Soil-transmitted helminths in relation to hemoglobin status among school children of the Kashmir Valley.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) remain a major threat to the health of children throughout the world, mostly in developing nations. The aim of the present study was to determine any relationship between STHs and hemoglobin status in school children of Kashmir Valley (India). Stool and blood samples were collected from 382 male and female school children in the age group of 5-15 yr from all 6 school districts of the Kashmir Valley. Finger-prick blood samples were used to collect the hemoglobin, which was then measured on-site by Sahli's acid hematin method; stool samples were processed using both simple smear and zinc sulphate concentration methods. Of the 382 children surveyed, 299 (78.27%) were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, or both. Children infected by STHs were found to have lower mean values of hemoglobin than uninfected children. The present study reveals that STHs are abundant among school children of Kashmir Valley, creating a negative effect on the hemoglobin values and indicating the necessity of implementing control measures

Survey of biological components efficiency on safety and productivity of different tomato cultivars

Biological agents play an outstanding and effective role in agricultural systems with the reduction of chemical components' applications. This study carried out during 2013 to 2015 investigated the efficiency of some bio-growth regulators, with anti-stress activity and plant resistance against diseases, on productivity and safety of four tomato cultivars with the goal of sustainable agriculture. Biological active substances were Epin extra, Zirkon, Tekamin max and Immunotsitofit that were performed as the following levels : soaking in 0.2% solution for 6 h, soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and one time foliar treatment, soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatments, one time foliar treatment, two times foliar treatments and control as a water treatment, respectively. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars in this study were Sultan F1, Lodzheyn, Dar Zavolzhja and Beta. Results of this study revealed that Epin extra caused the highest germination of Sultan F1 and Dar Zavoljia significantly; germination of Beta was improved when Tekamin max [(TM3) soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatment] was used. Bio-agent Tekamin max in all cases had favourable improvement on tomato morphology of all tomato cultivars. Three records of observation on blight spread on tomato cultivar Dar Zavoljia concluded that blight disease was significantly diminished when Tekamin max [(TM3) soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatment] was performed. Overall, Tekain max as a biological growth regulator was distinguished as the most efficient on growth and development of tomato, and also the lowest blight infection was observed when Tekamin max was applied

Survey of biological components efficiency on safety and productivity of different tomato cultivars

Biological agents play an outstanding and effective role in agricultural systems with the reduction of chemical components' applications. This study carried out during 2013 to 2015 investigated the efficiency of some bio-growth regulators, with anti-stress activity and plant resistance against diseases, on productivity and safety of four tomato cultivars with the goal of sustainable agriculture. Biological active substances were Epin extra, Zirkon, Tekamin max and Immunotsitofit that were performed as the following levels : soaking in 0.2% solution for 6 h, soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and one time foliar treatment, soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatments, one time foliar treatment, two times foliar treatments and control as a water treatment, respectively. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars in this study were Sultan F1, Lodzheyn, Dar Zavolzhja and Beta. Results of this study revealed that Epin extra caused the highest germination of Sultan F1 and Dar Zavoljia significantly; germination of Beta was improved when Tekamin max [(TM3) soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatment] was used. Bio-agent Tekamin max in all cases had favourable improvement on tomato morphology of all tomato cultivars. Three records of observation on blight spread on tomato cultivar Dar Zavoljia concluded that blight disease was significantly diminished when Tekamin max [(TM3) soaking in a 0.2% solution for 6 h and two times foliar treatment] was performed. Overall, Tekain max as a biological growth regulator was distinguished as the most efficient on growth and development of tomato, and also the lowest blight infection was observed when Tekamin max was applied

Comparison of p.o. or i.v. proton pump inhibitors on 72-h intragastric pH in bleeding peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After successful endoscopic hemostasis in bleeding peptic ulcer, addition of proton pump inhibitors reduce the rate of recurrent bleeding by maintaining intragastric pH at neutral level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of various proton pump inhibitors given through different routes on intragastric pH over 72 h after endoscopic hemostasis in bleeding peptic ulcer

Socioeconomic status and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk in Kashmir, India

Studies have persistently associated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk with low socioeconomic status (SES), but this association is unexplored in Kashmir, an area with a high incidence of ESCC in the northernmost part of India. We carried out a case-control study to assess the association of multiple indicators of SES and ESCC risk in the Kashmir valley. A total number of 703 histologically confirmed ESCC cases and 1664 controls matched to the cases for age, sex, and district of residence were recruited from October 2008 to January 2012. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Composite wealth scores were constructed based on the ownership of several appliances using multiple correspondence analyses. Higher education, living in a kiln brick or concrete house, use of liquefied petroleum gas and electricity for cooking, and higher wealth scores all showed an inverse association with ESCC risk. Compared to farmers, individuals who had government jobs or worked in the business sector were at lower risk of ESCC, but this association disappeared in fully adjusted models. Occupational strenuous physical activity was strongly associated with ESCC risk. In summary, we found a strong relationship of low SES and ESCC in Kashmir. The findings need to be studied further to understand the mechanisms through which such SES parameters increase ESCC risk. \ua9 2013 Japanese Cancer Association