Northeastern Part Of India Research Articles

Risk factors and etiology of early-onset neonatal sepsis in Northeastern part of India: Case-control study.

Sepsis, the second most common cause of neonatal mortality, causes more than one million deaths annually. India has the highest incidence of clinical sepsis (17000/100000 live birth). This study aimed to determine the risk factors and organisms of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) in a tertiary care hospital in Northeast India. It was a case-control study conducted in the neonatal unit of MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar, from January 2022 to April 2023. All neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within 72 hours of life constituted the study population. Neonates diagnosed as EONS by clinical and laboratory parameters were considered as cases and those not diagnosed for EONS as controls. Maternal and newborn information and laboratory parameters were collected and analyzed. For risk factor identification, the bivariate logistic regression was used. An equal number of cases (78) and control (78) were enrolled in the study. Maternal age >30 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.017, confidence interval [CI]: 1.238 to 7.352; P < 0.015), maternal urinary tract infection (UTI) in the third trimester (aOR = 5.435, CI: 2.647 to 11.158; P < 0.0001), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (aOR = 2.918, CI: 4.61 to 33.73, P < 0.004) were significant predictors of EONS. Pseudomonas (41.02%), Klebsiella (16.66%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus (20.51%) were commonly isolated organisms, which were highly resistant to cephalosporin, meropenem, aminoglycosides, and quinolones. Proper and adequate antenatal screening for diagnosis and treatment of maternal infection and high-risk pregnancies for perinatal management of newborn is recommended to prevent neonatal sepsis-related morbidity and mortality. Rational use of antibiotics may minimize the hazard of antibiotic resistance.

Vitro bioactivities and simulated gastrointestinal digestion studies on Guras-based traditional fermented drinks collected from Singalila ridge of the Himalayas

Guras or Rhododendron wine and its distilled form (Raksi) are popular traditional and therapeutic drinks served in the Rhododendron growing regions of the Himalayas, mainly in the northern and northeastern part of India, Nepal and Indo-Nepal Singalila ridge. In this research, lali Guras (Rhododendron arboreum Sm.) based traditional beverages such as unfermented decoction (as control), fermented Guras wine and distilled spirit Guras ko Raksi were collected from Singalila ridge of the Himalayas for analysis. In vitro experiments such as physicochemical and qualitative and quantitative biochemical tests; antioxidant assays (DPPH and iodometric assay); antibacterial assay; and simulated gastrointestinal digestion were carried out. Phytochemically rich unfermented decoction exhibited the best results in total phenolic content assay (82.18±1.13 mg/100 mL gallic acid equivalent) and fatty acid quantification (1.86±0.08%) test while the wine was found to be the most potential sample in all bioactivity tests. The wine was found to contain high amounts of glycoside and fermented distilled liquor Guras Raksi showed high presence of glycerol. Both the fermented samples exhibited high rate of digestion in simulated human digestion system compared to the phenolic rich unfermented decoction. This research validated the therapeutic potential of these Guras-based beverages in high-altitude conditions like Singalila by focusing on their biochemistry.

Traditional cultivation and management practices of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) in Golaghat district of Assam

A few plant species of the Thymelaeceae family are highly valuable and demanding because it contains resinous oil in their stem, branches, and roots. Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is one of them, which is found primarily in Assam and adjoining region of North Eastern parts of India as well as in other countries of South and South East India. In Assam, the plant is profusely cultivated in Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts. Naturally, stem of the older plant is infected by fungal consortia via the holes made by stem borer. The blackish infection appears inside the stem along the line of the borer tunnel and valuable resinous oil can be extracted through water distillation from the black, infected wood. The agar oil has great demand in international market and is used in manufacturing perfume, incense stick, fragrant smoke, and pharmaceuticals industry. Since ancient time, people of this region have been cultivating Aquilaria with the methods adopted from traditional knowledge and found better success of infection and oil yield. Documentation of this traditional knowledge of Aquilaria malaccensis is of significant importance for promoting its cultivation among the people of this region before the knowledge is lost forever. The knowledge will also be useful for developing scientific method of commercial cultivation of this perennial tree. In this paper, we are discussing the traditional method of cultivation of Aquilaria malaccensis including seedling preparation, cultivation, intercropping and management practices. Agar is propagated through seeds for growing healthy seedlings; and cultivation practices of the plant are of utmost concern for harvesting valuable oil. Extensive field survey has been conducted at Golaghat district of Assam, India to document the method of cultivation and management practices of the plant. The results obtained from the field study were analyzed and interpreted for understanding the importance of this traditional cultivation practice.

First report of Eocene echinoids from the Sylhet Limestone, Mikir Hills of Assam, India: palaeontological, palaeogeography and palaeoenvironmental significance

This article reports two echinoid taxa viz. Ilarionia sindensis Duncan and Sladen (1884) and Porocidaris schmidelii Münster in Goldfus (1830) from the middle Eocene Sylhet Limestone of Mikir Hills, Assam. P. schmidelii is found from the Lutetian (middle Eocene) to the Priabonian (upper Eocene) in the following regions: NE of Spain, Biarritz (Southwestern France), Angoumé (Southern Aquitaine, France), Carinthia (Southern Austria), Venetian region of Italy Provence, Southern Alps of French, Istria (Croatia), Persian Gulf, Oman and Egypt. I. sindensis was first reported from the Eocene of Sindh province from the Khirthar Series (Pakistan) and Madagascar. It is also recorded from the Bartonian–Priabonian in the following regions: NE Spain, Biarritz in Southwestern France, Angoumé in Southern Aquitaine-France, Carinthia in Southern Austria, Italian region of Veneto, Provence and southern French Alps, Persian Gulf, Oman, Egypt and Istria. They are systematically described to know their stratigraphic, palaeoenvironment and palaeogeographic distribution. The material studied herein represents the first report from the middle Eocene of India, and it significantly expands the geographical extension of Eocene marine echinoids in the northeastern part of India.

Assessment of noise pollution level in a tertiary care hospital of Imphal, Manipur

Background: Noise pollution is a major public health problem. Previous studies reported the presence of noise pollution in various hospital settings around the world. There are few studies conducted on noise pollution in the north eastern part of India especially in Manipur. Therefore, the study was undertaken to assess noise pollution in a tertiary hospital of Manipur for future suggestive measures to reduce noise and associated health impacts. Methods: An observational study was conducted in a public tertiary care hospital of Imphal, Manipur. Data collection for noise level measurement was done by using a digital sound level meter instrument and mobile sound meter app. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows, version 21.0. Armonk, NY. Results: The highest sound level of 87.6 dB(A) was recorded in the general OPD counter. Among the OPDs, Medicine OPD recorded the highest sound level of 85.2 dB(A). Parking areas recorded an average maximum of 80.5 dB(A). Hospital wards recorded an average maximum sound of 77.4 dB(A). Conclusions: In this study, the maximum sound level in a week average was found in parking areas of the hospital. Majority of the places around the hospital recorded a noise level which is beyond the recommended CPCB noise level 2000.

Dynamics of Dairy Farming in North-East India: Fostering Growth in the Land of Diversity

The current research was carried out in the North-Eastern part of India. Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura were chosen based on the highest milk production to examine the socio-economic status of the dairy farmer. A total of 300 dairy households were selected by implementing a multistage purposive and random sampling design to conduct a comprehensive analysis. It was found that, on average, large dairy farmers had more dairy farming experience than medium and small farmers. The scenario of a large group of dairy farmers (91.49 %) had the highest literacy rate. The average milk production of crossbred cattle was observed to be 7.02 liters and for indigenous it was 1.15 liters per day. The rainy season exhibited the highest milk productivity both in the case of crossbred and indigenous cattle.

Adaptive thermal comfort in the offices of three climates of North-East India

Buildings not only provide shelter to the occupants but also security, safety and comfort, as well as signifying economic and socio-cultural status. The high energy intensity of buildings has become a matter of concern worldwide in the context of climate change and global warming. Adaptive comfort principles and guidelines afford greater design opportunities for reduced energy intensity without compromising occupant thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality performance. However, thermal adaptation opportunities of office occupants in the North-Eastern part of India are rarely addressed by previous thermal comfort studies conducted in the Indian subcontinent. A yearlong questionnaire-based adaptive thermal comfort study with concurrent indoor environmental measurements was conducted in naturally ventilated office buildings located in three locations, i.e., Tezpur, Imphal and Shillong, representing the climatic zones of North-East India. A total of 2326 valid questionnaire responses were collected. ASHRAE Class-II field study protocols, seven-point thermal sensation and five-point preference scales were used to collect objective and subjective comfort assessments. It was found that the clothing insulation (clo) levels worn by occupants varied non-linearly with indoor temperatures. The estimated preferred temperatures for building occupants in Tezpur, Imphal and Shillong were 24 °C, 23.5 °C and 22 °C, respectively. Probit analysis of thermal sensation data indicated that the indoor temperature stimulus associated with a shift of one thermal sensation unit differed between the warm and cool side of the 7-point thermal sensation scale. Increasing indoor air velocity up to 0.8m/s shifted the upper threshold of discomfort to 32 °C. It was also found that 80% of office occupants were comfortable within the temperature range of 25 °C–30 °C. The adaptive comfort model derived from the current database shows lower sensitivity of subjects to outdoor temperature changes compared to existing International standards like ASHRAE Standard 55 or EN16798. The present study demonstrates the potential for low-energy, naturally ventilated office design strategies in similar climatic conditions in North-East India and other parts of the world. Above all, it enriches the worldwide thermal comfort database.

Psychiatric Morbidities and Their Impact on Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriasis.

Background Psychiatric morbidities, which are commonly seen in psoriasis patients, are often missed or ignored leading to poor quality of life. A lack of communication between psychiatrists and dermatologists leads to ignorance of psychiatric morbidities in psoriasis patients, which can eventually take a severe form. Therefore, both groups must collaborate to provide high-quality patient care. As there is a dearth of such studies in the North-Eastern part of India, this study aimed to highlight the above-mentioned problem. Aim The aim of this study was to study psychiatric morbidities in patients with psoriasis and to compare quality of life in psoriasis patients with and without psychiatric morbidities. Methods This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Dermatology Department, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India from July 2020 to July 2021. Ninety patients with psoriasis were included in the study and the diagnosis was confirmed by a consultant dermatologist, then the Mini International Neuro-psychiatric Interview Scale (M.I.N.I.; version 5.0) scale was applied to screen psychiatric morbidities. The diagnoses were confirmed using ICD-10 followed by dividing psoriasis patients into two groups, i.e. with and without psychiatric morbidities. After that the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scale was applied to both groups and the domains of quality of life were compared. Results Our results showed that 61.1% of psoriatic patients had psychiatric morbidities, which is abnormally high compared to other dermatological disorders. The psychological domain of quality of lifewas the most affected (WHOQOL scale scoring of 38.12±6.67 vs. 48.76±6.21) in both groups of patients (i.e., with and without psychiatric morbidities), and the environmental domain was the least affected (56.67±10.65 vs. 64.67±8.18). Every domain of quality of life had a lower score in patients with psoriasis with psychiatric morbidities as compared to those without (p<0.05). Conclusion Our results of 61.1% psychiatric morbidities in psoriasis patients emphasize the need for psychiatric evaluation in every psoriasis patient. The timely intervention of psychiatric morbidity in psoriasis patients withcollaboration of psychiatrists and dermatologists will surely improve the patient's condition to some extent and, thus, their quality of life.

Evaluating causative factors for landslide susceptibility along the Imphal-Jiribam railway corridor in the North-Eastern part of India using a GIS-based statistical approach.

The Northeast part of India is experiencing an increase in infrastructure projects as well as landslides. This study aims to prepare the landslide susceptibility map of Tamenglong and Senapati districts, Manipur, India, and evaluates the state of landslide susceptibility along the Imphal-Jiribam railway corridor. Efficient statistical methods such as frequency ratio (FR), information value (IoV), weight of evidence (WoE), and weighted linear combination (WLC) were used in model preparation. A total of 322 landslide points were randomly divided into training (70%) and testing (30%) datasets. Nine causative factors were utilized for landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM). The importance of which was obtained using the information gain (IG) method. FR, IoV, WoE, and WLC were used to prepare the LSM using the training datasets and nine causative factors. Moreover, the accuracy and consistency were evaluated using AUC-ROC, precision, recall, overall accuracy (OA), balanced accuracy (BA), and F-score. The validation results showed that all methods performed well with the highest AUC and precision values of 0.913 and 0.95, respectively, for the IoV method, while the WLC method had the highest OA, BA, and F-score values of 0.808, 0.81, and 0.812, respectively. Finally, the results from LSM were used to evaluate the state of landslide susceptibility along the Imphal-Jiribam railway corridor. The results showed that 34% of the areas had high and very high susceptibility, while 40% were under less and significantly less susceptibility. The Tupul landslide area lay in medium susceptibility where the disastrous landslide occurred on 30 June 2022. Susceptibility values around the Noney and Khongsag railway station ranged from high to very high susceptibility. Thus, the study manifests the need for LSM preparation in rapidly constructing areas, which in turn will help the policymakers and planners for adopting strategies to minimize losses caused due to landslides.

Exploring the correlates of Facebook addiction and its impact on academic performance among youths of Tripura

Growing incidences of Facebook addiction or problematic Facebook use are fast becoming a matter of concern in the Western countries. The popularity of social networking sites is increasing in India as well, circumventing the barriers of age, gender, and place of residence. The rapid dispersal of Facebook is of particular concern as it has given rise to a new phenomenon termed as Facebook addiction, particularly among the students and youths. Little academic research has been done so far in a far-flung State in the North Eastern part of India. This paper attempts to fill this gap by studying Facebook Addiction among 3356 youth participants from the state of Tripura. Male participants were found to be significantly more at risk for Facebook addiction, as compared to the females. Utilizing the logistic regression model, this study could also bring into light the predictors and correlates of Facebook addiction which include the location of residence, educational qualification of parents, and the overall purpose of internet usage, such as online shopping, cloud storage, attending online classes and others. Dysfunctional or uncontrolled Facebook usage has also been found to be linked with adverse interference in the academic performance of the participants.

The Physics of Electric Saroj Veena: A Folk Musical Instrument from India's North Eastern Region

Saroj Veena is known as a famous Folk musical Instrument in the North eastern part of India. We will discuss about the Shape and Size, Structure, body mechanism of Saroj Veena. In our lab studies, we look at the harmonic structure of standing waves in Saroj Veena strings. Using a digital oscilloscope with a Fast Fourier transform and a magnetic pickup from a Saroj Veena, the experimental data was gathered. Depending on where the string is plucked, the harmonic amplitudes in the measured signal vary, giving the sound a distinct timbre. The relative amplitudes of transverse standing waves in a string were determined from experimental data and predicted by the wave equation when the boundary and beginning circumstances matched the initial shape of the string.

Exploring the “Green”

“Green history” in general refers to environmental history that traces the development of human­–nature relationships and patterns of natural resource extraction and mobilization in our past. Needless to say, a concern for the “green” is becoming a fast-developing field of enquiry given the growing incidence of environmental hazards across the world. However, comparatively, in India, environmental history is yet to make much headway. That is why David Arnold and Ramchandra Guha, the pioneers of environmental history in India, have remarked that environmental history in India, and South Asia in general, is under-developed as a discipline. Assam, situated in the north-eastern part of India, has always been known for its rich flora and fauna and diverse biodiversity hot spots. This region shows a great diversity of climate, topography, and geology, which explains the rich biological diversity of this part of the country. But, interestingly enough, very few studies have been undertaken to examine the environmental history of Assam, and most of them are on the colonial period. This paper aims to review particular references to the ecology and environment of pre-colonial Assam that are embedded in the available historical literature.

Does Sociological background influence the choice of Availing of Maternity Care facilities? A study on North-Eastern region of India using hybrid models of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Background: The north-eastern part of India, dominated by a population belonging to various tribal communities, possesses diverse socioeconomic characteristics. The variation across communities in terms of availing maternity care is linked to socioeconomic traits. Objective: To conduct a comparative performance appraisal of all 16 regions in North-East India regarding the availing of maternity care and explore the linkage between each state’s socioeconomic characteristics and its relative success in delivering maternity care. Methods: The study is based on the data from India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS – 4). We considered a total of 16 geographical areas, 11 criteria of maternity care, and 17 socioeconomic characteristics. We utilized hybrid models of AHP-TOPSIS and Entropy-TOPSIS for the ordinal evaluation of the regions concerning the delivery of maternity care and socioeconomic attainments. Finally, we analysed the associations between the two. Results: The ordinal evaluations rank all 16 regions regarding socioeconomic attainments and the delivery of maternity care. The study finds that Manipur, as a state, excels in delivering maternity care, while Meghalaya is the poorest performer. Female literacy, female educational attainment, male literacy, and female fertility are critical factors significantly impacting women’s availing of maternity care.

Gendered Practice of Naga Customary Laws: A Critical Analysis

The Nagas are culturally and linguistically a diverse society situated in the North-eastern part of India. One of the common characteristics that Nagas share in culturally diverse region is the practice of customary laws although each tribe differs in varying degree of its usages and practices. Overall customary law act as a keeper and binds the community together. However, customary laws are not always conductive to modern development especially with regards to gender rights. Under customary laws, the distribution of power, status and resources have always been male centred. It is a male dominated arena based on discriminatory rules that invariably pose a great constraint on women to progress equally in the society. Accordingly, against this background, the paper critically analyses Naga traditional and customary law practices from gender perspective and examine its implication on women rights. It evaluates some of its intricate dimension of gendered meaning attached to certain symbolic function in the traditional practices of the Nagas which inadvertently constructed men as naturally superior and thereby resulted in the subjugation of women. Further, the paper attempts to address the impeding gender issues by offering feminist perspective of constructivist approach to culture as a means of alternative solution in the face of conflict between gender rights and customary laws.

Impact of COVID-19 on spatio-temporal variation of aerosols and air pollutants concentration over India derived from MODIS, OMI and AIRS

The atmospheric aerosols and air pollutants affect the earth's atmosphere, human health and climate system. Human-induced aerosols and air pollutants are the major causes of the deterioration of air quality. The COVID-19 lockdown restricted the movement of people and vehicles, stopped industrial and agricultural activities and may have impacts on the aerosols in the atmosphere. Spatio-temporal map of MODIS Terra AOD_550 nm, OMI Aura UVAI, Ozone, NO2, SO2 and AIRS CO during the lockdown illustrates the significant reduction in their concentration. During the lockdown, the North India shows a record reduction of over 20% in Aerosol Optical Depth and Aerosol Index values. A substantial decrease in AOD and AI was also observed in Eastern and Western parts of India. The average AOD value were reduced from 1.36 (2016–2019) to 1.09 (2020) over India during the lockdown. The satellite-retrieved aerosol variables over India recorded lowest AOD values on 29th March, 2020 (0.2566) and 21st April 2020 (0.2591). Similarly, air pollutants CO, NO2 and SO2 also significantly reduced in India. Despite all variables showing a reduction in concentration, Ozone recorded an increase in value during lockdown primarily over North and North-eastern parts of India. Western India recorded a substantial reduction in SO2 (47%) followed by Central India (31%). As pan India is considered, CO was reduced by 1%, NO2 reduced by 15.29% and SO2 was reduced by 26.82% during the lockdown period. This abrupt reduction in aerosol and air pollutants concentration over India was mainly due to the lockdown of COVID-19.

A Comparative Study of ‘Kāman Festival’ in Tamil Nadu and the Archaeological Remains of Madan Kamdev Temple in Assam

Rathi and Manmadha are the epitomes of beauty who stand as witnesses of unrequited love in Puranas. The story of Manmadha who holding his sugarcane bow and stirring the hearts of lovers with flowers, burning to ashes due to Shiva’s anger and coming back to life due to Rathi’s prayer, is widely popular among the people. The event is celebrated under the name ‘Kaman festival’ as one of the popular festivals of Tamils. Many Tamil classical texts refer to this festival which was celebrated as a grand festival. The story of Manmadha being burnt by Shiva is still celebrated as a common festival every year in the villages of Tamil Nadu. Kaman, who was regarded as the god of love, has many accounts of his early beginnings as a deity to be worshipped. Similarly, the common story is presented with variations across the India. It is now served as ’Kamandi’ in some parts of Tamil Nadu. This article aims to compare the social environment of the time by analyzing the festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India, the history of the Madan Kamdev temple discovered by the archeology department of Assam state in the north-eastern part of India, and the sculptures of the temple and the sentiments of the people.

Capsular typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens in Gauhati Medical College and hospital, Assam, India

PurposeStreptococcus pneumoniae is an important human respiratory tract pathogen causing pneumococcal diseases in majority of children and adults. The capsule is a significant virulence factor of Pneumococci which determines the bacterial serotype and is the component used for synthesis of pneumococcal vaccines. This cross-sectional study aimed to isolate Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical samples and determine the occurrence of its circulating serotypes in Assam, North East India. Materials and methodsA total of 80 clinical samples were collected from June 2019 to May 2020 from patients clinically suspected from pneumococcal infection and also included samples routinely sent to bacteriology laboratory. Isolation and identification of S. pneumoniae was performed using conventional culture and molecular methods. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were monitored. Capsular serotyping was performed using PCR of cpsA gene followed by DNA sequencing. ResultsMajority of the cases suspected of pneumococcal infection belong to the paediatric group aged less than 5 years. Out of 80 samples, 10 (12.50%) were found to be positive by PCR of recP gene. Culture was positive in 80% (8/10) of the total positives. Co-trimoxazole resistance was seen in 33.33% of the isolate from sputum. Serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C and 19F were detected in our region, out of which 6C is a non-vaccine serotype. ConclusionContinued surveillance is needed to monitor trends in non-vaccine serotypes that may emerge as highly associated with antibiotic resistance. Also, the need to continuous monitoring of the antibiotic susceptibility of S. pneumoniae in North eastern parts of India is of outmost importance.

Post-deformation effects of Indo-Eurasia convergence on major geological features of north-central India: New insights from satellite gravity observations

The north-central region of the Indian subcontinent, which lies close to the Indo-Eurasian convergence zone, is concealed by ∼66 Ma Deccan volcanics and thick Proterozoic-Tertiary sedimentation, and as such its sub-surface structural configuration is not well understood. In the present study, we analyse high-resolution satellite gravity data over this region in order to probe deep structural fabric of the major geotectonic blocks and associated sedimentary sequences. The residual gravity field, deduced using Finite Element Method, clearly demarcates boundaries of the major geotectonic units of this region, which remained unknown. Our study indicates that the extent of the Bundelkhand cratonic segment is much larger than hitherto known, which extends from the eastern margin of Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt to almost central part of the Indo Gangetic Plain. Similarly, Shillong Plateau located in northeastern part of India, characterized by a broad high-order positive residual gravity anomaly closure, extends between 86° E to 94° E, far beyond its currently known extent. Importantly, this massif is undergoing in-land rifting due to the regional neotectonic activities associated with Indo-Eurasia convergence and the compressive forces generated between India and Indo-Burmese collision zone. We modelled the gravity anomalies along four N-S profiles across the Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL), which clearly reveal that the Vindhyan sediments, whose extent were considered to be limited to the north of NSL only, was found to be extending further south across this lineament. In addition, a prominent ENE-WSW high-density ridge structure, paralleling the Himalayan arc, is also identified, which is also possibly formed due to N-S stresses, generated by the collision between Indian and Eurasian plates during early Tertiary period.

Evaluation of ratio of height to thyromental distance as a predictor of difficult visualization of larynx: A prospective observational single center study

BackgroundRatio of height to thyromental distance (RHTMD) is a relatively new predictor of difficult visualization of larynx (DVL). Studies on Indian population are limited and none is carried out in the northeastern part of India. AimsThe primary aim was to assess the performance of RHTMD as a predictor of DVL and compare its predictive performance with modified Mallampati test. The secondary aim was to compare the performance of RHTMD with sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test, as a predictor of DVL. We also aimed to evaluate the performance of RHTMD as a predictor of Intubation difficulty scale (IDS) > 5. MethodsIn this prospective, observer blinded, single center study, adult patients of either sex scheduled to receive general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were enrolled after permission from institutional committee. RHTMD, modified Mallampati test, sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test wereassessed pre-operatively by a single examiner trained in the airway indices but not involved in laryngoscopy. On the day of surgery, laryngoscopy was performed by a trainee anaesthesiologist with minimum two years of experience who was blinded to the airway indices noted by the examiner preoperatively. The Cormack-Lehane grading and subsequent difficulty in intubation as per Intubation difficult scale was noted. RHTMD≥23.5, inter-incisor distance ≤ 4 cm, sterno-mental distance ≤12.5 cmand upper lip bite test class 3 were considered as predictor of difficult laryngoscopy. ResultsThe incidence of DVL and difficult intubation in our study was 6.57% (4.85 %-8.82%, 95% CI) and 1.37% (0.68%–2.7%, 95% CI) respectively. The sensitivity of RHTMD, modified Mallampati test, sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test were 65.12%, 53.49%, 18.6%, 30.23% and 72.09% respectively. Specificity of RHTMD, modified Mallampati test, sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test was 90.51%, 90.34%, 97.22%, 98.20%, and 89.69% respectively. Area under the ROC curve was highest for RHTMD (0.881). Area under the ROC curve for modified Mallampati test, sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test was 0.742, 0.621, 0.757 and 0.815 respectively. RHTMD had a sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for predicting difficult intubation of 66.67%, 87.60%, and 0.908 respectively. ConclusionWe primarily conclude that RHTMD has a good predictive performance and is similar to modified Mallampati test as a predictor of difficult visualization of larynx. We secondarily conclude that RHTMD is a better predictor of difficult visualization of larynx compared to sterno-mental distance, inter-incisor distance and upper-lip bite test. It is also an excellent predictor of IDS> 5.

Whole genome sequencing of a novel Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from Assam soil

BackgroundBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive ubiquitous saprophytic bacterium that produces proteins (Crystal protein, Vegetative insecticidal protein, and Secreted insecticidal protein) toxic to insects during its growth cycle. In the present study, the whole genome of a locally isolated B. thuringiensis strain BA04 was sequenced to explore the genetic makeup and to identify the genes responsible to produce insecticidal proteins including the virulence factors. The strain was isolated from the soil sample of the Kaziranga National Park, Assam, North-Eastern part of India (Latitude: 26°34′39.11''N and Longitude: 93°10′16.04''E).ResultsThe whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the BA04 strain revealed that it has a circular genome of size 6,113,005 bp with four numbers of plasmids. A total of 6,111 genes including two novel crystal protein-encoding genes (MH753362.1 and MH753363.1) were identified. The BLASTn analysis of MH753362.1 showed 84% similarities (maximum identity) with Cry1Ia (KJ710646.1) gene, whereas MH753363.1 exhibited 66% identity with Insecticidal Crystal Protein (ICP)-6 gene (KM053257.1). At the protein level, MH753362.1 and MH753363.1 shared 79% identity with Cry1Ia (AIW52613.1) and 40% identity with Insecticidal Crystal Protein (ICP)-6 (AJW76687.1) respectively. Three-dimensional structures of these two novel protein sequences revealed that MH753362.1 have 48% structural similarity with Cry8ea1 protein, whereas MH753363.1 showed only 20% structural similarity with Cry4Aa protein.Apart from these insecticidal genes, the strain was also found to contain virulence and virulence-associated factors including the antibiotic resistance genes and Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) sequences.ConclusionThis is the first report on the whole genome sequence of Bt strain BA04 isolated from Assam, a North-Eastern state of India. The WGS of strain BA04 unveils the presence of two novel types of insecticidal crystal protein-encoding genes which can be used for the development of insect-resistant transgenic crops. Additionally, the strain could be used for the formulations of effective biopesticides. The WGS provides the fastest and cheapest platform for a better understanding of the genetic makeup of a strain and helps to explore the role of virulence genes in pathogenicity against the insect host.