Assessment of myofascial pain syndrome among married female healthcare workers: a cross sectional comparative study in a tertiary care centre

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is common among females between ages 20-40 years. Psychosomatic and mechanical reasons are attributed as causative factors. Female health care workers (FHW) in hospitals with rapid patient turn over are vulnerable to develop MPS. Our aim was to ascertain the prevalence of MPS in married FHW working in various departments of the hospital and its association with poor sleep and work stress. Methods: We selected married FHWs in 20-50 years age group and divided them into two groups, medical and paramedical (those involved directly and indirectly with patient care respectively). MPS was diagnosed after detailed personal interview and clinical examination. Sleep duration was divided into less than 5 hours and more than 5hours. Presence of work-related stress and other medical parameters were also recorded. Results: A total of 150 medical and 150 paramedical FHWs were included in the study. Overall prevalence of MPS among FHWs was 42%, of which, medical group was 32% and paramedical was 52%. The paramedical group showed significantly higher prevalence of MPS (p: 0.02). Sleep was less than 5 hours in 29.3% of medical FHW and 13.3% of paramedical. This difference didn’t show any association to MPS (p=0.8). 38% FHW perceived excessive work stress, 40% were paramedical and 36% were medical. This didn’t correlate with prevalence of MPS (p=0.2) among them. Conclusions: Paramedical FHW experienced more MPS than medical and it was more of mechanical type and not due to work stress or sleep deprivation

Sugarcane Aphid Management and Host Plant Interactions in Postanthesis Grain Sorghum

In recent years, the outbreaks of sugarcane aphids, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) have threatened the profitability of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in much of the U.S., including the Texas Panhandle. For an effective and timely management to minimize economic losses associated with this pest, understanding the population dynamics of sugarcane aphids and their impact on the host plant is very important. Herein, greenhouse experiments evaluated the life history parameters of sugarcane aphids feeding on susceptible and resistant sorghum across several growth stages. Further, field experiments estimated the economic injury of sugarcane aphids in sorghum infested after anthesis. Surveys of commercial sorghum production fields collected data on the timing, severity, and the duration of sugarcane aphid infestations in the Texas Panhandle. The data showed significant effects of levels of genetic resistance and growth stage on several life history traits and demographics parameters of sugarcane aphids. Specifically, aphid population growth was enhanced on susceptible sorghum in the late reproductive stages compared to early vegetative stages. A range of economic injury levels (EIL) were estimated for the aphids infesting the sorghum during or after anthesis stage, with the average EIL of 309 aphids per leaf in 2018 and 191 aphids per leaf in 2019. It was also found that the rate of aphid population growth reached exponential stage within two weeks of their initial colonization, particularly if sorghum was at the anthesis stage. These findings will be useful to sorghum growers and will contribute to reduction in the economic losses caused by the sugarcane aphids

Sugarcane Aphid Management and Host Plant Interactions in Postanthesis Grain Sorghum

In recent years, the outbreaks of sugarcane aphids, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) have threatened the profitability of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in much of the U.S., including the Texas Panhandle. For an effective and timely management to minimize economic losses associated with this pest, understanding the population dynamics of sugarcane aphids and their impact on the host plant is very important. Herein, greenhouse experiments evaluated the life history parameters of sugarcane aphids feeding on susceptible and resistant sorghum across several growth stages. Further, field experiments estimated the economic injury of sugarcane aphids in sorghum infested after anthesis. Surveys of commercial sorghum production fields collected data on the timing, severity, and the duration of sugarcane aphid infestations in the Texas Panhandle. The data showed significant effects of levels of genetic resistance and growth stage on several life history traits and demographics parameters of sugarcane aphids. Specifically, aphid population growth was enhanced on susceptible sorghum in the late reproductive stages compared to early vegetative stages. A range of economic injury levels (EIL) were estimated for the aphids infesting the sorghum during or after anthesis stage, with the average EIL of 309 aphids per leaf in 2018 and 191 aphids per leaf in 2019. It was also found that the rate of aphid population growth reached exponential stage within two weeks of their initial colonization, particularly if sorghum was at the anthesis stage. These findings will be useful to sorghum growers and will contribute to reduction in the economic losses caused by the sugarcane aphids

Evaluation of Botanical Powders for the Management of Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L. Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Rupandehi, Nepal

An experiment to manage rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L. Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Gramineae) was carried out at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Campus, Rupandehi, Nepal. The experiment was conducted under completely randomized design (CRD) with seven treatments viz. neem leaf dust (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) 15 g/kg, tobacco leaf dust (Nicotiana tabacum L.) 10 g/kg, ginger rhizome powder (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) 20 g/kg, garlic cloves powder (Allium sativum L.) 20 g/kg, Sichuan pepper seed powder (Zanthoxylum armatum Roxb.) 10 g/kg, sweet flag rhizome dust (Acorus calamus L.) 5 g/kg, and control with three replication. Result revealed that the highest mortality of weevils was observed in the wheat seed treated with A. calamus (98.33%), followed by N. tabacum (85.67%), A. sativum (73.34%), A. indica (70.67%), Z. armatum (70.34%), and Z. officinale (58.34%). Similarly, the lowest percent weight loss (3.32%) and damage of seed (4.0%) were observed in wheat treated with A. calamus. Moreover, the highest germination (89%) was observed in seeds treated with A. calamus rhizome powder when tested at 90 days after treatment application. Based on weevil mortality and the germination test, it is found that sweet flag rhizome powder is the best treatment against rice weevil followed by tobacco leaf dust and garlic clove powder. Therefore, these botanicals could be one of the effective alternatives for the management of weevil especially to the farmers who do not use chemical insecticides in the rural areas of Nepal