Understanding the Effect of BVDV on Innate Immune Response of Neutrophils

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the highly prevalent and economically important diseases of cattle industry worldwide. The two major consequences of this disease are persistent infection and immunosuppression. Several studies have been done to determine the underline mechanisms of BVDV-induced immunosuppression targeting antigen presenting cells, adaptive immune system cells and cytokine gene expression. However, very little research has been done to determine the effect of BVDV on neutrophils. Neutrophils are one of the most abundant while blood cells (WBC) in the peripheral blood, which play a critical role in the innate as well as adaptive immune response. The current study measured the effect of BVDV infection on viability of neutrophils, their surface marker expression and functional abilities including migration/chemoattraction, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species production (oxidative burst) and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. These studies revealed that none of BVDV strains affected the viability of neutrophils in vitro. BVDV infection did affect surface marker expression. TGAC and TGAN reduced the expression of CD18 and Lselectin while increasing CD14 expression. All ncp BVDV strains used enhanced neutrophil migration while the cp BVDV strain reduced neutrophil migration as compared to mock-infected control treatment. Among the BVDV strains used in current study, highly virulent 1373 significantly enhanced neutrophil migration. The enhancement in neutrophil migration by 1373 was approximately 55% higher as compared to LPS-treated positive control macrophages. BVDV infection significantly enhanced neutrophil phagocytosis activity for 0.2 μm microsphere beads as compared to mock infection. Neutrophil phagocytic activity for rhodamine-labeled E. coli was reduced by BVDV infection as compared to LPS-control. TGAC, TGAN, 1373 or 28508 had 23%, 6%, 19% or 12% less phagocytic activity respectively as compared to mock-infected rhodamine-labeled E. coli-treated neutrophils. All BVDV strains used in the current study also reduced oxidative burst by approximately 50% as compared to positive control (

Maternal Health Financing in Gujarat: Preliminary Results from a Household Survey of Beneficiaries under Chiranjeevi Scheme

The objective of this paper is to provide preliminary analysis of information collected at household level from beneficiaries of the Chiranjeevi scheme and from those who have not used the scheme (non-user group). The key findings have been discussed. Some of the questions which have guided this exercise are: understanding the socio-economic profile and differences of the households who have used the scheme and those who have not used the scheme, ability of scheme to target the poor and out-of-pocket expenditures incurred both users and non-users of the scheme. We have discussed this by analysing education, land holding, number of earning members in the family, possession of specific assets, age of women at the time of delivery, ANC services received, place of delivery, distance and time taken to reach the facility, status (normal or complication) of delivery, complications experienced, and cost incurred during the process. The total sample size consists of 656 respondents from 3 talukas of Dahod District. Of these total 656 respondents, 262 (40 per cent) are Chiranjeevi clients and 394 (60 per cent) comprise the non-user group. Key findings of the study are: * The Chiranjeevi scheme is being used by relatively younger mothers and having lesser number of children at the time of index delivery. * Most of the Chiranjeevi users have income levels less than Rs. 12,000 per annum indicating the scheme is able to target the poor families in these three blocks of the district, * The expenditure incurred by non-user group on index (recent) delivery at a private facility is Rs. 4000. * The average expenditure incurred by the Chiranjeevi beneficiary on their previous delivery was Rs. 3070. On index delivery a Chiranjeevi client has spent out-of- pocket on an average Rs. 727 per delivery on medicine (self Rs. 297, child Rs. 358) and transportation Rs.72 indicating that the delivery is not really cash-less. However, the average amount saved by the Chiranjeevi client by availing the benefit of the scheme is Rs 3273 (Rs. 4000 minus Rs. 727). * The average distance travelled by a Chiranjeevi client to reach the health care facility is 13.79 kms and the average time taken is 44 minutes. * The average expenditure on transportation using mostly private transport by a Chiranjeevi client is Rs.272 as compared to Rs. 200 which the Chiranjeevi client is reimbursed, * Private doctors have conducted 41 per cent of deliveries where as rest of the deliveries have been conducted by staff at the private health care facility under the Chiranjeevi scheme, * ANMs have been the source of information to 55 per cent of Chiranjeevi scheme users. Anganwadi workers provided information to 17 percent of the clients and Female Health Workers to 10 per cent of the Chiranjeevi clients. Thus, 82 per cent of the total beneficiaries of the Chiranjeevi scheme were provided information by the community health workers.

The Potential of Arecanut Husk Ash as Supplementary Cementitious Material

This paper reports the recycling of arecanut husk ash (ANA) as supplementary cementitious material in respect of cement mortars. The mixes are prepared with four percentages (0, 10, 15, 20, and 25) of ANA as partial replacement of portland cement. The properties investigated are; chemical composition, particle size, presence of crystalline matter, compressive strength, water absorption and sorption. Mortar cubes are tested for compressive strength up to the age of 56 days, whereas water absorption and sorption tests are carried out at the age of 28 days. Test results have shown that ANA is an effective pozzolan up to the optimal replacement ratio of 20% cement with better water absorption characteristics

The study of atmospherically deposited Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particles (SCP) from the Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

The surface sediment samples of Kongsfjorden were analyzed for the Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particles (SCP) in an attempt to document the SCP in the environment other than previously studied inland lakes and snow and also to understand the probable source of industrial atmospheric pollution. The SCP are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels at high temperatures and are not produced naturally. They are chemically inert in both sediment and water and thus provide the indestructible record of atmospherically deposited pollutants in remote areas and anthropogenic impact on pristine environments. The SCP were recovered from different locations of the fjord and were classified according to their size range (small particles, 5-10 µm – large particles, 20-50 µm). The characterization of the spherical carbonaceous particles (shape, size, morphology, color etc.) was done under the light microscope. The detailed morphological features and chemical composition of SCP were studied using Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX). The result shows that in term of a source of pollution in the area, long-range transportation is the major source of pollution but local sources cannot be ignored. This is a first attempt to study the SCP from the Kongsfjorden

Effect of Arecanut Husk Ash and Water Hyacinth Stem Ash on Plasticity Behavior of Lateritic Soil

This paper presents investigations on the influence of arecanut husk ash and water hyacinth stem ash as an additive on the plasticity behavior of soil. Ashes are mixed with the soil at 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%. It is observed that the arecanut husk ash has decreased the plasticity index, whereas water hyacinth stem ash has increased the plasticity index with the increase in ash content. For finding minimum plasticity value, 15% addition of ANA can be considered as the optimum level. Keywords:lateritic soil; liquid limit; areca nut husk ash; water hyacinth stem ash Nomenclature: ANA:arecanut husk ash; WHA: water hyacinth stem ash; ISSCS: Indian standard soil classification syste

Outcome of treatment of Gartland type lll supracondylar humerus fractures in children by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning vs. open reduction and internal fixation by K-wires

Background: Extension fractures are more common than flexion fractures, and were classified into three subgroups by Gartland: type I, with no displacement; type II, with moderate displacement and intact posterior cortex and type III, with complete displacement. According to many authors, the ideal treatment for type 3 supracondylar humerus fractures is closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. Methods: This study was conducted in the department of orthopaedics, Rajendra institute of medical sciences, Ranchi during the period from December 2020 to December 2022. Both male and female patients were included in the study. Implant used are K wires of various diameter ranging from 1.5 to 2 mm. Results: The results with CRPCP are better than ORIF method as far as range of motion of elbow is concerned. Baumann angle were also comparable in both the groups. Conclusions: In our study, in the ORIF group, the ROM of the elbow treated improved with time. There was improvement in the range of motion at the 6-months follow-up as compared to the 3-months follow-up.

Outcome of treatment of intra-articular distal end radius fractures by volar locking plate versus bridging external fixator augmented by single K-wire through radial styloid

Background: Distal radius fractures are common injuries occurring more frequently than any other fracture, and remain one of the most frequent skeletal injuries treated by orthopaedic or trauma surgeons. They are considered the most common fracture of the upper extremity. The use of percutaneous pin fixation, external fixation devices that permit distraction and palmar translation, low-profile internal fixation plates and implants, arthroscopically assisted reduction, and grafting techniques including bone-graft substitutes all have contributed to improving fracture stability and outcome. Methods: This is a prospective study consisting of 30 patients, who were treated with volar locking plate or K-wire augmented external fixation for intra-articular commented distal radius fractures (AO type C) at Rajendra institute of medical sciences between November 2020 and January 2023. The 15 patients were treated with open reduction using the volar approach and locking plate were used while 15 patients were treated with closed reduction under fluoroscopy, distraction with the external fixator (Joshi type external fixator) along with K-wire fixation for additional stability used. Result: The ORIF with plating group showed better functional outcomes in Green and O'Brien compared to ex fix group. The radiographic results in the ORIF group were more favorable than in the EF group. Conclusions: We found that both ORIF with plating and external fixation represent treatment choices for distal radius fractures. ORIF had better functional and radiological outcomes according to Green and O'Brien and Sarmiento scoring systems when compared to external fixation. ORIF had less incidence of complications compared with external fixation

Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy: an experience at a Fortis Escorts hospital

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) in terms of demographic data of patients, indications, uterine size, intraoperative and postoperative complications, amount of blood loss, operative time and duration of hospital stay.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 160 cases, who underwent laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy in the period between October 2018 to November 2019 at the Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana, India.Results: Majority of patients (58.75%) belongs to age group between 40-50 year. Only 30.62% cases had a history of one previous abdomino-pelvic surgery. Majority of cases (52.5%) in the study group had uterine size between 6-12 weeks. Most common indication of hysterectomy in this study was fibroid uterus which account for 49.37% of cases followed by dysfunctional uterine bleeding (16.87%) cases. Mean time of surgery in this study was 114.4±0.59 min and average blood loss was 135.62±47.63 ml. The mean weight of uterus was 243.75±82.94 gm. 5% cases had major intraoperative complications while minor postoperative complications were seen in 16.87% cases. Bladder injury was seen in 1.25%. Major haemorrhage occur in 1.25%. In this study conversion to laparotomy rate was 1.25%. Only one case of ureteric injury and one case of bowel injury was noted. Among minor complications fever (6.25%) and urinary tract infection (5.62%) were mainly seen. Mean duration of hospital stay was 2.82±1.17 days.Conclusions: LAVH enables the surgeon to convert most of the abdominal hysterectomies into vaginal ones and hence decreases postoperative pain, decreases complications, lesser duration of hospital stay and rapid return to normal activity

Spatial distribution and environmental assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Spatial distribution and environmental assessment of heavy metals of the surface sediment samples collected from the Kongsfjorden system, Svalbard duringsummer months of 2011, 2012 and 2013were studied using grain size, organic carbon and metal concentrations (Mn, Cr, Zn, Co, Cu,Tiand Pb). The Inner fjord was blanketed by clay-rich sediments while clayey silt or silty clay was found in the Outer fjord. High sedimentation rate and the water column turbulence resulted in the poor preservation of the organic matter in the Inner fjord while high concentration of TOC in the Outer fjord sediments indicated high primaryproductivity.Further, in the Outer fjord, the concentration of metals like Mn, Cr, Zn, Co,Cuand Pb were found to be higher near the mouth of the fjord while the lowest concentrations were at its distal end. The Inner fjord was also characterized by a concurrent enrichment of these heavy metals near the glacier outlets with the lowest values occurring near the shallow sill separating it from the Outer fjord. The significant positive correlation of all the heavy metals except Pb in the outer and inner part of the fjord, among themselves and also with Ti corroborated their terrigenous source possibly derived from the rocks present in the catchment area through the glacier melt waters.While, uniform negative correlation exhibited by Pb with all the other elements may point to its source from elsewhere,indicating its source to be anthropogenic

Maternal Healthcare Financing: Gujarat's Chiranjeevi Scheme and Its Beneficiaries

Maternal mortality is an important public-health issue in India, specifically in Gujarat. Contributing factors are the Government's inability to operationalize the First Referral Units and to provide an adequate level of skilled birth attendants, especially to the poor. In response, the Gujarat state has developed a unique public-private partnership called the Chiranjeevi Scheme. This scheme focuses on institutional delivery, specifically emergency obstetric care for the poor. The objective of the study was to explore the targeting of the scheme, its coverage, and socioeconomic profile of the beneficiaries and to assess financial protection offered by the scheme, if any, in Dahod, one of the initial pilot districts of Gujarat. A household-level survey of beneficiaries (n=262) and non-users (n=394) indicated that the scheme is well-targeted to the poor but many poor people do not use the services. The beneficiaries saved more than Rs 3,000 (US$ 75) in delivery-related expenses and were generally satisfied with the scheme. The study provided insights on how to improve the scheme further. Such a financing scheme could be replicated in other states and countries to address the cost barrier, especially in areas where high numbers of private specialists are available