Genetic variability of kernel provitamin-A in sub-tropically adapted maize hybrids possessing rare allele of β-carotene hydroxylase

Vitamin-A deficiency is a major health concern. Traditional yellow maize possesses low provitamin-A (proA). Mutant crtRB1 gene significantly enhances proA. 24 experimental hybrids possessing crtRB1 allele were evaluated for β-carotene (BC), β-cryptoxanthin (BCX), lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEA), total carotenoids (TC) and grain yield at multi-locations. BC (0.64–17.24 µg/g), BCX (0.45–6.84 µg/g), proA (0.86–20.46 µg/g), LUT (9.60–31.03 µg/g), ZEA (1.24–12.73 µg/g) and TC (20.60–64.02 µg/g) showed wide variation. No significant genotype × location interaction was observed for carotenoids. The mean BC (8.61 µg/g), BCX (4.04 µg/g) and proA (10.63 µg/g) in crtRB1-based hybrids was significantly higher than normal hybrids lacking crtRB1-favourable allele (BC: 1.73 µg/g, BCX: 1.29 µg/g and proA: 2.37 µg/g). Selected crtRB1-based hybrids possessed 33% BC and 40% BCX compared to 6% BC and 5% BCX in normal hybrids. BC showed positive correlation with BCX (r = 0.90), proA (r = 0.99) and TC (r = 0.64) among crtRB1-based hybrids. Carotenoids didn't show association with grain yield. Average yield potential of proA rich hybrids (6794 kg/ha) was at par with normal hybrids (6961 kg/ha). PROAH-13, PROAH-21, PROAH-17, PROAH-11, PROAH-23, PROAH-24 and PROAH-3 were the most promising with >12 µg/g proA and >6000 kg/ha grain yield. The newly identified crtRB1-based hybrids assume significance in alleviating malnutrition

Primary tubercular liver abscess in an immunocompetent adult: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Isolated primary tubercular abscess is one of the rare forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A greater awareness of this rare clinical entity may help in commencing specific evidence-based therapy quickly and preventing undue morbidity and mortality.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 30-year-old man, of Asian origin, developed a hepatic tubercular abscess which was not associated with any pulmonary or gastrointestinal tract foci of tuberculosis. An ultrasonogram of the abdomen showed an abscess in the right lobe of his liver which was initially diagnosed as an amoebic liver abscess. Subsequently, the pus from the lesion yielded <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>using the BACTEC TB 460 instrument and <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was started on systemic antitubercular therapy to which he responded favorably.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This report emphasizes the fact that, although a tuberculous liver abscess is a very rare entity, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of unknown hepatic mass lesions.</p

Knowledge and use of emergency contraception among women in the Western Cape province of South Africa: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception (EC) is widely available free of charge at public sector clinics in South Africa. At the same time, rates of teenage and unintended pregnancy in South Africa remain high, and there are few data on knowledge of EC in the general population in South Africa, as in other resource-limited settings. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey among 831 sexually active women at 26 randomly selected public sector clinics in the Western Cape province. RESULTS: Overall, 30% of the women had ever heard of EC when asked directly, after the method was described to them. Only 15% mentioned EC by name or description spontaneously. Knowledge of EC was independently associated with higher education, being married, and living in an urban setting. Four percent of women had ever used EC. DISCUSSION: These data suggest that knowledge of EC in this setting is more common among women of higher socioeconomic status living in urban areas. For EC to play a role in decreasing unintended pregnancy in South Africa, specific interventions are necessary to increase knowledge of the method, where to get it, and the appropriate time interval for its use before the need for EC arises. Future health promotion campaigns should target rural and low socioeconomic status communities

Biomaterials Approaches to Combating Oral Biofilms and Dental Disease

Background: Possibilities for biomaterials to impact the dental caries epidemic are reviewed with emphasis placed on novel delivery biomaterials and new therapeutic targets

International longitudinal registry of patients with atrial fibrillation and treated with rivaroxaban: RIVaroxaban Evaluation in Real life setting (RIVER)

Background Real-world data on non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are essential in determining whether evidence from randomised controlled clinical trials translate into meaningful clinical benefits for patients in everyday practice. RIVER (RIVaroxaban Evaluation in Real life setting) is an ongoing international, prospective registry of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and at least one investigator-determined risk factor for stroke who received rivaroxaban as an initial treatment for the prevention of thromboembolic stroke. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the RIVER registry and baseline characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed NVAF who received rivaroxaban as an initial treatment. Methods and results Between January 2014 and June 2017, RIVER investigators recruited 5072 patients at 309 centres in 17 countries. The aim was to enroll consecutive patients at sites where rivaroxaban was already routinely prescribed for stroke prevention. Each patient is being followed up prospectively for a minimum of 2-years. The registry will capture data on the rate and nature of all thromboembolic events (stroke / systemic embolism), bleeding complications, all-cause mortality and other major cardiovascular events as they occur. Data quality is assured through a combination of remote electronic monitoring and onsite monitoring (including source data verification in 10% of cases). Patients were mostly enrolled by cardiologists (n = 3776, 74.6%), by internal medicine specialists 14.2% (n = 718) and by primary care/general practice physicians 8.2% (n = 417). The mean (SD) age of the population was 69.5 (11.0) years, 44.3% were women. Mean (SD) CHADS2 score was 1.9 (1.2) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores was 3.2 (1.6). Almost all patients (98.5%) were prescribed with once daily dose of rivaroxaban, most commonly 20 mg (76.5%) and 15 mg (20.0%) as their initial treatment; 17.9% of patients received concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Most patients enrolled in RIVER met the recommended threshold for AC therapy (86.6% for 2012 ESC Guidelines, and 79.8% of patients according to 2016 ESC Guidelines). Conclusions The RIVER prospective registry will expand our knowledge of how rivaroxaban is prescribed in everyday practice and whether evidence from clinical trials can be translated to the broader cross-section of patients in the real world

Dependence of electrical conductivity on selenium and sulphur doping in a-Si:H

491-494<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Se- and S-doped a-Si:H films were prepared by the decomposition of H2Se and H<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">S with SiH<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">4<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> gas mixtures by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECYD) in a ratio of H2Se/SiH4=1.0×10-4 to 1.0×10-1 and H<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2S/SiH4=6.81×10-7 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> to 1.0×10-<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">4.The dielectric constant of Se- and S-doped a-Si:H films vary with doping concentration and can be tailored by changing the gas ratio. The de dark and photoconductivity showed a maximum at H<span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2Se/SiH4 = 10-<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">3 and a-Si, S:H at H<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2S/SiH4 = 1.0×10-<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">4 <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and the activation energy is lower at these doping levels. The room temperature dark and photoconductivity in Se and S-doped a-S:H films have been found to increase <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">as the gas ratios increase for H<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2Se/SiH4= 1<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">0-<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">3 and H<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2<span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">S/SiH4=10-4 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">, <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">after this range in Se-doped, the dark and photoconductivity decrease to the alloy range. </span