In vitro propagation of Lesser Galangal (Alpinia calcarata Rosc.) - a commercially important medicinal plant through rhizome bud culture

An efficient protocol has been established for clonal propagation of Alpinia calcarata, a commercially important medicinal plant on Murashige and Skooge medium usingrhizome bud explants. Of the different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) andBAP in combination with different levels of kinetin, the best response of axillary shootproliferation was achieved in a combination of 1.5 mg/l of kinetin in combination with 0.5mg/l of BAP producing 13.6 shoots per explant in 6-8 weeks of culture followed by 2 mg/lkinetin and 0.5 mg/l BAP with an average of 6.2 shoot buds from each of the explants.Rooting of the shoots also occurred in the same medium in 3 weeks of subculture. Shootstransferred to half strength MS medium with 0.5 mg/l IBA was optimum for healthyrooting. The healthy in vitro rooted plants were hardened on plastic cups in sterile sand andwere transferred to pots containing potting mixture under green house conditions for 3-4weeks for acclimatization. The survival rate was 87-90% and the plants established well inthe field and developed rhizomes after 4-6 weeks of growth under shade house. Thisprotocol proves its utility for rapid propagation of A. calcarata, which can be exploited forpharmaceutical and commercial purpose

In vitro regeneration of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennell) - an important medicinal herb through nodal segment culture

An efficient and cost effective in vitro plant regeneration protocol through nodalsegment culture was achieved in the medicinally important herb Bacopa monnieri (L.)Pennell, the Memory Plus plant through axillary shoot proliferation in Murashige and Skooge medium augmented with varying concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP)1 - 5 mg/l. BAP at 2 mg/l was the most effective in multiple shoot induction and mean number of leaves, which gave an average of 17 shoots and 31.11 leaves, compared toother concentrations of the hormone tried in 35 days of culture. Regarding mean shoot length and number of nodes, basal MS giving 2.66 cm long shoots with 7.44 nodes is thebest. MS basal medium, even though not promoting shoot multiplication, gave highershoot length with elongated internodes. Healthy rooting of the in vitro developed shootswas achieved in half and full strength MS basal solid medium without the addition ofany hormones. The healthy and vigorous in vitro regenerated micro shoots wereseparated out and were hardened on transfer to plastic cups with sterile soil and sandand were successfully acclimatized ex vitro in pots with potting mixture under greenhouse conditions for 3 weeks. The survival rate was 100% and the plants establishedwell in green house resembled the mother plants in habitat without any morphological variations. The very simple and cost effective protocol developed can be used to produceelite stable clones for en masse propagation for the large-scale cultivation of this very important medicinal herb

Farmers' Perceptions of the Effects of Plant Diseases on the Yield and Nutritive Value of Crop Residues used for Peri-Urban Dairy Production on the Deccan Plateau: Findings from Participatory Rural Appraisals

Plant diseases influence the quantity and quality of groundnut and sorghum crop residues used as fodder for ruminants. The present socio-economic study assessed farmers' perceptions, their awareness, and the relative importance and impact of plant diseases in farmers' livelihood systems. Case studies were carried out in four villages in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the Deccan Plateau with the help of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques. The results from PRAs suggest that sorghum and groundnut crop residues constitute a major source of fodder, and predominantly provide 'feed security' to the ruminants during summer, as few alternatives are available to farmers in dryland areas. The problem of foliar diseases cannot be viewed in isolation, as farmers' concerns are more on the cumulative effects of pests and diseases. Farmers believe that diseases reduce the quality of crop residues that leads to feed refusal by, and poor health of ruminants. The effects on the quality of crop residues are more seriously perceived in groundnut as farmers report 50% losses in foliage and fodder yield. In sorghum, the perceived losses are 10-30%, but low price offered by traders for disease-affected fodder reduce earnings of the poor from fodder sale. Commercial markets exist for fodder transactions of sorghum stover while no such markets are reported for groundnut crop residues. The poor are the link to the sorghum fodder market. Therefore, validation of fodder-related technologies through the poor is necessary to increase cash incomes from fodder sale. Genetic improvement of feed-quality of crop residues without compromising on essential yield traits is critical for farmers' acceptance of new sorghum and groundnut varieties. Research on inexpensive and easy-to-use pest and disease management options is necessary to improve the quantity and quality of crop residues of sorghum and groundnut

Neurotrauma clinicians' perspectives on the contextual challenges associated with long-term follow-up following traumatic brain injury in low-income and middle-income countries: a qualitative study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health concern; however, low/middle-income countries (LMICs) face the greatest burden. The WHO recognises the significant differences between patient outcomes following injuries in high-income countries versus those in LMICs. Outcome data are not reliably recorded in LMICs and despite improved injury surveillance data, data on disability and long-term functional outcomes remain poorly recorded. Therefore, the full picture of outcome post-TBI in LMICs is largely unknown. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a cross-sectional pragmatic qualitative study using individual semistructured interviews with clinicians who have experience of neurotrauma in LMICs. The aim of this study is to understand the contextual challenges associated with long-term follow-up of patients following TBI in LMICs. For the purpose of the study, we define 'long-term' as any data collected following discharge from hospital. We aim to conduct individual semistructured interviews with 24-48 neurosurgeons, beginning February 2020. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed verbatim. A reflexive thematic analysis will be conducted supported by NVivo software. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee approved this study in February 2020. Ethical issues within this study include consent, confidentiality and anonymity, and data protection. Participants will provide informed consent and their contributions will be kept confidential. Participants will be free to withdraw at any time without penalty; however, their interview data can only be withdrawn up to 1 week after data collection. Findings generated from the study will be shared with relevant stakeholders such as the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and disseminated in conference presentations and journal publications

प्रवाल भित्ति पर जलवायु परिवर्तन का प्रभाव

प्रवाल भित्ति पर जलवायु परिवर्तन का प्रभा

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among the tribal populations in India

IMPORTANCE: There is no concrete evidence on the burden of TB among the tribal populations across India except for few studies mainly conducted in Central India with a pooled estimation of 703/100,000 with a high degree of heterogeneity. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of TB among the tribal populations in India. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, SETTING: A survey using a multistage cluster sampling design was conducted between April 2015 and March 2020 covering 88 villages (clusters) from districts with over 70% tribal majority populations in 17 States across 6 zones of India. The sample populations included individuals ≥15 years old. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Eligible participants who were screened through an interview for symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB (PTB); Two sputum specimens were examined by smear and culture. Prevalence was estimated after multiple imputations for non-coverage and a correction factor of 1.31 was then applied to account for non-inclusion of X-ray screening. RESULTS: A total of 74532 (81.0%) of the 92038 eligible individuals were screened; 2675 (3.6%) were found to have TB symptoms or h/o ATT. The overall prevalence of PTB was 432 per 100,000 populations. The PTB prevalence per 100,000 populations was highest 625 [95% CI: 496–754] in the central zone and least 153 [95% CI: 24–281] in the west zone. Among the 17 states that were covered in this study, Odisha recorded the highest prevalence of 803 [95% CI: 504–1101] and Jammu and Kashmir the lowest 127 [95% CI: 0–310] per 100,000 populations. Findings from multiple logistic regression analysis reflected that those aged 35 years and above, with BMI <18.5 Kgs /m(2), h/o ATT, smoking, and/or consuming alcohol had a higher risk of bacteriologically positive PTB. Weight loss was relatively more important symptom associated with tuberculosis among this tribal populations followed by night sweats, blood in sputum, and fever. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The overall prevalence of PTB among tribal groups is higher than the general populations with a wide variation of prevalence of PTB among the tribal groups at zone and state levels. These findings call for strengthening of the TB control efforts in tribal areas to reduce TB prevalence through tribal community/site-specific intervention programs

Case Report - Tuberculous osteitis of clivus

Tuberculous osteitis of clivus is rare. Its diagnosis is difficult because of the rarity of the site and the non-specific nature of the disease. Management consists of confirmation of diagnosis by biopsy and chemotherapy with anti-tubercular drugs. Meningitis may complicate the clinical course, increase morbidity and mortality

Interhemispheric epidermoids - An uncommon lesion in an uncommon location: A report of 15 cases

Of the intracranial epidermoids, interhemispheric epidermoids are extremely rare and only about 19 cases have been reported. This is a retrospective study of 15 patients with interhemispheric epidermoids surgically treated over a 13-year period. The age at the time of presentation varied between 17 and 45 years and there were 9 males. The presenting feature was seizures (focal with secondary generalization) in 12 patients, hemiparesis in 5 and features of raised intracranial pressure in 3. On computerized tomography scan the lesions were hypodense in the interhemispheric region. On magnetic resonance imaging, the lesions were located in the interhemispheric region with heterogenous signal intensities. Restricted diffusion was evident on diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion co-efficient images. All the lesions were predominantly located in the anterior interhemispheric region, with either basal or parietal extension along the interhemispheric fissure. Eleven patients underwent frontal or fronto-parietal craniotomies, 3 underwent bifrontal craniotomies and 1 patient underwent supra-orbital craniotomy and endoscopic procedure. Total excision could be achieved in 11 patients; near-total, in 3; and partial excision, in 1 patient. Follow-up was available in 10 patients. Three patients had recurrence of lesion at 5½, 8 and 10 years, respectively