Transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus, the causal agent of bud necrosis of peanut, by Scirtothrips dorsalis and Frankliniella schultzei

An important disease of groundnuts in India has recently been shown to be caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which is transmitted by thrips. The results are given of further studies on Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (which had earlier been shown to be a vector), on the role of Frankliniella schultzei (Tryb.) as a vector and on the application of the haemagglutination technique to detect viral antigen in thrips. Both species of thrips were able to transmit the virus from groundnuts to groundnuts and urd bean (Vigna mungo), but F. schultzei was the more efficient. Haemagglutination tests detected viral antigens in extracts from both species that had been exposed to infected leave

Epidemiology and control of groundnut bud necrosis and other diseases of legume crops in India caused by tomato spotted wilt virus

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was first reported in India in tomato in 1964 (Todd et dl., 1975). The occurrence of TSWV on a legume in ~India was first recorded in 1968 (Reddy et dl., 1968). The "bud necrosis disease" of groundnut, caused by TSWV, is now considered to be one of the most damaging groundnut diseases in India (Ghanekar et al., 1979a; Reddy, 1980). Bud necrosis is likely to have been present in India for some time although it has only recently become economically important. TSWV has also been reported on groundnuts in Brazil (Costa, 1941), the United States of America (Halliwell & Philley, 1974), South Africa (Klesser, 1966) and Australia (Helms et al., 1961). This chapter considers the epidemiology and control of bud necrosis and gives a brief account of other economically important diseases of legumes in India caused by TSWV

Radiative energy and momentum transfer for various spherical shapes: a single sphere, a bubble, a spherical shell and a coated sphere

We use fluctuational electrodynamics to determine emissivity and van der Waals contribution to surface energy for various spherical shapes, such as a sphere, a bubble, a spherical shell and a coated sphere, in a homogeneous and isotropic medium. Near-field radiative transfer and momentum transfer between flat plates and curved surfaces have been studied for the past decades, however the investigation of radiative heat transfer and van der Waals stress due to fluctuations of electromagnetic fields for a single object is missing from literature. The dyadic Green's function formalism of radiative energy and fluctuation-induced van der Waals stress for different spherical configurations have been developed. We show (1) emission spectra of micro and nano-sized spheres display several emissivity sharp peaks as the size of object reduces, and (2) surface energy becomes size dependent due to van der Waals phenomena when size of object is reduced to a nanoscopic length scale.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Bud necrosis of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in India caused by tomato spotted wilt virus

Chlorotic ringspots or chlorotic leaf specking, terminal bud necrosis, axillary shoot proliferation and severe stunting of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) were shown to be caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). All 28 species of plants tested were susceptible to the virus. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata cv. C-152) was found to be a good assay host. TSWV remained infective in buffered sap of groundnut at a dilution of 10-2.5, after storage for 4 h at room temperature (30 oC) and for 10 min at 40 but not 45 oC. The haemagglutination test was adapted to detect TSWV in crude extracts of groundnut. Sap from infected groundnut and tomato contained spherical membrane-bound virus particles 70 to 90 nm diameter. The virus was transmitted by thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis). The prevalence of TSWV in India and the high incidence in groundnut indicates that the virus is economically importan

Natural Occurrence of a Strain of Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in India)

Vein-clearing followed by downward rolling and necrosis of leaves and severe stunting of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) plants were caused by cowpea mild mottle virus (CMMV). The virus was readily transmitted by mechanical sap inoculations to groundnut and to 10 plant species belonging to Leguminosae, Chenopodiaceae and Solanaceae. Chenopodium quinoa and Beta vulgaris were good diagnostic hosts. Diseased sap remained infective at 10–3 but not 10–4, when stored 8 to 9 days at 25 °C; for 10min at 75 °C but not 80°C. In limited tests, virus was not seed-transmitted m groundnut or soybean. Virus was transmitted by Bemisia tabaci but not by Aphis craccivora or Myzus persicae. An antiserum for CMMV was produced and virus was serologically related to CMMV reported on cowpea and groundnut crinkle virus (GCV) from West Africa. Employing carbon diffraction grating replica as a standard the modal length of virus particles to be 610 nm. Infected cells contained large number of virus particles associated with endoplasmic reticulum

The impact of preexisting and post-transplant diabetes mellitus on outcomes following liver transplantation

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is said to adversely affect transplant outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pre-existing and post-transplant DM on liver transplant (LT) recipients.Method: A single centre retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of LT recipients (1990–2015) was undertaken.Results: Of the 2,209 patients, 13% (n=298) had Pre-DM, 16% (n=362) developed PTDM, 5% (n=118) developed transient hyperglycemia (t-HG) post-LT, and 65% (n=1,431) never developed DM (no DM). Baseline clinical characteristics of patients with PTDM was similar to that of patients with pre-DM. Incidence of PTDM peaked during first-year (87%) and plateaued thereafter. On multivariate analysis (Bonferroni-corrected), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the use of Tacrolimus and Sirolimus use were independently associated with PTDM development. Both Pre-DM and PTDM patients had satisfactory and comparable glycaemic control throughout the follow-up period. Those who developed t-HG seems to have a unique characteristic compared to others. Overall, 9%, 5%, and 8% developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), major cardiovascular event (mCVE), and de novo cancer, respectively. Both Pre-DM and PTDM did not adversely affect patient survival, re-LT, or de novo cancer. The risks of ESRD and mCVE were significantly higher in patients with Pre-DM followed by PTDM and no DM.Conclusions: In this largest non-registry study, patients with pre-DM and PTDM share similar baseline clinical characteristics. Pre-DM increases the risk of ESRD and mCVE; however, patient survival was comparable to those with PTDM and without diabetes. Understanding the impact of PTDM would need prolonged follow-up

Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation as First-Line Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma less than 3 cm in Potentially Transplantable Patients

© 2019 European Association for the Study of the Liver Background & Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤3 cm. Disease recurrence is common, and in some patients will occur outside transplant criteria. We aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for recurrence beyond Milan criteria in potentially transplantable patients treated with RFA as first-line therapy. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of potentially transplantable patients with new diagnoses of unifocal HCC ≤3 cm that underwent RFA as first-line therapy between 2000-2015. We defined potentially transplantable patients as those aged 2 cm). Competing risks Cox regression was used to identify predictors of recurrence beyond Milan criteria. Results: We included 301 patients (167 HCC ≤2 cm and 134 HCC >2 cm). Recurrence beyond Milan criteria occurred in 36 (21.6%) and 47 (35.1%) patients in the HCC ≤2 cm and the HCC >2 cm groups, respectively (p = 0.01). The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial survival rates after RFA were 98.2%, 86.2% and 79.0% in the HCC ≤2 cm group vs. 93.3%, 77.6% and 70.9% in the HCC >2 cm group (p = 0.01). Tumor size >2 cm (hazard ratio 1.94; 95% CI 1.25–3.02) and alpha-fetoprotein levels at the time of ablation (100–1,000 ng/ml: hazard ratio 2.05; 95% CI 1.10–3.83) were found to be predictors of post-RFA recurrence outside Milan criteria. Conclusion: RFA for single HCC ≤3 cm provides excellent short- to medium-term survival. However, we identified patients at higher risk of recurrence beyond Milan criteria. For these patients, liver transplantation should be considered immediately after the first HCC recurrence following RFA. Lay summary: Radiofrequency ablation and liver transplantation are treatment options for early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After ablation some patients will experience recurrence or metastatic spread of the initial tumor or may develop new tumors within the liver. Despite close follow-up, these recurrences can progress rapidly and exceed transplant criteria, preventing the patient from receiving a transplant. We identified that patients with HCC >2 cm and higher serum alpha-fetoprotein are at greater risk of recurrence beyond the transplant criteria. These data suggest that liver transplantation should be considered immediately after the first HCC recurrence for these patients

Donor outcomes in anonymous live liver donation

BackgroundDeath rates on liver transplant waiting lists range from 5%-25%. Herein, we report a unique experience with 50 anonymous persons who volunteered to address this gap by offering to donate part of their liver to a recipient with whom they had no biological connection or prior relationship (A-LLD).MethodsCandidates were screened to confirm excellent physical, mental, social, and financial health. Demographics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Qualitative interviews after donation examined motivation and experiences. Validated self-reported questionnaires assessed personality traits and psychological impact.Results50 A-LLD liver transplants (LT) were performed between 2005 and 2017. Most donors had a university education, a middle-class income, and a history of prior altruism. Half were women. Median age was 38.5 years (range 20-59 yrs.). Thirty-three (70%) learned about this opportunity through public or social media. Saving a life, helping others, generativity, and reciprocity for past generosity were motivators. Social, financial, healthcare, and legal supports in Canada were identified as facilitators. A-LLD identified most with the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness. The median hospital stay was six days. There was one Dindo-Clavien Grade 3 complication that completely resolved. One-year recipient survival was 91% in 22 adults and 97% in 28 children. No A-LLD reported regretting their decision.ConclusionsThis is the first and only report of the motivations and facilitators of A-LLD in a large cohort. With rigorous protocols, outcomes are excellent. A-LLD has significant potential to reduce the gap between transplant organ demand and availability