Reference values of whole-blood fatty acids by age and sex from European children aged 3-8 years

OBJECTIVES: To establish reference values for fatty acids (FA) especially for n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated FAs (LC PUFA) in whole-blood samples from apparently healthy 3-8-year-old European children. The whole-blood FA composition was analysed and the age-and sex-specific distribution of FA was determined. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Blood samples for FA analysis were taken from 2661 children of the IDEFICS (identification and prevention of dietary-and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study cohort. Children with obesity (n = 454) and other diseases that are known to alter the FA composition (n = 450) were excluded leaving 1653 participants in the reference population. MEASUREMENTS: The FA composition of whole blood was analysed from blood drops by a rapid, validated gas chromatographic method. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficients showed an age-dependent increase of C18:2n-6 and a decrease of C18:1n-9 in a subsample of normal weight boys and girls. Other significant correlations with age were weak and only seen either in boys or in girls, whereas most of the FA did not show any age dependence. For age-dependent n-3 and n-6 PUFA as well as for other FA that are correlated with age (16:0, C18:0 and C18:1n-9) percentiles analysed with the general additive model for location scale and shape are presented. A higher median in boys than in girls was observed for C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6 and C22:4n-6. CONCLUSIONS: Given the reported associations between FA status and health-related outcome, the provision of FA reference ranges may be useful for the interpretation of the FA status of children in epidemiological and clinical studies

Estimates of genomic heritability and genome-wide association study for fatty acids profile in Santa Inês sheep

Background: Despite the health concerns and nutritional importance of fatty acids, there is a relative paucity of studies in the literature that report genetic or genomic parameters, especially in the case of sheep populations. To investigate the genetic architecture of fatty acid composition of sheep, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and estimated genomic heritabilities for fatty acid profile in Longissimus dorsi muscle of 216 male sheep. Results: Genomic heritability estimates for fatty acid content ranged from 0.25 to 0.46, indicating that substantial genetic variation exists for the evaluated traits. Therefore, it is possible to alter fatty acid profiles through selection. Twenty-seven genomic regions of 10 adjacent SNPs associated with fatty acids composition were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, each explaining ≥0.30% of the additive genetic variance. Twenty-three genes supporting the understanding of genetic mechanisms of fat composition in sheep were identified in these regions, such as DGAT2, TRHDE, TPH2, ME1, C6, C7, UBE3D, PARP14, and MRPS30. Conclusions: Estimates of genomic heritabilities and elucidating important genomic regions can contribute to a better understanding of the genetic control of fatty acid deposition and improve the selection strategies to enhance meat quality and health attributes

Prevalence of age Related Macular Degeneration in A Tertiary Care centre

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading cause of irreversible blindness in elderly population affecting the quality of life and there by general health. AIM: The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors and subtypes of AMD in a hospital population attending to ophthalmology outpatient department.Materials and Methods: This observational study was carried out at tertiary eye institute between November 2017 and April 2018. Newly registered patients of both the sex attending the hospital with complaints of diminution of vision for various reasons were selected for detailed ophthalmic examination and evaluation.&nbsp;Results: Among the patients attending to our outpatient department, 120 patients were diagnosed with Age related macular degeneration. As the age of subjects increased prevalence also increased and most of them were in the age group of 61-70. Male to female ratio was 1:2.33. Early AMD was seen in 71.7% (n = 86) and Late AMD (n= 34) was seen in 28.3%. Dry AMD was seen in 75.84% (n=91), Wet AMD was seen in 24.16% (n=29).&nbsp;Conclusion: Study reports prevalence of AMD increases with age. Higher prevalence was noted in females. Early AMD was seen in more cases than Late AMD and Dry AMD was noted more than Wet AMD. So complete ophthalmic evaluation is necessary in order to diagnose and stabilize the progression of AMD especially in the elderly age group of patients who complains of recent onset central visual loss.&nbsp;</p

Ocular Fundus changes in pregnancy induced hypertension – A case series study

Back ground: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension is a challenging stigma in the field of obstetrics and one of major contributors to maternal and perinatal mortality. PIH is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the absence of other causes of elevated blood pressure.&nbsp;Aims and objectives:&nbsp;· To determine the proportion of different groups of PIH patients i.e., gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia having retinal changes.&nbsp;· To study the correlation of retinal changes with severity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Methods: It is a is a Prospective (hospital based) study done on 150 patients of PIH Age, gravida, gestation period, B.P. and proteinuria were noted. Ocular examination done using direct and indirect ophthalmoscope. The findings were noted and analysed using chi square test.&nbsp;Results: A total of 150 patients were examined. The mean age of patients was 24.34±4.01 years. The gestation period ranged from 28 to 40 weeks. 72(48%) were primigravida, 74(49.3%) were multigravida and 4 (2.7%) were grand multi gravida. Out of all patients, most of the patients had severe preeclampsia i.e., 71(47.3%), 34(22.6%) had mild preeclampsia, 32(21.3%) had eclampsia and 13 (8.7%) had gestational hypertension.In our study, 32 patients (21.3%) had arteriolar attenuation which included generalised arteriolar attenuation in 12(37.5%) and focal arteriolar attenuation in 20 (62.5%) which is the most common retinal finding. Retinal detachment was seen in 1 patient. There was statistically significant positive association of retinal changes with blood pressure (p) and severity of PIH (p).&nbsp;Conclusion: Fundus examination in PIH is important in monitoring and managing cases as it correlates with severity as it indirectly implies severity of changes in placental micro-circulation that can help to predict the foetal outcome and ocular morbidity.&nbsp;</p

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Not AvailableMTU 1010 is a high-yielding mega-variety of rice grown extensively in India. However, it does not perform well in soils with low phosphorus (P) levels. With an objective to improve MTU 1010 for tolerance to low soil P, we have transferred Pup1, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with tolerance from another mega-variety, Swarna, through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB). Foreground selection of the F1 and backcross plants was performed with the co-dominant, closely linked CAPS marker, K20-2, while two flanking markers RM28011 and RM28157 were utilized for recombinant selection. At each backcross generation, positive plants were also analyzed with a set of 85 parental polymorphic SSR markers to identify the QTL-positive plants possessing maximum introgression of MTU 1010 genome. At BC2F1, the best backcross plant was selfed to generate BC2F2s. Among them, the plants homozygous for Pup1 (n = 22) were reconfirmed using the functional marker for Pup1, viz., K46-1, and they were advanced through pedigree method of selection until BC2F6 generation. A total of five elite BC2F6 lines, possessing Pup1 and phenotypically similar to MTU 1010, were screened in the low soil P plot and normal plot (with optimum soil P levels) during wet season, 2016. All the selected lines showed better performance under low P soil with more number of productive tillers, better root system architecture, and significantly higher yield (> 390%) as compared to MTU 1010. Further, under normal soil, the lines were observed to be similar to or better than MTU 1010 for most of the agro-morphological traits and yield. This study represents the successful application of marker-assisted selection for improvement of tolerance to low soil P in a high-yielding Indian rice variety.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDRR17A is a stable wild-abortive cytoplasmic male sterile line with medium-slender grain type. DRR17A and its maintainer line DRR17B are highly susceptible to two of the major rice diseases, bacterial blight (BB) and blast. To improve DRR17B for resistance against BB and blast, we have introgressed a major dominant gene each conferring resistance against BB (Xa21) and blast (Pi54) into the maintainer line through marker-assisted backcross breeding using RP-Bio-Patho-2 (a near-isogenic line of Samba Mahsuri possessing Xa21 and Pi54) as the donor parent. PCR-based molecular markers tightly linked to Xa21 and Pi54 were used for foreground selection of the resistance plants at each backcross generation, while molecular markers tightly linked to the major fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4, were used for negative selection (i.e. selection of plants possessing non-fertility-restoring alleles at the two loci) at BC1 generation. After foreground selection for the target genes at each backcross generation, the ‘positive’ plants were screened with parental polymorphic markers for identifying backcross plants possessing maximum recovery of DRR17B genome. Marker-assisted backcrossing was continued till BC3 generation, and a single BC3F1 plant possessing the target genes with ~94 % recovery of recurrent parent genome was identified and selfed to generate BC3F2s. A total of six homozygous BC3F2 plants were identified and advanced. At BC3F5, six promising, stable, backcross-derived lines possessing high level of resistance against BB and blast, high yield, short plant stature, fine-grain type, have been identified; their maintenance ability and heterotic potential validated through test crosses and these lines are being converted to CMS lines through marker-assisted breeding.Department of Biotechnology, Government of India # BT/PR11705/AGR/02/646/2008

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Not AvailableImproved Samba Mahsuri (ISM) is a popular, high-yielding, bacterial blight resistant rice variety possessing medium-slender grain type. As ISM is highly susceptible to blast disease of rice, through the present study we have transferred two major blast resistance genes, Pi2 and Pi54 into the elite variety by marker-assisted backcross breeding. The two blast resistance genes were transferred to ISM through sets of backcrosses. In every backcross generation, PCR-based markers, specific for the blast resistance genes (Pi2 and Pi54) and bacterial blight resistance genes (Xa21, xa13 and xa5) were utilized for foreground selection, while a set of 144 parental polymorphic SSR markers were used for background selection and backcrossing was carried out until BC2 generation. A solitary BC2F1 plant possessing Pi2 or Pi54 along with Xa21, xa13 and xa5 and > 90% recovery of ISM genome was selected from the two sets of backcrosses were crossed and the intercross F1s (ICF1s) thus obtained were selfed to generate ICF2s. Homozygous ICF2 plants carrying all the five resistance genes were identified through markers and advanced through selfing till ICF5 generation by adopting pedigree method of selection. Three best lines at ICF5, possessing excellent resistance against bacterial blight and blast and closely resembling or superior to ISM in terms of grain quality: yield and agro-morphological traits have been identified and advanced for multi-location trials.ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute with award Number: (F.No.F.3/CRPMB/Gen/2015-16/1714)Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for the INSPIRE fellowshi