Evaluation of innovative cotton genotypes against insect pest prevalence, fiber trait, economic yield and virus incidence in Pakistan

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is known as important commodity globally. The experiment was conducted at Cotton Research Station, Multan, Punjab-Pakistan, to evaluate resistance of nine innovative cotton cultivars against insect pest complex were used along with their fiber traits, economic yield and virus incidence. Population of jassid, whitefly and thrips was recorded by using leaf turn method, bollworms by counting whole fruiting parts (buds, flowers and bolls), virus by counting healthy and virus effected plants per plot, yield of seed cotton was determined by hand harvesting method, while qualitative fiber properties were measured through HVI spectrum-1 (high volume instrumentation) method. Cotton genotype NIAB-Bt-2 is resistant to jassid, whitefly and thrips with maximum GOT, staple length. In case of bollworms, all genotypes are resistant to spotted and american bollworm, except FH-142 and MNH-988. No genotype is resistant to pink bollworm in leftover bolls. Best yield performance was recorded on FH-142 (2041.54 kg/ha) with minimum CLCuV incidence. Further our research should recognize the share of one pest species on the yield and fiber quality of cotton by managing other pest species to define better management strategies. Our studies concluded that the genotype NIAB-Bt-2 has less insect attack i.e., sucking pest as well as bollworms, virus and other fiber characteristics like GOT, staple length as compared with other cotton genotypes should be recommended for general cultivation and being a resistant germplasm it should be included in breeding program for the development of new cotton strains

Expression and functional activity of pro-oxidants and antioxidants in murine heart exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia

AbstractUnder hypobaric hypoxia, antioxidant defenses of the heart are stressed by the enhanced production of ROS. Mammalian heart acclimatizes to hypoxia through altered gene expression, which we studied in murine heart exposed to 10h of acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH), equivalent to 15000ft, using cDNA arrays. Functional classification of genes with a ⩾2-fold change revealed a number of pro-oxidants like Cyba, Xdh, Txnip, Ppp1r15b and antioxidants like Cat, Gpx1, Mt1, Mgst1. Interestingly, the protein level of Cyba, a subunit of NADPH oxidase, was markedly decreased in AHH exposed heart, suggesting the involvement of some stress response pathways. The AHH exposure also caused a significant reduction (50%) in the level of GSH (P<0.05). The present study provides a retrospective insight on the cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms under AHH

Rare germline variants in DNA repair genes and the angiogenesis pathway predispose prostate cancer patients to develop metastatic disease

Background Prostate cancer (PrCa) demonstrates a heterogeneous clinical presentation ranging from largely indolent to lethal. We sought to identify a signature of rare inherited variants that distinguishes between these two extreme phenotypes. Methods We sequenced germline whole exomes from 139 aggressive (metastatic, age of diagnosis < 60) and 141 non-aggressive (low clinical grade, age of diagnosis ≥60) PrCa cases. We conducted rare variant association analyses at gene and gene set levels using SKAT and Bayesian risk index techniques. GO term enrichment analysis was performed for genes with the highest differential burden of rare disruptive variants. Results Protein truncating variants (PTVs) in specific DNA repair genes were significantly overrepresented among patients with the aggressive phenotype, with BRCA2, ATM and NBN the most frequently mutated genes. Differential burden of rare variants was identified between metastatic and non-aggressive cases for several genes implicated in angiogenesis, conferring both deleterious and protective effects. Conclusions Inherited PTVs in several DNA repair genes distinguish aggressive from non-aggressive PrCa cases. Furthermore, inherited variants in genes with roles in angiogenesis may be potential predictors for risk of metastases. If validated in a larger dataset, these findings have potential for future clinical application

Infrastructure for Detector Research and Development towards the International Linear Collider

The EUDET-project was launched to create an infrastructure for developing and testing new and advanced detector technologies to be used at a future linear collider. The aim was to make possible experimentation and analysis of data for institutes, which otherwise could not be realized due to lack of resources. The infrastructure comprised an analysis and software network, and instrumentation infrastructures for tracking detectors as well as for calorimetry.Comment: 54 pages, 48 picture

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes

Diagnosis of chronic conditions with modifiable lifestyle risk factors in selected urban and rural areas of Bangladesh and sociodemographic variability therein

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bangladesh suffers from a lack of healthcare providers. The growing chronic disease epidemic's demand for healthcare resources will further strain Bangladesh's limited healthcare workforce. Little is known about how Bangladeshis with chronic disease seek care. This study describes chronic disease patients' care seeking behavior by analyzing which providers diagnose these diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During 2 month periods in 2009, a cross-sectional survey collected descriptive data on chronic disease diagnoses among 3 surveillance populations within the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) network. The maximum number of respondents (over age 25) who reported having ever been diagnosed with a chronic disease determined the sample size. Using SAS software (version 8.0) multivariate regression analyses were preformed on related sociodemographic factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 32,665 survey respondents, 8,591 self reported having a chronic disease. Chronically ill respondents were 63.4% rural residents. Hypertension was the most prevalent disease in rural (12.4%) and urban (16.1%) areas. In rural areas chronic disease diagnoses were made by MBBS doctors (59.7%) and Informal Allopathic Providers (IAPs) (34.9%). In urban areas chronic disease diagnoses were made by MBBS doctors (88.0%) and IAP (7.9%). Our analysis identified several groups that depended heavily on IAP for coverage, particularly rural, poor and women.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>IAPs play important roles in chronic disease care, particularly in rural areas. Input and cooperation from IAPs are needed to minimize rural health disparities. More research on IAP knowledge and practices regarding chronic disease is needed to properly utilize this potential healthcare resource.</p