Technological Breakthrough for Large Scale Bioconversion of Coir Pith towards Sustainable Soil Health Management and Development of Source Point Methane Abatement Model

Coir pith, a byproduct of coir industry, continues to be dumped as a waste in India, because despite its utility being claimed in different applications, an efficient and adoptable technology for its safe utilization is yet unavailable. Due to high lignin content and high C:N ratio, coir pith when left untreated can take decades to decompose, which not only leads to environmental pollution but most importantly methane emission, thereby contributing to climate change. However, once composted, coir pith can transform into an effective soil rejuvenator, considering its utility towards amelioration of especially marginal/ agriculturally degraded soil and improvement of soil productivity. But so far, there is no available composting technology in this respect which is practically feasible, economically viable and socially acceptable. Under IBM-IORF Sustainability project (2022-23) at Mandya, Karnataka, an effort was initiated utilizing Novcom Composting Technology, towards bioconversion of coir pith into safe, mature and qualitative compost for sustainable soil management, especially looking at the stony red soils of the area which are erosion prone, and have a poor productive potential. Periodical study of Novcom coir pith compost samples on 0, 10, 20 and 30 days confirmed effective degradation as demonstrated by the rapid decline of C:N ratio from 1:100 to < 1:25, appreciation of total nitrogen by 98 percent and 60 % degradation of lignin within a 30 days’ time period. The facts are corroborated by the respective very high (in the order of 1016 c.f.u. per gm or one Trillion Billion microflora per ton compost) population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Phytotoxicity Bioassay test values confirmed not only the absence of phytotoxic elements in compost, but also indicated that this compost can actually accelerate seed germination and root growth process. Estimation of methane mitigation potential under this technology utilizing the carbon assessment tool - Agriculture Carbon Footprint Assessor (ACFA, version: 1.0) indicated that untreated coir pith can potentially emit methane in the range of 5897 – 6025 kg CO2 equivalent (taking GWP24 years of methane: 75). GHG emission during biodegradation of coir pith utilizing Novcom Composting Technology, was found to be about 31 times lower (6.47 kg CO2 equivalent/ ton treated waste) than the reference values recorded in respect of any other standard biodegradation process. Especially in terms of methane the negligible emission under this composting technology is the highlight, as corroborated by the documented value of 0.61 kg CO2 equivalent/ ton treated waste. The evaluation confirmed that bioconversion of coir pith utilizing Novcom Composting Technology can enable methane mitigation of about 6000 ton CO2 equivalent per 1000 ton waste, directly from the source point. The study indicated that Novcom Composting Technology can transform not only a potential pollutant to a quality organic soil amendment, the process also etches out and effective pathway for methane abatement directly from the source point that has crucial impact not only in respect of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, but also SDG 15, SDG-3 and most importantly SDG-2. Hence, bioconversion of coir- pith utilizing this technology can also facilitate an effective model towards the Net Zero commitment with significant social and environmental impacts.

A Case Report of Mucormycosis in a Patient with a Recent History of COVID-19 Infection in India

Introduction: Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive fungal infection that increased significantly during the 2nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. The rise of cases was attributed to inflammatory changes, poor quality oxygen, immune suppression, and corticosteroid therapy. Case Presentation: This case study reports the history, treatment, and rehabilitation of a case of post-Covid-19 mucormycosis infection. The patient was admitted to the hospital following respiratory distress, at the beginning of the 2nd Covid-19 wave in India. Intravenous antibiotics, steroids, and moist O2 were administered, intensive support was provided and the patient was discharged after 13 days. Following extraction of 17, the patient reported signs of oro-antral communication which was managed by performing antral lavage and buccal advanced flap closure. Histopathological investigation of tissue salvaged during the procedure revealed the presence of fungal hyphae. Management and Prognosis: Following diagnosis, anti-fungal medication was prescribed, and a maxillectomy was performed to remove the affected tissue. On follow-up, the tissue healed with no further complications or symptoms, and rehabilitation was performed using an obturators and are movable complete denture. Histopathological investigations were carried out on the tissue salvaged during maxillectomy which confirmed Mucormycosis infection. Conclusion: The importance of histopathological investigation in the diagnosis of any infectious disease is enumerated in this paper

A method for early detection of antibiotic resistance in positive blood cultures: Experience from an oncology centre in eastern India.

Purpose: For antibiotic susceptibility results, conventional culture and sensitivity methods takes 48 hours after a blood culture is fl agged positive by automated systems. Early initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy is essential for effective management of sepsis to reduce morbidity, mortality, cost of treatment and prevent antibiotic resistance. Objective of this study was to evaluate Direct Sensitivity Test (DST) as a potential tool to get reliable antibiotic susceptibility results 24 hours earlier. Materials and Methods: Blood cultures fl agged positive between May 2011 to December 2012 by BacT/ALERT were Gram stained. All uni-microbial gram-negative blood cultures were simultaneously cultured and processed for DST from broth using disk diffusion method using British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) guidelines. DST results available next day were compared with conventional antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) performed by Vitek-2 on isolated colonies. Results of DST (test method) and AST (reference method) were compared for agreements or errors. Results: Of the 840 antibiotic gram-negative organism combinations tested, Categorical and essential agreements were 83.7% and 96.2% respectively. Minor, major and very major errors were 12.5%, 3.33% and 0.47%, respectively. Conclusions: DST using disk diffusion from positive blood culture broths helps to initiate early targeted antibiotic therapy. There is high concordance between DST and AST.

In Vivo Evaluation of Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Rhus Semialata Fruit Extract in Rats

Rhus semialata Murr. (Anacardiaceae) is a deciduous tree of north eastern India. The fruit of this plant is traditionally used to control diarrhoea and dysentery. The Present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-diarrhoeal potency of methanol extract of fruits of R. semialatalts indicated that the methanol extract of the fruits of R. semialata possesses significant anti-diarrhoeal effect and substantiated the use of this herbal remedy as a non-specific treatment for diarrhoea in folk medicine

Glycaemic consequences of HIV and highly active antiretroviral therapy: a pilot study and review of literature.

The metabolic consequences of HIV and AIDS are accentuated in the setting of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Peripheral lipodystrophy, central adiposity, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are frequent associations of protease inhibitor containing highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens. Ninety patients aged 25-50 years (males 52, females 38), seropositive for HIV 1 and 2 or both were selected to see the glycaemic profiles in asymptomatic early HIV disease with CD4 counts > 100/microl and to compare this with the glycaemic profile of (a) advanced HIV disease (CD4 counts < 200/microl), not on highly active antiretroviral therapy and (b) advanced HIV disease (CD4 counts < 200/microl), on uninterrupted non-protease inhibitor highly active antiretroviral therapy > 6 months. All the patients were grouped into 3: (1) Group A: CD4 counts > 500/microl (n=37), highly active antiretroviral therapy naive, (2) group B: CD4 counts < 200/microl (n=21), not on highly active antiretroviral therapy, and (3) group C: CD4 counts < 200/microl, receiving uninterrupted non-protease inhibitor based highly active antiretroviral therapy for > 6 months (n=32). The fasting blood glucose, glycosylated Hb (HbA1c) levels, were measured in all the patients in 3 groups and significance of difference between means was calculated among various groups. Body weight and waist-hip ratio were also measured. The results were analysed and compared with other studies.

Biliary mishaps in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM: To determine the incidence and types of biliary complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our patients. METHODS: The clinical records of one hundred and fifty-five patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were reviewed. RESULTS: Five patients developed biliary mishaps. The overall incidence of biliary complications was 3.2% (5/155). The incidence of major complications was 1.9% (3/155) and the incidence of minor biliary complications was 1.2% (2/155). In 3 out of 5 patients the mishap was attributed to developmental anomalies. Dense pericholecystic adhesions and cystic duct blow out were responsible for biliary complications in one patient each. Bilioenteric anastomosis was performed in two patients and restoration of continuity of the common hepatic duct over a T-tube was done in one patient. Side hole in an accessory duct was repaired over a T-tube and cystic duct blow out was managed with endoscopic biliary drainage alone. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion of developmental anomalies, cautions approach in difficult cases and readiness to consider conversion to open cholecystectomy are recommended to reduce the incidence of biliary complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Anomalous bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We report a patient in whom the common hepatic duct drained into the gall bladder body and the cystic duct continued as the bile duct into the duodenum. The anomalous duct was inadvertently injured during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The injury was repaired and end-to-end anastomosis of the hepatic and cystic ducts was done through a subcostal incision.

Adjuvant interstitial brachytherapy in a case of anorectal melanoma.

PURPOSE: A locally resectable case of anorectal melanoma is reported. In order to prevent local recurrence, interstitial brachytherapy was used. METHOD: A 45 years old emaciated female presented with a 8 x 6 x 6 cm, hard, mobile, intraluminal mass in the anal canal and rectum, biopsy revealed malignant melanoma. As the mass was locally resectable, wide local excision of the tumour was carried out. She was subsequently given interstitial brachytherapy with Caesium--137 implants at tumour bed, not described so far in literature. Six months later her general condition had improved but abdomino-perineal resection was necessitated due to presence of extra-rectal metastasis. RESULTS: Patient is in our follow-up for 36 months now and doing well. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of interstitial brachytherapy after local resection of ano-rectal melanoma may help to prevent local recurrence.

Clinical significance of carcinoembryonic antigen in colorectal malignancy.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay was performed in 40 patients of histologically proven colorectal carcinoma. The overall incidence of positivity was 72.5%. The incidence increased from 40% in Duke's A stage to 84.6% in Duke's C stage. Similarly the mean CEa levels also increased as the disease advanced i.e. 4.96 ng/ml, 8.07 ng/ml and 12.7 ng/ml in Duke's A, B and C respectively. Cancer with poor prognosis i.e. poorly differentiated and colloid carcinoma, had significantly less rise in CEA values (P < 0.05) as compared to well differentiated carcinoma. There was no relation of CEA values with the gross appearance of the tumour and lymph node involvement. CEA level came down in all the patients after surgery. Based on the postoperative CEA estimation, complete tumour clearance had been achieved in 86.2% of patients.

Correlation of the growth fraction, nucleolar organizer region counts and epidermal growth factor receptor with histomorphological prognostic criteria in breast cancer.

A total of 60 cases of breast cancer were studied to find the correlation between newer parameters of prognosis viz growth fraction (GF), nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) counts and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positivity with the various histomorphological factors such as tumour size, nuclear grade, histological grade and mitoses. Growth fraction measured by Ki67 monoclonal antibody varied from 3.6 to 73.7 percent. AgNOR counts ranged from 1.2 to 16.9 dots per tumour cell nucleus with a mean of 6.26 dots. EGFR positivity was seen in 66.7% of cases. Ki67 score correlated with all prognostic variables studied except the presence of axillary metastases. AgNOR counts correlated with size of tumour, axillary lymph-node metastases and Ki67 score but no correlation was seen with histologic or nuclear grade. EGFR positivity correlated strongly with size of the tumour and weakly with Ki67 score, AgNOR counts and mitoses.

Basopenia as an indicator of ovulation (a short term clinical study).

In the present study 60 cases age ranging from 18-40 years were studied for variation in the absolute basophil count on the different days of menstrual cycle. At the time of ovulation a statistically significant decrease in the number of basophil count was noted. The decrease in the number of basophil at mid cycle coincided with the irregular follicle seen by sonography, which indicated ovulation. The basophil count then increased during the luteal phase. Basopenia at the time of ovulation was probably due to migration of these cells from the peripheral blood towards the rupturing follicle for the release of histamine required for ovulation.

Disseminated mucormycosis in healthy adults.

Three patients of disseminated mucormycosis are described. None had predisposing factors. Two of them presented with nonspecific symptoms along with acute renal failure and peritonitis. Third patient had fulminating primary cutaneous mucormycosis which disseminated later. Development of acute renal failure with smooth enlargement of both kidneys in an apparently healthy individual or appearance of mould in a wound should raise the suspicion of mucormycosis. The hallmark of the infection was vascular invasion and thrombosis. Antemortem diagnosis could be made in one patient only. All patients had progressive downhill course despite supportive treatment, antibiotic and amphotericin in-B in one patient.

Correlation of metal distribution, reduced glutathione and metallothionein levels in liver and kidney of rat.

Effect of group IIB metals on the endogenous status of metallothionein (MT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) was studied in two vital detoxifying organs namely, liver and kidney of rat. The metals were administered at non lethal levels (1/10 LD50) which were found to cause no death. Zinc showed accumulation in both liver and kidney, cadmium preferentially in the liver while mercury in the kidney. Hepatic MT content was increased by 18-fold, 15-fold and 2-fold by cadmium, zinc and mercury respectively while renal MT was increased maximally by zinc. Among the metals, mercury caused highest depletion of hepatic GSH level (51%). The renal GSH showed differential response to the metal treatment, the level increasing slightly by cadmium and depleting significantly by zinc and mercury. A positive correlation was found between group IIB metal accumulation and the manifestation of toxic response.