Comparative study of serum ferritin and vitamin D in thalassemia patients with healthy controls

Background: Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder in humans; they are encountered among all ethnic groups and in almost every country around the world. Mostly occur in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean sea, hence the name. These are a group of hereditary haemolytic disorders characterized by impairment in the synthesis of globin chains of Hb. The present study aimed to find out the serum ferritin and vitamin D level in thalassemic children in the tertiary care hospital in Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India.Methods: In this study 50 (27 male and 23 female) adult skulls were investigated to determine the type of asterion, its distance from important bony landmarks and also the nearby venous sinuses were measured.Results: Level of serum ferritin was significantly high and vitamin D was significantly low (p-value<0.0001 for both) in thalassemic children.Conclusions: In this study the role of serum ferritin and vitamin D has been explored. The extremely high level of ferritin was found due to the regular blood transfusion and consequent iron overload and low vitamin D was found due to impairment in liver functions among thalassemic children

Comparative study of serum calcium and phosphorus level in pulmonary tuberculosis before and after chemotherapy

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous bacterial infection caused by an acid-fast bacillus, mycobacterium tuberculosis or tubercle bacillus.  It is a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body but is mainly an infection of the lungs so it is called pulmonary tuberculosis. There are many minerals synthesized in the body in an appropriate amount for specific work. If any disease occurs in the body then mineral level imbalance, like wise in pulmonary tuberculosis calcium and phosphorus levels disturb. The changes in Calcium and Phosphorus level is considered as an important factor in pathophysiology of pulmonary tuberculosis patient.Methods: The proposed study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry with association of Department of TB and Chest of S.P. Medical College and attached Hospital, Bikaner. There were 40 cases and 40 controls in the age groups from 15 to 50 years. We took fresh samples and performed required tests following standard protocol. By Analytical grade chemicals and standard serum Calcium and Phosphorus were estimated using enzymatic kit method by auto analyzer.Results: The Mean±SD of serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels were found 8.688±0.7155 and 2.833±0.6443   before chemotherapy and 9.163±0.4661 and 3.695±0.3471 after chemotherapy.Conclusions: Persons, who developed pulmonary tuberculosis disease, had increased serum calcium and serum phosphorus level after chemotherapy compared to before chemotherapy patients

Diagnostic reliability of Widal slide agglutination test for enteric fever- still a query

Background: Typhoid fever is a major public health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality in many countries. The Widal slide agglutination test is a commonly used test for diagnosing enteric fever. Limited literature is available on its diagnostic ability in comparison to the tube agglutination test. Aim of this study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the Widal slide agglutination test for the diagnosis of enteric fever.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in department of microbiology in Jawahar Lal Nehru medical college and hospital, Ajmer over a period of six months from September 2013 to March 2014. A total of 640 serum samples received in the microbiology department were processed for detecting the presence of anti O and anti H agglutinins against S. typhi, S. Paratyphi A and S. Paratyphi B by slide and tube Widal agglutination tests as per standard protocols. The significant titre for O and H agglutinin, 1:160 was taken as positive.Results: Of the 154 slide Widal positive samples, 115 (18%) samples tested negative by the tube agglutination test whereas only 39 (6%) samples were positive by both slide and tube agglutination.Conclusions: Slide Widal test has high sensitivity and NPV (100%) can be used as a screening tool but due to low specificity (83.93%) any positive sample should be confirmed by tube Widal test

Destination Branding Kabupaten Majalengka Oleh Dinas Pariwisata Dan Kebudayaan Kabupaten Majalengka

In dealing with tourism issues such as the development of destinations that are not yet optimal, management of the tourism industry that is not yet optimal, as well as tourism resources that have not been integrated, it is necessary to do destination branding in Majalengka Regency. In addition, Majalengka Regency still does not have strong branding that can attract many foreign tourists to visit Majalengka Regency. The purpose of this study was to determine the stages of destination branding carried out by the Department of Tourism and Culture of Majalengka Regency in the development of tourism in Majalengka Regency. The method used is a descriptive qualitative research method with a post-positivistic paradigm. Data collection techniques used were interviews, observation, literature study, and documentation study. The results of this study indicate that the Department of Tourism and Culture of Majalengka Regency carried out the stages of market investigation, analysis, and strategic recommendations by conducting research mapping market potential analysis through three sources, namely experts from academia as facilitators; potential attraction of natural tourist attractions that are already running and already have decent natural visitors, and scoring techniques. At the Brand identity development stage, Majalengka Regency does not yet have a tourism destination identity because it is still in the process. For the stage of brand launch and introduction using three ways, namely special events, media, and involving the community. At the stage of brand implementation by making programs and tourism activities that involve pentahelix. And for the stages of monitoring, evaluation, and review related to the development of tourism destinations and statistical data of tourists visiting Majalengka Regency. Keywords: Destination Branding; Development; Tourism; Traveler; Majalengka Regency  Abstrak Dalam menghadapi permasalahan kepariwisataan seperti pengembangan destinasi yang belum optimal, pengelolaan industri pariwisata yang belum optimal, serta SDM Pariwisata yang belum terintegrasi perlu dilakukan destination branding di Kabupaten Majalengka. Selain itu Kabupaten Majalengka pun masih belum memiliki branding kuat yang dapat menarik banyak minat wisatawan luar untuk berkunjung ke Kabupaten Majalengka. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui tahapan destination branding yang dilakukan oleh Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Kabupaten Majalengka dalam pengembangan pariwisata di Kabupaten Majalengka. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan paradigma post-positivistik. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara, observasi, studi pustaka, dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Kabupaten Majalengka melakukan tahapan market investigation, analysis, and strategic recommendations dengan melakukan riset pemetaan analisis potensi pasar melalui tiga sumber yaitu tenaga ahli dari akademisi sebagai fasilitator; potensi daya tarik objek wisata yang secara alami sudah berjalan dan sudah memiliki pengunjung alami yang lumayan, dan teknik skoring. Pada tahap Brand identity development, Kabupaten Majalengka belum memiliki identitas destinasi pariwisata dikarenakan masih dalam proses. Untuk tahapan brand launch and introduction menggunakan tiga cara yaitu special event, media, dan melibatkan komunitas. Pada tahapan brand implementation dengan membuat program serta kegiatan pariwisata yang melibatkan pentahelix. Dan untuk tahapan monitoring, evaluation, and review terkait dengan perkembangan destinasi pariwisata dan data statistik wisatawan yang berkunjung ke Kabupaten Majalengka. Kata Kunci: Destination  Branding; Pengembangan; Pariwisata; Wisatawan; Kabupaten Majalengk

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alkaline soils of hot sub humid eco-region of Middle Gangetic Plains of India

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the salt affected soils of Varanasi district. Saccharum munja Roxb. was predominate among all the vegetation and shown strong AM fungal colonisation. Soil characteristics revealed their neutral to alkali nature and habituated six genera and eight different species of AM fungi i.e. Acaulospora (1), Cetraspora (1), Entrophospora (1), Funneliformis (2- F. geosporum and F. mosseae), Glomus (1), Rhizolglomus (2- R. intraradices and R. fasciculatum) in the rhizosphere of native salt tolerant vegetation. Rhizolglomus fasciculatum was the most widely distributed species under strongly alkaline condition (52.96%) while Funneliformis mosseae was well distributed under slightly (22.99%) to moderately alkaline condition (35.78%). Soil alkalinity was observed to be detrimental for AMF but members of family Glomeraceae registered their presence more frequently (∼65%) with higher spore density showing strong adaptation which might be helpful in restoration of moderately to strongly alkaline disturbed eco-region

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediated salt tolerance by regulating antioxidant enzyme system, photosynthetic pathways and ionic equilibrium in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in improving the plant tolerance to salt stress. In the present study, we investigated the influence of AM fungi inoculation on various physiological, biochemical and nutritional aspects of pea grown under salt stress. The AM fungi inoculation successfully reduced the negative effects of salinity by improving the antioxidant enzyme system, a greater accumulation of compatible organic solutes, a higher content of photosynthetic pigment and a balanced uptake of nutrients, which resulted in higher growth and yield. Seed yield was found to be significantly higher by ~ 24, 40 and 54% in T2 (Rhizoglomus intraradices), T3 (Funneliformis mosseae and R. intraradices) and T4 (Rhizoglomus fasciculatum and Gigaspora sp.), respectively, as compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. Overall, a mixed application of R fasciculatum and Gigaspora sp. was superior to other mycorrhizal treatments, which can be attributed to specific compatibility relationships or functional complementarity that exists between symbionts

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediated salt tolerance by regulating antioxidant enzyme system, photosynthetic pathways and ionic equilibrium in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Not AvailableArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in improving the plant tolerance to salt stress. In the present study, we investigated the influence of AM fungi inoculation on various physiological, biochemical and nutritional aspects of pea grown under salt stress. The AM fungi inoculation successfully reduced the negative effects of salinity by improving the antioxidant enzyme system, a greater accumulation of compatible organic solutes, a higher content of photosynthetic pigment and a balanced uptake of nutrients, which resulted in higher growth and yield. Seed yield was found to be significantly higher by ~ 24, 40 and 54% in T2 (Rhizoglomus intraradices), T3 (Funneliformis mosseae and R. intraradices) and T4 (Rhizoglomus fasciculatum and Gigaspora sp.), respectively, as compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. Overall, a mixed application of R fasciculatum and Gigaspora sp. was superior to other mycorrhizal treatments, which can be attributed to specific compatibility relationships or functional complementarity that exists between symbionts.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableArbuscular mycorrhiza fungi’s (AMF) role in plant nutrition and stress management is well known, but very few researches and studies have been conducted so far on the fungal ability to reduce different nutrient losses (runoff, leaching and volatilization) from the soil system. This important ecosystem service of AMF had been neglected largely. From the recent findings, it has been confirmed that mycorrhizal symbiosis has potential to check the losses of applied nutrients. The role of soil biota in nutrient cycling is indispensable and determines the nutrient availability to plants. Among these biota, AMF’s association with plants is the most prevalent, but the exact mechanisms followed by AMF in nutrient cycling, transformation and reducing nutrient loss ability are still inconclusive. In this review, we will try to unlock this particular aspect of AMF which is important to achieve global food demand in a sustainable way.Not Availabl

The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in C cycling: a review

Not AvailableArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) contribute predominantly to soil organic matter by creating a sink demand for plant C and distributing to below-ground hyphal biomass. The extra-radical hyphae along with glomalin-related soil protein significantly influence the soil carbon dynamics through their larger extent and turnover period need to discuss. The role of AMF is largely overlooked in terrestrial C cycling and climate change models despite their greater involvement in net primary productivity augmentation and further accumulation of this additional photosynthetic fixed C in the soil. However, this buffering mechanism against elevated CO2 condition to sequester extra C by AMF can be described only after considering their potential interaction with other microbes and associated mineral nutrients such as nitrogen cycling. In this article, we try to review the potential of AMF in C sequestration paving the way towards a better understanding of possible AMF mechanism by which C balance between biosphere and atmosphere can be moved forward in more positive direction.Not Availabl