Reptilian diversity of the Bhopal Region in the State of Madhya Pradesh in central India

The wide range of habitats in the Bhopal Region of Madhya Pradesh in central India support a rich reptilian fauna. Conducting visual surveys, we recorded 34 species of reptiles (2 species of crocodilians, 3 species of turtles, 13 species of lizards, 16 species of snakes). Observations were made during the monsoon period from mid-June to mid-September in 2014-2015. Herein, we present baseline data regarding the reptilian fauna of the Bhopal Region

Mapping of variations in child stunting, wasting and underweight within the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2000–2017

Background To inform actions at the district level under the National Nutrition Mission (NNM), we assessed the prevalence trends of child growth failure (CGF) indicators for all districts in India and inequality between districts within the states. Methods We assessed the trends of CGF indicators (stunting, wasting and underweight) from 2000 to 2017 across the districts of India, aggregated from 5 × 5 km grid estimates, using all accessible data from various surveys with subnational geographical information. The states were categorised into three groups using their Socio-demographic Index (SDI) levels calculated as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study based on per capita income, mean education and fertility rate in women younger than 25 years. Inequality between districts within the states was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV). We projected the prevalence of CGF indicators for the districts up to 2030 based on the trends from 2000 to 2017 to compare with the NNM 2022 targets for stunting and underweight, and the WHO/UNICEF 2030 targets for stunting and wasting. We assessed Pearson correlation coefficient between two major national surveys for district-level estimates of CGF indicators in the states. Findings The prevalence of stunting ranged 3.8-fold from 16.4% (95% UI 15.2–17.8) to 62.8% (95% UI 61.5–64.0) among the 723 districts of India in 2017, wasting ranged 5.4-fold from 5.5% (95% UI 5.1–6.1) to 30.0% (95% UI 28.2–31.8), and underweight ranged 4.6-fold from 11.0% (95% UI 10.5–11.9) to 51.0% (95% UI 49.9–52.1). 36.1% of the districts in India had stunting prevalence 40% or more, with 67.0% districts in the low SDI states group and only 1.1% districts in the high SDI states with this level of stunting. The prevalence of stunting declined significantly from 2010 to 2017 in 98.5% of the districts with a maximum decline of 41.2% (95% UI 40.3–42.5), wasting in 61.3% with a maximum decline of 44.0% (95% UI 42.3–46.7), and underweight in 95.0% with a maximum decline of 53.9% (95% UI 52.8–55.4). The CV varied 7.4-fold for stunting, 12.2-fold for wasting, and 8.6-fold for underweight between the states in 2017; the CV increased for stunting in 28 out of 31 states, for wasting in 16 states, and for underweight in 20 states from 2000 to 2017. In order to reach the NNM 2022 targets for stunting and underweight individually, 82.6% and 98.5% of the districts in India would need a rate of improvement higher than they had up to 2017, respectively. To achieve the WHO/UNICEF 2030 target for wasting, all districts in India would need a rate of improvement higher than they had up to 2017. The correlation between the two national surveys for district-level estimates was poor, with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.7 only in Odisha and four small north-eastern states out of the 27 states covered by these surveys. Interpretation CGF indicators have improved in India, but there are substantial variations between the districts in their magnitude and rate of decline, and the inequality between districts has increased in a large proportion of the states. The poor correlation between the national surveys for CGF estimates highlights the need to standardise collection of anthropometric data in India. The district-level trends in this report provide a useful reference for targeting the efforts under NNM to reduce CGF across India and meet the Indian and global targets. Keywords Child growth failureDistrict-levelGeospatial mappingInequalityNational Nutrition MissionPrevalenceStuntingTime trendsUnder-fiveUndernutritionUnderweightWastingWHO/UNICEF target

Glassy cell carcinoma: A rare variant of cervical carcinoma – Case report with review of literature

Glassy cell carcinoma is a rare clinical entity involving uterine cervix with aggressive course and relatively poor prognosis. It is a poorly differentiated variant of adenosquamous carcinoma. This neoplasm has poor response to radiotherapy and carries worse prognosis than the usual types of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. A case of a 40-year-old female patient is reported and the published literature is reviewed

PHYTOPLANKTON DIVERSITY IN RELATION TO PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF UPPER BASIN (BHOJ WETLAND), BHOPAL, INDIA

ABSTRACT The diversity of phytoplankton and its relationship to the physico-chemical characteristics was studied in upper basin of Bhoj Wetland, Bhopal. The water quality of Upper Lake is evaluated which is one of the major potable water source of Bhopal city. The present study reveals the assessment of water quality deterioration and the possible reasons of its cause and effect. Physico-chemical parameters measured at two sites revealed alkaline nature of the water. Hundred and five species of phytoplankton were recorded from both sources of study. The recorded phytoplankton species belonged to the following five divisions viz., Chlorophyceae (49 species), Cyanophyceae (29 species), Bacillariophyceae (14 species), Euglenophyceae (12 species), Pyrophyceae (1 species). Key Words: Plankton Algal Classes, Abiotic Parameters INTRODUCTION The study of abiotic and biotic components is complementary to each other. The abiotic components give information about the type of a substance and its concentration, while as biotic components indicate the general effect of the substance. The changes in the physico-chemical conditions of water can be reflected directly in the biotic community of ecosystem. The study of phytoplankton gives the number of kinds and occurrence of phytoplankton in a habitat. Phytoplankton's are primary producers and act as food source directly or indirectly for fishes, besides acting as indicators of water quality. Upper lake Bhopal is arguably the oldest man-made lake in India, and was created by Raja Bhoj in the 11 th century by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River. The upper lake is a major source of portable water for the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Latitude 23" 12' (23.2000) and Longitude 77" 18' (77.3000). The basin has a maximum depth of 11.7m and storage capacity 101.5m, cm and the surface area is 32.29 sq. km. Extent of pollution that has occurred due to urbanization, anthropogenic activities; increased human interventions in the water bodies. Burgeoning population and water scarcity is affecting the quality of life significantly; India is no exception to this. Providing water in adequate quantity and quality for domestic water supply, irrigation and industrial requirements in all parts of the city is a tremendous challenge from several angles economic, technical management and social. Earlier studies on Bhoj wetland b