Biodegradation study of crop residues as affected by exogenous inorganic nitrogen and fungal inoculants

The comparative decomposition of chickpea residue, and chopped and unchopped wheat straw was investigated in pits for 120 days. Microbial biomass, humus, C/N ratio, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, cellulase, xylanase, total phenol and soluble protein were determined to assess their response to the addition of inorganic nitrogen and mixed fungal inoculum of Aspergillus nidulans, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trichoderma viride. The evaluation of physico-chemical parameters (organic matter, organic carbon, N, C/N, pH, EC, microbial biomass) revealed that by supplementing unchopped wheat straw with 1% urea and mixed fungal inoculum, a lowest C/N ratio of 10.7, lowest biomass of 9.54 and highest humus content of 13% can be achieved within 3 months. Germination of Lepidium sativum (cress seeds) showed a germination index >60%, in this treatment. The enzyme assay for dehydrogenase indicated highest microbial activity in uninoculated treatments compared to fungal inoculated counterparts, in the second month sampling (active phase of composting). However, cellulase and xylanase activity showed an upward trend during curing phase of composting. Chickpea residue compost, though resulted in a C/N ratio of 17.3, but its germination index was less than 60%. The rapid quality tests conducted for H2S, NH3, NO3 and starch confirmed the stability and maturity of finished compost prepared from wheat straw through microbial inoculants.     

IMPACTED RIGHT UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR AND TRANSPOSITION OF TWO OTHER ANTERIOR TEETH ON THE SAME SIDE (A Case Report)

A young boy presented with an uncommon finding of impaction of upper right central incisor and transposition of canine and lateral incisor on the same side. Esthetic management of his cosmetic problem which included fixed appliance therapy followed by light cure restorations is discussed.KEY WORDS: Impaction, Transposition     

Identifying children with high mortality risk

This issue reports selected results from a comprehensive study of infant and child mortality based on the National Family Health Survey data. The analysis distinguishes between neonatal, postneonatal, infant and child mortality since mortality and its causes vary considerably among children of different ages. Hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of each individual variable as the factors that affect infant and child mortality tend to be correlated with each other. The study involves adjusted effects of selected socioeconomic and demographic characteristics on neonatal, postneonatal, infant, and child mortality for children born during the survey. Short birth intervals have a great effect on infant and child mortality. A previous birth interval of less than 24 months increases child mortality by about 67%. Neonatal mortality is highest among children of very young mothers. Child mortality is higher for girls in all states except Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa. Seven groups of children who are especially vulnerable to infant and child mortality were identified. Thus, intervention programs, such as efforts to provide supplemental nutrition and basic immunization to pregnant mothers, infants and young children need to focus on these high-risk groups. Results for many states show elevated mortality rates for girls after the neonatal period. Family health programs aimed at overall improvement in mortality levels should pay attention to providing basic health care and supplemental nutrition to girls.     

Dengue haemorrhagic fever in children in the 1996 Delhi epidemic.

An epidemic of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) occurred in Delhi in 1996. A total of 240 children between the age of 4 months to 13 years of either sex, admitted in one hospital, were evaluated. Two hundred and sixteen (90%) children were from Delhi. A clinical diagnosis of dengue fever (DF) was made in 25 (10%), dengue fever with unusual bleeding (DFB) in 22 (9%), DHF in 80 (33%) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) in 113 (47%) of the children strictly according to the WHO classification. The age peaked at 8 years. There was no association between various grades of severity of illness and age-groups though girls suffered from more severe illness. No association between severity of malnutrition and severity of illness was observed. Tourniquet test was positive in 40% with DF, 18% with DFB, 62% with DHF and 64% with DSS. In DSS haematemesis was present in 55 (49%), epistaxis in 39 (35%), melaena in 27 (24%) and ecchymosis in 34 (30%) patients. Children diagnosed as DFB had haematemesis and epistaxis in 12 (55%) and 10 (45%) respectively. Intravenous fluid requirement was clearly less in DFB patients than in DHF/DSS patients. Unusual clinical features in the form of jaundice were present in 7 (6%), hepatic encephalopathy in 6 (5%) and dengue encephalopathy in 6 (5%) patients. Dengue 2 virus was isolated from 10 of the 50 patients for whom viral culture was done on C6/36 clone of Aedes albopictus cell line. Eighteen patients suffering from DSS died giving an overall case fatality of 7.5%. The mortality rate in DHF/DSS was 9.3%. It is further suggested that DFB is a distinct entity. Most patients could be classified by the WHO classification if a retrospective packed cell volume was used to assess haemoconcentration. We suggest that development of area-specific criteria for diagnosis and management is desirable.     

Human endothelin-1 clearance kinetics revealed by a radiotracer technique

Levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) are elevated in many disease states, although its total body kinetics of elimination are poorly understood. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether the presence of elevated levels of ET-1 in the setting of disease are secondary to changes in production or clearance or some combination thereof. Using a 125I-labeled ET-1 infusion technique, the volume of distribution and kinetics of clearance of endothelin were described in five normal volunteers. Heart rate, blood pressure, right atrial pressure, and arterial blood samples for the counting of 125I and the measurement of ET-1 were obtained at multiple time points before and up to 45 h after the start of the infusion. The radiotracer infusion had no effect on heart rate, blood pressure, right atrial pressure, or endogenous ET-1 levels. ET-1 clearance was best described by a three-compartment model, which revealed that ET-1 has a much longer terminal half-life and volume of distribution than was previously reported. This suggests extensive uptake of ET-1 in various organ systems and slow clearance. These new findings have important implications for the understanding of the pathophysiology of ET-1 in disease states as well as for the understanding and development of ET-1 receptor blockers and endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitors.     

Unilateral darier's disease

Various variations of Darier's disease have been mentioned in the literature. Here we describe a young male with unilateral involvement with clinical and histopathological features typical of Darier's disease.