Evaluation of chemical pesticides for the management of Top Borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker) in sugarcane

An experiment was conducted at research field of National Sugarcane Research Program, Jeetpur, Nepal in 2014 and 2016, to evaluate the efficacy of chemical insecticides against sugarcane top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker). Nine different treatments viz. Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 G, Cartap hydrochloride 4 G, Fipronil 0.3 G, Carbofuran 3 G (standard check) as soil application and foliar spray of Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, Thiodicarp 75 WP, Spinosad 45 SC, Chlorpyrifos 20 EC (standard check) and one untreated check (control) were used in randomized complete block design with three replications. The top borer susceptible genotype, Co 0238 was planted on February and single application of these insecticides was done on July at brood stage against top borers. The lowest 10.65 and 12.43, 13.68, 14.61, 14.15 percentage of top borer damage was found in foliar application of Chlorantraniliprole @ 35g a.i. /ha followed by Spinosad @ 125g a.i. /ha and soil application of Cartap hydrochloride @ 1500g a.i /ha and foliar application of Thiodicarp @ 1500g a.i. /ha and Fipronil @ 100g a.i. /ha. The infestation percentage reduction over control was found highest in Chlorantraniliprole (69.40%) followed by Spinosad (64.29%) treated plots. Furthermore, the cane yield was highest in Chlorantraniliprole (92.30 mt/ha) and Spinosad (90.06 mt/ha) treated plots than that of other insecticide treated plots. The number of millable canes and cane diameter in the plots among the treatment was found non-significant. Based on the infestation reduction rate, foliar application of the chemical insecticide (Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC and Spinosad 45 SC) could be better option for chemical management of sugarcane top borer. &nbsp

A survey and assessment of grasshoppers’ population in various sugarcane growing areas of Harion municipality in Sarlahi district, Nepal

A small-scale study of grasshopper populations was undertaken in Harion municipality of Sarlahi district to ascertain whether grasshopper population in sugarcane growing areas is changing in consecutive years 2014 and 2015. The regular sugarcane growing areas were randomly selected and the survey was conducted to estimate the population in those consecutive years in 14 different locations where outbreak of Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius) has occurred. The per square meter population was estimated using a ‘T’ shape which was made by tying 1m long two sticks to estimate one square meter area. The population of two consecutive years was compared to study the relationship between two years populations. The grasshopper infestation by risk category indicated that infestation warranted rating of severe in ward seven, eight and nine for 2015 from the population of 2014 AD. For 2016 AD, the risk was found low as most of the areas was categorized as moderate to light category as the population was found low in 2015 AD. Grasshopper population densities were found higher in some areas of Sarlahi district in the first year as compared to the second year. The population level in the first year was not found to induce population in next year as the population decreased in the second year. The trend of grasshopper population was not so threatening as the population was not found increasing in these years so was risk for next year. This might be due to the management of grasshoppers in nymphal stage in previous year, weather parameters, location, inter-cultural operations, decreasing of the rationing crops or presence of natural enemies. These findings provide guidance for the farmers in relation to grasshopper management and for future survey programs in relation to targeting regions of the district at risk from grasshoppers

Screening of sugarcane genotypes against Top Borer (Scirpophaga exerptalis Walker) infestation

Fourty sugarcane genotypes with different period of maturity were evaluated against top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker) infestation under natural field condition during 2018 and 2019 at National Sugarcane Research Program, Jeetpur, Nepal. The experiment was conducted in alpha-lattice design under natural condition of infestation using Co 0238 as susceptible check. Based on the incidence, 26 genotypes were categorized as less susceptible, eleven genotypes were found moderately susceptible to S. excerptalis. However, among less susceptible genotypes lowest incidence of 3.11 percent was recorded in genotype CoS 8432. Whereas, highest incidence of 25.24 percent was recorded in highly susceptible genotype, CoSe 98255BD 24. Most of the cane genotypes were found low to moderately susceptible, having 5 to 20% incidence of the pest. Whereas, some of the varieties, namely CoH 160 (21.22%), CoSe 95255 BD 24 (25.24%) and BO 150 (22.02%) were found highly susceptible. The mechanism responsible for host plant resistance against top borer is not studied in this experimentation. The study in these aspects is to be conducted to explore the mechanisms of host plant resistance for using these resistant genotypes for breeding purpose

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among rheumatoid arthritis: results from national inpatient database.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is being increasingly recognized as an important contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although smoking is a major risk factor, other factors may play a role. We used National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2013 to explore this relationship. We used propensity matching with a 1:3 nearest-neighbor-matching algorithm to match 1 RA hospitalization to 3 age- and-sex-matched comparators. In the age- and-sex-matched population, RA had a higher odds of COPD (OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.22

Acid Peptic Disease among Patients with Acute Abdomen Visiting the Department of Emergency Medicine in a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Acid peptic disease is caused by excessive acid secretion or weakened mucosal defense. Symptoms include epigastric pain, bloating, and nausea. Factors like gastric acid, Helicobacter pylori infection, alcohol consumption, smoking, and stress contribute to peptic ulcers. Imbalances between offensive and defensive factors can lead to ulcers. Acid-related disorders impact the quality of life and mortality. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment are vital. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of acid peptic disease among patients with acute abdomen in the Department of Emergency Medicine in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2 April 2022 and 2 April 2023 among the patients presented in the Department of Emergency Medicine in a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee. All patients presenting with acute abdominal pain in the Emergency Department were included in the study. Patients not giving consent were excluded from the study. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Out of the 400 patients with acute abdomen, the prevalence of acid peptic disease was found to be 87 (21.75%) (17.71-25.79, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of acid peptic disease among patients with acute abdomen was found to be lower than in other studies performed in similar settings

Factors associated with utilization of adolescent-friendly services in Bhaktapur district, Nepal

Background: The status of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in Nepal is alarming. Adolescent-friendly services (AFS) were introduced to cater the health needs of adolescents. Optimal utilization of the services with wider accessibility is required to prevent adolescents from adopting life-threatening behaviors that result in poor SRH-related outcomes. Despite the upgrading of health facilities to adolescent-friendly sites, studies reveal low utilization of the service. However, these studies failed to explore the factors influencing the low levels of service utilization in these adolescent-friendly facilities. This study quantified the utilization of AFS and identified factors associated with its utilization among adolescents of Bhaktapur district. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 362 systematic randomly selected adolescents from four village development committees of Bhaktapur district was conducted, using a self-administered questionnaire. Relationships between utilization of AFS and associated factors were determined by multivariate logistic regression at a level of significance with a p value of less than 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions with adolescents were used to collect qualitative data which were then described using thematic analysis. Result: About a quarter (24.7%) of the respondents had utilized the adolescent-friendly services. Factors positively associated with the utilization of services included adolescents aged 15-19 years, female, heard about AFS, lack of fear of being seen while getting SRH services, lack of shyness about receiving SRH services, and the perceived need for SRH services as soon as illness became apparent. The qualitative findings revealed lack of awareness about the services, socio-cultural barriers, confidentiality, feasible service hours, and the preference for of same-sex service providers as the factors affecting utilization. Conclusion: The utilization of adolescent-friendly services was very low in Bhaktapur district. Most of the adolescents were unaware of the existence of the AFS which emphasizes the need to focus on the increasing awareness of SRH and AFS by the government in coordination with local schools, clubs, etc. Creating an enabling environment in the service delivery sites, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality, as well as ensuring same-sex service providers and feasible service hours to adolescents, could increase the service utilization

Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution

For 10,000 years pigs and humans have shared a close and complex relationship. From domestication to modern breeding practices, humans have shaped the genomes of domestic pigs. Here we present the assembly and analysis of the genome sequence of a female domestic Duroc pig (Sus scrofa) and a comparison with the genomes of wild and domestic pigs from Europe and Asia. Wild pigs emerged in South East Asia and subsequently spread across Eurasia. Our results reveal a deep phylogenetic split between European and Asian wild boars ∼1 million years ago, and a selective sweep analysis indicates selection on genes involved in RNA processing and regulation. Genes associated with immune response and olfaction exhibit fast evolution. Pigs have the largest repertoire of functional olfactory receptor genes, reflecting the importance of smell in this scavenging animal. The pig genome sequence provides an important resource for further improvements of this important livestock species, and our identification of many putative disease-causing variants extends the potential of the pig as a biomedical model

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Infection in Humans: A Case Report and Review of Literature

. are Gram-negative oxidase-positive nonfermenting rods of Betaproteobacteria class, commonly found in rhizosphere. More recently, some species have transitioned from environment to human hosts, mostly as opportunistic (pathogenic) bacteria. We present a 58-year-old female with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who presented with pneumonia and was found to have bacteremia. . A 58-year-old woman with NSCLC on Pralsetinib presented with fevers and rigors for 2 days. Coarse breath sounds were auscultated on the right upper lung field. Labs revealed leukopenia and mild neutropenia. CT chest revealed right upper lobe pneumonia. She was admitted for sepsis secondary to pneumonia and placed on broad spectrum antibiotics with intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin. The patient continued to have fever 2 days after admission (max: 102.8°F). Preliminary blood cultures grew Gram-negative rods. The patient continued to have temperature spikes on the 3rd day of antibiotics ( 101.5°F). Blood cultures revealed oxidase-positive nonfermenting rods. The patient\u27s antibiotic was changed to IV meropenem on the 4th day of hospitalization. Ultimately, on the seventh day of hospitalization, the blood culture was confirmed from outside lab as . The patient started feeling better and defervesced after about 24 hours. . More recently, . have been recovered from humans. Our patient had bacteremia, and reported regularly cleaning her pond and weeding her garden with possible exposure to this environmental proteobacterium. may be more prevalent than earlier thought owing to misidentification. With the institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the outcomes seem mostly favorable

Herbaspirillum Infection in Humans: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction. Herbaspirillum seropedicae are Gram-negative oxidase-positive nonfermenting rods of Betaproteobacteria class, commonly found in rhizosphere. More recently, some Herbaspirillium species have transitioned from environment to human hosts, mostly as opportunistic (pathogenic) bacteria. We present a 58-year-old female with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who presented with pneumonia and was found to have Herbaspirillum seropedicae bacteremia. Case History. A 58-year-old woman with NSCLC on Pralsetinib presented with fevers and rigors for 2 days. Coarse breath sounds were auscultated on the right upper lung field. Labs revealed leukopenia and mild neutropenia. CT chest revealed right upper lobe pneumonia. She was admitted for sepsis secondary to pneumonia and placed on broad spectrum antibiotics with intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin. The patient continued to have fever 2 days after admission (max: 102.8°F). Preliminary blood cultures grew Gram-negative rods. The patient continued to have temperature spikes on the 3rd day of antibiotics (Tmax 101.5°F). Blood cultures revealed oxidase-positive nonfermenting rods. The patient’s antibiotic was changed to IV meropenem on the 4th day of hospitalization. Ultimately, on the seventh day of hospitalization, the blood culture was confirmed from outside lab as Herbaspirillum seropedicae. The patient started feeling better and defervesced after about 24 hours. Discussion. More recently, Herbaspirillum spp. have been recovered from humans. Our patient had Herbaspirillum bacteremia, and reported regularly cleaning her pond and weeding her garden with possible exposure to this environmental proteobacterium. Herbaspirillum may be more prevalent than earlier thought owing to misidentification. With the institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the outcomes seem mostly favorable