Chandigarh Region Research Articles

A five year retrospective study of fatal snakebite in Chandigarh region

This is a 5 years retrospective analysis and demographic study of cases of fatal snake envenomation presenting to the mortuary of Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, from January 2011 to December 2015. The purpose of this study is to present the epidemiological pattern of snake poisoning in this region, as also to describe the clinical characteristics and pathological changes in various organs. In our study, 49 cases of death due to snakebite were brought for medico legal post mortem examination to the Department. Of these, maximum number of cases, i.e. 15, belonged to the age group of 20–29 years; 42 were from rural areas and the time of incident of snakebite was mostly between 3 AM to 6 AM (28.5%), followed by 6 PM to 9 PM (14.3%). The months of the rainy season, i.e. July & August, accounted for the maximum no. of cases i.e. 32. The most common area of bite were the lower limbs (57%); swelling & cyanosis (41%), petechial hemorrhage (29%) and cellulitis (12%) were the common local changes at the site of bite. In 13 cases, no bite mark was seen; however, the involved limb showed local changes like swelling, ecchymosis, wet gangrene and cellulitis. Among the histopathological changes, acute tubular necrosis (41%), followed by disseminated intravascular coagulation (20%) & pulmonary oedema (12%) were the most common findings.

One day CRIKC workshop on Technical Advances in Retinal Imaging.

It is heartening to mention here that the Chandigarh Region Innovation & Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) is accelerating its programs to “promote and sustain excellence in research” in tricity. The CRIKC initiative (http://crikc.puchd.ac.in) included a 1 day workshop on Technical Advances in Retinal Imaging held Under on 11th February 2015 in Zoology auditorium, Punjab University. This was an appropriate opportunity for neuroscientists and students related to the field to learn and share knowledge about advanced tools in electrophysiology. Lectures were arranged by experts on retinal electrophysiology followed by live demonstration on Electroreninogram using mice and rats. The instrument is designed to record electrical signals released by retina in visible light exposure and measure these signals into electroretinograph. This gives one a valuable piece of information on retinal function at the time of vision loss and effect of novel treatments in rescuing the same.

Quality of Water in and Around Chandigarh Region – A Review

It is well documented that water is an essential component for the survival of all living beings and development processes on earth. Water is used for domestic purposes, industrial processes and agriculture. All these processes require good quality water. River water and underground water is generally used for almost all these processes. So it is very important to know the water quality of sources time to time for the sustainable development. In this paper we have discussed the quality of ground water, surface water and river water of Chandigarh and nearby places such as Parwanoo, Panchkula, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) on the basis of reports available online. The different water quality parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , BOD, COD, TDS, pH, conductivity, temperature etc was considered for this review study. Although very few studies have been conducted to check the water quality of this area but on carefully reviewing the available reports and published work, it has been observed that the water quality in some of the places is below the standards of water quality prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Proper functioning of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) need to be checked and Industrial waste should be properly treated before going to the catchment areas.

The population structure of Vibrio cholerae from the Chandigarh Region of Northern India.

BackgroundCholera infection continues to be a threat to global public health. The current cholera pandemic associated with Vibrio cholerae El Tor has now been ongoing for over half a century.Methodology/Principal FindingsThirty-eight V. cholerae El Tor isolates associated with a cholera outbreak in 2009 from the Chandigarh region of India were characterised by a combination of microbiology, molecular typing and whole-genome sequencing. The genomic analysis indicated that two clones of V. cholera circulated in the region and caused disease during this time. These clones fell into two distinct sub-clades that map independently onto wave 3 of the phylogenetic tree of seventh pandemic V. cholerae El Tor. Sequence analyses of the cholera toxin gene, the Vibrio seventh Pandemic Island II (VSPII) and SXT element correlated with this phylogenetic position of the two clades on the El Tor tree. The clade 2 isolates, characterized by a drug-resistant profile and the expression of a distinct cholera toxin, are closely related to the recent V. cholerae isolated elsewhere, including Haiti, but fell on a distinct branch of the tree, showing they were independent outbreaks. Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) distinguishes two sequence types among the 38 isolates, that did not correspond to the clades defined by whole-genome sequencing. Multi-Locus Variable-length tandem-nucleotide repeat Analysis (MLVA) identified 16 distinct clusters.Conclusions/SignificanceThe use of whole-genome sequencing enabled the identification of two clones of V. cholerae that circulated during the 2009 Chandigarh outbreak. These clones harboured a similar structure of ICEVchHai1 but differed mainly in the structure of CTX phage and VSPII. The limited capacity of MLST and MLVA to discriminate between the clones that circulated in the 2009 Chandigarh outbreak highlights the value of whole-genome sequencing as a route to the identification of further genetic markers to subtype V. cholerae isolates.

CRIKC-BRNS Meeting report.

The BRNS young scientist CRIKC meeting was held at ICSSR complex, Panjab University (PU) on 23 March 2013. Prof Rupinder Tiwari, Dean, PU chaired the session introducing the presenters and BRNS task force members on behalf of CRIKC, an inter institute forum of Chandigarh region. This program was coordinated by Prof Alok Srivastava, Dept of Chemistry, PU who also addressed the gathering. It was informed that BRNS, which is part of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is interested in funding innovative research projects in the country. The BRNS task force was represented by Secretary, BRNS, Prof Markendeya and Prof Reddy among others. doi : 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.200210

Determination of Gender Differences from Fingerprints Ridge Density in Two Northern Indian Population of Chandigarh Region

Ridge width influences the number of ridges present in a specified area of a fingerprint epidermal ridge density and several researches have been carried out on this aspect of fingerprints. The present study has been carried out to examine ridge density differences in two Northern Indian populations (Khatri and Bania). In the present study it has been found that 92% of Khatri females have a mean ridge density above 13, whereas 76% of Khatri males have (a mean ridge density) below 13, while in Bania, 100% of females have mean ridge density above 14 and 80% of males below 14. The study suggests that there are significant differences in epidermal ridge density between males and females within each of the two populations and also significant differences between the two populations. This study will provide additional information for the fingerprint examiner in analyzing finger impressions and narrowing down an investigation involving a large number of samples.

Age estimation from clavicular epiphyseal union sequencing in a Northwest Indian population of the Chandigarh region

Medial clavicular epiphysis is the long bone epiphysis to fuse last and therefore, is useful for estimating age in the post-pubertal period. Age estimation was done from clavicles obtained from 343 cadavers (252 males and 91 females) of known age. The data was subjected to statistical analysis to see whether the difference obtained in the various ages was significant or not. Commencement of fusion was seen as early as 18 years of age in both male and female clavicles. No clavicle showed complete fusion until the age of 22 years. Complete fusion of the medial end of the clavicle was seen latest at 32 years in the male clavicles while the same was observed at 31 years in the female bones, i.e., the medial epiphysis of female clavicles fused one year earlier than their male counterparts. Advanced stages of clavicular epiphyseal union were seen in most of the clavicles after 24 years of age in females and 23 years of age in males. No significant difference was noticed in both sexes for the right and left clavicles as regards to the occurrence of various stages of epiphyseal union.

Skeletal height estimation from regression analysis of sternal lengths in a Northwest Indian population of Chandigarh region: A postmortem study

Skeletal height estimation from regression analysis of eight sternal lengths in the subjects of Chandigarh zone of Northwest India is the topic of discussion in this study. Analysis of eight sternal lengths (length of manubrium, length of mesosternum, combined length of manubrium and mesosternum, total sternal length and first four intercostals lengths of mesosternum) measured from 252 male and 91 female sternums obtained at postmortems revealed that mean cadaver stature and sternal lengths were more in North Indians and males than the South Indians and females. Except intercostal lengths, all the sternal lengths were positively correlated with stature of the deceased in both sexes ( P < 0.001). The multiple regression analysis of sternal lengths was found more useful than the linear regression for stature estimation. Using multivariate regression analysis, the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum in both sexes and the length of manubrium along with 2nd and 3rd intercostal lengths of mesosternum in males were selected as best estimators of stature. Nonetheless, the stature of males can be predicted with SEE of 6.66 ( R 2 = 0.16, r = 0.318) from combination of MBL + BL_3 + LM + BL_2, and in females from MBL only, it can be estimated with SEE of 6.65 ( R 2 = 0.10, r = 0.318), whereas from the multiple regression analysis of pooled data, stature can be known with SEE of 6.97 ( R 2 = 0.387, r = 575) from the combination of MBL + LM + BL_2 + TSL + BL_3. The R 2 and F-ratio were found to be statistically significant for almost all the variables in both the sexes, except 4th intercostal length in males and 2nd to 4th intercostal lengths in females. The ‘major’ sternal lengths were more useful than the ‘minor’ ones for stature estimation The universal regression analysis used by Kanchan et al. [39] when applied to sternal lengths, gave satisfactory estimates of stature for males only but female stature was comparatively better estimated from simple linear regressions. But they are not proposed for the subjects of known sex, as they underestimate the male and overestimate female stature. However, intercostal lengths were found to be the poor estimators of stature ( P < 0.05). And also sternal lengths exhibit weaker correlation coefficients and higher standard errors of estimate.

Upper Siwalik mammalian faunas of India and associated events

Tatrot and Pinjor mammalian faunas are well known from the Chandigarh and Jammu regions of India. The Pinjor Formation of the type area in the Chandigarh region has been dated by magnetostratigraphy and ranges from 2.48 to 0.63Ma. The pre-Pinjor beds of the Upper Siwalik Subgroup are referred to as the Saketi Formation and are characterized by the presence of the Tatrot Fauna. These are well exposed in the type area of the Pinjor Formation. The Pinjor Mammalian Fauna marks the end of the record of the Siwalik vertebrate faunal succession since the overlying Boulder Conglomerate Formation, the youngest formation of the Siwalik Group, is devoid of fossils. About 49 mammalian taxa are restricted to the Pinjor Formation. The Saketi beds are differentiated from the Pinjor beds by 30 Tatrot taxa. In the Jammu region, the Nagrota Formation of the Upper Siwalik Subgroup contains both the Tatrot and Pinjor faunas; however both faunas are not as well developed as compared to those of the Chandigarh region. The extinction or migration of the Pinjor Mammalian Fauna began near the Olduvai subchron (i.e. near Neogene\\Quaternary boundary). However, in the Parmandal-Utterbeni (Jammu) and Patiali Rao (Chandigarh) sections, the fauna survived well after the Olduvai subchron, and extinction in various sections ranges in age from 1.72 to 0.6Ma. Near the Olduvai subchron, the last phase of the Himalayan orogeny was marked by initial deposition of the Boulder Conglomerate Formation and was probably one of the reasons for the gradual extinction of the Pinjor Mammalian Fauna. Two biostratigraphic interval-zones, Elephas planifrons Interval-Zone (3.6–2.6Ma) and Equus sivalensis Interval-Zone (2.6–0.6Ma) are also recognized on the basis of mammalian fossils and magnetostratigraphy. Twenty-five taxa made their first appearance in the older zone whereas forty-eight taxa are restricted to the younger zone.

Brain weight of Northwest Indian children and adolescents.

Brain weight of 708 individuals, 329 neonates (211 males and 118 females), 142 infants (101 males, 41 females), and 237 children and adolescents (136 males and 101 females), from Chandigarh region of northwest India were measured. Brain weight was 371.9 ± 89.5 gm in male newborns and 342.5 ± 72.2 gm in female newborns (P > 0.05). It increased to 444.7 ± 87.2 gm in the former and 405.0 ± 78.5 gm in the latter at the end of the neonatal period (28 days). Brain weight increased to 845.7 ± 163.4 gm in males and 803.0 ± 100.1 gm in females at the end of 12 months (P > 0.05), and then to 1241.9 ± 104.5 gm in the age group of 5-6 years in males and to 1101.3 ± 37.5 gm in the age group of 3-4 years in females. Thereafter, there was a gradual increase in the brain weight to 1326.9 ± 126.9 gm in male and 1206.3 ± 86.4 gm in female adolescents in the age group of 16-17 years (P < 0.01). By the age of 6 years, about 94.5% (95.6% in males and 93.3% in females) of adult brain weight was attained. Sex differences became evident after the age of 14 years. Relationships between brain weight and age, supine body length, body weight and body surface area were also considered. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:505-509, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Weights of the heart in northwest Indian adults.

Weights of apparently normal hearts were obtained from 1,344 male and 313 female adults from the Chandigarh region of northwest India, on whom a medicolegal autopsy was performed. The average weight of the heart was 296.7 ± 48.5 gm in males and 238.9 ± 45.1 gm in females. Partial correlations between heart weight and body weight and supine length were significant. The correlation between heart weight and age was, however, not statistically significant. Multiple regression constants with standard errors were generated for estimating the weight of the heart for intervals of body weight and supine length in living subjects. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.