Projected Trends in Climate Extremes in the Passaic River Basin Based on Bias-Corrected and Spatially Downscaled Global Climate Model Simulations

Global Climate Models (GCMs) are increasingly becoming useful tools for predicting future climatic changes. These GCMs typically employ large spatial scales while municipalities may experience varied impacts at the local level. By downscaling and bias-correcting GCM outputs, more accurate predictions concerning specific regions can be made. The Multivariate Adaptive Constructed Analogs (MACA) models provide daily precipitation and temperature information for point localities by modifying coarse resolution data from GCMs to a higher spatial resolution. In this study, trends in climate extremes over the Passaic River Basin (PRB) between 1981-2005 are estimated based on three MACA models (bcc-csm1-1m, CCSM4, and MRI-CGCM3). The historical trends obtained from the MACA models are validated using an observational dataset and further corrected for bias, and then projected trends for 2051-2075 relative to the 1981-2005 investigated. The models are united in their expectations of a decrease in very cold nights, ranging from -0.05% to -0.25%. Warm nights show slightly less agreement; while bcc-csm1-1m and MRI-CGCM3 see an increase ranging from 0.05% to 0.18%, CCSM4 sees a decrease of 0.075% for RCP 8.5. Consecutive dry days decrease by up to 3 days between CCSM4 and MRI-CGCM3, whereas bcc-csm1-1m only shows an increase in CDD for scenario RCP 8.5. Rainy days also increase per model from 1-3 days except for bcc-csm1-1m, which sees a decrease by 1 day. The 95th percentile of (or extreme) precipitation also sees almost universal increase ranging from 25% to 80% except for MRI-CGCM3, which projects a slight decrease of the extreme at only -5%. This analysis presents a unique opportunity to glimpse at the projected changes in the PRB with regards to the impacts of climate change

Nation, Science and Religion in Nehru’s Discovery of India

Nation, Science and Religion in Nehru’s Discovery of Indi

Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the commonest inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder of newborn infants, occurring primarily in premature neonates. Presenting as a medical and surgical emergency, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. NEC is characterized by acute intestinal inflammation and necrosis with intramural dissection of gas, pathognomically appearing as pneumatosis intestinalis on radiography. The incidence and mortality, with an inverse relationship to maturation, range between 3–11% and 17–20% respectively. Mortality may be up to 50% in extremely premature infants who require surgery for intestinal perforation or gangrene. The exact etiopathogenesis is unknown. Over 90% of infants are premature and more than 98% are enterally fed. NEC presents with feeding intolerance and abdominal distension, which may rapidly progress to cardiorespiratory decompensation and death in severe cases. Intestinal dysbiosis and its functional and immunological immaturity are proposed to play roles in the pathogenesis. While exact triggers are undetermined, the disease is marked by an anomalous immunological response of enterocytes to inflammation, invoking cytokines and chemokines. NEC is treated with bowel rest, antibiotics, cardiorespiratory support, parenteral nutrition, and blood products transfusion. Approximately 30% of cases require surgery and a significant number of survivors suffer from neurological deficits, intestinal dysfunction, and post surgical short bowel syndrome

Painless labour: attitude and awareness amongst pregnant women

Background: Labour pain has been described as most severe pain experienced by a female. Labour analgesia is widely practiced in developed countries. Many labour analgesic methods have been introduced to make delivery a pleasurable moment in a women’s life.Methods: This prospective study was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India after getting permission from institute ethical committee. 100 pregnant females attending the antenatal clinic were interviewed in their mother language. Information was collected on a questionnaire after an informed consent. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, desire and acceptability of pregnant women regarding painless labour.Results: The mean age of the women in the study was 24.98years.56% of women in the study were primigravida whereas 44% were multigravida.66% women belonged to urban area while 34% were from rural area. 10% were illiterate, 35% were educated upto secondary education and 55% were having higher education. Only 24% of the women were having knowledge about painless labour however 87% female were having positive attitude towards epidural analgesia. The correlation between the educational status and knowledge about painless labour was not statistically significant (p0.949). The knowledge and attitude of women regarding painless labour was statistically significant with p value of 0.00001.Conclusions: There is lack of knowledge about labour analgesia among women. Obstetrician and anaesthetist should educate women regarding painless labour. Labour analgesia is standard of care in obstetrics and should be provided to all parturient

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF SPENT CHILLI AND SPENT CUMIN OBTAINED AFTER OLEORESIN EXTRACTION

Objective: Chilli spent residue (CHSR) and Cumin spent residue (CSR) obtained after oleoresin extraction is known to be rich in polyphenols, however, the very limited commercial application is known except for its use as veterinary feeds. Considering that a huge residue is left over by oleoresin spice industry, application-oriented utilization of spent residue of chilli and cumin is warranted. In these lines, we in this study evaluate the antioxidant potential of Chilli spent residue (CHSR) and Cumin spent residue (CSR) obtained after oleoresin extraction by DPPH method.Methods: In vitro radical scavenging activity of CHSR and CSR obtained after oleoresin extraction was evaluated by checking its role in scavenging DPPH.Results: The spent chilli extract exhibited higher DPPH scavenging activity when compared to the spent cumin and the IC50 values of spent chilli; spent cumin and ascorbic acid were found to be 186.23±1.05 µg/ml, 284±1.03 µg/ml and 33.21±1.04, respectively. As CHSR and CSR obtained after oleoresin extraction is known to be rich in polyphenols, these might be responsible for potent and significant antioxidant activity observed.Conclusion: This study shows that by-products obtained/generated in oleoresin industry can be utilized as value added product. Future work will be interesting to know the chemical composition and better understand the mechanism of action of the antioxidants present in the extract for development as a drug for therapeutic application.Â

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and other Non-Communicable Diseases: Time for an Integrated Approach

Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a broad term covering a spectrum of conditions ranging from hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. NAFLD is highly prevalent across all regions of the world with its global prevalence of 25.2%(95%CI:22.1-28.7). It is commonly referred as the ‘hepatic manifestation’ of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Moreover, it is strongly associated with the individual components as well as MetS as a whole. NAFLD has been independently associated with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like chronic kidney disease (CKD), Polycystic ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Stroke and Cancers. This strong association of NCDs with NAFLD not only affects the prevalence but also the progression and management of the disease. Thus, this review aims at highlighting the association of NAFLD with other NCDs. A literature search was undertaken in the MEDLINE database using the necessary MeSH terms. The review concludes NAFLD is a systemic disease, not just confined to liver-specific morbidity and mortality, but also associated with numerous extra-hepatic manifestations, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal diseases, and malignancy. With co-existence of NAFLD with various NCDs it is expected to become the most overwhelming liver disease in the world in coming years. Hence, to reduce medical and economic impact associated with these comorbidities, it is recommended that all countries should estimate and predict the burden on comorbidities associated with NAFLD and galvanize its health resources in providing integrated therapeutic approaches for management of NAFLD and related comorbidities at an early stage

In Vitro Conservation of Twenty-Three Overexploited Medicinal Plants Belonging to the Indian Sub Continent

Twenty-three pharmaceutically important plants, namely, Elaeocarpus spharicus, Rheum emodi, Indigofera tinctoria, Picrorrhiza kurroa, Bergenia ciliata, Lavandula officinalis, Valeriana wallichii, Coleus forskohlii, Gentiana kurroo, Saussurea lappa, Stevia rebaudiana, Acorus calamus, Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium, Aloe vera, Bacopa monnieri, Salvia sclarea, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Swertia cordata, Psoralea corylifolia, Jurinea mollis, Ocimum sanctum, Paris polyphylla, and Papaver somniferum, which are at the verge of being endangered due to their overexploitation and collection from the wild, were successfully established in vitro. Collections were made from the different biodiversity zones of India including Western Himalaya, Northeast Himalaya, Gangetic plain, Western Ghats, Semiarid Zone, and Central Highlands. Aseptic cultures were raised at the morphogenic level of callus, suspension, axillary shoot, multiple shoot, and rooted plants. Synseeds were also produced from highly proliferating shoot cultures of Bacopa monnieri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Stevia rebaudiana, Valeriana wallichii, Gentiana kurroo, Lavandula officinalis, and Papaver somniferum. In vitro flowering was observed in Papaver somniferum, Psoralea corylifolia, and Ocimum sanctum shoots cultures. Out of 23 plants, 18 plants were successfully hardened under glasshouse conditions

A Tale of 5Ms: Massive Uterine Leiomyoma Mimicking Ovarian Malignancy along with Multiple Fibroids Displaying Multiple Degenerations

Background: Leiomyomas are by far the commonest uterine neoplasms in the female reproductive age group. Giant leiomyomas are quite scarce and when longstanding tend to undergo various degenerations owing to decreased blood supply which on imaging may simulate malignancy owing to compromised blood supply and may simulate malignancy on imaging.Case Presentation: We present a case of a 48-year-old post-menopausal multiparous woman complaining of intermittent lower abdominal pain for a month. Suspected as an ovarian tumor clinically and on ultrasound, this was seconded by raised serum CA125 levels. Histopathological examination gave a definitive diagnosis of a giant uterine leiomyoma along with multiple fibroids exhibiting multiple degenerations.Conclusion: Degenerated leiomyomas can masquerade malignancy and hence should be one of the first differentials in women of reproductive age group presenting with complex abdominopelvic masses