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Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in water treatment industries can simultaneously offer disinfection and eradicate organic contaminants. The present work examined the direct exposure impact of various oxidative (UV, O3, and H2O2) and their eclectic combinations (UV/O3, H2O2/O3, and UV/H2O2) for the abolition of Trihalomethane (THMs) precursors. The application of the Fenton process proved to be the most effective technique for reducing TOC (85.23%) and UV254 (91.11%) than other used AOPs. Higher removal of THMs precursors found in the Fenton process may be attributed to the higher degradation potential of hydroxyl radical generated from this process than other AOPs. The deformed ferrous iron salts (Fe2+) in the Fenton reagent catalyzed the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and produced highly reactive radicals. Seasonal probabilistic lifetime cancer and non-cancer risks of THMs in males and females were also investigated in the drinking water supplies of five major cities in India. Comparative risk analysis through different pathways revealed significant risk from oral ingestion (99%), followed by inhalation exposure (0.77%) and dermal absorption (0.002%), where females were found at higher risk of cancer. Sensitivity analysis using a radar plot was also performed to identify the most influential parameter affecting the total risk of cancer. The Risk value of chloroform (CF) was highest among the THMs compound in all the WTPs for both seasons. Seasonal risk assessment revealed a higher risk of cancer in the pre-monsoon season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Pearl millet breeding programs can use this heterotic group information on seed and restorer parents to generate new series of pearl millet hybrids having higher yields than the existing hybrids. Five hundred and eighty hybrid parents, 320 R- and 260 B-lines, derived from 6 pearl millet breeding programs in India, genotyped following RAD-GBS (about 0.9 million SNPs) clustered into 12 R- and 7 B-line groups. With few exceptions, hybrid parents of all the breeding programs were found distributed across all the marker-based groups suggesting good diversity in these programs. Three hundred and twenty hybrids generated using 37 (22 R and 15 B) representative parents, evaluated for grain yield at four locations in India, showed significant differences in yield, heterosis, and combining ability. Across all the hybrids, mean mid- and better-parent heterosis for grain yield was 84.0% and 60.5%, respectively. Groups G12 B × G12 R and G10 B × G12 R had highest heterosis of about 10% over best check hybrid Pioneer 86M86. The parents involved in heterotic hybrids were mainly from the groups G4R, G10B, G12B, G12R, and G13B. Based on the heterotic performance and combining ability of groups, 2 B-line (HGB-1 and HGB-2) and 2 R-line (HGR-1 and HGR-2) heterotic groups were identified. Hybrids from HGB-1 × HGR-1 and HGB-2 × HGR-1 showed grain yield heterosis of 10.6 and 9.3%, respectively, over best hybrid check. Results indicated that parental groups can be formed first by molecular markers, which may not predict the best hybrid combination, but it can reveal a practical value of assigning existing and new hybrid pearl millet parental lines into heterotic groups to develop high-yielding hybrids from the different heterotic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is grown under a wide range of environmental conditions in India. The All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project (AICPMIP) has the responsibility of testing and releasing pearl millet cultivars adapted to such conditions. As a part of this process, AICPMIP has divided the entire pearl millet growing regions into three different zones (A1, A, and B) based on the rainfall pattern and local adaptation of the crop. This study was conducted to define the presently used test locations into possible mega-environments and to identify essential test locations for cost-effective evaluation of pearl millet cultivars. Grain yield data of different sets of 34 to 45 medium-maturity pearl millet hybrids tested at 29 to 34 locations during 2006 to 2008 were analyzed using genotype main effects and genotype × environment interaction biplot method. Two distinct pearl millet mega-environments with consistent grouping of locations across the years and corresponding to AICPMIP's designated A and B zones were identified. No such consistent grouping of locations corresponding to AICPMIP's designated A1 zone was, however, observed. Based on the discriminating ability, uniqueness, and research resources, 13 locations were identified as essential test locations for evaluation across the two megaenvironments. Testing at these locations appeared to provide good coverage of the whole pearl millet growing areas of India. Based on these findings, it is suggested to conduct initial yield trials at identified 13 locations across all the pearl millet growing zones represented by two mega-environments followed by testing of selected hybrids with specific adaptation in their respective adaptation zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author talks about the concept of Pharmacovigilance, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 'the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems'. The article discusses the reasons why pharmacovigilance is necessary and presents the purpose and other details of The National Pharmacovigilance Programme (NVPV) launched in India in 2004.

A flow-measuring system was developed to measure the flow rate of a river called Assi, a tributary to River Ganges in the city of Varanasi, India. The Assi River carries a huge quantity of sewage water, and thus serves as large sewerage drain for the city. A sewage treatment plant that was under consideration to treat the wastewater discharge into the Ganges needed empirical flow data to establish its design capacity. This gave rise to the installation of a flow-measuring system. The distinctive features of the measuring system, which has potential for application to other areas around the world, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which characterizes the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)-bred seed restorer lines of pearl millet plant in India. At the ICRISAT pearl millet improvement program, pollinator lines (R-lines) are developed with morphological and genetic diversity based on agronomic performance. It notes that the 114 designated restorer lines show the utilization of a wide range of germplasm and improved lines in developing R lines.

The article presents a study on the morphological characteristics of the pearl millet hybrid seed bred by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Pantancheru, India. The study intends to improve the breeding lines and the potential hybrid parents of the pearl millet. The hybrid plants were evaluated on their capability to resist the downy mildew, the most dreaded disease of pearl millet.

Purpose: To study the effect of exposure to high level of air pollution on ocular surface health. Materials and Methods: A total of 520 subjects volunteered to participate in this study. All volunteers were required to give a detailed history and were subjected to ophthalmic examination under slit lamp, visual acuity test, tear fi lm break-up time (BUT) and Schrimer's test. Results: Significantly high number of subjects in study group complained of ophthalmic symptoms compared to control group. Sevent eight per cent subjects in the study group had symptoms such as redness, watering, irritation, strain or photophobia whereas this number was 45% in control group. Schirmer's test showed a significantly low value of 22.75±8.91 mm in study group as compared to 30.30±7.92 mm in control group (P<0.001). Average tear break-up time in study group was significantly low (P<0.05) with a value of 11.17±2.92 seconds compared to 12.13 ± 3.24 seconds in control group. Conclusion: Results of our study indicate that people traveling in highly polluted areas and exposed to high level of air pollutants are likely to suffer from significantly high incidence of subclinical ocular surface disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four isolates of Rhizoctonia solani (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris) collected from soil, root and collar rot or foliage blight-infected plants from several locations of north India were used for the analysis of variability by using morphological and molecular markers. Among the morphological characters, variation was observed in hyphal cell size. Seventeen isolates produced few to abundant, white to dark brown or black, small to large sclerotia generally in the middle of the colony. Genetic variation was also analysed by using 11 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers (RAPD), four universal rice primers (URPs) and two inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and fingerprint patterns generated for each isolate. The size of amplified DNA bands ranged from 0.3 to 3.5 kb in all the isolates with RAPD, URP and ISSR markers. The isolates obtained from same hosts and same geographical regions showed similarity in DNA fingerprint profiles barring few exceptions. All the isolates were classified into four groups using DNA markers. A comparison of the data obtained from different markers showed that URPs are superior to RAPD, ISSR and morphological markers in detecting genetic variability among the isolates of R. solani. Hence, use of URP's, which have long primer and higher annealing temperature, would be more sensitive and reliable markers in characterizing genetic diversity in R. solani. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research interest in the study of sociology of sport in India is very recent. Data for the study were collected through a pretested questionnaire distributed to 200 sports participants (100 mate and 100 female) coming from the student population of the University of the Punjab State in India in 1984. The hypothesis that parents encourage their sons more than their daughters to participate in sports was not verified. The study revealed that it was the sportswomen who were given more encouragement. The hypothesis that teachers and coaches encourage their male students more than their female students was also not substantiated; quite to the contrary, the female students were given more encouragement. In our study the parents of sportswomen were better educated than those of the sportsmen; a large percentage of the parents of sportsmen was illiterate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites and occur all over the world, especially in humid and subhumid nations such as India. They are very important vectors of many economically important livestock diseases, such as Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. Ticks were collected from organized and unorganized cattle farms situated in and around Mhow. The initially collected samples of ticks (≤200) were washed in tap water and identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. The study was carried out from June 2021 to May 2022. Ticks were treated with 0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5, and 10% oil of Azadirachta indica in both the adult immersion test and larval immersion test. All the concentrations were prepared with absolute ethanol. In the present study, fipronil was used as a positive control using various concentrations (x/8, x/4, x/2, x, and 2x) and was prepared in distilled water. The LC50 values against fipronil were observed as 1.03 and 1.12 ppm for adults and larvae, respectively. Results of the study showed that the oil of Azadirachta indica was responsible for the mortality of adults (LC50 = 2.70%) and larval stages (LC50 = 1.27%) at all the concentrations used. Furthermore, it was observed that this oil was also responsible for the inhibition of oviposition and had excellent repellent activity at 10% concentration. Based on the study, we can conclude that the oil of A. indica can be used in an integrated tick management system to reduce the tick burden on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data collected with the 217-detector air shower array and the 560 m2 area tracking muon detector, being operated at Ooty in southern India by the India-Japan (Tata Institute-Osaka City University) collaboration, GRAPES, have been analyzed to study the shape of the energy spectrum and the composition around the knee. It is shown that the muon multiplicity distribution, observed with the highly modular muon detector, permits a relatively reliable measurement on the composition of primary flux which then helps in a more accurate reconstruction of the energy spectrum from the observed shower size spectrum. The highlights of the GRAPES array, the analysis procedure and the results are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the plains of western North India, traditional rice and wheat cropping systems (RWCS) consume a significant amount of energy and carbon. In order to assess the long-term energy budgets, ecological footprint, and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutants from RWCS with residual management techniques, field research was conducted which consisted of fourteen treatments that combined various tillage techniques, fertilization methods, and whether or not straw return was present in randomized block design. By altering the formation of aggregates and the distribution of carbon within them, tillage techniques can affect the dynamics of organic carbon in soil and soil microbial activity. The stability of large macro-aggregates (> 2 mm), small macro-aggregates (2.0–2.25 mm), and micro-aggregates in the topsoil were improved by 35.18%, 33.52%, and 25.10%, respectively, over conventional tillage (0–20 cm) using tillage strategies for conservation methods (no-till in conjunction with straw return and organic fertilizers). The subsoil (20–40 cm) displayed the same pattern. In contrast to conventional tilling with no straw returns, macro-aggregates of all sizes and micro-aggregates increased by 24.52%, 28.48%, and 18.12%, respectively, when conservation tillage with organic and chemical fertilizers was used. The straw return (aggregate-associated C) also resulted in a significant increase in aggregate-associated carbon. When zero tillage was paired with straw return, chemical, and organic fertilizers, the topsoil's overall aggregate-associated C across all aggregate proportions increased. Conversely, conventional tillage, in contrast to conservation tillage, included straw return as well as chemical and organic fertilizers and had high aggregate-associated C in the subsurface. This study finds that tillage techniques could change the dynamics of microbial biomass in soils and organic soil carbon by altering the aggregate and distribution of C therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Childhood injuries, especially the unintentional category of injuries, occur most commonly in the environment inside a child's home. The primary objective of the present study was to assess the presence of home hazards for childhood injuries in households in an urban resettlement colony in New Delhi. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in an urban resettlement colony in Delhi. A hazards assessment tool was used to check the presence of hazards in the houses. Results A total of 225 households were included. It was seen that121 (53.7%) had a cooking stove within the reach of the child, and 190 (84.3%) had the gas pipe within reach. Fire hazard was seen in 84% of houses. About 78% of households did not have locked storage for chemicals. Conclusion The study revealed a significant burden of hazards for childhood injuries within their own homes, thus emphasizing the need for injury prevention interventions to reduce the number of hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilocus sequence typing ( MLST), a sequence-based typing method for bacterial pathogens, is currently the best method for long-term epidemiological study and to understand the population structure of the bacteria. This investigation was carried out to study the diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates circulating in India. Ten different sequence types ( ST) identified in this study are ST 122 from cattle, goat, mithun and pig; ST 50 from pig; ST 9 from cattle and sheep; ST 229 from cattle and goat; ST 71 and ST 277 from cattle; and ST 129, ST 280, ST 281 and ST 282 from avian species. Of these, ST 277, ST 280, ST 281 and ST 282 were identified for the first time. The analysis of results provides novel epidemiological information on the circulation of multiple STs across India. The majority of STs or their variants identified in this study have already been reported from different parts of the globe. This suggests that probably transboundary spread of strains across countries and continents has occurred across evolutionary time and is still happening. The isolation of ST 122 from small ruminants and pigs suggests that these species may be included in the preventive vaccination policy for effective control of haemorrhagic septicaemia in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vajikarana or Vrishya chikitsa is a one of eight major specialty of the Ashtanga Ayurveda. This subject is concerned with aphrodisiacs, virility and improving health of progeny. As per Charak Samhita, by proper use of these formulations, one becomes endowed with good physique, potency, strength, and complexion and sexually exhilarated and sexually potent. This in turn is helpful in many common sexual dysfunctions, including Infertility, Premature Ejaculation and Erectile dysfunction. The therapy is preceded by living in strict compliance with the directions mentioned in Ayurvedic classics, various methods of body cleansing and other non-medicinal strategies like sexual health promoting conduct, behavior and diet. Certain individualized herbal and herbo-mineral combinations are administered as per the nature of a person according to the Ayurveda. Many limitations need to be considered before considering the use of theses therapy like lack of scientific studies, possibilities of adulteration in the herbal and herbo-mineral combinations available in market and possibilities of unexpected side-effects etc., The article calls upon initiating research in this area so that claims of ancient Ayurvedic texts could be substantiated and vajikaran therapy may be utilized by modern medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, lack of knowledge on soil fertility and appropriate nutrient management practices has restricted potato production. A field trial was conducted for 5-years during 2013-14 to 2017-18 to determine the main limiting nutrient for potato (Solanum tuberosum L) and to evaluate the nutrient management practices (NMPs). Results indicated average potato yields in nutrient omission plots was in the order 0-N (29.5 t ha-1), 0-P (31 t ha-1), 0-K (17.9 t ha-1). The agronomic efficiency at 50% applied NPK for N (AEN), P (AEP) and K (AEK) was 35 kg tuber kg-1 N, 187 kg tuber kg-1 P and 53 kg tuber kg-1 K, respectively, and the partial factor productivity of N (PFPN), P (PFPP) and K (PFPK) was 349 kg tuber kg-1 N, 1846 kg tuber kg-1 P and 523 kg tuber kg-1 K, respectively. There was significant negative relationship between AE or PFP of N, P or K and the respective nutrient rate. Apparent recovery of NPK was 31, 25 and 35%, respectively. The positive relationship between yield of nutrient omission plots and PFP and AE suggests nutrient use efficiency can be affected by soil indigenous productivity. NMP produced significant higher yield (32.9 t/ha), yield response (21%) and economic net returns (Rs 47120/ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Arabian Sea ( AS), the Bay of Bengal ( BOB) and continental recycling are three principal vapour sources identified for the rain events at Ahmedabad located in semi-arid western India. In the present study, the 48 h backward wind trajectories, at 6 h intervals, converging at an altitude of 1.5 km above the ground, for 120 daily rain events during the monsoon seasons of 2005-2008, have been examined using HYsplit Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory ( HYSPLIT) model. Temperature, relative humidity, altitude and rainfall along each trajectory were studied at hourly intervals. The temperature and relative humidity data were used to compute the absolute humidity (g m−3) of the air parcel at its location at hourly intervals. The relationship between the height of the air parcel, its relative humidity and rainfall along each trajectory was used to identify the vapour pick-up region. The region around the maximum value of absolute humidity for each trajectory was designated as the dominant vapour pick-up region for each rain event at Ahmedabad. In this manner, principal vapour source identification was unambiguously possible for 93.3% of all the 120 rain events. The fraction of total events and the fractions of total rainfall attributable to the three principal vapour sources, respectively, are: AS, 68.3 and 62.1%; BOB, 2.5 and 1.5%; recycled, 22.5 and 24.5%; mixed, 6.7 and 11.8%. Most of the rain events with recycled vapour contribution occur during the latter part of the monsoon season, namely during September. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the spider mites are the most economically important group of mites which cause considerable loss of yield on different crops. It mentions that future work seeks to incorporate discharge-dependent roughness coefficient which will minimize the error in discharge estimation. It also mentions the simple workflow approach with an intuitive graphical interface will help researchers to estimate hydrological hydraulic parameters with ease.

Four unusually large ice-stones (megacryometeors) weighing several kilograms fell in western India during October-November 2010. Samples were retrieved from three fall events. To study the origin and formation of these megacryometeors, d 18O, d D, chemical composition and ?-activity were measured. The range of d 18O-d D is similar to the local meteoric water, suggesting origin from local atmospheric water vapour. The relative humidity at ~4 km altitude was higher during a few days before and after the fall. No ?- activity from cosmogenic radionuclides such as 26Al could be detected in the inherent dust. These studies indicate terrestrial origin of these megacryometeors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast, also known as leaf spot, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), has emerged as a serious disease affecting both forage and grain production in pearl millet in India. Pathogenic variation was studied in a greenhouse using 25 M. grisea isolates collected from four major pearl-millet-growing states in India (Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh) on 10 pearl millet genotypes (ICMB 02444, ICMB 02777, ICMB 06444, ICMB 93333, ICMB 96666, ICMB 97222, ICMB 99444, 863B, ICMR 06222, and ICMB 95444). Differential reactions to the test isolates were recorded on ICMB 02444, ICMB 93333, ICMB 97222, 863B, and ICMR 06222. The 25 isolates were grouped into five different pathotypes based on their reaction types (virulent = score ≥ 4 and avirulent = score ≤ 3 on a 1-to-9 scale). For the identification of resistance sources, a pearl millet mini-core comprising 238 accessions was evaluated under greenhouse conditions against five M. grisea isolates (Pg118, Pg119, Pg56, Pg53, and Pg45) representing the five pathotypes. Of 238 accessions, 32 were found to be resistant to at least one pathotype. Resistance to multiple pathotypes (two or more) was recorded in several accessions, while three accessions (IP 7846, IP 11036, and IP 21187) exhibited resistance to four of the five pathotypes. Four early-flowering (≤50 days) blast-resistant mini-core accessions (IP 7846, IP 4291, IP 15256, and IP 22449) and four accessions (IP 5964, IP 11010, IP 13636, and IP 20577) having high scores (≥7) for grain and green fodder yield potential and overall plant aspect were found to be promising for utilization in pearl millet improvement programs. Identification of five pathotypes of M. grisea and sources of resistance to these pathotypes will provide a foundation for breeding for blast resistance in pearl millet in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children under five years of age constitute approximately 15% of the country's total population and are the most vulnerable section of the society and suffer from highest morbidity. A Prospective study was conducted to find out the magnitude of morbidity in under five children in rural area and its association with various socio-environmental factors. 206 under-fives (134 Males & 72 Females) were followed monthly for a period of one year. The annual incidence rate of morbidity (Acute spells of illness) was 4.6 episodes /child /year. The leading causes of morbidity in decreasing order of incidence were - acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, skin infections and fever. Episodes of illness were observed more during infancy, in females, malnourished and in children living in over-crowded and poorly ventilated houses. An inverse relationship of the morbidity and socio-economic status of the families was also observed. However, no association of morbidity was observed with parental literacy, location of Kitchen, type of excreta disposal and Infant feeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the identification of rust resistance lines in hybrid pearl millet plants in India. The study intends to develop a rust resistant hybrid parents with the use of the four rust resistant lines. The rust resistant lines have been anticipated to improve the forage and grain production in pearl millet.

BACKGROUND: Cancer data from Rajasthan are limited. Only two studies, one from Western Rajasthan, and the other from Eastern Rajasthan have been published by Sharma et al. in 1992 and 1996. AIMS: To put the cancer profile from this region in proper perspective, we conducted the present study on the patterns of various malignancies in Jaipur region, i.e., Eastern Rajasthan. SETTING AND DESIGN AND MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study spans over one and half decade (1990-2004) and is based on a retrospective six-year sample analysis of approximately 200,000 histopathological and cytological reports for the years 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004. RESULTS: A total of 21,868 cancers were recorded in the six sample years. There were 59.11% (12,926) males and 40.89% (8942) females, with the male to female ratio being 1.45:1. Organ wise, lung (8.45%), prostate (7.12%), brain (6.04%), urinary bladder (5.31%), esophagus (4.67%) and tongue (4.60%) are most common sites involved in males with regard to frequency, whereas breast (20.44%), cervix (14.99%), ovary (4.35%), brain (3.80%), esophagus (3.67%), uterus (3.01%) and rectum (2.80%) are common sites for malignancies in females. CONCLUSIONS: Significant findings were a higher frequency of cancers of the prostate, urinary bladder, and brain in males along with gall bladder cancers in females. Our figures have been compared with the national data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The features of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in developing countries have rarely been examined. This study explored the clinical characteristics of PHPT in India with the hypothesis that this may improve understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease worldwide. Methods: Consecutive patients with PHPT (24 women, five men) were examined prospectively before and after parathyroidectomy. Results: All patients had osteitis fibrosa cystica with a median symptom duration of 2·5 (range 1–26) years. Single or multiple fragility fractures were present in 14 patients (eight were bedridden); 20 had brown tumours. Mean preoperative serum calcium was 3·1 mmol/l, while mean serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were 17-fold and 12-fold higher than normal respectively. Nine patients had overt renal damage, mainly nephrocalcinosis. Parathyroidectomy invariably resulted in severe hypocalcaemia, necessitating long-term vitamin D treatment. The mean parathyroid gland weight was 8·6 (range 2·0–36·6) g and features of carcinoma were found in four patients. Serum calcidiol level correlated inversely (P < 0·05) with serum iPTH and ALP, and parathyroid gland weight. Conclusion: PHPT in Indians is a severe, symptomatic disorder with skeletal, muscular and renal manifestations at a young age. The presence of this severe variant of PHPT in vitamin D-sufficient Indians, and the lack of skeletal disease in other vitamin D-deficient populations, raises the possibility of additional pathogenetic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in Indians has some unique clinical features, such as early age of onset, extreme osteopenia, crippling bone involvement, large parathyroid tumours, higher proportion of malignancy and severe, prolonged postparathyroidectomy hungry bone syndrome. The current study aimed to study (1) whether these features of PHPT in Indians are due to a variant form of PHPT and (2) pathogenetic factors of such variant disease. Methods: Clinical, investigative and pathological features of 29 consecutive patients with PHPT (24 females, five males) who underwent parathyroidectomy at 13–60 (mean 38) years of age were reviewed. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated between serum calcidiol levels and biochemical variables, bone mineral density (BMD) before surgery and parathyroid tumour weight. Results: Median duration of symptoms was 2·5 (range 1–26) years. Mean total serum calcium, iPTH and ALP levels were 12·4 mg dl[sup -1] (normal 8·5–10·8 mg dl[sup -1]), 955 pg ml[sup -1] (normal 9–55 pg ml[sup -1]) and 850 units l[sup -1] (normal 35–125 units l[sup -1]) respectively, while mean(s.d.) serum calcidiol and calcitriol concentrations were 14(6) ng ml[sup -1] and 52(29) pg ml[sup -1] (versus 9(9) and 30(14) pg ml[sup -1] in matched controls). All patients had symptomatic osteitis fibrosa cystica and eight were bedridden. Single or multiple spontaneous fractures occurred in 14 patients, brown tumours in 20, and long bones were barely visible on plain films in four. BMD z-scores at distal radius and lumbar spine (mean) were -4·2 and -3·8. Palpable parathyroid tumours occurred in 14 patients and nine had renal damage, mainly nephrocalcinosis. Parathyroidectomy invariably resulted in long-standing severe hypocalcaemia, necessitating intravenous calcium infusion for 6 days on average, and long-term oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation. The mean parathyroid... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: To describe the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in schools for the blind in north India, and explore temporal trends in the major causes. METHODS: A total of 703 children were examined in 13 blind schools in Delhi. A modified WHO/PBL eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision which included sections on visual acuity, additional non-ocular disabilities, onset of visual loss, the most affected anatomical part of the eye concerning visual impairment, and the aetiological category of the child's disorder based on the timing of insult leading to visual loss was administered in all children. RESULTS: With best correction, 22 (3.1%) were severely visually impaired (visual acuity in the better eye of <6/60) and 628 (89.3%) children were blind (visual acuity in the better eye of <3/60). Anatomical sites of SVI/BL were whole globe in 27.4% children, cornea 21.7%, retina 15.1%, and lens 10.9%. The underlying cause of visual loss was undetermined in 56.5% children (mainly abnormality since birth 42.3% and cataract 8.3%), childhood disorders were responsible in 28.0% (mainly vitamin A deficiency/measles 20.5%), and hereditary factors were identified in 13.4%. Study of temporal trends of SVI/BL by comparing causes in children in three different age groups-5-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13-16 years-suggests that retinal disorders have become more important while childhood onset disorders (particularly vitamin A deficiency) have declined. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the children suffered from potentially preventable and/or treatable conditions, with vitamin A deficiency/measles and cataract the leading causes. Retinal disorders seem to be increasing in importance while childhood disorders have declined over a period of 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]