Impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on groundwater salinity in Punjab, India: some hydrogeoethics issues.

In the present study, a total of 48 groundwater samples (13 from shallow aquifers depth < 50 m and 35 samples from deep aquifers in the depth range 50-200 m) were collected from three industrial dominant districts (Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Moga) of Punjab after the lockdown period and before the start of southwest monsoon in the month of June, 2020 (pre-monsoon). The values for total dissolved solids (TDS) observed in Monsoon season (August, 2020) and November-December, 2019 (post-monsoon) were compared with the values taken in June, 2020 (pre-monsoon) to see the impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic on groundwater salinity. ~ 60% of samples were found to have TDS values more than acceptable limit (500 mg/l) before lockdown (post-monsoon season of 2019) period and after or during lockdown period (June, 2020) number of samples more than the acceptable limit (500 mg/l) reduced to 45%. Average TDS values reduced by 25% in shallow aquifers after lockdown and area under TDS values in acceptable limit (500 mg/l) increased by 23% of samples as compared to the TDS values found in monsoon season of year 2019. In deeper aquifers, increase of only 3% area under TDS values in acceptable limit of 500 mg/l was found. Reductions in TDS values in shallow aquifers clearly show that there is an urgent need for proper management of salinity causing elements and regulating these to check groundwater contaminations using the holistic and hydro-geoethical approach.

A rule-based method for predicting the electrical activation of the heart with cardiac resynchronization therapy from non-invasive clinical data.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is one of the few effective treatments for heart failure patients with ventricular dyssynchrony. The pacing location of the left ventricle is indicated as a determinant of CRT outcome. OBJECTIVE: Patient specific computational models allow the activation pattern following CRT implant to be predicted and this may be used to optimize CRT lead placement. METHODS: In this study, the effects of heterogeneous cardiac substrate (scar, fast endocardial conduction, slow septal conduction, functional block) on accurately predicting the electrical activation of the LV epicardium were tested to determine the minimal detail required to create a rule based model of cardiac electrophysiology. Non-invasive clinical data (CT or CMR images and 12 lead ECG) from eighteen patients from two centers were used to investigate the models. RESULTS: Validation with invasive electro-anatomical mapping data identified that computer models with fast endocardial conduction were able to predict the electrical activation with a mean distance errors of 9.2 ±â€¯0.5 mm (CMR data) or (CT data) 7.5 ±â€¯0.7 mm. CONCLUSION: This study identified a simple rule-based fast endocardial conduction model, built using non-invasive clinical data that can be used to rapidly and robustly predict the electrical activation of the heart. Pre-procedural prediction of the latest electrically activating region to identify the optimal LV pacing site could potentially be a useful clinical planning tool for CRT procedures.

Epidemiology of dependence on illicit substances, with a special focus on opioid dependence, in the State of Punjab, India: Results from two different yet complementary survey methods.

BACKGROUND: We used two different yet complementary methods to capture the 'hidden population' of illicit substance users in the state of Punjab, India: Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) and Punjab Drug Use Monitoring Survey (P-DUMS). METHODOLOGY: For the RAS component, following a pilot study, Respondent Driven Sampling was used to recruit 6600 community-dwelling substance dependent persons aged 11-60 years from all the 22 districts of Punjab. Size was estimated using benchmark-multiplier method, and prevalence was calculated by projecting these data to the source population. For the P-DUMS component, data were collected on 7421 inpatients from 75 government de-addiction centres from 19 districts of Punjab. RESULTS: Subjects In both RAS and P-DUMS were primarily opioid dependent (88% in RAS and 83% in P-DUMS). Heroin (inhaled/injected) emerged as the commonest opioid in both RAS (46%) and P-DUMS (52%), though 30.5% of the RAS sample also used the prescription opioid tramadol. Using the benchmark-multiplier method, 0.27 million (2.5% of the source population) were estimated to be opioid dependent, of which nearly 78,000 (0.7% of the source population) were injecting opioid users (IDUs), predominantly heroin (62%) but also buprenorphine (32.5%). High-risk behaviour was reported by nearly 60% of IDUs. Only 14% of the RAS sample had ever visited any de-addiction centre, and only 2.8% individuals had been admitted to a de-addiction centre in the past year. CONCLUSION: There is a substantive problem of opioid dependence in this difficult-to-reach population of Punjab, with low treatment access. Misuse of prescription opioids along with IDU also raises concern.

Epidemiology of substance use and dependence in the state of Punjab, India: Results of a household survey on a statewide representative sample.

BACKGROUND: Despite its political sensitivity, little scientifically valid evidence on the prevalence, pattern and treatment need of substance use in the northern border state of Punjab, India is available till date. METHODOLOGY: The 'universe' for the survey was the entire house-dwelling population of Punjab, of both genders, aged 11-60 years. Stratified multistage sampling technique was used. Following a pilot study, data were collected by trained research workers by face-to-face interview using pre-tested survey instruments. RESULTS: From 6398 households, 13,925 respondents were interviewed. Prevalence of lifetime and current (12 month) dependence on any substance were 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.1-16.4%) and 14.7% (95% CI 14.1-15.3%) respectively. Of the specific substances, current dependence was the highest on alcohol (10.9%; 95% CI 10.3-11.4%), followed by tobacco (8.1%; 95% CI 7.7-8.6%). Regarding opioids, lifetime use was 1.9% (95% CI 1.6-2.1%) and current dependence 0.8% (95%CI 0.7-1.0%). Use of and dependence on natural opioids was the highest. After projecting these figures to the entire source population of the state, number of currently dependent alcohol, tobacco and opioid users were 2.2, 1.6, and 0.17 million, respectively. Overall, substance use was predominant in men and significantly more common in rural areas. Majority (81%) of the tobacco users, and 51% each of alcohol and opioid users needed intervention. However, merely one in six subjects sought any professional help. CONCLUSION: Punjab has a substantive problem related to substance use. Though alcohol and tobacco are by far the major substances of use and dependence, the large number of opioid users also raises concern. Treatment services need scaling-up.

Diagnosis of frontal meningioma presenting with psychiatric symptoms.

The frontal lobes of the brain are notoriously "silent": Benign tumors such as meningiomas that compress the frontal lobes from the outside may not produce any symptoms other than progressive change of personality and intellect until they are large. We present two cases with symptoms suggestive of depressive episodes, which on further investigations showed space occupying lesions suggestive of frontal meningiomas.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Drug De-addiction Centres (DDCs) in Punjab (Northern India).

BACKGROUND: Drug addiction is on the rise in Punjab,India. There are 15 DDCs which are supported by the Indian Red Cross Society. There is alleged mushrooming of private Drug De-addiction Centres (DDCs) in the smaller towns, villages and cities of Punjab. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate DDCs in Punjab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 DDCs were included in the study and scheduled visits were made to collect data by using a pre-tested questionnaire. RESULTS: The duration of treatment was 1 month at the Red Cross DDCs and it was approximately 6 months at private DDCs. The staff at the private DDCs were inadequate. The major drugs which were abused by patients were Propoxyphene, Alcohol, Bhukki and Cannabis. Patients were usually referred to the DDCs either by family members (35.3%) or social workers (29.8%). About 72.5% of patients were married, 36.3% had passed 10th standard and 54.4% were employed. A majority dropped out of the DDCs due to personal reasons and lack of family support. On comparison, more patients were found to be treated at Red Cross centres (75.3%) than at private centres (65.8%). All DDCs had conducted regular sessions of individual, group and family counseling for patients. Red Cross DDCs ensured that ex-clients received follow-ups and home visits. More patients were satisfied with the services which were provided by the Red Cross DDCs. On the contrary, more patients at the private DDCs complained about harassment fromstaff personnel (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: It is recommended that all DDCs should be checked regularly, and that the private centres should be provided with additional support from the government, to help run them more efficiently.

Methane emission from rice fields in relation to management of irrigation water.

A field experiment was conducted for two years to find out best water management practice to mitigate methane emission from the rice-fields. Continuously flooded conditions yielded two major flushes of methane emission and on an average resulted in relatively higher rate of methane emission (2.20 and 1.30 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) during the kharif season. The methane flux was reduced to half (1.02 and 0.47 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) when rice fields were irrigated 2-3 days after infiltration of flood water into the soil. Irrigating the field at 0.15 bar matric potential reduced seasonal methane flux by 60% (0.99 and 0.41 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) as compared to completely flooded conditions, without any decline in grain yield (60 q ha(-1)).

Suitability of village pond waters for irrigation-a case study from district Ludhiana, India.

The village ponds were used for storing rainwater for animals and recharging of underground water. Recent developments like public water supply for household purpose, provision of household wastewater concrete channels, and toilet septic tanks have polluted the village ponds. The infiltration of water has decreased due to non-cleaning of silt from the pond beds. Increased discharge of wastewater from households, coupled with a low infiltration rate, has inundated these ponds. People have abandoned the use of this water for animals. An effort has been made to assess the suitability of this water for irrigation in the vicinity so as to clean these ponds. Seventy-eight water samples were collected from the village ponds in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. The samples were analyzed for total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), nitrogen, water soluble P and K, as well as micronutrients and pollutant elements. The total solids content of these waters were on the higher side. Considering TSS, BOD, and COD, some of these waters are unsafe for their disposal in river or water bodies. Electrical conductivity ranged from 693 to 5050 µmhos/cm, and RSC varied between -1.9 and 22.8 meq/l. The inorganic N (NH+4+ NO-3-N) and total Kjeldahl N ranged from 3 to 30 and 8 to 41 mg/l, respectively. The amount of micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn) present in pond water indicated its high nutrient value. The content of the pollutant elements such as nickel, cadmium, and lead was below the maximum permissible limits, thereby indicating its suitability for irrigation. According to the EC and RSC criteria, 18% of the samples were fit, 31% were marginal, and 51% were unfit for irrigation. The data indicate that these waters are a good source of nutrients for agriculture.

Effect of organic materials and rice cultivars on methane emission from rice field.

A field experiment was conducted for two years on a sandy loam (Typic Ustochrept) soil of Punjab to study the effect of organic materials and rice cultivars on methane emission from rice fields. The methane flux varied between 0.04 and 0.93 mg m(-2) hr(-1) in bare soil and transplanting of rice crop doubled the methane flux (0.07 to 2.06 mg m(-2) hr(-1)). Among rice cultivars, significantly (p < 0.05) higher amount of methane was emitted from Pusa 44 compared to PR 118 and PR 111. Application of organic materials enhanced methane emission from rice fields and resulted in increased soil organic carbon content. The greatest seasonal methane flux was observed in wheat straw amended plots (229.6 kg ha(-1)) followed by farmyard manure (111.6 kg ha(-1)), green manure (85.4 kg ha(-1)) and the least from rice straw compost amended plots (36.9 kg ha(-1)) as compared to control (21.5 kg ha(-1)). The differential effect of organic materials in enhancing methane flux was related to total carbon or C:N ratio of the material. The results showed that incorporation of humified organic matter such as rice straw compost could minimize methane emission from rice fields with co-benefits of increased soil fertility and crop productivity.

Isolation and characterisation of phosphate solubilising microorganisms from the cold desert habitat of Salix alba Linn. in trans Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh.

Phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) (bacteria and fungi) associated with Salix alba Linn. from Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh were isolated on Pikovskaya (PVK), modified Pikovskaya (MPVK) and National Botanical Research Institute agar (NBRIP) media by spread plating. The viable colony count of P-solubilising bacteria (PSB) and fungi (PSF) was higher in rhizosphere than that of non-rhizosphere. The frequency of PSM was highest on MPVK followed by NBRIP and PVK agar. The maximum proportion of PSM out of total bacterial and fungal count was found in upper Keylong while the least in Rong Tong. The PSB frequently were Gram-positive, endosporeforming, motile rods and belonged to Bacillus sp. The PSF mainly belonged to Penicillium sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. spp. and non-sporulating sterile. Amongst the isolates with high efficiency for tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilisation, seven bacterial and seven fungal isolates dissolved higher amount of P from North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP) than Mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) and Udaipur rock phosphate (URP). However, the organisms solubilised higher-P in NBRIP broth than PVK broth. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) bacterial isolates exhibited maximun P solubilisation (40 and 33 µg ml(-1) respectively) whereas FC28 (Penicillium sp.) isolate (52.3 µg ml(-1)) amongst fungi while solubilising URP. The amount of P solubilised was positively correlated with the decrease in pH of medium. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.), SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC4 (Micrococcus) decreased the pH of medium from 6.8 to 6.08 while FC28 (Penicillium sp.) and FC39 (Penicillium sp.) isolates of fungi recorded maximum decrease in pH of medium from 6.8 to 5.96 in NBRIP broth.

Isolated tubercular splenic abscess.

Splenic abscess due to tuberculosis is extremely rare in immunocompetent individuals. We report a case of tubercular splenic abscess (TSA) in an immunocompetent individual for its rarity.

Tension-free open mesh repair of ventral hernias--Stoppa's technique.

Tension-free prosthetic mesh repair of giant, complex, or recurrent ventral hernias in the form of a modified Stoppa technique has been used in 60 cases. Complication rate has been comparable with other such studies. In obese patients with a pendulous anterior abdominal wall, limited panniculectomy was carried out while repairing the hernia through a low transverse abdominal incision. None of the patients required a progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum. The incidence of wound infection was 5%. One patient had a wound hematoma that required evacuation; minor wound complications occurred in 11% cases. The hospital stay ranged from 1 to 6 weeks (mean, 10.3 days). One case required readmission for resuturing of the wound. None of the cases required removal of the mesh. There was no recurrence at follow-up (mean, 26 months) in 80% of the cases. This technique is an excellent but somewhat tedious procedure.

Chemotherapeutic evaluation of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide-O-glucuronide in the rat mammary tumor model.

The growth inhibitory effects of N-(4- Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) and its glucuronide derivative, N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide-O-glucuronide (4-HPROG) on established DMBA induced rat mammary tumors were compared. The results indicate that the glucuronide analog had a greater antitumor potency than equimolar concentration of the free retinoid. Tumor regression occurred in 75% of the rats fed 2 mmol/Kg diet of 4-HPROG. In a 6-week study, the maximum tolerated dietary dose (MTD) was found to be 3.5 mmol/Kg diet for 4-HPR and 5 mmol/Kg diet in the case of 4-HPROG. The higher potency and lower toxicity of the glucuronide suggests that this conjugate may have an in vivo chemotherapeutic advantage over the parent free retinoid.

Perforation of small intestine caused by Churg-Strauss syndrome.

In Churug-Strauss Syndrome (CSS), gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is an uncommon site of involvement. In addition to review of recent literature, we herein report a case of CSS with unusual involvement of GIT. The patient was being treated for idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome for 2 years; he later developed acute peritonitis and an emergency laparotomy revealed 3-cm-diameter perforation in the small intestine. In order to establish a correlation between the clinical features and the histopathological findings, we highlight the importance of adequate sampling and examination of mesenteric vessels in the attached mesentry in the resected specimen.

Comparative evaluation of intramuscular buprenorphine, pentazocine and nefopam in post-operative pain relief.

In immediate postoperative period, many injectable analgesics are being used with diverse side effects. The present study was conducted on 75 patients of both sexes, who underwent various types of surgery, to evaluate pain relief in immediate postoperative period. The drugs used for producing postoperative analgesia are buprenorphine, pentazocine and nefopam, all by intramuscular route.