Sustainability of the grazing and feeding resources for sheep during the non-migratory period in Jammu and Kashmir.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the sustainability of the grazing and feeding resources of the sheep in Kashmir, India. The study was conducted in the Ganderbal District of Kashmir to evaluate sustainability, along with the scenario of grazing pattern and feeding system of the sheep during the non-migratory period. The district was divided into three production zones based on altitude, i.e., zone I (high altitude), zone II (medium altitude), and zone III (low altitude). A total of 360 sheep farmers were interviewed from the three zones that consist of 9 blocks, with 40 sheep farmers interviewed from each block. Majority of the sheep farmers (75.00%) follow a semi-migratory type of production system, use forest, and low-mountain areas for grazing purposes (48.88%) and were having medium to high availability of grazing lands. The main feeding source available to majority of the sheep farmers (60.00%) was found to be crop residues and fodder grasses, with local markets (60.00%) and fellow farmers (71.11%) being the main source of procuring concentrates and fodders. Hybrid entropy and TOPSIS method were used for the evaluation of sustainability of grazing and feeding system in the area. The most influencing factors for sustainability of grazing pattern and feeding source were found to be production system followed and the major feed sources available respectively. Most of the variables included in the grazing system were ideally best in zone I and of feeding system were found to be ideally best in zone III. There is a need for improvement in the parameters of the grazing pattern in zone III, i.e., in low-altitude areas or planes where grazing lands are shrinking at an alarming rate. The parameters under the feeding system need due consideration in zone I, i.e., in the high altitudes where the socio-economic situation of the people is comparatively poor than the other two zones.

Evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a group WHO trans-diagnostic intervention for women with common mental disorders in rural Pakistan: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial.

AIMS: The aim of this feasibility trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the locally adapted Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention for women in the conflict affected settings in Swat, Pakistan. METHODS: This mixed-methods study incorporated a quantitative component consisting of a two arm cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial, and qualitative evaluation of the acceptability of the Group PM+ to a range of stakeholder groups. For the quantitative component, on average from each of the 20 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) catchment area (20 clusters), six women were screened and recruited for the trial with score of >2 on the General Health Questionnaire and score of >16 on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. These LHW clusters were randomised on a 1 : 1 allocation ratio using a computer-based software through a simple randomisation method to the Group PM+ intervention or Enhanced Usual Care. The Group PM+ intervention consisted of five weekly sessions of 2 h duration delivered by local non-specialist females under supervision. The primary outcome was individual psychological distress, measured by levels of anxiety and depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 7th week after baseline. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general psychological profile, levels of functioning and generalised psychological distress. Intervention acceptability was explored through in-depth interviews. RESULTS: The results show that lay-helpers with no prior mental health experience can be trained to achieve the desired competency to successfully deliver the intervention in community settings under supervision. There was a good intervention uptake, with Group PM+ considered useful by participants, their families and lay-helpers. The outcome evaluation, which was not based on a large enough study to identify statistically significant results, indicated statistically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, general psychological profile and functioning. The PTSD symptoms and depressive disorder scores showed a trend in favour of the intervention. CONCLUSION: This trial showed robust acceptance in the local settings with delivery by non-specialists under supervision by local trained females. The trial paves the way for further adaptation and exploration of the outcomes through larger-scale implementation and definitive randomised controlled trials in the local settings.

WHO Parents Skills Training (PST) programme for children with developmental disorders and delays delivered by Family Volunteers in rural Pakistan: study protocol for effectiveness implementation hybrid cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Development disorders and delays are recognised as a public health priority and included in the WHO mental health gap action programme (mhGAP). Parents Skills Training (PST) is recommended as a key intervention for such conditions under the WHO mhGAP intervention guide. However, sustainable and scalable delivery of such evidence based interventions remains a challenge. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and scaled-up implementation of locally adapted WHO PST programme delivered by family volunteers in rural Pakistan. METHODS: The study is a two arm single-blind effectiveness implementation-hybrid cluster randomised controlled trial. WHO PST programme will be delivered by 'family volunteers' to the caregivers of children with developmental disorders and delays in community-based settings. The intervention consists of the WHO PST along with the WHO mhGAP intervention for developmental disorders adapted for delivery using the android application on a tablet device. A total of 540 parent-child dyads will be recruited from 30 clusters. The primary outcome is child's functioning, measured by WHO Disability Assessment Schedule - child version (WHODAS-Child) at 6 months post intervention. Secondary outcomes include children's social communication and joint engagement with their caregiver, social emotional well-being, parental health related quality of life, family empowerment and stigmatizing experiences. Mixed method will be used to collect data on implementation outcomes. Trial has been retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02792894). DISCUSSION: This study addresses implementation challenges in the real world by incorporating evidence-based intervention strategies with social, technological and business innovations. If proven effective, the study will contribute to scaled-up implementation of evidence-based packages for public mental health in low resource settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as Family Networks (FaNs) for Children with Developmental Disorders and Delays. Identifier: NCT02792894 Registered on 6 July 2016.

Polyamines interaction with thylakoid proteins during stress.

The involvement of polyamines in plant responses to abiotic stresses is well investigated, while there has been few reports on the specific mode of action of polyamines on the photosynthetic apparatus. The objective of this review is thus to examine the mode of interaction of polyamines with proteins of photosystem II core and LHCII, including methylamine (monoamine) as a simplified model to better understand the mode of action of polyamines. Spectroscopic methods used to determine the binding mode of amines with PSII proteins showed that amines such as spermine, putrescine and methylamine interact with protein (H-bonding) through polypeptide C=O, C-N and N-H groups with major perturbations of protein secondary structure as the concentration of amines was raised. High concentration of amines added to PSII-enriched submembrane fractions causes a significant loss of PSII activity. However, at lower concentration, polyamines, especially spermine, improve the photosynthetic functions under stress. We concluded from this review that besides the conjugation of polyamines with LHC polypeptides, polyamines are likely to interact with extrinsic proteins and the hydrophilic part of intrinsic proteins of PSII by electrostatic interaction. This could stabilize the conformation of proteins under various stresses. However, at high concentration of polyamines a strong inhibition of PSII activity is observed.

Methylamine interaction with proteins of photosystem II: a comparison with biogenic polyamines.

Biogenic polyamines are essential for cell growth and differentiation. The interaction of polyamines with protein of photosystem II (PSII) are well investigated, while there has been no report on the effect of monoamines complexation on photosynthetic oxygen evolution. This study was designed to investigate the interaction of methylamine with proteins of PSII, using PSII-enriched submembrane fractions with various concentrations of methylamine. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used in order to determine the methylamine binding mode, the protein conformational changes, and the effect of amine interaction on photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Spectroscopic evidence showed that methylamine interacts with protein (H-bonding) through polypeptide C=O, C-N and NH groups with major perturbations of protein secondary structure. Major reduction of alpha-helix from 50% (free PSII) to 35% with an increase of beta-sheet from 10% (free PSII) to 16% was observed in methylamine-PSII complexes. At very low methylamine concentration, no inhibition of oxygen-evolution occurred, while at higher amine content (12 mM), 100% inhibition was observed. Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence measurements indicated the inhibition mainly affects the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of PSII. Comparisons of the effects of methylamine with biogenic polyamine spermine, spermidine and putrescine showed a similar mode of binding with protein (H-bonding) through polypeptide C=O, C-N and NH groups. However, major alterations of the protein secondary structure are induced by monoamine and not by polyamines.

[Fahr syndrome discovered following a bacterial meningitis]. / Syndrome de Fahr découvert à la suite d'une méningite à pneumocoque.

Fahr's disease refers to a rare syndrome characterized by symmetrical and bilateral intracranial calcifications. The basal ganglia and dentate nucleus are the most common site of involvement and most cases present extrapyramidal symptoms. This disease is mostly associated with a phosphocalcic metabolism disorder, especially to hypoparathyroidism. The authors report a case of Fahr syndrome (FS) discovered when a young patient with hypocalcemia and bacterial meningitis had a cerebral CT scan disclosing intracerebral calcifications. She fully recovered after both meningitis and hypocalcemia were treated.

Cancer urinary bladder--5 year experience at Cenar, Quetta.

BACKGROUND: Purpose of this study was to see the incidence, age, sex, geographical distribution, symptoms, personal habits, signs, histo-pathology, early diagnosis and management of cases of Cancer Urinary Bladder (Ca UB) in the patients coming to CENAR, Quetta, Pakistan. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at CENAR for a period of 5 years from 1st Jan. 1993 to 31st Dec. 97, in which about 100 cases of cancer of urinary bladder were included, out of which 82 patients were male and 12 were females. RESULTS: During our 5-year period of study, 3571 new cases of cancer were registered at CENAR, out of which 100 (2.8% of total No. of cases) were of Ca UB. Hence 20 new cases of Ca UB per year were registered at CENAR. The maximum number of cases was registered in 1996. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that Ca UB occurs more in male with a male female ratio of 4.5:1 and a high incidence after 40 years of age. No patient below 20 was reported. Histopathologically, Transitional Cell Carcinoma was dominating (75%). Other histological types seen were squamous cell carcinoma (4%), Adenocarcinoma (3%), UD (5%) and HPNA (10%). A considerable number of patients were using different preparations of tobacco (cigarette smoking (6%), Hubble-Bubble (5%) and Niswar (Snuff) (12%). The patients were mainly treated with Radiotherapy, because at the time of reporting they were already in stage II or beyond (97%). Some patients were also treated by surgery such as TUR, partial or radical cystectomy. A few patients (6%) also received chemotherapy.

Cancer of esophagus: ten years experience at CENAR, Quetta.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study of 659 patients of Ca Esophagus was conducted from 1st January 1990 to 31st December 1999 (10 years) at CENAR Quetta. The aim of this study was to highlight the incidence, early detection, management, and various other parameters of Ca Esophagus. RESULTS: During this period, 5819 new cases of cancer were registered. Cases of Ca Esophagus constituted 659 (11.32%) in number. It was studied that this cancer was the 3rd most common cancer registered in both sexes at our centre. 65 new cases of Ca Esophagus were registered at CENAR Quetta per annum on an average. Males slightly dominated the females. Maximum number of cases 470 (71.31%), were reported between ages 41-60 years with a median age of 55 years. Maximum number of cases 399 (60.57%), involved lower 3rd of Esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histopathology seen in 574 cases (87.10%). These patients were mainly treated with radiation therapy, palliatively, because by the time they reported, they were found in stage III and beyond. Some patients were also treated with chemotherapy along with radiation, but the overall prognosis was poor. A few patients have also undergone palliative surgery, such as pull through or push through tubes prior to radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Since the patients presented with late & advanced disease, it is, therefore, recommended that all cases of dysphagia particularly from this region of the country should be thoroughly investigated with the suspicion of Ca Esophagus. It is further suggested that general population be educated about the potential risk factors like smoking, use of naswar, beetle nut chewing, and intake of very hot food & beverages.

[Leishmania tropica cutaneous leishmaniasis in an emerging focus in North Morocco: new clinical forms]. / Leishmaniose cutanée à Leishmania tropica dans un foyer émergent au nord du Maroc: nouvelles formes cliniques.

INTRODUCTION: Leishmania tropica cutaneous leishmaniasis is usually described as dry, small and self-healing lesions, mainly located on the face and occurring in stable endemic foci. In 1989, similar aspects were observed in a rural hypoendemic focus in center Morocco where about 60 cases were diagnosed. In contrast, an epidemic urban focus in Taza-North Morocco--was identified in 1995 with peculiar clinical aspects. Our objectives is to describe these clinical characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 1995 to November 1996, 132 cases were diagnosed from this new focus during a monthly active survey. Age, sex, duration of lesions, clinical aspects and therapeutic regimen were detailed for each patient. RESULTS: Among the patients, 56.8 p. 100 were women. Mean age was 24.6 +/- 21.5 years (range: 8 months to 85 years). The mean duration of lesions was 6.9 +/- 6.5 months and 91.4 p. 100 evoluted for less than one year. Impetiginized, ulcerocrusted and noduloulcerative forms were predominant (61 p. 100). Furthermore, severe, vegetant inflammatory and multiple lesions were observed in infants and elderly patients. Limbs were involved in 30 p. 100 of cases. Eighty-six patients were treated with intralesional glucantime regimen and cured in 72 p. 100 of cases. Intramuscular treatment by glucantime was required in case of multiple lesions and failure of local therapy. DISCUSSION: In this study, the high frequency of severe lesions in infants and elderly patients suggests that the introduction of the parasite occurred recently in this area. The brief duration of lesions confirms the acute character for cutaneous leishmaniasis related to L. tropica in this epidemic focus. The host immune status associated with parasite intrinsic factors probably plays a role in these perculiar clinical manifestations.

Isolation of rainbow trout neutrophils with an anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody.

A magnetic cell sorting system has been optimised for the purification of rainbow trout neutrophils using a monoclonal antibody (E3D9) raised against Atlantic salmon neutrophils. The purified neutrophils have good viability (85%) and purity (approximately 92%), and were functional in respiratory burst and migration assays. The isolated neutrophils responded rapidly to PMA stimulation, producing levels of superoxide anion (4.85 nmols superoxide min-1/10(6) cells) approximately twice as high as macrophages from the same species. In the migration assay, there was a four-fold increase in migrating cells using the purified neutrophils compared with unfractionated blood leucocytes, and a relatively high neutrophil migratory activity was seen in the absence of serum.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an emerging epidemic focus of Leishmania tropica in north Morocco.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Morocco occurs mainly in the south and is caused by Leishmania major and L. tropica. In 1995, for the first time, 4 autochthonous cases were confirmed by smear and/or culture from the province of Taza in north Morocco. An active survey revealed 128 more cases. The number had increased gradually since 1994. Most of the cases (86%) came from the suburbs of the city of Taza. All cultured and typed parasites were characterized as L. tropica MON-102. A leishmanin skin test survey among a random sample of the exposed population showed an overall positivity rate of 19.9%, with no correlation with age or gender. The spatial distribution of the cases and skin test positivity, their occurrence in all age groups, the highly variable clinical picture, the severity and large size of lesions in older patients, the slow recovery of some treated patients, and the isoenzymic monomorphism of the parasite, all suggested that cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica is an emerging disease in Taza.

Mechanisms of dopamine effects on Na-K-ATPase activity in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells.

Dopamine decreases tubular sodium reabsorption, attributed in part to Na-K-ATPase inhibition in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). Because the final regulation of sodium excretion occurs in the collecting duct, where specific dopamine DA1 binding sites have been demonstrated, we examined the effects of dopamine, as well as of DA1 and DA2 receptor agonists on Na-K-ATPase activity and on the number of units in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, which retain differentiated properties of the renal cortical collecting tubule epithelium. Dopamine (10(-5) M) inhibited pump activity (by 50%) and reduced the number of units. This effect was reproduced by the DA1 agonist SKF 38393, which inhibited pump activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner (maximum, 10(-5) M). The DA2 agonist quinpirole hydrochloride was without effect, either alone or in combination with SKF 38393. Inhibition of pump activity by dopamine was totally abolished by H7 (100 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinase (PK), but partially by 2',5'-dideoxy-adenosine (DDA) and H4, respective inhibitors of cAMP production and PKA, which suggests that the dopamine effect on Na-K-ATPase activity may be linked to activation of both PKC and PKA. In these cells, amiloride addition during preincubation did not alter the effect of dopamine on Na-K-ATPase activity; in contrast, furosemide increased further the inhibitory effect of dopamine on the enzyme activity. Monensin addition (10(-3) M) reversed the inhibitory effect of dopamine after a 30-min preincubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of transthoracic square-wave defibrillation experience in the dog and calf.

Data from 5,280 fibrillation-defibrillation episodes in medium-size dogs, size scaled to a hypothetical 100-kg dog, and from 3,240 episodes in 100-kg calves, are used to derive families of curves showing percentage of success of unidirectional square-wave pulses in achieving defibrillation versus current amplitudes for energy levels in the range of 200 through 2,000 J. From the 3,240 episodes in the calves and 3,240 additional episodes in dogs, the incidence of post-defibrillation complete A-V block was found. In calves, the optimal 800-J curve peaks sharply at about the 93 percent success level for a current amplitude of 70 A. For the hypothetical dog, the 800-J curve has a broad peak at substantially the 100 percent success level for currents of 40 through 120 A. In general, the incidence of complete A-V block is very low in the dog and very high in the calf.

Transthoracic ventricular defibrillation in the 100 kg calf with unidirectional rectangular pulses.

The effectiveness in reversing ventricular fibrillation of 30 seconds duration of unidirectional rectangular-wave shocks having pulse widths of 0.5 through 64 msec, pulse amplitudes of 35, 50, 70, 100, and 140 amp, and pulse energies of 109 through 1,660 J was studied in 3,303 transthoracic fibrillation-defibrillation episodes in 100 kg calves. A total of 38 animals were used in the study. Postdefibrillation electrocardiograms were recorded. Families of curves of percent successful defibrillation vs pulse duration, percent successful defibrillation vs pulse energy, duration of postdefibrillation complete block or standstill vs energy, and time required for a return to normal sinus rhythm vs energy were derived. The most effective waveform studied (70 amp--8 msec--862 J) yielded defibrillation on the initial attempt in 93% of 120 episodes. In general, the duration of complete block or standstill and the time required for a return to normal sinus rhythm increased with increasing pulse current and pulse energy.