Allelopathic potential in rice - a biochemical tool for plant defence against weeds

Rice is a key crop for meeting the global food demand and ensuring food security. However, the crop has been facing great problems to combat the weed problem. Synthetic herbicides pose a severe threat to the long-term viability of agricultural output, agroecosystems, and human health. Allelochemicals, secondary metabolites of allelopathic plants, are a powerful tool for biological and eco-friendly weed management. The dynamics of weed species in various situations are determined by crop allelopathy. Phenolics and momilactones are the most common allelochemicals responsible for herbicidal effects in rice. The dispersion of allelochemicals is influenced not only by crop variety but also by climatic conditions. The most volatile chemicals, such as terpenoids, are usually emitted by crop plants in drought-stricken areas whereas the plants in humid zones release phytotoxins that are hydrophilic in nature, including phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The allelochemicals can disrupt the biochemical and physiological processes in weeds causing them to die finally. This study insight into the concepts of allelopathy and allelochemicals, types of allelochemicals, techniques of investigating allelopathic potential in rice, modes of action of allelochemicals, pathways of allelochemical production in plants, biosynthesis of allelochemicals in rice, factors influencing the production of allelochemicals in plants, genetical manipulation through breeding to develop allelopathic traits in rice, the significance of rice allelopathy in sustainable agriculture, etc. Understanding these biological phenomena may thus aid in the development of new and novel weed-control tactics while allowing farmers to manage weeds in an environmentally friendly manner

Awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among married women in rural Bangladesh and exposure to media: a secondary data analysis of the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey

The aims of this study were to describe awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Bangladeshi married women in rural areas and to examine associations between exposure to mass media and their awareness and comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS where mass media has been suggested to be vital sources of information. From the original dataset of the sixth Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey in 2011, the data of 11,570 rural married women aged 15–49 years old were extracted. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We found that approximately two-thirds of women (63.0%) aged 15–49 years had heard about HIV/AIDS. Exposure to each type of media was significantly associated with awareness of HIV/AIDS. Comparing to those who were not exposed to each of the investigated media, the adjusted ORs of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS were significantly high for those exposed to newspapers/magazines less than once a week (1.34, 95% CI 1.09–1.65), newspapers/ magazines at least once a week (1.44, 95% CI 1.07–1.94), television at least once a week (1.41, 95% CI 1.18–1.68). It was suggested that television can be utilized to increase awareness and comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS through effective programs. Although the level of exposure was still low, significant associations between exposure to newspapers/magazines and comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS suggested potential of written messages to promote knowledge of HIV/AIDS

Knowledge of rabies and dog-related behaviors among people in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Abstract Background The rabies incidence and number of dogs in Cambodia are much higher than in nearby countries. Knowledge and behaviors which are related to rabies and/or dogs are considered to be contributing factors for rabies infection control in the community; however, such information in rural Cambodia is limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess knowledge and experiences related to rabies as well as dog-related behaviors among people in Siem Reap Province, and to identify the specific factors associated with adequate knowledge. Methods Four-stage sampling was employed to identify villages and households. In total, 360 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively summarized and logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios of adequate knowledge related to rabies for respondents’ characteristics. Results Only 9.7% of respondents had adequate knowledge of rabies. Of the respondents, 86.9 and 18.3% had experienced hearing of or seeing a suspected rabid dog and a suspected rabid human, respectively. More than two-thirds (70.6%) of households had at least one dog, and the ratio of dog to human populations was 1: 2.8. Only a few owners had vaccinated dogs, used a cage, or tied up their dog. Visiting a health center was the first choice of treatment for respondents when bitten by a dog. However, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was not commonly expected as a treatment choice by respondents. Those with higher education were more likely to have adequate knowledge than those with no education (adjusted OR 12.34, 95% CI 2.64–57.99, p < 0.01). Farmers and non-poor families were also less likely to have adequate knowledge than those of other professions and poor families (adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12–0.76, p = 0.01, and adjusted OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.47, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions High dog population, inadequate knowledge of rabies, low recognition of human rabies, and poor dog management were found to be serious challenges for controlling rabies. Health education related to rabies should be introduced, targeting farmers in particular who easily encounter stray dogs but have little knowledge of rabies risk factors and signs. At the same time, PEP delivery and dog management should be improved

Tuberculosis and Rifanpicin Resistance among Migrants in Kyrgyzstan: Detection by a New Diagnostic Test

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe suspected tuberculosis (TB) cases among migrants in Kyrgyzstan and to estimate the accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF, which has been operated in Kyrgyzstan since 2012. Characteristics of 3,714 suspected cases among migrants were analysed. In addition, by using data of 300 cases with culture results, sensitivity and specificity of Xpert MTB/RIF, both for detection of TB and rifampicin susceptibility, were assessed. Among 3,714 suspected cases, 56.1% were male, and the median age was 35 years old. Of the suspected cases, 17.2% were previously-treated. In total, 809 (21.8%) were smear-positive; 36.8% among previously-treated cases and 18.7% among new cases. Among 300 selected participants, 235 (78.3%) were culture-positive. Of those who were confirmed as TB positive, recurrent cases showed a higher proportion of rifampicin resistance than new cases (59.3% vs 42.6%). For detection of TB, the sensitivity and specificity of XpertMTB/RIF (81.3% and 98.2%) were higher than those of microscopy (70.2% and 71.4%). Sensitivity and specificity for detection of rifampicin resistance were 96.8% and 91.8%, respectively. The rifampicin resistance rate in the study population was higher than the national average. Xpert MTB/RIF showed higher accuracy in detecting TB cases than microscopic diagnosis. Higher accuracy and earlier detection of drug susceptibility is especially important for those who have difficulty in accessing healthcare and those who are easily lost from tracking, including migrants

Clinical Features, Current Treatments and Outcome of Pregnant Women with Preeclampsaia/ Eclampsia in Northern Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, preeclampsia/eclampsia is the second leading cause of maternal deaths following maternal hemorrhage. This study aimed to describe clinical features, current treatments, and outcome among preeclampsia and eclampsia patients in the north region of Afghanistan. This was a retrospective study based on medical records of four center hospitals (one regional hospital and three provincial hospitals) in the north region of Afghanistan. Subjects were 322 patients with preeclampsia/eclampsia, admitted from March 2012 to March 2013. Out of 322 cases, 72.7% were diagnosed as preeclampsia and the rest as eclampsia. Those aged 30–39 years were 41.0% among preeclampsia patients and 29 years and younger were 35.2% among eclampsia patients (p= 0.002). The first delivery was significantly higher (p=0.045) among eclampsia patients (51.1%) than among preeclampsia patients (36.8%). While none died among the preeclampsia patients, 12 out of 88 eclampsia patients died in the hospitals. The causes of the 12 deaths were pulmonary edema (6 patients), renal failure (3 patients), cerebrovascular attack (2 patients), and hemorrhage (1 patient). There were no clinical findings at admission significantly associated with the deaths within the eclampsia patient group. Although the sample size was not large enough, patients admitted to the regional/provincial hospitals at the stage of preeclampsia had a low risk of death. Access at the stage of preeclampsia and improvement in treatments for eclampsia would reduce maternal mortality in Afghanistan

Delivery Care Satisfaction at Government Hospitals in Xiengkhuang Province under the Maternal and Child Health Strategy in Lao PDR

Satisfaction with delivery care for mothers giving birth at medical facilities, particularly hospitals, affects birth place selection. Lao PDR faces high maternal and infant mortality, and the government had introduced the Maternal and Child Health Strategy to Xiengkhuang Province in 2009 to combat high maternal and infant mortality there. This study aimed to determine the levels of delivery care satisfaction among mothers who gave birth in hospitals and examine the associations between satisfaction and background factors. This was a cross-sectional study, conducted from July to August of 2013, for 246 mothers who gave birth at three hospitals. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the factors. The majority of respondents were ≤ 25 years of age (57.3%), educated in ≤12 years (64.2%), unemployed (77.6%), and with more than one child (60.2%). Most mothers (93.5%) received antenatal care at least one time. Among the 16 components of satisfaction, less than half of the respondents were satisfied with sanitary facilities (22.0%), cleanliness (39.4%), their infant’s health condition (42.7%), opportunity to clarify doubts about baby care (48.8%), their own health condition (43.5%), and privacy maintained during care (45.5%). The components with more than 80% satisfaction among the respondents were the politeness and respect shown by midwives (88.6%), nurses (85.4%), and doctors (80.1%) as well as medical service facilities (81.7%). Overall satisfaction was significantly associated with higher husband’s education (OR=2.36, 95% CI=1.07–5.19) and longer hospital stay (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.28–4.14) when 15 background factors were adjusted. In conclusion, mothers who gave birth at hospitals in Lao PDR were generally satisfied, except for sanitary facilities, and cleanliness of facilities