Seasonal variation of the water quality parameters and its influences in the mahanadi estuary and near coastal environment, east coast of India

The distributions of water quality parameters viz. temp, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended substances (TSS), nutrients NO 2-N, NO 3-N, NH 4-N, PO 4-P, SiO 4-Si, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP) and Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were studied in the Mahanadi river and costal environment of Paradip in two different seasons i.e. post-monsoon and summer during 2006-2007. Results of nutrient concentrations were exhibited higher indicates that large inputs possibly from two major fertilizer plants, municipal sewage from Paradip town and agricultural runoff. In the estuary most of the nutrients showed higher values (NO 3 7.23 μmol/l, NH 4 6.32 μmol/l, PO 4 16.03 μmol/l and SiO 4 15.32 μmol/l) during post-monsoon as compared to the costal stations. The PO 4 TN, TP and SiO 4-Si showed a well-defined pattern of distribution with higher concentration in estuarine water of Mahanadi estuary during summer

Elevation patterns of tree diversity, composition and stand structure in Mahendragiri Hill Forest, Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India

Tropical mountain forests in Eastern Ghats provide a unique opportunity to relate environmental drivers to plant community structure along elevation gradient. We aimed to investigate the tree diversity, composition and stand structure along elevation gradient and drivers facilitating species distribution across Mahendragiri Hill Forest (MHF) in Eastern Ghats of Odisha, India. Altogether 120 plots of 0.05 ha were established and stems ≥10 cm diameter at breast height were measured. We compared species composition and stand structure among elevation zones. Ordination analysis was used to quantify how community structure was related to topographic, climatic and onsite conditions. In total 189 species representing 131 genera and 51 families were recorded ranging from 64 (MHF6) to 106 species (MHF4). Fabaceae representing 23 species, followed by Phyllanthaceae was dominant families. Maximum tree density and basal area were enumerated in high elevation MHF6 and least disturbed MHF5, respectively. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) interpreted 58.59% of variation and depicted the role of elevation followed by disturbance and precipitation in species distribution patterns. Variance partitioning analysis shows that topography and disturbance strongly partitioned the dissemination of tree species. Variations in species diversity reflects a direct coupling or interaction of several factors together, making it a complex phenomenon

Evaluation of interleukin-33 & sST2 levels in type-2 diabetic mellitus patients with or without metabolic syndrome

Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by increase in blood glucose levels due to defective insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity. Interleukins (ILs) are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum concentration of IL-33 and its receptor soluble ST2 (sST2) in patients with diabetes and draw a correlation between their serum levels and different standard glycaemic indices of patients affected with type-2 diabetes with or without metabolic syndrome. Methods: Thirty type-2 diabetic individuals and 30 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Serum and plasma were separated by centrifugation of blood for quantitative measurement of IL-33, sST2 and other biochemical parameters. Results: It was observed that serum IL-33 levels were significantly less and sST2 levels were significantly high in type-2 diabetic individuals as compared to healthy controls. A significant correlation between the serum IL-33 concentration and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) levels were also found. Additionally, data also elucidated that serum levels of high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein or triglyceride in type-2 diabetics did not influence the serum levels of IL-33 and sST2, thereby excluding these factors as the major drivers of changes in serum IL-33 and sST2 concentration. Interpretation & conclusions: This study demonstrated alteration in serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 in type-2 diabetic individuals. Further mechanistic studies, focusing on the progression of type-2 diabetes could elucidate the involvement of IL-33 in the cellular acquisition of insulin resistance as observed in type-2 diabetics

A multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of Mycobacterium w in critically ill patients with COVID-19 (ARMY-2)

Background: Mycobacterium w (Mw), an immunomodulator, resulted in better clinical status in severe coronavirus infectious disease 19 (COVID-19) but no survival benefit in a previous study. Herein, we investigate whether Mw could improve clinical outcomes and survival in COVID-19. Materials and Methods: In a multicentric, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial, we randomized hospitalized subjects with severe COVID-19 to receive either 0.3 mL/day of Mw intradermally or a matching placebo for three consecutive days. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. The co-primary outcome was the distribution of clinical status assessed on a seven-point ordinal scale ranging from discharged (category 1) to death (category 7) on study days 14, 21, and 28. The key secondary outcomes were the change in sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score on days 7 and 14 compared to the baseline, treatment-emergent adverse events, and others. Results: We included 273 subjects (136 Mw, 137 placebo). The use of Mw did not improve 28-day survival (Mw vs. placebo, 18 [13.2%] vs. 12 [8.8%], P = 0.259) or the clinical status on days 14 (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.79-2.3), 21 (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 0.83-2.7) or 28 (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 0.79-2.8) between the two study arms. There was no difference in the delta SOFA score or other secondary outcomes between the two groups. We observed higher injection site reactions with Mw. Conclusion: Mw did not reduce 28-day mortality or improve clinical status on days 14, 21 and 28 compared to placebo in patients with severe COVID-19. [Trial identifier: CTRI/2020/04/024846