Influence of Imazaquin Seed Treatment on Control of Striga gesnerioides and its Consequence on Yield and Yield Components of Selected Cowpea Genotypes

The effect of Imazaquin seed treatment on Striga control, yield, and yield components of cowpea were investigated in Nigeria, in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. Imazaquin at 0.00, 0.06, and 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1 was the main plot treatment; cowpea genotypes (Achishiru, IT97K-1263, IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1, TVU-1283, TVU-1542 and TVU-1908) were the subplots. The untreated control recorded the highest number of Striga m-2 which was 2.8 times higher than seed treatment with imazaquin at 0.06 kg a.i. ha-1, and 6.8 times higher than treatment at 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1. Achishiru had the most Striga infestation (4.29 m-2) in 2010 and TVU-1283 (5.61 m-2) in 2011; genotype IT97K-1263 had no Striga in 2010 and 2011. TVU-1542 and IT97K-390-2 recorded the highest grain yield in 2010 and 2011. Treating IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1 and TVU-1542 with imazaquin at 0.06 and 0.24 kg a.i. ha-1 reduced Striga parasitism in the field and increased grain yield and yield component of these genotypes. These treatment combinations are therefore recommended for Striga control. Keywords: genotypes, cowpea, imazaquin, Striga control, seed treatmen

Strategy on Hepatitis B prevention among African undergraduate students of health sciences in Davangere, Karnataka India

Background: Hepatitis B is an inflammatory disease of the liver which is caused by Hepatitis B Virus. It is a global problem, with 66% of all the population living in areas where there are high levels of infections. Hepatitis B infection are due to lapses in the sterilization of instruments as well as improper waste management. Knowledge regarding Hepatitis B and safety precautions is needed to minimize the health care setting’s acquired infections among health personnel and students of health Sciences. Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the knowledge regarding the prevention of Hepatitis B among African Undergraduate students of Health Sciences in Davangere. Methodology: A cross sectional design was used for the study were 50 students were selected using purposive sampling. A validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using median score and correlations. Results: The results indicated that majority (52%) of the respondents were between 22- 24years of age. The students of B.Pharm were 25 (50%), 38% MBBS and 12% B.Sc. Nursing. The overall median score on knowledge regarding hepatitis B Prevention was 13.0 out of maximum score of 29. The association between the knowledge on hepatitis B prevention strategy with level of study and course specialty was 0.74 P>0.05. Conclusion: The study concluded that the knowledge regarding Hepatitis B prevention among students was inadequate hence, recommends a similar study on a larger scale. Keywords: Knowledge; Prevention; Hepatitis B; Infection; African

Phytosociological attributes of aquatic weeds of Kano-Hadejanguru wetlands

A survey was conducted during dry and rainy seasons of 2011 in order to determine the phytosociological attributes of acquatic weeds of Kano-Hadeja-Nguru wetlands. Random quadrat method was adopted for the phytosociological studies. The study areas consisted of communities from Kano, Jigawa and Yobe States. In each state, six communities were randomly selected. In each community20 quadrats of 4 m2 size were laid down and hence sum of 120 quadrats were randomly thrown for each state. Within each quadrat area, weeds were identified, counted and weed cover scores were recorded. Weeds were cut at ground level, fresh and dry weights were determined. Typha grass was the most dominant species in the wetlands of Jigawa (21.195 and 22.5%) compared to either Kano (9.345 and 5.27%) or Yobe (12.73 and12.135%) states. Weed density, weed cover scores as well as fresh and dry weight of weed samples from Kano were observed to be higher than the other two states. Morphological characteristics of Typha spp found in Kano State were taller with more leaves than the other two states. The study suggested that there is strong need to start an Integrated Typha management in the study areas.Keywords: Phytosocioloy, aquatic weed, wetlands, Typha morpholog

Haematological changes in Wistar rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei obtained from North-west Nigeria

This study determined haematological changes in Wistar rats experimentally infected with local strains of Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Forty-five Wistar rats between 10 – 12 weeks old weighing between 210 – 240 g were used. The Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D), with the infected groups (B, C and D) having 10 rats each, while the uninfected control group (A) had 15 rats. Group A rats were not infected and served as the control, group B were infected with Trypanosoma congolense, group C were infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and group D were co-infected with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Infection was achieved using 0.1mL of blood containing approximately 1 × 103 trypanosomes intraperitoneally into each Wistar rat in the infected groups. Clinical signs were observed. The changes in the blood cells were assayed in the groups post-infection. Duncan’s Least Square Deviation showed significantly (p<0.05) higher parasitaemia in infected groups. However, group D showed a higher significant (p<0.05) difference in parasitaemia when compared to groups B and C. The pattern of mean parasitaemia for the infected groups, revealed a positive correlation with days of post-infection (p<0.05) before the decline. The packed cell volume, total red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration were significantly (p<0.05) lower in infected groups B, C and D. The total white blood cell count, platelet counts and differential leucocyte count were significantly (p<0.05) lower in infected groups when compared to the uninfected group. These findings suggest that co-infection with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei obtained from Wurno and Ngaski in Sokoto and Kebbi States respectively produced a more damaging effect on haematological parameters

The igrins yso survey. i. stellar parameters of pre-main-sequence stars in taurus- auriga

We present fundamental parameters for 110 canonical K- and M-type (1.3-0.13Me) Taurus-Auriga young stellar objects (YSOs). The analysis produces a simultaneous determination of effective temperature (Teff), surface gravity (log g), magnetic-field strength (B), and projected rotational velocity (v sin i). Our method employed synthetic spectra and high-resolution (R ∼ 45,000) near-infrared spectra taken with the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) to fit specific K-band spectral regions most sensitive to those parameters. The use of these high-resolution spectra reduces the influence of distance uncertainties, reddening, and non-photospheric continuum emission on the parameter determinations. The median total (fit + systematic) uncertainties were 170 K, 0.28 dex, 0.60 kG, 2.5 km s-1 for Teff, log g, B, and v sin i, respectively. We determined B for 41 Taurus YSOs (upper limits for the remainder) and find systematic offsets (lower Teff, higher log g and v sin i) in parameters when B is measurable but not considered in the fit. The average log g for the Class II and Class III objects differs by 0.23 ± 0.05 dex, which is consistent with Class III objects being the more evolved members of the star-forming region. However, the dispersion in log g is greater than the uncertainties, which highlights how the YSO classification correlates with age (log g), yet there are exceptionally young (lower log g) Class III YSOs and relatively old (higher log g) Class II YSOs with unexplained evolutionary histories. The spectra from this work are provided in an online repository along with TW Hydrae Association comparison objects and the model grid used in our analysis

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 84.7%) were from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 62.8%), followed by strabismus (n = 429 10.2%) and proptosis (n = 309 7.4%). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 95% CI, 12.94-24.80, and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 95% CI, 4.30-7.68). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs. © 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

Effectiveness of imazaquin seed treatment on Striga gesnerioides control and growth traits of seven cowpea genotypes

Cultural and biological control measures have failed to provide satisfactory management of Striga gesnerioides, a major biotic constraint to cowpea production in sub-Saharan Africa. Field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of imazaquin seed treatment (at 0.00, 0.06, and 0.24 kg a.i. ha−1) on Striga gesnerioides control and the growth of seven cowpea genotypes (Achishiru, IT97K-1263, IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1, TVU-1283, TVU-1542, and TVU-1908) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, during the rainy seasons of 2010 and 2011. Treating the seeds with imazaquin at 0.24 kg a.i. ha−1 produced the lowest number of striga stand−1. Across herbicide rates, Achishiru had most S. gesnerioides; IT97K-1263 had the fewest. The results indicated that the untreated control recorded the highest number. The untreated TVU-1283 produced the fewest branches; Achishiru produced the least dry matter while IT97K-1263 had the most branches and dry matter in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. Application of 0.24 kg a.i. ha−1 to IT97K-390-2 consistently produced the highest branches and dry matter; Achishiru produced the fewest branches and least dry matter in 2010 and 2011 seasons. Treating IT97K-390-2, IT98K-133-1-1, and TVU-1542 with imazaquin at 0.24 kg a.i. ha−1 provided an effective means of managing striga in cowpea and enhanced the growth characters of these genotypes