Epidemiology of Eales Disease in the Central Western India

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and propose a new staging system based on the clinicopathological correlation and formulate new guidelines for management of Eales’ disease in healthy young males. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Vitreo Retinal Department of a tertiary eye care center in Western Central India. Participants: Seventy-four eyes diagnosed with Eales’ disease. Materials and methods: From 2004 to 2010, patients clinically diagnosed with Eales’ disease were enrolled in this study using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. We examined the patients’ anterior and posterior segments thoroughly. We performed the necessary ocular and systemic investigations. We divided the investigations into three stages: inflammatory, ischemic and complications and the patients were treated accordingly. We treated the patients using medical management, photocoagulation or pars plana vitrectomy. The patients were monitored according to standard schedules and formats. All information was documented using a pre-tested online format and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 17. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate significance. Outcome measures: Visual acuity. Results: The cohort comprised 74 cases with a mean age of 30 ± 8.73 years. The visual acuity of the presenting cohort was < 3/60 in 64.9% of eyes. The final visual outcome was > 6/12 in 40 eyes (54.1%), 6/60 to 6/18 in 14 eyes (18.9%) and < 1/60 in the remaining 9 eyes at a mean follow-up of 592 days. The visual parameters differed significantly pre-and post-treatment. We evaluated the visual outcome following surgical management. Conclusion: We studied epidemiological facts about anterior and posterior segment findings

Co adaptation of LiCl tolerant Solanum tuberosum L. callus cultures to NaCl stress

In this research, co-adaptation of the Calli of Solanum tuberosum, raised from petioles, to the presence of lithium (LiCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was studied. The cultures were adapted with LiCl in the absence of an osmotic stress and the response of adapted and unadapted calli to salinity was investigated. Undifferentiated callus growth was induced in S. tuberosum by the addition of 2 mg/l 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 0.25 mg/l kinetin to Murashige and Skoog medium. Subcultures were subjected to an incremental increase in LiCl to obtain adapted lines. Adapted and undapted calli were grown with LiCl and NaCl and the tissue content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and proline levels were determined. Either 40 mM LiCl or 100 mM NaCl inhibited unadapted calli by more than 50%, while adapted calli grew normally under these conditions. The adapted calli exhibited a lower K+ content with or without salt and showed a lower accumulation of Na+ at 100 mM NaCl. The tissue K+ and Mg2+ contents decreased and their proline levels increased with salinity. A co-adaptation phenomenon is induced by LiCl that involves a regulation of K+ and Na+ contents and an accumulation of proline, which also brings about tolerance to osmotic effects of salt. This data is highly useful for devising breeding and molecular modification strategies for stress tolerance.Key words: Cations, proline, osmotic adjustment, salt tolerance, Solanum tuberosum

Response of fed dung composted with rock phosphate on yield and phosphorus and nitrogen uptake of maize crop

Two experiments were conducted to determine the extent of phosphate (P) solubility from rock phosphate (RP) fed dung through composting with RP and to determine its effects on yield and P uptake of maize crop. Different composts of RP fed dung and simple dung were prepared with and without RP. Field experiment was conducted on silty clay loam soil at the research farm of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar to study the effect of RP fed dung composted with RP on the yield, yield components and P uptake of maize (Zea mays. L. Azam). The fertilizers, N, P and K, were applied at the rate of 120- 90- 60 kg ha-1, respectively in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Compost and urea were used as a fertilizer source for N, compost and single super phosphate (SSP) as a fertilizer source for P and sulphate of Potash (SOP) was used as a fertilizer source for K. Application of the compost prepared from RP fed dung with RP, improved the yield and yield components of maize crop. The maximum and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased grain yield of 3264 kg ha-1, total dry matter yield of 9634 kg ha-1, stover yield of 7293 kg ha-1, and thousand grain weight (231 g) of maize crops were recorded in the treatment where full dose of the prepared compost was applied with half dose of SSP, followed by the treatment of full recommended SSP. The data of soil analysis showed increase in soil organic matter content and a decreasing trend in soil pH values. Application of compost with SSP significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased soil N and P concentration and their uptake by the maize plants. Maximum net return of Rs. 24060 ha-1 with a value cost ratio (VCR) of 3.0:1 was obtained by the application of full dose of compost with half SSP, followed by the treatment of full dose of compost applied alone with a net return of Rs. 14555 ha-1 and VCR of 2.8 : 1. Results suggest that application of the compost prepared from RP fed dung with RP is economical, environment friendly and has the potential to improve maize yield, plants N and P  uptake.Key words: Maize, dung, rock phosphate, composts, yield, plants P uptake

The Challenge of Staging Breast Cancer With PET/CT in the Era of COVID Vaccination

We report a case series of biopsy-proven reactive axillary lymph nodes, which were avid on FDG PET/CT in breast cancer patients post COVID-19 vaccination. With 4 cases presenting in a consecutive 10-day period, it became apparent that metabolically active axillary lymphadenopathy is an adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccines, currently being deployed worldwide. This may lead to patients undergoing unnecessary biopsy. We have started taking a COVID-19 vaccine status history before PET/CT. If enlarged/metabolically active axillary nodes are identified in the ipsilateral vaccinated arm, then axillary ultrasound at 4 weeks is suggested

Effect of a calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (FK506) treatment on meiotic chromosomes in testes, epididymal spermatozoa and fertility in Swiss Albino male mice

Tacrolimus hydrate (FK506), isolated from Streptomyces tsukubaensis, is an immensely used immunosuppressive agent. It was evaluated for its effects on meiotic chromosomes in testes, epididymal spermatozoa and fertility in male mice. The study under different parameters constituted sub acute (seven days) administration (gavage) of FK506 at doses of 4, 8 and 16 mg/kg/day body weight. The results obtained in present study revealed that, FK506 significantly induced spermatozoa abnormalities, loweredfertility and increased embryonic loss. The observed changes related to spermatogenic dysfunction reflected statistically significant increased aberrations in the meiotic chromosomes. These aberrations seemed to be induced by the inhibitory effect of the drug on the signal transduction pathways in the cells and interference in the transcription processes and proliferation of cells. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the safe dose and duration of therapy to determine the exact mode of action of FK506 induced germ cell toxicity.Key words: Tacrolimus (FK506), sperm quality, germ cell toxicity, embryonic loss

Combining ability analysis in Brassica juncea L. for oil quality traits

This study was conducted in Brassica juncea L. for the determination of good combiners for quality associated traits using 8 x 8 diallel during 2004 - 2005 and 2005 - 2006. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p 0.01) for all the studied traits. Components of combining ability analysis showed that general combining ability (GCA) was highly significant (p 0.01) for oil percentage (%) and glucosinolates (&#236;Molg-1) whereas the rest were non-significant. Specific combining ability (SCA)effects were highly significant for all traits except for oleic acids. Reciprocal combining ability (RCA) effects were highly significant (p 0.01) for all traits except for oleic acid which was significant at (p 0.05). The SCA effects were higher than RCA for oil %. The GCA effects were of greater magnitude thanthe SCA effects for glucosinolate, erucic acid and protein content. The parental genotypes NUM009, NUM123, NUM105 and NUM117 and their hybrids NUM009x NUM123, NUM103x NUM105, NUM113x NUM124 and NUM103x NUM120 had high GCA and SCA effects, respectively and therefore these could be exploited for further selection of high yielding progenies. The overall study reveals the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic variability suggesting the use of integrated breeding strategies which can efficiently utilize the additive as well as non-additive genetic variability

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ESTIMATION OF TOTAL PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENT OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF IRIS KASHMIRIANA

Objective: The main aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of Iris kashmiriana ethanolic leaf extract and also total phenol and flavonoid content was evaluated.Methods: Total phenol content (TPC) was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content (TFC) was estimated by aluminum trichloride spectrophotometer method. Furthermore, antioxidant activity was revealed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity, and reducing power assay.Results: The ethanolic leaf extract of I. kashmiriana showed TPC of 13.25±0.57 μg/100 μg gallic acid equivalents and TFC of 33.61±3.37 μg/100 μg rutin equivalents. The DPPH assay revealed IC50 of 0.418 mg/ml and for H2O2 radical scavenging IC50 was 0.476 mg/ml for the plant extract while as reducing power assay revealed concentration-dependent absorption values which clearly determine the antioxidant property of plant.Conclusion: From the results, it is apparent that I. kashmiriana ethanolic leaf extract possessed potential antioxidant activity which can be used to cure wide range of diseases

Characterization of wide cross derivatives in rice Oryza sativa L. using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

Interspecific crosses provide a bridge by which the gene pool of rice can be increased. Introduction of alien genes requires hybridization followed by meiotic pairing and recombination between the chromosomes of cultivated and wild species. Attempts have been made to visualize the genomic constitution of wide-cross derivatives. Genomic in situ hybridization was used to detect Oryza australiensis chromosomes and introgressed segment from O. australiensis into the Oryza sativa background. Genomic DNA from O. australiensis was labeled with biotin-14-dATP and hybridized to the homologous chromosomes in hybrids, back cross progenies, monosomic alien addition line (MAAL) and introgression line. The probe hybridization fluoresced green and non-labeled O. sativa chromosomes appeared red due to counterstaining with propidium iodide (PI). This differential painting of chromosomes unequivocally detected the O. australiensis chromatin introgressed into the O. sativa genome. The probe produced uniform labeling pattern over the entire length of all the O. australiensis chromosomes. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) detected 12 O. australiensis chromosomes in the hybrid, O. sativa x O. australiensis in BC1 progenies, and a single chromosome in MAAL. Small segment of O. australiensis was localized on the chromosome 12 of the introgression line. However, results showed that GISH is a powerful technique to be used as an aid in selecting segregating progenies.Key words: Genomic in situ hybridization, wide hybrid, localizing introgression

Genomic affinity between Oryza sativa and Oryza brachyantha as revealed by in situ hybridization and chromosome pairing

Genomic affinity between Oryza sativa (2n = 24 AA), and Oryza brachyantha (2n = 24 FF) was assessed by using three strategies: genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), meiotic chromosome pairing, pollen andspikelet sterility. The chromosome pairing was examined in pollen mother cells of O. brachyantha, O.sativa and the hybrid between O. sativa and O. brachyantha. The hybrid was highly sterile with no pollen stain ability. Both parents showed regular meiosis with normal chromosome pairing. The F1hybrid exhibited limited chromosome pairing. On an average, 0-2 bivalents and 20-24 univalents were recorded at metaphase-1 and 0 - 1 univalent at diakinesis. The most frequent configuration was twobivalents and twenty univalent. The meiosis was highly irregular showing unequal distribution of chromosomes at anaphase, formation of multipolar bodies and variation in the cell cycle of both genomes. GISH revealed unequivocal discrimination of O. brachyantha chromosomes as appeared red from O. sativa chromosomes that fluoresced yellow. No cross hybridization was examined between the labeled genomic DNA of O. brachyantha and the chromosomes of O. sativa. Mitotic chromosomes of O. brachyantha and O. sativa, in the hybrid, were discriminated by GISH. High sterility in this hybrid could be due to abnormal meiosis and lack of pairing

Localizing introgression on the chromosome of rice by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

Genomic in situ hybridization was used to detect introgressed segment from Oryza australinesis onto the chromosomes of introgression line derived from the hybrid O. sativa x O. australinesis. Genomic DNA from Oryza australinesis was labeled with biotin and hybridized to the homologous sequences on the O. sativa chromosomes. The probe hybridization fluoresced green and non labeled O. sativa chromosomes appeared red or blue due to counterstaining with propidium iodide (PI) or 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). This differential painting of chromosomes unequivocally detected the introgressedsegment. Among the 200 cells analyzed, 6.5% of the cells showed&#160; hybridization signal. Signal appeared on one chromosome in 5%, on two homologous chromosomes in 1% and on sister chromatids in 0.5%of the cells. Hybridization was seen on the short arm of the chromosome 12 of the introgression line