Energy and carbon budgeting of traditional land use change with groundnut based cropping system for environmental quality, resilient soil health and farmers income in eastern Indian Himalayas.

Energy intensive traditional cereals based monoculture often lead to high greenhouse gas emissions and degradation of land and environmental quality. Present study aimed at evaluating the energy and carbon budget of diversified groundnut (Arachis hypogea L) based cropping system with over existing traditional practice towards the development of a sustainable production technology through restoration of soil and environmental quality and enhancement of farming resiliency by stabilizing farmers' income. The trials comprised of three introduced groundnut based systems viz. groundnut- pea (Pisum sativum), groundnut-lentil (Lens esculenta) and groundnut-toria (Brasssica campestris var. Toria) replacing three existing systems viz. maize (Zea mays L) - fallow, maize - toria, and rice (Oryza sativa L)-fallow systems. Four years study revealed that adoption of groundnut based systems reduced non-renewable energy input use (fertilizers, chemical, machinery and fossil fuels) by 25.5%, consequently that reduced the cost of production. Repeated analysis of variance measurement also affirmed that groundnut based systems (groundnut-pea>groundnut-lentil> groundnut-toria) increased the energy use efficiency, energy productivity, carbon use efficiency, net returns and decreased the specific energy and energy intensiveness. Groundnut based systems increased the mean system productivity and water productivity in terms of groundnut equivalent yield by 3.7 and 3.1 folds over existing practice. The savings of fossil fuel reduced greenhouse gas emissions owing to reduced use of farm machinery and synthetic fertilizers. Groundnut based systems significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the soil carbon concentration (8.7-18.1%) and enzymatic activities (27.1-51.8%) over existing practice. Consequently, estimated soil quality index values were 35.9-77.3% higher under groundnut based systems than existing practice. Thus, the study indicated the resilient nature of groundnut based systems as an environmentally safe and sustainable production technology for enhancing resource use efficiency, reduce carbon emission, energy intensiveness and cost of production in the Eastern Himalaya region of India and similar ecosystems.

A study of pattern of nonvenereal genital dermatoses of male attending skin OPD at a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Nonvenereal dermatoses tend to create confusion from venereal dermatoses. This may be responsible for considerable concern to the patient as well as may cause diagnostic dilemma to the physicians. Nonvenereal dermatoses may not be restricted to genitalia alone; it may affect skin and mucous membrane also. Most of the patients with genital lesions had apprehension of suffering from some venereal disorders. AIM: The aim was to determine clinical and epidemiological pattern of nonvenereal dermatoses of male external genitalia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study of 100 consecutive adult male patients with nonvenereal genital dermatoses attending skin and STD OPD at J A Group of Hospitals, Gwalior. Cases having any venereal dermatoses were excluded from this study. RESULTS: The study included 100 male patients with nonvenereal genital lesions. A total of sixteen nonvenereal genital dermatoses were noted. The most common nonvenereal genital dermatoses were vitiligo (18%), pearly penile papule (16%), fixed drug eruptions (12%), scabies (10%), scrotal dermatitis (9%) and lichen planus (9%). Other dermatoses included sebaceous cyst, psoriasis, lichen sclerosus, plasma cell balanitis or Zoon's balanitis, granuloma annulare, lichen nitidus, lymphangioma circumscriptum, papulo-necrotic tuberculid, squamous cell carcinoma and tinea infections. The age ranged from 18 years to 65 years with majority in the age group of 21-30 years (40%). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of diagnosing common nonvenereal genital dermatoses. It also helps in avoiding the general misconception that all genital lesions are sexually transmitted.

A study of rheumatological manifestations of leprosy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rheumatic manifestations are a common feature of leprosy. The present study was performed to assess the incidence of rheumatic manifestations in leprosy. METHODS: Seventy cases of leprosy attending the indoor and outdoor departments were studied. RESULTS: Out of the 70 cases studied, rheumatic manifestations were seen in 61.42% of cases: arthritis in 54.28% and soft tissue rheumatism in 17.14%. Enthesitis was seen in 2.84% of cases. The incidence of arthritis in lepra reactions was 57.57%. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal manifestations can occur at any time during the infection. Articular inflammation in leprosy usually occurs in reactive states, particularly erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). Leprosy can present with arthritis as the first symptom.

A study of rheumatological manifestations of leprosy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rheumatic manifestations are a common feature of leprosy. The present study was perfomed to assess the incidence of rheumatic manifestations in leprosy. METHODS: Seventhy cases of leprosy attending the indoor and outdoor departments were studied. RESULTS: Out of the 70 cases studied, rheumatic manifestations were seen in 61.42% of cases: arthritis in 54.28% and soft tissue rheumatism in 17.14%. Enthesitis was seen in 2.84% of cases. The incidence of arthritis in lepra reactions was 57.57%. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal manifestations can occur at any time during the infection. Articular inflammation in leprosy usually occurs in reactive states, particularly eryhtema nosodum leprosun (ENL). Leprosy can present with arthritis as the first symptom.

Suction blister epidermal grafting versus punch skin grafting in recalcitrant and stable vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Among various surgical therapies for replenishment of melanocytes in recalcitrant and stable vitiligo, punch skin grafting (PSG) and suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) are the simplest ones. Literature is lacking on a comparison of both. OBJECTIVE: We compared the results of both techniques in small patches of vitiligo. METHODS: Fifty stable vitiligo (focal, segmental, and generalized) patients were selected for study. One patient was lost to follow-up and excluded. PSG was done in 48 patches of 25 patients and SBEG was done in 38 patches of 24 patients. All patients were kept on psoralen ultraviolet-A (PUVA)/psoralen sunrays (PUVASOL). Results were evaluated after a follow-up of 4-7 months. RESULTS: Thirty-two (67%) patches of the PSG group and 31 (82%) patches of the SBEG group showed greater than 75% pigmentation. The difference in both groups was not statistically significant. Cobblestone appearance (23%) over the recipient area (RA) and superficial scarring of the donor area (DA) (100%) were seen in PSG. No serious complications were seen in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both techniques are simple and effective, however, SBEG gives cosmetically better and rapid results.

Congenital alopecia universalis.

A case of congenital alopecia universalis without any other ectodermal defect and mental abnormality is described in a girl of eight years. There was no family history in any of the members. The child was born of a non-consanguineous marriage.

Estimation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy.

A high incidence of increased plasma level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been reported in cases of lepromatous leprosy. HDL-C levels were estimated in 96 (50 under treatment and 46 untreated) lepromatous leprosy patients and 84 randomly selected matched control patients suffering from other skin diseases attending skin out-patients department. HDL-C estimations were performed for the diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy in patients aged below 60 years, taking plasma HDL-C levels as 28-71 mg./dl. in men and 34-91 mg./dl. in women, as range of normal values. The study revealed that HDL-C levels in lepromatous leprosy group were raised and significantly different when compared with control group (t = 35.1668 and P less than 0.001). The sensitivity of the test was very high, 97.9 per cent (94/96), but specificity was low 80.95 per cent (68/84). False positive and false negative results were 19.04 per cent (16/84) and 2.08 per cent (2/96) respectively. It is opined that a negative test will be mainly useful in excluding diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy.

Urticaria Pigmentosa.

A case of urticaria pigmentosa with bullous lesions in a 2-year-old mile is presented. No systemic manifestation of mastocytosis was found.