Kumaon Region Research Articles

Mineral Compositional Studies of Slag from Galla Village, Uttarakhand, India

Mineral and chemical compositional studies of ancient iron and its slag for their characterization from various parts of India have been carried out by different workers. One of the recent studies from India was on iron slag from Kakching, Manipur. Mineralogical and elemental studies on slags throw light on the prevailing conditions and methods used to extract metals out of enriched rocks by ancient workers. Abundance of iron slags in Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India might suggest that a close interaction did exist between the Ganga valley and Kumaon in ancient times, and probably metal was one of the main commodities supplied to the Ganga valley for urbanization.

Chemical composition of essential oil and rose-water extract of Himalayan Musk Rose (Rosa brunonii Lindl.) from Kumaon region of western Himalaya

Rosa brunonii Lindl. (Rosaceae) is commonly known as ‘Himalayan musk rose’ or ‘Kunja’. Leaf, flower, bark and root of the plant are used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to characterize the aroma constituents of flower essential oil and hydrolate (rose-water) extract of R. brunonii growing abundantly in Kumaon region of western Himalaya. Altogether, fifty-two constituents, forming 93.5% of the total oil composition were identified using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Major constituents of the oil were eugenol (23.9%), geraniol (19.2%), n-heneicosane (7.7%), n-nonadecane (6.4%) and α-pinene (5.7%). However, main constituents of the rose-water extract were eugenol (52.0%), geraniol (13.3%), phenyl ethyl alcohol (9.4%), n-heneicosane (4.5%) and n-tricosane (3.0%).

Spectrum of Uterine Lesions in Non Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age Group Presenting with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Kumaon Region

The objective is to study the spectrum of lesions in non-pregnant women of reproductive age group presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding in Kumaon region. A two year prospective cross sectional study was carried out from September 2013September 2015 in the Department of Pathology and Department of Obstetrics& Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Haldwani and associated Dr. Sushila Tiwari Memorial Hospital, Haldwani. Data was obtained from patient’s proforma which included age, parity, presenting symptoms, bleeding pattern and clinical indication for hysterectomy. The specimens were studied grossly and thereafter processed and stained with hematoxylin & eosin stain for microscopic examination. Majority of lesions were benign in nature (99.6%) while malignant lesions comprised of a very small percentage (0.4%).The most common age group that presented with AUB was perimenopausal age group ( 40 -44 years) that comprised of 65.6% of the total cases. Most common lesion encountered was adenomyosis seen in 67 cases (26.8%) followed by leiomyoma seen in 45 cases (18%) which was the second most common singly occurring lesion. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) was the most common bleeding pattern encountered in our study accounting for 75.6% cases. Clinicopathological correlation was seen in 95.6% cases of leiomyoma while it was only 71.6% for adenomyosis.

Estimating technical efficiency of public sector hospitals of Uttarakhand (India)

This paper examines the technical and scale efficiencies of 36 public sector hospitals of Uttarakhand, a State of India, for the year 2011 (calendar year) using data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique. Number of beds, number of doctors and number of paramedical staff are taken as input variables and number of outdoor-patients and number of indoor-patients as output variables along with two case-mix outputs, i.e., number of major surgery and number of minor surgery received. The data for the study have been collected from the Directorate of Medical Health and Family Welfare, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun, India. The study concludes that overall efficiency of hospitals is 77.20%. However, the efficiency scores vary across regions and categories. The hospitals located in the Garhwal region are found to perform better than their counterparts located in the Kumaon region. Category-wise comparison of efficiencies indicates that the district male/female hospitals have relatively higher efficiency scores than the combined/base hospitals. Further, hospitals situated in the plain/partially plain areas are found to have higher efficiency than those situated in the hilly areas of the state. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to examine the robustness of results and Tobit regression is applied to study the impact of various background/environmental factors on the efficiency scores of the hospitals.

Pattern of refractive errors in 5–15 year age children at tertiary care centre in Kumaon region

Objective: To determine prevalence and pattern of refractive errors in children in the age group of 5-15 years, at tertiary care hospital, in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Materials and methods: All patients aged 5-15 years were examined thoroughly. Cycloplegic refraction was done and type of refractive error was decided. Results: Prevalence of refractive error is 18.6% of children in 5-15 year age group. It is more prevalent in males (19.2%) in comparison to females (17.9%). Hypermetropia is more common in 5-10 year age group (63.4) whereas myopia is more prevalent in compared with 11-15 year age group (62.8%). Conclusion: This study shows that myopia, hypermetropia, and type of astigmatism have different distribution in different age group like myopia is more common in older children and hypermetropia is more common in younger age group children. Key words: Astigmatism, Children, Hypermetropia, Kumaon, Myopia, Refractive error

Role of Haematological Changes in Predicting Occurrence of Leishmaniasis- A Study in Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand.

A number of cases of Leishmaniasis have been reported from non-endemic sub-himalayan regions of India. Due to low clinical suspicion and atypical presentation, cases may go undetected or there may be a delay in diagnosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate clinico-haematological parameters and bone marrow findings so that a high degree of suspicion could be made in unsuspected cases of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Leishman Donovan (LD) body negative bone marrow smears. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care centre serving the kumaon region of Uttarakhand from 2010 to 2014. Forty bone marrow aspirates were included, which were sent on clinical suspicion of VL. Twenty cases were positive for LD bodies. Their clinico-haematological features including bone marrow findings were studied in detail and compared with rest of the 20 LD negative cases. Five LD negative cases were also positive for rk39. Twenty LD positive cases were evaluated. Splenomegaly was the most common sign present in 17 cases (85%). Anaemia, leucopenia and lymphocytosis were present in all the cases (100%). Pancytopenia was seen in 17 cases (85%). Microcytic hypochromic blood picture was the most common finding in 11 cases (55%). Bone marrow was normocellular in 7 cases (35%), hypercellular in 7 cases (35%). Erythropoesis was micro-normoblastic in 11 cases (55%). Overall, there were 25 cases of VL (20 LD positive, 5 LD negative). Increased plasma cells, lymphocytes and histiocytes were seen in 17 cases (68%) of VL. In non-endemic region where clinical suspicion is low, bone marrow findings can be a strong indicator for VL even though marrow is negative for LD bodies. If required other ancillary investigations can also be ordered. This study also emphasizes the need for epidemiological work up in this region.

Clinicocytomorphological spectrum of palpable Lymphadenopathies in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand

Background: To study the cytological patterns of lymphadenopathy in our setting to determine the demographic parameters and the clinical presentation of the various causes of lymphadenopathy in adults and children and the diagnostic utility of FNAC in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy. This would help the doctors attending patients in this region to have a basic idea about prevalence of different clinical profiles of palpable lymphadenopathy for easier case detection and better therapeutic outcome. Material & Methods: FNAC was performed using a 22 or 23 gauge needle attached to 20 ml disposable plastic syringe mounted on a syringe holder for single hand grip was used, Slides will be fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol for cytological evaluation using Papanicolaou staining (PAP) and Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain. Smears are kept air-dried for May–Grunwald–Giemsa staining and Ziehl Neelsen stain. Results: Out of 665 cases, 372 cases (55.9%) were males while 293 cases (44.1%) were females. Male to female ratio is 1.3: 1. Out of total, 76.1% cases were benign and 23.9% cases were malignant. Keywords: FNAC, Lymphadenopathy, Reactive, Granulomatous, Kumaon

Phyto-Chemical Characters of Kiwi Fruit(Actinidia Chinensis)Var. Allison Affected by Different Stages Of growth

Kiwi fruit is gaining popularity in the Himalayan states including Uttarakhand. A few varieties of this fruit are performing well in mid hills of Kumaon region. The effect of different stages of harvest on various phyto-chemical characters including ascorbic acid, total carotenoid, antioxidants and sugar content was studied in Kiwi fruit var. Allison. The investigation was carried out at different harvest dates after two months of fruit set. The anthesis of female flowers started from 14 May 2014 and 100% flowering was recorded on 23 May 2014. The number of female flowers/tree was recorded in a range of 346–2952. In the male plants (Tomuri) of Kiwi, 90–1176 flowers/tree were recorded which increased the fruit set of Kiwi fruit. The fruits took 150 days to mature on the basis of flower anthesis to harvesting. The physical parameters viz., fruit length (46.30 mm to 61.06 mm), fruit breadth (31.26 mm to 64.70 mm) and fruit weight (29.56 g to 153.08 g) gradually increased with the fruit development. The bio-constituents like reducing sugars (0.7%-1.76%), non-reducing sugars (1.38%-5.15%) and total sugars (2.09%-6.91%) were found to increase substantially but the acidity decreased from 2.53% to 1.43% with the development of fruit. Ascorbic acid contents were recorded the highest (912.5 mg/100g) in the initial stage of fruit growth which reduced significantly to 261.87mg/100g at fruit maturity. The caraotenoid content and total antioxidants in the fruits increased significantly from 11.57 to 55.54μg/100g and 0.54 to 5.48 mMTE/L respectively during the period under study. From the study it was inferred that the Kiwi fruits attain full maturity in 7 months with good phyto-chemical constituents.

Viral Hepatitis A and E Outbreaks in Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand

From July 2012 to August 2013 a total of 124 serum samples were received in the Department of Microbiology Govt Medical College, Haldwani from suspected water borne viral hepatitis outbreaks from different area of Kumaon region, Uttarakhand. All sera were screened for IgM Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E virus (HAV & HEV) by enzyme immune assay. Water samples from two outbreaks were analysed by multiple tube method. Of the total of 124 samples 82 (66.1 %) were reactive to at least one seromarker of hepatitis A or E. Hepatitis A was the major cause of outbreak in 41.5 % (34/82). However, in Haldwani town HEV was detected in higher number. Co infection of HAV and HEV was detected in 28 % and it was significantly higher in female. Serology results showed that over all adults outnumbered children (79 vs. 21 %), which was statistically significant. Point source contamination of water supply with sewerage was identified. In Kumaon region HAV is predominant except in Haldwani town where hepatitis E is the major cause of waterborne hepatitis. HAV–HEV co-infection was higher in female. Significantly higher rates of infection in adults suggest an epidemiological shift in this region.

Deficiency of magnesium in maize (Zea mays L.) induced by high potassium level in a micaceous soil of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India

A field observation was undertaken in a farmer’s field sown with maize at Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand to record whether K rich micaceous soil can cause Mg deficiency. The crop was fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus only. The visible effect of Mg-deficiency initiated after 20-25 days of maize sowing as interveinal chlorosis in older leaves along the margins running the full length of the leaves parallel to the veins. In later stage, necrosis of older leaves occurred particularly at the tip of the leaves. The leaf and soil sample collected at 45 days after sowing (DAS) revealed an extremely low content of Mg in soil (4.32 mg kg-1) and plant (0.11%). The soil analysis also revealed that the soil was acidic in nature (pH 5.07) with low cation exchange capacity (9.7 cmol kg-1). However, the soil was having a very high level of water soluble (18.2 mg kg-1), exchangeable (262.3 mg kg-1) and available K (280.5 mg kg-1), which has resulted in an imbalanced exchangeable K: Mg ratio (60.7:1) rendering reduced uptake of Mg by maize. Therefore, it was concluded from the study that magnesium deficiency can occur in maize in conditions like acidic, sandy, mica rich soils with high level of K combined with low Mg content, even without K fertilization. Hence, the farmers may use dolomitic lime and/or Mg-containing fertilizers to correct Mg deficiency under such conditions for sustainable agricultural production systems.

Discovery of the chitinozoans Belonechitina capitata from the Shiala Formation of northeastern Garhwal-Kumaon Tethys Himalaya, Pithoragarh District, Uttrakhand, India

Belonechitina capitata, a typically middle to late Ordovician chitinozoan index taxon was for the first time recovered from the northeastern Kumaon region, a part of Garhwal-Kumaon Tethys basin of the Himalaya, India. This species is of great biostratigraphic importance and has already been reported from Avalonia, Baltica and northern Gondwana. The study area was during Ordovician, part of a low-palaeolatitudinal Gondwana region. The vesicles of recovered forms are black and fragmentary. This is principally attributed to intense tectonic activity during the Himalayan orogenic movement which resulted into high thermal alteration. The chitinozoans are found along with melanosclerites.

Potential osteogenic activity of ethanolic extract and oxoflavidin isolated from Pholidota articulata Lindley

Ethnopharmacological relevancePholidota articulata Lindley (PA) locally known as Hadjojen (bone jointer) belongs to family Orchidaceae is used for healing fractures in folklore tradition of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Himalaya, India. Bone is a dynamic organ and is constantly being remodeled in order to facilitate growth and repair. This process requires the involvement of bone forming osteoblast and bone resorbing osteoclast cells, which function in generating and mineralizing bone, giving strength and rigidity to the skeletal system. Present study was aimed to determine the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extract of PA and its isolated compound oxoflavidin, by characterizing their fracture healing properties. Materials and methodsOvariectomized (Ovx) estrogen deficient adult female Balb/c mice were used for in vivo evaluation of osteogenic or bone healing potential of ethanolic extract of PA. Further, its isolated compounds were tested for their osteogenic efficacy using alkaline phosphatase assay and mineralization assay in vitro in mice calvarial osteoblasts. ResultsThe ethanolic extract of PA exhibited significant restoration of trabecular micro-architecture in both femoral and tibial bones. Additionally, treatment with PA extract led to better bone quality and devoid of any uterine estrogenicity in ovariectomized estrogen deficient mice. One of the isolated compound, oxoflavidin enhanced ALP activity (a marker of osteoblast differentiation), mineral nodule formation and mRNA levels of osteogenic markers like BMP-2, Type 1 Collagen, RUNX-2 and osteocalcin. ConclusionThese results warrant that ethanolic extract of PA and it’s pure compound oxoflavidin have fracture healing properties. The extract and oxoflavidin exhibit a strong threapeutical potential for the treatment and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Sediment thickness beneath the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Siwalik Himalaya inferred from receiver function modelling

The Indo-Gangetic Plain and the adjoining Siwalik Himalaya are the seismically most vulnerable regions due to high density of human population and presence of thick sediments that amplify the seismic waves due to an earthquake in the region. We investigate the sedimentary structure and crustal thickness of the region through joint inversion of the receiver function time series at 14 broadband seismograph locations and the available Rayleigh velocity data for the region. Results show significant variability of sedimentary layer thicknesses from 1.0 to 2.0km beneath the Delhi region to 2.0–5.0km beneath the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Siwalik Himalaya. As we progress from the Delhi to the Indo-Gangetic Plain, we observe a decrease in the shear velocity in sedimentary layer from ∼2.0km/s to ∼1.3km/s while the layer thickness increases progressively from ∼1.0km in south to 2.0–5.0km in the north. Average S-velocity in the sedimentary layer beneath the Siwalik Himalaya is ∼2.1km/s. Crustal thicknesses varies from ∼42 in the Delhi region, ∼48km in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, ∼50km in the western part of Siwalik Himalaya to ∼60km in the Kumaon region of Siwalik Himalaya.

Clinical, sociodemographic, radiological profile and response to albendazole therapy in children with neurocysticercosis in Uttarakhand

Background: Overall neurocysticercosis (NCC) is identified as a major cause of active epilepsy in the developing world. Most of the studies focus on adults with limited studies in children. A pilot study from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand had reported a high incidence. Conflicting reports regarding the clinical presentation and response of cysticidal drugs have created a controversy regarding disease and outcome. This prospective observational study in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand aims to study clinical features, sociodemographic profile, radiological findings and response to 28 days albendazole therapy in children with NCC. Materials and Methods: Seventy nine patients with various neurological complaints, were diagnosed to have NCC on basis of computed tomography scan head. Other differential diagnoses were excluded by chest X-ray, Mantoux, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and magnetic resonance imaging where needed. The clinical, sociodemographic profile was recorded, and radiological and clinical response at 3 months after 28 days albendazole therapy was observed. Results: Seizures (93.9%) followed by vomiting (62%) and headache (30.4%) were the chief complaints. Complex partial seizures (70.3%) and generalized (17.6%) were the main seizure type. Most NCC were single (72.2%) out of which 26.3% disappeared on follow-up, 17.7% were multiple out of which 7% resolved and eight were calcified of which all persisted. Electroencephalography was abnormal in 62% patients. Conclusion: NCC in children is a relatively benign disease in Kumaon region with significant morbidity in the form of epilepsy with no mortality. Better prognosis was seen in single NCC in comparison to multiple or calcified lesions, but response to albendazole therapy was much less than in previous studies.

Evaluation of Factors in Relation with the Non-Compliance to Curative Intent Radiotherapy among Patients of Head and Neck Carcinoma: A Study from the Kumaon Region of India.

Introduction:Radiotherapy (RT)-based curative regimens for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) deliver a dose of 66–70 Gray (Gy) over a period of 6–7 weeks, and incomplete treatments are unlikely to result in cure. Non-compliance to RT is major contributory factor to treatment failure.Aims:To assess the proportion of patients who do not complete planned treatment after initiation of curative RT. This study also aims to explore a possible relationship of non-compliance due to socio-economic, disease-related and treatment-related factors.Materials and Methods:The records of HNSCC patients treated from January 2012–December 2013 were audited. Data from the treatment records were to collect patient-related, disease-related, and social demographic parameters. Of the patients who had not completed treatment, the reasons behind the same were investigated.Results:Of the 324 patients of HNSCC who were initiated on radical RT, a total of 76 patients were found to have discontinued treatment without authorization of the treating clinician. There was no significant predilection for treatment non-compliance with regards to patient age, educational status, religion, site of the disease, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or use of concurrent chemotherapy. There tended to be a higher association of treatment non-compliance among patients residing >100 km away from the treatment center, patients hailing from hilly regions, patients without the below poverty line (BPL) card, unemployed patients, and patients with stage IV-A/B disease. Of the 76 patients who did not complete treatment, telephonic questionnaire could be obtained from 54 patients. Causes for non-compliance included preference for traditional healers (22.2%), fear of toxicity (7.4%), logistic reasons (18.5%), financial reasons (24.1%), and lack of interest/faith in RT (5.6%).Conclusion:There is a high incidence of treatment default among patients of HNSCC during RT in this region. The revelation of the higher propensity for treatment default among patients from distant, hilly regions, unemployed, patients without BPL cards, and stages-IVA/IVB highlights the need for specific interventions for these special populations.

Crime against Women in Kumaun Region of Uttarakhand State

Rise in the rate of crimes against women has been reported in all types of crimes ranging from molestation to rape to murder. Although a number of registered cases have spiralled alarmingly in the past few years, the actual number of cases reported is estimated to be many times more than the number registered. A large number of battering, assault and rape cases are smothered due to social pressures. The objective of this study is to analyse the rate of registered cases of crime against women in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand during the past 3 years, i.e. 2012–2014 (till April). Registered cases were taken from DIG police office, Nainital, Kumaun region (Uttarakhand). Secondary data has also been collected from the different secondary sources as books, magazines, www.

Experts opinion on indigenous child care practices followed by rural women of Kumaon region, Uttarakhand

This paper examines experts opinion regarding child care practices (birth- two years) followed by rural women of Kumaon region. An exploratory study was conducted in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand state. A sample of 120 rural women was selected randomly from two blocks i.e. Garur and Kapkot. Personal interview along with participatory rural appraisal techniques and discussion with rural women were used as a technique to collect the information. Apart from rural women, the indigenous knowledge was also documented from key informants, local health workers and aged women. For experts opinion a questionnaire was prepared for scientific validation and contemporary relevance of the documented indigenous practices on 3 point continuum as scientific, unscientific and uncertain.

Haplomitrium Hookeri (Sm.) Nees: A Rare Species New to Kumaon Hills (Uttarakhand), Western Himalaya

Haplomitrium hookeri (Sm.) Nees, the type species of Haplomitrium (Sm.) Nees is of great significance. The taxon is reported to be of rare occurrence. During the study of bryophytes of Uttarakhand, few plants of H. hookeri were collected from Mukteshwar in Kumaon Hills which shows extended distribution of the taxon in Indian subcontinent. Earlier the taxon was known from Garhwal hills only in Uttarakhand, western Himalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal in the eastern Himalaya. The plants from Kumaon region have been described and illustrated herewith.

Ethanolic extract of Coelogyne cristata Lindley (Orchidaceae) and its compound coelogin promote osteoprotective activity in ovariectomized estrogen deficient mice

Coelogyne cristata Lindley (CC) family Orchidaceae is an Indian medicinal plant used for the treatment of fractured bones in folk-tradition of Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India. In continuation of our drug discovery program, feeding of ethanolic extract to ovariectomized estrogen deficient mice led to significant restoration of trabecular micro architecture in both femoral and tibial bones, better bone quality and also devoid of any uterine estrogenicity. Subsequently, coelogin, a pure compound was isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of C. cristata and evaluated in in vitro osteoblast cell cultures. Treatment of coelogin to osteoblasts led to enhanced ALP activity (a marker of osteoblast differentiation), mineral nodule formation and mRNA levels of osteogenic markers like BMP-2, Type 1 Collagen and RUNX-2. Based on these results, we propose that ethanolic extract of C. cristata and its pure compound coelogin have potential in the management of post menopausal osteoporosis.

First report of the moss <em>Rhynchostegiella divaricatifolia</em> (Renauld & Cardot) Broth. from Western Himalayan region of India

Study of the bryoflora of the Western Himalayas revealed for the first time the presence of the moss taxon Rhynchostegiella divaricatifolia from the Kumaon region. Earlier this moss was known from the eastern part of the country, i.e. Darjeeling (Sikkim), and was considered unique to that region. The present study describes the extended range of distribution from the Eastern Himalayan to the Kumaon hills of India in an area of 21,035 km(2). Rhynchostegiella divaricatifolia is characterised by a twisted half turn leaf apex, leaf cells showing irregular primordial utricle, linear, irregularly rhomboid. The moss plants are soft, large, glossy, and yellow-green in lax tufts.