Effect of Genetic / Environmental Influence on Growth of Newborn in Himachal Pradesh

Introduction: The effects of altitudinal variation on child growth and development have long been a center of attention for researcher. We believe that hereditary factor primarily affects on child growth and development however environment has secondary effect on it. The available literature on newborns in Himachal Pradesh establishes the fact that as altitude increases the crown heel length decreases. A comprehensive significant finding was also available in both the regions of Himachal Pradesh in terms of head length, foot length, nasal height etc. the comparison between the neonates of the two zones of Himachal Pradesh explains the difference in physical appearance of people of both zones. These features may be biological or behavioral in nature, genetic or developmental in origin. Most instances, a combination of factors are involved. Methods: The present study included 185 parents and their newborns from two zones (Lower zone and Middle zone) of Himachal Pradesh and separated as per the criteria. Measurement of newborn parameters was taken in 12-24 hours after birth by using digital vernier caliper. Ethical clearance from university and permission from Himachal Pradesh government was taken. All the newborns were separated as per criteria 1. Mother / Father from Lower Zone. (Zone category 1) 2. Mother / Father from Middle Zone. (Zone category 2) 3. Mother from Lower Zone / Father from Middle Zone. (Zone category 3) 4. Mother from Middle Zone / Father from Lower Zone. (Zone category 4) Results: Statistically significant difference was obtained in all the four categories. Different parameters were compared across different parent- zone categories by one way ANOVA. The results showed that four parameters shows significantly across groups, viz, Weight, Facial Length, Nasal Height and Philtrum width in all the Zone categories. Conclusions: The early historical studies mention that people living in Himachal Pradesh have migrated from different geographical locations hence their genetics, as well as culture is different from each other. This study clearly demonstrates the effects of environmental factors on child growth and development in Himachal Pradesh. KEY WORD: Anthropometry, Newborn, Himachal, Environment, Genetics.

Ribociclib-associated organising pneumonia

A 63-year-old woman with grade 2 infiltrating left breast carcinoma who was started on ribociclib complained of exertional dyspnoea along with dry cough. There were bilateral interscapular crackles and chest X-ray evidence of bilateral mid and lower zone non-homogeneous opacity. The patient’s pulmonary function test (PFT) showed moderate restrictions and desaturation. CT was suggestive of organising pneumonia and drug administration was stopped. The patient was treated with steroids in tapering doses, which led to improvements. The drug was restarted with the probability of other aetiologies for interstetial lung disease (ILD). It was also considered the superior efficacy of ribociclib in managing breast cancer. But due to evidence indicating the reappearance of organising pneumonia following drug administration, it was again stopped, and steroid use was restarted for treatment. The patient showed improvements in subsequent follow-ups.

Chest X-ray findings in COVID-19 patients: a descriptive study

Background: Early suspicion and diagnosis remains the cornerstone for the better outcome of patients and to decrease cross infection in cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. In a country like Nepal X-ray facilities are readily available radiological tool in most of the centers and can be important screening tool. There is a lack of studies detailing the chest XR (C-XR) findings in these patients when compared to that dedicated to the CT features. Study aims to describe the patterns of the lung opacities in CXR in these patients.Methods: This is retrospective descriptive study conducted at NMCTH in COVID-19 patients from 12 September to 17 October 2020. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, co-morbidities and C-XR findings were studied. CXR findings were categorized according to BSTI classification.Results: Among 111 COVID-19 RT-PCR positive cases admitted 102 (91.9%) belonged to age group 18-65 years, 89 (80.2%) were males. Cough and fever were the commonest symptoms present in 109 (98.2%) patients. Ischemic heart disease and hypertension in 32 (28.8%) patients were the commonest co morbidities. According to British society of thoracic imaging (BSTI) COVID-19 CXR classification, six patients (5.4%) had normal chest X-rays. Classic/probable COVID-19 picture was present in 79 (71.17%) patients while (7.2%) had intermediate for COVID-19 X-ray findings. Among 79 patients with classic/probable COVID-19 CXR findings 71 (89.8%) had bilateral consolidation/ground glass haze, 72 (91.1%) had peripheral lung involvement while 66 (83.5%) had middle and lower zone involvement.Conclusions: Ground glass opacities/consolidations with bilateral location, peripheral distribution and middle- lower zone predominance were the commonest X-ray findings in our study.

Geochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

Previous studies have established links between biodiversity and soil geochemistry in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where environmental gradients are important determinants of soil biodiversity. However, these gradients are not well established in the central Transantarctic Mountains, which are thought to represent some of the least hospitable Antarctic soils. We analyzed 220 samples from 11 ice-free areas along the Shackleton Glacier (∼ 85∘ S), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We established three zones of distinct geochemical gradients near the head of the glacier (upper), its central part (middle), and at the mouth (lower). The upper zone had the highest water-soluble salt concentrations with total salt concentrations exceeding 80 000 µg g−1, while the lower zone had the lowest water-soluble N:P ratios, suggesting that, in addition to other parameters (such as proximity to water and/or ice), the lower zone likely represents the most favorable ecological habitats. Given the strong dependence of geochemistry on geographic parameters, we developed multiple linear regression and random forest models to predict soil geochemical trends given latitude, longitude, elevation, distance from the coast, distance from the glacier, and soil moisture (variables which can be inferred from remote measurements). Confidence in our random forest model predictions was moderately high with R2 values for total water-soluble salts, water-soluble N:P, ClO4-, and ClO3- of 0.81, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.74, respectively. These modeling results can be used to predict geochemical gradients and estimate salt concentrations for other Transantarctic Mountain soils, information that can ultimately be used to better predict distributions of soil biota in this remote region.

Gold in the Oxidized Ores of the Olympiada Deposit (Eastern Siberia, Russia)

Native gold and its satellite minerals were studied throughout the 300 m section of oxidized ores of the Olympiada deposit (Eastern Siberia, Russia). Three zones are identified in the studied section: Upper Zone ~60 g/t Au; Middle Zone ~3 g/t Au; Lower Zone ~20 g/t Au. Supergene and hypogene native gold have been found in these zones. Supergene gold crystals (~1 μm), their aggregates and their globules (100 nm to 1 μm) predominate in the Upper and less in Middle Zone. Relic hypogene gold particles (flattened, fracture and irregular morphology) are sporadically distributed throughout the section. Spongiform gold occurs in the Lower Zone at the boundary with the bedrock, as well as in the bedrock. This gold formed in the process of oxidation of aurostibite, leaching of impurities and its further dissolution. Hypogene gold is commonly isolated but for supergene gold typically associated with ferric (hydr)oxides. New formation of gold occurred due to oxidation of sulfide ores and release of “invisible” gold, as well as dissolution, mobilization and re-deposition of metallic hypogene gold. A model for the formation of oxidized ores with the participation of meteoric and low-temperature hydrothermal waters has been proposed.

Exertional dyspnea and hemoptysis in an adolescent: is it tuberculosis only?

Unilateral pulmonary artery atresia (UPAA), commonly detected in childhood, can occasionally present in adulthood with typical symptoms of recurrent pulmonary infections, dyspnoea on exertion and hemoptysis. An 18-year-old girl presented with complaints of cough, dyspnea on exertion and hemoptysis. Chest radiograph revealed dilated pulmonary trunk, signs of left sided volume loss and cavitating lesion in left lower zone. Pulmonary CT angiography found left pulmonary artery atresia. Endobronchial lung biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation. Diagnosis of left sided UPAA with pulmonary tuberculosis was established. She responded well to the anti-tubercular therapy. This case highlights the importance of awareness about UPAA as a possible differential for exertional dyspnea, recurrent chest infections, hemoptysis and pulmonary hypertension in adults.

Diversity and Distribution of Molluscs in the Intertidal Zone of Nglambor Beach, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta

The intertidal zone is the area between the highest and lowest tides, which represents the transition from ocean conditions to land conditions. This study aimed to determine the diversity and distribution of mollusks that exist along the intertidal zone of Nglambor Beach, between August and November 2020. Observations of all molluscs were carried out at two random stations using 10 plots measuring 1 x 1 m 2 with 5 meters. A total of two classes of Mollusca (Gastropod and Bivalvia) belonging to twelve families and 19 species were found from upper to lower an intertidal zone. The upper intertidal zone was recorded to have the highest diversity and an evenness index (Shannon-Wiener diversity index: H ’= 2.524 and Pielou evenness index: J’ = 0.932) compared to the middle and lower zones. It can be concluding that the diversity index in the study location is categorized as medium and its evenness is high. Thais hippocastanum is the most dominant species found in the upper and middle zones, while Thais tissoti dominates in the lower zone. This research contributed to a preliminary checklist on molluscs, which will support a baseline study on the intertidal in future.