The sensitivity of plant tissue culture and plant cell of citrullus lanatus cv. round dragon against basta®

Current study provides an efficient screening system for transformed plant of Citrullus lanatus cv. Round Dragon harboring bar gene. The untransformed 5-day-old cotyledon explants were cultured on the shoot-inducing media supplemented with Basta® (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg L-1) and without Basta® for 3 weeks and subcultured on fresh shoot-inducing media with the same media composition for another 3 weeks. The shoot growth on the cotyledon decreased, as the Basta® concentration increased. A complete inhibition of shoot growth was observed on growth medium supplemented with 2.0 and 3.0 mg L-1 of Basta®, respectively. For ex vitro condition, untransformed healthy plant leaves (derived from acclimatized in vitro plantlets) were leaf painted with an aqueous solution of Basta® at the concentration of 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1% (v/v) using writing brush. The sensitivity of untransformed plant tissues were evaluated based on tissue browning and necrosis due to herbicidal damage. Healthy plant leaves subjected to leaf painting assay showed serious necrotic within 3 days at the concentration of 0.1% (v/v) of Basta®. An efficient herbicide Basta® selection mode has been established via in vitro and ex vitro conditions of untransformed Citrullus lanatus cv. Round Dragon

Severe orbital cellulitis secondary to chronic sinusitis: challenges in saving the eye

Orbital cellulitis is a relatively common disease affecting predominantly the paediatric population. Most cases occur as a result of spread from the nearby sinuses. Other causes include penetrating trauma or extension from infected adjacent structures.If left untreated, this condition may result in devastating sequelae such as orbital apex syndrome, cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, cranial nerve palsies, intracranial abscess formation and even death. A 47 year old immunocompetent Burmese lady presented with left eyelid swelling of 2 days duration associated with eye redness, blurring of vision and diplopia. Previously, there was history of right maxillary sinusitis and parapharyngeal abscess 9 months prior to presentation. On examination, she was afebrile with vision of 1/60 for the left eye with positiverelative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). The eye was proptosed and swollen with restricted extraocular movements in all gazes. Conjunctiva was injected with chemosis and there was corneal epithelial bedewing. Otherwise anterior chamber was quiet and intraocular pressure was 51mmHg. Bilateral fundus examination was normal. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit and paranasal sinus showed dense sinusitis and periosteal abscess at the lateral orbital wall.She was started on intravenous (IV) Cefuroxime and Metronidazole and underwent Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) and orbital decompression. Intra-operatively there was pus and debris at the left anterior ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid air sinuses and cultures revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae which was sensitive to Cefuroxime. Despite medical and surgical treatment, left orbital swelling only reduced minimally. However after starting intravenous Dexamethasone the swelling dramatically improved. She completed 10 days of intravenous Dexamethasone. Upon discharge, she was given oral Dexamethasone 2mg daily for 2 weeks and completed 2 weeks of oral Cefuroxime and Metronidazole. Intraocular pressure normalised and vision recovered to 6/9. A repeat CT orbit 3 weeks later showed resolving preseptal and periorbital collection

Integrity of fluvial fish communities is subject to environmental gradients in mountain streams, Sierra de Aroa, north Caribbean coast, Venezuela

We examined physical habitat and fish assemblages in rivers of the Aroa Mountains (Venezuela) with different levels of environmental protection due to the creation of Yurubí National Park within the drainage. We developed an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and evaluated it using principal components analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Tributary rivers were divided into classes according to their origin (protected by the park) and physical characteristics of each, including substrate. Fishes were captured using standardized electrofishing. Fish communities showed greater species richness in heterogeneous habitat and protected rivers but overall abundance was higher in unprotected and impacted rivers. The IBI was sensitive to these differences and the scores were higher in protected rivers. The IBI detected degree of disturbance of fish communities without direct consideration of habitat parameters measured. The PCA revealed a gradient in substrate heterogeneity. Similarly, CCA revealed differences in fish assemblage composition along the environmental gradient and that varied with protection status of the river. The relationship between PCA and IBI scores was highly significant (r² = 0.61, P < 0.0001). The PCA and CCA analysis moderately validated the structure and predictability of IBI; but it is still necessary to refine the model and to extend its application for more time and over a wider area