Genetic diversity, morphological traits, quality traits and antioxidants potentiality of Coccinia grandis germplasm under rainfed semi-arid region.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variability for morphological and qualitative traits of Coccinia for development of trait specific lines at ICAR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CIAH-RS), Panchmahals (Godhra), Gujarat during 2020-2022. In this study, we evaluated 26 gynoecious accessions to assess the genetic divergence through principal component and cluster analysis. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications under rainfed semi-arid conditions. High values of PCV and GCV were observed for variables such as NFFP (25.13 and 22.20), PL (23.14 and 20.69), FD (24.01 and 21.46), AFW (22.98 and 20.13), NFPY (26.38 and 24.40), FYP (37.57 and 31.29), FY (35.55 and 33.20), AsC (28.65 and 27.73), Ac (24.32 and 21.06), TSS (37.23 and 35.94), DPPHL (20.71 and 20.38), FRAPL (21.08 and 20.92), TPF(20.81 and 20.45) respectively. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for vine length (VL), internodal length (IL), number of female flowers per plant (NFFP), fruit length (FL), peduncle length (PL), fruit diameter (FD), average fruit weight (AFW), number of fruit per plant per year (NFPY), fruit yield per plant (FYP), fruit yield (FY), ascorbic acid (AsC), acidity (Ac), total soluble solids (TSS), total phenols in leaves TPL), total flavonoids in leaves TFL, CUPRAC in leaves (CUPRACL), DPPH in leaves (DPPHL), FRAP in leaves (FRAPL), Total phenols in fruits (TPF), Total flavonoids in fruits (TFF), CUPRAC in fruits (CUPRACF) and DPPH in fruits (DPPHF). The FYP exhibited a significant positive correlation with variables like VL (0.6833), IL (0.2991), NFFP (0.8107), FD (0.5245), AFW (0.6766), NFPY (0.7659), ASC (0.4611), TSS (0.5004) and TPF (0.4281). The estimates of genetic parameters revealed scope for further improvement of fruit yield by selection. Of the eight principal components, PC-I through PC-VIII had eigen values greater than 1 and it accounts 85.02% of the total variation for 26 gynoecious accessions of Ivy gourd. The eigen values of PC-I comprised 5.775% of total variation followed by PC-II (4.250%), PC-III (3.175%), PC-IV (2.588%), PC-V (1.828%), PC-VI (1.447%), PC-VII (1.179%) and PC-VIII (1.013%).The cluster VI and cluster I having highest mean values for most of traits under study. Thus, genotypes from the distinct cluster like cluster VI and I for should be used for selection of parents and varietal improvement for further breeding programme in ivy gourd.

Identification of compatible bacterial and fungal isolate and their effectiveness against plant disease.

Forty-three isolates of Trichoderma spp. and forty isolates of bacterial (fluorescent pseudomonads) biocontrol agents were isolated and evaluated for their relative biocontrol potential and thereafter development of mixed formulation of efficient compatible fungal and bacterial bio-agents. Different isolates of either Trichoderma or Pseudomonas exhibited differential antagonistic activity with different species of tested pathogens. Pseudomonas in general, suppressed the growth of Trichoderma under in-vitro conditions however, a few combinations were found compatible. Fungal isolate PBAT-43 (T. harzianum) and bacterial isolate PBAP-27 (P. fluorescens) emerged as most compatible and efficient and therefore were used for development of mixed formulation. Individual and mixed formulations were evaluated for their relative bio-efficacy under glass-house and field conditions. Mixed formulation exhibited increase in seed germination ranges from 25.5 - 72.11% and disease control 47.68- 76.00% in different crops as compared to control. Application of compatible mixture of fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents possessing various mechanism of pathogen suppression is suggested as a reliable and potential means of disease suppression.

Current knowledge on the distribution of arsenic in groundwater in five states of India.

Testing of groundwater used for drinking for arsenic has been undertaken more widely by state governments in several states of India in recent years with the support of UNICEF. Available data for five states are collated in this paper and this provides the most up-to-date picture of areas known to be affected by arsenic in groundwater in the Indian portion of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river basin. In West Bengal, water from 132,262 government installed handpumps in 8 districts has been tested and overall 25.5% of samples were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 57.9% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). On the banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam, to date, samples from 5,729 government handpump sources in 22 districts have been tested for arsenic. Overall, samples from 6.3% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 26.1% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). In Bihar, on the River Ganges upstream of West Bengal, 66,623 sources from 11 districts have been tested and water samples from 10.8% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 28.9% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). Upstream of Bihar in Uttar Pradesh, home of the Taj Mahal, to date water samples from 20,126 government-installed handpump sources have been tested. As a result 2.4% of the samples tested were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 21.5% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). Finally in one district of Jharkhand, lying on the Ganges alluvial plain between Bihar and West Bengal, 9,007 sources have been tested and water samples from 3.7% of sources were found to contain arsenic at concentrations greater than 50 microgL(-1) and 7.5% at concentrations greater than 10 microgL(-1). State governments have adopted different sampling strategies and these are described in this paper. Testing is ongoing in several states and the complete picture is yet to emerge in some areas.

Vial breakage during freeze-drying: crystallization of sodium chloride in sodium chloride-sucrose frozen aqueous solutions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sodium chloride-sucrose frozen solutions with regard to sodium chloride crystallization and vial strain. Sodium chloride-sucrose solutions were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and a strain gauge instrumented vial. The sodium chloride concentration was varied with a fixed concentration of sucrose to identify a composition where crystallization was observed during heating and this composition was examined using the strain-gauged vials. DSC heating thermograms of a 1:1 (w/w) ratio of sodium chloride-sucrose solution show a sodium chloride crystallization exotherm at approximately -45 degrees C. Examination of this composition in a strain-gauged vial shows an increase in strain, which corresponds to the temperature of the exotherm. Vial breakage is a phenomenon reported for mannitol containing solutions, which is associated with crystallization of mannitol in frozen solution. These data also suggest that vial strain and breakage is associated with the crystallization of solutes and the crystallization of water, which is released from the amorphous phase to form ice, and volume expansion. The results demonstrate the importance of understanding effect of excipient ratios, specifically in systems containing crystallizing and non-crystallizing excipients, and thermal history when developing freeze-dried formulations.

Role of chest CT scan in determining etiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs subsequent to a disruption in the continuity of visceral pleura and escape of air into pleural space. It is usually difficult, sometimes impossible to detect evidence of pulmonary pathology by clinical or conventional radiographic methods. Computed tomography provides additional informations not obtainable with conventional diagnostic modalities. METHODS: To determine the role of CT scan in the aetiological diagnosis and subsequent management of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, a perspective study was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax with normal skiagram chest after management of pneumothorax, were included in the study. In 75% of these cases, CT revealed underlying lung pathology as a cause for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that CT scan is a useful imaging modality in determining the aetiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Pulmonary chondroid hamartoma with unusual presentation.

Large-sized pulmonary chondroid hamartomas are very uncommon. We report a case of a 40-year-old male patient with a large sized chondroid hamartoma occupying almost the whole of one hemithorax, presenting with superior vena caval obstruction, left vocal cord palsy and adrenal involvement.

Role of computed tomography in patients with hemoptysis and a normal chest skiagram.

Thirty patients of hemoptysis with a normal skiagram chest were evaluated by computed tomography. Majority of the patients were between 21 to 50 years of age. Seventy percent had mild hemoptysis while 30 percent had moderate hemoptysis. Computed tomography provided diagnostic information in 16 patients (53%). The various aetiologies were bronchiectasis (20%), tuberculosis (20%), pneumonia (6.7%), bronchial carcinoid in one case and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in one case. Computed tomography may play a role in screening patients who present with hemoptysis with normal chest radiographs.

Posterior mediastinal teratomas.

Posterior mediastinal teratomas are rare. We report this entity in a five year old boy. A review of literature of eighteen cases is presented.

An evaluation of myelography with non-ionic water soluble contrast medium-iohexol.

Iohexol myelography was performed in 25 cases of suspected spinal cord compression. Out of these, 24 cases gave optimally informative myelogram, while one case showed quasi-informative myelogram. Myelographic efficacy regarding the level of lesion was correct in all cases. On final evaluation 15 cases were diagnosed as extradural lesions, 9 cases as intradural extramedullary type and one case as diastematomyelia. Only single case which was diagnosed as intramedullary lesion on myelography was, in fact, an extradural lesion. There were only minor side-effects in the form of headache and paraesthesia in the lower limb. It was concluded that iohexol is a safe contrast medium with high efficacy and minimal side-effects for the total examination of spinal canal.

Existence of a mannitol hydrate during freeze-drying and practical implications.

We report thermal and crystallographic evidence for a previously unknown mannitol hydrate that is formed in the process of freeze-drying. The mannitol hydrate was produced by freeze-drying pure mannitol solutions (1-4% w/v) using the following cycle: (1) equilibration at -5 degreesC for 1 h; (2) freezing at -40 degreesC; (3) primary drying at -10 degreesC for 15 h; and (4) secondary drying at 10 degreesC for 2 h and then 25 degreesC for 5 h. This crystal form was also observed upon freeze-drying in the presence of sorbitol (1% w/v). The mannitol hydrate showed a distinct X-ray powder diffraction pattern, low melting point, and steplike desolvation behavior that is characteristic of crystalline hydrates. The mannitol hydrate was found to be metastable, converting to anhydrous polymorphs of mannitol upon heating and exposure to moisture. The amount of the mannitol hydrate varied significantly from vial to vial, even within the same batch. The formation of mannitol hydrate has several potential consequences: (1) reduced drying rate; (2) redistribution of the residual hydrate water during accelerated storage to the amorphous drug; and (3) vial-to-vial variation of the moisture level.

Comparative evaluation of computed tomography and cerebral angiography in the management of subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Plain and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of brain and cerebral angiography were done in 20 subjects of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), diagnosed on the basis of clinical parameters and proved by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination. Plain CT scan of brain confirmed the diagnosis of SAH in all the 20 (100%) cases, but was able to demonstrate the cause of SAH in 11(55%) cases only. Contrast CT scan provided additional information in 7 more cases. CT was also able to demonstrate the site and extent of bleeding, evidence of intraventricular bleeding and hydrocephalus. Cerebral angiography done in all the cases, confirmed the diagnosis in 14 (70%) cases diagnosed on CT and was able to give additional information in 4 more cases. It also showed excellent vascular details which were not possible with CT scan. It is concluded that enhanced CT scan should be done first in all the cases of SAH for preliminary scouting and angiography should be done where CT scan gives incomplete information or where surgical management is contemplated. Both the investigations were found to be complementary to each other.

Determination of the glass properties of D-mannitol using sorbitol as an impurity.

Due to its strong tendency to crystallize, the glass properties of mannitol cannot be measured directly. However, because mannitol can exist in a fully or partially amorphous state in drug formulations, it is important to determine the glass properties of mannitol. We obtained the glass properties of mannitol by introducing a small amount of sorbitol, an isomer of mannitol, to delay the onset of crystallization. Extrapolation to zero sorbitol concentration yielded the following properties for the mannitol glass: Tg onset = 10.7(o)C, Tg midpoint= 12.6( o)C, Tg end = 18.4 degreesC and DeltaCp = 1.27 J/g/K. In addition, we estimated the following parameters of the mannitol glass from the width of glass transition using the results of Moynihan (J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 1993, 76, 1081) and Angell (J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 13780): DeltaH (at Tg onset) = 103 kcal/mol, D = 11, and T0 = 222 K. The value of T0 is consistent with the Kauzmann temperature TK (236 K) obtained calorimetrically. The properties of the mannitol glass may be useful for predicting the behavior of amorphous mixtures containing mannitol.

Evaluation of computed tomograms in paediatric head trauma.

Computed tomograms of 107 patients of head trauma in the paediatric age group were evaluated. Generalised brain swelling (44%) and falx sign (44%) were the commonest findings observed in the computed tomograms. The overall mortality was 16.8% of which all except one were those with Glasgow coma scale between 3 and 7.

Role of arthrography in non-traumatic painful wrist.

The arthrographic examination was carried out in 25 patients with non-traumatic painful wrist of more than 6 weeks duration. Plain x-rays were non-contributory in making any diagnosis in 20 cases. Arthrography was performed even when plain x-rays were normal and it revealed the soft tissue abnormalities and early phases of cartilage destruction not visible on routine roentgenograms. The extent of synovial involvement demonstrated on arthrography proved useful when synovectomy was planned. After operation pain and swelling disappeared and functions of the joint improved considerably.