Search

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping is used for the precise localization of genomic regions regulating various traits in plants. Two major QTLs regulating Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) value (qSPAD-7-1) and trichome density (qTric-7-2) in mungbean were identified using recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations (PMR-1-Pusa Baisakhi) on chromosome 7. Functional analysis of QTL region identified 35 candidate genes for SPAD value (16 No) and trichome (19 No) traits. The candidate genes regulating trichome density on the dorsal leaf surface of the mungbean include VRADI07G24840, VRADI07G17780, and VRADI07G15650, which encodes for ZFP6, TFs bHLH DNA-binding superfamily protein, and MYB102, respectively. Also, candidate genes having vital roles in chlorophyll biosynthesis are VRADIO7G29860, VRADIO7G29450, and VRADIO7G28520, which encodes for s-adenosyl-L-methionine, FTSHI1 protein, and CRS2-associated factor, respectively. The findings unfolded the opportunity for the development of customized genotypes having high SPAD value and high trichome density having a possible role in yield and mungbean yellow vein mosaic India virus (MYMIV) resistance in mungbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the recent years, there is a huge paradigm shift of medical education in India from curriculum-based learning to learner-centered and time independent competencybased medical education. This paradigm shift was to rear and trains medical graduates to function as physician of first contact being globally acceptable. Due to this, the felt need of the hour was to find an assessment tool that is valid, reliable, devoid of subjective bias, and has the capabilities to assess the cognitive, psychomotor, and effective domain. Aims and Objectives: In this context, this study was done to assess the impression and impact of objective structured practical examination (OSPE) in comparison to conventional practical examination (CPE). Due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, there was some scope of organizing OSPE in virtual mode. Materials and Methods: The study involved of 250 Phase I medical undergraduates of Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College. The response stations included charts, clinical problems, graphs, pictures, and critical analysis of reports. Results: The mean scores in OSPE were higher than CPE. In our study, 51.3% strongly voiced that conducting OSPE was more scientific with uniformity in evaluation. Conclusion: OSPE was preferred by the students as an assessment tool. Moreover, OSPE had a scope to be organized in Virtual mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about the yield gain over the years due to associated changes in the yield component traits is essential for a critical understanding of yield-limiting factors. To estimate genetic gain in grain yield (GY) and component agronomic traits of wheat varieties released between 1900 and 2016 for northwestern plain zone (NWPZ) of India and to identify agronomic and/or genetic basis of the realized gains, two sets of wheat varieties comprising mega varieties and two recently developed varieties were evaluated under timely sown, tilled, and early sown conservation agriculture (CA) conditions for four consecutive years under irrigated conditions. The average annual genetic gain in GY since 1,905 under timely sown irrigated conditions was found to be 0.544% yr−1 over the average of all varieties and 0.822% yr−1 (24.27 kg ha−1 yr−1) over the first released variety, NP4. The realized mean yield increased from 2,950 kg ha−1 of the variety NP4 released in 1,905–5,649 kg ha−1 of HD3086 released in 2014. Regression analysis revealed a linear reduction in height and peduncle length (PL) over the years with a simultaneous and linear increase in biomass at the rate of 43.9 kg ha−1 yr−1 or relatively at 0.368% yr−1 mainly because of delayed heading and increased crop duration. Regression analysis showed no linear trend for tiller number and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Though harvest index (HI) was found to linearly increase relatively at the rate of 0.198% per annum, polynomial regression improved the fitness of data with the indication of no increase in HI since 1982. Interestingly, genetic gain evaluation under early sown CA conditions for 4 years showed similar relative gain (RG) [a relative improvement in varieties across breeding periods (BP)] (0.544% yr−1) but with a higher absolute value (29.28 kg ha−1 yr−1). Major mega varieties like Kalyan Sona, HD2009, PBW 343, HD2967, and HD3086, which occupied a comparatively larger area, were found highly plastic to the improvements in the production environment under timely sown conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the building of a database for the decentralized power-generating system in India. Response to an increasing demand for power from the consumers; Problems of the system based on cost calculations; Recommendation of a solar photovoltaic (SPV) technologies; Environmental pollution and scope for SPVs; Includes statistical data.

Context: Academic pressure, though established, is an unavoidable cause of depression in medical students. Role of Type D personality as determinant of depression is a new approach to the problem. Aim: Determination of relationship between Type D personality and Depression among medical students. Setting and Design: Undergraduate students (both male and female, total 150) of Midnapore Medical College. Materials and Methods: Beck Depression Inventory for depression and DS 14 for type D personality. Statistical Analysis: The scores were expressed as mean + SD. The significance of difference between the scores was done by Fisher's 2 sample t test. Results and Conclusion: Prevalence rate of depression was 45.3%, which was mostly of mild type (34%). Type D personality was present in 70% cases of which 15.3% had only negative affectivity, 23.3% had only social inhibition and 31% had both the components. Both depression & Type D personality were present in 36% cases. Negative affectivity component was significantly associated with depression which could be therapeutically controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the prevalence of obesity among undergraduate students of the Midnapore Medical College in Medinipur, India and possible factors affecting body weight. It cites the number of male and female students who were found to be overweight and obese. It was stated that the only factor that has shown influence on body weight was exercise. The research cited the factors that could enhance the health of such students such as regular exercise and stress management.

The article focuses on the use of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement to diagnose hypothyroidism based on study at Calcutta National Medical Collage (CNMC) in India. The study used serum from patients to estimate the TSH levels through a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. It found that 232 patients out of 903 suspected to have hypothyroidism are actually suffering from the disease as confirmed by TSH levels. It indicated that hypothyroidism is more prevalent in the 36-45 age group.

Background: Medical students feel a significant amount of stress due to a variety of factors. Few studies have explored the relative size of these various stressors to identify which are most important. This study was undertaken to quantify the magnitude of various sources of stress among students of a medical college at Kolkata, West Bengal, and also to assess the reliability of Medical Students' Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ-40) in this context., Methods: We evaluated the degree of stress along various dimensions using the MSSQ-40, a scale to measure stress among medical students that has been validated in other countries. Differences in stress and its causal factors were analyzed across demographic subgroups. The reliability of the MSSQ-40 was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha., Results: The overall prevalence of stress was 91.1% and the vast majority of students (94.9%) were stressed due to academic reasons. Academic related stress was found to be higher among students who are not conversant with the local language, experienced a change in medium of teaching from secondary school to medical school, and resided in a hostel. The MSSQ-40 in general, and its academic-related stress domain specifically, were found to be reliable in our setting., Discussion: Early detection and remedying stressors will help to build physical and mental health in medical students. Language training early during the medical course might reduce academic stress among our students. Further studies should relate individuals' stress with their academic performance.

This cross-sectional, observational study was undertaken to identify rifampicin and INH resistant mycobacteria in the sputum samples of category II treatment failure tuberculosis patients from three 'DOTS' clinics of Kolkata (Ward No 15, 33, 79 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation). Conventional method of culture in solid and liquid media followed by sensitivity testing to rifampicin and INH were done. Age, sex, economic status, nutrition, history of contact, living condition, etc, were taken into consideration. Out of 66 category II treatment failure tuberculosis cases from 3 DOTS clinics, 45 (68.2%) were found to be multidrug resistant (MDR). Among them, 68.9% were male patients and 55.6% were in the economically productive age group. Most of them (73.3%) were malnourished (BMI < 18.5); 62.2% of patients belonged to 'below poverty line' (BPL) category and 82.2% patients lived in overcrowded room. Majority of them (82.3%) either had past history of tuberculosis or history of contact or both.This study also shows that apart from the biological reasons of drug resistance, the sociodemographic and economic factors are no less important for the spread of drug resistant tuberculosis.

Background: Under nutrition and anemia are common co-morbidities in school age children. Due to transition in dietary habits in developing countries, a paradoxical finding of coexistence of anemia and normal/over nutrition is also a cause of concern., Objective: > T o assess the nutritional status and prevalence of anemia among school age children (6 - 16 years) residing in rural and urban areas of a district of West Bengal and also to find out the association between weight status, measured as Body Mass Index(BMI) and anemia., Materials and Methods: Age, height & weight were measured in 86 rural and 86 urban school age (6 -16 years) children in rural and urban field practice areas of Midnapore Medical College. Their blood was estimated for haemoglobin concentration., Results: Overall prevalence of anemia was 80.2%, and not significantly different between the rural (83.7%) and urban (76.7%) participants and across the genders both in rural (86.4% versus 80.9%) and urban (85.7% versus 72.4%) areas. Thinness was observed to be higher in urban area (48.8% versus 41.9%). However, severe thinness was higher in rural area (18.5% versus 13.9%). Significantly, higher proportion of boys revealed severely low BMI compared to girls in both rural (33.3% versus 4.5%) and urban (17.2% versus 7.1%) areas with no significant differences between the prevalence of anemia across the grades of underweight and normal nutritional status., Conclusions: Poor nutritional status and anemia are still, taking heavy toll and new program strategies are needed, particularly those that improve the overall nutrition status of children.

Background: Implementation of Multi drug Therapy (MDT) regimen has resulted in the decline of the total number of leprosy cases in the world. Though the prevalence rate has been declining, the incidence rate remains more or less constant and high in South East Asian countries particularly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Srilanka. Leprosy, particularly that of multibacillary type spreads silently before it is clinically detected. An early detection and treatment would help to prevent transmission in the community. Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) technique appears to be promising towards early detection among contacts of leprosy cases., Methods: A total of 234 paucibacillary (PB) and 205 multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases were studied in a community of an endemic area of Bankura district of West Bengal (Eastern India). They were assessed by smear examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and M-PCR technique. These patients were treated with Multidrug Therapy (MDT) as prescribed by WHO following detection. A total of 110 MB and 72 PB contacts were studied by performing M-PCR in their nasal swab samples., Results: 83.4% of MB patients were observed to be positive by smear examination for AFB and 89.2% by M-PCR. While 22.2% of PB patients were found to be positive by smear examination for AFB, 80.3% of these patients were positive by M-PCR. Among leprosy contacts (using M-PCR), 10.9% were found to be positive among MB contacts and 1.3% among PB contacts. Interestingly, two contacts of M-PCR positive MB cases developed leprosy during the period of two years follow up., Conclusion: The M-PCR technique appears to be an efficient tool for early detection of leprosy cases in community based contact tracing amongst close associates of PB and MB cases. Early contact tracing using a molecular biology tool can be of great help in curbing the incidence of leprosy further.

Streptococcus pyogenes(group A) is a major pathogen capable of causing a wide range of diseases in different age group of people. In this study 100 patients were selected who presented with the complaint of sore throat. All the patients were divided in four age groups. Streptococcus pyogenes colonies were confirmed on the basis of beta-haemolysis, bacitracin sensitivity test, and latex agglutination test for group A. Out of a total of 100 samples, 42 were confirmed as group A streptococcus. From this study, it has been observed that all age groups, with maximum occurrence in 5-15 years age group, were suffering from group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Therefore every case of sore throat especially affecting children should be investigated to detect the causative agent for initiation of proper therapy so that the more serious outcome like acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) can be prevented.

The coexistence of hypothroidism and depression is already reported and both of these conditions are known to share some common clinical symptoms. Serum cholesterol level is known to be altered in either condition considered separately. But, no report is obtained regarding serum cholesterol level when both the conditions coexist. In this study, 78 patients (61 females and 17 males, age ranged 19 to 67 years) suffering from major depressive disorder were included. Serum T3, T4, TSH and cholesterol levels were estimated in all of them. Sixty-two patients were found to be euthyroid and 16 patients (11 females, 5 males) were found to be hypothyroid. Among female patients, 6 had subclinical hypothyroidism and 5 had overt hypothyroidism. Among male patients 3 had subclinical hypothyroidism and 2 had overt hypothyroidism. The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism in major depressive disorder was estimated as 20.5%. Mean serum cholesterol level in 62 euthyroid patients was found to be 150.9% +/- 16 mg% and that of 16 hypothyroid patients to be 190.7 +/- 12 mg% showing a significant difference (p < 0.01). Thus estimation of cholesterol in major depressive disorder patients may give an idea regarding their thyroid status and vice-versa.