Multiple ocean parameter-based potential fishing zone (PFZ) location generation and validation in the Western Bay of Bengal.

A new conceptual framework based on satellite data, including chlorophyll (CHL), sea surface temperature (SST) fronts, relative winds, current vectors, Ekman transport, and eddies, has been developed to identify potential fishing zones (PFZ) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The framework aims to provide persistent forecasts, even under cloudy conditions, based on feature propagation. The validation of the PFZ was carried out using fish catch data collected by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) between 2016 and 2018. Hooking rates (HR) from longlines and catch per unit effort (CPUE) from trawl nets were used to analyse the data points in hook rate categories (1.0-3.0 and > 3.0) and CPUE categories (50-100 kg and > 100 kg) and interpret them with the PFZ maps. The analysis showed that the high fish catch locations were consistent with persisting features in the BoB, such as high chlorophyll patches, SST fronts, and cyclonic eddies. The high fish catch locations based on hook rate and high CPUE were found to be collocated with the high chlorophyll persisting features and thermal gradients in the BoB. The regression analysis shows that availability of the food (CHL) had the strongest correlation with fish catch, followed by the comfort condition (fronts and eddies).

Practical consensus recommendations regarding the management of hormone receptor positive early breast cancer in elderly women.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women, and its incidence increases with age. Currently the treatment of breast cancer in older patients is almost identical to their younger counterparts. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at these practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists regarding the management of early breast cancer specifically in elderly women.

Species composition of microzooplankton Tintinnid from the coastal waters of Digha, Bay of Bengal.

Tintinnid species distribution and hydrography were studied in the coastal waters of Digha during winter (November 2015) and summer (March 2016) seasons. Surface water samples were collected from 11 different stations from 0 to 10 km offshore with the help of a mechanized trawler. Parameters like tintinnid species enumeration, zooplankton biomass, phytoplankton concentration (total chlorophyll) and abundance, sea surface temperature (SST), pH, transparency, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total phosphate, silicate and nitrate were analysed. A total of 20 different tintinnid species (16 agglomerated +4 non-agglomerated) belonging to 6 genera were recorded from the study area with seasonal variation in tintinnid diversity, i.e. higher in summer (total 2745 individual/l) compared to winter (total 1191 individual/l). Tintinnopsis was the most dominant genus during both the seasons, i.e. 2100 individual/l in summer and 727 individual/l in winter, contributing about 76 and 61% population for the respective seasons. The correlation between species and water quality parameters showed that Tintinnopsis sp. abundance was significantly regulated by nitrate concentration, salinity, dissolved oxygen, water transparency and pH. However, the mentioned hydrological parameters were not the only factors regulating the tintinnid abundance. Tintinnid abundance was also found to be positively related with transparency (r = 0.732) and salinity (r = 0.524) and moderately related with dissolved oxygen (r = 0.488) whereas strong negative relation (at p ≤ 0.05) was established between tintinnid abundance with nitrate (r = -0.681) and pH (r = -0.561). Bray-Curtis cluster analysis of tintinnid species showed more than 60% similarity. Shannon's diversity index (H'), Simpson's evenness index (D) and Margalef's species richness index were found to be higher in summer, i.e. 1.61, 0.729 and 1.612, compared to the winter season, i.e. 1.139, 0.597 and 1.268. k-dominance curve showed maximum abundance of Tintinnopsis baltica in winter and Tintinnopsis gracilis in summer. Principal component analysis (PCA) was analysed to find out the environmental variables affecting different tintinnid species diversity. A significant spatiotemporal variation in Tintinnid population distribution was observed from two-way ANOVA. The results reflect significant seasonal (F = 840.0), spatial (F = 47.3) and interactive variation (F = 71.2) among the ciliate microzooplankton at n = 66, p ≤ 0.001. High chlorophyll content and phytoplankton population in summer indicated that tintinnid diversity in the season was positively influenced by producer community in coastal waters of Digha.

Changes in nutrients ratio along the central Bay of Bengal coast and its influence on chlorophyll distribution.

Elemental ratio of nutrients and its influence on chlorophyll a distribution was studied along the central coast of Bay of Bengal using multivariate statistical methods. High chlorophyll concentration was observed during summer (1.81 µg l⁻¹) and premonsoon (1.95 µgl⁻¹), however, it was high in top 20 m during premonsoon season in tandem with high nitrate (N) and silicate (Si) concentration. N:P (phosphate) ratio was less than Redfield ratio (16:1) during all seasons, indicating the Bay of Bengal as nitrate limited and confirmed the results of Principal ComponentAnalysis (PCA) with positive loading and multiple regression analysis showing negative correlation between this ratio and chlorophyll concentration during all seasons. Whereas, N:Si ratio was < 1 and Si:P ratio > 7 in top 20 m during all seasons explained the deficiency of phosphorus and enrichment of silicate in the central Bay of Bengal. Regression analysis between Si:P and N:Si ratios with chlorophyll showed negative correlation during premonsoon and summer respectively. Thus, the present results confirmed that nutrient molar ratios such as N:P<16; Si:P>7 and N:Si<1 was indicative of a potential N and Si limitation and are the primary limiting nutrients in the central Bay of Bengal in determining chlorophyll concentration.

Occult hernias and bilateral endoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: is there a need for prophylactic repair? : Results of endoscopic extraperitoneal repair over a period of 10 years.

BACKGROUND: An advantage of the endoscopic total extraperitoneal approach over the conventional hernia repair is detection of an unsuspected, asymptomatic hernia on the contralateral side. A high incidence of occult contralateral hernias has been reported in the literature. However, few studies have examined the incidence of development of a hernia on the healthy side evaluated previously during an endoscopic unilateral hernia repair. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of development of a contralateral hernia after a previous bilateral exploration. The need for a prophylactic contralateral repair is also addressed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 822 endoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repairs done in 634 patients over a period of 10 years from May 1993 to 2003. Incidence of hernia undetected clinically and during previous contralateral repair was assessed over a follow up period ranging from 10 to 82 months. RESULTS: About 7.97% of bilateral hernias were clinically occult hernias. Only 1.12% of unilateral hernia repairs (who had undergone a contralateral evaluation at surgery) subsequently developed a hernia on the other side. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic approach to inguinal hernia repair is an excellent tool to detect and treat occult contralateral hernias. The incidence of hernia occurring at the contralateral side after a previous bilateral exploration is low, hence a prophylactic repair on the contralateral side is not recommended on a routine basis.

Comparison of some trace elements concentration in blood, tumor free breast and tumor tissues of women with benign and malignant breast lesions: an Indian study.

Fifty women residing in and around New Delhi, India and identified to have benign (25 nos.) and malignant (25 nos.) breast lesions were studied for the first time to access the association between environmental exposure to lead and risk of breast cancer and to determine the potential of changes in trace elements concentration as a diagnostic marker and/or its etiological involvement in the disease. Blood, tumor tissue and breast adipose tissue from tumor free area from each patient of the two groups, collected at the time of lumpectomy or mastectomy (only blood sample was collected from disease free control group), were analyzed to determine the concentration of Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe and Ca using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Blood lead was significantly higher in malignant cases than in those of benign and control (p<0.05 each). Lead level was also higher in tumor tissue when compared with their respective normal tumor free breast tissue, though non-significant, in both benign and malignant cases. Interestingly, Zn, Fe, and Ca levels were higher in blood of malignant cases than in those of their benign counterparts. Furthermore, these metals were also higher in tumor of malignant and benign cases as compared to normal tumor free breast tissue, many of them statistically significant (p<0.05/0.01/0.001). However, Cu level was insignificantly lower in the blood and tumor tissue of malignant cases when compared with their benign counterparts while it was significantly higher (p<0.05) in tumor of benign cases when compared with those of their respective normal tumor free breast tissue. There were statistically significant correlations between lead and trace element levels only in normal tumor free breast tissue of benign and malignant cases (r=0.41-0.73; p<0.05-0.001) but neither in blood nor tumor tissue of the two groups. These results suggest that in the backdrop of existing experimental and epidemiological evidences exposure to lead may be one of the risk factors for breast lesions; though it warrants further investigation. Further, modulation of trace elements level in both benign and malignant breast diseases patients may be of potential to be used as diagnostic marker of the disease process and its possible relationship etiologically.

Biomonitoring of organochlorines in women with benign and malignant breast disease.

Established risk factors for breast cancer explain breast cancer risk only partially. Organochlorines are considered to be a possible cause for hormone-dependent cancers. A hospital-based case-control study, the first from India, was conducted among 50 women undergoing surgery for breast disease to examine the association between organochlorine exposure and breast cancer risk. Blood, tumor, and surrounding adipose tissue of the breast were collected from the subjects with benign (control) and malignant breast (study) lesions and analyzed to determine organochlorine insecticides using a gas-liquid chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The alpha, beta, gamma, and delta isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), o,p'-DDT, p,p-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane were frequently detected in three specimens. Total HCH and total DDT levels were higher in the blood of the study group (25 cases) than in those of the controls (25 cases) with only gamma-HCH being significantly different (P<0.05). However, both total HCH and total DDT were higher in the tumor tissues of the controls than in those of the study group; gamma-HCH was significantly different (P<0.05). The level of total HCH (alpha-HCH was significantly different, P<0.05) was higher in the breast adipose tissue of the study group, whereas total DDT was higher in the breast adipose tissue of the control group. The distribution of known confounders of breast cancer including age, body mass index, age at menarche and menopause, duration of breast feeding, and family history related to breast disease did not differ significantly between benign and malignant groups. This pilot study with limited statistical power does not support a positive association between exposure to organochlorines and risk of breast cancer but paves the way for a larger Indian study with greater statistical power encompassing different regions of the country to enable statistically sound conclusions.

Endoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair of incarcerated inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND: Incarcerated inguinal hernias have been considered a relative contraindication for endoscopic surgery, as its efficacy and safety is as yet unproven. With more experience and improved techniques, management of incarcerated hernias by the endoscopic approach has become possible with decreased patient discomfort and acceptable results. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of Endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal repair in incarcerated inguinal hernias. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 34 patients-admitted under a single surgical unit with chronically incarcerated inguinal hernias-who underwent an elective endoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair. The 6-year period studied was from May 1997 to May 2003. Demographic characteristics, operative details (including modifications in technique and use of drains) and postoperative outcome including analgesic requirements, hospital stay, complications, and time taken to resume normal activity, were evaluated. A comparison was made with the results of 286 endoscopic primary, non-incarcerated, unilateral endoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernia repairs done during the same period. RESULTS: With the help of modified techniques for reduction of the hernial sac, all the patients underwent a successful TEP repair. There were no conversions. The mean operating time was 84.4 min compared to 57 min in the non-incarcerated group. Three-fourths of the patients could be discharged within 24 h. Analgesic requirement was for an average of 5.5 days (vs 4.2 days in the non-incarcerated group). Time taken to resume normal activity was 7.5 days (vs 5.6 days in the non-incarcerated group). Two recurrences occurred. Follow-up period ranged from 13 months to 84 months. CONCLUSIONS: With the help of modifications in operating technique, Endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal repair is feasible and effective in patients with incarcerated inguinal hernias and encompasses the advantages of endoscopic procedures.

Endoscopic total extraperitoneal management of Amyand's hernia.

Presence of an appendix in a hernial sac (Amyand's hernia) is a rare entity, still rarer is an inflamed appendix within the hernial sac. An endoscopic total extraperitoneal repair of a right-sided incarcerated inguinal hernia is described. The inguinal hernial sac contained an inflamed appendix. An associated small incisional hernia at the lower end of a midline suprapubic scar for a Millin's prostatectomy was simultaneously repaired.