Regional and experiential differences in surgeon preference for the treatment of cervical facet injuries: a case study survey with the AO Spine Cervical Classification Validation Group

Purpose: The management of cervical facet dislocation injuries remains controversial. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify whether a surgeon’s geographic location or years in practice influences their preferred management of traumatic cervical facet dislocation injuries. Methods: A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. The survey included clinical case scenarios of cervical facet dislocation injuries and asked responders to select preferences among various diagnostic and management options. Results: A total of 189 complete responses were received. Over 50% of responding surgeons in each region elected to initiate management of cervical facet dislocation injuries with an MRI, with 6 case exceptions. Overall, there was considerable agreement between American and European responders regarding management of these injuries, with only 3 cases exhibiting a significant difference. Additionally, results also exhibited considerable management agreement between those with ≤ 10 and > 10 years of practice experience, with only 2 case exceptions noted. Conclusion: More than half of responders, regardless of geographical location or practice experience, identified MRI as a screening imaging modality when managing cervical facet dislocation injuries, regardless of the status of the spinal cord and prior to any additional intervention. Additionally, a majority of surgeons would elect an anterior approach for the surgical management of these injuries. The study found overall agreement in management preferences of cervical facet dislocation injuries around the globe

The relationship among some Quantitative Characters of Different Varieties of Soyabean (Glycine Max (L) Merrill.) in the Sudan Savannah Agro-Ecological Zone of Nigeria

This research experiment was conducted at Teaching and Research Farm of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil (Latitude 11°51’ N, Longitude 9°20’ E at an altitude of 430 m above the sea level). The aim of the study is to study the relationship among some qualitative characters of different varieties of Soybean in the Sudan Savannah region. The germplasm of three different varieties of Soybean improves, namely TGX-1448-2E, TGX-1835-10E and one local variety were collected from Bayero University Kano Agronomy Laboratory and local market around the region. The seeds were sown in a randomized complete block design and replicated nine times. Days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of leaves /plant, number of pods/plants, number of seed per plant, seed yield/plant, and 100-seed weight were taken as growth and yield parameters. The result of analysis of variance indicated that all the growth and yield parameters were significantly (P>0.05) different between the varieties except plant height at 4WAS which was found to be statistically similar among the three varieties. Plant height at six weeks after sowing had positive and significant correlations with the number of pods per plant (0.254), days to 50% flowering (0.214) and negative significant correlation with the number of seeds per plant(- 0.30). Days to 50% flowering showed negative but highly significant correlations with the number of pods per plant (-0.870) and the number of seeds per plant (-0.659) however, it only shows positive and highly significant correlation with hundred seed weight (0.524). The number of pods per plant had positive and highly significant correlations with the number of seeds per plant (0.759) and negative significant correlation with hundred seed weight (-0.564). The number of seeds per plant showed negative and highly significant correlations with the hundred seed weight (-0.441)

Extraction of bacteriocin from L. plantarum and L. acidophilus and determination of some of its physico-chemical characteristics

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial compounds that are produced by many different bacterial species including lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Some bacteriocins produced by LAB inhibit not only closely related species, but are also effective against food borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and many Gram – positive food spoilage causing microorganisms. The aim of the study is to isolate Lactic acid bacteria from Cucumis sativum, extract bacteriocin from the isolated LAB and determine some of its physico – chemical characteristics. The LAB was identified using conventional biochemical tests, API50CHL and molecular techniques as Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Bacteriocin extracted from the isolated LAB was tested for antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Highest activity by zone of inhibition of 9.3+0.33mm on S. aureus was obtained. Physical, chemical and biochemical properties of the bacteriocin extract showed that, they are thermo stable (40oC – 121oC) active over a wide range of pH (3 – 11), inactivated by the enzyme trypsin. Addition of sodium Dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Tween 80 and Urea, reduced the antibacterial activity while addition of EDTA enhances of the antibacterial activity of the bacteriocin. The study has revealed the presence of Lactobacillus in cucumber (Cucumis sativum) which was confirmed using API50CHL and molecular techniques. Keywords: Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacteriocin, Antibacterial Activity, EDTA, Test Organism

RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GENOTYPES GROWTH CHARACTERS UNDER DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS EVALUATED IN SUDAN SAVANNA, NIGERIA

Drought stress and heat stress are two major limiting factors affecting maize productivity in the tropical regions. High temperatures and changes in rainfall pattern can cause significant decline in maize yields under rain fed conditions with Africa being one of the worst affected areas. Heat tolerance can be accomplished through genetic management approach. The aim of the research is to assess the extent of variation in tolerance to drought stress and heat tolerant stress and their performance on growth and yield characters. The trials were conducted on genetic analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines under combined (drought and heat stress) conditions. The parental materials comprises eight inbred lines that were crossed in a partial diallel pattern; thereafter, the checks, parents and resultant F1 generations were evaluated at two locations, Kano University of Science and Technology and farmers field at Dambatta local government area Kano state during 2021 dry seasons. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The results indicated the crossing of P4 X P9 and P3 X P4 to produce significantly to produce significantly better growth attributes like plant height ear height, plant aspect and grain yield. These parental lines might be used in maize breeding programs in Nigeria as sources of drought and or heat tolerance

CORRELATION AND PATH COEFFICIENT ANALYSIS BETWEEN GRAIN YIELD AND SOME GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) GENOTYPE AS INFLUENCED BY DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS IN SUDAN SAVANNAH OF NIGERIA

Experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil and on a farmer’s field at Dambatta Local Government Area, with eight maize genotypes to assess the character associations among the genotypes for yield attributes. The experiment was conducted during February to June 2021 and also 2022, in a lattice design with three replications in both years and locations and are made to determine the performance of the genotypes in interacting environments. The genotypes differed significantly for most of the studied traits. Grain yield was significantly associated with plant height, anthesis silking interval, days to maturity, ear height, ears per plant, grain weight per plant in a positive direction and associated negatively with tassel blast, barren plant and leaf senescence. Path co-efficient analysis revealed that the maximum positive direct contribution towards yield was through grain weight per plant, plant height, and ears per plant whereas ear height showed negative direct contribution to grain yield due to negative indirect effects of several other parameters such as ear height via grain weight per plant, plant height via grain weight per plant

RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GENOTYPES GROWTH CHARACTERS UNDER DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS EVALUATED IN SUDAN SAVANNA, NIGERIA

Drought stress and heat stress are two major limiting factors affecting maize productivity in the tropical regions. High temperatures and changes in rainfall pattern can cause significant decline in maize yields under rain fed conditions with Africa being one of the worst affected areas. Heat tolerance can be accomplished through genetic management approach. The aim of the research is to assess the extent of variation in tolerance to drought stress and heat tolerant stress and their performance on growth and yield characters. The trials were conducted on genetic analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines under combined (drought and heat stress) conditions. The parental materials comprises eight inbred lines that were crossed in a partial diallel pattern; thereafter, the checks, parents and resultant F1 generations were evaluated at two locations, Kano University of Science and Technology and farmers field at Dambatta local government area Kano state during 2021 dry seasons. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The results indicated the crossing of P4 X P9 and P3 X P4 to produce significantly to produce significantly better growth attributes like plant height ear height, plant aspect and grain yield. These parental lines might be used in maize breeding programs in Nigeria as sources of drought and or heat tolerance

Establishing the injury severity of subaxial cervical spine trauma validating the hierarchical nature of the AO spine subaxial cervical spine injury classification system

Study Design. Global cross-sectional survey. Objective. The aim of this study was to validate the AO Spine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification by examining the perceived injury severity by surgeon across AO geographical regions and practice experience. Summary of Background Data. Previous subaxial cervical spine injury classifications have been limited by subpar interobserver reliability and clinical applicability. In an attempt to create a universally validated scheme with prognostic value, AO Spine established a subaxial cervical spine injury classification involving four elements: injury morphology, facet injury involvement, neurologic status, and case-specific modifiers. Methods. A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. Respondents graded the severity of each variable of the classification system on a scale from zero (low severity) to 100 (high severity). Primary outcome was to assess differences in perceived injury severity for each injury type over geographic regions and level of practice experience. Results. A total of 189 responses were received. Overall, the classification system exhibited a hierarchical progression in subtype injury severity scores. Only three subtypes showed a significant difference in injury severity score among geographic regions: F3 (floating lateral mass fracture, P ¼ 0.04), N3 (incomplete spinal cord injury, P ¼ 0.03), and M2 (critical disk herniation, P ¼ 0.04). When stratified by surgeon experience, pairwise comparison showed only two morphological subtypes, B1 (bony posterior tension band injury, P ¼ 0.02) and F2 (unstable facet fracture, P ¼ 0.03), and one neurologic subtype (N3, P ¼ 0.02) exhibited a significant difference in injury severity score. Conclusion. The AO Spine Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System has shown to be reliable and suitable for proper patient management. The study shows this classification is substantially generalizable by geographic region and surgeon experience, and provides a consistent method of communication among physicians while covering the majority of subaxial cervical spine traumatic injuries

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways