The Somatization of Depression in Native Pakistani Women

Previous studies have pointed out the comorbidity of somatization and depression among non-Western psychiatric patients. We studied the somatization of depression in Pakistani women. Two groups were studies: inpatients with DSM-III-R diagnoses of major depression and a comparison sample of women living in the community without psychiatric diagnoses. Both groups were administered a rating scale for somatization. Results indicated that patients reported significantly more somatic symptoms than nonpatients. These findings support the concept that somatization may be a cultural mode of mental distress among Pakistani women, as has been observed for other non-Western populations

Key distinguishing characters (KDCs) of official (Boerhaavia diffusa L.) and commonly mistaken (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) sources of Mukkirattai of Siddha

Boerhaavia diffusa L. has been used extensively in Siddha system of medicine and is often confused with Trianthema portulacastrum L. due to morphological similarities. This particular study compares, analyses and identifies the key distinguishing features of the two whole plant drugs based on pharmacognostical and phytochemical aspects. The samples were studied for macroscopy, microscopy, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC following standard procedures. Macroscopic studies showed few notable differences in macro-microscopy of root, stem, leaves and flowers of both the plants. Microscopically root, stem, leaf and petiole of both the plants showed differences in layers of cork, presence of crystals and medullary rays (in root), the thickness of cuticle, cortex and arrangement of vascular bundles (stem), presence of characteristic type of trichomes (leaf) and shape of the petiole. Powder microscopy showed differences in epidermis, crystal types and shape of pollen. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, saponins and coumarins in B. diffusa and was not detected in T. portulacastrum. There were significant differences in the values of quantitative microscopy, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC of both the whole plant samples. The finding of this study will be helpful for the correct identification of the plant

Vancomycin sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA), resistant to all antibiotics including Vancomycin, has been reported in Japan, USA, Canada and Brazil. Hence, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible presence of Vancomycin resistant or intermediate S.aureus in Karachi. A total of 850 clinical isolates were collected from two civil hospitals in the city between February 2006 and January 2007. They were identified using standard bacteriological methods.Sensitivity to recommended antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion, agar dilution, and E-test quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Susceptibility to natural or semi-natural products was determined by the agar dilution method. Out of 850 isolates, 250 were MRSA, of which 22% were resistant to 4 µg/ml Vancomycin, 24% to 8 µg/ml, 15.2% to 16 µg/ml, 10% to 20 µg/ml, and 13.2% to 30 µg/ml; the remaining 15.6% were sensitive to all used concentrations. Although we did not detect any Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), we found that 13% of the strains were intermediates (VISA), i.e. resistant to 30 µg/ml of Vancomycin. Because of the continuously increasing prevalence of VISA, it is imperative to minimize the use of Vancomycin. Indeed, the drug should only be prescribed for the treatment of documented, culture-proven infections with MRSA that are not susceptible to routine or alternative agents. This should help avoid the consequences of the development of Vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) in our environment

Monograph on quality standards of Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC.

The genus Viscum (Viscaceae) comprise of several species of hemi-parasitic plants with medicinal properties. Commonly known as mistletoes, these plants grow on other trees with the partial parasitic association. Viscum angulatum B.Heyne ex DC. is one such less explored leafless mistletoe of Asian countries with medicinal claims. In Ayurveda (Bandaka) and Siddha (Pulluri/Pulluruvi), many botanicals from mistletoe families have been attributed with medicinal properties. The objective of the current study is to develop a monograph on quality standards of V. angulatum occurring in high altitude hills of Western Ghats. Aerial parts of V. angulatum were collected and authenticated and preserved in FAA for microscopic studies and some quantity of the plant material was shade-dried and coarsely powdered. Successive extracts were subjected to chromatography and isolation - characterization of the major compounds. Leaf-less quadrangular stem was found to be a diagnostic macroscopic feature of this species. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of extracts showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins. HPTLC fingerprint of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts has been obtained for identification of extracts. The ethyl acetate extract yielded 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester which can be used as a marker compound for routine quality check of V. angulatum growing on Mussaenda hirsutissima. The set of data obtained in the present investigation can serve as a standard for the identification as well as further studies. These results on standards of this plant are the first report so far

Monograph on quality standards of Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC.

320-332The genus Viscum (Viscaceae) comprise of several species of hemi-parasitic plants with medicinal properties. Commonly known as mistletoes, these plants grow on other trees with the partial parasitic association. Viscum angulatum B.Heyne ex DC. is one such less explored leafless mistletoe of Asian countries with medicinal claims. In Ayurveda (Bandaka) and Siddha (Pulluri/Pulluruvi), many botanicals from mistletoe families have been attributed with medicinal properties. The objective of the current study is to develop a monograph on quality standards of V. angulatum occurring in high altitude hills of Western Ghats. Aerial parts of V. angulatum were collected and authenticated and preserved in FAA for microscopic studies and some quantity of the plant material was shade-dried and coarsely powdered. Successive extracts were subjected to chromatography and isolation - characterization of the major compounds. Leaf-less quadrangular stem was found to be a diagnostic macroscopic feature of this species. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of extracts showed presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins. HPTLC fingerprint of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts has been obtained for identification of extracts. The ethyl acetate extract yielded 10-hydroxyoleoside dimethyl ester which can be used as a marker compound for routine quality check of V. angulatum growing on Mussaenda hirsutissima. The set of data obtained in the present investigation can serve as a standard for the identification as well as further studies. These results on standards of this plant are the first report so far

The GCP molecular marker toolkit, an instrument for use in breeding food security crops

Crop genetic resources carry variation useful for overcoming the challenges of modern agriculture. Molecular markers can facilitate the selection of agronomically important traits. The pervasiveness of genomics research has led to an overwhelming number of publications and databases, which are, nevertheless, scattered and hence often difficult for plant breeders to access, particularly those in developing countries. This situation separates them from developed countries, which have better endowed programs for developing varieties. To close this growing knowledge gap, we conducted an intensive literature review and consulted with more than 150 crop experts on the use of molecular markers in the breeding program of 19 food security crops. The result was a list of effectively used and highly reproducible sequence tagged site (STS), simple sequence repeat (SSR), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. However, only 12 food crops had molecular markers suitable for improvement. That is, marker-assisted selection is not yet used for Musa spp., coconut, lentils, millets, pigeonpea, sweet potato, and yam. For the other 12 crops, 214 molecular markers were found to be effectively used in association with 74 different traits. Results were compiled as the GCP Molecular Marker Toolkit, a free online tool that aims to promote the adoption of molecular approaches in breeding activities

Genomics-assisted breeding in four major pulse crops of developing countries: present status and prospects

The global population is continuously increasing and is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. This huge population pressure will lead to severe shortage of food, natural resources and arable land. Such an alarming situation is most likely to arise in developing countries due to increase in the proportion of people suffering from protein and micronutrient malnutrition. Pulses being a primary and affordable source of proteins and minerals play a key role in alleviating the protein calorie malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and other undernourishment-related issues. Additionally, pulses are a vital source of livelihood generation for millions of resource-poor farmers practising agriculture in the semi-arid and sub-tropical regions. Limited success achieved through conventional breeding so far in most of the pulse crops will not be enough to feed the ever increasing population. In this context, genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) holds promise in enhancing the genetic gains. Though pulses have long been considered as orphan crops, recent advances in the area of pulse genomics are noteworthy, e.g. discovery of genome-wide genetic markers, high-throughput genotyping and sequencing platforms, high-density genetic linkage/QTL maps and, more importantly, the availability of whole-genome sequence. With genome sequence in hand, there is a great scope to apply genome-wide methods for trait mapping using association studies and to choose desirable genotypes via genomic selection. It is anticipated that GAB will speed up the progress of genetic improvement of pulses, leading to the rapid development of cultivars with higher yield, enhanced stress tolerance and wider adaptability

Spatio-temporal urban land surface temperature variations and heat stress vulnerability index in Thiruvananthapuram city of Kerala, India

ABSTRACT Land use/Land cover (LU/LC) modifications leads to rise in surface temperature is a global concern. This study investigates the effects of LU/LC changes in Land Surface Temperature (LST) variations and effects of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Thiruvananthapuram city. Furthermore, the study proposed a novel heat stress vulnerability index (HSVI) using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Results shows that transformation of all land uses is to built-up areas, which shows an increase of +118.46% where as others such as vegetation (-24.27%), open area (-64.315) and waterbody (-43.88%) shows drastic decrease over 34 years. The relationship between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and LST shows a significant change with R2 values between 0.223 in 1988, 0.382 in 2000 and 0.253 in 2022. Moreover, this also contributed to the increase of the mean LST of 26.96 ºC in 1988 to 28.52 ºC in 2022. HSVI of the study indicates that 30.83% of the study area is categorized as very low heat stress vulnerable area followed by 37.22% area in low heat stress vulnerability, 17.88% in moderate heat stress vulnerability, 8.87% in high heat stress vulnerability and 5.19% of the area falling in very high heat stress Vulnerability class

A United Nations General Assembly Special Session for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders: the time has come.

Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are leading causes of the global burden of disease and profoundly impact the social and economic well-being of individuals and communities. The majority of people affected by MNS disorders globally do not have access to evidence-based interventions and many experience discrimination and abuses of their human rights. A United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) is needed to focus global attention on MNS disorders as a core development issue requiring commitments to improve access to care, promote human rights, and strengthen the evidence on effective prevention and treatment

Performance Evaluation of Inverted Umbrella Type Rainwater Harvesting System at Raichur Campus

The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System is an innovative approach to collecting and storing rainwater efficiently. It is designed in the shape of an inverted umbrella, with a lightweight and durable frame that can be installed on rooftops, open fields, and urban landscapes. This unique design was used with a aim to maximizes rainwater collection efficiency, even during light showers, while occupying minimal space. The system's adaptability to various geographic and climatic conditions makes it a versatile solution for addressing water scarcity. It has potential applications in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, contributing to more responsible water resource management. Rainfall data was collected from meteorological station at Raichur and potential for rainwater harvesting was calculated. Developed rainwater harvesting system was made out of Mild Steel material and transparent white polyethylene sheet was used as cladding material.. The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System represents a promising step toward more responsible water resource management. The Inverted Umbrella-Type Rainwater Harvesting System of size 3m*3m was selected in the study to analyze rain water harvesting efficiency with components like canopy, central conveying pipe, storage tank, filteration mechanism etc. Once the rain falls over the canopy it was diverted to a central connecting pipe and then stored in a storage tank. A co-efficient of performance for kharif season during the year 2022 was developed to estimate the efficiency of the system. Annually 5700 litres of water can be harvested from a single unit of inverted umbrella type rainwater harvesting system. Anticipated and actual water yield during kharif season was found as 4627.56 and 4480.5 L respectively with overall efficiency as 97%. Key features of this system include high collection efficiency, a small footprint, environmental sustainability, ease of maintenance, and water quality assurance. It reduces reliance on traditional water sources, helping conserve water and mitigate environmental impact