Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interactions (AMMI) and genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses aid selection of high yielding and adapted finger millet varieties

Background and justification: Lack of stable high yielding cultivars is one of the major bottlenecks for production and productivity of finger millets in Ethiopia. Identification of adaptable, stable and high yielding genotypes under varying environmental conditions prior to release as a cultivar is the first and foremost steps for plant breedingr and this has direct bearing on the adoption of the variety, its productivity and total production of the crop.Objective: The major objectives of the present study were to (i) assess the stability and yield performance of advanced finger millet genotypes  evaluated in multiple environments, and (ii) identify stable high yieldingcandidate cultivar (s) for possible release using different statistical tools.Material and methods: A total of 30 advanced finger millet genotypes were evaluated against two standard checks (Gute and Taddese) across four locations (Arsi Negele, Assosa, Bako and Gute) in 2012 and 2013 main cropping seasons. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times.Summary result and application of the study: Additive Main effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI), Genotype and Genotype by Environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis and, Eberhart and Russellmodel revealed that Acc. 203544 is stable high yielding (3.16 ton ha-1) with a yield advantage of 13.7% over the best standard check, Gute (2.78 ton ha-1), and thus should be recommended for possible release with wider environmental adaptability. Acc. 242111 (3.08 ton ha-1), Acc. BKFM0051 (3.07 ton ha-1) and Acc.229738 (2.99 ton ha-1) were also high yielding, but showed narrow stability and thus should be recommended for verification and possible release for specific environments.Key words/phrases: Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), Finger millet (Eleusine coracana subsp. coracana), Genotype by Environment Interaction (GEI

Forecast analysis of any opportunistic infection among HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda

Data on monthly prevalence of any opportunistic infection among HIV positive individuals on HAART in TASO, Uganda (2004-2013). (XLS 34 kb

Training Report: Training of trainers and farmers’ training on validated sweetpotato silage making and use in Masaka and Kamuli districts.

European UnionInternational Fund for Agricultural Developmen

Thrombocytopenia in Haart naive HIV infected patients attending the comprehensive care clinic at Kenyatta national hospital

Background: Haematological abnormalities are common in HIV infected patients. Thrombocytopenia has been associated with progression of disease. The presence of thrombocytopenia is significantly associated with decreased survival and is a predictor of mortality.Objective: To determine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia and clinical characteristics of HIV infected patients who are HAART naive attending the Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic..Design: Cross-sectional descriptive Study.Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic.Subjects: HIV positive HAART naive patients.Results: Three hundred and forty HIV infected HAART naive patients with a mean age of 37.3years and range of 18years to 72years were recruited. The male to female ratio was 1:1.6.The study population comprised mostly of; young patients (39.9% between 30-40yrs), females (61.6%) in WHO clinical stage I (57.6%) and with CD4 count between 200-500 cell/mm3. The mean platelet count was 230,000 cells/ul. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia in this population was 3.8%. Most of the patients (66.7%) with thrombocytopenia had a bicytopenia with the rest having isolated thrombocytopenia or pancytopenia. Bleeding tendencies were observed more in the thrombocytopenia group (p= 0.011). Patients with CD4 count < 200cells/mm3 were more likely to have thrombocytopenia (p <0.050).Conclusion: The prevalence of thrombocytopenia is low among ambulant HIV infected HAART naive patients attending the Kenyatta National Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic. This could be attributed to young age, predominant female gender and early disease WHO Stage 1 in the study population. Other studies found older age, male gender and advanced HIV infection population to be determinants where higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia have been reported

The effect of anthelmintic treatment during pregnancy on HIV plasma viral load: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of helminth infections and their treatment during pregnancy on HIV load, we conducted a 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial of albendazole versus placebo and praziquantel versus placebo in pregnant women in Entebbe, Uganda. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-four HIV-infected pregnant women from the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study (ISRCTN 32849447) were included in this analysis. Women were tested for helminth infections at enrollment, and mean HIV load was compared between infected and uninfected groups. The effect of anthelmintic treatment on HIV load was evaluated at 6 weeks after treatment and at delivery using linear regression and adjusting for enrollment viral load. RESULTS: Hookworm and Trichuris infections were associated with higher mean viral load at enrollment [adjusted mean difference 0.24 log10 copies/mL, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01 to 0.47, P = 0.03, and 0.37 log(10) copies/mL, 95% CI: 0.00 to 0.74, P = 0.05, respectively]. There were no associations between viral load and other helminth species. There was some evidence that albendazole reduced viral load at 6 weeks after treatment (adjusted mean difference -0.17, 95% CI: -0.36 to 0.01, P = 0.07); however, this effect did not differ according to mother's hookworm infection status and had diminished at delivery (adjusted mean difference -0.11, 95% CI: -0.28 to 0.07, P = 0.23). There was no effect of praziquantel treatment on HIV load at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with some soil-transmitted helminth species is associated with increased HIV load in pregnancy. Treatment with albendazole causes a small decrease in HIV load; however, this may not represent a direct effect of worm removal