Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae on Nutrient Content and Seedling Quality of Important Fodder Tree Species of Central India

Acacia nilotica, Albizia procera, Dalbergia sissoo and Leucaena leucocephala are important multipurpose tree species (MPTs). These are being utilized in agroforestry systems at ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute (ICARCAFRI), Jhansi and are also being utilized in reforestation programme in Central India. The success of any agroforestry model and/or reforestation programme depends upon the quality seedling materials. Nursery-produced seedlings can be an effective means of ensuring successful establishment of agroforestry models and/or reforestation programme. However, such seedlings sometimes fail to establish themselves in the fields. The poor performance of planted seedlings is often associated with transplant shocks and low seedling quality. The preconditioning of young seedlings with efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), an important soil microorganism improves plant health and helps in their establishment in fields (Jha et al., 2014). However, before utilizing these fungi for inoculation purpose, the suitable AMF species must be identified. Therefore, to find out the efficient AMF species for inoculations of above mentioned plant species, present study was carried out

Dyslipidaemia & Framingham risk score: Tools for prediction of cardiovascular diseases as public health problem

Background: According to WHO, CVD is the number one cause of death globally and an estimated 17.5 million people died from CVDs in 2012, representing 31% of all global deaths. Dyslipidaemia with other cardio-metabolic risk factors are one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This study was under taken to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the urban population aged 18 to 40 years. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done at UHTC (Multan Nagar) in Meerut district from May 2014 to June 2015. 150 study participants aged 18 to 40 years of both sexes were recruited using simple random sampling. Data was collected using WHO’s STEPS criteria and modified close ended questionnaire. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v19).  Results: Overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was, low HDL-c 58.7%, hypertriglyceridemia 36%, high TC:HDL-c ratio 24%, hypercholesterolemia 14.7% and high LDL cholesterol 8.0% & Framingham risk score of developing Coronary artery disease was 8.6% risk of 6% & above and 91.4% risk of 5% or less. Conclusion: The prevalence of two cardio-metabolic risk factors was quite high in both males and females and the association between Framingham risk score & dyslipidaemias were also statistically significant. Clearly indicating that those who were having dyslipidaemia in any form were at a higher risk of having coronary artery disease in the future

Clinicopathological Profile and Surgical Treatment of Abdominal Tuberculosis: A Single Centre Experience in Northwestern Tanzania.

Abdominal tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem worldwide and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to general surgeons practicing in resource-limited countries. This study was conducted to describe the clinicopathological profile and outcome of surgical treatment of abdominal tuberculosis in our setting and compare with what is described in literature. A prospective descriptive study of patients who presented with abdominal tuberculosis was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in northwestern Tanzania from January 2006 to February 2012. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from relevant authorities. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0. Out of 256 patients enrolled in the study, males outnumbered females. The median age was 28 years (range = 16-68 years). The majority of patients (77.3%) had primary abdominal tuberculosis. A total of 127 (49.6%) patients presented with intestinal obstruction, 106 (41.4%) with peritonitis, 17 (6.6%) with abdominal masses and 6 (2.3%) patients with multiple fistulae in ano. Forty-eight (18.8%) patients were HIV positive. A total of 212 (82.8%) patients underwent surgical treatment for abdominal tuberculosis. Bands /adhesions (58.5%) were the most common operative findings. Ileo-caecal region was the most common bowel involved in 122 (57.5%) patients. Release of adhesions and bands was the most frequent surgical procedure performed in 58.5% of cases. Complication and mortality rates were 29.7% and 18.8% respectively. The overall median length of hospital stay was 32 days and was significantly longer in patients with complications (p < 0.001). Advanced age (age ≥ 65 years), co-morbid illness, late presentation, HIV positivity and CD4+ count < 200 cells/μl were statistically significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.0001). The follow up of patients were generally poor as only 37.5% of patients were available for follow up at twelve months after discharge. Abdominal tuberculosis constitutes a major public health problem in our environment and presents a diagnostic challenge requiring a high index of clinical suspicion. Early diagnosis, early anti-tuberculous therapy and surgical treatment of the associated complications are essential for survival

Salinity Ingress in Phreatic Aquifer of Coastal Maharashtra State, India

Maharashtra is a coastal state on the west coast of India where six out of thirty five districts, namely Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Greater Mumbai are maritime. Being coastal area, the immediate effect of high groundwater development is sea water intrusion. Hence, an analysis was carried out to decipher the extent of salinity intrusion of the shallow coastal aquifer in the coastal Maharashtra. The study was conducted with the objective to assess the extent of contamination of groundwater in the phreatic aquifers in the tidal backwater limits and adjacent to coast and estuaries. Geochemical characteristics, extent of salinity intrusion, drinking and irrigation suitability of the groundwater of the area were also assessed. Total 162 ground water samples from coastal part of Maharashtra were subjected to chemical analysis for 15 basic parameters during the month of May 2017. In order to differentiate and confirm the sea water intrusion, various ionic ratios like Ca:Mg, Na:Cl, Cl:CO3 + HCO3, were computed. Wilcox Diagram, EC Vs Cl plots, Pipers Trilinear diagram etc were also plotted for the interpretation of the results. Groundwater in the study area is mildly alkaline with pH range of 6.9 to 9.0 and electrical conductivity range from 61 to 29370 μS/cm. In general, water quality is good and suitable for domestic and irrigation uses. Though salinity can be imparted to groundwater in many ways, in the current study area it is mainly due to sea water ingress and waste water including industrial effluents. From the analysis it is found that about 2 to 10 km area from the coast and the inland tidal backwaters are affected from salinity intrusion. Over-exploitation of groundwater, low seaward freshwater flow in rivers etc are the major reasons for sea water ingression. Regulation of groundwater development in the coastal area and adjacent to estuaries, maintaining adequate stream flow and stopping of river bed sand mining, construction of tidal regulators at suitable places and creating fresh water barrier through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge are essential to control further sea water intrusion in the area

Investigating the association between tobacco use and oral health among security guards at a tertiary healthcare centre in New Delhi: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTobacco usage is a major global public health concern, contributing to millions of deaths annually. This study focuses on security guards, an occupational group facing unique challenges, to investigate tobacco prevalence, usage patterns, and associated oral health risks.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among security guards at a Tertiary Health Care Centre, from October 2022 to February 2023. Data on demographics, tobacco habits, and comorbidities were collected via a structured questionnaire. Clinical oral examinations provisionally diagnosed Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) based on clinical findings. Appropriate Statistical analyses were employed.ResultsAmong 696 security guards, 40.1% used tobacco, including 15.0% smokers and 74.5% engaging in smokeless tobacco. Additionally, 10.3% reported using both smoking and smokeless forms. Non-tobacco users accounted for 59.9%. Tobacco users showed a higher prevalence of OPMDs (11.4%) compared to non-tobacco users (1.4%).DiscussionSecurity guards demonstrated a higher tobacco prevalence, with smokeless tobacco being predominant. Gender disparities in tobacco use emphasize the need for gender-specific interventions. The study highlights the significant impact of tobacco on oral health, especially the risk of OPMDs.ConclusionA high prevalence of tobacco usage (40.1%), particularly smokeless tobacco, among security guards, emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions within this occupational group. Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) were significantly more prevalent (11.4%) in tobacco users. The association between tobacco usage and OPMDs reaffirms the well-established association between tobacco and adverse oral health outcomes