Environmental Chemistry Soil Degradation in Stone Crushing Areas - Reclamation Effect on Crop Productivity

None of the natural resources is as valuable as land. Soil degradation is loss or reduction of soil energy. In recent years the pressure on this precious resource due to rapid industrialization, intensive agriculture and other anthropogenic activities has led to various kinds of degradation, environmental pollution and decline in the crop productivity and sustainability. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have seriously augmented the growing burden of chemical contaminants on the soil. The pollution loads in our soil environments resulting in contamination of ground water through leaching and their harmful constituents have often found their way through soil –plant uptake mechanisms. Prominent sources contributing to contaminated load of soils are geogenic, mining, and smelting, use of fertilizers, pesticides etc. The present studies throws light on impact of stone crushing on soil degradation and reclamation effect on crop productivity. Key words- Overburden, soil degradation, spoil, strip mining, anthropogenic

Agricultural Depletion of Soil Nutrient in Arable Land

Land degradation is a concept in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one more combination of human induced processes acting upon the land. Soil is the essence of life. Agriculturally soil is a region supporting plant life and from which plants obtain their mechanical support and many of their nutrients. As Indian economy is agricultural based, so to ascertain the role of nutrient in soil fertility and plant growth, this base line survey was undertaken. In our country crop production is far below than population density, resulting in large shortage of food stuff. It is estimated that up to 40% of world’s agricultural land is seriously degraded. Integrated plan nutrient management (IIPNM) adopted scientifically to ensure greater sustainability in agricultural development which combines economic and efficient traditional and frontier technologies to gain from the symbiosis and synergy of crop soil environment biointeractions. Key words - : arable, nutrients, solvent extraction, depletion

Pap smear in antenatal women: a valuable opportunity for screening and awareness

Background: Pregnancy creates an important opportunity to screen the cervix for neoplastic and infectious diseases and to spread awareness. A pap smear is simple, cost effective and safe in pregnancy. In low resource countries, this may be the only opportunity when the woman visits a health centre.  It also helps identify and treat infections that could hamper the pregnancy outcome. Objective of the study is to determine the awareness of pap smear as a cervical cancer screening test in antenatal women; to determine the incidence of cervical neoplasia and premalignant lesions of the cervix in antenatal women.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2018 to April 2019. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women in the first trimester. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy greater than 12 weeks, symptoms of vaginal infection, history of sexual intercourse or vaginal medication or bleeding in the last 48 hours or a normal pap smear in the last 3 years. The reporting was done as per Bethesda 2014.Results: 308 women underwent a pap smear in their 1st trimester. 94% were satisfactory smears and 3(0.9%) an abnormal smear (2 LSIL and 1 ASCUS). 31.2% had inflammatory smears. Only 15 women were aware of pap smear as a test for cancer cervix screening and all these women were graduates and above. No women had ever had a pap smear test in the past. One fifth of women studied had 1 or more risk factor the commonest being early age at first intercourse.Conclusions: The antenatal period should be utilized as an opportunity to screen women for cancer cervix

Role of micronized progesterone in prevention of preterm labour in women with previous history of one or more preterm births: a research study at a tertiary care hospital

Background: According to the WHO, 3 million newborns die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth and 99% of these deaths occur in the developing countries. Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality as well as short and long term disability. The mechanism responsible for preterm labour are not exactly known, may be multifactorial and preventable with timely and appropriate treatment.Methods: This was a prospective double blinded randomized placebo controlled study conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kamla Nehru State hospital for mother and child, Shimla. Total 80 patients with asymptomatic high risk singleton pregnancy between 24-28 weeks were included in the study. They were randomly allotted to receive either the progesterone tablet 100 mg intravaginally (Study group) or an identical looking placebo (Control group).Thus both the groups included 40 subjects each. The treatment was continued till 34 weeks of gestation or till PROM/ delivery, whichever was earlier. Method of termination, gestational age at time of delivery, mode and type of delivery, birth weight, apgar score, maternal and perinatal outcome were noted and compared in both groups. All the parameters were statistically analysed by mean + S.D, proportion, frequency, chi-square test. Percentage reduction in the quantitative variables was calculated using the formula of (n-t)/n x100.Results: The incidence of preterm deliveries in the present study was found to be 9.88%. Both the groups were comparable in respect of age, parity, BMI, socioeconomic status, occupation and gestational age at first antenatal visit. There was similarity in both groups in respect to number of previous preterm deliveries and cervical length. The incidence of preterm delivery in the study group was 12.5% and in the control group was 35%.Conclusions: The study concluded that progesterone use was associated with 64.2% reduction in the incidence of preterm delivery (p=0.029).Antenatal administration of progesterone reduces the risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks and 34 weeks as well as the risk of a newborn being born with a birth weight of less than 2500 gms

Cordon-Bleu Is an Actin Nucleation Factor and Controls Neuronal Morphology

SummaryDespite the wealth of different actin structures formed, only two actin nucleation factors are well established in vertebrates: the Arp2/3 complex and formins. Here, we describe a further nucleator, cordon-bleu (Cobl). Cobl is a brain-enriched protein using three Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein homology 2 (WH2) domains for actin binding. Cobl promotes nonbundled, unbranched filaments. Filament formation relies on barbed-end growth and requires all three Cobl WH2 domains and the extended linker L2. We suggest that the nucleation power of Cobl is based on the assembly of three actin monomers in cross-filament orientation. Cobl localizes to sites of high actin dynamics and modulates cell morphology. In neurons, induction of both neurites and neurite branching is dramatically increased by Cobl expression—effects that critically depend on Cobl's actin nucleation ability. Correspondingly, Cobl depletion results in decreased dendritic arborization. Thus, Cobl is an actin nucleator controlling neuronal morphology and development

Laryngotracheal trauma management and associated morbidity & mortality: four year experience at a tertiary care centre: Laryngotracheal trauma management

AIM- Cut throat injuries pose a great therapeutic challenge because of the multiple vital structures that are vulnerable to injuries in a small, confined unprotected area. In this study, we describe the site and depth of the injury, etiology, management and prognosis. METHODS- This was a retrospective study of 18 laryngotracheal trauma patients treated at the department of ENT in MDM hospital between April 2017 and January 2020. RESULTS- out of 176 cases of penetrating neck injury, 18 patients presented with a breach in the laryngotracheal framework. Male: Female ratio was 17:1. The peak age of incidence is in the 2nd and 4th decade of life. Accidental cut throat injury was the most common mode of injury (83%) followed by homicidal (11%) and then suicidal (5%). Endotracheal intubation (where possible) or emergency tracheostomy was done to secure the airway in all the cases followed by surgical debridement, laryngeal/hypopharynx repair. Post-operative endoscopy is useful to identify complications. Wound dehiscence was the most common complication. CONCLUSIONS- Cut throat injuries are one of the common E.N.T. surgical emergency. Timely intervention is paramount because it may otherwise cause death of the patient. Securing the airway, control of hemorrhage and fluid & blood replacement is the mainstay to prevent complications like shock, sepsis, laryngeal stenosis or fistula formation

Scar endometriosis with rudimentary horn: An unusual and elucidative report of a case diagnosed on histopathology and immunohistochemistry

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of functioning endometrial tissue outside the endometrial cavity. Scar endometriosis, also known as spontaneous abdominal wall endometriosis, is an unusual clinical presentation which often goes unnoticed. It usually develops after pelvic operations. The incidence has been estimated to be only 0.03%–0.15% of all cases of endometriosis. It can be either asymptomatic or present as abdominal wall pain at the site of surgical incision. It is most commonly diagnosed clinically or on ultrasonography. The treatment of choice predominantly remains surgical excision. We present a case of a 24-year-old female (known case of bicornuate uterus) who presented with chief complaints of abdominal pain for 1 month and 6 months after metroplasty. The patient was clinically diagnosed as a case of scar endometriosis with rudimentary horn and fistulous tract and taken up for surgery. Both the scar tissue and fistulous tract were removed and histopathology revealed only endometrial glands without stroma or hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Diagnosis of scar endometriosis was established on positive immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone receptor in endometrial glands. Timely diagnosis and surgical excision of scar endometriosis along with close follow-up are necessary to prevent complications and recurrence