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Phytoplankton dynamics of Eastern Indian coast was studied from surface water for a period of 24 months (

A 35-year-female presented with generalized weakness, weight loss, and progressive pigmentation was worked up for suspicion of Addisons disease. On examination hyper pigmentation was noted on both palmar and dorsal aspect of hands involving knuckles, creases, feet, tongue, oral mucosa and gluteal region. There was no evidence of hypocortisolemia as initially suspected, and literature search revealed a possibility of vitamin B12 deficiency. She had megaloblastic anemia with a low serum vitamin B12, mostly due to poor dietary intake. Her hyper pigmentation resolved with vitamin B12 supplementation. Skin biopsy showed increased pigmentation at stratum spinosum and basal-layer. The mechanism of hyper pigmentation in vitamin B12 deficiency was due to an increase in melanin synthesis.

Retrospective study was carried out in 1,15,851 consecutive births in five hospitals, and prospective study of 10,415 consecutive births in one hospital of West Bengal. The overall frequency of congenital defects was 4.42/1000 live births. Incidence of NTD and talipes was predominant in rainy season, whereas cleft palate with/without hare lip had highest frequency during winter. Incidence of these anomalies decreased with increasing birth order. The frequency was noted to decline with increasing maternal age, 21-25 years age group had maximum number of malformed babies. Sex ratio and religion, however, did not have any correlation with the incidence of these malformations. When comparison was done between urban and rural population no statistically significant variation was observed.

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The present work aims at understanding the importance of Brzezinski–Redfield ratio (modified Redfield ratio) as a determinant of natural phytoplankton community composition in a mangrove ecosystem. Even though this ecoregion has been reported to be mostly eutrophic, localised and anthropogenic influences often result in habitat variability especially with regard to nutrient concentrations at different parts of this ecosystem. Phytoplankton, an important sentinel in aquatic ecosystems may respond differently to such alterations in habitat thereby bringing about significant changes in the community composition. Results show that even though habitat variability does exist at our study area and varied on a spatial and temporal scale, the nutrient concentrations were intricately balanced that never became limited and complemented well with the concept of modified Redfield ratio. However, an integrative approach to study phytoplankton community involving microscopy and <i>rbc</i>L clone library and sequencing approach revealed that it was the functional traits of individual phytoplankton taxa that determined the phytoplankton community composition rather than the nutrient concentrations of the study area. Hence we conclude that the recent concept of functional traits and elemental stoichiometry does not remain restricted to controlled environment of experimental studies only but occur in natural mangrove habitat.</p>