Adventitious shoot regeneration in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) (Pedaliaceae) via deembryonated cotyledonary explants

ABSTRACT Adventitious shoot regeneration in sesame, via de-embryonated cotyledonary explants, was attempted using six diverse genotypes; two were land races (Kankapura Local -KNL and Tamil Nadu Local-TNL), three were released varieties (DS-1, DSS-9 and WII) and a breeding line (RT-273). Three media compositions (½ MS basal media supplemented with 20 μM TDZ + 2.5 μM IAA and with or without 25 μM BAP and full MS basal media supplemented with only 25 μM BAP) were used of which highest shoot regeneration (100%) with 8.15 and 7.37 shoot numbers per cotyledon was achieved in RT-273 in both the combinations (½ MS with 20 µM TDZ+ 2.5 µM IAA+ 25 µM BAP or without BAP) followed by DS-1(100% and 95.55% with 6.15 and 3.89), KNL (88.88% and 7.55) and TNL (88.88% and 5.73) respectively in ½ MS with 20 µM TDZ+ 2.5 µM IAA+ 25 µM BAP. MS with 25 µM BAP alone failed to induce shoot regeneration

Detection of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in continental sub-Saharan Africa

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an insect pest of soft-skinned fruit, native to Eastern Asia. Since 2008, a world-wide dispersal of D. suzukii is seen, characterized by the establishment of the pest in many Asian, American and European countries. While the potential for invasion of continental Africa by D. suzukii has been predicted, its presence has only been shown for Morocco in Northern Africa. Knowledge about a possible establishment in other parts of the continent is needed as a basis for pest management. In 2019, we carried out a first survey in three counties in Kenya to monitor for the presence of D. suzukii using traps baited with a blend of apple cider vinegar and red wine. A total of 389 D. suzukii flies were captured in a fruit farm at Nakuru county, with more female flies being trapped than males. We confirmed the morphological identification of D. suzukii using DNA barcoding. In 2020, we performed a follow-up survey at 14 locations in six counties to delimit the distribution of D. suzukii in the main berry growing zones in Kenya. The survey indicated that so far D. suzukii is restricted to Nakuru county where it was initially detected. This is the first study to provide empirical evidence of D. suzukii in continental sub-Saharan Africa, confirming that the pest is expanding its geographic range intercontinentally. Given the high dispersal potential of D. suzukii, a concerted effort to develop management strategies is a necessity for containment of the pest

Endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies of the aerodigestive tract: The Bugando Medical Centre experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract continue to be a common problem that contributes significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to describe our own experience with endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract, in our local setting and compare with what is described in literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective descriptive study which was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre between January 2008 and December 2009. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 15.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 98 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.1:1. Patients aged 2 years and below were the majority (75.9%). The commonest type of foreign bodies in airways was groundnuts (72.7%) and in esophagus was coins (72.7%). The trachea (52.2%) was the most common site of foreign body's lodgment in the airways, whereas cricopharyngeal sphincter (68.5%) was the commonest site in the esophagus. Rigid endoscopy with forceps removal under general anesthesia was the main treatment modality performed in 87.8% of patients. The foreign bodies were successfully removed without complications in 90.8% of cases. Complication rate was 7.1% and bronchopneumonia was the most common complication accounting for 42.8% of cases. The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.4 days and mortality rate was 4.1%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Aerodigestive tract foreign bodies continue to be a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in our setting. Rigid endoscopic procedures under general anesthesia are the main treatment modalities performed. Prevention is highly recommended whereby parents should be educated to keep a close eye on their children and keep objects which can be foreign bodies away from children's reach.</p

The genomic basis of ecological adaptation in a Drosophila agricultural pest

Drosophila suzukii is one of the few fruit flies capable of laying eggs and feed on fresh fruit. Its recent outbreak in western countries from Asia, and its peculiar ecological behaviour makes it an emerging model in pest management and evolutionary biology. To understand the molecular basis behind the switch from fermenting to fresh fruit reproductive habit, we mined D. suzukii genome(s) and performed thorough comparative studies of its repertoire of chemosensory genes against genomes of 21 other Drosophila. Although odorant and gustatory receptors in D. suzukii follows a typical birth-and-death model of evolution, there are local significant expansion and contractions in receptors associated with fruit detection and oviposition choice. Odorant receptors that are responsible for fresh fruit detection and oviposition site choice in D. melanogaster experience duplication in D. suzukii, and even show significant signals of adaptation. On the other hand genes involved in detecting fermentation in D. melanogaster are either pseudogenes or experienced neofucntionalisation. Notably, these genes are extremely different in the genomes of European and American populations, suggesting that ancient adaptive losses of function have been followed by separation of population in Asia. These results are being validated by targeted PCR in different populations, and are finding pleasing reciprocal confirmations with chemical ecological and neurobiological experiments. Our comparative analyses reveal key genomic adaptations responsible for the building of a new ecological behavior, and unveil key genes which may become target of field chemical control strategie

Drosophila suzukii: a new invasive species threatening European fruit production

It
aly s
its
 eggs
 and
 feeds
 on
 unwounded
 ripening fruits 
of 
many
 plant
s pecies: 
Drosophila 
suzukii 
is 
a 
pest 
endemic 
to 
South
 East 
Asia
 able 
to 
threaten 
the 
fruit 
industry 
worldwide. Here 
an 
explanation 
of 
its 
biology 
and 
main 
impact

Young, obese, and underweight patients show up inadequately at scheduled appointments: Findings from a record-based study on diabetic, hypertensive diabetic, and hypertensive patients attending a primary care clinic of Puducherry

Background: One key barrier to proper management of common cardio-metabolic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in primary care is inadequate adherence to treatment, which, in many cases, results from inadequate follow-up at scheduled appointments. In addition to provider and health system level factors, individual patient level factors are also associated with attendance at follow-up appointments. Objective: To document the association of diabetic, hypertensive diabetic, and hypertensive patient's demographic and clinical factors with showing up inadequately at scheduled appointments. Methods: A record-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted in an urban primary health center of Puducherry from January to March 2015. Registered diabetic, hypertensive diabetic, and hypertensive patients who made at least one visit between July and December 2014 were included. Data on demographic factors, clinical factors, and dates of visits to the clinic were collected from case records of patients and were entered in EpiData entry version 3.1. Analysis was performed using R statistical package. Results: Out of 366 patients, 79% were females and 70.2% were aged >50 years. It was found that 183 (50%) were diabetic, 266 (72.7%) were hypertensive, and 115 (31.4%) were hypertensive diabetic. Out of 366 patients, all the five follow-up visits were attended by 185 (50.6%) patients, and “adequate follow-up” was found in 123 (33.6%) patients. Young, underweight, and obese patients were more likely to have inadequate follow-up. Conclusion: Family physicians should give special attention to these groups in their routine practice along with providing targeted health education and implementing full proof mechanisms to track them

Prevalence, patterns, clinico-social, and behavioral factors associated with the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among undergraduate medical students of central India

Introduction: Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescents has become a global issue. As its link to obesity and noncommunicable diseases is clear, it is imperative to understand SSB consumption behaviors in the future health-care professionals. The objective of this study is to document the prevalence, patterns, and clinico-social and behavioral factors predicting high intake of SSBs among medical students. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-reported, web-based, questionnaire. All the students and interns who were part of a publicly funded premiere teaching hospital between October and November 2019 were included in this study. The semi-structured questionnaire enquired regarding socio-demographic, clinical details, amount, behavioral patterns, and money spent in connection with SSB consumption. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24. Results: The mean age of participants was 19.3 ± 1.6 years, 71.7% being males. The current prevalence of SSB consumption was 90.5%. Furthermore, 49.9% and 29.1% of participants preferred soft drinks and sweetened fruit juice, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.83, (1.03–3.25), current alcohol consumption (aOR: 4.09, 1.25–13.42), and recent (last week) consumption of a SSB predicted high intake of SSBs [aOR: 7.36, (3.41–15.87)] whereas, preference of energy/sports category of drinks predicted low intake of SSBs [aOR 0.10, (0.02–0.47)]. Conclusion: The consumption of SSBs among medical students was high. Targeted health education and behavior change interventions should be provided to males, alcohol users, and frequent consumers

Mating behaviour in spotted wing Drosophila species: example of coordination between visual and acoustic stimuli

Understanding the mating behaviour of an insect pest is an important condition for developing successful control strategies. In Drosophila suzukii, like in most other Drosophila, males produce several types of acoustic signals to facilitate female’s mating acceptance; some of these signals are substrate-borne and are produced by abdominal vibrations. Compared to the common model D. melanogaster, the suzukii subgroup, is further characterised by the emission of a specific vibration, the so called “toot” signals, which is characterized by an harmonic frequency structure. This peculiar signal is associated with wing movements and thus is likely produced in the thorax, rather than in the abdomen like all other acoustic signals. In this work we tested whether the “toot” signal is a specific characteristic of the D. suzukii group, and if it co-evolved with another key sexual character, the presence of spots on wings. To test this hypothesis we studied the courtship strategy and associated acoustic signals in several members of the melanogaster group, by carefully comparing the behaviour of spotted wings species (D. suzukii, D. subpulchrella, D. biarmipes, D. elegans) with the behaviour of unspotted species (D. takahashi, D. melanogaster). Our results show that all species characterised by spotted wings, including D. elegans which does not belong to the suzukii subgroup, can produce a toot signal. Conversely, the “toot” signal was never recorded from unspotted wing species. During courtship, spotted wing males combine wing exposure with sound emission so that visual and acoustic cues work together to increase female acceptance. Only in one case (D. biarmipes), wing exposure and “toot” emission appeared completely unrelated. This study advances our understanding of the toot signal in Drosophila and indicates that the “toot” signal is not a clade-specific feature, but rather an ancient Dorosophila character associated with the presence of spots on wings