Human-wildlife conflict: proximate predictors of aggression between humans and rhesus macaques in India.

Macaques live in close contact with humans across South and Southeast Asia, and direct interaction is frequent. Aggressive contact is a concern in many locations, particularly among populations of rhesus and longtail macaques that co-inhabit urbanized cities and towns with humans. We investigated the proximate factors influencing the occurrence of macaque aggression toward humans as well as human aggression toward macaques to determine the extent to which human behavior elicits macaque aggression and vice versa. We conducted a 3-month study of four free-ranging populations of rhesus macaques in Dehradun, India from October-December 2012, using event sampling to record all instances of human-macaque interaction (N = 3120). Our results show that while human aggression was predicted by the potential for economic losses or damage, macaque aggression was influenced by aggressive or intimidating behavior by humans as well as recent rates of conspecific aggression. Further, adult female macaques participated in aggression more frequently than expected, whereas adult and subadult males participated as frequently as expected. Our analyses demonstrate that neither human nor macaque aggression is unprovoked. Rather, both humans and macaques are responding to one another's behavior. Mitigation of human-primate conflict, and indeed other types of human-wildlife conflict in such coupled systems, will require a holistic investigation of the ways in which each participant is responding to, and consequently altering, the behavior of the other.

Spatiotemporal atmospheric in-situ carbon dioxide data over the Indian sites-data perspective.

In the current study, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) data covering multiple locations in the Indian subcontinent are reported. This data was collected using a dedicated ground-based in-situ network established as part of the Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (CAP-IGBP) of the Climate and Atmospheric Processes of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Data are collected over Ponmudi, Ooty, Sriharikota, Gadanki, Shadnagar, Nagpur, and Dehradun during 2014-2015, 2017-2020, 2012, 2011-2015, 2014-2017, 2017 and 2008-2011, respectively. The atmospheric CO2 generated as part of the CAP-IGBP network would enhance the understanding of CO2 variability in different time scales ranging from diurnal, seasonal, and annual over the Indian region. Data available under this network may be interesting to other research communities for modeling studies and spatiotemporal variability of atmospheric CO2 across the study locations. The work also evaluated the CO2 observations against the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 4 atmospheric chemistry-transport model (MIROC4-ACTM) concentrations.

The impact assessment of Diwali fireworks emissions on the air quality of a tropical urban site, Hyderabad, India, during three consecutive years.

Diwali is one of the largest festivals for Hindu religion which falls in the period October-November every year. During the festival days, extensive burning of firecrackers takes place, especially in the evening hours, constituting a significant source of aerosols, black carbon (BC), organics, and trace gases. The widespread use of sparklers was found to be associated with short-term air quality degradation events. The present study focuses on the influence of Diwali fireworks emissions on surface ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and BC aerosol concentration over the tropical urban region of Hyderabad, India during three consecutive years (2009-2011). The trace gases are analyzed for pre-Diwali, Diwali, and post-Diwali days in order to reveal the festivity's contribution to the ambient air quality over the city. A twofold to threefold increase is observed in O3, NO x , and BC concentrations during the festival period compared to control days for 2009-2011, which is mainly attributed to firecrackers burning. The high correlation coefficient (~0.74) between NO x and SO2 concentrations and higher SO2/NO x (S/N) index suggested air quality degradation due to firecrackers burning. Furthermore, the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation-derived aerosol subtyping map also confirmed the presence of smoke aerosols emitted from firecrackers burning over the region. Nevertheless, the concentration level of pollutants exhibited substantial decline over the region during the years 2010 and 2011 compared to 2009 ascribed to various awareness campaigns and increased cost of firecrackers.

Patterns and determinants of dyslipidaemia in 'Young' versus 'Not so Young' patients of coronary artery disease: a multicentric, randomised observational study in northern India.

AIMS: The aims of the study were to ascertain difference in lipid levels of 'Young' onset of coronary artery disease (CAD) (≤ 45 years) vs. 'Not so Young' onset of CAD (≥ 55 years) among north Indians and also to investigate determinants of 'dyslipidaemia' in CAD patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicentric, randomised, observational study carried in eight centres of UP, India. All blood investigations were performed employing a central laboratory. RESULTS: Out of a total 435 patients studied, 218 were in the 'young group' (YG) and 235 were in the 'Not so Young Group' (NSYG). Dyslipidaemia was more common in YG as evident by significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as compared to NSYG. Diabetes, hypertension, urban lifestyle, and family history of CAD were found to be important determinants of dyslipidaemia in YG. CONCLUSION: We conclude that lipid levels among north Indians are significantly higher in younger patients with CAD when compared with elderly.

Dahi containing probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei has a protective effect against Salmonella enteritidis infection in mice.

Salmonella enteritidis infection has received attention during recent years owing to its high prevalence worldwide. In the present study, the protective effect of probiotic dahi (curd) supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei against Salmonella enteritidis infection in mice is investigated. Seven days pre-feeding with probiotic dahi significantly increased anti-S. enteritidis sIgA (secretary IgA) antibodies and lymphocyte proliferation in S. enteritidis infected mice. IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-gamma production were significantly increased in supernatant of cultured splenocytes collected from mice pre-fed with probiotic dahi, while IL-4 levels were not changed significantly. Moreover, activities of beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase, and counts of S. enteritidis in intestine, liver and spleen were decreased, whereas total lactobacilli in faeces were increased in mice pre-fed with probiotic dahi. Pre-feeding of probiotic dahi for 7 days was more effective than 2 days pre-feeding. Thus, the results indicate that, pre-feeding with probiotic dahi ameliorated S. enteritidis infection by stimulating specific and non-specific immune response. Above all, it lowered colonization of gastrointestinal tract as well as translocation of S. enteritidis.

The effect of probiotic dahi containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on gastropathic consequences in diabetic rats.

In the present study, the effects of oral administration of probiotic dahi containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on gastropathic consequences in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were evaluated, and effects were compared with skim milk- and control dahi-fed groups. The feeding of probiotic dahi did not change the blood glucose levels in chronic hyperglycemic conditions. The rate of charcoal transit was significantly higher in probiotic dahi-fed animals than in those of the diabetic control group (P < .05). Moreover, the oral administration of probiotic dahi significantly increased counts of lactobacilli adherent to epithelial walls and free in the lumen of the small and large intestine, while decreasing attached as well as free coliform counts (P < .05). In addition, probiotic dahi reversed the decrease in total lactobacilli and increase in total coliforms in fecal samples of diabetic animals. It was also shown that oral ingestion of probiotic dahi reduced the oxidative stress marker thiobarbituric acid-reactive species in intestinal tissues and glycosylation of hemoglobin (P < .05). All the effects were predominantly higher in the probiotic dahi-fed group than the skim milk- and control dahi-fed groups. The results indicate that probiotic dahi may be used as a therapeutic regimen to diminish the gastropathic consequences of diabetes.

Antidiabetic effect of probiotic dahi containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei in high fructose fed rats.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of low-fat (2.5%) dahi containing probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on progression of high fructose-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats by feeding 21% fructose in water. The body weight, food and water intakes, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, oral glucose tolerance test, plasma insulin, liver glycogen content, and blood lipid profile were recorded. The oxidative status in terms of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and reduced glutathione contents in liver and pancreatic tissues were also measured. RESULTS: Values for blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, glucose intolerance, plasma insulin, liver glycogen, plasma total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood free fatty acids were increased significantly after 8 wk of high fructose feeding; however, the dahi-supplemented diet restricted the elevation of these parameters in comparison with the high fructose-fed control group. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased slightly and was retained in the dahi-fed group. The dahi-fed group also exhibited lower values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and higher values of reduced glutathione in liver and pancreatic tissues compared with the high fructose-fed control group. CONCLUSION: The probiotic dahi-supplemented diet significantly delayed the onset of glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress in high fructose-induced diabetic rats, indicating a lower risk of diabetes and its complications.

Effect of skim milk and dahi (yogurt) on blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profile in rats fed with high fructose diet.

In the present study, the effect of skim milk and the fermented milk product named dahi (yogurt) on plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid levels as well as on liver glycogen and lipid contents in rats fed with high fructose diet has been investigated. Rats were fed with high fructose diet (21%) supplemented with skim milk, dahi (10 g/day each), or no milk product (control group) for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of high fructose diet administration, the plasma glucose became significantly higher in control animals (246 mg/dL), whereas it was lower in skim milk (178 mg/dL)- and dahi (143 mg/dL)-fed rats. The glucose tolerance became impaired at the third week of feeding of high fructose diet in control animals, whereas in skim milk- and dahi-fed animals achievement of glucose intolerance was delayed until the fourth and fifth week, respectively. Blood glycosylated hemoglobin and plasma insulin were significantly lower in skim milk (10% and 34%, respectively)- and dahi (17%, and 48%, respectively)-fed animals than those of the control group. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and blood free fatty acids were significantly lower in skim milk (13%, 14%, 14%, 19%, and 14%, respectively)- and dahi (22%, 33%, 30%, 33%, and 29%, respectively)-fed animals as compared with control animals. Moreover, the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glycogen contents in liver tissues were also lower in skim milk (55%, 50%, and 36%, respectively)- and dahi (64%, 27%, and 4%, respectively)-fed animals as compared with control animals. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in plasma was higher in skim milk (14%)- and dahi (29%)-fed animals as compared with control animals. These results indicate that skim milk and its fermented milk product, dahi, delay the progression of fructose-induced diabetes and dyslipidemia in rats and that these may be useful as antidiabetic food supplements that can be included in daily meals of the diabetic as well as normal population.

Antioxidative and hypocholesterolemic effect of Lactobacillus casei ssp casei (biodefensive properties of lactobacilli).

BACKGROUND: A positive correlation between an individual's cholesterol level and development of CHD has been suggested. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are important risk factors and oxidation of LDL has been implicated as an initiator of atherosclerosis. AIM: Attempts are being made worldwide for the search of effective antioxidants that can prevent oxidation of LDL. Role of fermented milk and culture containing dairy products as effective antioxidants and their potential hypocholesterolemic effect is the focus of research. Keeping this in view, the various lactobacilli cultures were screened for their in vitro antioxidative activity. Lactobacillus casei ssp casei showing maximum antioxidative activity was selected for carrying out in vivo studies. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Six groups of Wistar albino rats were fed on diets containing 20% fresh or oxidized soybean oil supplemented with 5% lyophilized culture or fermented milk prepared using L. casei ssp casei for a period of 90 days. The plasma was separated in different lipoprotein fractions and analyzed for cholesterol content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). RESULTS: The cholesterol levels were less in plasma of groups fed on fermented milk by 2-11% and by 15-25% in groups fed on lyophilized culture as compared to group fed on skim milk. The levels of TBARS were lower in the LDL fraction of plasma in rats fed on fermented milk or culture than the control group fed on skim milk. CONCLUSIONS: The results depict the cholesterol-lowering and antioxidative potential of Lactobacillus casei ssp casei for their application as dietary adjunct.

A cluster of cases of severe cardiotoxicity among kala-azar patients treated with a high-osmolarity lot of sodium antimony gluconate.

In India, sodium antimony gluconate is the drug of choice for kala-azar. Due to increasing unresponsiveness to this drug in the current epidemic that began in the early 1970s, daily doses of 20 mg/kg/day for 30 days or more is recommended as opposed to the 10 mg/kg/day dose for 6-10 days used in the past. Of the 130-150 patients treated annually at our center with locally made sodium antimony gluconate, serious cardiotoxicity has occurred in less than 10%. During April 1995 at the University Hospital in Varanasi, we encountered life-threatening cardiotoxicity after 3-28 days of therapy in each of the eight patients being treated with a new lot of this drug made by a different manufacturer. Of the eight patients, six each developed congestive heart failure and/or prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc), and three died as a direct consequence of drug-induced toxicities. In three instances, the life-threatening complications occurred with a cumulative dose of less than 300 mg/kg. In patients with prolonged QTc, ventricular premature beats and ventricular tachycardia were recorded; in one patient, the ventricular tachycardia progressed to torsade de pointes, culminating in ventricular fibrillation and death. Since switching to different lots of this drug, we have not seen further clustering of dangerous cardiotoxicity. The antimony content of the implicated drug was comparable with that in lots from other manufacturers that did not show overt toxicity, but the osmolarity was approximately 300 mOsm/L higher. The simple technique of measuring of osmolarity may help identify inappropriately manufactured drug.

Intracardiac hydatid cyst and sudden death in a child.

Left ventricular hydatid cyst was diagnosed in a 4-year-old boy by echocardiography. The patient did not respond to oral mebendazole therapy and had a sudden death, probably due to rupture of the cyst. The occurrence of cardiac hydatid cyst and its life threatening complications are rare and have not been reported in children.

Cor-triatriatum with atrial septal defect and bicuspid aortic valve diagnosed by cross-sectional echocardiography.

We report a rare case with a combination of cor-triatriatum, large secundum atrial septal defect and bicuspid aortic valve. The diagnosis was made by cross-sectional echocardiography. A defect was present between proximal (accessory) left atrial chamber and right atrium decompressing the accessory left atrial chamber. The large left to right shunt resulted in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Intracellular nuclease activities of buffalo rumen bacterial population.

Nuclease activities of the predominantly bacterial population obtained from buffalo rumen were investigated. Optimum temperature for hydrolysis of both DNA and RNA was 50 degrees C whereas DNAase activity was observed to be stable up to 50 degrees C, a decrease in RNAase activity was observed even after 40 degrees C. Two pH optima, one at 5.5 and the other at 7.5, were recorded for hydrolysis of DNA. RNAase activity was maximum between pH 6.0 to 7.0. Whereas DNAase activity was stable near its optimum pH, RNAase activity was stable between pH 7.0 to 8.5. Mn2+ ions stimulated DNAase activity. It was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Zn2+, Pb2+ and Ag+. RNAase activity was stimulated by Mg2+ ions and was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ag+. Cysteine hydrochloride and 2-mercaptoethanol stimulated DNAase activity. The activity was strongly inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, 4-chloromercuribenzoate, 8-quinolinol, iodoacetic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline. RNAase activity was stimulated by cysteine hydrochloride, reduced glutathione and 2-mercaptoethanol and was strongly inhibited by 4-chloromercuribenzoate, 8-quinolinol and 2,2'bipyridyl.

Adverse effects of oral amiodarone therapy.

Oral amiodarone was administered to 38 patients (25 males, 13 females) with mean age of 43.6 years. Ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias were present in 30 and 8 patients respectively. Amiodarone was given as 400-1200 mg/day for 1-2 weeks as loading dose and then it was maintained as 100-600 mg/day. The mean duration of therapy was 12.4 months. Adverse effects were noted in 21 (55.3%) cases. The commonest adverse effects observed were asymptomatic corneal microdeposits followed by gastrointestinal, cardiac, neurological and cutaneous disturbances. The drug was withdrawn in 2 (5.3%) patients because of nausea and vomiting. One patient died of pulmonary infiltrations. It is concluded that adverse effects are common with amiodarone but are tolerated well, making this drug an excellent choice for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Some unusual and severe forms of adverse drug reactions: a call for setting adverse drug reaction monitoring centres.

Thirty four patients aged 14 to 65 years (18 males and 16 females) admitted to the University Hospital with various unusual and severe forms of adverse drug reactions were studied. It comprised of toxic epidermal necrolysis in 8 patients, systemic vasculitis in 7 of which 3 patients had gangrene of fingers and/or toes, severe erosive gastritis in 9 patients, Stevens-Johnson syndrome in 7 patients, thrombocytopenic purpura in 2 patients and generalised convulsions in 1 patient. Various drugs responsible for causing these adverse drug reactions included antibacterials, antimalarials, anticonvulsants, antituberculars and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most of the patients recovered. However, 5 of the 8 patients having toxic epidermal necrolysis died of which 2 patients had developed tetanus as a preterminal event. In view of ongoing addition of newer drugs to the therapeutic armamentarium and an increasing incidence of various unusual and severe forms of adverse drug reactions, it is our contention that a separate adverse drug reaction monitoring cell should be established in every hospital setting.

Anti-allergic effects of probiotic Dahi through modulation of the gut immune system.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The alarming increase in allergy in the last few decades demands the development of new anti-allergic prevention strategies, and consumption of functional foods (i.e. probiotic Dahi, which has already been proven to enhance immunity by modulation of the gut mucosal immune system) may be one of them. In the present study, we evaluated anti-allergic effects of a Dahi (yogurt) containing probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei and normal Dahi culture Lactococcus lactis biovar diacetylactis (named probiotic Dahi) on ovalbumin induced allergy in mice. METHODS: Allergy was induced by injecting (i.p.) ovalbumin at 0 and 14 days. Animals were fed with standard diet (control), milk, control Dahi or probiotic Dahi for 21 days. Total and ovalbumin-specific IgE, cytokines and lymphocyte proliferation index were examined after 7, 14 and 21 days. RESULTS: Feeding of probiotic Dahi completely suppressed the elevation of total and ovalbumin-specific IgE in the serum of ovalbumin-injected mice. Similarly, splenocytes collected from mice fed with probiotic Dahi entirely lost the total and ovalbumin-specific IgE production property during in-vitro culture. Production of T helper (Th)-1 cell-specific cytokines, i.e. interferon -γ and interleukin (IL)-2, increased, while Th2-specific cytokines, i.e. IL-4 and IL-6, decreased in the supernatant of cultured splenocytes collected from mice fed with probiotic Dahi compared to the other groups. Moreover, ovalbumin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was strongly suppressed by feeding of probiotic Dahi in comparison to milk and control Dahi. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study indicate that probiotic Dahi suppressed ovalbumin-induced allergic consequences characterized by decreasing levels of total and ovalbumin-specific IgE and lymphocyte proliferation and skewed ovalbumin-induced Th2-specific immune response towards Th1-specific response.