Informatics Publishing Limited

S. Patra ¹, S. Chatterjee ², C. Chatterjee ³, T. Biswas ³, G. Mitra ⁴

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College;Burdwan Medical College, IN
2 Dept of Neurosurgery, Medical College Kolkata, IN
3 Dept. of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, IN
4 Dept. of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, IN

Abstract

The changing trends in infection trends of two most important mosquito borne members - Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus, and Dengue virus, were studied, in the rice-belt area of West Bengal (a JE endemic zone). Objective of the study was to demonstrate the changing trends in flaviviridae infection, namely JE and Dengue virus, following a major vaccination drive Flaviviridae family- Dengue virus.

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S. Pal ¹, S. Chatterjee ¹, K. S. Chakrabarty ¹, S. Chatterjee ², C. Chatterjee ³, S. Ghosh ⁴

Affiliations
1 Neurosurgery, Medical college, Kolkata, IN
2 Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN
3 Dept. of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, IN
4 Dept. of Neurosurgery, I.P.G.M.E.R, S.S.K.M & BIN, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

The incidence of paediatric head injury is growing larger day by day due to various reasons in this era of mechanisation. We tried to evaluate the various aspects of head injury in children like incidence, severity, its clinical and radiological correlation, fatality and outcome etc. in our Institute IPGME&R, Kolkata. One third of total head injured patients were in paediatric age group in our study and it was evident that early evaluation of the injured child with CT scan and referral to neurosurgical centre can save many lives.

Keywords

Head Injury, Children, Neurosurgery

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P. Mukherjee ¹, C. Chatterjee ², S. Chatterjee ³, K. S. Chakravarty ⁴, S. Chatterjee ⁵, G. D. Mitra ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Midnapur Medical College, IN
2 Department of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, IN
3 Neurosurgery, R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, IN
4 Neurosurgery, Medical College, Kolkata, IN
5 Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is prevalent in West Bengal along with other Flaviviruses like Dengue and Chikungunya. Burdwan and adjacent district Bankura were reported to be a highly endemic zone for JE having had an outbreak in the 70's. Under this situation, a vaccination programme was conducted in several districts of West Bengal in a phased manner by the Government from 2006 to 2009. This survey was done to assess the recent status of JE in Burdwan and adjacent areas in the post vaccination era. The seroprevalence of JE was assessed by MAC- ELISA in serum and CSF specimens obtained from Acute Encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases admitted in Medicine and Paediatric Departments of the hospital. This study reported a 7.04% seroprevalence of JE among AES cases in 2011-2012; whereas previous studies conducted in the country reported 53.7% seroprevalence of JE, by AC Phukan et al. in Assam, North-East India (2000-2002); 47.1% in Assam by Jani Borah et al. (2008-2010) and 26% in India by Penny Lewthwaite in 2010. There was significant reduction in the seroprevalence of JE after vaccination. But there were still some pockets of low or no vaccination coverage from where sporadic and seasonal localized outbreaks were reported. A uniform and complete vaccination programme is still needed in this state.

Keywords

Japanese Encephalitis, JE, AES.

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K. S. Chakravarty ¹, S. Chatterjee ², S. Pal ¹, S. Chatterjee ³, C. Chatterjee ⁴

Affiliations
1 Medical College, Kolkata, IN
2 R.G. Kar. Medical college, Kolkata, IN
3 Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN
4 Dept. of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, IN

Abstract

Fourteen patients admitted with intramedullary spinal cord tumours and operated at Medical College, Kolkata, during a five year period from January 2008. Five tumours were radically resected, 9 partially excised. Radiation therapy was advised post-operatively to all patients. There was no post-operative mortality. Three patients developed wound infection. Postoperative clinical assessment between four to eight weeks after surgery showed that 4 out of 14 patients improved, 6 remained unchanged, while 4 had worsening of deficits. Immediate post-operative assessment, however, was less encouraging. The follow up period ranged from 2 weeks to 36 months after discharge from hospital. The indicators of radical excision were good tumour-cord interface, presence of syringomyelia and histology of benign lesions. One patient had recurrence of tumour.

Keywords

Intamedullary Tumours, Neuro-Spinal Surgery.

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F. B. ¹, C. Chatterjee ¹, A. Ghosh ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Bankura Christian College, Bankura-722101, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Over the past 50 years, humans have altered their environment to a significant extent, although human well-being is dependent on ecosystem functioning. Ecosystems are particularly affected by unsustainable use of resources, such as, food, water, and timber. Ecosystem functions depend on water, carbon, and other nutrients cycles. Human activities have modified these cycles in a number of way. Use of ecosystems for recreation, spiritual enrichment, cultural purposes, and for other short term benefits is growing continuously, although ecosystem capacity to provide such services has reported to be declined significantly. Human well-being depends on material welfare, health, good social relations, security and freedom, which are affected by changes in ecosystem services. Intensive ecosystem use often produces short-term advantage.

Poverty level remains high in more than one billion people, who are dependent on ecosystems with an income of less than $1 per day as reported elsewhere. Regions including some parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America have the greatest ecosystemrelated problems and are facing developmental challenges. Habitat change occurs, for instance, when the area of land used for agriculture or cities is expanded. Instability and unproductivity including desertification, water logging, mineralization and many other unwanted outcomes throughout the world are continuing. Habitat fragmentation by roads, canals, power lines limits the species potential for dispersal and colonization. Indirect drivers, like changes in human population, economic activity and technology as well as socio-political and cultural factors affect ecosystems by influencing direct drivers. World climate has changed and continues to change, affecting temperature, rainfall and sea levels.

Intensive fertilizer use has polluted ecosystems. Climate change and high nutrient levels in water are becoming increasing problems. Ecosystem management for shortterm benefits is increasing. Loss of biodiversity makes it difficult for ecosystems to recover from damage. Once an ecosystem has undergone an abrupt change, recovery to the original state is slow, costly, and sometimes impossible. Changes in ecosystems complexity- functioning relationships could diminish the stability, resistance and resilience of managed terrestrial ecosystems, and may jeopardize important food and fibre sources, and ability of natural ecosystems both to provide natural resources, and to remove pollutants from atmosphere.

Ecological complexity and ecosystem functioning depend on factors that govern species coexistence. Complexity of landscapes is determined by number of ecosystem types, their characteristics, their sizes and shapes, and associated connectivity. Complexity at this scale would have large consequences on regional to global scale processes. Presence and arrangement of keystone ecosystem types, such as, wetlands often determine total carbon and nitrogen balance of a region. Changes in average or extreme environmental events and intense land use management are believed to increase species extinction rate in isolated habitat fragments. Loss of key species, such as, top predators, fruit dispersers and pollinators from habitat may severely disrupt ecosystems functioning. Land use changes due to expanding urbanization, concomitant landscape fragmentation and intensification of production systems. Such change results in transformation of an ecosystem, form one state to another state, via a transition phase.

The combined value of 17 ecosystem services has been reported in the estimated range of US$16-54 trillion per year by Costanza and others. About 30% of modern medicines are developed from plants and animals, and 10 of the world's 25 topselling drugs in 1997 were reported to be derived from natural sources. Global market value of pharmaceuticals derived from genetic resources is estimated at US $ 75 000-150 000 million annually. Some 75% of the world's populations rely for health care on traditional medicines, which are derived directly from natural sources as recorded elsewhere. Socio-economic development of human civilization and human well-being depends on long-term health of environment including ecosystems. Environmental problems are generally addressed in isolation, but practically such problems are interrelated, and originate from the ischolar_main cause of unsustainable development. Damage to natural ecosystems and release of environmental pollutants must be minimized for protecting natural ecosystem, and human well-being.

Keywords

Ecosystem Services, Human Well-Being, Drivers of Changes, Ecosystem Functioning, Global Warming, Human Population Growth, Land Conversion.

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C. Chatterjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Asutosh College Training Center, IN

Abstract

A list on hazardous chemicals and flammable substances/gasses should be established, each having a specific quantity such that any factory storing and using any material above the stated quantity should be a major hazardous work by definition. Full information on the properties of the hazardous material should be stored on computer.

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C. Chatterjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Asutosh College Training Centre, IN

Abstract

Under the provisions of the factories Act, 1948, and the west Bengal factories rules, 1958, suitable personal protective equipments are required to be provided by the management.

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