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With climate change, plants face numerous stresses, notably drought for rice cultivation. Improving rice drought tolerance is vital for sustainable production in water-scarce regions. Identification of drought tolerant genotypes at the seedling stage of the crop contributes to build a climate resilient genotype during the period of water scarcity and under challenging environmental conditions. Hence, polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) induced drought conditions could be used for testing the drought tolerance in rice at an earlier stage of the crop. Optimization of PEG-6000 concentration for screening index at -6 bar was done using three drought-tolerant and two drought-susceptible check varieties based on probit analysis. Subsequently, 100 rice landraces underwent PEG-6000 induced drought screening at -6 bar and a total of 32 genotypes were selected as tolerant. After 14 days of treatment, the nine observations viz. germination %, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), number of secondary roots, fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), shoot/root ratio, root/shoot ratio and vigour index were recorded. Variance analysis, revealing significant genetic variation among genotypes for all studied traits, indicating genetic variability. Post hoc analysis confirmed notable variation among treatments. Principal component analysis revealed three components, with the first three accounting for 88.89% of total variability. With respect to the biplot, the ten genotypes viz., IRGC109, IRGC403, IRGC448, IRGC461, IRGC466, IRGC486, IRGC508, IRGC518, IRGC527 and IRGC535 are the seedling stage drought tolerant genotypes based on shoot length, number of secondary roots and vigour index. Population structure classified the accessions into two subpopulations, reflecting diversity. The allele frequency divergence is 0.095 which is a measure of fixation index revealing that the moderate divergence is not extremely pronounced. Genetic diversity, assessed through 26 SSR markers selected from drought tolerant QTLs and markers related to vigour index, exhibited 100% polymorphism with 115 alleles and an average PIC value of 0.61 per primer. Shannon index varied between 0.34 (RM212) and 1.96 (RM252), averaging 1.18. Six SSR markers viz., RM246, RM302, RM252, RM219, RM251, and RM486 were associated with the six key traits viz., shoot length, root length, number of secondary roots, dry weight, shoot/root ratio, and root/shoot ratio respectively offering valuable resources for selecting drought-tolerant accessions as it provides the first step in the selection of genotypes based on the key traits.

This study assessed the feasibility of using major agricultural residues specifically bagasse, rice straw, wheat straw, and coir fiber to produce single-layer particle boards. These boards of densities 300, 400, and 500 kg/m³ were developed using melamine urea formaldehyde resin. Comprehensive evaluation of the boards included determination of their sound absorption coefficient (SAC), thermal conductivity, and noise reduction coefficient (NRC), as well as various physical properties and modulus of rupture. Additionally, the impact of board density on the SAC across a frequency range of 50 to 5000 Hz was examined. The coir boards displayed superior SAC, particularly at 3000 Hz. Rice straw boards at a density of 300 kg/m³ exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity (0.098 W/m-K). Density of 300 kg/m³ was optimal for achieving the highest SAC and lowest thermal conductivity in agro residue particle boards. As the density of the boards increased, SAC decreased, whereas thermal conductivity (K) increased, indicating that lower-density boards are more effective as sound and thermal insulators. Furthermore, all particle boards demonstrated promising sound absorption capabilities, achieving classifications of D and E under ISO 11654:1997, making them viable for interior applications in the building industry.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence in young individuals is rising, particularly in South Asian populations. Carotid artery hemodynamic parameters and their relation with CAD have not been studied much in young patients. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the relationship between Carotid artery hemodynamic parameters, and CAD severity in young patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional and single-center study was conducted involving consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography due to acute coronary syndrome and aged under 40. Carotid ultrasonography and Doppler were performed to assess Carotid artery hemodynamic parameters. Gensini and SYNTAX scores were used to evaluate the severity and complexity of CAD. A total of 136 patients were included in the study. Results: The mean age was 36.24±4.030 years, with 92 males. CAD patients demonstrated significantly increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (0.730±0.157 vs. 0.488±0.09; P

Introduction: The National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced a one-month “Foundation Course (FC)” at the commencement of medical school to promote better adaptation to the new competence-based medical education curriculum starting from the academic year 2019. The effectiveness of the program was studied in previous researches conducted over one month, and it was found to be effective. However, the effectiveness with which students could implement the acquired basic knowledge and skills in subsequent years of study has not been reported. Aim: To explore the effectiveness of various modules and their competencies in the FC immediately at the end of the program and to assess the usefulness of the acquired competencies in subsequent academic years. Materials and Methods: A post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Kattangulathur, South India, within the education department over a period of three academic years. A total of 450 student participants from the academic years 2019 to 2022 were involved in two stages. A total of 36 competencies were evaluated across the six prescribed modules by the NMC. A five-point Likert scale was used for the evaluation. Feedback questionnaires were administered immediately at the end of the program and again at the completion of the academic year. Analysis was conducted using the non parametric “Wilcoxon signed-rank test” to determine the usefulness of the program in subsequent years by comparing immediate feedback with responses after one year. Results: The mean scores for various competencies ranged between 3.5 and 4.5 out of 5, indicating that the overall competencies in the FC were very effective. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a p-value of

Background: Previously overweight and obesity are considered to be an issue of high-income countries but now increasingly becoming more prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries. Obesity and overweight are growing health issues in India. It is important to determine the quantum of the risk contribution by individual risk factor siuch as abdominal obesity. Aims: To find out the association of abdominal obesity and diabetes among the adult tribal population. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study was conducted using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Using a pretested validated modified Stepwise questionnaire, a detailed interview with the participants aged above 30 years were performed. Random blood sugar and anthropometric parameters were estimated for all the participants. Chi-square test and multivariate regression analysis were used to study association. Results: Prevalence of abdominal obesity was 49.6% [211] among the study participants. Prevalence of diabetes was 7.8% [33] among the study population and 92.2% [392] of them were nondiabetic. Normal WHR was seen among 27.3% [9] of the diabetic individuals. High WHR was seen among 72.7% [24] of diabetic individuals. Gender, Illiterate, BMI, and waist-hip ratio shows significant association with diabetes. Conclusions: The prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in the study population. As this burden among tribal people is on the increasing trend when compared with other general populations, effective strategies to prevent this have to be devised among the tribal population.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia comprises disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, which is usually characterized by increased plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or reduced plasma level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Dyslipidemia is commonly found in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients causing an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Many studies done previously show variable prevalence of dyslipidemia (68 to 85 %) in known diagnosed patients of T2DM (with unknown history of onset), however, only limited studies have been done for finding prevalence of dyslipidemia in newly detected T2DM patients. AIM: This study is a cross-sectional observational study done in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai (India), aiming to study prevalence and pattern in newly detected T2DM patients. The secondary objective is to compare the prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia in newly detected T2DM patients with non-diabetic controls. Material and Method: For this, 100 newly detected T2DM patients were chosen along with 100 cases of age & gender-matched non-diabetic controls. Their clinical profile and lipid profile of both groups were observed and compared. Result: Results showed higher prevalence of dyslipidemia in newly detected T2DM patients (64%) which was significantly more than the control group (32%). Moreover, the pattern of dyslipidemia showed greater mean levels of TC, TG, and LDL and low mean levels of HDL in T2DM patients compared to the control group. Conclusion: These findings show that there is an increased risk of Dyslipidemia in new onset T2DM patients.

Background: Linear scleroderma (LS) is a variant of localized scleroderma, which is termed as “en coup de sabre” (ECDS) when it involves the head and/or face. Although mainly a dermatological condition, extracutaneous manifestations have been infrequently reported. Clinical Description: A 13-year-old boy presented with fever, altered sensorium with seizures, right hemiparesis, and right-sided upper motor neuron type of facial palsy. He was noticed to have a depression in the left frontoparietal area of the scalp with skin changes. Management and Outcome: The child was initially managed along the lines of acute encephalitis supported with mechanical ventilation. Brain imaging revealed tiny calcification in the left temporal and parietal lobes with altered signal intensities ipsilateral to the scalp lesion. Suspecting an association with the overlying scalp skin lesion, biopsy of the skin lesion was done which confirmed LS. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated and the antinuclear antibody was positive. The child was started on pulse methylprednisolone following which encephalopathy improved facilitating extubation. Later, he was started on subcutaneous methotrexate and he improved on follow-up. Conclusion: This case creates awareness regarding the association between neurological manifestations and LS EDCS, which responds favorably to immunosuppressives and methotrexate.

Pleurotus is a dominant genus comprising several edible species of commercial importance. In recent years, there has been a demand for developing improved strains with superior nutritional attributes. Breeding of improved strains for shorter duration, high biological efficiency that is, the total yield relative to the dry substrate weight, becomes essential to make hybrid strains economically more attractive compared to parents with improved nutritional and functional properties linked with health benefits is an emerging concept. The present experiment was conducted during 2021 and 2022 at Agricultural College and Research Institute (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu), Madurai, Tamil Nadu to develop three intraspecific hybrids, viz. K2M2, K4M4 and K7M2 with blended characters of both parents by crossing between Pleurotus djamor isolate woody-1 and P. djamor var. MDU-1. Hybrid strains K2M2 and K4M4 were found promising and produced 1st pinhead in shorter duration of 12–15 days with a total duration of 35–40 days. Hybrid K2M2 produced maximum yield of 587.66 g/500 g of paddy straw substrate on a dry weight basis with biological efficiency of 117.53% followed by K4M4. In this study the developed hybrids were subjected to determine the bioactive secondary metabolites through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and proximate composition. Analysis of secondary metabolites revealed that hybrids and parents had specific secondary metabolites at differential levels. Also proximate analysis and organoleptic evaluation revealed that hybrids possessed improved nutritional and sensory characters compared to parents. Hybrid cultivars possesses good sensory traits, better yield and shorter duration than parents have been found to increase the number of cropping cycles annually along with improved nutritional and health benefits for the benefit of mushroom farmers.

Background: Noncommunicable diseases have surged because of urbanization and prosperity, with physical inactivity increasing hypertension risk. Hypertension leads to early morbidity and mortality. Yoga, an ancient Indian practice, enhances physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study examines yoga’s potential to lower blood pressure by increasing VO2 Max, a critical cardiovascular fitness indicator. Methods: This study involved 250 hypertension patients (systolic BP >140 mm Hg or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg) from a rural hospital. Conducted over eight months at a rural medical college’s Sports Physiology Laboratory, the study reassessed participants’ cardiorespiratory fitness after six months of yoga therapy. Data were collected using the Metabolic module of the Exercise Physiology System and Power Lab System with LabChart Pro software. Results: VO2 Max for males improved significantly from 23.1 ± 10.02 mL/min/kg to 28.5 ± 9.85 mL/min/kg (P = 0.017), and for females from 21.3 ± 3.21 mL/min/kg to 25.4 ± 4.12 mL/min/kg (P = 0.028). Detail demographic data, blood pressure, VO2 Max, and BMI changes before and after yoga therapy. Conclusion: The study highlights yoga’s potential in managing hypertension, showing significant improvements in VO2 Max, blood pressure, and BMI, supporting yoga as an effective therapeutic intervention.

Background: Type 2 diabetes significantly impacts socioeconomic conditions, with periods of obesity and insulin resistance preceding diagnosis. Fasting, practiced for millennia, offers the potential to manage and possibly reverse diabetes. This study aims to assess the effects of intermittent fasting on various health indicators in obese type 2 diabetic patients. Methodology: Thirty obese volunteers with type 2 diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled by metformin alone, aged 20-60, were included. They followed a 16:8 intermittent fasting regimen for four weeks. Initial and postintervention measurements included height, weight, BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, and serum insulin. Results were compared using the student t-test. Results: After four weeks, significant reductions were observed in anthropometric indices and fasting blood sugar, but no change in serum insulin levels. Conclusion: A 16:8 intermittent fasting regimen significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels and anthropometric indices in obese type 2 diabetes patients over four weeks, with no effect on serum insulin levels. Larger and longer-term studies are needed to explore long-term effects and mechanisms.