion of substrate (potato waste--cattle manure, 50:50) was studied. At 2.5 ppm, all the three heavy metals increased biogas production rate over the control value. The percentage increase in biogas production over the control was highest by Cd, followed by Ni and Zn. In all the treatments, methane content of biogas increased with increase in time after feeding. Various physico-chemical parameters viz. total solids, total volatile solids, total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand considerably declined after 7 days of digestion and decline was greater in presence of heavy metals as compared to control. The physico-chemical parameters revealed maximum decrease in the presence of 2.5-ppm concentrations of heavy metals with the substrate. Among all the three heavy metals employed in the study, Cd++ at 2.5 ppm was found to produce maximum biogas production rate. The use of three heavy metals to enhance biogas production from potato and other horticultural waste is discussed.