Soil Properties and Weed Dynamics in Wheat as Affected by Rice Residue Management in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System in South Asia: A Review.

The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) has substantially contributed in making India self-sufficient in food grain production; however, rice residue management is of great concern, threatening the sustainability of this system. Rice residue is invariably disposed of by farmers through open burning. In addition to environmental pollution, residue burning of rice also leads to loss of soil nutrients. One of the alternatives to overcome these problems and sustain the RWCS is managing the rice residues in the field itself. Rice residue retention has variable effects on agricultural pests (namely, weeds, insect pests, diseases, and rodents) in the RWCS. High weed infestation in the RWCS results in high consumption of herbicides, which leads to several ecological problems and evolution of herbicide resistance. The shift from intensive tillage to conservation tillage causes major changes in weed dynamics and herbicide efficacy. Incorporation of rice residue reduces weed density and helps in improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Rice residue retention on the surface or mulching reduces weed density and the biomass of both grass and broadleaf weeds in wheat crop as compared to its removal. Long-term field studies involving the use of rice residue as a component of integrated weed management strategies are needed to be done in the RWCS.

SEM Evaluation of Enamel Surface Changes and Enamel Microhardness around Orthodontic Brackets after Application of CO2 Laser, Er,Cr:YSGG Laser and Fluoride Varnish: An In vivo Study.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most undesirable consequences of orthodontic treatment is occurrence of enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets. Numerous in vitro studies have reported the prevention of enamel demineralization by surface treatment with lasers and fluoride varnish. AIM: To evaluate the changes on the enamel surface and microhardness around orthodontic brackets after surface treatment by CO2 laser, Er, Cr:YSGG laser and fluoride varnish in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double blind interventional study was carried out on 100 premolars which were equally divided into five groups, out of which one was the control group (Group 0). The intervention groups (Group I to IV) comprised of patients requiring fixed orthodontic treatment with all 4 first premolars extraction. Brackets were bonded on all 80 premolars which were to be extracted. Enamel surface treatment of Groups I, II and III was done by CO2 laser, Er, Cr:YSGG laser and 5% sodium fluoride varnish respectively and Group IV did not receive any surface treatment. A modified T-loop was ligated to the bracket and after two months, the premolars were extracted. Surface changes were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) and microhardness testing. Comparison of mean microhardness between all the groups was assessed using post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Group I showed a melted enamel appearance with fine cracks and fissures while Group II showed a glossy, homogenous enamel surface with well coalesced enamel rods. Group III showed slight areas of erosions and Group IV presented areas of stripped enamel. Significant difference was observed between the mean microhardness (VHN) of Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV and Group 0 with p<0.001. A significant difference of p<0.001 was observed while comparing Group I vs II,III,IV,0 and Group II vs III,IV,0. However, difference while comparing Group III vs IV was p=0.005 and difference between the mean microhardness of Group 0 vs Group III was non significant. CONCLUSION: Surface treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser causes a positive alteration of the enamel surface increasing its ability to resist demineralization with optimum microhardness as compared to CO2 laser and sodium fluoride varnish.

Prevalence, pattern and familial effects of substance use among the male college students -a north Indian study.

INTRODUCTION: Substance use refers to the use of any psychoactive substance or drug, including licit and illicit drugs, other than when medically indicated. Psychoactive substance use poses a threat to the health, social and economic fabric of families, communities and nations. Chandigarh has more than 0.2 million students from across the country pursuing their courses in higher education institutions. There is a very little information about pattern of drug dependence among the college students of Chandigarh,India. OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and pattern of substance use among college students of Chandigarh and to study the psycho-social behaviour of youth and perceived reasons for using substances. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Cross - sectional community based study. A stratified multi-stage random sample design was adopted in study. The study instrument was a questionnaire which was developed by reviewing relevant literature and previously used standardized instruments and protocols including the WHO questionnaire. On the basis of 60% prevalence anticipated on the basis of pilot study, 90% confidence coefficient and 10% permissible error - sample size came out to be 256. RESULTS: Prevalence of substance use was seen in 52.7% students belonging to age group 19 to 21 years. More prevalence of substance use was found among law students (76.2%) followed by the students from Art stream (62.5%). Among the users alcohol was most commonly used (53.5%), followed by smokers (27.3%), tobacco chewers (8.2%), cannabis (6.8%).49% of the users were using substances on daily basis, followed by 23% who using weekly.29.3% of users had father using any substance. Relief from psychological stress (66.0%) followed by easy availability (46.9%) were the most common reasons of substance abuse. that substances use is common among college going male students irrespective of their social demographic characteristics like age [OR 0.76, 95%CI (.443-1.317) religion [OR.859 95%CI (.461-1.598), parental education, occupation and socio-economic status. Therefore, interventions in terms of health education/counselling for reducing substance use among them should be adopted, irrespective of their socio-demographic characteristics. Suggestions: This study suggested some life style related interventions in order to reduce the problem of substance use.There is an utmost need to educate and counsel young students regarding harmful effects of substance use. Health education may be imparted in the school curriculum. Parents should also be educated on discouragement of substance use and on taking proper care of their children.

Unexpected hospitalisations at a 23-hour observation unit in a paediatric emergency department of northern India.

BACKGROUND: The 23-hour Observation Unit (OU) is a novel and an effective means for tackling overcrowding in busy Paediatric Emergency Departments (PED) worldwide. However, unexpected hospitalisations in the OU involve transfer of care and they reduce the efficiency of the OU. Hence, we aimed to study the presenting diagnoses which were responsible for the unexpected hospitalisations in a 23-hour OU. METHODS AND DESIGN: A prospective cohort study Setting: The PED at a tertiary care teaching hospital. DURATION: 15th Feb-15th March 2011. PROTOCOL: Consecutive children were triaged at presentation to the PED, according to the WHO paediatric emergency triage algorithm. Those who were transferred to the 23-hour OU, were further followed up for duration of the stay, the hospital course, and the outcome (discharge/hospitalisation). RESULTS: Three hundred (228 males, 72 females) consecutive children who attended the PED over one month were enrolled. All the children, at presentation, were triaged by the medical intern/s who was/were posted in the PED, and they were crosschecked by a PED consultant. A majority (55%, n=165) of the children were triaged as non-urgent, 32% (n=97) as priority and 13% (n=38) as emergent. Out of the 300 children, 173(58%) were transferred to the 23-hour OU. Of these, 16 (9.1%) required unexpected hospitalisations. The children who required hospitalisations had the following diagnoses: bronchiolitis (4), bronchopneumonia (4), seizure (2), viral hepatitis (2), high fever (1), bronchial asthma (1), severe anaemia (1), and urticaria (1). The mean duration of the stay in the OU was 19 hours for those who needed hospitalisation, as against 13 hours for those who were discharged from the OU. CONCLUSION: The children with respiratory complaints (bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia) need frequent monitoring in the 23-hour OU, as they have high hospitalisation rates in the OU.

Prevention of acute kidney injury by tauroursodeoxycholic acid in rat and cell culture models.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has grave short- and long-term consequences. Often the onset of AKI is predictable, such as following surgery that compromises blood flow to the kidney. Even in such situations, present therapies cannot prevent AKI. As apoptosis is a major form of cell death following AKI, we determined the efficacy and mechanisms of action of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a molecule with potent anti-apoptotic and pro-survival properties, in prevention of AKI in rat and cell culture models. TUDCA is particularly attractive from a translational standpoint, as it has a proven safety record in animals and humans. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We chose an ischemia-reperfusion model in rats to simulate AKI in native kidneys, and a human kidney cell culture model to simulate AKI associated with cryopreservation in transplanted kidneys. TUDCA significantly ameliorated AKI in the test models due to inhibition of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and upregulation of survival pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study sets the stage for testing TUDCA in future clinical trials for prevention of AKI, an area that needs urgent attention due to lack of effective therapies.

Calcium ameliorates renal cyst growth in metanephric organ culture: a morphological study.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is associated with alterations in developmental processes that severely affect kidney integrity, often leading to fatal consequences. It has been suggested that dysfunctional calcium (Ca2+) regulation associated with the PKD phenotype is consequent to mutations affecting the pkd1 gene. Previously, it has been observed that blocking calcium along with cAMP allowed tubular epithelial cells to enter the proliferative phase that culminated in a cyst-like phenotype. In this regard, mouse metanephroi, (embryonic day 13.5, E13.5) were used to study morphological and ultrastructural effects of calcium replenishment on 8-bromocyclic 3'5'cyclic adenosine monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP)-induced cyst-like tubular dilations. Phase contrast microscopy of 8-Br-cAMP-treated metanephroi exhibited numerous dilated tubules that continued to increase in size for 4 days in culture. The effects of 8-Br-cAMP on renal tubular epithelia were assessed by histopathological and electron microscopic analyses. Transmission electron microscopy revealed changes such as increased vacuolation, swollen mitochondria, chromatin condensation, and disrupted cell membrane in tubular epithelia of 8-Br-cAMP-treated metanephroi. Concurrent treatments with calcium-channel agonists (calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate) and 8-Br-cAMP abolished cAMP-induced morphometric and ultrastructural alterations. Calcium replenishment rescued tubular epithelial cells from mitogenic effects of cAMP and restored normal morphology at cellular and sub-cellular levels as verified by histopathological and ultrastructural examinations.

Cellular therapy of kidney diseases.

The understanding of cellular sources of kidney regeneration has rapidly evolved in the last decade. It is now believed that regeneration occurs predominantly from cells that reside within the injured kidney, with minimal contribution from extra-renal cells. We now know that improved kidney regeneration seen following exogenous administration of stem cells occur predominantly by noncellular paracrine mechanisms. Of all extra-renal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the most promising stem cell type for treating kidney diseases. There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating safety and efficacy of MSC in treating acute kidney injury (AKI). Results of this trial are expected to bring use of MSC closer to the clinical realm. An improved understanding of the small molecules that facilitate kidney regeneration and are secreted by MSC will likely result in the development of new therapies for treating AKI. Identification of adult stem cell markers will result in improved understanding of pathophysiology of kidney diseases and could lead to the development of new cellular therapies. Directed differentiation of stem cells into desired cell types such as erythropoietin producing cells will allow selective replacement of lost kidney function. Cell-based therapies for patients with chronic kidney disease are presently in proof-of-principle stage and are expected to evolve in the coming years with improved understanding of stem cell biology. Technological advancement in cellular therapy is expected to provide improved therapeutic options for patients with kidney diseases in the near future.