Evaluation and identification of promising pearl millet germplasm for grain and fodder traits

Results are presented of experiments aiming to evaluate and characterize available germplasm lines, landraces and core collection lines of pearl millet and to exploit genetic variability so as to identify promising germplasm lines for metric traits for utilization in different breeding programmes and develop early and high-yielding potential hybrids/open-pollinated cultivars for grain and fodder in drier areas of India. The materials consisted of 2375 germplasm accessions, 180 landraces and 504 core collection lines. The germplasm lines and landraces were evaluated during the 2006 rainy season in Mandor, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The accessions were sown in 22 blocks. Each block consisted of 120 accessions and 4 controls (J 2405, J 2340, NMP 24 and PP 29). The pearl millet core collection was also evaluated during the 2006 rainy season at 3 locations, i.e. AICPMIP, Mandor, Jodhpur; Agricultural Research Station, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Jamnagar, Gujarat. The core collection accessions were accommodated in 19 blocks. Each block consisted of 27 test accessions and 3 controls, namely IP 17862 (ICTP 8203), IP 22281 (Raj 171) (grain type) and IP 3616 (fodder type). After every 9 test accessions, one of the 3 controls was sown. Observations were recorded on morphological/metric traits, i.e. vigour, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, productive tillers per plant, total tillers per plant, nodes per plant, sheath length, blade length and width, panicle exsertion, length, thickness and density, bristle length, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, grain yield potential, green fodder yield, green fodder yield potential, and overall plant aspect

Severe hydrops in the infant of a Rhesus D-positive mother due to anti-c antibodies diagnosed antenatally: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Rhesus haemolytic disease of the newborn is a prototype of maternal isoimmunisation and fetal haemolytic disease. There are other rare blood group antigens capable of causing alloimmunisation and haemolytic disease such as c, C, E, Kell and Duffy. In India, after the confirmation of a newborn's blood group, antibodies are screened only if the mother is Rehsus D-negative negative and the father is Rhesus D-positive. Hydrops in Rhesus positive women are investigated along the lines of non-immune hydrops.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a patient from India where irregular antibodies were requested for an O-positive 26-year-old mother in order to investigate fetal hydrops. Anti-c antibody was revealed and the fetus was treated successfully with compatible O negative and c negative intrauterine blood transfusions. The baby was treated postnatally with double volume exchange transfusion with the same compatible blood, and was discharged 30 days after birth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We highlight the importance of conducting irregular antibody screening for women with significant obstetric history and fetal hydrops. This could assist in diagnosing and successfully treating the fetus with appropriate antigen negative cross-matched compatible blood. We note, however, that anti-c immunoglobulin is not yet readily available.</p

Vitiligo Area Assessment by Manual Planimetry for Statistical Precision

Vitiligo area severity index (VASI) is formulated as one of the successful tools used in dermatology to calculate the area of vitiligo which is gauged in hand units. Since the patches of vitiligo have irregular outlines with varying sizes in same patient, the accuracy of using hand units is still debated. Various methods have arrived in measuring the area of Vitiligo, but none prove precision for research purpose. Hence we extrapolate the “point-counting method” with the formula to calculate area of an irregular surface thus aiding in area calculation for statistical purpose.</jats:p

TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP) IN THE TREATMENT OF ACNE SCARRING IN DIFFERENT SKIN PHOTOTYPES

Background: Post acne scarring is a consequence of abnormal resolution or wound healing following the damage that occurs in the sebaceous follicle during acne inflammation&#x0D; Methods: Interventional split face comparative prospective study was conduct at Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, S N Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jodhpur.&#x0D; Results: After one month of 3rd treatment session, 84% patients stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied on the platelet-rich plasma side, while 7% patients stated this about the normal saline side (P = 0.18).The platelet-rich plasma side was found to have a better response than the control side and participants were more satisfied with the platelet-rich plasma side than the control side.&#x0D; Conclusion: In conclusion, PRP alone provides better overall clinical improvement. We suggest that PRP should be considered as a monotherapy therapeutic option in the management of acne scars.&#x0D; Keywords: PRP, Scar, Acne</jats:p

Correlates of bacterial vaginosis among women from North India

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent cause of abnormal vaginal discharge among pre-menopausal women and associated with adversities of sexual and reproductive health. The present study aimed to identify potential epidemiological and behavioural risk factors and clinical predictors of BV among women in Delhi, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess 283 non-pregnant women aged 18–45 years for BV using Nugent’s scoring criteria. Information on demographics, sexual behaviours, hygiene practices and clinical symptoms was obtained and evaluated for their association with Nugent-BV status. Results: A positive diagnosis for Nugent-BV was made in 69 (24.4%) participants, 55 (19.4%) were intermediate and 159 (65.2%) were negative for Nugent-BV. Infertility ( p = .02) and recent unprotected sexual exposure ( p = .02) were strongly associated with Nugent-BV. On the other hand, women who reported regular use of condoms during intercourse were more likely to test negative ( p = .03). None of the patient complaints, however, had any significant correlation with Nugent-BV diagnosis. Conclusion: Women in their reproductive years share the highest burden of adversities associated with bacterial vaginosis. History of infertility, recent unprotected sexual exposure and frequent use of condoms were correlates having significant associations with Nugent-BV. </jats:p

Bilateral thecoma presenting as premenopausal hirsutism: Laproscopic removal

Hyperandrogenism is a common disorder among women in the reproductive age group. One of the rare causes for androgen excess is sex cord- stromal tumors of the ovary. These are usually unilateral. Here we report case of a 48 year old woman who presented with hyperandrogenism due to bilateral ovarian thecoma. Androgen levels normalized following resection of the tumor. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first case of bilateral thecoma presenting as hirsutism in a premenopausal woman