Effect of Glomus intraradices spore abundance of the inoculum on percent mycorrhizal colonization and growth of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are well known symbiotic microorganism found to improve the growth of host plant by mobilizing immobile nutrients, mainly phosphorus, from the soil. However, the effect of AM fungi on host plant growth depends on the percentage mycorrhizal colonization, whereas it is not clear that the percent mycorrhization impacts by AM fungal spore abundance of the inoculum. Therefore, the current investigation was conducted to know the effect of percent mycorrhization of Glomus intraradices on the growth of blackgram inoculated with varied numbers of AM fungal spores via seed biotization (1 to 10 AM fungal spores per seed). Percent mycorrhizal colonization and plant growth characteristics of blackgram were recorded after 10, 20 and 30 days of sowing (DOS). Our results are revealed that the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization significantly influenced based on the availability of AM fungal spore richness of the biotized seeds, which leads to altered crop growth. Percent mycorrhizal colonization in the roots of blackgram increased with increasing AM fungal spore abundance per seed and it ranges from 10 to 70 %. Moreover, mycorrhizal colonized plants recorded higher shoot and root length, leaf area, leaf area index, shoot and root biomass production as well as chlorophyll content over control, conversely it was increased further with increasing percent mycorrhizal colonization, which is directly proportional to the richness of the AM fungal spores per seed. Therefore, AM fungal spore abundance is one of the governing factors that influence percent mycorrhizal colonization in roots of plants besides AM fungal and plant species and soil condition

Letter to Editor

Comparing Adherence in Cardiac Clinic Versus General Outpatient Clinic: Few Concerns and Way Forwar

Impact of perioperative period on disease-free survival among carcinoma ovary patients treated with the interval cyto-reductive surgery at a tertiary cancer centre in Kerala, India: a retrospective study

Background: Global incidence of ovarian malignancies is 300,000 as per GLOBOCAN 2018. The treatment protocol for advanced ovarian malignancies (stage IIIc and stage IV) includes neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Aims of the study was to determine the effect of duration of chemo interruption on disease free survival of ovarian malignancies treated by interval cytoreduction followed by surgery.Methods: A total 48 patients were studied for events such as recurrence, death, patient’s status on last follow up, peri-operative period between 3rd cycle of chemo therapy and 4th cycle of chemo therapy. Based on the median duration of peri operative period patients was classified as early or delayed receivers of adjuvant chemo therapy. Difference in duration of over-all survival and disease-free survival was analysed through Kaplan Meier survival analysis using log-rank test. Hazard ratio adjusted for background characteristics such as staging, performance status, grade of tumour were analysed using cox proportional hazard model.Results: The two peri operative period categories based on mean value (85 days) didn’t show any significant association to disease free interval (minimum-21days, maximum-146 days, Hr = 1.3, p-value = 0.52). Other established factors like stage, extent of resection, response to chemotherapy, also didn’t show any significant association. Serum marker level showed a significant negative correlation with disease free survival (minimum-9 days, maximum-30659, p-value =.04, Hr = 3.19).Conclusions: The study could not establish any correlation between peri operative period and median disease-free survival. The small sample size is a limiting factor, well controlled randomized trials may needed for further clarification

Time trend and predictors of lab positivity among suspected cases in the post pandemic phase of H1N1

BackgroundWHO declared Influenza A H1N1  to have entered the post pandemic phase on August 10, 2010. Continued surveillance activities are recommended in the post pandemic phase to watch over the trend, severity and impact of Influenza like illnesses (ILI).AimsThis study aimed to document the epidemiological profile of lab positive H1N1 cases in post pandemic period from August 2010-December 2014 in nodal H1N1 surveillance centre of Puducherry.MethodsThe study analysed secondary data collected during the period August 10, 2010 to Dec 2014 from ILI suspects attending a tertiary care hospital, for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).  Demographic details, lab positivity based on Real time –PCR technique for H1N1, clinical symptoms and outcomes were extracted. Data were analysed using STATA version 11.0. Independent predictors of lab positivity rate were identified using logistic regression analysis.  Time trend of frequency of suspected cases and lab positivity rate were performed using time series plots.ResultsA total of 2065 suspected cases were reported, of whom 197 cases were positive for H1N1 (lab positivity rate 9.5%).  Being an adult (OR: 1.6; 95% CI:1.1 - 2.3; p=0.02), management in in-patient settings (OR: 2.5; 95% CI:1.3-4.7; p=0.001), history of contact (OR: 2.7; 95% CI1.5 - 4.5; p=0.0001) and history of travel (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2 to 4.3; p=0.01) were the independent predictors for lab positivity. Death rate among lab confirmed cases was found to be 9.6 %. After 2012, the trend of laboratory confirmed H1N1 cases became a plateau. One needs to screen 35 suspected cases to capture one lab confirmed case of H1N1 in 2014.ConclusionLab positivity was seen among 9.5% of cases and the independent predictors were severe cases, adult patients, positive history of contact and travel. The number needed to screen to get one lab positive H1N1 case is 35 suspected cases

Metallothioneins: Diverse Protein Family to Bind Metallic Ions

Metallothionein’s (MTs) are the lower molecular weight (6-7 kDa) proteins that are found to be present in almost all organism types ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes species. MT are the metal detecting proteins that can mitigate the effect caused by the excess metal ions. They are also found to be involved in cellular process such as cell growth regulation, ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and DNA repair. The protein was termed as Metallothionein due to the unusual higher metal (metallo) and the sulfur (thiol) content. They are further grouped into 3 classes viz., class I, II and III. The Class I and II MTs are polypeptides that were obtained from direct gene products, the class III MTs are from the cysteine-rich non-translational molecules that are termed as phytochelatins. The metal ions are been sequestered through the MTs with Cys rich motifs. All the cysteines are present in the reduced form and are been co-ordinated through the mercaptide bonds. The cysteines present in the MTs are preserved across the species, it is supposed that, cysteines are essential for the function and the MTs are required for the life. Metallothionins structure, conservation in evolution, their ubiquitous nature of occurrence, the genes redundancy and the programmed MTs synthesis in development, regeneration and reproduction of living organisms are some of the weighty arguments in suspecting MTs to also serve others and perhaps the high particular metal-related cellular roles. In this chapter, there is a detailed discussion about Metallothionein its structure, occurrence and function

Compliance and patterns of iron-folic acid intake among adolescent girls and antenatal women in rural Tamil Nadu

Background: Anemia continues to be a major public health problem in India despite its long-recognized negative impact on health, especially of women. In a scenario where there is little increase in Hb levels even with implementation of various iron supplementation program apart from compliance, their dietary pattern also may play a role. Moreover, majority of the current literature assessed compliance to Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements in facility based settings. Objectives: This study aims to identify the compliance to Iron Folic Acid intake and dietary pattern which could influence the absorption of iron among anaemic pregnant women and adolescent girls in a rural area of Tamil Nadu. Methods: This community based cross sectional study was carried out in one of the primary health centres (PHC) in Tamil Nadu during the period of Feb-Mar 2013 among pregnant women and adolescent girls. From the eligible pregnant women and adolescent girls, information regarding socio economic characteristics, practices related to personal hygiene, dietary patterns, consumption of Iron Folic Acid tablets, and reason for non compliance were collected using structured questionnaires during house-to-house visit. Following this, Haemoglobin was estimated among all study participants. Results: Totally 147 (99.3%), 99 (56.6%) pregnant women, adolescent girls were found to be anemic respectively. Out of these, Iron folic acid tablets were consumed by 136 (91.9%), 60 (60.6%) of pregnant women and adolescent girls respectively. Around 90% of the anemic participants consumed IFA tablets during the night time, immediately after food in rice based diet. Pregnant women who were in their third trimester (OR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.69) and high socio economic status (OR 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.55) had significant poor compliance compared to women in second trimester and low socio economic status respectively. Among the adolescent girls, increasing age and current school going status had facilitated the consumption of more number of IFA tablets. Conclusion: In this backward district, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women and adolescent girls were extremely high. Compliance to IFA tablets among pregnant women is favourable whereas among adolescent girls is extremely poor. Some of the dietary practices followed in this region could impair the iron absorption level and treatment effect

Analytical expression for concentration and sensitivity of a thin film semiconductor gas sensor

In this paper, a mathematical model for gas sensing thin film semiconductor at an internal diffusion limitation for non-steady-state conditions is discussed. The model is based on diffusion equations containing a linear term related to the reaction processes. Analytical expressions for concentrations are derived using Laplace transformation. The gas sensitivity for both actual and equivalent models has been reported for all the values of reaction parameters such as rate constant and film thickness. Furthermore, in this work a complex inversion formula is employed to solve the boundary value problem. An excellent agreement with simulation data is observed. The dependence of sensitivity on temperature, film thickness and time are discussed for both actual and equivalent models

Prevalence of self-medication practices and its associated factors in Urban Puducherry, India

Background and Objectives: Self medication is an important concern for health authorities at global level. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self medication for allopathic drugs and associated factors among households of urban community. This study was also aimed at assessing the attitude of respondents who had experienced self-medication. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in field practice area attached to a medical institution in urban Puducherry. A total of 352 subjects from 124 households were selected by random sampling. With pretested interview schedule, information regarding self-medication use in the past three months and associated sociodemographic factors, purpose, source of drug procurement, attitude toward self-medication use were collected. Results: Prevalence of self-medication was found to be 11.9%. Males, age >40 years and involving in moderate level activity of occupation, were found to be significantly associated with higher self-medication usage (P < 0.05). Fever (31%), headache (19%), and abdominal pain (16.7%) are most common illnesses where self-medication is being used. Telling the symptoms to pharmacist (38.1%) was the commonest method adopted to procure drugs by the users. Majority of the self-medication users expressed that self-medication is harmless (66.6%) and they are going to use (90%) and advice others also (73.8%) to use self-medication drugs. Conclusion: Self-medication is an important health issue in this area. Health education of the public and regulation of pharmacies may help in limiting the self-medication practices

Pattern of mental distress among chronic disease subjects in urban Puducherry, India

Aim: Limited information is available on the status of mental distress among chronic disease subjects attending primary care settings in India. This study aimed to assess the pattern of mental distress among chronic disease subjects. Materials and Methods: This facility based cross-sectional study was carried out among chronic disease subjects attending urban health center attached to a Medical Institution in Puducherry, India. Mental distress was assessed by general health questionnaire-12. Data on associated factors were collected by structured questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 58.2 ΁ 12.8 years. Around 80% of the subjects found to have mental distress. Mental distress was comparatively more among females, educated more than middle school, person living in the nuclear family and suffering from joint pain (P < 0.05). Subjects who had both diabetes and hypertension reported more mental distress. Females had comparatively more mental distress after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion: Mental distress among chronic disease subjects in this setting is high especially among females screening of this high-risk group may help in taking appropriate interventional measures