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Background: The clinical phenotypes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease, its disease course, and treatment are poorly understood and much work needs to be done towards this.Objective: To characterize the clinico-radiologic spectrum and treatment outcomes of MOG antibody disease and differentiate it from aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO-SD).Methods: A single-center, observational study from Western India during 2017-2019, of 48 patients with either MOG antibody positive (21 patients) or AQP-4 antibody positive (27 patients) central nervous system demyelination.Results: MOG antibody group had median age 32.2 years, no gender bias, median disease duration 40 months, relapses in 9 patients (43%), and median 2.5 (1-16) episodes per patient. Onset phenotypes included isolated bilateral optic neuritis (ON) (43%), isolated unilateral ON (19%), acute brainstem syndrome (19%), simultaneous ON with myelitis (9%), isolated myelitis (5%), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis optic neuritis (ADEM-ON) (5%). Characteristic neuroimaging abnormalities were anterior segment longitudinally extensive ON, upper brainstem, and thoracic cord involvement (both short and long segment lesions). Most patients (86%) responded well to steroids, only 3/21 required rescue immunotherapy. In total, 6 out of 46 eyes affected developed permanent visual disability, while one patient had motor disability. The features differentiating MOG from AQP-4 antibody group were: no female predilection, preferential optic nerve involvement, characteristic neuroimaging abnormalities, and favorable therapeutic response and outcome.Conclusions: MOG disease commonly presents as severe ON, myelitis, acute brainstem syndrome, ADEM or their combinations. Early identification, treatment, and maintenance immunosuppression are necessary. It can easily be differentiated from NMO-SD using clinico-radiological features and therapeutic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of poor quality seed has been envisaged as one of the major causes of low productivity of potato in India. Keeping these facts under consideration, a trial on raising the quality seed potatoes using "Seed Plot Technique" was taken up at five locations in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh, India involving a small group of farmers cultivating potato as cash crop. The complete package under "Seed Plot Technique" was assessed and capacity building interventions were also implemented. Performance of "Seed Plot Technique was compared with the conventional/ commonly followed practices of seed potato production in the region. Technical and socio-psychological impact as well as the sustainability of this technique was ascertained on the established indicators. Results showed that Seed Plot Technique was highly effective in improving the quality of seed potatoes as it reduced the aphid population by 73.7 to 74.1%, white fly population by 68.1 to 86.9%, and mosaic incidence by 71.0 to 75.8.0%, besides, achieving bumper crop yield with an increase of 10.3 to 16.3% over the conventional system). The technique was also found to be cost effective with higher B: C ratio of 2.6 and sustainable score (80) over the conventional system (B: C ratio=2.0; score 53). These, findings have wider implication for establishment of replicable and remunerative agri-business model of commercial seed potato production at the farmer's level in the plains of Uttar Pradesh using the innovative seed plot technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooded rice is grown across wide geographic boundaries from as far north as Manchuria and as far south as Uruguay and New South Wales, primarily because of its adaptability across diverse agronomic and climatic conditions. Salt-stress damage, a common occurrence in delta and coastal rice production zones, could be heightened by the interactions between high temperature and relative humidity (vapor pressure deficit - VPD). Using temporal and spatial observations spanning 107 seasons and 19 rice-growing locations throughout India with varying electrical conductivity ( EC), including coastal saline, inland saline, and alkaline soils, we quantified the proportion of VPD inducing salinity damage in rice. While controlling for time-invariant factors such as trial locations, rice cultivars, and soil types, our regression analysis indicates that EC has a nonlinear detrimental effect on paddy rice yield. Our estimates suggest these yield reductions become larger at higher VPD. A one standard deviation ( SD) increase in EC from its mean value is associated with 1.68% and 4.13% yield reductions at median and maximum observed VPD levels, respectively. Yield reductions increase roughly sixfold when the one SD increase is taken from the 75th percentile of EC. In combination, high EC and VPD generate near catastrophic crop loss as predicted yield approaches zero. If higher VPD levels driven by global warming materialize in conjunction with rising sea levels or salinity incursion in groundwater, this interaction becomes an important and necessary predictor of expected yield losses and global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Hydroelectric Project Corporation (NHPC) Limited, a Government of India Undertaking, while constructing a 132 MW Hydroelectric Project on the river Teesta at the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal built one concrete coffer wall on the upstream of the river to facilitate the construction of barrage and spillway. One end of the coffer wall was abutted to the barrage pier and the other end to the left bank onto the cellular wall. The demolition of the said coffer wall by controlled blasting was entrusted to CSIR-CIMFR by NHPC. The paper deals with the scientific methodology resorted by CSIR-CIMFR for accomplishing the job successfully with full safety to the nearby structures viz. barrage, spillway, Intake, penstocks, surface powerhouse, tail channel, pot head yard etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes isolated from Ganges water, human clinical and milk samples were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility, serotype identification, detection of virulence genes and ERIC- and REP-PCR fingerprint analyses. All isolates were uniformly resistant to ampicillin, except two isolates, and showed variable resistance to gentamicin, cotrimoxazole, ofloxacin, rifampicin and tetracycline. Of the 20 isolates found positive for pathogens, seven (four human and three water isolates) belong to serogroups 4b, 4d and 4e; six (one human and five water isolates) belong to serogroups 1/2c and 3c; four milk isolates belong to serogroups 1/2b and 3b; and three milk isolates belong to serogroups 1/2a and 3a. Two water isolates, all human isolates, except one (Pb1) lacking inlJ gene, and three milk isolates possess inlA, inlC, plcA, prfA, actA, hlyA and iap genes. The remaining water and milk isolates showed variable presence of inlJ, plcA, prfA, and iap genes. ERIC- and REP-PCR based analyses collectively indicated that isolates of human clinical samples belong to identical or similar clone and isolates of water and milk samples belong to different clones. Overall study demonstrates the prevalence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes species in the environmental and clinical samples. Most of the isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the extensive trial blasts conducted for damage assessment due to blast-induced ground vibrations for removal of hard rocks as well as establishment of safe blasting zones during excavation work at a proposed thermal power project in India. During the excavation work it was feared that the impact of blasting may cause damage to the rocks or extension of cracks to the nearby foundations/foundation bases for various types of sensitive structures. A number of trial blasts with varying designs and charging patterns were carried out at the site. The impact of ground vibration waves were assessed on nearby structures/foundations. Ground vibrations were monitored at varying distances in a straight line, to find out the characteristics of wave propagation in the particular medium. Based on the analyses of recorded vibration data, it was suggested that no blasting should be carried out within 5 m when the foundation work is in progress. Within 5-15 m, controlled blasting should be carried out with 32 mm diameter Jack Hammer Drilling Machine while beyond 15 m and up to 25 m, 100 mm diameter drill machine can be used with hole depths up to 3.0 m. Within the zone of 25 m to 35 m from the foundation, the depth of blastholes may be more than 3.0 m but it should not be greater than 4.5 m. Beyond 35 m zone, the depth of blast holes should be between 4.5-6.0 m. It was also suggested that a clearance of at least 0.5 m from both the edges of the blasting face should be used between the boundary of excavation line and the last row of holes to minimize over break beyond the excavation line. Lighter explosive charges with longer delay periods should be used for the blastholes adjacent to the excavation boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the clinical and immunocytochemical features of sarcoglycanopathies have been reported from India, genetic aspects have not been studied. There is large variation in the sarcoglycan mutations among the studied populations. Aim: To study the spectrum of mutations in sarcoglycan genes (SG). Materials and Methods: Patients fulfilling Bushby's criteria for limb girdle muscular dystrophy were prospectively analyzed. Patients gave their medical history and underwent a clinical examination, serum creatine kinase estimation, electrophysiology, muscle biopsy with immunostaining for alpha, beta, gamma, and delta subunits and mutational analysis using denaturing high pressure liquid chromatography and direct sequencing. Results: Mutations in SG accounted for 26.4% of the cohort of limb girdle muscular dystrophy. The mean age of these 18 patients was 22.5 years. Generally, proximal weakness affected the flexor and adductor compartments of the lower and upper limbs. The clinical profile of various mutations was indistinguishable from each other. Gamma SG mutations were most common, seen in 8 patients, followed by delta SG mutation in 5 patients and alpha mutation in 4 patients, while only 1 patient had mutation in the beta sarcoglycan gene. The most prevalent mutation in the gamma SG gene was 525del T. This is of interest as the mutation has been known to exist only in specific populations. Conclusion: This study, the first mutational analysis of Indian patients with sarcoglycanopathies suggests gamma SG mutations were the most common and the most prevalent mutation in the gamma SG gene was 525del T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term observations over a period of 22 years in an Indian family with primary dysferlinopathy are recorded, defining phenotypic variability. In the propositus, the dystrophy began distally in the tibialis anterior muscles, before involving the gastrocnemius. Transient painful calf hypertrophy, followed by calf wasting was observed. The proximal lower and upper limbs weakened after three to four years. The younger sibling presented with the proximo-distal phenotype. Both patients showed very high creatine kinase values early into the illness. Disease progression was slow. The younger sibling lost ambulation 14 years after onset, while the elder one remains ambulatory 22 years into the illness. Muscle biopsy showed dystrophic features and absence of dysferlin. Monocyte western blotting confirmed absence of dysferlin. Genetic analysis detected a heterozygous mutation in Exon 54 [c.6124C>T] in the DYSF gene. This is the first family with a diagnosis of dysferlinopathy supported by genetic data, reported from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the health systems around the world struggled to meet the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, care of many non-COVID emergencies was affected., Aims: The present study examined differences in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of stroke patients during a defined period in the ongoing pandemic in 2020 when compared to a similar epoch in year 2019., Methods: The COVID stroke study group (CSSG) India, included 18 stroke centres spread across the country. Data was collected prospectively between February and July 2020 and retrospectively for the same period in 2019. Details of demographics, stroke evaluation, treatment, in-hospital and three months outcomes were collected and compared between these two time points., Results: A total of 2549 patients were seen in both study periods; 1237 patients (48.53%) in 2019 and 1312 (51.47%) in 2020. Although the overall number of stroke patients and rates of thrombolysis were comparable, a significant decline was observed in the month of April 2020, during the initial period of the pandemic and lockdown. Endovascular treatment reduced significantly and longer door to needle and CT to needle times were observed in 2020. Although mortality was higher in 2020, proportion of patients with good outcome were similar in both the study periods., Conclusions: Although stroke admissions and rates of thrombolysis were comparable, some work flow metrics were delayed, endovascular stroke treatment rates declined and mortality was higher during the pandemic study period. Reorganization of stroke treatment pathways during the pandemic has likely improved the stroke care delivery across the globe., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: This study was an attempt to evaluate and correlate serum interleukin-12 (IL-12) with different circulating markers in newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for possible progression of atherosclerosis., Methods: For this study, we recruited 1968 family members of diabetics and 349 had abnormal glucose. Out of 349 subjects, 197 were T2DM as per American Diabetes Association guidelines and further investigated for cardiovascular abnormalities. 63 T2DM have high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP)>3.0mg/l and cardiovascular complications. Overall, 150 subjects, 50 healthy, 50 T2DM (D1) and 50 T2DM with cardiovascular complications (D2) were enrolled and investigated for soluble markers., Results: The levels of serum glucose, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor), endothelial dysfunction markers [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), nitric oxide] and lipid abnormality were highest in D2 group. Correlation and regression study showed that IL-12 was dependent on hsCRP, insulin resistance, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and lipids. The multivariate stepwise regression analysis demonstrates that hsCRP contributes significantly for variance of IL-12., Conclusion: This study reveals that, even first-time diagnosis of T2DM, subjects with higher insulin resistance and abnormal lipids have elevated IL-12, endothelial dysfunction and proinflammatory markers. Further increased hsCRP enhance IL-12 which up-regulate cardiovascular disease progression., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The recent years have seen remarkable progress in the field of limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) with the advances in immunocytochemistry and genetics. Based on this, many subgroups have emerged. Protein products and genes are getting defined and newer mechanisms of disease are being recognized. Limb girdle muscular dystrophies are common in India. The clinical material is plentiful, and from various centers in the country, phenotypes have been studied. With the help of immunocytochemistry, sarcoglycanopathies and dysferlinopathies have been studied. Genetic information on these subgroups is now beginning to emerge. The laboratory facilities are limited and available in select centers in large institutes. Establishment of genetic laboratories and sophisticated muscle pathology techniques will further elucidate the LGMDs in India.

Used with blood or serum, a new anti-K39 antibody immunochromatographic strip test (IT-Leish; DiaMed AG) proved sensitive (range, 99 to 100%) and specific (range, 95 to 100%) for the noninvasive serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in India. Used with serum, the IT-Leish test and the existing Kalazar Detect test (InBios International, Inc.) yielded comparable results for symptomatic infection and identified apparent subclinical infection in 15 to 32% of healthy residents in a region where visceral leishmaniasis is highly endemic.