A prospective study indicating that fractional excretion of sodium is a good marker for fluid loss

Background: Pre-renal failure, a reversible form of acute renal failure (ARF), accounts for 60-70% of all cases of ARF. To study the factors affecting fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) in patients with pre-renal failure.Methods: The study involved patients with pre-renal failure, admitted in a multi-speciality hospital in south India for a period of two years. The demographic and clinical data were collected using a standard pro forma. The correlation between FENa and factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, fluid loss, fever, urine output and creatinine of pre-renal failure were statistically evaluated.Results: The prospective study involved 24 patients diagnosed as pre-renal failure with a mean age of 52.75±18.78. The subjects included 14 males and 10 females, with a median FENa of 0.55 (0.10-0.90). A moderate negative correlation was observed between FENa and fluid loss in pre-renal failure patients (r -0.646, P=0.0007).Conclusions: The level of FENa may assist in estimating fluid loss in patients with pre-renal failure

Fabrication, Mechanical and Wear Properties of Aluminum (Al6061)-Silicon Carbide-Graphite Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

In recent times, the use of aluminum alloy-based Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMCs) is being increased in aerospace and automotive applications. HMMCs compensate for the low desirable properties of each filler used. However, the mechanical properties of HMMCs are not well understood. In particular, microstructural investigations and wear optimization studies of HMMCs are not clear. Therefore, further studies are required. The present study is aimed at fabricating and mechanical and wear characterizing and microstructure investigating of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Graphite (Gr) added in Aluminum (Al) alloy Al6061 HMMCs. The addition of SiC particles was in the range from 0 to 9 weight percentage (wt.%) in steps of 3, along with the addition of 1 wt.% Gr in powder form. The presence of alloying elements in the Al6061 alloy was identified using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). The dispersion of SiC and Gr particles in the alloy was investigated using metallurgical microscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The gain in strength can be attributed to the growth in dislocation density. The nature of fracture was quasi-cleavage. The microstructure examination reveals the uniform dispersion of the reinforcement. Density, hardness, and Ultimate Tensile Strength values observed to be increased with increased contents of SiC reinforcement. Besides, wear studies were performed in dry sliding conditions. Optimization studies were performed to investigate the effect of parameters that affecting the wear. The sliding wear resistance was noticed to be improved concerning higher amounts of reinforcement leading to a decrease in delamination and adhesive wear. The predicted values for the wear rate have also been compared with the experimental results and good correlation is obtained

Clinical profile of leptospirosis with focus on inflammatory biomarkers

Background: In the last few decades leptospirosis has re-emerged and is on the rise. Infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, infective hepatitis which simulate leptospirosis being rampant, so there is a need to know the clinical profile and biomarkers of leptospirosis. Study aimed to understand the clinical profile, laboratory findings and complications of leptospirosis with focus on inflammatory biomarkers.Methods: All consecutive inpatients of J.S.S medical college hospital with clinical suspicion of leptospirosis were screened for IgM anti-leptospiral antibody. Twenty-five patients who were positive for IgM antileptospiral antibodies were considered as cases and twenty-five patients who were admitted for fever other than leptospirosis were taken as controls and subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, investigations and followed up till discharge or death.Results: The age group commonly involved was 18-55 years (84%). Most of the patients were males (76%), with occupation involving outdoor activity (66%). Common symptoms were fever (100%), musculoskeletal pain (92%), headache (80%) and jaundice (64%). Less commonly seen were respiratory symptoms (36%), bleeding (24%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (16%). Important signs seen were conjunctival suffusion, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and hypotension. Hyperbilirubinemia was predominantly of conjugated type and elevation of transaminases and alkaline phosphatase were mild to moderate. Mean bilirubin was 4.67mg/dl, Mean SGOT and SGPT were 99.23U/L and 96.97U/L respectively. ARF was seen in 48% and six of them needed haemodialysis. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 76% patients. 28% had multi-organ failure (MOF), 8% had aseptic meningitis, 8% had ARDS and 4% had GI haemorrhage.Conclusions: Musculoskeletal symptoms are most common next to fever. Conjunctival suffusion is a common finding. Liver and kidney are more commonly involved organs. MOF was significantly associated with mortality (p<.05). Thrombocytopenia was significantly related to clinical bleeding (p<.001). TNF-alpha and Interleukin-12 were significantly elevated in leptospirosis and may correlate with severity

Breeding tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop cultivated in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Low productivity in India is due to occurrence of both biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses, tomato leaf curl disease, bacterial wilt, early blight and Groundnut Bud Necrosis Virus disease have become serious production constraints causing considerable yield loss in the major tomato growing areas of the country. Adoption of multiple disease resistant varieties or F1 hybrids would be the most appropriate way to address these diseases. At ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru systematic breeding strategies were employed to pyramid genes for resistance to early blight, bacterial wilt and tomato leaf curl diseases and to develop advanced breeding lines&amp; F1 hybrids with triple disease resistance. Stable source of resistance to early blight and bi-partite begomo-virus (Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus) has been identified in Solanum habrochaites LA-1777. Validation with molecular markers linked to tomato leaf curl virus resistance revealed that LA-1777 carryTy2 and other putative resistant genes. Several high yielding dual purpose hybrids were also developed for fresh market and processing with high level of resistance to multiple diseases. Cherry tomato lines have also been bred for high TSS, total carotenoids, total phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, acidity and lycopene content. IIHR-249-1, IIHR-2101 (Solanum habrochaites LA-1777), IIHR- 2866 and IIHR-2864 recorded high values for quality parameters like total carotenoids, lycopene, vitamin C, total phenols, flavonoids and TSS. Drought tolerant root stock has been developed by an interspecific cross between S. habrochaites LA-1777 and S. lycopersicum (15 SB SB). Resistant sources have also been identified against Tuta absoluta, a serious insect pest reported from major tomato growing areas in the country in recent time. High temperature tolerant breeding lines are in pipe line

Region of magnetic dominance near a rotating black hole

This is a brief contribution in which a simplified criterion of the relevance of the test-particle approximation describing motion of material near a magnetized black hole is discussed. Application to processes of the dissipative collimation of astronomical jets (as proposed by de Felice and Curir, 1992) is mentioned.Comment: 11 pages, to appear in General Relativity and Gravitation, also available (with additional illustrations) at http://otokar.troja.mff.cuni.cz/user/karas/au_www/karas/papers.ht

Delivering bioavailable micronutrients through biofortifying sorghum and seed chain innovations

Micronutrient malnutrition, particularly among women and children, is one of greatest global challenges of our times and the national Governments and international organizations are following various approaches to combat it. Biofortification –increasing the micronutrient density in edible plant parts by genetic means, is one of the cost-effective and sustainable methods to address the micronutrient malnutrition. Sorghum is one of the major staples globally and it meets more than 50% micronutrient requirements of low-income group populations in predominantly sorghum eating areas. We developed biofortified sorghums with elevated levels of grain Fe and Zn combined with higher grain yield possessing farmer-preferred grain and stover traits. The first biofortified sorghum cultivar ‘Parbhani Shakti’ was released in India in 2018, which, besides high Fe and Zn, has higher protein content and lower phytates content. An innovative ‘Seed Consortium’ was built to take this variety to the farmers in shortest possible time to benefit the farmers and consumers. Multi-stakeholder partnership was the key in this endeavour and Indian NARS, farmers, public sector seed organisations, media and Government played a key role along with ICRISAT

Heat-tolerant maize for rainfed hot, dry environments in the lowland tropics: from breeding to improved seed delivery

Climate change-induced heat stress combines two challenges: high day- and nighttime temperatures, and physiological water deficit due to demand-side drought caused by increase in vapor-pressure deficit. It is one of the major factors in low productivity of maize in rainfed stress-prone environments in South Asia, affecting a large population of smallholder farmers who depend on maize for their sustenance and livelihoods. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) maize program in Asia, in partnership with public-sector maize research institutes and private-sector seed companies in South Asian countries, is implementing an intensive initiative for developing and deploying heat-tolerant maize that combines high yield potential with resilience to heat and drought stresses. With the integration of novel breeding tools and methods, including genomics-assisted breeding, doubled haploidy, field-based precision phenotyping, and trait-based selection, new maize germplasm with increased tolerance to heat stress is being developed for the South Asian tropics. Over a decade of concerted effort has resulted in the successful development and release of 20 high-yielding heat-tolerant maize hybrids in CIMMYT genetic backgrounds. Via public–private partnerships, eight hybrids are presently being deployed on over 50,000 ha in South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI