Immunological survey of COVID-19 among medicos of tribal preponderant state of India.

Background: Immunological Survey or serosurveys have yielded useful information regarding the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population, but the impact of the continuing pandemic on the medical students in India is yet to be fully recognised. In this study we assessed the students who had received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for their antibody response. Methodology: A Hospital based, age-stratified, cross-sectional Analytical study design was adopted for the survey, carried out in tribal state of India among medical students. Consecutive sampling method was used where serum samples were tested for antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein. Result: The vaccinee group comprised of 187 students mostly aged between 18-23 years 68.4% were females, 56.6 % were vaccinated with covishield. The mean IgG (Immunoglobin G) titre was 7343.74 AU/Ml, less than 1000 AU/Ml was found in 8% of participants, while more than 8000 AU/Ml was found in 32.1%. Participants who got the covaxin vaccine had a higher median IgG titre (median 6491.8 AU/mL, interquartile range 8898 AU/mL).The antibody titre of male was 0.328 times lower than that of female. Conclusion: Despite the fact that covishield's mean antibody titre was higher, covaxin's protection lasted longer.

Viewpoints from the National Consultation on Addressing Acute Malnutrition on Mainstreaming Community-Based Program for Management of Acute Malnutrition in India.

High burden of acute malnutrition among children less than 5 years is a major public health problem in India. A "Two-days National Consultation on Addressing Acute Malnutrition" was organized to gather experiences and evidence from 13 states of India on prevention and management of acute malnutrition among children and documenting viewpoints from experts and government counterparts on the same. The consultation centered around five key themes of addressing acute malnutrition; 1) capacity building, 2) strengthening screening, 3) nutritional care of wasting, 4) tracking progress, and 5) scale-up. The paper highlights the experiences and key recommendations around the above key themes. It emerged that there is a need to further accelerate the efforts toward strengthening existing platforms and services to address acute malnutrition among children. Regular trainings of the frontline workers, increased convergence, regular monitoring, and continued service delivery during the pandemic should be undertaken for better outcomes.

Association between anthropometric criteria and body composition among children aged 6-59 months with severe acute malnutrition: a cross-sectional assessment from India.

A multicentric study is being conducted in which children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) aged 6-59 months are identified with only weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) < - 3 criteria. The present study aimed to assess associations of anthropometric parameters and body composition parameters, to improve treatment of SAM. We conducted a cross-section assessment using the enrolment data of children who participated in a multi-centric longitudinal controlled study from five Indian states. Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were determined by bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA). Six hundred fifty-nine children were enrolled in the study using WHZ < -3 criteria. Available data shows that WHZ, WAZ and BMIZ were significantly associated with FFMI while MUACZ was significantly associated with both FMI and FFMI. Children with both severe wasting and severe stunting had significantly lower FFMI compared to those who were only severely wasted. All forms of anthropometric deficits appear to adversely impact FFM and FM.Trial registrationThe study is registered with Clinical Trial Registration of India (Registration No.: CTRI/2020/09/028013 dated 24/09/2020).

Knowledge and practices of nursing staffs related to Maternal Nutrition and Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) services at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Jharkhand, India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The first 1000 days of life is a unique window of opportunity when the foundation of overall optimum health and neurodevelopmental growth across the lifespan is established. Objective: To explore the level of knowledge and practice of service providers in delivering maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) services at the point of care. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study done in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics of RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand from May to September 2019. Result: The practices and counseling skills of nursing staff pertaining to maternal nutrition interventions like IFA and calcium supplements was good. Though counseling on maternal minimum dietary diversity, frequency, and quantity of meals was done during the antenatal care period, its knowledge and expected total weight gain during pregnancy were suboptimal. The practice of early initiation of breastfeeding was significantly higher in those who delivered normally (79%) than those by cesarean section (7%). The nursing staff's knowledge and technical skills on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding were good, but inadequate for cesarean section. Forty-one percentage of recently delivered women were counseled on colostrum feeding, 17% about positioning and attachment, and 38% on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 months. In the pediatrics OPD and immunization clinic, 93% of mothers with an infant below 6 months of age, received counseling on EBF, 47% on feeding during illness, and 13% on breastfeeding difficulties and their solutions. Sixty percentage of mothers of children >6 months old received counseling on timely introduction of complementary feeding and 40% on minimum dietary diversity. Forty percentage of mothers were counseled on feeding techniques during and after illness. Conclusion: The nursing staffs were providing the services related to MIYCN during antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal services, sick child visits, and immunization visits but their technical knowledge and skills on the specific components were not in accordance with the standard guidelines.

Effectiveness of community-based treatment programs for treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnourished children aged 6-59 months using locally produced nutrient dense foods: protocol for a multicentric longitudinal quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a major underlying cause of mortality among children. Around one third of the world's acutely malnourished children live in India. The WHO recommends community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) for managing children with SAM. In India, different states are implementing community-based SAM treatment programme, hereinafter called CSAM, using varieties of locally produced nutrient dense food items with different nutrient compositions. The study will assess the effectiveness of these state specific CSAM interventions. METHODS: The longitudinal quasi-experimental study will be undertaken in two purposively selected blocks of one district each in the four intervention states and one comparison state. From each state, 200 SAM children identified using weight-for-length/height z-score (WHZ) < - 3 criteria will be enrolled in the study. Their anthropometric data and skinfold thickness will be taken on admission, at sixth week and at discharge by trained field investigators. Other child details, incidence of morbidity and socio-economic details will be collected on admission. To assess food consumption pattern including consumption of locally produced nutrient dense food supplements, dietary assessment, using 24-h dietary recall will be conducted on admission, at sixth week and at discharge. In addition, body composition parameters will be assessed for a sub-set of children using bio-electrical impedance analysis on admission and at discharge to analyse changes in total body water, fat-free mass, and fat mass. Post discharge, all study participants will be followed up monthly until 6 months. Atleast 10% of the sample will be checked for quality assessment. The study's primary outcome is cure rate defined as children attaining WHZ ≥ -2. Secondary outcomes include mean weight gain, mean length of stay, body composition parameters, relapse and mortality rates. Additionally, process evaluation and cost effectiveness analysis will be conducted. DISCUSSION: There is a shortage of robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of locally produced nutrient dense food supplements provided as part of the CSAM intervention in India. This study will contribute to evidence on effective strategies to manage children with uncomplicated SAM in India. The study protocol has all necessary ethical approvals. Written informed consent will be obtained from caregivers of the children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered with Clinical Trial Registration of India (Registration No.: CTRI/2020/09/028013 ) Date of registration 24/09/2020.

Plants Saline Environment in Perception with Rhizosphere Bacteria Containing 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase.

Soil salinity stress has become a serious roadblock for food production worldwide since it is one of the key factors affecting agricultural productivity. Salinity and drought are predicted to cause considerable loss of crops. To deal with this difficult situation, a variety of strategies have been developed, including plant breeding, plant genetic engineering, and a wide range of agricultural practices, including the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and seed biopriming techniques, to improve the plants' defenses against salinity stress, resulting in higher crop yields to meet future human food demand. In the present review, we updated and discussed the negative effects of salinity stress on plant morphological parameters and physio-biochemical attributes via various mechanisms and the beneficial roles of PGPR with 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate(ACC) deaminase activity as green bio-inoculants in reducing the impact of saline conditions. Furthermore, the applications of ACC deaminase-producing PGPR as a beneficial tool in seed biopriming techniques are updated and explored. This strategy shows promise in boosting quick seed germination, seedling vigor and plant growth uniformity. In addition, the contentious findings of the variation of antioxidants and osmolytes in ACC deaminase-producing PGPR treated plants are examined.

Cold Tolerance during the Reproductive Phase in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Is Associated with Superior Cold Acclimation Ability Involving Antioxidants and Cryoprotective Solutes in Anthers and Ovules.

Chickpea is sensitive to cold stress, especially at reproductive stage, resulting in flower and pod abortion that significantly reduces seed yield. In the present study, we evaluated (a) whether cold acclimation imparts reproductive cold tolerance in chickpea; (b) how genotypes with contrasting sensitivity respond to cold acclimation; and (c) the involvement of cryoprotective solutes and antioxidants in anthers and ovules in cold acclimation. Four chickpea genotypes with contrasting cold sensitivity (cold-tolerant: ICC 17258, ICC 16349; cold-sensitive: ICC 15567, GPF 2) were grown in an outdoor environment for 40 days in November (average maximum/minimum temperature 24.9/15.9 °C) before being subjected to cold stress (13/7 °C), with or without cold acclimation in a controlled environment of walk-in-growth chambers. The 42-d cold acclimation involved 7 d exposure at each temperature beginning with 23/15 °C, 21/13 °C, 20/12 °C, 20/10 °C, 18/8 °C, 15/8 °C (12 h/12 h day/night), prior to exposing the plants to cold stress (13/7 °C, 12 h/12 h day/night; 700 µmol m-2 s-1 light intensity; 65-70% relative humidity). Cold acclimation remarkably reduced low temperature-induced leaf damage (as membrane integrity, leaf water status, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments, and chlorophyll fluorescence) under cold stress in all four genotypes. It only reduced anther and ovule damage in cold-tolerant genotypes due to improved antioxidative ability, measured as enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and non-enzymatic (ascorbate and reduced glutathione), solutes (particularly sucrose and γ-aminobutyric acid) leading to improving reproductive function and yield traits, whereas cold-sensitive genotypes were not responsive. The study concluded that cold tolerance in chickpea appears to be related to the better ability of anthers and ovules to acclimate, involving various antioxidants and cryoprotective solutes. This information will be useful in directing efforts toward increasing cold tolerance in chickpea.

Characterization and differential expression of sucrose and starch metabolism genes in contrasting chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under low temperature.

Low temperature (LT) causes significant yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The sucrose starch metabolism is associated with abiotic-stress tolerance or sensitivity in plants. The changes in sugars and starch contents under LT in chickpea have already been studied, however, no information is available on LT-induced alterations in transcription of carbohydrate metabolic pathway genes in chickpea. To understand the differences in the regulation of sucrose and starch metabolism under LT, the expression of sucrose and starch metabolism genes was studied in leaves of cold-sensitive (GPF2) and cold-tolerant (ICC 16349) chickpea genotypes. The mRNA sequences of chickpea genes were retrieved from the public databases followed by confirmation of identity and characterization. All the genes were functional in chickpea. Between the two paralogues of cell wall invertase, cell wall invertase 3×2 (CWINx2) was the truncated version of cell wall invertase 3×1 (CWINx1) with the loss of 241 bases in the mRNA and 67 amino acids at N terminal of the protein. Comparison of expression of the genes between control (22°C day / 16°C night) and LT treated (4°C; 72 h) plants revealed that granule bound starch synthase 2 (GBSS2) and ß-amylase 3 (BAM3) were upregulated in ICC 16349 whereas sucrose phosphate synthase 2 (SPS2), CWINx1, CWINx2 and ß-amylase 1 (BAM1) were downregulated. In contrast to this, SPS2, CWINx1, CWINx2 and BAM1 were upregulated and GBSS2 downregulated in GPF2 under LT. The gene expression data suggested that UGPase, CWINs, GBSS2 and BAM3 are important components of cold-tolerance machinery of chickpea.

Low temperature-induced aberrations in male and female reproductive organ development cause flower abortion in chickpea.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is susceptible to low temperature (LT) at reproductive stage. LT causes flower abortion and delays pod set in chickpea until terminal drought becomes an issue, thereby decreasing yield potential. In chickpea, flower and anther/pollen development as well as LT-induced abnormalities on anther and pollen development are described inadequately. In the present manuscript, we report flower development stages, anther development stages, and aberrations in male gamete formation in chickpea under LT. Flower length was linearly correlated to flower and anther stages and can be used to predict these stages in chickpea. LT affected male gamete development in a flower/anther age-dependent manner where outcome ranged from no pollen formation to pollen sterility or no anther dehiscence to delayed dehiscence. In anthers, LT inhibited microsporogenesis, microgametogenesis, tapetum degeneration, breakage of septum and stomium, and induced pollen sterility. Whereas disruption of male function was the prime cause of abortion in flowers below vacuolated pollen stage, flower abortion was due to a combination of male and female reproductive functions in flowers with mature pollen. The study will help in elucidating mechanisms governing flower development, anther and pollen development, and tolerance/susceptibility to LT.

Traditional Indigenous Games promoting physical activity and cultural connectedness in primary schools--cluster randomised control trial.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: This study investigated the effectiveness of Traditional Indigenous Games (TIG) to improve physical activity and cultural connectedness among primary school students in the community renewal areas of Townsville in North Queensland. METHODS: A cluster randomised control trial was conducted in four primary schools in 2007. Baseline and post implementation surveys were conducted in two intervention and two control schools and the results were compared. RESULTS: TIG delivered in primary schools every week over period of three months did not contribute to any statistically significant improvement in intervention and control groups in physical activity levels or cultural connectedness. CONCLUSIONS: Further research specifically in terms of intensity and duration of TIG may inform whether physical activity may be improved. Enhancing the Indigenous cultural features of the existing TIG kit might positively influence Indigenous cultural connectedness.