Effect of new organic supplement (Panchgavya) on seed germination and soil quality.

We studied the suitability of Panchgavya (five products of cow), new organic amendment, application on seed germination, plant growth, and soil health. After characterization, Panchgavya was mixed with water to form different concentration and was tested for seed germination, germination index, and root and shoot growth of different seedlings. Four percent solution of Panchgavya was applied to different plants to test its efficacy. Panchgavya and other two organic amendments were incorporated in soil to test the change of soil chemical and microbiological parameters. Panchgavya contained higher nutrients as compared to farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost. Its application on different seeds has positively influenced germination percentage, germination index, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of the seedling. Water-soluble macronutrients including pH and metal were positively and negatively correlated with the growth parameters, respectively. Four percent solution of Panchgavya application on some plants showed superiority in terms of plant height and chlorophyll content. Panchgavya-applied soil had higher values of macro and micronutrients (zinc, copper, and manganese), microbial activity as compared to FYM, and vermicompost applied soils. Application of Panchgavya can be gainfully used as an alternative organic supplement in agriculture.

A study of leprosy reactions in a tertiary hospital in Delhi.

A retrospective study of 531 leprosy patients was undertaken to study the profile of reactions in the post Multi-Drug-Therapy period in a tertiary hospital in Delhi. BT was the most common group. The prevalence of reactions was found to be 8.09% for the Type 1 and 4.70% for the Type 2 reactions for a male:female ratio of 2.2. The Type 1 reaction was most frequently observed in the BB group followed by BL, BT and LL groups respectively. More than half of the patients had reactions at the time of presentation. In only 39.8% of the patients did reaction follow Multi-Drug-Therapy. In 4.5% of the patients with Type 1 reactions (T1R), concomitant infections were noted. The most common presentation of T1R was cutaneous lesions (74.41%) followed by cutaneous lesions and neuritis (53.6%), neuritis alone (12.1%), and only edema of hands and feet (7.31%) respectively. The Type 2 reactions (T2R) presented chiefly as papulo-nodular (92%) lesions followed by pustulonecrotic (8%) lesions. Associated neuritis was found in 40% and periosteitis and iritis in 8% and 4%, respectively. In 8.6% of the patients with T2R, precipitating factors could be observed. The prevalence of deformities in patients with reaction was 25%, and was more common in females. Deformities were observed in 23.25% of the T1R patients and 28% of the T2R patients.

Pulse therapy with amikacin and dapsone for the treatment of actinomycotic foot: a case report.

Actinomycetoma is a chronic disease caused by aerobic actinomycetes and affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and bones. It causes significant morbidity and clinically manifests as abscesses and sinus/fistulae with or without granules. Early diagnosis is based on the color, size, histopathology of the granules; culture and metabolic studies are used for further species differentiation. Although sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim alone or in combination with dapsone for a variable period of time are used as first line agents for treatment, slow response to the therapy and high relapse rates have led to increasing usage of alternative agents like gentamycin, amikacin and cefotaxime. We report a case of actinomycetoma foot who had complete treatment failure with a sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim-dapsone combination and was successfully treated with combination therapy of amikacin and dapsone without any side effects.