Functional and radiological outcome of surgical treatment of distal tibial fracture by minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis technique

Background: Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) is an established technique for fixation of fractures of the distal third tibia. Aim of our study was to manage extraarticular fractures of the distal third tibia by the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique and follow them prospectively. Clinical and radiological outcomes were studied and clinical indications & efficacy of the procedure reviewed.Methods: From June 2018 to June 2019,25 patients of closed distal tibial fractures were operated by MIPPO technique with a distal tibial anatomical locking plate having 4.5 out of 5 proximal and 3.5 out of 4 distal screw holes. The follow up duration was for 1 year.Results: The mean fracture healing time was 17 weeks (range 16 to 32 weeks) and average The American orthopedic foot and ankle score was 88.2 out of a total possible 100 points. At last follow up, superficial infection occurred in 3 patients, deep infection in 1 patient, ankle stiffness in 1 patient, limb length discrepancy <1 cm in 1 patient and malunion in 2 patients.Conclusions: MIPPO technique provides good bone healing and decreases incidence of non-union and need for bone grafting. This technique should be used in distal tibia fractures where locked nailing cannot be done like fractures with small distal metaphyseal fragments, vertical splits, markedly comminute fractures

Retroiliac ureter presenting as right upper ureteric obstruction – report of a rare case

Retroiliac ureter is an extremely rare urological entity in which the ureter passes deep to the iliac vessels. Congenital causes are most often secondary to vascular variants. A 39 year old lady presented with one month history of right loin pain. CECT showed right gross HUN till L3 and EC renogram showed 33% function in right kidney with obstructive pattern. RGP revealed Right Pelvic Ureteric Junction Obstruction (PUJO) obstruction, but at exploration was found to have retroiliac ureter. Ureteral division with anterior relocation and dismembered pyeloplasty was done. Anomalous vascular structures are often not diagnosed until surgical intervention for an obstruction of unknown etiology, unless vascular studies are considered, Most of these patients require surgical exploration to exclude tubercular stricture or malignant process

Spectrum of glomerular diseases – clinico-pathologic observations from a state run tertiary care centre

Background: Renal biopsy is an accurate tool for the diagnosis of glomerular disorders. This study was done to evaluate the histo-pathological spectrum of GDs at our centre and analyze its clinico-pathological correlation.Methods: All renal biopsies performed for suspected glomerular diseases at our institute over a period of 2 years from Jan 2013 to Jan 2015 were analyzed (n= 597). Biopsies were performed under ultrasound guidance and processed for light microscopy and immunofluorescence.Results: Among the total biopsies done, 597 (69.49%) had biopsy proven GD .The mean age of the patients included was 37.96 ± 15.58 years. M:F ratio was 2.3 : 1. The most common clinical syndrome was nephrotic syndrome (44.38%). PGDs were more common than SGDs The most common GD presenting as NS was FSGS (29.8%). Among patients with nephrotic syndrome, FSGS, MCD, and MGN predominated. DN was the commonest SGD, followed by Lupus nephritis. NDRD was reported in 33 patients (5.52%).Crescentic GN was seen in 11.89% cases majority presenting as RPGN. IgAN comprised 40.42% of the immune complex crescentic GNs. Amyloidosis was diagnosed in 1.84% of biopsies.Conclusion: Histo-pathological examination with LM and IF techniques and correlation with clinical, biochemical and serological markers as done in this study, have proved useful for the accurate diagnosis of glomerular diseases. It also provides important epidemiological information towards setting up a renal biopsy registry.

Development of NILs from heterogeneous inbred families for validating the rust resistance QTL in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Heterogeneous inbred families segregating for rust resistance were identified from the two crosses involving susceptible (TAG 24 and TG 26) and resistant (GPBD 4) varieties of peanut. Rust-resistant (less than score 5) and rust-susceptible (more than score 5) plants were identified in each HIF and evaluated under rust epiphytotic conditions. The set of plants belonging to the same HIF, but differing significantly in rust resistance, not in other morphological and productivity traits, was regarded as near-isogenic lines (NILs). Largely, rust-resistant NILs had GPBD 4-type allele, and susceptible NILs carried either TAG 24 or TG 26-type allele at the three SSR loci (IPAHM103, GM1536 and GM2301) linked to a major genomic region governing rust resistance. Comparison of the remaining genomic regions between the NILs originating from each of the HIFs using transposon markers indicated a considerably high similarity of 86.4% and 83.1% in TAG 24 × GPPBD 4 and TG 26 × GPBD 4, respectively. These NILs are useful for fine mapping and expression analysis of rust resistance

Development of late leaf spot and rust tolerant genotypes from TMV 2 and JL 24 by marker assisted backcross breeding in groundnut

Foliar diseases like late leaf spot (LLS) and rust cause severe loss in the quantity and quality of the yield in groundnut. Development of foliar disease resistant genotypes, especially from the varieties that are already under commercial cultivation, but are susceptible to LLS and rust, is a promising approach in resistance breeding. The QTL and markers identified to be linked to LLS and rust resistance would hasten the selection scheme in the breeding program. TMV 2 and JL 24 released during 1940 and 1978, respectively for cultivation are still popular, except for their disease susceptibility. They were crossed to LLS and rust resistant genotypes like GPBD 4 (a released variety), ICGV 86699 (interspecific derivative), ICGV 99005 (interspecific derivative) and a second cycle derivative involving synthetic tetraploids. The F1s were selected based on the allele type at LLS and rust resistance-linked markers. Three cycles of backcrossing was attempted, and a few homozygous plants were identified from the BC3F2 from JL 24 x GPBD 4, JL 24 x ICGV 86699 and JL 24 x ICGV 99005. Selected BC3F3 families were highly resistant to LLS and rust, and they carried resistant allele at linked markers like IPAHM103 and GM2301. These lines were on par with the recurrent parent (JL 24) for test weight, SMK and yield. The background genome recovery in a selected family (JG_BC3FL18) of JL24 x GPBD 4 was up to 86.6% when checked with 30 polymorphic transposable element (TE) based markers. Currently, BC3F4 lines are being evaluated in larger plots for productivity and disease resistance

A Reconfigurable Quantum Local Area Network Over Deployed Fiber

Practical quantum networking architectures are crucial for scaling the connection of quantum resources. Yet quantum network testbeds have thus far underutilized the full capabilities of modern lightwave communications, such as flexible-grid bandwidth allocation. In this work, we implement flex-grid entanglement distribution in a deployed network for the first time, connecting nodes in three distinct campus buildings time-synchronized via the Global Positioning System (GPS). We quantify the quality of the distributed polarization entanglement via log-negativity, which offers a generic metric of link performance in entangled bits per second. After demonstrating successful entanglement distribution for two allocations of our eight dynamically reconfigurable channels, we demonstrate remote state preparation -- the first realization on deployed fiber -- showcasing one possible quantum protocol enabled by the distributed entanglement network. Our results realize an advanced paradigm for managing entanglement resources in quantum networks of ever-increasing complexity and service demands

Validation of markers linked to late leaf spot and rust resistance, and selection of superior genotypes among diverse recombinant inbred lines and backcross lines in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from four populations involving cultivated varieties, and backcross lines from three populations involving cultivated varieties and synthetic tetraploids (developed from wild diploids) were employed for validating late leaf spot (LLS) and rust resistance-linked markers and identifying superior genotypes in peanut. GM2009, GM2301, GM2079, GM1536, GM1954 and IPAHM103 markers showed significant association with rust resistance. They were successfully validated in a new RIL (TG 19 × GPBD 4) and two backcross (DH 86 × ISATGR 278-18 and DH 86 × ISATGR 5) populations. GM1954, GM1009 and GM1573 markers showed significant association with LLS resistance. TAG 19 × GPBD 4 and ICGS 76 × ISATGR 278-18 populations showed strong co-segregation of LLS-linked markers with the phenotype. From these genetic resources, six superior genotypes were identified. RIL 78-1 was resistant to LLS and rust, and recorded 30 % more pod yield than GPBD 4 (control). It also had higher kernel yield and oil yield along with higher oleate and linoleate content over GPBD 4. These genetic and genomic resources could be useful in breeding for LLS and rust resistance in peanut

Searching for DNA Lesions: Structural Evidence for Lower- and Higher-Affinity DNA Binding Conformations of Human Alkyladenine DNA Glycosylase

To efficiently repair DNA, human alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG) must search the million-fold excess of unmodified DNA bases to find a handful of DNA lesions. Such a search can be facilitated by the ability of glycosylases, like AAG, to interact with DNA using two affinities: a lower-affinity interaction in a searching process and a higher-affinity interaction for catalytic repair. Here, we present crystal structures of AAG trapped in two DNA-bound states. The lower-affinity depiction allows us to investigate, for the first time, the conformation of this protein in the absence of a tightly bound DNA adduct. We find that active site residues of AAG involved in binding lesion bases are in a disordered state. Furthermore, two loops that contribute significantly to the positive electrostatic surface of AAG are disordered. Additionally, a higher-affinity state of AAG captured here provides a fortuitous snapshot of how this enzyme interacts with a DNA adduct that resembles a one-base loop.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant no. P30-ES002109)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant no. GM65337)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant no. GM65337-03S2)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant no. CA055042)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant no. CA092584)Repligen Corporation (KIICR Graduate Fellowship