Changes in Cord Blood Dendritic Cells as Biomarkers of Fetal Exposure to Stressor Stimuli

DCs are central to fetal defences and it was postulated that phenotypic changes on CBDCs in response to infectious/stressor stimuli could identify compromised fetuses. Investigations were performed on whole blood using monoclonal antibody labelling and flow cytometry. Functional studies included endocytosis of Dextran particles and MLR. Both plasmacytoid (HLA-DR⁺CD11c⁻) and myeloid (HLA-DR⁺CD11c⁺) DCs were identified in CB. Additionally CB contained a DC subset with a HLA-DR⁺CD11c⁻CD45^intermediate(inm) phenotype. This population expressed lower levels of CD45 and HLA-DR and did not express plasmacytoid (CD123, BDCA2, and CD45RA) or myeloid (CD33 and CD13) markers. All subsets exhibited endocytosis and unlabelled CBDCs exhibited lymphocytic stimulatory capacity. Both myeloid and plasmacytoid CBDC subsets showed no change with gestation. The CD11c⁻ CD45^inm subset decreased with increasing gestation representing 31.33% of total DCs in preterm, 21.26% in term CB and 1.54% in adult PB. CD11c⁻CD45inm DC numbers expressing CD40, CD86 and production of IL-12 increased significantly with stressors. The myeloid and the plasmacytoid subsets showed no upregulation of CD40 and CD86 with stressors. The myeloid subset decreased while the plasmacytoid subset increased IL-12 production with stressors. Neutrophilic activation markers of CD11b and CD16 showed significant correlation with the stressed CB samples which exhibited proinflammatory DC responses, thus validating the clinical classification. These data indicate that CB contains plasmacytoid and myeloid DC populations as seen in adult PB. Additionally this study has identified a hitherto unreported CBDC subset with an immature phenotype, exhibiting endocytosis and phenotypically distinct from plasmacytoid DCs. Of the three subsets, only the CD11c⁻CD45^inm subset showed a costimulatory response to stressors suggesting this subset to be the most kinetic; changing with advancing gestation as well as exposure to stressors. Thus investigating phenotypic changes on CBDC subsets, especially on the CD11c⁻CD45^inm subset, could serve to identify fetuses exposed to stressor stimuli and at risk of adverse sequelae.Open Acces

A Study to Identify School Readiness in Pre School Children 3 to 4 Years

This study aimed at finding the prevalence of children who are ready for school, both by gender and age. The study also aimed to study if the predictive factors for children who were not ready for school was different when compared to children who were ready. This chapter summarises the findings of the study in keeping with the objectives of the study. • The overall prevalence of children who were ‗ready‘ for school was similar to other studies from developed countries on the domains of Arts and scientific thinking and was comparable to the data from similar socio demographic sample. The prevalence of children being ‗ready for school‘ was higher in the domains of Personal Social development and Physical development and Health. The prevalence of children ‗ready for school‘ was lower on mathematical thinking and language and literacy. • The prevalence of girls who were ‗ready‘ for school was higher than boys who were ‗ready.‘ This was seen on all the domains of school readiness. The means performance of boys and girls on all domains were also statistically significant. This difference was evident in other large scale cohort studies (ECLS, 2001). • The older age group of children (42-48 months) were more ‗ready‘ for school than the younger age group. The percentage of children in the older age group who were ready was more than triple than in the younger age group. Younger children were 5 times more at risk for being ‗not ready‘ for school. • Among the socio economic and socio demographic predictive variables in the present study, maternal education and the location of the residence were predictive of school readiness. Maternal education was reported as an important predictor in other studies. • Among the child related variables IQ and academic performance in class were predictive of poor school readiness. Antenatal complication of PIH and neonatal complication of low birth weight and birth asphyxia were significant predictors of poor school readiness. Higher parent involvement and the non- suspect home environment were predictors of school readiness. • The availability of resources and the teacher‘s qualifications did not have a significant association with school readiness. The number of hours a child spends in school (<4 hours) and the number of children in the class were important predictors of school readiness in children. • Logistic regression of the significant variables from the socio-economic and demographic factors, child related factors, parent and home factors and school showed age, gender, IQ, academic performance, maternal education, location of residence, pregnancy induced hypertension, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, home environment and parent involvement were significant predictors of school readiness. The association of these variables with school readiness was reported in other studies but the present study is one of the few from India on school readiness and probably the only one to have analysed all these factors comprehensively

A Comparison of Rubrics in Boger Boenninghausen Characteristics and Repertory with the Rubrics of Repertory of Hemorrhoids by W.M.J Guernsey in Hemorrhoids

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed in understanding the comparison of rubrics in boger boenninghausen characteristic repertory with the rubrics of repertory of hemorrhoids by w.m.j guernsey in hemorrhoids Hemorrhoid is a life disturbing disease which affects all age group but especially more in adults. Due to low fibre diet, strainning while passing stool and prolonged sitting while passing stool these are identified as the common cause of hemorrhoids. Apart from this females are prone to suffer from hemorrhoids after preganancy. Homoeopathy being a hoilistic system of medicine which is most economical, has a major role in individuals suffering from Hemorrhoids and can able to reduce the rate of surgery and helpful for preventing the complications of surgery and also recurrence. METHODS: The present study with sample of 30 cases and age group of 18-65 years suffering from hemorrhoidal pain were selected from OPD/IPD and rural centres of Sarada krishna Homoeopathic medical college & Hospital. Thirty cases of adults presenting with complaints of Hemorrhoids were Randomly selected and were analaysed for disease intensity according to colorectal Evaluation of clinical Therapeutics scale (CORECTS) and History was taken as per the case performa. Case were followed for a period of 6 months. Observations were recorded and pain before and after treatment were evaluated based on scoring criteria RESULTS: Thirty cases were analysed.After 6 months of treatment there is a significant difference in symptom. Sulphur & nuxvomica was the remedy which was most used and potency was 200. occupation in which people who have to sit for prolonged periods are at risk of developing hemorrhoids. Case score was analysed before and after treatment which shows 23 cases of marked impovement and 5 cases of moderate improvement and 2 cases of mild improvement. CONCLUSION: Based on the result of study it is evident that Homoeopathic medicine are very effective in treatment of Hemorrhoids in adults and are capable of reducing the recurrenc

Greenhouse Gas Sensor using a Novel Conducting Polymer-GQD Composite Material

As Greenland’s ice is melting by a record amount with the concurrent increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, there is a concern for examining global warming in more detail. To control and keep the levels monitored, the precise measurement of greenhouse gases is desirable as there are interferences in the measurements. A novel method is developed to make sensors from conducting polymers. An Emeraldine Green (EG) – Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) composite material is synthesized and used as the active material with enhanced sensing properties, owing to the larger surface area available. The active material is characterized to ensure the binding of the polymer and the GQD particles. A greenhouse gas sensor is designed and fabricated based on the electrochemical changes in the active material on exposure to greenhouse gases in a two-stage operation. In the first stage, the response of the interfering gases along with the analyte chosen is recorded and in the second stage, the thermal pulse is applied corresponding to the desorption energies of the interfering gases and could be used to isolate the interfering components. The sensor was tested on carbon dioxide gas with a response time of 46 seconds for a concentration of 200 ppm and shows negligible interference from methane gas at atmospheric concentrations

A Comparative Study on the Derivation of Unit Hydrograph for Bharathapuzha River Basin

AbstractSeveral techniques are available for the development of the unit hydrograph. But most of these traditional methods require manual fitting of the unit hydrograph through few points, which does not guarantee the area under the unit hydrograph to be unity. More over most of the stations are ungauged, due to which it becomes difficult to develop the unit hydrograph. So in order to overcome these problems, two methods have been considered in this study for the development of the unit hydrograph for Bharathapuzha river basin. They are the “two parameter Gamma distribution” and “three parameter Beta distribution”, both of which are based on Probability Distribution Functions (pdfs). The unit hydrograph developed by the two parameter Gamma distribution match well with the one developed by CWC method, but the unit hydrograph developed by the three parameter Beta distribution does not match well with the one developed by the CWC method. From the unit hydrograph, runoff hydrograph is convoluted for the year 2008. For this the hourly rainfall are generated from daily rainfall values by disaggregation. But on plotting, the simulated discharge hydrograph is found to be greater than the observed discharge. This may be due to non incorporation of the inflow outflow processes of many hydraulic structures such as dams, irrigation schemes etc, existing in the basin in the model study. The data related to these structures could not be obtained due to certain restriction in acquiring the data from authorized agencies

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder management: A biopsychosocial model

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. It represents a complex problem because it appears at an early age, affects the daily lives of children from all areas of development, and is likely to persist throughout the life. The main management interventions in ADHD include pharmacotherapy, behavioral management, and family therapy which vary in their precedence according to age of the child and degree of impairment in the child. The biopsychosocial model tries to elucidate the interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors which determine the cause, manifestation, and outcome of any disease. In this article, we discuss how the biopsychosocial model of disease can be applied to ADHD to explain the symptoms as well as how it can help in planning of management at individual level

Identification of Suitable Sites for Water Harvesting Structures in Kecheri River Basin

AbstractWater is the most precious resource on the earth which is essential for the existence of life. Though Kerala is blessed with two prominent monsoons with an average rainfall of around 3000mm, it experiences water scarcity in off monsoon seasons. Peculiarities such as steep slope and undulating terrain accelerate surface flow and hence most of the water received as rainfall goes as unutilized. Water Harvesting is the best technique which can be used effectively to trap the unutilized surface runoff and thereby increase the groundwater recharge. But these structures have to be located at places where water is available in excess and conditions are favourable for enhanced infiltration. The objective of this study is to identify suitable sites for water harvesting structures. For ideally locating the sites, the guidelines put forward by NRSA, Hyderabad for Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (IMSD), is being followed. ArcGIS is used for the spatial analysis and the sites are located by overlaying thematic maps of land use, soil, slope, runoff potential, soil permeability and stream order. It is found that 37 percentage of the total area is ideal for constructing check dam, 7 percentage for farm pond, 4 percentage for percolation pond and about 2 percentage for subsurface dyke. Check dams are the most suited one and location for subsurface dykes is sparse. Locations of water harvesting structures are suggested by conducting meteorological and topographical analysis. However, for the practical implementation of these structures, viability of other considerations such as economy, social implications, practical feasibility etc. need to be considered

Language outcome of very low birth weight babies at 2-year corrected age: A comparative study

Background: Improved survival of preterm infants has resulted in increase in motor and cognitive dysfunctions which have&nbsp;reduced health-related quality of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the receptive and expressive language&nbsp;(EL) development of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies at 2-year corrected age and compare it with normal birth weight&nbsp;(NBW) “at-risk” babies on developmental follow-up. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which compared&nbsp;the language outcome which was measured using Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Scale. Results: The study included&nbsp;75 VLBW babies and a comparison group of 26 NBW babies. The mean receptive language quotient in VLBW and NBW babies&nbsp;was 91.37±8.35 and 97.19±7.07, respectively (p=0.002). The mean EL quotient in VLBW and NBW babies was 82.64±12.32 and&nbsp;92.77±10.47, respectively (p&lt;0.001). A total of 20% of VLBW children had a significant delay in EL as opposed to only 4% of the&nbsp;NBW children (p=0.019). Conclusion: VLBW infants have a significantly higher chance of expressive language delay compared&nbsp;to NBW children

Sustainable agriculture: Trends and opportunities for 21st Century

The green revolution has been a major boost to the agriculture sector throughout the world including India. The food production of the country increased by many fold during the 1960s and 1970s and has continued to increase since then. But, the boom of green revolution could not last long as we witnessed stagnation in the productivity of our farm lands along with soil and crop health degradation. This forced the scientific and farming community to look for efficient and ecologically safe farming systems which led to the evolution of the concept of ‘sustainable agriculture’. Sustainable agriculture is a holistic concept of agriculture which helps in meeting the needs of the present generation without affecting the future generation. It helps in maintaining optimum crop production along with maintaining soil health, conservation of natural resources and preserving ecological balance and biodiversity in agroecosystems. This review aims to create a paradigm for future studies on new and innovative techniques for sustainable crop production