ASSESSMENT OF THYROID DYSFUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS IN CENTRAL INDIA

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of thyroid disorders among diabetics in Central India. Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional comparative study at the department of medicine, tertiary care center in Central India on a total of 100 diabetic patients admitted at the study area during the study period of 1 year. Cases in the study group with diabetes and control group (non-diabetic) were enrolled as per inclusion and exclusion criteria in 1:1 ratio. All the patients in both the groups were subjected to the estimation of thyroid function tests, that is, T3, T4, and TSH levels after overnight fasting. Results: Mean age of patients in the study group was 55.7±10.1 years whereas that of the control group was 53.9±10.6 years. Overall, thyroid dysfunctions were noted in 31% of cases in the study group and 12% of cases in the control group (p<0.05). The most common thyroid dysfunction was hypothyroidism, particularly subclinical hypothyroidism (19% and 8% in the study group and control group, respectively). Thyroid dysfunctions were associated with increased HbA1c in our study group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunctions are observed in higher proportions of cases with diabetes as compared to non-diabetes. All the parameters of thyroid function tests including T3 and T4 levels as well as TSH levels are found to be altered in higher number of diabetics. Poor glycemic control among diabetics is one of the important determinants of thyroid dysfunction in patients with diabetes

Effects of different plant growth regulators on in vitro callus induction in physic nut (Jatropha curcus L.)

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) is an oil bearing crop growing in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different plant growth regulators on in vitro callus induction in physic nut (J. curcus). In the present study, it was observed that all the explants viz., leaf lamina, petioles, nodal segments and cotyledonary nodes showed good callus induction responses on various culture media thus tried. Leaf lamina and petioles showed 100.0% callus induction responses on different MS media supplemented with auxins and cytokinins alone or in combinations whereas, nodal segments and cotyledonary nodes showed maximum 89.6% and 83.9% callus induction respectively. The presence of 2, 4-D in culture media with auxins or cytokinins was essential for good callus growth. Among different explants tried, leaf lamina was the best responding explants and MS-13 media supplemented with 5×10-6 M NAA and 10-5 M 2, 4-D is the best callusing and growth supporting medium. However, the regenerative competence of the callus tissues can differ depending on the type of explants used because certain types of plant tissues have more favorable regeneration responses than others. Callus induction rate from all explant types was highest than other reports. The results obtained in the present study would facilitate the high callus induction and regeneration responses in J. curcus for its improvement using biotechnological tools

A comparative study on arterial blood gas analysis among COPD patients and non-COPD patients

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was confused with so many diseases but as the knowledge and medical skill advance gradually a dramatic change could be observed about all diseases. Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of COPD. Objective: The study principally aims to compare arterial blood gas analysis among patients having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy control cases. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in 200 patients attended a department with 100 COPD patients and 100 healthy patients. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria patients were recruited. All patients were under go through ABG analysis. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. P value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The results of present study indicated that there were significantly greater alteration in the blood gases and acid base chemistry, particularly PaO2, PaCO2 in patients who show evidence of various complications mentioned earlier. Conclusion: It has thus been inferred that although COPD patients had pH within the normal range the majority of them had low normal values. This study concluded that all parameters of ABG were statistically significantly deranged in chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic bronchitis with emphysema patients

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Not AvailableAgriculture faces many challenges, making it more and more difficult to achieve its primary objective ‐ feeding the world – each year. Population growth and changes in diet associated with rising incomes drive greater demand for food and other agricultural products, while global food systems are increasingly threatened by land degradation, climate change, and other stressors. Uncertainties exist about regional and local impacts of climate change, but the overall global pattern suggests that the stability of the food system will be at greater risk due to short-‐term variability in food supply. Humankind has to nourish about 9.5 billion people by 2050 which requires maintaining the integrity of the soil and water resources with changing global climate system. Land degradation is a worldwide challenge, substantially affecting productivity in more than 80 countries and especially serious in developing countries. The impact of land degradation has already put at risk the livelihoods, economic well-being, and nutritional status of more than 1 billion people in developing countries (FAO, 2009). Agriculture must change to meet the rising demand, to contribute more effectively to the reduction of poverty and malnutrition, and to become ecologically more sustainable. Poverty and hunger must be eradicated in our generation and should therefore be a prominent stand-‐alone goal. The majority of the world’s poor people live in rural areas, and agriculture growth has proven effective in lifting rural families out of poverty and hunger. Managing the linkages between agriculture, poverty and nutrition is critical as we look towards providing children with an opportunity to reach their full potential. Land degradation adversely affects the ecological integrity and productivity of about 2 billon ha, or 23 percent of landscapes under human use and up to 40 percent of the world’s agricultural land are seriously degraded. India with 2.4% land area supports more than 17% of the world population. Achieving food security under the regime of climate change will require a holistic system approach, incorporating the principles of natural farming or conservation agriculture (CA), and judicious crop rotation. Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) an offer workable options to eradicate poverty and hunger while improving the environmental performance of agriculture, but requires transformative, simultaneous interventions along the whole food chain, from production to consumption. It also requires unprecedented, large-‐scale behavior change by consumers as well as producers of food. Long‐lasting solutions will require re-‐thinking of rural development and smallholder agriculture towards structural transformations that include and benefit the poor. Improved farming systems and new technologies and business models can create decent jobs, allow the overcoming of resource constraints, enable greater market participation, and also lessen physical hardships in agriculture.Not Availabl