A Comparative study of Rosuvastatin and Fenofibrate as Monotherapy in Dyslipidemia and NCEP ATP III Goals

Background: Dyslipidemia is the commonest cause of the cardiovascular diseases and increases mortality worldwide. It leads to disturbance in the range of Total Cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL and HDL-C in the plasma of dyslipidemic patients. Most of the studies relating to the effectiveness of Rosuvastatin and Fenofibrate have been conducted in the western countries and scant attention has been paid to examine the effectiveness of these drugs on the people of South Asian countries. The present study is an effort to focus on the effectiveness of these drugs on the people of Majha region of Punjab, India.Aim:  To see the effects of both drugs as monotherapy on the various parameters of lipid profile and goals achieved according to NCEP-ATP III guidelines in North Indian population.Material and Methods: This was a randomized, open label, parallel study conducted to assess the effect of rosuvastatin 10 mg and fenofibrate 160 mg daily for 12 weeks in newly diagnosed dyslipidemic patients (n=60). Patients were evaluated at day 0 and at 6 and 12 weeks.Results:At 6 weeks there were falls for Total cholesterol by 20.41% vs.  15.64% (p< 0.001, both), triglycerides 16.21% vs. 19.85% (p< 0.001, both) and LDL-C 27.47% vs. 21.43% (p< 0.001, both) respectively with rosuvastatin and fenofibrate from baseline. And at 12 weeks plasma levels continued to fall for Total cholesterol by 35.79% vs.  25.60% (p< 0.001, both), triglycerides 29.30% vs. 39.92% (p< 0.001, both), LDL-C 47.82% vs. 34.67% (p< 0.001, both), and there was rise of HDL-C levels by 18.75% vs. 30.53% (p< 0.001, both) respectively with rosuvastatin and fenofibrate. Both the agents achieved desired goals of NCEP-ATP III for Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL and also treat the metabolic syndrome (by 39.22% and 42.66% respectively) patients.Conclusion: Rosuvastatin and Fenofibrate monotherapy in patients with dyslipidemia effectively improved the Lipid profile as both these agents have had achieved the desired goal to treat the components of metabolic syndrome and other NCEP-ATP III targets. Key words: Dyslipidemia, Metabolic syndrome, NCEP-ATP III goals, Fenofibrate and Rosuvastatin

Ranganathan’s Legacy and Implications of The Five Laws of Library Science on School Librarianship: An Exploratory Study

The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged school libraries, affected their services and activities in many ways and led to changes, such as, for instance, reduced opening hours and services, library spaces transformed into a classroom, closures, but also the development of digital collections and delivery of remote services. In such a complex and ever-changing context, the school librarians’ educational role might have been challenged as well. A sound preparation both in education and library science constitutes a steady basis that helps face and overcome disruptions and change. The outstanding works of S.R. Ranganathan are widely recognized for their innovative contribution to library and information science, including school librarianship. In his book New Education and School Library: Experience of half a century (1973), Ranganathan points that the school library is central in the learning and teaching process; its program and several components promote reading, educate to information, inspire and enable users to become critical thinkers and responsible citizens. The Five Laws of Library Science apply to the field of education and school librarianship, too. This contribution aims at presenting an overview of Ranganathan’s legacy in the school library context and, in particular, the relevance of The Five Laws of Library Science in the nowadays’ school librarianship, based on the findings from a self-responding questionnaire, that was distributed through library associations’ list-servs and administered online in March April 2022. Although limited in number, the respondents (28 in total from different continents, except Africa) provided data, comments, and reflections that constitute the basis for further investigation and actions

Comparison of three different techniques of endotracheal tube cuff inflation: just seal, stethoscope guided and pressure volume loop: a prospective randomized study

Background: Cuffed endotracheal tubes not only ensure a proper seal during positive pressure ventilation, but at the same time also prevent aspiration of gastric secretions. The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to compare three methods of ETT cuff inflation-- palpation of the leak in suprasternal notch (Just seal), a stethoscope guided method of tracheal tube cuff inflation and PVL guided cuff inflation.Methods: After approval by institutional ethical committee, 192 patients of either sex in age group of 18-50 years belonging to ASA physical status I or II were enrolled. Each patient was randomly allocated into one of three groups: one group received standard 'just seal' method of tracheal cuff inflation (JS), the second group, the stethoscope-guided method (SG) and in third group cuff was inflated using Pressure Volume Loop (PVL). Volume of air introduced into the cuff and pressure within the cuff was recorded.Results: A total of 192 patients were recruited to the study. The median (IQR [range]) tracheal cuff pressure was 12 (10-22 [6-28]) cm H2O, 16 (12-24[6-38]) and 14 (10-22[8-32]) cmH2O in JS, SG and PVL group respectively. Cuff pressures within the recommended range of 20-30 cm H2O fell in 25% of the patients in both JS and SG group and 31% patients in PVL group. The mean volumes of air introduced in the cuff and the resultant mean cuff pressure in all groups was found to be statistically insignificant (p= 0.4, 0.18 respectively). Tidal volume discrepancy was more and 75% of cuff pressures were less than the recommended range in JS than the other two groups.Conclusions: Real time PVL displayed on most modern anaesthesia machine is a good alternative to check for proper ETT cuff inflation, avoid high cuff pressure and monitor air leak

Plantation of North-Western Himalaya

The integration of Andrographis paniculata under Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) plantation has been studied to evaluate the growth and yield for its economic viability and conservation. It was grown on three topographical aspects, namely, northern, northwestern, and western, at a spacing of 30 cm × 30 cm, followed by three tillage depths, namely, minimum (0 cm), medium (up to 10 cm), and deep (up to 15 cm) tillage. The growth parameters, namely, plant height and number of branches per plant, were recorded as significantly higher on western aspect and lowest on northern aspect except for leaf area index which was found nonsignificant. However under all tillage practices all the growth parameters in both understorey and open conditions were found to be nonsignificant except for plant height which was found to be significantly highest under deep tillage and lowest under minimum tillage. The study of net returns for Andrographis paniculata revealed that it had positive average annual returns even in understorey conditions which indicate its possible economic viability under integration of Chir pine plantations. Hence net returns can be enhanced by integrating Andrographis paniculata and this silvimedicinal system can be suggested which will help utilizing an unutilized part of land and increase total productivity from such lands besides conservation of the A. paniculata in situ

Agronomic biofortification of food crops: An emerging opportunity for global food and nutritional security

Fortification of food with mineral micronutrients and micronutrient supplementation occupied the center stage during the two-year-long Corona Pandemic, highlighting the urgent need to focus on micronutrition. Focus has also been intensified on the biofortification (natural assimilation) of mineral micronutrients into food crops using various techniques like agronomic, genetic, or transgenic. Agronomic biofortification is a time-tested method and has been found useful in the fortification of several nutrients in several crops, yet the nutrient use and uptake efficiency of crops has been noted to vary due to different growing conditions like soil type, crop management, fertilizer type, etc. Agronomic biofortification can be an important tool in achieving nutritional security and its importance has recently increased because of climate change related issues, and pandemics such as COVID-19. The introduction of high specialty fertilizers like nano-fertilizers, chelated fertilizers, and water-soluble fertilizers that have high nutrient uptake efficiency and better nutrient translocation to the consumable parts of a crop plant has further improved the effectiveness of agronomic biofortification. Several new agronomic biofortification techniques like nutripriming, foliar application, soilless activation, and mechanized application techniques have further increased the relevance of agronomic biofortification. These new technological advances, along with an increased realization of mineral micronutrient nutrition have reinforced the relevance of agronomic biofortification for global food and nutritional security. The review highlights the advances made in the field of agronomic biofortification via the improved new fertilizer forms, and the emerging techniques that achieve better micronutrient use efficiency of crop plants

Performance of Mucuna prurience under Chirpine (Pinus roxburghii) Plantation of Mid Hills of Western Himalayas

Not AvailableThe performance of Mucuna pruriens under Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) plantation has been studied for consecutive two years to assess the growth and yield for its commercial exploitation and conservation. It was grown on three topographical aspects viz Northern, North western and Western at a spacing of 30 cm x 30 cm, followed by three tillage depths viz minimum (0 cm), Medium (up to 10 cm) and deep tillage (up to 15 cm). The growth parameters viz. vine length, leaf area and leaf area index were statistically not affected by topographical aspects and tillage practices during harvesting stage in both understorey and open conditions. Higher yield was observed in crop growing in open conditions than understorey of Chir pine. However on the basis of positive Net returns Mucuna pruriens, under agroforestry system, seems to prove its economic viability as the gross returns was higher than the cost of cultivation. Hence Mucuna pruriens can be suggested as potential intercropping for developing Pinus roxburghii based silvi- medicinal system which will help utilizing an unutilized part of land and increase total productivity from such lands besides conservation of the species.Not Availabl

Study of Patients’ awareness and their perspective about diabetic disorder in T2DM patients: A descriptive study

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder is mostly related to the sedentary life style of subjects. Awareness of diabetes disorder among diabetics plays a crucial role in its management. Aims & Objectives: To study the awareness of diabetes disorder, its complications and management among T2DM patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study done among T2DM patients who visited the OPD of department of Medicine at GGS Hospital, Faridkot (in a rural area of Punjab-India). A pretested proforma contained questionnaire related to the awareness/ knowledge to diabetic disorders, its complications and management was distributed among 300 subjects and their response was analyzed. Results: 235 patients responded (78.33%) to the pretested proforma. Males and females were 48.08% and 51.92% respectively. 25.53% subjects were illiterate. Lack of knowledge about diabetic disorders in 79.57%, duration of treatment in 73.61%, their complications in 74.89%, modification of diet in 40%, their body care/cleanliness in 62.55% and leaving of medication in 76.17% were seen. A habit of taking other indigenous / complimentary medicines was also seen in 40.43% of cases along with conventional antidiabetic therapy. Conclusion: Most of the diabetic patients had lack of knowledge about diabetic disorders, its complications and management. They also left the medicine in midway of treatment and had developed signs & symptoms of hyperglycemia. A good number of patients also took indigenous products to treat their disease. They also didn’t follow the life style modification measures appropriately. Therefore, adequate awareness/knowledge should be provided to all the diabetic patients to manage diabetic disorder in a better way. Keywords: Knowledge, Perspectives, Complications, Life style modification, Complementary & Alternative medicine (CAM), Medication compliance & Adherence

Host–parasite interaction: an insight into the growth and physiological responses of sandalwood and associated host species

IntroductionSandalwood (Santalum album L.) is categorized as vulnerable in the IUCN Red list and is also an industrially important tree species valued for its heartwood and aromatic oil. Sandalwood is a semi-root parasite tree that relies on its host plants for its water and nutrient requirements. Therefore, there is need to understand the growth and physiological interactions between sandalwood and its hosts.MethodsSandalwood were planted with ten different host species viz., Syzygium cumini, Punica granatum, Phyllanthus emblica, Melia dubia, Leucaena leucocephala, Dalbergia sissoo, Casuarina equisetifolia, Citrus aurantium, Azadirachta indica and Acacia ampliceps to assess the interactive effect on the change in growth and physiology of both sandalwood and host tree species.ResultsThe findings revealed that sandalwood grown with hosts D. sissoo and C. equisetifolia showed higher growth performance, while among hosts, S. cumini, followed by C. aurantium and L. leucocephala, showed better growth and physiobiochemical traits. The stepwise regression analysis and trait modeling indicated that the six traits, namely, plant height, photosynthetic rate, relative water content, water potential, intercellular CO2 concentration, and total soluble protein, contributed greater growth in the sandalwood, while four traits, namely, water potential, osmotic potential, leaf area, and total soluble protein, contributed greater growth in the host species. The traits modeling study predicted greater growth of sandalwood with the hosts D. sissoo and C. equisetifolia, whereas among host species, prediction revealed greater growth of S. cumini and C. aurantium.DiscussionThe study concluded that host–parasite interaction modulated the growth and physiological processes in both sandalwood and hosts and sandalwood plantations can be successfully developed with the hosts D. sissoo and C. equisetifolia

Perspectives in consumer-oriented breeding for potatoes in India

Potato has become an integral part of human diets world over and is consumed alone or with wide variety of other vegetables. Consumer preference of the regions varies and is dependent upon market specifications, variety; tuber appearance, size, shape, colour; absence of disease or tubers defects; texture and flavour of cooked potatoes. Breeding for consumer preference related traits is integral part of the varietal development efforts world over and thus helps to write the success story of a variety evolved.In recent years there has been a surge in the consumer awareness in India, with consumers becoming more conscious about the food, its nutritional valueand its use. The desired products fetch higher premium prices in the market. A potato is not merely a potato anymore in recent times, but a commodity having varied uses, with each user having a specific requirement. In view of the above, it becomes pertinent to delineate the various consumer-oriented breeding objectives for potato, based on its use. Indian consumer-based profiles of potato have been proposed, based on recent overview and prevailing Indian scenario for orientingspecific breeding programmes, guiding consumers and seed producers to breed, consume and multiply the variety of their choice and formulation of selection indices for genotype screening

Assessing performance of the Healthcare Access and Quality Index, overall and by select age groups, for 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Health-care needs change throughout the life course. It is thus crucial to assess whether health systems provide access to quality health care for all ages. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019), we measured the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index overall and for select age groups in 204 locations from 1990 to 2019. Methods: We distinguished the overall HAQ Index (ages 0–74 years) from scores for select age groups: the young (ages 0–14 years), working (ages 15–64 years), and post-working (ages 65–74 years) groups. For GBD 2019, HAQ Index construction methods were updated to use the arithmetic mean of scaled mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) and risk-standardised death rates (RSDRs) for 32 causes of death that should not occur in the presence of timely, quality health care. Across locations and years, MIRs and RSDRs were scaled from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) separately, putting the HAQ Index on a different relative scale for each age group. We estimated absolute convergence for each group on the basis of whether the HAQ Index grew faster in absolute terms between 1990 and 2019 in countries with lower 1990 HAQ Index scores than countries with higher 1990 HAQ Index scores and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. SDI is a summary metric of overall development. Findings: Between 1990 and 2019, the HAQ Index increased overall (by 19·6 points, 95% uncertainty interval 17·9–21·3), as well as among the young (22·5, 19·9–24·7), working (17·2, 15·2–19·1), and post-working (15·1, 13·2–17·0) age groups. Large differences in HAQ Index scores were present across SDI levels in 2019, with the overall index ranging from 30·7 (28·6–33·0) on average in low-SDI countries to 83·4 (82·4–84·3) on average in high-SDI countries. Similarly large ranges between low-SDI and high-SDI countries, respectively, were estimated in the HAQ Index for the young (40·4–89·0), working (33·8–82·8), and post-working (30·4–79·1) groups. Absolute convergence in HAQ Index was estimated in the young group only. In contrast, divergence was estimated among the working and post-working groups, driven by slow progress in low-SDI countries. Interpretation: Although major gaps remain across levels of social and economic development, convergence in the young group is an encouraging sign of reduced disparities in health-care access and quality. However, divergence in the working and post-working groups indicates that health-care access and quality is lagging at lower levels of social and economic development. To meet the needs of ageing populations, health systems need to improve health-care access and quality for working-age adults and older populations while continuing to realise gains among the young. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation