Phenotypic Diversity in Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Accessions from Different Regions of Ethiopia

Seventy nine tef landraces collected from ten administrative zones and seven altitude classes were planted with two improved varieties in simple lattice design at Gute and Bako in 2007 and 2008, respectively to assess the patterns of genetic variation for quantitative and qualitative traits. Loose and fairly loose panicle forms; gray lemma color and brown seed color were abundant across all regions and altitude classes while compact and semi-compact panicles, red and purple lemma color and white seed color were less frequent. Higher Shannon diversity indices were observed for East Gojam, East Wollega, Horro Guduru Wollega, Illubabor and Jimma collections. Mean squares due to genotypes were significantly different for all traits except number of culm internodes, number of spikelet per panicle and number of fertile floret/spikelet at top of the panicle. Genotypes and environments interacted highly significantly (P≤0.01) for number of panicle branches, lodging index, above ground biomass weight, grain yield per plant and harvest index. About 73% of the entire diversity among population was explained by the first six principal components (PCs), of which the first PC explained about 31% of the variation. This originated mainly due plant height, panicle length, culm length, first and second culm internode diameters, days to panicle emergency and days to maturity. Similarly, about 91% and 90% of the variations among regions of origin and altitude classes were explained by the first five and three PCs, respectively. At 50% similarity level, 11 clusters were formed, containing 2-33 landrace populations per cluster, while six tef landraces remain solitary. There is no cluster formed solely either from tef populations of a given region, tef populations collected from similar agro-ecological zones or populations collected from areas with similar soil type. Some neighboring regions were grouped together in one cluster, implying that there are extensive informal seed exchanges or inter-regional migration of farmers with their seed. Some other regions show strong similarity while they are geographically very far away from each other (for instance, South Wello and Horro Guduru Wollega). Six altitude classes were grouped in to two main clusters at about 50% similarity level. However, tef landraces collected from altitude class below 1576 m.a.s.l (class I) remain un-grouped

Pleurisy and bilateral pleural effusions after administration of atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is a widely used cholesterol-lowering agent. Although generally safe and well tolerated, a number of drug side effects have been reported. We report only the second case of atorvastatin-induced pleural effusions, presenting as pleurisy, and the first case from Ethiopia. We believe our patient had this association based on the temporal onset of symptoms, the otherwise negative evaluation, and the resolution of findings once atorvastatin was discontinued. Clinicians need to consider this relationship when evaluating unexplained pleurisy and pleural effusions in patients taking atorvastatin

Value of Adenosine Deaminase in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objectives: Tuberculous (TB) pleurisy is a common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in high burden countries including Ethiopia. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) has been used in the early diagnosis of TB pleurisy. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic role of ADA in TB pleurisy at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ADA in consecutive adult patients with unexplained pleural effusions presenting to Chest Clinic at TASH from June 2016 to August 2018. All referred patients underwent thorough clinical and laboratory examinations including assessment of pleural fluid ADA, where a value of ≥40 IU/I was used to suggest TB pleurisy (per manufacturer’s recommendation). A final diagnosis of TB pleurisy was made based on pleural fluid Gene Xpert, AFB smear, pleural biopsy, and cytology results in addition to a clinical and radiologic response to anti-TB therapy. Results: A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The median age was 38.5(±14.5) years; 36 (53.7%) of the participants were males. TB pleurisy was confirmed in 38 (56.7%) subjects. The mean pleural fluid ADA levels was significantly higher in those with TB pleurisy as compared to those without TB pleurisy, 65.8 IU/l versus 28 IU/I (P < 0.05), respectively. Pleural fluid ADA had a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 79%, resulting in a positive predictive value of 84.2%, a negative predictive value of 79.3%, and an overall test accuracy of 82% in our study population. Conclusion: In our study, pleural fluid ADA played a useful role in the diagnosis of TB pleurisy

Letter to the Editor - Resumption of pulmonary function testing (Spirometry) at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The burden of severe asthma in sub-Saharan Africa : findings from the African Severe Asthma Project

Funding: Funded by a project grant from the GSK Africa Non-communicable Disease Open Lab (project 8019).Background Severe asthma is associated with high morbidity, mortality and health care utilization but its burden in Africa is unknown. Objective To determine the burden (prevalence, mortality and activity and work impairment) of severe asthma in three Easter Africa countries (Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia). Methods Using the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) case definition of severe asthma we analyzed for the prevalence of severe asthma (requiring GINA steps 4–5 asthma medications for the previous year to achieve control) and severe refractory asthma (remains uncontrolled despite treatment with GINA steps 4–5 asthma medications) in a cohort of 1086 asthma patients who had been in care for 12 months and had received all GINA recommended medications. Asthma control was assessed using the asthma control questionnaire (ACQ). Results Overall, the prevalence of severe asthma and severe refractory asthma was 25.6% (95% CI 23.1–28.3) and 4.6% (95% CI 3.5–6.0) respectively. Patients with severe asthma were (non- severe vs. severe vs. severe refractory) older (39, 42, 45 years, p=0.011), had high skin prick test reactivity (67.1%, 76.0%, 76.0%, p=0.004), had lower FEV1% (81%, 61%, 55.5%, p=<0.001), lower quality of life score (129, 127 vs 121, p=<0.001) and higher activity impairment (10%, 30%, 50%, p=<0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of severe asthma in Africa is high and is associated with high morbidity and poor quality of life.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

An assessment of smallholder soil and water conservation practices and perceptions in contrasting agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe

Improved soil and water management practices can reduce moisture stress and crop failures associated with rain-fed cropping systems. Little information exists on soil and water management technologies requirements for male and female farmers in different agro-ecological regions. The objective of current study was to investigate farmers’ sources of information and perceptions on soil and water management technologies. Four sites selected from different agro-ecological regions (AERs), sub-humid (Mazowe/Goromonzi, and Kadoma) and semiarid (Matobo and Chiredzi). Data on sources of information on soil and water management, types of technologies preferred by farmers and constraints to adoption of technologies were collected through household interviews and focus group discussions. Results showed that government extension agents, farmer-to farmer extension and non-governmental organizations were the main sources of information on soil and water management technologies at all the sites. NGOs mainly provide information on reduced tillage methods. Main technologies were mulching (61%), reduced tillage methods (53%), and contour ridges (33%) in Mazowe/Goromonzi district, reduced tillage method (83) and mulching (64%) in Kadoma, and reduced tillage methods (54%) and contour ridges (47%) in Matobo. More farmers used soil and water management technologies at the sub-humid sites than at the semi-arid sites. Soil and water conservation technologies used were similar between male-headed (MHH) and female-headed households (FHH). Soil and water conservation technologies used by farmers matched their preferences in two of the four study sites. The findings are important for targeting soil and water management practices in the various agro-ecological zones

institutional framework of in action against land degradation

While econometric and spatial data are increasingly helpful to quantify and locate the extent and costs of land degradation, there is still little understanding of the contextual factors that determine or influence the land users' practices that aggravate or counteract land degradation. In this chapter, we take an institutional economic approach to analyse the persistence of degrading practices, the low adoption of sustainable land management (SLM), or the eventual organisational reaction to land degradation. The chapter reviews four examples of land degradation in different contexts to reveal the multiple driving forces and contextual factors. We then propose a conceptual framework to better understand the incentive structure and factors determining the land users' decision making. A layered analysis of the social phenomena is applied, following Williamson (2000). The chapter shows how actions at different layers can help improve land management. The chapter concludes with practical recommendations for the institutional economic analysis of land degradation

Variablity, heritability and genetic advance in quantitative traits of Tef [Eragrostis Tef (ZUCC.) Trotter]: implication for genetic improvement strategies

Seventy nine tef populations collected from ten administrative regions and seven altitude classes were planted with two improved varieties in simple lattice design at Gute and Bako during 2007 and 2008 cropping season, respectively, to assess variability, and estimate heritability and genetic advance of quantitative traits. The combined analysis of variance across locations showed significant location effects on all the quantitative traits considered. The genotype mean squares were also significant (P≤0.01) for all quantitative traits except number of spikelet per panicle, number of internodes and number of fertile floret per spikelet at the top of main panicle. Genotype x Environment interaction was significant ((P≤0.01) for grain yield per plant, lodging index, harvest index, above ground weight and number of panicle branches. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all quantitative characters considered in this study. This implies that; beside the genetic factors; environmental factors have high contribution for the variations observed. Genotype x Environment coefficient of variation was found to be less than the genotypic coefficient of variation for most of the quantitative characters. This indicates that variability observed in tef landraces was more due to the genotypic component than due to interaction between genotype and environment. Relatively, the higher heritability coupled with higher genetic advance noted for grain yield per plant, lodging index and biomass weight per plant in the study indicates the ease of phenotype-based selection for the improvement of these traits. However, low heritability range and genetic advance range were recorded for culm length, number of culm internodes per main shoot, days to maturity, number of fertile floret per spikelet at the top, middle and base of the panicle across the two locations. This implies that most of the variations for these traits were environmental rather than genetic.Keywords/phrases: Eragrostis tef, Genetic advance, Heritability, Landraces, VariationEthiop. J. Biol. Sci., 7(2): 159-177, 200