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The JK Paper industry located at Rayagada discharges biologically untreated effluent more than the permissible limit prescribed by Pollution Control Board, Odisha in to the environment. The industry is seriously polluting the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial environment. No detailed intensive study was carried out by previous workers on this industry earlier. The present study aims at finding out the impact of effluent on the flora at the contaminated site. The chemically treated effluent (TE) contained significant amount of mercury and cadmium. The TE has high BOD, COD, dissolved solids and suspended solids when compared to normal river water at the site of discharge. The TE deteriorated the natural water bodies changing the physico-chemical properties of natural river water. After meeting the river water the TE was diluted after 1 km distance from the meeting point of the river. Crop plants collected from the contaminated site showed higher level of residual Hg and Cd and significant depletion in pigment was observed. Plants collected from both the sides of the treated effluent canal showed significant amount residue mercury and cadmium in the plant leaves. The plants exposed to the TE, showed variation in chlorophyll and Phaeophytin pigment content when compared to their respective control values in all terrestrial plants collected from the contaminated site. In some plant leaves little increment in the pigment level was noted but the values were not significant. The changes observed in the plant pigment might be due to heavy metal accumulation. The presence of residual Hg and Cd in crop plants and plant leaves grazed by grazing animals after absorption, accumulation and enrichment may lead to a possible biological magnification, warrants attention. Proper biological treatment, treatment of effluent by modern methods and removal of heavy metals from the effluent before discharge by the industry is suggested., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The paper examines 1037 publications on bipolar disorder (BD) during the years 2000-19 from India, as listed in the Scopus database. India's publications constituted 2.27 % share of global output (45,624 publications) in the study period of 20 years. India does not figure in the top 10 countries in terms of research output on BD. The number of publications on BD from India increased from 13 in 2000 to 107 in 2019, registering 14.44 % annual average growth, higher than world's growth of 6.02 %. India's 10-year cumulative publications increased from 264 during 2000-09 to 773 during 2010-19, registering 192.8 % absolute growth, much higher than world cumulative growth of 63.27 %. India's publications on BD averaged citation impact per paper of 14.24, which decreased from 25.38 to 10.43 from 2000-09 to 2010-19. Maximum numbers of papers from India on BD were published by researchers from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore (222 papers),Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh(118 papers), and AII India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (79 papers). Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi (36.20 and 2.54), Schizophrenia Research Foundation, Chennai (27.45 and 1.93), and King George's Medical University, Lucknow (25.21 and 1.77) were the most significant organizations in terms of citation per paper and relative citation index. Maximum number of papers were published in Indian Journal of Psychiatry (101 papers), followed by Asian Journal of Psychiatry (88 papers) and Indian Journal of Psychology Medicine (34 papers)., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cough is a common yet distressing symptom that results in significant health care costs from outpatient visits and related consultations., Objective: The understanding of the pathobiology of cough in recent times has undergone an evolution with Cough hypersensitivity syndrome (CHS) being suggested in most cases of dry cough. However, in the case of productive cough, ancillary mechanisms including impaired Mucociliary clearance, in addition to hypermucosecretory bronchospastic conditions of Smoker's cough, asthma-COPD overlap, bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, need to be critically addressed while optimizing patient care with symptomatic therapy in outpatient settings of India., Methods: In this review, evidence-based graded recommendations on use of antitussives - & protussives as a Position Paper were developed based on the Level and Quality of Scientific evidence as per Agency for Health Care and Quality (AHRQ) criteria listing and Expert opinions offered by a multidisciplinary EMA panel in India., Results: Management of acute or chronic cough involves addressing common issues of environmental exposures and patient concerns before instituting supportive therapy with antitussives or bronchodilatory cough formulations containing mucoactives, anti-inflammatory, or short-acting beta-2 agonist agents., Conclusion: The analyses provides a real world approach to the management of acute or chronic cough in various clinical conditions with pro- or antitussive agents while avoiding their misuse in empirical settings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The listed authors declare and report no conflict of interest for this work and received no honorarium for the development of this Position Paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Infection with Staphylococcus aureus was initially considered a major problem in hospitals, but over the last few decades the incidence of community-acquired infection has also increased. Paper currency has recently been identified as another mode of spread by which community-acquired S. aureus infection may be transmitted, since paper currency is frequently transferred from one person to another. In the present study, S. aureus strains were isolated from paper currency and screened to detect virulence-associated genes., Methods: Paper currency was collected randomly from operators in mutton shops, vegetable shops, hospitals, medical stores, snacks corners, and restaurants in the two cities of India, Dehradun and Delhi. Samples were screened for pathogenic S. aureus by various biochemical assays. Three isolates were used to study the survival of S. aureus on paper currency. Virulence genes were amplified by PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined against nine antibiotics by the disk diffusion method., Results: Sixty-seven isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from paper currency from the two Indian cities. The maximum number of isolates was recovered from hospitals, followed by mutton shops, and the minimum from restaurants. The test isolates could survive on paper currency for eight days under in vitro conditions (27 degrees C temperature and 30% relative humidity). A set of four virulence genes viz. cna (16 isolates), icaA (19 isolates), hlg (21 isolates), and sdrE (18 isolates) was amplified using gene-specific primers. Only eight isolates possessed all four virulence genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that those isolates having all the tested virulence genes were more resistant., Conclusions: This study clearly suggests that paper currency can serve as a carrier for the spread of resistant bacterial pathogens.

Background: In the context of rural Bihar where few women work outside the home, what scope do adolescent girls and young women have to transition into wage work and careers? While the mobility of girls is still widely restricted to secure their marriageability, the spread of higher schooling and the internet has inflated aspirations and levelled them out across boys, girls and social classes., Methods: The present study drew on 45 focus group discussions and 73 in-depth interviews among adolescent girls and young women and related stakeholders to develop 32 cases of transitioning girls across four districts of rural Bihar in India. The qualitative data were collected in 2022 and analysed using a combination of thematic and comparative narrative analyses., Results: The analysis identified some common features of transitioning girls and their pathways. Many girls had been forced by circumstance-household shocks or chronic poverty-to earn money, thereby building their skills and self-efficacy. Others were from families where progressive values ensured their mobility and exposure. Yet others transitioned "by stealth." But all girls had the backing of at least one parent and all had to learn to navigate public space while safeguarding their reputations. By researching actual pathways (rather than distant dreams), the study identifies a variety of transition outcomes, including "good" jobs as teachers, nurses, and police officers, "low entry" jobs in factories and new services, and full-time businesses built from scratch., Conclusion: The paper suggests that interventions be designed separately for these distinct outcomes and that efforts are best directed towards girls already "self-transitioning" and demonstrating the requisite resolve and self-efficacy., (© 2024 Foundation for Professionals in Services to Adolescents.)

Ocular signs and serum vitamin A concentrations are commonly used for the diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency. Recently, impression cytology was suggested as a method for early detection of this condition. A clinical trial was conducted to compare the results of impression cytology with the other two indicators of vitamin A status. A total of 246 children aged 1-10 y were investigated. About 25% of the children with normal eyes showed abnormal cytology. Their mean vitamin A concentrations were significantly lower compared with those with normal cytology, which suggests that abnormal cytology reflects subclinical deficiency. After treatment with vitamin A, most of the children who had abnormal cytology at baseline examination showed improvement. These observations suggest that abnormal cytology is specific to vitamin A deficiency. Impression cytology is a relatively simple technique and can be used for assessing the magnitude of the problem, especially in communities where the prevalence of clinical disease is low.

Rice is a staple food for a significant portion of the global population. Arsenic (As) accumulated in rice grains influences rice quality which threatens human health. In this study, we used three machine learning models to predict arsenic accumulation in rice based on over 300 surveys. The prediction results of soil arsenic indicate that high-arsenic soil areas are mainly distributed in South and Southeast Asia such as India, China, and Thailand. In addition, higher bioaccumulation factors (BAF), associated with higher temperature, are predominantly observed in eastern India and southern Myanmar. However, arsenic content in soil is relatively lower in these areas. About 5.5 billion population may be threatened by the consumption of high-arsenic rice. It can be concluded that temperatures may influence the BAF except for soil arsenic, and soil physicochemical properties. Further research on the relationship between climate parameters and BAF should be conducted to address and adapt to future climate change. Additionally, understanding the mechanism of arsenic accumulation under different climatic conditions is crucial for developing agricultural technologies to reduce arsenic accumulation in rice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Heavy metals emanate from diverse anthropogenic activities and the top soil in the vicinity of these activities acts as an immediate sink and facilitates diffusion of heavy metals into the food chain. In the semi-arid plains of India, Prosopis juliflora is the most common and dominant weed along the motorways and barren lands including industrial environs. This investigation hypothesizes the adaptive nature of Prosopis juliflora in the metal enriched soils and attempts to understand its hyper-accumulating potential of metals besides bioconversion/detoxification capability. Prosopis juliflora samples (root, stem, leaves, and pods) from 100 sites in the environs of anthropogenic activities (vehicular emissions and industrial operations) were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Fe, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb). Prosopis juliflora accumulate metals at the rate of 0.138 mg/kg/day DW for Copper (Cu), Fe: 0.142 mg/kg/day DW, Cr: 0.114 mg/kg/day DW, Ni: 0.048 mg/kg/day DW, Pb: 0.052 mg/kg/day DW, Cd: 0.009 mg/kg/day DW. Furthermore, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) metal oxidation state analysis revealed that in the pods of Prosopis juliflora heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Pb) largely existed in non-toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 3:6), while in the under canopy soil, metals predominantly existed in toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 7:2); conclusively XPS results ascertains the heavy metal bioconversion/detoxification potential of the plant. These findings suggest that presence of Prosopis juliflora coppice in the barren landscapes across the transportation corridors and metal based industrial zones may ideally favor phyto-remediation of heavy metals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous pollutant causing severe threat to the biotic and abiotic components of the coastal ecosystem. Accumulation of MPs in the commercially important bivalves Viz. Perna viridis (green mussel) and Meretrix casta (clam) collected from four different locations of Beypore estuary, Southern India was studied. The study focused on the accumulation, characteristics, diversity indices, and human health risk assessment of MPs in the bivalves of Beypore estuary. A total of 120 bivalve samples were examined for the MPs contamination. Whole tissue digestion method using 10% KOH was employed to retrieve the MP content. The results indicate that the average abundance of MPs in Perna viridis is 2.38 ± 1.56 MPs/individual and 0.15 ± 0.09 MP/g/wet weight whereas, for Meretrix casta it is 1.35 ± 1.02 MPs/individual and 0.3 ± 0.27 MP/g/wet weight. Spearman's correlation reveals that there is no significant correlation observed between the abundance of MPs in the bivalves with their morphomertric parameters. The characteristics of MPs in the bivalves are dominated by translucent colored particles (88.95%) in the form of films (45.13%) and fibers (33.6%) having a size ranged between 300 and 1000 μm (51.13%) and composed of polyethylene (54.5%) and polypropylene (20%) polymers. The microplastic index in Meretrix casta ranged between 0.02 and 0.07 whereas for Perna viridis it ranged between 0.08 and 0.10 indicating minimal to moderate MPs contamination. The microplastics diversity integrated index ranged between 0.67 and 0.69 for Meretrix casta whereas, for Perna viridis the value ranged between 0.34 and 0.60 suggests moderate diversity of MPs derived from multiple sources. Based on polymer hazard index, the potential health risk was assessed with a hazard level ranged between II and IV suggesting significant health risk. Systematic monitoring of MPs at river basin scale along with stringent plastic waste management is required to minimize plastic pollution load into the river system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context: The contamination of soil by pathogenic protozoan parasites from both human and animal feces, is an important factor in the spread of parasitic infections globally. This contamination also serves as a crucial reservoir for zoonotic diseases, facilitating their transmission. In many developing nations, including India, there's limited documentation on the extent of soil contamination, which poses challenges for implementing effective One Health strategies aimed at controlling these infections., Aim: To study the molecular prevalence and distribution pattern of pathogenic protozoa in soil from North India., Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we collected a total of 200 soil samples from various locations in the Chandigarh region, including public parks, urban slum areas, villages on the outskirts, and sites near cattle sheds, hospitals, and public school. DNA extraction was done in all the samples followed by conventional and nested PCR for the identification of Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium species from these samples., Key Results: Out of 200, 34 soil samples (17 %) from different sites in Chandigarh were found to have pathogenic protozoan contamination. Toxoplasma gondii was the most common protozoa (n = 18), followed by Entamoeba, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium species. Urban slums and public parks were most likely to be contaminated with oocysts/ cyst of pathogenic protozoa., Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind in India and the prevalence of oocyst /cyst of protozoa in our city was found significant. The findings underscore the critical role of soil contamination by pathogenic protozoa as a potential source for spreading zoonotic infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Metal contamination in coastal and marine ecosystems has become a significant global concern due to its hazardous characteristics, environmental persistence, and ability to bioaccumulate in aquatic ecosystems. This poses a serious threat to the environment and the health of humans worldwide. To address these concerns, this study estimated the concentrations of metals in various trophic levels, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, bivalve, and fish. Monthly sampling was carried out in Pondicherry Fishing Harbor (PFH) and Pondicherry Open Sea (POS) between January 2017 and December 2018. The value of Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mn in sediment at the PFH was considerably higher compared to the POS, indicating the impact of human activity there. The contamination factor (CF) for other metals was <0.5, suggesting minor contamination in the Pondicherry coastal sediment, the CF value for Cd was higher at PFH. Comparably, the risk index (RI) at the PFH was likewise greater because of Cd, leading to an overall risk grade of "considerable" at the PFH whereas it was "low" at the POS. The marine pollution index (MPI) showed minimal values in fish regardless of the collection sites, which was calculated based on the values of all metals. The estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, and hazard index assessed for potential human health risk suggest that the values were within acceptable thresholds for adults and children for fish consumption from POS. However, the direct consumption of bivalve for the long term poses significant non-carcinogenic health risks in both age groups, particularly in children, who are 1.31 times more susceptible than adults. These findings highlight the need to evaluate the presence of metals in the food chain to determine their transfer to the different trophic levels, which can help mitigate the associated risks for sustainable coastal ecosystem management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dravet syndrome is an infantile-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with limited data on the frequency of SCN1A in Indian children. The study aimed to identify and characterize the burden of SCN1A pathogenic variants associated with the Dravet syndrome phenotype through genetic testing in the North Indian population., Method: In this prospective, cross-sectional study from March 2015 to February 2019, we enrolled 52 children with Dravet syndrome phenotype who underwent genetic testing for SCN1A gene pathogenicity. We assessed variant effect using multiple algorithms, and genetic test results were reported based on recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Additionally, we performed multiplex-ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to detect copy number variations of the SCN1A gene in children without identified genetic pathogenicity (n = 22) and analysed the results using Coffalyser.net., Results: Of the 52 probands studied, pathogenic variants in the SCN1A gene were identified in 30 children. Among these variants, 11 truncating variants (3 frame-shift variants, 3 intronic variants in splice site regions, and 5 nonsense variants) in 12 unrelated probands, and 17 missense variants in 18 unrelated probands were found. The genetic yield of SCN1A pathogenicity in our cohort (n = 52) was 58 %. Additionally, two of the identified variants were novel. Furthermore, MLPA analysis of the SCN1A gene in 22 children without pathogenic variants yielded no results., Conclusion: This work represents a genetic analysis of a Dravet syndrome cohort, revealing a 58 % burden of SCN1A variants in children with the Dravet syndrome phenotype from the North Indian population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Microplastic contamination (MP) has created havoc in all eco-systems especially the estuarine environment. The current investigation focused on assessing MP contamination along the Mahi River Estuary in Gujarat. Thirty sampling sites were selected along the estuary, spanning from Khambhat to Kamboi. Sediment samples were collected, processed, and analyzed for MPs. A total of 1371 MP particles were found, with an average abundance of 0.76 ± 0.25 MPs/g dry weight. The MP abundance was recorded at its highest and lowest at Chokari and Umraya, respectively. The MP abundance varied significantly between study sites. Fibers were reported dominantly, followed by fragments, films, and foam. Size-wise, 1-2 mm and <1 mm-sized MPs were prevalent. Various colours of MPs were also recorded. Polyethylene tetraphene, polyethylene, and polypropylene are the most abundant. Tourism, fishing activities, and a lack of waste management practices can be the possible reasons for MPs input in to estuarine habitats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state partners investigated a multistate sample-initiated retrospective outbreak investigation (SIROI) consisting of a cluster of nine Salmonella Weltevreden illnesses associated with frozen, precooked shrimp imported from India. Import surveillance testing identified Salmonella Weltevreden recovered from a cooked shrimp sample from Supplier B. In total, nine patients with clinical isolates highly related via whole genome sequencing were reported in four states with illness onset dates between February 26 and July 17, 2021. Epidemiologic data were gathered by state partners for seven patients, who all reported exposure to shrimp. Five patients reported consuming shrimp cocktail from the same retailer. A traceback investigation for five of the six patients converged on Supplier B. This evidence demonstrated that the outbreak of Salmonella Weltevreden illnesses was caused by the consumption of cooked, ready-to-eat shrimp manufactured by Supplier B. At the time of the investigation, outbreak and recall information was shared with Indian competent authorities. In March 2022, a follow-up inspection of Supplier B's facility in India was conducted, and insanitary conditions and practices were observed. This outbreak investigation highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary national and international public health partnerships. The lessons learned from this investigation should continue to inform investigational activities and food safety guidance for the industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The mental health burden in India is increasing at unprecedented rates. The increased demand for mental health care and the undersupply of services has widened the treatment gap. Due to several factors, such as increasing service costs and the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, India has witnessed an inclination toward using digital mental health solutions to overcome the treatment gap. Drawing from the collective evidence and experience in implementing mental health solutions using digital phenotyping and smartphone app-based care delivery in India, we define the scope, potential, and challenges of implementing synchronous and asynchronous digital mental health solutions that can serve as a template for improving global mental health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methoxy-DDT is an organochlorine pesticide extensively used in agricultural practices as a DDT substitute. Methoxy-DDT has been found and quantified in several investigations in groundwater, drinking water, sediment, and various biota. Therefore, designing efficient and cost-effective adsorbents for removing methoxy-DDT is vital. In this work, we embedded Ficus benghalensis L. derived carbon dots (CDs) in mesoporous silica (MS) to fabricate MS-CDs nanohybrid material. MS-CDs nanohybrid exhibited remarkable selectivity and removal efficiency towards methoxy-DDT, outperforming other endocrine disruptors. Parameters for industrial-scale fixed-bed adsorption columns, such as bed capacity, length, and breakthrough times, were analyzed. The kinetic study revealed that pseudo-second-order (PSO) adsorption and isotherm analysis confirmed the Langmuir model as the best fit. Small bed adsorption (SBA) column analysis was carried out using spiked Yamuna river water, and the breakthrough curves were demonstrated by varying MS-CDs bed height. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained for methoxy-DDT was 17.16 mg/g at breakthrough and 49.98 mg/g at exhaustion. The adsorbent showed 86.53% removal efficiency in the 5th cycle, demonstrating good reusability. These results indicate that the developed material MS-CDs-based organic sphere is an effective adsorbent for aqueous methoxy-DDT adsorption and can be applied to wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Tracking new variants of SARS-CoV-2 is vital for managing COVID-19 spread and allocating resources. Domestic antigen testing has created surveillance gaps that make it hard to identify new viral variants. We conducted whole genome sequencing of wastewater viral genes from major and minor treatment facilities in Dehradun from March 2022 onwards. Based on our analysis, the samples that achieved higher sequencing depth and covered >90 % of the viral genome uncovered a major variant pattern resembling the XAP recombinant lineage that is reported for the first time in the City of Dehradun, Uttrakhand and is the first ever records in India as on date. This novel XAP recombinant lineage had 9, 2, 30, 1, 2, 5, 1, 1, 1 aminoacid changes (total 54 mutations) in Orf1a, Orf1b, S, E, M, N, Orf3a, Orf6 and Orf8 regions of the gene respectively that shares 49 mutations common to the ancestral lineages BA.1* and BA.2*, with 6 unique mutations. Subsequent comparison and analysis of the clinical sequence data from the region post-detection of this rare and unusual variant showed no causalities infected with the newly detected XAP lineage. These findings are indicative of future alarming situation with plausible threats of fresh spur of Omicron variant led infections in the urban community., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Food adulteration with toxic chemicals is a global public health threat. Lead chromate adulterated spices have been linked with lead poisoning in many countries, from Bangladesh to the United States. This study systematically assessed lead chromate adulteration in turmeric, a spice that is consumed daily across South Asia. Our study focused on four understudied countries that produce >80 % of the world's turmeric and collectively include 1.7 billion people, 22 % of the world's population. Turmeric samples were collected from wholesale and retail bazaars from 23 major cities across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal between December 2020 and March 2021. Turmeric samples were analyzed for lead and chromium concentrations and maximum child blood lead levels were modeled in regions where samples had detectable lead. A total of 356 turmeric samples were collected, including 180 samples of dried turmeric roots and 176 samples of turmeric powder. In total, 14 % of the samples (n = 51) had detectable lead above 2 μg/g. Turmeric samples with lead levels greater than or equal to 18 μg/g had molar ratios of lead to chromium near 1:1, suggestive of lead chromate adulteration. Turmeric lead levels exceeded 1000 μg/g in Patna (Bihar, India) as well as Karachi and Peshawar (Pakistan), resulting in projected child blood lead levels up to 10 times higher than the CDC's threshold of concern. Given the overwhelmingly elevated lead levels in turmeric from these locations, urgent action is needed to halt the practice of lead chromate addition in the turmeric supply chain., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arsenicosis and fluorosis have become severe health hazards associated with the drinking of Arsenic (As) and Fluoride (F - ) contaminated groundwater across south-east Asia. Although, significant As and F - concentration is reported from major Himalayan river basins but, the hydrogeochemical processes and mechanisms controlling their contrasting co-occurrence in groundwater is still poorly explored and understood. In the present study, groundwater samples were collected from phreatic and confined aquifers of Upper Indus Basin (UIB), India to understand the hydrogeochemical processes controlling the distribution and co-occurrence of geogenic As and F - in this complex aquifer system. Generally, the groundwater is circum-neutral to alkaline with Na + -HCO 3 - , Ca 2+ -Na + -HCO 3 - and Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ -HCO 3 - water facies signifying the dominance of silicate and carbonate dissolution. The poor correlation of As and F - in groundwater depicted that these geogenic elements have discrete sources of origin with distinct mechanisms controlling their distribution. As enrichment in groundwater is associated with high pH, Fe, Mn and NH 4 -N suggesting dominance of metal oxide/hydroxide reduction with organic matter degradation. However, F - enrichment in groundwater is associated with high pH, HCO 3 - and Na + , which is assisted by the incessant dissolution of fluorinated minerals. The study also revealed that high HCO 3 - facilitates the exchange of hydroxides (OH - ) with As and F - on sediment surfaces that contribute to As and F - enrichment in groundwater through desorption. 70% groundwater samples have As and F - concentration above the permissible limit given by WHO. Therefore, continuous exposure to these contaminants may pose severe health hazard of arsenicosis and fluorosis to people living in the region and downstream. The study provides insights into geological sources, hydrogeochemical processes and mechanisms controlling distribution of As and F - in groundwater that will help in developing the appropriate measures to mitigate the impact these contaminants on human health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: While modeled estimates and studies in contaminated areas indicate high lead exposure among children in Bihar, India, local data on lead exposure in the child population is limited., Objectives: To characterize lead exposure, and assess potential sources of lead exposure among a state-representative sample of children and their pregnant mothers residing in Bihar., Methods: Blood samples were collected from 697 children under five and 55 pregnant women from eight districts in Bihar. Blood lead levels were determined using capillary blood and a portable lead analyzer. Household demographics, home environment, behavior, and nutrition information were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews with primary caregivers. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between potential risk factors and elevated blood lead levels., Results: More than 90% of children and 80% of pregnant women reported blood lead levels ≥5 μg/dL. Living near a lead-related industry and pica behavior of eating soil were significantly associated with increased odds of having elevated blood lead levels. Additional risk factors for having a blood level ≥5 μg/dL included the use of skin lightning cream (aOR = 5.11, 95%CI: 1.62, 16.16) and the use of eyeliners (aOR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.14, 6.93). Having blood lead levels ≥10 μg/dL was also significantly associated with the household member who had an occupation or hobby involving the use of lead (aOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.13, 2.72)., Discussion: Elevated blood lead levels were prevalent among children and pregnant women in Bihar, indicating the urgent need for a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention strategy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fluoride (F¯) contamination in groundwater in India has gained global attention due to human health hazards. India's hydrogeological heterogeneity, spatio-temporal variability of F¯, and health hazards due to geogenic and geo-environmental control pose unique challenges. Addressing these with only a single region-specific study is not possible. Therefore, this study provides an in-depth, holistic analysis of pan India F¯ contamination, controlling factors, and health hazards using a coupled advanced geostatistical and geospatial approach. Alarming F¯ contaminations are identified in Rajasthan, Telangana, Western Andhra Pradesh, Eastern Karnataka, Parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. Probabilistic health-risk evaluation using hot-spot, showed similar spatio-temporal distribution of F¯ contamination. The hazard quotient (HQ) for high F¯ shows more adversity to children than adults. Nationally, 8.65 % and 7.10 % of pre- and post-monsoon sites exceed the recommended safe limit of 1.50 mg/L. The highest average F¯ concentration is in Rajasthan. Very high-risk skeletal fluorosis is possible at around ≤ 2 %, whereas dental caries due to deficiency in F¯ concentration is approximately 40 %. A decisive hierarchy of lithology, geomorphology, soils, and lineaments control are identified on F¯ contamination. Climatic conditions are pivotal in governing all these controlling variables. Thus, in arid/semi-arid dry western regions, F¯ contamination is much higher than in the humid areas. Integration of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis with the results can aid policymakers and government authorities in achieving sustainable remedial measures for future adaptability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Groundwater pollution caused by fluoride is a significant concern for the global population owing to its toxicity, which has negative health consequences. Industrial discharges, agricultural practices, and improper waste disposal are primary concerns in evaluating the degree of fluoride contamination in the selected districts of Eastern India. In a targeted area sampling approach, exactly 196 samples were collected during pre- and post-monsoon, and precise fluoride detection was performed using Ion-Selective Electrodes. Fluoride levels in pre-monsoon water were observed within a range of 0.02 to 2.7 mg/L, with an average abundance of 0.4 ± 0.50. In post-monsoon, the concentration ranged from 0.02 to 4.7 mg/L (mean 0.53 ± 0.60). The study found that 97 % of groundwater samples had acceptable fluoride levels within the 1.5 mg/L limit during pre and post-monsoon. Moreover, approximately 87 % of the samples exhibit fluoride content below the 1 mg/L limit. The hazard quotient was observed to be 0.17 to 0.58 in adults, 0.23 to 0.79 in children and 0.36 to 1.26 in infants during pre-monsoon, whereas 0.05 to 0.55 in adults, 0.12 to 0.74 in children and 0.11to 1.19 in infants during post monsoon. The above data indicates that infants had the highest risk of fluoride exposure, with a significant negative correlation between fluoride and calcium ions. Fluoride had minimal to no link with other ions, a modest positive correlation with sulfate, and a weak negative relationship with overall hardness and alkalinity across both seasons. The present study contributes towards the identification of fluoride levels in various areas, making society aware of water contamination and its health impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study examined Haemonchus contortus prevalence and benzimidazole resistance in eight districts of Marathwada, Maharashtra, India. A comprehensive investigation of 264 abomasa of goats collected from abattoirs and goats necropsied at the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Parbhani, revealed 21.21 % a prevalence of H. contortus. The incidence of H. contortus did not vary much across seasons and it was highest in summer (23.42 %), followed by monsoon (22.89 %), and lowest in winter (15.71 %). Statistically non-significant (p < 0.05) prevalence was observed in male and female animals. A detailed examination of 168 adult H. contortus worms from eight districts revealed the presence of all conceivable genotypes including homozygous resistant (rr), susceptible (SS), and heterozygous (Sr) BZ susceptible genotypes. The rr was the most frequent at 50 %, followed by SS at 27 % and Sr at 22 %. The presence of the SNP was observed in in all eight randomly selected and sequenced samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors affirm that they do not possess any identifiable conflicting financial or personal interests that could have potentially influenced the findings presented in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for 16 % of tuberculosis cases globally, with knee joint tuberculosis more prevalent in underdeveloped nations. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is commonly used to treat tubercular arthritis of knee, however, there is a marked paucity of research on the outcomes after an incidental diagnosis. The aim of the study is to investigate the outcomes of total knee arthroplasty after an incidental diagnosis of tuberculosis and its management., Methods: A prospective-observational study was conducted in NCR-Delhi from May 2019 to June 2023, wherein 533 patients had synovial tissue abnormalities and 11 patients reported with positive histopathological examination (HPE) for knee tuberculosis. All the patients whose informed consent was obtained were put on a twelve-month standard treatment (2HRZE or S/10HR) according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for extrapulmonary TB after TKA and were monitored for the outcome of treatment, any postoperative complication, or implant failure., Result: The mean age of the patients was 63 ± 13 years and 72.7 % of patients were female. The mean hemoglobin, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) values were 10.29 ± 1.36 mg/dl, 29.78 ± 6.1 kg/m 2 , and 37.37 mm/h respectively and the median of the C-reactive protein (CRP) value was 11 mg/dl at the time of operative procedure. All patients presented with knee-joint pain and swelling and were operated for knee-joint replacement surgery. After one year of standard treatment (2HRZE or S/10HR), no relapses, pain, or progressive radiolucency around the component, or postoperative neurologic or vascular complications were observed. The median range of motion (ROM) was improved from 10 - to 100 to 0-115, the average knee score improved from 44.9 ± 8.9 to 84.9 ± 7.73 points and the average function score improved from 28.82 ± 15.56 to 94.0 ± 7.68 points which were statistically significant at 95 % CI (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: We concluded from this study that any abnormalities in ESR, CRP level prior to, and bone tissue or synovial tissue during operative procedure should be considered for articular tuberculosis and managed according to guidelines. This will make replacement procedures more sustainable and effective by lowering the risk of post-operative infection or implant-related complications and improving patients' quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Key learnings from some landmark studies that the author has been associated with and their implications on program strategies are highlighted. Learnings from prevalence surveys provide justification for active TB Case finding (ACF), role of Chest X-ray screening, justification of the elderly as a key vulnerable population and suggest re-think of the methods of sub-national certification for progress towards tuberculosis free status. Risk of infection studies suggest 14 million people acquiring new tuberculous infection each year in India suggesting a re-think on the targets for TB elimination. Justification is given for 'TB deaths averted' as a parameter for monitoring program impact, reviving risk of infection surveys using CyTB and higher emphasis on careful analysis of routine surveillance data for monitoring epidemiological trends rather than oft-repeated surveys. The modelling outputs suggest higher focus on reducing transmission of infection in urban and reducing treatment delay in rural areas and the need to scale up active case finding and TB preventive treatment in order to achieve End TB targets. Case finding studies justify upfront molecular diagnostics, need to confirm a single sputum result by another specimen or radiology during ACF and futility of X-ray based diagnosis during ACF. High rates of recurrence with intermittent treatment regimen providing evidence in favor of daily regimen, role of family centric approach to nutritional supplementation to prevent TB mortality and reduce TB incidence among household contacts are highlighted besides the need to address high proportion of families suffering catastrophic expenses during pre-treatment period., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tuberculosis is one of the endemic diseases in India. Tuberculosis can involve almost every organ of the body, however isolated muscle involvement is considered rare. We hereby report a series of three cases of tubercular pyomyositis to highlight the importance of high clinical suspicion in endemic countries like India, in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, presenting with persistent fever and musculoskeletal symptoms. A timely diagnosis with effective drainage and antitubercular therapy helps in good functional recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Cutaneous Tuberculosis constitutes 1-1.5 % of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a wide clinical spectrum which relies upon the portal of entry of mycobacteria and patient's immunity. Complications of cutaneous tuberculosis if treatment is delayed includes hazardous sequel like dissemination and disfigurement. Early diagnosis and cure is the ultimate way to prevent such complications. This has motivated us to study clinicoepidemiological, histopathological profile and outcome post treatment of cutaneous tuberculosis patients of our region in detail., Methods: Total 78 patients were studied during the period of August 2018-2022, who were suspicious to have cutaneous tuberculosis clinically of which 54 were confirmed with histopathology. Patient related clinicoepidemiological data such as age, gender, past history of tuberculosis or contact history, chest-x ray, tuberculin test positivity was analysed in a retrospective manner., Results: Among the 54 biopsy proven cases (33 women, 21 men) ranging from 6 to 76 years, 27 patients have been found to have Lupus Vulgaris followed by 15 cases of scrofuloderma. Acid fast bacilli were seen in 9 patients with majority in scrofuloderma. Histopathology revealed epithelioid cell granuloma without necrosis in 34 cases and caseation necrosis in 20 patients. 48 patients showed complete recovery with 6 months of Anti-Koch Treatment and some complications were observed in remaining. Limitation of this research was that long term follow up was not possible., Conclusion: Lack of familiarity might lead to overlooking of a standard presentation or misdiagnosis. So, an eagle eye with high degree of suspicion is crucial for control and prevention of morbidity and for improving socio-economic burden of cutaneous tuberculosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Addressing gaps in knowledge about T.B. is a vital component of T.B.'s elimination to achieve the End T.B. strategy by 2025 in India. The present study compares the correct knowledge regarding T.B. by analysis of the nationally-representative secondary data of NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-20) data in India., Methods: NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 secondary data on eleven T.B.-related questions analysis was done after seeking permission to use datasets from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program-sociodemographic details and Responses exported and analysed using M.S. Excel. Descriptive variables were represented as frequency and percentages. Z tests for proportions were used to compare and determine differences between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 knowledge. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of <0.05., Results: The correct knowledge regarding T.B. significantly rose from 457,399 (56.3%) in NFHS-4 to 507,517 (61.4%) in NFHS-5. However, a significant increase in incorrect knowledge about the other modes of transmission of T.B. and T.B. courtesy stigma in households from 95,985 (13.4%) in 2015-16 to 113,978 (14.9%) in 2019-20 was observed., Conclusions: The correct knowledge of T.B. has significantly increased from NFHS-4 (2015-16) to NFHS-5 (2019-20). However, there is a significant increase in incorrect knowledge regarding the modes of transmission and stigmatising attitudes towards T.B. through improvement in the communication efforts in the National T.B. Elimination Programme (NTEP)., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Tuberculosis Association of India. All rights reserved.)

BCG vaccination is known to be safe in infants and a part of immunization schedule in high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries. In the conquest to bring down the severity of the COVID 19 pandemic, many drugs were repurposed in research mode including BCG vaccination/revaccination in various populations. We did a study among the elderly population (>60 years of age) to assess the role of BCG revaccination in preventing the severity of COVID 19 disease. Live attenuated BCG vaccine was given to the willing participants and were followed up for 6 months to estimate COVID19 incidence, understand severity and immunogenicity profile. A total of 48 serious adverse events (SAE) were reported among 1566 elders, none of them had more than one SAE. None of the SAEs were related to the BCG revaccination. Among the 372 adverse events reported, 96% were local reactions at the vaccine site and resolved on its own. BCG revaccination appeared to be safe and could be explored further if repurposing studies were planned for other diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Silico-Tuberculosis (silico-TB) is a severe combination of tuberculosis and silicosis, caused by occupational exposure to fine crystalline silica dust, which has become a global health concern. This comprehensive review compiles the updated knowledge regarding pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, important diagnostic techniques, treatment aspects, and challenges in understanding silico-TB. The review compiles the disease's history and epidemiology, highlighting a lack of data owing to poor monitoring and healthcare particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. Further weak safety regulations, lack of preventative measures, and inadequate education increase the rates of silico-TB. The pathophysiology shows how silica particles impair the immune system and stimulate Th2 cells and M2 macrophages, which exacerbate TB, while inhibiting Th1 cells and M1 macrophages, which fight against the disease. Subsequently, it can be difficult to distinguish current TB from pre-existing silicosis. In cases where sputum and X-ray results are negative, chest CT scans may be helpful since radiographic screening identifies TB earlier than sputum assessment. Isoniazid, rifampicin, or both minimize the risk of active tuberculosis in people with silicosis. Consistent anti-tuberculosis drug therapy is recommended for 8-9 months to stop recurrence. The assessment recommends integrating silicosis and TB control initiatives to fight this combined health issue., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The research, focusing on the analysis of nine trace elements, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, completely analyzed their quantities in both water and sediment inside the Rabnabad Channel. Samples were collected during the post-monsoon and analyzed by ICP-OES following acid digestion. The mean concentrations of elements in water and sediments are as follows: Fe > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Zn > Cr > As>Cd, and Zn > Fe > Pb > Mn > As>Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd. To understand the state of ecological and human health risk, several indices were incorporated. Health risk assessment revealed that children posed higher risk than adults. PERI, TRI, and I geo indices for water sediment indicate a significant ecological risk. Moreover, Mn and Pb exhibit elevated HPI values and contribute substantially to contamination factors. Correlation and PCA implicate both anthropogenic and geogenic sources, such as agricultural practices, coal-based power plants, and the Payra seaport, in the elevated concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mn, and Fe in both water and sediment samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coastlines are susceptible to plastic and heavy metal pollution, which can accumulate from both marine and terrestrial sources. Shorebirds, top-level predators in these fragile ecosystems are considered as indicators of environmental health. Here, we tested the occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in the droppings of ten regular wintering migrant shorebird species in Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve and adjoining sand beaches during November, December and January, each year, between 2019 and 2021. Heavy metals were analysed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and the microplastic polymer compositions were identified using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. We detected high concentrations of heavy metals such as Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Chromium, Lead and Cadmium in droppings. Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Poly Vinyl Chloride, Nitrile and Polyethylene terephthalate were the polymers identified. Polystyrene (42.6 %) and chromium (ranges between 7.83 and 88.45 mg/kg) were found to be the most abundant contaminants in most of the species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The increase in climate-related extreme events and ecosystem degradation demands consistent and sustainable climate mitigation efforts. Seagrass playing a key role in nature-based carbon sequestration mitigation strategy. Here, we investigated the role of coral reef connectivity in blue carbon dynamics with seagrass meadows with coral reef connectivity (SC areas) and without coral reef connectivity (SG areas) in Palk Bay, India. The high sediment organic carbon was recorded in SC areas (90.26 ± 25.68 Mg org.C/ha) and lower in SG areas (66.96 ± 12.6 Mg org.C/ha). The maximum above-ground biomass (AGB) was recorded in Syringodium isoetifolium (35.43 ± 8.50) in SC areas and the minimum in Halophila ovalis (7.59 ± 0.90) in SG areas, with a similar trend observed in below-ground biomass (BGB). Our findings highlight the importance of coral reefs in enhancing the blue carbon potential of seagrass ecosystems and underscore the need for integrated conservation and restoration strategies for coral reefs and seagrasses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondrial disorders are a class of heterogeneous disorders caused by genetic variations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) as well as the nuclear genome. The spectrum of mtDNA variants remains unexplored in the Indian population. In the present study, we have cataloged 2689 high confidence single nucleotide variants, small insertions and deletions in mtDNA in 1029 healthy Indian individuals. We found a major proportion (76.5 %) of the variants being rare (AF<=0.005) in the studied population. Intriguingly, we found two 'confirmed' pathogenic variants (m.1555 A>G and m.14484 T>C) with a frequency of ∼1 in 250 individuals in our dataset. The high carrier frequency underscores the need for screening of the mtDNA pathogenic mutations in newborns in India. Interestingly, our analysis also revealed 202 variants in our dataset which have been 'reported' in disease cases as per the MITOMAP database. Additionally, we found the frequency of haplogroup M (52.2 %) to be the highest among all the 18 top-level haplogroups found in our dataset. In comparison to the global population datasets, 20 unique mtDNA variants are found in the Indian population. We hope the whole genome sequencing based compendium of mtDNA variants along with their allele frequencies and heteroplasmy levels in the Indian population will drive additional genome scale studies for mtDNA. Furthermore, the identification of clinically relevant variants in our dataset will aid in better clinical interpretation of the variants in mitochondrial disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Although previous studies have described phenomenological diagnoses, they lacked description of aetiological spectrum in patients visiting movement disorders (MD) service. Herein, we classify the MD phenomenology and describe aetiology wise distribution of each phenomenology in patients visiting a tertiary care movement disorders service., Methods: Collected information included demographic profile (age of onset, age at presentation, gender, duration of illness before presentation), predominant MD phenomenology [such as parkinsonism, dystonia, ataxia, tremor, chorea, ballism, myoclonus, tics, stereotypy, restless legs syndrome (RLS) and others], diagnostic evaluations and detected aetiology., Results: This observational study included 1140 MD patients over a span of 5 years. The median (IQR) age of onset was 49 (35-60) years and age at presentation was 54 (40-65) years, with median duration of illness being 36 (18-72) months. Nearly two-third of patients were males (M:F=731:409). Parkinsonism (n=494, 43.3 %) was the most common MD phenomenology observed, followed by dystonia (n=219, 19.2 %), ataxia (n=125, 11 %), tremor (n=118, 10.4 %), myoclonus (n=73, 6.4 %), chorea (n=40, 3.5 %), spasticity (n=22, 1.9 %), tics (n=8, 0.7 %), and RLS (n=8, 0.7 %). Thirty-three (2.9 %) patients were grouped under miscellaneous MDs. Overall, neurodegenerative disorders (57.4 %) were the most common cause of MDs. Parkinson's disease, genetic dystonia, essential tremor, genetic ataxias, hemifacial spasm, and Huntington's disease were the most common aetiologies for parkinsonism, dystonia, tremor, ataxia, myoclonus, and chorea, respectively., Conclusion: Parkinsonism was the most common phenomenology observed in MD patients, and was followed by dystonia, ataxia and tremor. Neurodegenerative disorders were the most common aetiology detected., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nearly 400 million Indians (30 % of the total population) lack any financial protection for health which leads to very high out of pocket expenditure. In India more than 90 million people spend 10-25 % of household expenses on healthcare. This is a serious threat to Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims at providing universal health coverage along with protection from catastrophic spending on health., Aim: The aim of this paper is to estimate the efficiency and determinants of public health in India at subnational level., Methods: To estimate the efficiency of public healthcare, input oriented bias corrected DEA model has been used. In this model life expectancy at birth and infant survival rate have been treated as outputs. Public health spending and per capita income are treated as inputs. In the second stage Tobit regression is used to analyse the determinants of efficiency., Results: The mean bias corrected efficiency score across Indian states is 0.60, implying that on average there is a 40 % inefficiency in public healthcare in India. Maharashtra and Mizoram are the most and least efficient states with efficiency score of 0.921 and 0.218, respectively. Fourteen states have efficiency scores less than 0.60, two states have efficiency score of 0.60 and 15 states have the efficiency score greater than 0.60. Socio economic factors outweigh the medical factors in determining the public healthcare efficiency in India., Conclusion: There are 40 % inefficiencies in public health in India implying significant wastages in public health. By improving public health efficiency, there would be savings of 48 % in terms of government expenditure on health per capita. It will also improve infant survival rate by 27.19 % and life expectancy by 20.65 %., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicting interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The sustainable management of huge volume of agricultural waste in India can be resolved through composting and used as soil amendment. Agriculture waste compost amendments can optimistically alter the physicochemical (pH, C, N, & P) as well as biological nature (microbial activity/biomass and enzymatic activity) of infertile soil. Hence this study, the agriculture wastes such as sugarcane trash, corn stover, and pearl millet stalks were converted to composite through decomposition pit. Interestingly, test crops residues individual composites and their mixed form contained considerable quantity of vital elements like TC, TN, TP, TK, and C:N ratio and can effectively convert infertile soil to fertile soil. These test crop composites also had a significant impact on MBN (42.3 μg g -1 ), MBC (198.4 μg g -1 ), and MBP (196.4 μg g -1 ) in test soil, as well as dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity. However, the mixed composite effects are significantly greater than the individual test crop composite effects. Furthermore, it effectively remediates/converts infertile soil to fertile soil, and it ultimately demonstrated positive effects on Vigna mungo biometric (SH, RH, WB, and DB) and biomolecule (total chlorophyll, total carbohydrate, and total proteins) profiles, followed by individual test crop composites. According to the findings of this study, the incorporation of crop residue-based mixed composite significantly transforms infertile soil into fertile soil and promotes the growth of V. mungo., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coastal pollutants, from harmful algal blooms, sewage and industrial discharges, pose severe risks to marine ecosystems and public health. Recently, Promenade Beach in Puducherry, Southeast-India, experienced reddish-brown water discoloration, suspected to result from either algal blooms or suspended matter. This study monitored the spatial extent and characteristics of the discoloration using Sentinel-2 satellite images from September to November 2023, with field observations and laboratory analyses. Analyses included measurements of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Total Suspended Matter (TSM), and the Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI) to differentiate between algal blooms and other pollutants. The satellite data indicated extents of discoloration, with high TSM concentrations (>45 g/m 3 ) and negative NDCI values suggesting absence of algal blooms. No mortality of aquatic organisms was observed during this discoloration, indicating no deleterious impact on aquatic life. This approach highlights the importance of combining satellite technology with field data for effective coastal pollution monitoring, essential for protecting marine ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We compare, the prevalence, fate, and sources of Bisphenol A both globally and in India. India has the highest concentration of BPA and Bisphenol S(BPS) in general, with vegetables, particularly corn, beans, strings, and raw or canned vegetables, being the largest contributors. Among all the matrices, bisphenols (BPs) are found in the highest concentration in food, followed by surface water, wastewater, and indoor dust. BPA, BPS, and BPF are the most commonly reported analogues in India, with BPA being the most dominant category used worldwide. The highest concentration of BPs is observed in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana that are three major agricultural states of India however, there is still a research gap regarding the dietary exposure to BPs on an individual level. Environmentally detected BPA occurs in a range of below detection to 10636 ng. L -1 , with significant geographic variations. Interestingly, the order of abundance in India was maximum for BPS, which is contrary to the global average, where BPA is observed as most abundant. BPS is found to be the most common BPs analogue in surface water worldwide, with limited removal efficiency by both naturally remediation and conventional treatment methods. Similar patterns were observed in the US-India and Japan-Korea regions in terms of their source-sink-prevalence-fate dynamics. The probability of exceeding safe concentrations of BPs is higher in India and Korea, suggesting that these countries are more vulnerable to high prevalence concentrations and the subsequent public health hazards., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A fundamental necessity in advancing sustainable crop production lies in the establishment of a reliable technique for assessing soil health. Soil health assessment is a challenge considering multiple interactions among dynamic indicators within various management strategies and agroecological contexts. Hence a study was conducted to determine the soil health variables, quantify the soil health index (SHI), and validate them with the productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system for the Indo Gangetic basin of Bihar, India, under four contrasting agro-climatic zones (ACZ-I, II, IIIA & IIIB). For this study, 100 soil samples (0-15 cm) from each ACZ with a total of 400 soil samples were obtained for analyzing 20 soil health variables (soil physical, chemical, and biological properties). To identify SHI and important soil health variables, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed. Apart from specific variables, soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), available Zn and available water capacity (AWC) were identified as common indicators for the four ACZs. Results revealed that under the rice-wheat cropping system, ACZ-IIIB soils had a higher SHI (0.19-0.70) than other ACZs. SHI of ACZ-IIIB was significantly influenced by SOC (19.32 %), available P (10.52 %), clay (10.43 %), pH (10.80 %), and soil respiration (9.8 %). The strong relationship between SHI and system productivity of the rice-wheat (R 2  = 0.79) system indicates that the selected soil health variables are representative of good soil health. It is concluded that ACZ-specific SHIs are a promising strategy for evaluating and monitoring soil health to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of 'zero hunger' by 2030., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced this paper's findings., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The cities of North India, such as Delhi, face a significant public health threat from severe air pollution. Between October 2021 and January 2022, 79 % of Delhi's daily average PM 2.5 (Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) values exceeded 100 μg/m 3 (the permissible level being 60 μg/m 3 as per Indian standards). In response to this acute exposure, using Respiratory Face Masks (RFMs) is a cost-effective solution to reduce immediate health risks while policymakers develop long-term emission control plans. Our research focuses on the health and economic benefits of using RFMs to prevent acute exposure to PM 2.5 pollution in Delhi for different age groups. Our findings indicate that, among the fifty chosen RFMs, M50 has greatest potential to prevent short-term excess mortality (908 in age ranges 5-44), followed by M49 (745) and M48 (568). These RFMs resulted in estimated economic benefits of 500.6 (46 %), 411.1 (37 %), and 313.4 (29 %) million Indian Rupee (INR), respectively during October-January 2021-22. By wearing RFMs such as M50, M49, and M48 during episodes of bad air quality, it is estimated that 13 % of short-term excess mortality and associated costs could be saved if at least 30 % of Delhi residents followed an alert issued by an operational Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Our research suggests that RFMs can notably decrease health and economic burdens amid peak PM 2.5 pollution in post-monsoon and winter seasons until long-term emission reduction strategies are adopted. It is suggested that an advisory may be crafted in collaboration with statutory bodies and should be disseminated to assist the vulnerable population in using RFMs during winter. The analysis presented in this research is purely science based and outcomes of study are in no way to be construed as endorsement of product., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors also declare that The Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) of the Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) may not fully endorse the findings from this study, and authors don't have any commercial interests with manufacturers of masks presented in this study., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Phytic acid or inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP 6 ) and its dephosphorylated forms (InsP 5 , InsP 4 & InsP 3 ) are integral to cellular functions and confer several health benefits. The present study was aimed to develop a cost effective and high sample throughput RP-HPLC-RID method for routine quantification of lower inositol phosphates in both raw and processed cereals and pulses. For this asuitable mobile phase composition was formulated and two columns (MacroporusHamilton PRP-1 Vs Waters Symmetry C18) were compared in terms ofsystem specificity,linearity, accuracy and precision. Separation ofInsP 3 , InsP 4 , InsP 5 and InsP 6 were recorded at 2.39, 2.93, 3.83 and 5.37 min usingPRP-1column while the RT were 4.67, 5.64, 6.99 and 9.14 min with C18column.Linearity of standards (R 2  > 0.99), with an accuracy and precision ranging from 1 to 5 % was achieved. The LOD and LOQ of all InsPs were 5 and 15 μg/ml, respectively. In quality control sample InsP 6 was found in highest concentration (446 ± 14.71 mg/100 g) followed by InsP 5 (162 ± 8.00 mg/100 g) and InsP 4 with the least concentration of 11.63 ± 1.06 mg/100 g whereas InsP 3 was below detectable limit (BDL). The optimised method was used for profiling of InsPs in the raw and processed cereals and pulses consumed as staple foods in India. Processed foods contained lesser InsP 6 and more of lower InsP compared to raw foods. The optimised method using unique mobile phase composition was found to yield accurate results and can used for large scale analysis of cereals and pulses and estimation of mineral nutrition potential and allied health benefits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)