Sputum conversion at the end of intensive phase of Category-1 regimen in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with diabetes mellitus or HIV infection: An analysis of risk factors

Background & objectives: New smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) are treated with a 6-month short-course chemotherapy (SCC) regimen irrespective of co-morbid conditions. We undertook this retrospective analysis to compare sputum conversion rates (smear, culture) at the end of intensive phase (IP) of Category-1 regimen among patients admitted to concurrent controlled clinical trials: pulmonary tuberculosis alone (PTB) or with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-TB) or HIV infection (HIV-TB), and to identify the risk factors influencing sputum conversion. Methods: In this retrospective analysis sputum conversion rates at the end of intensive phase (IP) in three concurrent studies undertaken among PTB, DM-TB and HIV-TB patients, during 1998 – 2002 at the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), Chennai, were compared. Sputum smears were examined by fluorescent microscopy. HIV infected patients did not receive anti-retroviral treatment (ART). Patients with DM were treated with oral hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin (sc). Results: The study population included 98, 92 and 88 patients in the PTB, DM-TB and HIV-TB studies. At the end of IP the smear conversion (58, 61, and 62%) and culture conversion (86, 88 and 92%) rates were similar in the three groups respectively. The variables associated with lack of sputum smear or culture conversion were age >45 yr, higher pre-treatment smear and culture grading, and extent of the radiographic involvement. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings confirm that the current policy of the control programme to treat all pulmonary TB patients with or with out co-morbid conditions with Category-I regimen appears to be appropriate

Comparison of the reproductive biology of two stocks of Indian subcontinental Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) with special reference to reproductive isolation and philopatry

130-140The study of reproductive biology is a prerequisite for fishery management and conservation. The current study aimed to compile all available information on the reproductive biology of the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus from two geographical regions of India, Cochin backwaters (west coast; n = 362) and Pulicat (east coast; n = 223) southern India to decipher the possible differences in reproductive and biological attributes between the geographical groups. The LWR showed isometric growth (b = 3.08) for females on the west coast and positive allometric growth (b = 3.338) on the east coast, whereas the males showed negative allometric growth on both coasts. The sex ratio (male: female) recorded in this study was 1:1.2 on the west coast and was well balanced. On the east coast, the sex ratio was 1: 2.09 and deviated significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. The gonadal morphology and developmental pattern were the same for both groups of M. cephalus. The length at maturity values of both males (L50 = 349.3 mm TL on the west coast and 375.8 mm TL on the east coast) and female (L50 = 437.6 mm TL in the west coast and 394.9 mm TL in the east coast) showed a significant difference between two groups. Seasonal distribution of GSI and maturity stages suggested that the spawning period of M. cephalus was between May and July coinciding with the onset of the southwest monsoon on the west coast while on the east coast it was between December and January months during the north-east monsoon. The reproductive isolation and philopatry in west and east coast M. cephalus groups are discussed based on the observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of fishes in the sampling areas

Comparison of the reproductive biology of two stocks of Indian subcontinental Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) with special reference to reproductive isolation and philopatry

The study of reproductive biology is a prerequisite for fishery management and conservation. The current study aimed to compile all available information on the reproductive biology of the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus from two geographical regions of India, Cochin backwaters (west coast; n = 362) and Pulicat (east coast; n = 223) southern India to decipher the possible differences in reproductive and biological attributes between the geographical groups. The LWR showed isometric growth (b = 3.08) for females on the west coast and positive allometric growth (b = 3.338) on the east coast, whereas the males showed negative allometric growth on both coasts. The sex ratio (male: female) recorded in this study was 1:1.2 on the west coast and was well balanced. On the east coast, the sex ratio was 1: 2.09 and deviated significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. The gonadal morphology and developmental pattern were the same for both groups of M. cephalus. The length at maturity values of both males (L50 = 349.3 mm TL on the west coast and 375.8 mm TL on the east coast) and female (L50 = 437.6 mm TL in the west coast and 394.9 mm TL in the east coast) showed a significant difference between two groups. Seasonal distribution of GSI and maturity stages suggested that the spawning period of M. cephalus was between May and July coinciding with the onset of the southwest monsoon on the west coast while on the east coast it was between December and January months during the north-east monsoon. The reproductive isolation and philopatry in west and east coast M. cephalus groups are discussed based on the observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of fishes in the sampling areas

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions

Biocontrol Properties and Functional Characterization of Rice Rhizobacterium Pseudomonas sp. VSMKU4036

A total of 30 fluorescent pseudomonads (FPs) were showed significant antagonistic activity against different fungal phytopathogens with different level of the zone of inhibition (ZOI) for Rhizoctonia solani (5mm-34mm), Macrophomina phaseolina (9mm-37mm), Scleotium rolfsii (4mm-36mm), Helminthusporium solani (5mm-27mm), Fusarium oxysporum (2mm-25mm) and Fusarium oxysporum RACE (4mm-31mm) compared to control. The maximum growth of our selected isolate VSMKU4036 was observed in King’B Broth (KBB), pH 7.0 and at 37°C. The VSMKU4036 isolate has been recognized as Pseudomonas sp, based on the morphological, biological, and different functional characteristics. Antagonistic rhizobacterium Pseudomonas sp VSMKU4036 produced antimicrobial traits, such as plant growth promotion and various functional characters like siderophores, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), phosphate solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA), biofilms formation, protease, gelatinase, amylase, and pectinase. Our superior biocontrol isolate VSMKU4036 was high resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin and nalidixic acid, however, it was sensitive to ampicillin and rifamycin. Pseudomonas sp VSMKU4036 showed maximum resistance to cadmium, nickel chloride, copper sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc chloride and ferric chloride where as highly sensitive to mercuric chloride, and selenium dioxide compared to control

Recirculating Aquaculture System: Concepts and Designs

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Not AvailableAn integrated approach for rearing Pacific white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with red seaweed Agarophyton tenuistipitatum was evaluated in an experimental-scale in biofloc system. Accordingly, four treatments were designed and assessed the applicability of seaweed in biofloc-based intensive shrimp rearing system with respect to bioremediation and shrimp growth. Chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in biofloc-seaweed (B-SW) system compared to control and biofloc monoculture system. After 30 days of the experiment removal of NH4-N (93.73%), NO2-N (60.04%), NO3-N (73.38%), and PO4-P (49.06%) in biofloc-seaweed system was found significantly higher than biofloc monoculture system. B-SW could contribute by reducing nitrogen compounds (NH4-N, NO2-N, and NO3-N) and phosphate (PO4-P), turbidity and COD in water, and increase final weight of shrimp and survival percentage (5.50 ± 0.207 g and 74.17 ± 2.21%) compared to control (2.25 ± 0.258 g and 42.33 ± 1.45%) and biofloc system (4.13 ± 0.199 g and 53.33 ± 1.67%). SGR of shrimp was significantly increased by 5.31 ± 0.023% day-1 in biofloc-seaweed system compared to biofloc without seaweed (4.35 ± 0.006% day-1). Incorporation of seaweed was successful to improve water quality and growth of shrimp in biofloc system.Not AvailableNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThe study of reproductive biology is a prerequisite for fishery management and conservation. The current study aimed to compile all available information on the reproductive biology of the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus from two geographical regions of India, Cochin backwaters (west coast; n = 362) and Pulicat (east coast; n = 223) southern India to decipher the possible differences in reproductive and biological attributes between the geographical groups. The LWR showed isometric growth (b = 3.08) for females on the west coast and positive allometric growth (b = 3.338) on the east coast, whereas the males showed negative allometric growth on both coasts. The sex ratio (male: female) recorded in this study was 1:1.2 on the west coast and was well balanced. On the east coast, the sex ratio was 1: 2.09 and deviated significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. The gonadal morphology and developmental pattern were the same for both groups of M. cephalus. The length at maturity values of both males (L50 = 349.3 mm TL on the west coast and 375.8 mm TL on the east coast) and female (L50 = 437.6 mm TL in the west coast and 394.9 mm TL in the east coast) showed a significant difference between two groups. Seasonal distribution of GSI and maturity stages suggested that the spawning period of M. cephalus was between May and July coinciding with the onset of the southwest monsoon on the west coast while on the east coast it was between December and January months during the north-east monsoon. The reproductive isolation and philopatry in west and east coast M. cephalus groups are discussed based on the observations on the spatio-temporal distribution of fishes in the sampling areas.ICA