Cropland trees need to be included for accurate model simulations of land-atmosphere heat fluxes, temperature, boundary layer height, and ozone.

Trees significantly impact land-atmosphere feedbacks through evapotranspiration, photosynthesis and isoprene emissions. These processes influence the local microclimate, air quality and can mitigate temperature extremes and sequester carbon dioxide. Despite such importance, currently only 5 out of 15 atmospheric chemistry climate models even partially account for the presence of cropland trees. We first show that the tree cover over intensely farmed regions in Asia, Australia and South America is significantly underestimated (e.g. only 1-3% tree cover over north-India) in the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosol from Nature (MEGAN) and absent in Noah land-surface module of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-Chem) Model. By including the actual tree cover (~10%) over the north-west Indo Gangetic Plain in the Noah land-surface module of the WRF-Chem and the MEGAN module, during the rice growing monsoon season in August, we find that the latent heat flux alone increases by 100%-300% while sensible heat flux reduces by 50%-100%, leading to a reduction in daytime boundary layer height by 200-400 m. This greatly improves agreement between the modelled and measured temperature, boundary layer height and surface ozone, which were earlier overestimated and isoprene and its oxidation products which were earlier underestimated. Mitigating peak daytime temperatures and ozone improves rice production by 10 to 20%. Our findings from north west Indo-Gangetic Plain establish that such plantations mitigate heat stress, and have beneficial effects on crop yields while also sequestering carbon. Expanding agroforestry practices to 50% of the cropland area could result in up to 40% yield gain regionally. Implementing such strategies globally could increase crop production and sequester 0.3-30 GtC per year, and therefore future climate mitigation and food security efforts should consider stakeholder participation for increased cropland agroforestry in view of its beneficial effects.

CDK4 in lung, and head and neck cancers in old age: evaluation as a biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin dependent kinases (CDK) are key factors in promoting the initiation and development of tumors. These kinases are important for maintenance of mitochondrial biogenesis and imbalance in their expression in old age may lead to the oxidative stress. Lung cancer (LC), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are two very prominent cancers in older Indians. Both the cancers are showing increasing trend in older population. The present study assessed serum concentration of one of the kinases; CDK4 in older LC and HNSCC patients. METHODS: The study included 100 subjects each of LC and HNSCC; and older subjects without cancer or any major health problems as controls. Serum CDK4 concentration was estimated using real-time label-free Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and was verified by western blot. RESULTS: Significant elevation in serum CDK4 was observed in cases with LC and HNSCC compared to controls. HNSCC patients with higher CDK4 expression had distinctly shorter survival than patients with comparatively lower CDK4 expression. No such difference was observed in LC patients. The germ line mutation study of this gene in Exon-2 was performed and none was observed among cases and controls. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that older patients with HNSCC and lung cancer have raised serums CDK4 levels, which has the potential to emerge as a biomarker in clinical practice.

Interrelationship between angiogenesis, inflammation and oxidative stress in Indian patients with multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of clonal population of plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). A variety of angiogenic factors, proteases, reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines induce the formation of an extensive and suitable BM microenvironment. Previous studies have established the importance of angiogenic factors, inflammatory molecules and oxidative stress in MM but their interplay and effect on each other are not being taken together. METHODS: Circulatory levels of VEGF, angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), IL-6 and TNF-α along with the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were investigated in 112 subjects including 62 MM patients and 50 healthy controls. Inter-stage analysis was done to evaluate the association of these molecules with the severity of disease. Pearson correlation was determined to find interrelationship, if any, between these molecules. RESULTS: We have observed elevated levels of VEGF, Ang-2, IL-6, TNF-α and decreased activity of SOD, GPx in MM patients in comparison to controls. All these molecules also showed a trend with the severity of disease. We have found strong association between these factors upon their correlation and regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This study is a step toward understanding the indepth contribution of angiogenesis, inflammation and oxidative stress together in making BM microenvironment suitable for growth, survival and proliferation of malignant plasma cells in MM.

The environmental profile of a community's health: a cross-sectional study on tobacco marketing in 16 countries

To examine and compare tobacco marketing in 16 countries while the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires parties to implement a comprehensive ban on such marketing.METHODS:Between 2009 and 2012, a kilometre-long walk was completed by trained investigators in 462 communities across 16 countries to collect data on tobacco marketing. We interviewed community members about their exposure to traditional and non-traditional marketing in the previous six months. To examine differences in marketing between urban and rural communities and between high-, middle- and low-income countries, we used multilevel regression models controlling for potential confounders.FINDINGS:Compared with high-income countries, the number of tobacco advertisements observed was 81 times higher in low-income countries (incidence rate ratio, IRR: 80.98; 95% confidence interval, CI: 4.15-1578.42) and the number of tobacco outlets was 2.5 times higher in both low- and lower-middle-income countries (IRR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.17-5.67 and IRR: 2.52; CI: 1.23-5.17, respectively). Of the 11,842 interviewees, 1184 (10%) reported seeing at least five types of tobacco marketing. Self-reported exposure to at least one type of traditional marketing was 10 times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries (odds ratio, OR: 9.77; 95% CI: 1.24-76.77). For almost all measures, marketing exposure was significantly lower in the rural communities than in the urban communities.CONCLUSION:Despite global legislation to limit tobacco marketing, it appears ubiquitous. The frequency and type of tobacco marketing varies on the national level by income group and by community type, appearing to be greatest in low-income countries and urban communities.

Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease, cancer, injury, admission to hospital, and mortality: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND:Alcohol consumption is proposed to be the third most important modifiable risk factor for death and disability. However, alcohol consumption has been associated with both benefits and harms, and previous studies were mostly done in high-income countries. We investigated associations between alcohol consumption and outcomes in a prospective cohort of countries at different economic levels in five continents.METHODS:We included information from 12 countries participating in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, a prospective cohort study of individuals aged 35-70 years. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to study associations with mortality (n=2723), cardiovascular disease (n=2742), myocardial infarction (n=979), stroke (n=817), alcohol-related cancer (n=764), injury (n=824), admission to hospital (n=8786), and for a composite of these outcomes (n=11,963).FINDINGS:We included 114,970 adults, of whom 12,904 (11%) were from high-income countries (HICs), 24,408 (21%) were from upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), 48,845 (43%) were from lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), and 28,813 (25%) were from low-income countries (LICs). Median follow-up was 4.3 years (IQR 3.0-6.0). Current drinking was reported by 36,030 (31%) individuals, and was associated with reduced myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76 [95% CI 0.63-0.93]), but increased alcohol-related cancers (HR 1.51 [1.22-1.89]) and injury (HR 1.29 [1.04-1.61]). High intake was associated with increased mortality (HR 1.31 [1.04-1.66]). Compared with never drinkers, we identified significantly reduced hazards for the composite outcome for current drinkers in HICs and UMICs (HR 0.84 [0.77-0.92]), but not in LMICs and LICs, for which we identified no reductions in this outcome (HR 1.07 [0.95-1.21]; pinteraction<0.0001)...

Cardiovascular risk and events in 17 low-,middle-, and high-income countries

BACKGROUNDMore than 80% of deaths from cardiovascular disease are estimated to occur inlow-income and middle-income countries, but the reasons are unknown.METHODSWe enrolled 156,424 persons from 628 urban and rural communities in 17 countries(3 high-income, 10 middle-income, and 4 low-income countries) and assessedtheir cardiovascular risk using the INTERHEART Risk Score, a validated score forquantifying risk-factor burden without the use of laboratory testing (with higherscores indicating greater risk-factor burden). Participants were followed for incidentcardiovascular disease and death for a mean of 4.1 years.RESULTSThe mean INTERHEART Risk Score was highest in high-income countries, intermediatein middle-income countries, and lowest in low-income countries (P<0.001).However, the rates of major cardiovascular events (death from cardiovascularcauses, myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure) were lower in high-incomecountries than in middle- and low-income countries (3.99 events per 1000 personyearsvs. 5.38 and 6.43 events per 1000 person-years, respectively; P<0.001). Casefatality rates were also lowest in high-income countries (6.5%, 15.9%, and 17.3%in high-, middle-, and low-income countries, respectively; P = 0.01). Urban communitieshad a higher risk-factor burden than rural communities but lower ratesof cardiovascular events (4.83 vs. 6.25 events per 1000 person-years, P<0.001) andcase fatality rates (13.52% vs. 17.25%, P<0.001). The use of preventive medicationsand revascularization procedures was significantly more common in high-incomecountries than in middle- or low-income countries (P<0.001).CONCLUSIONSAlthough the risk-factor burden was lowest in low-income countries, the rates ofmajor cardiovascular disease and death were substantially higher in low-incomecountries than in high-income countries. The high burden of risk factors in highincome...

Assessment of p38α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC): a potential blood protein marker of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Solid tumors involve an inflammatory microenvironment portrayed by immune cells playing role in cancer progression via inflammatory p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) molecule that produces pro-inflammatory cytokines-TNFα, IL1ß and IL6. This study quantified and compared the expression of p38α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HNSCC patients with the healthy subjects. METHODS: The PBMC were isolated from the 35 control and 83 HNSCC patients. The expression of p38α in PBMCs was assessed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), ELISA and western blot analysis. RESULTS: p38α levels were found to be over-expressed in HNSCC patients 0.98 ng/µl (95 % CI 0.95-1.02) as compared to controls 0.46 ng/µl (95 % CI 0.42-0.50) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: p38α is over-expressed in PBMCs of HNSCC patients and may play a role in the progression of cancer. This research may translate a protein marker for HNSCC to clinical oncologist for therapeutic intervention and use as a predictive marker.

Optimization of media components for enhanced production of streptococcus phocae pi80 and its bacteriocin using response surface methodology

The standard MRS components were optimized using response surface methodology for increasing yield of Streptococcus phocae PI80 viable cells and its bacteriocin. The highest amounts of bacteriocin activity and viable cells were recorded from prediction point of optimized MRS medium and achieved two fold higher (33049.8 AU.mL-1 and 14.05 LogCFU.mL-1) than un-optimized counterpart.

Optimization of media components for enhanced production of streptococcus phocae pi80 and its bacteriocin using response surface methodology.

The standard MRS components were optimized using response surface methodology for increasing yield of Streptococcus phocae PI80 viable cells and its bacteriocin. The highest amounts of bacteriocin activity and viable cells were recorded from prediction point of optimized MRS medium and achieved two fold higher (33049.8 AU.mL(-1) and 14.05 LogCFU.mL(-1)) than un-optimized counterpart.

Optimization of media components for enhanced production of streptococcus phocae pi80 and its bacteriocin using response surface methodology

The standard MRS components were optimized using response surface methodology for increasing yield of Streptococcus phocae PI80 viable cells and its bacteriocin. The highest amounts of bacteriocin activity and viable cells were recorded from prediction point of optimized MRS medium and achieved two fold higher (33049.8 AU.mL-1 and 14.05 LogCFU.mL-1) than un-optimized counterpart.

Vector density and the control of kala-azar in Bihar, India.

Bihar, India has been in the grip of kala-azar for many years. Its rampant and severe spread has made life miserable in most parts of the state. Such conditions require a comprehensive understanding of this affliction. The numbers coming out of the districts prone to the disease in the north and south Ganges have provided us with several startling revelations, as there are striking uniformities on both sides, including similar vegetation, water storage facilities, house construction and little change in risk factors. The northern areas have been regularly sprayed with DDT since 1977, but eradication of the disease appears to be a distant dream. In 2007 alone, there were as many as 37,738 cases in that region. In contrast, the southern districts of Patna and Nalanda have never had the disease in its epidemic form and endemic disease has been present in only some pockets of the two districts. In those cases, two rounds of spraying with DDT had very positive results, with successful control and no new established foci. In addition, an eleven-year longitudinal study of the man hour density and house index for the vector Phlebotomus argentipes demonstrated that they were quite high in Patna and Nalanda and quite low in north Bihar. Given these facts, an attempt has been made to unravel the role of P. argentipes saliva (salivary gland) in the epidemiology of kala-azar. It was determined that patchy DDT spraying should be avoided for effective control of kala-azar.

Vector density and the control of kala-azar in Bihar, India

Bihar, India has been in the grip of kala-azar for many years. Its rampant and severe spread has made life miserable in most parts of the state. Such conditions require a comprehensive understanding of this affliction. The numbers coming out of the districts prone to the disease in the north and south Ganges have provided us with several startling revelations, as there are striking uniformities on both sides, including similar vegetation, water storage facilities, house construction and little change in risk factors. The northern areas have been regularly sprayed with DDT since 1977, but eradication of the disease appears to be a distant dream. In 2007 alone, there were as many as 37,738 cases in that region. In contrast, the southern districts of Patna and Nalanda have never had the disease in its epidemic form and endemic disease has been present in only some pockets of the two districts. In those cases, two rounds of spraying with DDT had very positive results, with successful control and no new established foci. In addition, an eleven-year longitudinal study of the man hour density and house index for the vector Phlebotomus argentipes demonstrated that they were quite high in Patna and Nalanda and quite low in north Bihar. Given these facts, an attempt has been made to unravel the role of P. argentipes saliva (salivary gland) in the epidemiology of kala-azar. It was determined that patchy DDT spraying should be avoided for effective control of kala-azar.

Somatic growth after ventricular septal defect in malnourished infants.

OBJECTIVE: To assess somatic growth after ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair in severely malnourished infants. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety consecutive infants (age at surgery: 7.2 +/- 3.2 months) were followed after VSD closure at a referral center in southern India to evaluate somatic growth. RESULTS: At surgery, 44% and 30% of patients had weight and height Z score <-3, respectively. On follow-up (age 5.4 +/- 0.8 years), despite a significant improvement from baseline (Z score -1.8 +/- 1.2 vs -2.8 +/- 1.3, P <.001), weight was significantly lower compared with healthy Indian children, particularly for boys. Height Z score improved significantly only in girls (-0.8 +/- 1.3 vs -1.8+/-2.1, P = .01). Weight, height, and combined weight and height Z scores (failure to thrive) of <-2 were observed in 42%, 27%, and 18 % of patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis, weight Z score <-2 on follow-up was predicted by weight Z score at surgery and male sex, height Z score <-2 by maternal height and male sex, and failure to thrive by maternal height and caloric intake. CONCLUSIONS: There is suboptimal recovery of somatic growth after repair of VSD in severely malnourished infants. Preoperative malnutrition affected only weight on follow-up, whereas height recovery and failure to thrive were influenced by constitutional factors.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpiniaceae) stem bark in various systems. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract increased in a concentration-dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250, and 500 microg MEBR inhibited the peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion by 62.43, 67.21, 71.04, and 76.83%, respectively. Similarly, the effect of MEBR on reducing power increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assays the IC50 value of the extract was 152.29 microg/ml. MEBR inhibited the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside with an IC50 of 78.34 microg/ml, as opposed to 20.4 microg/ml for curcumin. Moreover, MEBR scavenged the superoxide generated by the PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEBR also inhibited the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, with an IC50 value of more than 1000 microg/ml, as compared to 5 microg/ml for catechin. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined and 64.7 microg pyrocatechol phenol equivalents were detected in MEBR (1 mg). The antimicrobial activities of MEBR were determined by disc diffusion with five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative and four fungal species. MEBR showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The results obtained in the present study indicate that MEBR can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpiniaceae) stem bark in various systems. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract increased in a concentration-dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250, and 500 æg MEBR inhibited the peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion by 62.43, 67.21, 71.04, and 76.83 percent, respectively. Similarly, the effect of MEBR on reducing power increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assays the IC50 value of the extract was 152.29 æg/ml. MEBR inhibited the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside with an IC50 of 78.34 æg/ml, as opposed to 20.4 æg/ml for curcumin. Moreover, MEBR scavenged the superoxide generated by the PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEBR also inhibited the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, with an IC50 value of more than 1000 æg/ml, as compared to 5 æg/ml for catechin. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined and 64.7 æg pyrocatechol phenol equivalents were detected in MEBR (1 mg). The antimicrobial activities of MEBR were determined by disc diffusion with five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative and four fungal species. MEBR showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The results obtained in the present study indicate that MEBR can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Evaluation of the WHO clinical decision rule for streptococcal pharyngitis.

AIMS: To prospectively assess the WHO clinical decision rule (CDR) for group A beta haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis in three countries. METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study in urban outpatient clinics in Rio de Janeiro, Cairo, and Zagreb. There were 2225 children aged 2-12 years with cough, rhinorrhoea, red or sore throat; 1810 of these with sore throat were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of children presenting with sore throat and found to have GABHS pharyngitis ranged from 24.6% (Brazil) to 42.0% (Croatia). WHO CDR sensitivity was low for all sites in both age groups. In children age 5 or older, sensitivity ranged from 3.8% in Egypt to 10.8% in Brazil. In children under 5, sensitivity was low (0.0-4.6%) Specificity was high in both age groups in all countries (93.8-97.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In these populations, the current WHO CDR has high specificity, but low sensitivity; it did not detect up to 96.0% of children who have laboratory confirmed GABHS pharyngitis. A CDR with higher sensitivity should be developed for use in regions where rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are still major health problems.

Outcome of ventricular septal defect repair in a developing country.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of nutrition and lung infection on outcome early after ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair in infants in a developing country. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred consecutive infants (age, 7.4 +/- 3.3 months) with large VSD(s) who underwent surgical repair at one institution in South India from July 1998 to June 2000 were analyzed. Primary outcome variables were postoperative death, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital stay. Preoperative variables analyzed included age, weight and length Z scores, and lung infection. RESULTS: Preoperative nutrition was poor (weight Z score, -2.8 +/- 1.3), and 25 patients had pneumonia. Six patients died after repair. No preoperative variable was associated with death. Mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and hospital stay were longer for younger patients (r (s) for ventilation, -0.23, P =.02; for ICU stay, -0.33, P <.001; for hospital stay, -0.27, P =.007) and for those with preoperative pneumonia (median ventilation duration, 46 vs 24 hours, P <.001; median ICU stay 7 vs 4 days, P <.001; median hospital stay 10 vs 7 days, P =.001). Preoperative weight and length Z scores were not associated with any outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: Poor nutritional status, preoperative pneumonia, and age do not increase mortality rates after VSD repair. Repair of large VSDs should not be delayed because of these preoperative characteristics.

Mast cells in histoid lepromatous lesions.

Ten patients with histoid lesions among the lepromatous leprosy cases, of both sexes in the age group of 35-65 years, were included in this study. Skin biopsy from the nodule with surrounding healthy skin of histoid lesion was taken. The biopsies were fixed in Susa solution and processed for light microscopy. 5-7 mu thick sections were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Toluidine blue and Fite Faraco. Observations were made on the dermis to locate the mast cells and bacilli. Proliferation of mast cells and their degranulation were seen in the histoid nodule as compared to surrounding normal healthy skin where the cells were mainly intact. The study further investigates the role of mast cells in the histopathogenesis of the disease.