Inocybaceae and affiliated taxa from West Africa

Inocybaceae and affiliated taxa reported in West Africa were examined through a survey of available publications coupled with field data collections. Twenty-eight Inocyboid taxa have been reported in the region, including six species validly described in the genera Inocybe, Inosperma and Mallocybe. All taxonomic names have been confirmed in Index Fungorum (http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/names.asp). Among them, four taxa were synonyms of other species of Inocybaceae, Crepidotaceae or Chromocyphellaceae. Consequently, only six taxa, Inocybe ghanaensis, Mallocybe africana, Inosperma africanum, I. bulbomarginatum, I. flavobrunneum and Pseudosperma squamatum make the diversity of Inocybaceae from West Africa. Here the distribution of known taxa has been reported along with checklist. In addition, results of BLAST searches including any potential environmental matches (>97%) similarity is reported. Key words: Checklist, Ectomycorrhizal fungi, Inocybe, Distribution, Pseudosperma, West Afric

Epidemiology and Surgical Outcome of Traumatic Sub Axial Cervical Spine Injuries in a Tertiary Care Hospital of KPK, Pakistan

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to characterize the epidemiologic characteristics, a pattern of traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries, and their surgical outcomes in a tertiary care hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials and Methods:  This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. The records of 40 patients between the ages of 15 and 60 who had cervical spine injuries were evaluated to characterize the injuries and surgical outcomes. We employed the anterior route for surgery regularly and the posterior method only when the reduction failed or substantial instability. We used a tricortical bone graft or titanium cages with autologous bone and secured them through titanium plates to achieve fusion. Results:  80% of patients presented with sub axial cervical injury. Regarding the etiology of injury, 37.5 % had motor vehicle accidents, 28.12% had a history of height falls, and the remaining had sustained injuries due to other causes. The majority of the patients, 68.75% (n = 22), had isolated subluxation injury.87.5% (n = 28) underwent surgical intervention; surgical outcomes such as pain relief were measured using the VAS, which was 6.09 ± 1.42 preoperatively while 4.5 ± 1.29 postoperatively with a difference of means of 1.59. There was a significant improvement in neurological functions as measured through the ASIA impairment scale. Conclusion:  Most cervical spine injuries occurred in young male patients, motor vehicle accidents were the most prevalent cause, and isolated subluxation was the most frequent injury pattern. 

Molecular phylogeny and morphological characterization of Leucocoprinus birnbaumii from Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Leucocoprinus in Agaricaceae is a genus distributed worldwide and represented by nearly 50 species. From Pakistan, only four species in this genus have been known so far.Methods: The specimen was identified by morphological and anatomical characters combining with sequence analysis of nrDNA-ITS region.Results: Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, a bright yellow mushroom found on wood log from Sialkot district, Punjab, Pakistan. This species is identified by its medium sized bell-shaped pileus bearing the same colored squamule with sulcate striate margins, presence of metachromatic basidiospores and pseudoparaphyses around the basidia. Molecular data also supported its taxonomy as L. birnbaumii. The species is being described for the first time based on morphological and anatomical characters in combination with molecular phylogeny using ITS region of nrDNA.Conclusion: Leucocoprinus birnbaumii is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. It grows in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Its occurrence in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan with humid subtropical climate represents its wide ecological amplitude and geographic distribution.Keywords: Humid subtropical climate; ITS; nrDNA; Taxonomy   

Two new species of genus Leucoagaricus (Agaricaceae, Agaricales) from Pakistan

The genus of basidiomycetous fungi, Leucoagaricus, occurs worldwide, from subtropical to boreal latitudes. Several collections of Leucoagaricus were made during mycological field trips conducted in different forests of Margalla, Pakistan. An integrative framework combining morphological and phylogenetic data was employed for their study. As a result, the two species La. margallensis and La. glareicolor are here described as new to science. Detailed macro- and micro-morphological descriptions, and a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction based on nrITS and LSU sequence data are provided and used to discriminate the new species from morphologically and phylogenetically close taxa. Whereas, our phylogenetic tree inference gave unequivocal support for the inclusion of these two species within the section Leucoagaricus

Surgical Outcome of Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy and Radiculopathy in Terms of Improvement of Pain

Objective: Cervical spondylosis is a common degenerative condition leading to compression of nerve roots or spinal cord, causing radiculopathy or myelopathy. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) techniques are commonly recognized procedures in treating axial cervical spine pain and upper extremity radicular discomfort. The study analyzed the surgical outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and radiculopathy patients in terms of pain improvement. Material and Methods: This descriptive case series analysis was performed at the Neuro Surgery department, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. A total of 146 patients between age 18 – 65 years meeting the inclusion criteria underwent anterior decompression &post-procedure improvement in pain of neck and arm/shoulder was determined using patient reported outcome (PRO) measure, namely visual analog scale (VAS) of 0-10 and a final outcome that is an improvement of pain, i.e., Mild to no pain (VAS score ≤3) was considered after 12 months. Results: The mean age was 52 years ± 8.273. As regards gender distribution, 78% of patients were male, while 22% were female. The mean baseline VAS score was 6.5 ± 2.37, mean postoperative VAS score was 3.5 ± 1.161 with a mean point improvement in pain of 3.0 points (p-value < 0.05). 80% of patients had shown improvement in reducing pain, while 20% did not have shown any improvement. Conclusion: This study revealed that independent of symptoms duration and presentation, patients reported dramatic improvements in neck and arm pain after ACDF

Fungal systematics and evolution : FUSE 7

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Recent Applications of Bioremediation and Its Impact

Socioeconomic concerns have increased the technology dependence to facilitate the increasing population on the earth. Number of anthropogenic sources are responsible for contaminating the natural environment. Effluents from industries contain many toxicants that cause lethal effects on human and animal life on earth. Many techniques are used so far for the abatement of such pollutants from the environment. As “nature heals itself” so dealing with such problems with bioremediation utilizing the invisible workers (microorganisms), plants and enzymes can help minimize and get rid of such pollutants. It is a greener way to conserve the environment and get rid of such awful substances. Bioremediation can help to get rid of contaminants either by in situ or ex situ approach. By using both ways, either ex situ or in situ, the decontamination of the environment can be successfully done. Using various plant materials and microorganisms by tailoring the surrounding environment to make it suitable for rectifying the contaminant issue is the main goal of bioremediation

Inocybe subhimalayanensis (Agaricales, Inocybaceae), a new smooth spored Inocybe species from Pakistan

During mycological explorations, a new smooth spored species, Inocybe subhimalayanensis Razzaq, Naseer & Khalid sp. nov. was collected from moist temperate sub-Himalayan region, Pakistan. Phylogeny of ITS and LSU regions of nrDNA, and morphoanatomical data make it distinct from other known species of the genus. The taxon is characterized by: a yellowish orange to brown pileus with prominent fibrillose, prominent umbo; ellipsoid to amygdaliform smooth larger basidiospores (8.4‒)8.6‒12.2(‒12.6) × (4.9‒)5.1‒7.1(‒7.3) µm; and lack of velipellis. Molecular phylogenetic analyses further support the recognition of the new species

Descolea quercina (Bolbitiaceae), a new species from moist temperate forests in Pakistan

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Two new species of Hygrophorus from temperate Himalayan Oak forests of Pakistan

The genus Hygrophorus is poorly studied from Asia. From Pakistan, only one species has been reported so far. Two new species in the genus have been collected from Himalayan oak forests of Pakistan. Hygrophorus alboflavescens (section Pudorini, subgenus Colorati) is characterised by its pure white, centrally depressed pileus, occurrence of white stipe with yellow patches at lower half and broader (4.98 μm) basidiospores. Hygrophorus scabrellus (section Hygrophorus, subgenus Hygrophorus) is characterised by its yellowish-green stipe with white apex that has fine scales on the entire stipe, an off-white pileus with dark green and greyish fibrils, ovoid to ellipsoid basidiospores and clavate 4-spored basidia. Macro- and micromorphological descriptions have revealed that both these taxa are not yet described. Phylogenetic estimation based on DNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes, is congruent with the morphological characters that help to delimit these as new species of Hygrophorus. Allied taxa are also compared