Tea Industry of India: The Cup that Cheers has Tears

Indian tea has virtually lost all global markets because it continues to be traded as a commodity. The much talked about value addition is limited and rather late. Only the markets that have consumers with shallow pockets buy tea as a commodity and that share is fast depleting. The industry needs to be competitive in production, marketing, logistics and product forms. India, despite being a large producer of tea, lacks properly organized production systems in which small tea producers find a respectable place. The industry must have access to capital at globally competitive rates. The subsidies in any form are undesirable. The Indian tea industry must face the market realities, redefine its business strategies and reposition its products. The first step in that direction is a complete restructuring of the tea industry, redefining the roles of various agencies like the Tea Board and Producers’ organizations, and developing a healthy partnership with the labour. There are the problems of market access and discriminatory treatments through non-tariff trade barriers such as maximum residual limits (MRL) and social clause.

Issues in Infrastructure for Export of Rice from India

Rice is exported in two varieties, basmati (aromatic) and non-basmati. The basmati rice exports are in three categories: white, brown and parboiled. India earned Rs 18.4 billion in 2001-02 from exports of basmati rice and non-basmati rice contributed Rs 13.3 billion for the same period. This paper focuses on promoting rice exports, for which infrastructural and policy requirements are discussed.

Atrial fibrillation in Middle Eastern Arabs and South Asians: a scoping review

Most of the published literature on Atrial fibrillation (AF) originates from the northern hemisphere and mainly involves Caucasian patients, with limited studies in certain ethnicities and races. This scoping review was conducted to collect and summarize the pertinent evidence from the published scientific literature on AF in South Asians and Middle Eastern Arabs. MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL databases were included in our search. After screening 8995 records, 55 studies were selected; 42 from the Middle East and 13 from South Asia. Characteristics of the included studies were tabulated, and their data were summarized for study design, setting, enrolment period, sample size, demographics, prevalence or incidence of AF, comorbidities, risk factors, AF types and symptoms, management, outcomes, and risk determinants. Identified literature gaps included a paucity of community or population-based studies that are representative of these two ethnicities/races. In addition, studies that addressed ethnic/racial in-equality and access to treatment were lacking. Our study underscores the urgent need to study cardiovascular disorders, particularly AF, in South Asians and Middle Eastern Arabs as well as in other less represented ethnicities and races

Comparison of the accuracy of 2D and 3D templating methods for planning primary total hip replacement : a systematic review and meta-analysis

There are advocates of both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) templating methods for planning total hip replacement. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of implant size prediction when using 2D and 3D templating methods for total hip arthroplasty, as well as to compare the inter- and intra-observer reliability in order to determine whether currently available methods are sufficiently reliable and reproducible. Medline, EMBASE and PubMed were searched to identify studies that compared the accuracy of 2D and 3D templating for total hip replacement. Results were screened using the PRISMA flowchart and included studies were assessed for their level of evidence using the Oxford CEBM criteria. Non-randomized trials were critically appraised using the MINORS tool, whilst randomized trials were assessed using the CASP RCT checklist. A series of meta-analyses of the data for accuracy were also conducted. Ten studies reported that 3D templating is an accurate and reliable method of templating for total hip replacement. Six studies compared 3D templating with 2D templating, all of which concluded that 3D templating was more accurate, with three finding a statistically significant difference. The meta-analyses showed that 3D CT templating is the most accurate method. This review supports the hypothesis that 3D templating is an accurate and reliable method of preoperative planning, which is more accurate than 2D templating for predicting implant size. However, further research is needed to ascertain the significance of this improved accuracy and whether it will yield any clinical benefit

The effect of Nickel hypersensitivity on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty and the value of skin patch testing: a systematic review

BackgroundTo assess the Nickel sensitizing potential of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), explore the relationship between hypersensitivity and clinical outcomes, and evaluate the utility of skin patch testing pre- and/or postoperatively.Materials and methodsA literature search was performed through EMBASE, Medline and PubMed databases. Articles were screened independently by two investigators. The level of evidence of studies was assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Criteria and the quality evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies and Cochrane risk-of-bias tools.ResultsTwenty studies met the eligibility criteria, reporting on 1354 knee arthroplasties. Studies included patients undergoing primary or revision TKA, pre- and/or postoperatively, and used patch testing to identify Nickel hypersensitivity. Prevalence of Nickel hypersensitivity ranged from 0% to 87.5%. One study compared the prevalence of Nickel hypersensitivity in the same patient group before and after surgery and noted newly positive patch test reactions in three patients (4.2%). Three studies reported lower prevalence of Nickel hypersensitivity in postoperative patients compared to preoperative ones. Seven studies suggested that hypersensitivity might cause adverse clinical outcomes, but six did not support any relationship. Seven studies recommended preoperative patch testing in patients with history of metal allergy, and nine concluded that testing may be valuable postoperatively.ConclusionsPatients undergoing TKA with no prior history of metal hypersensitivity do not seem to be at an increased risk of developing Nickel hypersensitivity, and there is conflicting evidence that patients with pre-existing hypersensitivity are more likely to experience adverse outcomes. Patch testing remains the most commonly used method for diagnosing hypersensitivity, and evidence suggests preoperative testing in patients with history of metal allergy to aid prosthesis selection, and postoperatively in patients with suspected hypersensitivity once common causes of implant failure have been excluded, since revision with hypoallergenic implants may alleviate symptoms

Research and Publications Issues in Infrastructure for Export of Rice from India

The main objective of the working paper series of the IIMA is to help faculty members, research staff and doctoral students to speedily share their research findings with professional colleagues and test their research findings at the pre-publication stage. IIMA is committed to maintain academic freedom. The opinion(s), view(s) and conclusion(s) expressed in the working paper are those of the authors and not that of IIMA

A novel way to reconstruct the neglected achilles tendon rupture

Neglected (chronic) rupture of the Achilles tendon is an uncommon injury, for which the optimal treatment is operative repair.9 Despite many repair techniques for the condition having been described, the current literature does not allow clinicians to definitively determine the optimal operative technique for successful tendon repair.5 The various turndown flaps that may be utilized in the repair of a chronically ruptured Achilles tendon have been summarized in the literature,7,11 and modified techniques continue to evolve.2 In 1959, Lindholm 10 described a technique to augment Achilles tendon repair by turndown of the gastrocnemius fascia. This repair is bulky and can cause discomfort for the patient. In this article, we describe a novel technique that eliminates the bulk by incorporating a free flap interpositional graft to the Achilles tendon defect. Early data suggest that our technique provides an excellent clinical result.Vipin Asopa, Robert J. Douglas, and James J. Clayto

The effects of age and cell isolation on collagen II synthesis by articular chondrocytes: evidence for transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation

Adult articular cartilage synthesises very little type II collagen in comparison to young cartilage. The age-related difference in collagen II synthesis is poorly understood. This is the first systematic investigation of age-related differences in extracellular matrix synthesis in fresh articular cartilage and following isolation of chondrocytes. A histological comparison of 3-year-old skeletally mature and 6-month-old juvenile porcine cartilage was made. Differences in collagen II, aggrecan, and Sox5, 6, and 9 mRNA and protein expression and mRNA stability were measured. Adult cartilage was found to be thinner than juvenile cartilage but with similar chondrocyte density. Procollagen α1(II) and Sox9 mRNA levels were 10-fold and 3-fold reduced in adult cartilage. Sox9 protein was halved and collagen II protein synthesis was almost undetectable and calculated to be at least 30-fold reduced. Aggrecan expression did not differ. Isolation of chondrocytes caused a drop in procollagen α1(II) and Sox9 mRNA in both adult and juvenile cells along with a marked reduction in Sox9 mRNA stability. Interestingly, juvenile chondrocytes continued to synthesise collagen II protein with mRNA levels similar to those seen in adult articular cartilage. Age-related differences in collagen II protein synthesis are due to both transcriptional and posttranscription regulation. A better understanding of these regulatory mechanisms would be an important step in improving current cartilage regeneration techniques