South India Research Articles

On the occurrence of Riccia atromarginata Levier and R. boliviensis Jovet-Ast (Ricciaceae: Marchantiophyta) in the Western Ghats of India

Riccia atromarginata, a species of broad distribution known from Africa, America, Europe and Asia, was recently collected in the Sirumalai Hills of Southern Western Ghats in Peninsular India and is the first record for the country. The earlier report of this species made by Karadakatti et al. (2023) from the Western Ghats of Karnataka is incorrect. Examination of their herbarium specimen UASB-5452 was found to contain two species—R. boliviensis and the common R. billardierei. Riccia boliviensis, a new record for the Western Ghats, is also reported here. A detailed description of R. atromarginata with images and a distribution map are provided for the indigenous population.

Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and heart type fatty acid binding protein as a prognostic marker in Myocardial infarction within 48h of admission.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of systemic inflammation, whereas Heart type fatty acid protein (HFABP) is a cytosolic protein released early after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this research study is to determine whether NLR and H-FAB are useful in predicting the prognosis in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 48h after admission. This is a prospective observational study conducted on 97 patients who had been admitted to emergency room with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in their ECG in a tertiary care centre of south India. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was measured at the time of admission, 24th hour and 48th hour, and then compared with the outcome. To determine their significance in the MI episode, troponin-I and H-FABP were also measured. A significant correlation was found in the final outcomes of patients and the NLR at the time of admission and at 48h (p = 0.01). Additionally, a substantial correlation between NLR and various degrees of LV dysfunction was also observed (p = 0.01). H-FABP was found to be positive in all 97 of the patients examined, whereas Troponin-I was only found to be positive in 56.7%. The study's findings, indicated strong correlations between NLR and LVEF, indicated that NLR might serve as an early predictor of cardiac events which could be either poor prognosis or higher mortality. This research found that H-FABP may serve as an early MI diagnostic marker.

Studies on the Vascular Flora of Anaimudi and the Surrounding Regions, Kottayam District, Kerala

The paper deals with an account of the vegetation of Anaimudi (2,695 m) - the highest peak in the peninsular India - and the surrounding regions situated in the Kottayam District of Kerala. The above area has not received much attention in the detailed studies undertaken by various workers on the vegetation of the South Indian hill tops. Based on the explorations carried out by the authors during the years 1965-70, 317 taxa of vascular plants, under 233 genera and 101 families, are enumerated. An analysis of the distribution pattern of the shola and grassland species has shown that (1) the shola species are mainly of tropical stock, (2) quite a number of species on the shola fringes and the grassland are of temperate origin and (3) the temperate elements play a comparatively less important role in the composition of the vegetation at the higher altitudes (above 1,925 m), and that the predominent elements here are of tropical stock. The high incidence of endemic taxa in this region has been pointed out. Literature on the ecological status of the shola-grassland formation has been reviewed for a better understanding of the vegetation.

Phylogenetic and phylogeographic insights into Sri Lankan killifishes (Teleostei: Aplocheilidae).

Three nominal species of the killifish genus Aplocheilus are reported from the lowlands of Sri Lanka. Two of these, Aplocheilus dayi and Aplocheilus werneri, are considered endemic to the island, whereas Aplocheilus parvus is reported from both Sri Lanka and Peninsular India. Here, based on a collection from 28 locations in Sri Lanka, also including a dataset of Asian Aplocheilus downloaded from GenBank, we present a phylogeny constructed from the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), and nuclear recombination activating protein 1 (rag1), and investigate the interrelationships of the species of Aplocheilus in Sri Lanka. The endemic Sri Lankan aplocheilid clade comprising A. dayi and A. werneri is recovered as the sister group to the clade comprising A. parvus from Sri Lanka and Aplocheilus blockii from Peninsular India. The reciprocal monophyly of A. dayi and A. werneri is not supported in our molecular phylogeny. A. dayi and A. werneri display strong sexual dimorphism, but species-level differences are subtle, explained mostly by pigmentation patterns. Their phenotypes exhibit a parapatric distribution and may represent locally adapted forms of a single species. Alternatively, the present study does not rule out the possibility that A. dayi and A. werneri may represent an incipient species pair or that they have undergone introgression or hybridization in their contact zones. We provide evidence that the Nilwala-Gin region of southwestern Sri Lanka may have acted as a drought refugium for these fishes.

New Records of Plants from South India - IV

No Abstract.

Primary eyecare in paediatrics population (PREPP) - II study: Study of satisfaction of services and barrier for not reporting to the base hospital on referral among pediatric patients treated in six major vision centers of a tertiary eye care facility in Southern India.

This study was conducted in continuation of Primary Eyecare in Paediatrics Population (PREPP-I) and was aimed to assess parents' satisfaction with pediatric-eye-care services across six vision centers (VCs) of a tertiary eye hospital in Southern India. The barriers among the parents for not attending the base hospital (BH) when referred from these VCs were also evaluated. A standard-validated-satisfaction questionnaire (VSQ) was used to assess patient satisfaction. Responses were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale: 0 (very dissatisfied) to 4 (very satisfied) against each response. Responses were expressed as percentages with 0 (very dissatisfied) and 100% (very satisfied). Patients were referred with a form mentioning reasons for referral (urgent/non-urgent). All referrals were evaluated by the principal investigator. In case of failure to report, parents were enquired about the barrier based on the validated barrier questionnaire (VBQ) over a telephonic conversation. All 250 patients of the PREPP-1 study were included in the satisfaction study. Different domains were evaluated using VSQ (accessibility of VC, waiting hours, financial aspects, spectacle dispensing service, and teleophthalmology). The overall satisfaction was 75%. The most common reason for dissatisfaction was the lack of meeting the ophthalmologist in person, followed by waiting time. 58 patients wanted to visit BH to consult a pediatric ophthalmologist in person (23%). For the barrier study, 14 out of 47 referrals did not report and were evaluated using VBQ (knowledge, physical, time, and financial barriers). The majority had a financial barrier (43%), followed by knowledge (28.6%) and time barrier (14%). PREPP-II demonstrated that 3/4th of pediatric patients are happy to be treated at VC with teleophthalmology services. However, a significant percentage want to consult a specialist at BH. One-fourth of total referrals did not report to BH due to financial constraints and a lack of awareness of the child's condition.

New Records of Plants from South India

The plants recorded here are not reported by earlier authors from the area. Detailed descriptions, important synonyms and salient distinguishing characters are given for each of the present new records to supplement the brief descriptions available in the existing floras and to facilitate easy identification. Comprehensive distribution data is also presented for all the plants reported in this paper.

New and Little Known Taxa from Anaimudi and Surrounding Regions, Devicolam, Kerala-IV: Notes on some Rare Species

Juncus effusus Linn, is reported for the first time from South India. Additional information on a few little known taxa from Kerala are given.

Combined topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy and corneal collagen crosslinking.

This study aimed to report the long-term results of combined topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus using the Zeiss refractive coordinated system. A prospective interventional study was conducted in a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. Patients with mild-to-moderate progressive keratoconus and corneal pachymetry greater than 450 μm were included. They underwent customized topography-guided PRK followed by CXL. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and keratometry readings and complications were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Thirty patients (30 eyes) were included in the study. All study parameters showed a statistically significant improvement postoperatively over baseline values. At 24 months, the mean UDVA improved from 0.8 ± 0.180 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) to 0.38 ± 0.118 logMAR (P-value <0.001) and CDVA improved from 0.467 ± 0.142 logMAR to 0.227 ± 0.078 logMAR (P-value <0.001). The mean flat, steep, and maximum keratometry values were significantly reduced by 2.133, 3, and 4.54 diopters, respectively, at the last follow-up examination (P-value <0.001). The combined topography-guided PRK and accelerated CXL procedure seem to be a promising treatment alternative for early keratoconus. This is the first such study on the Zeiss refractive coordinated system. However, further studies with a larger study population and longer follow-up periods are required to draw final conclusions about the benefits of this procedure in keratoconus.

A New Genus of Acanthaceae from Kerala State, South India

No Abstract.

New Plant Records from South India

The present paper reports twenty-five species of Angiosperms, not previously reported from the area coming under the Flora of the Presidency of Madras by Gamble. They are : Parabaena sagittata Miers, Abelmoschus crinitus Wall., Tetrastigma bracteolatum (Wall.) Planch., Moghania prostrata (Roxb.) Mukerjee, Mucuna nigricans (Lour.) Steud., Pimpinella bracteata Haines, Thladiantha cordifolia (Bl.) Cogn., Paederia foetida L., Richardia scabra L., Anaphalis adnata DC., Lysimachia altemifolia Wall., L. decurrens Forst. f., Evolvulus nummularius L., Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl, Verbena officinalis L., Polygonum barbatum L. ssp. gracile Danser, P. orientate L., Bridelia pubescens Kurz, Cudrania cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kudo and Masam., Boehmeria scabrella Gaud., Ficus auriculata Lour., F. rumphii Bl., Habenaria furcifera Lindl., Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott and Arundinella bengalensis (Spr.) Druce. Important synonyms, detailed descriptions with chief distinguishing characters and diagrams for a few species are also presented.

Two Noteworthy Flowering Plants from South India

No Abstract.

Two New Flowering Plants from South India

No Abstract.

Notes on some Rare Plants Collected from Nilgiri District, South India

No Abstract.

Mosses of Agumbe-Hulical Ranges, Shimoga District

In this paper the mosses collected from Agumbe-Hulical ranges (Shimoga district) of Western ghats are described. Two species have been reported for the first time from India and two species are recorded as new reports from South India.

Notes on Unknown Fruits and Seeds of some Plants from South India

No Abstract.

Clinical, microbiologic, and treatment outcomes of dematiaceous fungal keratitis - A retrospective study.

Dematiaceous fungi, the third most common causative organism of fungal keratitis, constitute 3.5% to 43.5% of fungal keratitis worldwide. Several studies on filamentous fungi (Aspergillus and Fusarium) are available as opposed to that on dematiaceous fungal keratitis. This study aims to describe the profile of dematiaceous fungal keratitis in South India. This institutional cohort study on culture-proven dematiaceous fungal keratitis was performed in a single ophthalmology referral center in South India for a 6-year period. Records were analyzed for demographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment outcomes for 3 months from the date of presentation. This study comprised 312 cases involving dematiaceous fungal keratitis (DFK). During the study period, DFK accounted for 10% of microbial keratitis and 24.6% of fungal keratitis cases. The mean (standard deviation) age was 54 (14) years. Males were commonly affected (73.4%). Keratitis was ≤1/3rd depth in 47.8% of cases. Fifty-four cases (17.3%) demonstrated surface pigmentation, and 69 cases (22.1%) had endothelial plaque. Curvularia spp. (99 eyes, 31.7%) was the most common fungal isolate among the speciated fungi. Topical medications resulted in the healing of 63.5% of cases. A total of 193 cases (79%) healed, and 49 cases had to undergo therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK). Early TPK was performed for 20 cases (40.8%). Seventeen eyes (34.6%) maintained clear grafts at the end of 3 months. In this extensive study on DFK, we report a high incidence of this group of fungal keratitis. We found an excellent healing rate in our cohort of patients.

Taxonomic Studies on Indian Guttiferae III. the Genus &lt;I&gt;Garcinia&lt;/I&gt; Linn. S.l.

The paper deals with the taxonomic treatment of the genus Garcinia Linn, (including Xanthochymus Roxb.) as occurring in India. The study was undertaken with a view to enumerate the wild types of Indian Garcinias that produce the 'gummi-gutt' or gamboge of commerce and which may be utilized in the improvement of the fruit of mangosteen (G. mangostana Linn.). Thirty five species are recognized in the area, of which thirty one species occur wild ; the rest are introduced into cultivation. Ten species are restricted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. One Burmese species, G. loniceroides T. Anders., has been discovered in Assam. A new variety of G. echinocarpaThwaites, namely var. monticola Mahesh., is reported from southern India. These are described in detail and their synonymy, distribution, uses, vernacular names, etc. are ascertained. A key to the species is presented.G. eugeniaefolia Wall, ex T. Anders., is incorporated in G. brevirostris Scheff. G. ovalifolia Hook.f. var. macrantha T. Anders, (syn. G. malabarica Talb., non Desr.) is raised to specific rank as G. talbotii Raiz. ex Santapau. G. affinis Wall, ex Pierre, G. pictoria Roxb., and G. acuminata Planch. &amp; Triana, are treated as distinct species. T. Anderson (1874) in the Flora of British India has united G. kydia Roxb. with G. cowa Roxb. It is concluded here that these species should be kept separate. The details are discussed in this paper.

Notes on some Interesting Grasses from Southern India

No Abstract.

A Contribution to the Flora of Devicolam, Kottayam District, Kerala

This paper deals with the floristic account of Devicolam in Kottayam District, Kerala. The area covered lies between 9° 57'-10° 21' N and 76° 39'-77° 17' E and the altitude varies from 457-2675 m. Five seasonal botanical tours were conducted during 1963-65 and altogether 478 taxa were collected. In addition, 60 species collected by the earlier botanists and which were not collected during the above mentioned tours are also included in this list. Thus the total number of tans enumerated in this paper is 538 and they are spread over 125 families. Different types of vegetation are met with in Devicolam and they can broadly be classified as follows: Tropical dry deciduous, Tropical moist deciduous, Tropical wet evergreen, Montane wet temperate and Montane wet grassland. The occurrence of Argostemma rostratum Wall. in this area constitutes a new record for Peninsular India.