A study on diagnostic efficacy of pulmonary imaging tool in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Pulmonary complication in Rheumatoid arthritis is major health concern in the field of rheumatology. So this study is to find out the sensitive imaging tool for detecting different types of pulmonary changes seen in RA.Methods: This is a comparative, analytical, cross sectional, Institution- based, single centre study. We included all adult willing patients of Rheumatoid arthritis (age >18) and selected them based on 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria. Severity was assessed by number of joints involve in both upper and lower limb, along with ESR, CRP, Anti CCP level. Chest x ray, PFT and HRCT thorax were done in all RA patients.Results: Out of 50 RA patients, pulmonary involvement was observed in 25 patients identified by Spirometry, CXR, HRCT. Pulmonary involvement is more common in age group <40 years. Most common form of pulmonary involvement is ILD followed by obstructive lung disease like chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis etc. HRCT is the most common tool for detection of Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. HRCT abnormality, most are Restrictive on spirometry (FEV1/FVC) <80% of predicted value. And this relation is statistically significant as P value is 0.001 (<0.05) by Chi-Square test. Patients having more the disease duration, more the pulmonary involvement. This association is statically significant as p value is 0.001 (<0.05).Conclusions: High resolution CT thorax is more sensitive modality for detection of pulmonary pathology in rheumatoid arthritis. Because of its high cost, availability of this imaging technique is beyond the lower socio-economic group where chest x ray may be useful

Morphology, flow cytometry and molecular assessment of ex-vitro grown micropropagated anthurium in comparison with seed germinated plants

Micropropagated and seed propagated plantlets of anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Lind. cv. CanCan) were transferred to similar field condition and growth stage. A comparative study was conducted using morphological parameters, ploidy level assessment as well as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The in vitro generated anthurium plants exhibited comparable vegetative growth and more sucker production when compared to plants propagated through seeds. No variation in ploidy level was established through flow cytometric study. Genetic assessment through ISSR showed no polymorphism in banding pattern. It was revealed that there was no significant variation between micropropagated and seed propagated plants at ploidy and molecular level assuring the trueness of the micropropagated anthurium clones and their commercial applicability.Key words: Anthurium andreanum Lind, Ex vitro performance, ISSR, morphological competence, ploidy level

Standardization of an in Vitro Regeneration Protocol in Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus Ex. Hooker F.)

An experiment was undertaken to develop an improved in vitro regeneration protocol in gerbera. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with various growth regulators at different concentrations for callus induction and organogenesis. Newly emerging leaves of Gerbera cv. Rosalin were used as explants. Experimental results showed that maximum rate (74.07%) of formation of callus with good growth was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 2.0mgL-1&nbsp;2,4-D + BAP 0.5mgL-1. Best shoot regeneration (57.8 %) with maximum shoot number (12.0) was achieved on with BAP 2.0mgL-1&nbsp;+ NAA 0.5mgL-1&nbsp;fortified MS medium. Maximum (66.7 %) and earliest (12.3 days) root formation in shoots was recorded on IBA 3.0mgL-1is 1/2MS media. Survival rate of regenerated plantlets was maximum (73.33 %) in the potting mixture containing garden soil, sand and vermicompost (1:1:1)

Studies on Yield and Yield Components of Spray Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cv. Amal under Various Sources of Nitrogen

An investigation was undertaken to study the yield and yield components of spray-type chrysanthemum cv. Amal under variaous sources of nitrogen. The treatments considered different levels (100%, 75%, 50% or 25%) of four sources of nitrogen viz., urea, calcium ammonium nitrate, mustard cake and neem cake, alone or in combination of two or more of these. Results revealed that maximum stem length (62 cm) of cut flower and flower yield, number of flower heads (6387) and weight (4071.48 g/sqm) were mostly achiveved by application of total recommended dose of nitrogen through a combination of 25% N as neem cake + 25% N as mustard cake + 25% N as CAN + 25% as urea, and the treatment increased flower yield by 57.96% over treatment with nitrogen solely through urea. Flower size, individual flower weight, shelf and vase life of flower as well as anthocyanin content in floral tissue were higher in combined application of all oil cakes and urea and maximum under treatment combination of 50% recommended dose of nitrogen supplied through mustard cake, 25% N through neem cake and 25% N through urea. Anthocyanin content of flower tissues increased gradually upto 20 days from opening of the flower and, thereafter, declined sharply

Efficacy and safety of single dose of Non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid intraarticular injection for knee Primary osteoarthritis: a pilot study at Midnapore Medical college in West Bengal

Background: Hyaluronic acid is a commonly prescribed intra-articular (IA) therapy for knee primary osteoarthritis (OA). In India majority of population lives in rural areas having limited resources and socio-cultural biodiversity. Their personal, socio-cultural and occupational habits vary and need to be addressed. The primary outcome measure was pain of knee joint reduction after therapy and follow up visit. Secondary outcomes were therapy related adverse events (AEs).Methods: Population (n=20) are selected from rural areas of age range 40 to 60 years having poor economic background and daily labour by profession. Participants with diabetes and cardic illness and BMI ≥30 were excluded. All participants were having grade- 2 B/L knee OA with mild effusion and fulfill the ACR classification criteria. Each participant was assessed on Visual analog scale (VAS) pain and Composite indian functional knee assessment scale (CIFKAS) at the end of three months of therapy and statistical analysis was done.Results: Among the 20 participants 11 were female, 9 were male. The mean (mean±S.D.) of BMI and duration of disease was 23.6±2.73 and 4±2.08 respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient calculated for pain during physical activity/ pain during functional ADL activity, ability to perform physical activity/ ability to perform ADL activity and social function and emotional function score were 0.634/0.701, 0.731/0.687 and 0.566/0.607 respectively which indicates that they are highly correlated.Conclusions: A single dose of IA NASHA is effective and safe in reducing pain and functional disability in patients with primary OA of knee.

Comparative Performance of Spray Chrysanthemum Cultivars under Polyhouse and Open-Field Cultivation at Different Dates of Planting

Fifteen cultivars of spray chrysanthemum were evaluated in polyhouse and open-field, with three planting dates from mid-July to mid-August during 2003-05. Overall plant growth, flower stem length, number of flowers per plant, shelf life and vase life of flower were found to be maximum under 15th&nbsp;July planting compared to 30th&nbsp;July and 15th&nbsp;August plantings both under polyhouse and open-field conditions. Flower size and flower yield (g/plant) was highest under 30th&nbsp;July planting in polyhouse condition, whereas, in open-field it was the 15th&nbsp;July planting. Early flowering was recorded in 15th&nbsp;August planting both in polyhouse and open-field. Cultivar Arati showed maximum flower stem length and flower yield. Some of the other cultivars, viz., Yellow Anemone, Sarad Mala, Apsara Violet and Aditi also exhibited high yield both under polyhouse and open-field conditions. Polyhouse always recorded higher yield than open-field. Cultivar Yellow Anemone planted on 15th&nbsp;July recorded highest number of flowers per plant regardless of growth environment. Highest flower yield (794.94g) per plant was recorded in cv. Arati in 30th&nbsp;July planting under polyhouse, while, it was maximum in 15th&nbsp;July planting in open-field

Cryopreservation technology for conservation of selected vegetative propagules

Cryopreservation is the science of freezing biological materials and their subsequent storage at very low temperature in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). At such low temperature, metabolic rates are low or completely halted. Recently the need to conserve plant materials has increased tremendously due to extinction. Plants that produce orthodox seeds can be easily stored in the form of desiccated seeds at low temperature being the most convenient method to preserve plant germplasm. However, it is not applicable to crops that do not produce seed (e.g. bananas) or with recalcitrant or intermediate seed. In addition cryopreservation is now recognized as a powerful tool for the preservation of the unique genomic constitution of cultivars, tissue cultured lines and hybrids such as orchids. Various protocols, ranging from conventional slow freezing to the more modern vitrification based protocols have been established and utilized for various plant materials. To date there is still only limited number of plants whereby cryoconservation is readily used mainly because the techniques need to beadapted for each species. Therefore, continued efforts are needed in cryopreservation techniques to develop protocols for a wider range of plants. Conservation of plant germplasm has moved forward from the more costly slow cooling to vitrification based strategies. For effective adoption of the technique, simple reliable method with high regeneration ability has to be established. Our research in various plants has shown selection of plant material to be one of the most important steps in obtaining successful cryopreservation. In addition, different vitrification protocol can influence the success rate as well. This paper will highlight the importance of explant selection and the importance of method selection for successful cryopreservation using some selected crops

The Implications of Demonetization and Currency Constraints on Indian Tourism – A Perspective Analysis

A landmark decision by the Government of India on the 8th of November 2016, viz, demonetization, propped up monetary repercussions of high magnitude the nation has ever witnessed. &nbsp;The ‘Ifs and Buts’ of demonetization are being widely debated (of course at this juncture the government machinery and banks need to announce the positive outcomes such as stoppage of terrorist funding and black money, etc. as claimed earlier) albeit in the&nbsp; days that followed after the announcement it became explicit that the decision was taken without adequate preparedness. The whole process, though seemingly transparent, has had on impact on the lives of all the citizens leading to the initial optimism expressed by a great number of people waning into contempt an