Changes in sputum cytology,airway inflammation and oxidative stress due to chronic inhalation of biomass smoke during cooking in premenopausal rural Indian women

To perform sputum analysis for verification of pulmonary changes in premenopausal rural Indian women chronically exposed to biomass smoke during cooking.Three consecutive morning sputum samples were collected from 196 women (median age 34 years) cooking with biomass and 149 age-matched control women cooking with cleaner fuel liquefied petroleum gas. Smears made on slides were stained with Papanicolaou and Perl's Prussian blue. Airway oxidative stress was estimated as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (by flow cytometry) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level (by spectrophotometry) in sputum cells. Airway inflammation was measured as sputum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α). Particulate matter of diameter less than 10 (PM₁₀) was measured using laser photometer while benzene exposure was monitored by measuring trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in urine by HPLC-UV. Compared with control, sputum of biomass users contained more neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, alveolar macrophages, and showed presence of ciliocytophthoria, Charcot-Leyden crystals, Curschmann's spiral. ROS generation was increased by 2-fold while SOD was depleted by 31% in biomass users. They also had higher sputum levels of IL-6, -8 and TNF-α. Levels of PM₁₀ and t,t-MA were 2.9- and 5.8-times higher in biomass-using women. PM₁₀ and t,t-MA levels were positively associated with cellular changes in the sputum, markers of airway inflammation, and oxidative stress. Cooking with biomass alters sputum cytology, and increases airway inflammation and oxidative stress that might result in further amplification of the tissue damaging cascade in women chronically exposed to biomass smoke.     

A Comparison of Microdebrider Assisted Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Conventional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Nasal Polypi

Nasal polyposis is often encountered in rhinology practice. Those who fail conservative management, a definitive surgery is essential to achieve sufficient ventilation and drainage of the affected sinuses by using either microdebrider or conventional instruments for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A prospective study was conducted on 40 cases of nasal polypi in a tertiary care hospital. 20 cases were operated by conventional endoscopic instruments and 20 using the microdebrider. The study aimed at comparing the intra operative (blood loss, duration of surgery) and post operative results (crusting, scarring, discharge, symptoms, recurrence) between the two groups using Lund–Mackay scoring system and the data was statistically analysed. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical outcome for patients when either conventional endoscopic instruments or microdebrider was used. However, there was a significant symptomatic improvement in cases undergoing microdebrider FESS. Microdebrider assisted polypectomy is precise, relatively bloodless surgery though the precision depends on the surgeon’s anatomical knowledge and operative skills. Study substantiates that these instruments are helpful but not a prerequisite for successful outcomes in FESS. The study re-emphasises the utility of the microdebrider to young learning FESS surgeons.     

Productivity,Organic Carbon and Residual Soil Fertility of Pigeonpea–Wheat Cropping System Under Varying Tillage and Residue Management

Conservation agriculture improves productivity and soil quality, but most of the research results are only confined to the rice–wheat system. Hence, a long term field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2008–2009 to 2011–2012 on a sandy loam soil to study the effect of tillage and crop establishment techniques, and residue management practices on system productivity, residual nutrient status, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and enzymatic activities under a pigeonpea–wheat cropping system. It was observed that zero tillage gave 5.4 and 2.3 % higher pigeonpea and wheat yield, respectively, over conventional tillage. Similarly, it resulted in 9.6 and 4.9 % higher Kjeldahl N and extractable K, respectively and the plots under zero tillage had 20.6, 8.0 and 6.1 % higher dehydrogenase and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, respectively, over conventional tillage. Application of crop residue at 3 t/ha provided 14.3 and 34.4 % higher pigeonpea and wheat grain yield, respectively, over no residue. Further, organic C, Kjeldahl N and Olsen’s P in soil were enhanced by 7.4, 6.9 and 7.5 %, respectively, due to residue compared to no residue plots. Combined application of pigeonpea + wheat residue at 3 t/ha resulted in higher dehydrogenase (20.9 µg triphenylformazan/g/h), β-glucosidase (145 µg p-nitrophenol/g/h), and acid phosphatase activities (24.5 µg p-nitrophenol/g/h) than the single application of wheat or pigeonpea residue in either season or no residue control.