REVIEW OF LANGALI (GLORIOSA SUPERBA LINN) – AGADA TANTRA PERSPECTIVE

Agadatantra is a branch of Ayurveda which deals with the symptoms and treatment of various animal, plant, artificial and latent poisons. The drug Langali (Gloriosa superb Linn) is being categorized under Moolavisha (poisonous roots) and is also one among the nine Upavishas (semi poisonous drugs) by different Ayurvedic pharmacopoeias. Even though it is poisonous it has got Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Vranahara (wound healing), Krimigna (wormicidal), Shalyaharana (removal of foreign substances), Garbapaatana (abortificant) properties etc. It is being used by the Ayurvedic physicians in treatment of various ailments after proper purification. But its purificatory methods are not mentioned in Samhitas (treatises). It is mentioned in Ayurveda prakasha and traditional Agadatantra text books of Kerala. Here in this article an attempt is made to collect the information regarding Langali in Agadatantra perspective.The article includes both modern and Ayurvedic concepts in regards to its symptoms during poisoning and its treatment. Details regarding its purificatory methods and its therapeutic use in compound formulations as an antidote which has been mentioned in the traditional Agadatantra books which are available in Kerala have also been included

Relationship of rheumatoid factor positivity to prevalence of joint manifestations in type 2 diabetes which are unrelated to rheumatoid arthritis

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the relationship of rheumatoid factor positivity to the prevalence of joint manifestations in type 2 diabetes which are not attributable to rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: We evaluated 192 type 2 diabetes patients with rheumatological complications and age and sex matched non-diabetic controls for rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity. Diabetic patients with frozen shoulder, LJM syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, DISH and Dupuytren’s contracture were evaluated for RF positivity.  Results: RF was positive in 47 patients (24.4%) when compared to controls (4.2%). RF positivity was associated with an increased prevalence of joint manifestations in diabetic group when compared to controls. RF positivity was not related to the duration of diabetes nor was it related to long term glycemic control.Conclusion: RF positivity resulted in an increased prevalence of joint manifestations in diabetes, which were unrelated to rheumatoid arthritis

Assimilating socio-economic perspective in designing crop sector technology interventions: A farmer participatory study on coconut sector in Kerala

The economic viability of coconut farming in the state has witnessed a steady decline due to a complex interplay of several socio-economic, environmental and institutional factors. But the crop sustains the livelihood of a significant share of the population in the state. Equitable growth in agricultural sector of the state cannot be attained unless the fortunes of coconut farming sector are revived. A critical understanding of the production environment is very important in crafting appropriate strategies for the sector. This study is based on a detailed analysis of socio-economic profile of 180 coconut farmers in Kerala across five major agro-ecological units, collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. The study draws on trends in relevant socio-economic trends to examine the reasons for the vicious cycle of low investment-low profits -low productivity. The study identified structural agrarian changes like low dependence on farm income, High share of non-farm income, high cost and non-availability of skilled labour, etc., as contributing factors to the extant situation. Based on the socio-economic profile of the coconut farmer and technical studies, soil nutrient management centric strategy was identified as the key element in reorienting coconut farming. The intervention strategy was designed as an alternative approach for reviving the economic viability of coconut farming. The initial results on farmer perception on impact of technology intervention, with direct and indirect links to several biological and socio-economic limiting factors, indicate significant improvement across several parameters influencing crop productivity. Assimilating the lessons from the operation of the intervention strategy, the study also outlines a roadmap for multiple institutional involvements for scaling up this strategy across the state

White spot syndrome virus: an overview on an emergent concern

Viruses are ubiquitous and extremely abundant in the marine environment. One of such marine viruses, the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), has emerged globally as one of the most prevalent, widespread and lethal for shrimp populations. However, at present there is no treatment available to interfere with the unrestrained occurrence and spread of the disease. The recent progress in molecular biology techniques has made it possible to obtain information on the factors, mechanisms and strategies used by this virus to infect and replicate in susceptible host cells. Yet, further research is still required to fully understand the basic nature of WSSV, its exact life cycle and mode of infection. This information will expand our knowledge and may contribute to developing effective prophylactic or therapeutic measures. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of the topic, and emphasizes the current progress and future direction for the development of WSSV control strategies

OBILJEŽJA POČINITELJA NASILNIČKIH DELIKATA NA PODRUČJU PRIMORSKO-GORANSKE ŽUPANIJE OBZIROM NA POVRAT

Availability of sophisticated statistical modelling for developing robust reference equations has improved interpretation of lung function results. In 2012, the Global Lung function Initiative(GLI) published the first global all-age, multi-ethnic reference equations for spirometry but these lacked equations for those originating from the Indian subcontinent (South-Asians). The aims of this study were to assess the extent to which existing GLI-ethnic adjustments might fit South-Asian paediatric spirometry data, assess any similarities and discrepancies between South-Asian datasets and explore the feasibility of deriving a suitable South-Asian GLI-adjustment. Methods: Spirometry datasets from South-Asian children were collated from four centres in India and five within the UK. Records with transcription errors, missing values for height or spirometry, and implausible values were excluded(n=110). Results: Following exclusions, cross-sectional data were available from 8,124 children (56.3% male; 5-17 years). When compared with GLI-predicted values from White Europeans, forced expired volume in 1s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in South-Asian children were on average 15% lower, ranging from 4-19% between centres. By contrast, proportional reductions in FEV1 and FVC within all but two datasets meant that the FEV1/FVC ratio remained independent of ethnicity. The ‘GLI-Other’ equation fitted data from North India reasonably well while ‘GLI-Black’ equations provided a better approximation for South-Asian data than the ‘GLI-White’ equation. However, marked discrepancies in the mean lung function z-scores between centres especially when examined according to socio-economic conditions precluded derivation of a single South-Asian GLI-adjustment. Conclusion: Until improved and more robust prediction equations can be derived, we recommend the use of ‘GLI-Black’ equations for interpreting most South-Asian data, although ‘GLI-Other’ may be more appropriate for North Indian data. Prospective data collection using standardised protocols to explore potential sources of variation due to socio-economic circumstances, secular changes in growth/predictors of lung function and ethnicities within the South-Asian classification are urgently required

Structural and electrical conductivity studies of nanocrystalline Li₂NiTiO₄ material

343-345A phase pure nanocrystalline Li2NiTiO4 material is synthesized by sol-gel technique. In the present study, citric acid is used as fuel and the experiment is done in nitrogen atmosphere. The material is crystallized in a cubic rock-salt structure of space group Fm m. The <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri" lang="EN-GB">structural characterization is accomplished through X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry/ differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy. The electrical characterization of the material is done through impedance spectroscopy. </span

Synthesis, structure and electrical conductivity studies of inverse spinel Li_0.5Fe_2.5O₄

381-384The nano-crystalline Li0.5Fe2.5O4 material by solution combustion technique has been synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) method is employed to validate the structure and phase purity. The electrical relaxation studies have been represented with modulus and impedance at different temperatures. The dc conductivity and hopping frequency are thermally activated and their activation energies are found to be in the range 0.64-0.59 eV. </i