Bhitarkanika National Park

Context:

• Cyclone ‘Dana’ brings unique challenge as it’s likely to make landfall near Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park

News:

• With cyclone ‘DANA’ predicted to cross the Odisha coast near Bhitarkanika National Park, the forest division has deployed teams, ready to manage the threat of crocodiles and snakes that may stray into human settlements in the event of storm surges and heavy rainfall.

More info:

• Bhitarakanika is one of India’s finest biodiversity hotspots.
• In last decade, most human-crocodile conflicts have been reported in areas close to Bhitarkanika National Park, India’s largest habitation of estuarine crocodiles.
• The present headcount of crocodiles in Bhitarkanika as per latest census is 1811 – about 70% of India’s saltwater crocodile population in the wild.
• Bhitarkanika is dotted with innumerable creeks and mudflats – a distinct feature of the estuarial region.
• The Brahmani and Baitarani Rivers meet Bay of Bengal near Bhitarkanika and tides from the sea creates a unique world for flora and fauna.
• Odisha currently has 220 sq. km. (22,000 hectares) of mangrove forests.
• Most of it (192 sq. km.) is found in Kendrapara, around the Bhitarakanika National Park.
• In fact, Kalibhanjdia island, spread over 8.5 sq. km. in Bhitarkanika, attracts the attention of scientists world over.
• It is a great assemblage of genetic diversity in mangrove forests, with 70% of all mangrove species found within the small area.

About Bhitarkanika National Park:

• It is a national park in Odisha in eastern India.
• It obtained the status of a Ramsar site in 2002.
• The area is also been designated as the second Ramsar site of the State after the Chilika Lake.
• It is surrounded by Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary are to the east, separating the swamp region and mangroves from the Bay of Bengal.
• The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Pathsala.
• It hosts many mangrove species, and is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.
• The park is home to the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, black ibis, wild boar, rhesus monkey, chital, darter, cobra, monitor lizard.
• Olive ridley turtles nest on Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and other nearby beaches.
• Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodile in India.
• Birds such as Asian open bill, cormorants, darters, black ibis, and egrets are frequently seen in the park.
• It used to be the hunting grounds of the erstwhile King of Kanika.

Over 77 per cent of India’s children lack WHO-suggested diversity in diet, study finds

Context:

• About 77 per cent of children in India aged 6-23 months lack diversity in diet as suggested by the World Health Organization, with the country’s central region showing the highest prevalence of minimum dietary failure, a study has found.

More info:

• The states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh reported the highest levels of inadequate diversity in children’s diets — all above 80 per cent — while Sikkim and Meghalaya were the only two to report an under-50 per cent prevalence.
• The WHO suggests using the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) score to evaluate the quality of a child’s diet — it is considered to be diverse if it contains five or more food groups, including breastmilk, eggs, legumes and nuts, and fruits and vegetables.
• Analysing National Family and Health Survey data from 2019-21 (NFHS-5), researchers found that the country’s overall rate of minimum dietary diversity failure has dropped from 87.4 per cent, which was calculated using data from 2005-06 (NFHS-3).
• However, “our study shows that the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity failure remains high (above 75 per cent) in India,” the authors wrote in the study.
• The team also looked at children’s dietary habits across various food groups like proteins and vitamins, comparing data from 2019-21 with that from 2005-06.
• The consumption of eggs registered an “impressive” rise, from around 5 per cent in NFHS-3 to over 17 per cent in NFHS-5 while that of legumes and nuts increased from nearly 14 per cent during 2005-06 to over 17 per cent during 2019-21.
• “The consumption of vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables increased by 7.3 percentage points, whereas the consumption of fruits and vegetables increased by 13 percentage points over the same time.
• For flesh foods, the consumption increased by 4 percentage points,” the authors wrote.
• However, the consumption of breastmilk and dairy products was found to drop from 87 per cent in NFHS-3 to 85 per cent in NFHS-5 and 54 per cent to 52 per cent, respectively.
• The authors also found that the children of illiterate and rural-residing mothers with no exposure to mass media, those born first and not exposed to counselling and health check-ups at Anganwadi or Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres were more likely to be consuming diets deficient in diversity.
• Anaemic children and those with a low birth weight were also found to have a higher chance of consuming a non-diverse diet.
• To tackle the issue of inadequate diversity in children’s diets, the authors called for a holistic approach from the government, including an improved public distribution system, intensified ICDS programme, use of social media and nutrition counselling through local self-governance.

Liquid Biopsy

Introduction:

• Liquid biopsy is rapidly emerging as a revolutionary approach in modern diagnostics, offering an innovative and non-invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsies.
• By analyzing bodily fluids such as blood, urine, or saliva, liquid biopsy provides a new window into disease detection, monitoring, and personalized treatment planning.
• Its most well-known application is in cancer diagnostics, but the potential of liquid biopsy extends across a wide array of medical fields, including prenatal screening, infectious disease detection, and monitoring of chronic conditions.

Liquid Biopsy:

• Liquid biopsy refers to the use of body fluids – predominantly blood – to detect disease-related biomarkers such as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), or RNA.
• These biomarkers are often shed by tumors, infected cells, or other diseased tissues into the bloodstream or other bodily fluids.
• Unlike traditional biopsies, which require an invasive procedure to collect tissue samples, liquid biopsy is minimally invasive, providing an easier and more accessible alternative for disease detection and monitoring.

Key Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy:

Liquid biopsy predominantly focuses on two key biomarkers:

• Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA): This is fragmented DNA that is released into the bloodstream from tumour cells.
• ctDNA often carries genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, and other molecular signatures that reflect the genetic makeup of the tumour, allowing for a non-invasive way to assess the presence and nature of cancer.
• Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): These are intact cancer cells that break away from a primary tumour and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to metastasis (spread of cancer).
• By detecting and analyzing CTCs, clinicians can gain insights into the progression of the disease and its potential for spreading to other organs.
• Other biomarkers such as extracellular vesicles (e.g., exosomes) and microRNAs are also emerging as promising candidates in liquid biopsy research, each offering a different set of insights into disease processes.

Advantages of Liquid Biopsy:

• Non-Invasive and Safe: One of the most significant advantages of liquid biopsy is its non-invasive nature.
• Unlike traditional biopsies, which require surgery or the insertion of needles into the body to obtain tissue samples, liquid biopsy simply requires a blood draw or collection of another bodily fluid.
• This makes it a safer and less painful option for patients, particularly for those who require repeated testing.
• Early Detection: Liquid biopsy has the potential to detect diseases, especially cancers, at their earliest stages.
• By identifying genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, or other molecular markers in the blood before the disease progresses, liquid biopsy offers the possibility for earlier intervention, which is critical for improving patient outcomes.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Liquid biopsy provides the advantage of continuous monitoring.
• As it analyzes biomarkers circulating in the bloodstream, it allows clinicians to assess how a disease is evolving over time and how a patient is responding to treatment.
• This dynamic form of monitoring is particularly useful in cancer therapy, where the response to treatment can vary rapidly.
• Personalized Medicine: Liquid biopsy enables personalized treatment strategies.
• By identifying specific mutations or genetic profiles associated with a disease, clinicians can choose therapies that are more likely to be effective for individual patients.
• This approach not only enhances the efficacy of treatments but also minimizes the side effects that can result from less targeted therapies.
• Minimal Risk and Inconvenience: Because it uses body fluids like blood or urine, liquid biopsy is much less risky than traditional biopsy methods, which may involve surgical procedures or significant discomfort.
• This makes it an excellent tool for monitoring patients with chronic diseases or those who require frequent follow-up tests.

Applications of Liquid Biopsy:

      Cancer Diagnosis and Monitoring:

• Cancer is the area where liquid biopsy has shown the most promise. The ability to detect ctDNA or CTCs in the blood allows for:
• Early Cancer Detection: Liquid biopsy can potentially identify cancers before they are visible on imaging scans or detectable through other means.
• This early detection opens the door for more effective treatments and improved survival rates.
• Monitoring Treatment Response: Liquid biopsy provides real-time insights into how well a patient is responding to a particular cancer treatment.
• By analyzing changes in ctDNA or CTC levels, doctors can quickly adapt treatment strategies based on how the tumor is evolving or whether it’s becoming resistant to therapy.
• Detecting Minimal Residual Disease (MRD): After a patient has undergone surgery or chemotherapy and is in remission, liquid biopsy can help identify small numbers of cancer cells that may remain in the body, allowing for earlier intervention if the cancer returns.

Prenatal Testing:

• Liquid biopsy is increasingly being used for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).
• By analyzing cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) in the mother’s blood, doctors can screen for genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13, as well as other chromosomal abnormalities.
• This method avoids the risks associated with invasive procedures like amniocentesis, making it a safer option for pregnant women.

Infectious Diseases and Monitoring:

• Infectious diseases such as viral infections (e.g., HIV, COVID-19) and bacterial infections can also be monitored using liquid biopsy.
• By identifying pathogen-specific DNA or RNA in the bloodstream, liquid biopsy can provide real-time insights into the presence and progression of infections, as well as help monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Autoimmune Diseases:

• Emerging research suggests that liquid biopsy could be used to monitor autoimmune diseases by analyzing biomarkers that reflect immune system dysfunction.
• This approach could help in diagnosing autoimmune diseases, monitoring disease activity, and tracking the response to immunosuppressive therapies.

Conclusion:

• Liquid biopsy represents a significant leap forward in medical diagnostics, offering a non-invasive, real-time, and highly personalized approach to disease detection and management.
• While challenges remain, its potential to revolutionize early detection, monitoring, and treatment – particularly in oncology – holds great promise.
• As technology improves and the applications of liquid biopsy expand, it is set to become a cornerstone of modern, patient-centered healthcare.