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Background: Sarcoidosis is a rare clinical condition that can involve the central nervous system. 20% of cases of neurosarcoidosis (NS) can have psychiatric manifestations. Here, we highlight a case of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) for 25 years with NS. Case report: A 50-year-old woman presented with progressive sensorineural hearing loss from 15 years of age and BPAD for 25 years. She developed generalized tonic clonic seizure and catatonia while on sodium valproate, leading to a detailed medical evaluation. Neuroimaging showed leptomeningeal enhancements, atherosclerosis, and stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Her serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level was elevated, and chest X-ray showed parenchymal lesions. She was diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis. Her condition improved with steroids and mycophenolate mofetil. BPAD was treated with sodium valproate. Discussion: Rare medical conditions like NS can present as psychiatric disorders. Poor response and vulnerability to adverse effects of psychotropics warrant a detailed clinical evaluation for organic etiology.

The food consumption pattern of an individual reflects their food choices rather than nutrient intake in their diet. These patterns are strongly related to the health outcomes of the individuals. Home-cooked traditional food items are rapidly replaced by packed food items. As children being the future of any nation, thus their health is very important Therefore, improving the nutrition of these children would help to reduce health risks by promoting healthy food consumption. Present study was carried out during 2021–23 to understand the differential consumption pattern of traditional and packed food items among children in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The data pertaining to study were collected using food frequency questionnaire with 2–5 years and 6–14 years old children. The key results indicated that packed food item consumption was dominant among 2–5-year-old children in their diets in NSV (Nutri-SMART villages), and non-NSV as explained maximum variation. However, among 6–14 years old children traditional and packed food items consumption was dominant in NSV, while packed food items were dominant in non-NSV as explained by maximum variation. There is a need to design local food resources based strategies to make aware the children about healthy food items and encourage them to consume by targeting access and availability of such foods.

Enhancing production sustainably in oilseeds has been a challenge for the technologists and policy planners. This study focuses on the efforts made through various technological interventions on farmers’ field under Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) in increasing production of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crop. A total of 27,069 CFLDs on soybean crop were conducted (2018–22) across the country using improved crop varieties (47) and recommended practices (RP). This study aimed to compare the performance of enhanced soybean varieties over farmers' practices (FP). Most of these CFLDs were carried out using variety KDS-726. Four of these 47 varieties (KDS-726, JS 20-34, JS 20-69, and KDS-753) accounted for approximately 49.5% of the demonstrations. Under RP, the cultivars PS-1225 and PS-1235's showed highest and lowest yielding capacities, respectively. Under RP, the extent of difference in yield between the highest and lowest was 213.4%. All the soybean cultivars grown under RP could result in increasing the yield above FP ranging from 1.65 (PS-1225) to 136.8% (VL Soya-77). Under RP and FP, the cost of cultivation for the various soybean cultivars ranged from ₹30,665 to ₹27,074/ha, respectively. Sikkim Pahenlo Bhatmas-1 (₹79,850/ha) and JS 95-60 (₹58,756/ha) showed the highest net returns while MACS-1407 (₹18,250/ha) and PS-1024 (₹6,630/ha) recorded lowest net returns for RP and FP, respectively. Under RP, SYI (sustainable yield index) ranged from 0.61 (MAUS-158) to 0.99 (MAUS-612) while under FP, it ranged from 0.27 (RVS 2001-4) to 0.99 (JS 97-52). Varieties under RP consistently displayed greater SVI (sustainable value index) values than FP in terms of net returns. The key insight suggested that improved soybean varieties have been instrumental in increasing yield and bridging the yield gap.

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic severe mental illness with heterogeneous clinical presentation, course, and outcome. Cognitive impairment is one of its core features. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging using OCT (optical coherence tomography) could provide easy access for in vivo imaging of the retina, rendering it as a “window to the brain.” Studies done on schizophrenia have shown RNFL thinning. This study attempts to look into the association between cognitive impairment, disease duration, and RNFL abnormality in patients with schizophrenia using OCT. Methods: Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia meeting DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria and who were confirmed to be in remission for at least six months clinically and scoring less than three on PANSS-8 (positive and negative symptom scale-8) remission scale were included. They were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) for cognitive assessment. RNFL measures were taken using spectral domain-OCT. Variables were compared using Pearson’s correlation test, one-way ANOVA test, and independent t -test as appropriate. Results: A total of 36 patients were studied. MoCA scores and RNFL thickness showed a positive correlation. Patients with schizophrenia had reduced average RNFL thickness and reduced RNFL thickness in superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants. Average RNFL thickness, Superior and inferior quadrant RNFL thickness showed a positive correlation with MoCA scores. No correlation was obtained between macular volume, macular thickness, duration of illness, and MoCA scores. Conclusion: Patients with schizophrenia have reduced average RNFL thickness. Patients with low MoCA scores have RNFL thinning.

Alcohol withdrawal state is generally managed using benzodiazepines. In various studies, it was found that anticonvulsants, including oxcarbazepine, are as effective as benzodiazepines in managing alcohol withdrawal state. This case report highlights the efficacy of oxcarbazepine in acute alcohol withdrawal state where benzodiazepines were contraindicated due to respiratory depression. We report the case of managing alcohol withdrawal state in a 50-year-old male with respiratory depression.

Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) are the major source of information on the efficacy and safety of new and repurposed therapeutic agents and treatments. Therefore, it becomes essential that RCTs are of good quality and free of any biases. In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, making the correct clinical decision is important. Critical appraisal of new medical findings is therefore of utmost importance since clinical judgments are made based on the evidence provided by the publications and trial reports. In this review, we analyze the process of critically appraising RCTs using various researcher-developed guidelines and The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for RCTs.

Cannabis is a common drug of abuse. There have been only a few studies on the various effects of cannabis on the respiratory system. So here we highlight a case of spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient with cannabis dependence.

Background: Older adults with serious mental illness (OASMI) have to manage the twin challenges of old age and mental illness. Understanding their characteristics will help policymakers and researchers plan tailored interventions. The profile of OASMI is not described in any publication from India, and this paper addresses that gap. The information from this study will serve as a baseline for the planned periodic follow-up of the study participants. Methods: This study employed a cross- sectional design among a sample of OASMI identified through multistage cluster sampling from three districts in Kerala. We interviewed them in their households and collected sociodemographic data using a pretested tool. Results: Among the 917 OASMI participants, 66% were females, 18% were the ‘oldest-old’ (≥80 years), 94.1% were unemployed, 51.7% were socially backward, 68.5% were financially weak, 10.1% were living alone, 59.4% were living without partners, and 63.7% had caregivers. Conclusion: Compared to the general population of older adults in Kerala, the OASMI have poorer socioeconomic status and higher rates of social isolation, and males are dying earlier. The profile of the OASMI depicts their multiple vulnerabilities and the need to address those.

A 2 year field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019 and 2020 to investigate the influence of integrated crop management (ICM) modules and blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) intercropping on crop growth, productivity and crop efficiencies in maize (Zea mays L.). The maize crop under ICM7 [zero-tillage (ZT) + permanent raised-beds (PRB) + crop residue retention (3 t/ha) + 100% RDF + glyphosate pre-planting (PP) followed by (fb) pendimethalin pre-emergence (PE) fb tembotrione post-emergence (POE) application + 3 irrigations + need-based integrated crop protection] module intercropped with blackgram showed significantly higher plant height, dry matter accumulation (174.2 g/plant), crop growth rate (20.8 g/m2/day), relative growth rate (115 mg/g/day), average grain (6.17 t/ha), and stover yield (8.2 t/ha) and average crop efficiencies like production (60.2 kg/ha/day), monetary-efficiency (795.5 `/ha/day) and irrigation water productivity (4 kg/m3) over conventional-till and organic module in both study years. Overall, conservation agriculture (CA)-based module involving zero-tillage on PRB, crop residue retention, 100% RDF, glyphosate-PP, pendimethalin-PE and tembotrione-POE with 3-irrigations and other need-based plant protection measures with blackgram intercropping improved growth, yield and crop efficiencies of maize under maize + blackgram-wheat cropping system.

Climate change is a critical yield–limiting factor that has threatened the entire global crop production system in the present scenario. The use of biostimulants in agriculture has shown tremendous potential in combating climate change–induced stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature stress, etc. Biostimulants are organic compounds, microbes, or amalgamation of both that could regulate plant growth behavior through molecular alteration and physiological, biochemical, and anatomical modulations. Their nature is diverse due to the varying composition of bioactive compounds, and they function through various modes of action. To generate a successful biostimulatory action on crops under different parameters, a multi–omics approach would be beneficial to identify or predict its outcome comprehensively. The ‘omics’ approach has greatly helped us to understand the mode of action of biostimulants on plants at cellular levels. Biostimulants acting as a messenger in signal transduction resembling phytohormones and other chemical compounds and their cross–talk in various abiotic stresses help us design future crop management under changing climate, thus, sustaining food security with finite natural resources. This review article elucidates the strategic potential and prospects of biostimulants in mitigating the adverse impacts of harsh environmental conditions on plants.

Background: Dengue infection has been a worrisome cause of mortality and morbidity in children. Though numerous scoring systems have been developed, they are in the adult population or are too complicated for use in children. Pediatric dengue infection has a wide spectrum from a mild illness to severe complications and an unpredictable course. Hence the need for a predictive scoring system where the possibility of complications can be identified which can contribute to reduction in mortality and morbidity of dengue by prompt referrals and anticipatory management. Methods: Prospective case cohort study of children with confirmed dengue fever. Results: 303 children were included and divided into two groups – the dengue fever group and the complicated dengue group based on the WHO clinical classification. The clinical and laboratory parameters were analysed individually, cut offs identified by ROC curves and compared for significance between the two groups. The parameters that emerged were hypotension, PCV ≥ 42%, platelet count ≤ 75000 cells/cumm, WBC ≥ 7000 cells/cumm, and ALT ≥ 70U/L. Using the adjusted odd’s Ratio, and coefficient, individual predictive scores were tabulated ranging from 0 to 3, with a total score of 0 to 7. A cut-off score of 2 was then identified based upon the sensitivity (84.13%) and specificity (72.50%) as the ideal score to predict complicated dengue. Internal validation of the score was done where the area under the curve for predicting complicated dengue was 0.86 (95% CI 0.8-0.92) with a P value of Conclusion: Our dengue predictive scoring system has been developed using five indicators, with a score of two and above, out of seven, suggesting increased risk of developing complications. This has been validated internally and can be used to predict complicated dengue among children.

Background: Recent data in nonpregnant individuals suggest a protective effect of influenza vaccination against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and its severity. Objectives: Our primary objective was to evaluate whether influenza vaccination was associated with COVID‐19 severity and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among those infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. The secondary objective was to examine the association between influenza vaccination and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Study Design: Secondary analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort of pregnant people who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 between March and August 2020, and a cohort of random deliveries during the same time period. The associations between 2019 influenza vaccination and the primary outcome of moderate‐to‐critical COVID‐19 as well as maternal and perinatal outcomes were examined among all people who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 between March and August 2020. The association between 2019 influenza vaccination and having a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test was examined among a cohort of individuals who delivered on randomly selected dates between March and August 2020. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: Of 2325 people who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, 1068 (45.9%) were vaccinated against influenza in 2019. Those who received the influenza vaccine were older, leaner, more likely to have private insurance, and identify as White or Hispanic. They were less likely to smoke tobacco and identify as Black. Overall, 419 (18.0%) had moderate, 193 (8.3%) severe, and 52 (2.2%) critical COVID‐19. There was no association between influenza vaccination and moderate‐to‐critical COVID‐19 (29.2% vs. 28.0%, adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.90–1.34) or adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes among those who tested positive. Of 8152 people who delivered in 2020, 4658 (57.1%) received the influenza vaccine. Prior vaccination was not associated with a difference in the odds of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (3.8% vs. 4.2%, adjusted OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74–1.19). Conclusion: Prior influenza vaccination was not associated with decreased severity of COVID‐19 or lower odds of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) stands as a paramount macro element, intricately weaving itself into the involved tapestry of agricultural enhancement. It assumes a pivotal role in bolstering agricultural production, serving as a foundational component within proteins. Furthermore, its existence greatly enhances the nutritional value of food products, providing a diverse contribution to the field of nutrition. Soil plant atmosphere continuum is the near-surface environment in which water, nutrients, and energy transfer occurs from soil through plants to the atmosphere. A bulk of total nitrogen is present in the organic form and only about two percent is present in the inorganic form. Nitrogen present in organic manures, green manures, crop residues, and organic wastes is mostly in the form of organic nitrogen. The organic nitrogen, particularly the hydrolyzable form, is slowly mineralized and is transformed to mineral nitrogen through aminization, ammonification, and nitrification processes and becomes available to crops, unless these organic forms of nitrogen are mineralized to inorganic forms plants cannot utilize nitrogen. Plants absorb nitrogen mostly as nitrate (NO3−) and ammonical (NH4+) forms and these are translocated to leaves by transpiration stream and get converted to glutamic acid. Animals and other living beings consume plants and release nitrogen back into the atmosphere in the form of dung or urine which is either utilized by plants or subjected to losses. This entire process continues as a cycle and plays a key role in maintaining nitrogen balance in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic severe mental illness with heterogeneous clinical presentation, course, and outcome. Cognitive impairment is one of its core features. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging using OCT (optical coherence tomography) could provide easy access for in vivo imaging of the retina, rendering it as a "window to the brain." Studies done on schizophrenia have shown RNFL thinning. This study attempts to look into the association between cognitive impairment, disease duration, and RNFL abnormality in patients with schizophrenia using OCT. Methods: Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia meeting DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria and who were confirmed to be in remission for at least six months clinically and scoring less than three on PANSS-8 (positive and negative symptom scale-8) remission scale were included. They were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) for cognitive assessment. RNFL measures were taken using spectral domain-OCT. Variables were compared using Pearson's correlation test, one-way ANOVA test, and independent t -test as appropriate. Results: A total of 36 patients were studied. MoCA scores and RNFL thickness showed a positive correlation. Patients with schizophrenia had reduced average RNFL thickness and reduced RNFL thickness in superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants. Average RNFL thickness, Superior and inferior quadrant RNFL thickness showed a positive correlation with MoCA scores. No correlation was obtained between macular volume, macular thickness, duration of illness, and MoCA scores. Conclusion: Patients with schizophrenia have reduced average RNFL thickness. Patients with low MoCA scores have RNFL thinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]