Varietal Assessment, Heritability Estimates and Correlation Studies in Apple Cultivars of South Kashmir

A study was conducted to assess agronomic performance and heritability estimates among different cultivars of apple in district Pulwama of Kashmir valley. Twenty cultivars aged 20 to 22 years were selected for the present study. Data were collected on physical and chemical characters of fruit and yield of the tree. Results revealed that 'Red Delicious' (315.43kg) and Ambri (310.40kg) Difenoconazoled highest yield among all the cultivars. Red Delicious apple recorded maximum fruit weight (182.63g). maximum TSS (16.35%) and total sugars (12.11%) with least acidity (0.07%) was recorded in Ambri apples. All the characters studied showed high heritability estimates except for cropping efficiency (61.06%) which scored least heritability. Length (0.843) and breadth (0.854) of fruit positively and significantly correlated with weight of the fruit. Acidity was negatively correlated with all other biochemical characters

Comparison of first dorsal metacarpal artery flap done by consultants and residents and guidelines for improving outcome for beginners

Background: Thumb alone constitutes about 40% of hand function and trauma to distal part of thumb will thus affect the overall hand function. The goals of correction of traumatic deformities of distal thumb are to maintain adequate length and sensation along with giving a supple and stable soft tissue cover. Among other options, first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap raised from the dorsum of the proximal part of index finger is a simple and widely used flap.Methods: We compared the results of FDMA flap done by residents (M.Ch trainees) and consultants in our institute. Residents operated upon a total of 12 patients and consultants operated upon 16 patients.Results: Among 12 patients operated by residents 3 flaps were lost and 2 flaps had marginal necrosis whereas among the patients operated by consultants 1 flap was lost and 1 had partial necrosis in distal part of the flap.Conclusions: Although there was no statistical difference between the operating time taken by trainees and consultant specialists but the complication rate is higher among the residents. Sticking with the basics of plastic surgery, FDMA flap is an excellent technique for thumb reconstruction and results are excellent as and when more experience is gained

Evaluation of incidence and severity of postoperative hypoxemia in neurosurgical patients during transportation from operation theater to surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care unit, Kashmir, India

Background:Postoperative hypoxemia during transportation from operation theater to intensive care unit is common among neurosurgical patients. Methadology: Arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2) and arterial blood gas analysis was performed postoperatively before and after shifting a group of sixty patients with ASA I and ASA II status undergoing various elective neurosurgical procedures under general anesthesia at Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar , Kashmir. Statistical analysis: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 13. The chi-square test was used for categorical variables and student’s t test was used for continuous variables with normal distribution. The data was collected, compiled and statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The values were expressed as mean±SD and a p value <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: SpO2 before and after transporting the patients to SICU in group I was 98.90±0.45 and 86.70±3.85 respectively, whereas in group II, the SpO2 values were 98.80±0.52 and 93.95±3.99 respectively. In group III the mean SpO2 before and after transportation was 97.60±1.96 and 83.95±8.64 respectively. The difference in SpO2 in all the three groups before and after transportation was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: We recommend supplemental oxygen administration in all neurosurgical patients during transportation from operation theater to intensive care unit

Interpregnancy interval raise odds of adverse perinatal outcome in high fertility region Mewat, Haryana

Background: Objective of current study was to study association between various interpregnancy intervals and adverse perinatal outcome (preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age) and to come out with optimum interpregnancy interval.Methods: Retrospective cross sectional study in which 400 meo women (para 2 to para 5) fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria having diverse interpregnancy intervals were selected. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the risk of adverse perinatal outcome.Results: As compared with infants conceived within a time period of16 to 48 months after a live birth, infants conceived within16 months after a live birth had odds ratios of 2.1 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.5) for low birth weight, 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.8) for preterm birth,and 2.3 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.8) for smallsize for gestational age; infants conceived more than 48 months after a live birth had odds ratios of 1.88 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.1), 1.96 (95% CI1.1 to 3.4), and 2.08 (95% CI 1.2 to3.6) for these three adverse outcomes, respectively; P value <0.05.Conclusions: We came to conclusion that interpregnancy interval of 16 - 48 months is the optimal interval carrying least risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and both short as well as long interpregnancy intervals are significantly associated with birth of preterm, low birth weight and small for gestational age babies. Counselling regarding optimal interpregnancy interval and methods of contraception can go a long way in reducing adverse perinatal outcome

Pre-Formulation Study for Palatable Microbeads of Lycopene

Lycopene is a widely used nutraceuticals for its antioxidant property but the molecule has poor aqueous solubility, high instability, and extremely low intestinal permeability leading to its poor bioavailability. In the present study, pre-formulation study was carried out to prepare sodium alginate microbeads with the intention to deliver an effective amount of lycopene for high absorption through oral route. A thorough physical characterization and spectral analysis were done to understand the characteristic of lycopene such as its melting point, UV spectrophotometric analysis, chromatography through reverse phase HPLC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were adopted to know the interaction of sodium alginate with lycopene. Box-Behnken design (version 9.0.2.0, Stat Ease Inc, USA) was used to analyse the effect of formulation variables such as sodium alginate (%), glutaraldehyde (%) and stirring speed on lycopene entrapment and its loading into microbeads. The adopted preformulation strategy revealed that lycopene was a crystalline powder with a sharp melting point at 155oC and the prominent functional groups were present in the sample. UV and HPLC analysis revealed precise quantitation and authenticity of lycopene. Excipient compatibility also revealed inertness of sodium alginate. Response surface morphology revealed significant effect of alginate, glutaraldehyde and stirring speed on formation of best composition. Therefore, it is concluded that lycopene can be formulated as microbeads for oral drug delivery. Keywords: lycopene, sodium alginate, permeation, absorption, microbead

Effects of underlying topology on quantum state discrimination

In this work, we show that quantum state discrimination can be modified due to a change in the underlying topology of a system. In particular, we explicitly demonstrate that the quantum state discrimination of systems with underlying discrete topology differs from that of systems with underlying continuous topology. Such changes in the topology of a spacetime can occur in certain quantum gravity approaches. In fact, all approaches to quantum gravity can be classified into two types: those with underlying continuous topology (such as string theory) and those with an underlying discrete topology (such as loop quantum gravity). We demonstrate that the topology of these two types of quantum gravity approaches has different effects on the quantum state discrimination of low-energy quantum systems. We also show that any modification of quantum mechanics, which does not change the underlying topology, does not modify quantum state discrimination.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX, to appear in EPJ

Negative pressure wound therapy: eleven-year experience at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Management of complicated wounds is a reconstructive challenge. A reconstructive surgeon has to be ready to face new challenges every day. Negative pressure wound therapy has revolutionized the management of complex wounds. We are presenting our experience with this wound care modality in the past 11 years.Methods: It was a prospective study conducted from January 2006 to December 2016 on patients having wounds of varied etiologies, who consented to participate in this study. Custom made low cost NPWT was used till definitive wound closure.Results: A total of 568 patients consented to participate in the study during these 11 years. No major complications were seen. Most of these were males (60.73%) in their 3rd and 4th decade. Trauma was the leading cause of wounds in 38.14%, followed by diabetic foot wounds in 21.5%. Ankle and foot was the most common site of wounds (30.92%) followed by leg (24.01%). A total of 322 small, 218 medium and 97 large size dressings were used. Most of the patients improved with the NPWT.  No major complications were seen.Conclusions: NPWT is safe, effective and has proved to be revolutionary in managing difficult wounds. With the use of customized low cost NPWT the benefit can be extended to underprivileged population in under developed nations too

Closure of anterior palatal fistula using tongue flap: our experience

Background: Palatal fistula is one of the most common complications following cleft palate repair. It occurs mostly due to tip necrosis of palatal flaps. Small palatal fistulas are usually closed by transposition of adjacent tissues, however these local tissues are not sufficient for the closure of bigger fistulas. The tongue flap serves as a reliable and most easily obtainable local flap for closure of large sized palatal fistulas.Methods: This is a prospective study conducted from Aug 2006 to July 2015 in the department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, SKIMS, Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir, India. A total of 25 patients with large anterior palatal fistula were treated using anteriorly based tongue flap. Patients were selected on the basis of size of fistula (> 1x1 cm), scarred local palatal tissue or history of fistula recurrence after previous attempts of closure using local palatal tissues.Results: In present study 25 patients of palatal fistula were treated using tongue flap. Eighty percent patients were in the age group of 3 to 5 years. Male-to-female ratio was 2:3. The largest dimension of treated fistula was 4x3 cm. There was partial dehiscence of flap suture line in two patients while remnant fistula was observed in three patients. None of our patients had flap necrosis.Conclusions: Tongue flap is an excellent and versatile option for closure of large palatal fistulas with high success rate and least morbidity