Interleukin-6: A Sensitive Parameter for the Early Detection of Neonatal Sepsis

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Though blood culture is the gold standard and has higher sensitivity and specificity over the hematological value and cytokine, it is not available in our community health situation and also in most of health care facilities. It is also time consuming. Therefore hematological value and interleukin-6 can be evaluated for the early diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infection. Objective: This study was conducted to see the usefulness of IL-6 as an early marker of neonatal sepsis and also to compare the sensitivity in comparison with CRP, hematological value and blood culture. Study Design: It was a quasy experimental study. Setting: This study was carried out in the neonatal unit of pediatric department, BSMMU during the period of September, 2005 to February, 2006. Method: Forty five suspected septic cases were enrolled in the study and thirty healthy newborn were taken for comparison. Venous blood sample from peripheral vein was collected on the 1st day of symptoms and/or 1st day of admission and was sent for IL-6 estimation within half an hour and estimation of IL-6 was done by using immunolyte DPC USA which employed automated chemiluminescent immunoassays. Results: Out of forty five cases of suspected-neonatal sepsis, IL-6 were positive in twenty five cases. In culture proven sepsis 100% cases had raised IL-6. In control group only five babies had raised IL-6. Three cases were culture positive, of which all were also positive for IL-6 (100%). Among the cases twenty six were CRP positive, of which twenty were also positive for IL-6 (76.92%). Conclusion: In the present study IL-6 was found to be an early marker of neonatal infection. Sensitivity was more than CRP and other hematological parameter in the first twenty four hours. Key words: Interleukin-6, Neonatal Sepsis.DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v1i1.3687 BSMMU J 2008; 1(1): 1-

Genetic diversity in grain quality and nutrition of aromatic rices

The study was conducted at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur in 2005 to assess the genetic divergence of aromatic rices for grain quality and nutrition aspects. Forty genotypes composedof 32 local aromatic, five exotic aromatic and three non-aromatic rice varieties were used. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done. Enormous variations were observed in majority of characters viz.grain length, breadth, kernel weight, milling yield, kernel length, L/B ratio of kernel, volume expansion ratio (VER), protein content, amylose content, elongation ratio (ER) and cooking time. In multivariateanalysis, genotypes were grouped into six clusters. In the discriminant function analysis (DFA), function 1 alone absorbed 61.7% of the total variance. The most contributing variables were kernel weight, kernel length and L/B ratio in function 1. The inter-cluster D2 value was maximum (26.53) between I and VI followed by 21.28 (between I and V). Minimum D2 value was found (5.90) between II and III. Majority of the local aromatic rice varieties with smaller kernels were included in the cluster I. The cluster III contains Elai, sarwati and sugandha-1 with long-slender kernel and ‘very good’ appearance. Thus, these varieties can be used in breeding programme for improvement of germplasms in cluster-I

Genotypic and Seasonal Variation in Plant Development and Yield Attributes in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Cultivars

Morphological attributes and yield of eight genotypes of tomato namely, J-5, Binatomato-5, BARItomato-7, CLN-2026, CLN-2366, CLN-2413, CLN-2418 and CLN-2443 were studied over three seasons. Effects of seasonal and genotypic variations and their combination on plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of flower clusters per plant, number of fruit clusters per plant, number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, fruit yield were significant. Fruit yield and almost all the morphological attributes of tomato genotypes were at peak in winter followed by pre-winter and summer season. Over three seasons, the genotype CLN-2413 produced the highest fruit yield followed by BARI tomato-7 producing the tallest plants with maximum number of primary branches and the highest number of fruits per plant. The genotypes Binatomato-5, CLN-2026 and CLN-2418 ranked 3rd and CLN-2366 and CLN-2443 ranked 4th with respect to yield performance. The genotype J-5 produced the lowest number of fruits per plant and fruit yield. In winter, fruits number and yield were highest in CLN-2413 while BARI tomato-7 carried the statistically same rank

Influence of Foliar Applied Gaba on Growth And Yield Contributing Characters of White Gourd (Benincasa Hispida)

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of GABA on growth, yield and yield attributes of white gourd. The concentrations of GABA were 0.5 mg L-1, 1.0 mg L-1, 1.5 mg L-1 and 2.0 mg L-1 along with the control (no hormone). GABA was applied as foliar spray at 60 days after planting. Result showed that GABA had positive regulatory effect on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of white gourd. GABA @ 1.0 mg L-1 was the best for vine length, leaf length, leaf breadth, number of internodes, number of nodes at which first male and female flower appeared, number of male and female flowers per plant, number of seeds per fruit, weight of 100 seeds, seed length, number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits per plant and total yield of fruits. It was concluded that GABA @ 1.0 mg L-1 as foliar spray could be the suitable concentration for enhancing growth and yield of white gourd

Paclobutrazol and bulb size effect on onion seed production

Field experimentation was done at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during, 2005-2006 to evaluate doses of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and bulb size of onion for their effect on growth and seed production of onion. Onion variety "Taherpuri" with three-bulb sizes viz., small, medium and large was used. Doses of PBZ were 20, 40, 80 ppm and no PBZ was used as control. A two-factor experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. PBZ application significantly reduced plant height, number of tillers per bulb, number of leaves per plant and length of scape. Number of flowers, umbels per bulb, umbel diameter, 1000-seed weight and seed yield were not influenced by PBZ concentrations used. Plant height, number of leaves per plant, length of scape, effective fruits per umbel, percentage of fruit set and seed yield were positively influenced by bulb size of onion. Variable interactive effects of PBZ dose and bulb size for different traits were recorded

Biomass accumulation and energy conversion efficiency in aromatic rice genotypes

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate photosynthetic efficiency along with different growth parameters of aromatic rice genotypes. Forty genotypes including three non-aromatic checks exhibited enormous variations for leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), grain yield, total dry matter, harvest index and photosynthetic efficiency or energy use efficiency (Emu) at panicle initiation and heading stages. Minimum LAI-value was 0.52 in Khazar at PI stage and maximum was 4.91 in Sakkor khora at heading stage. The CGR-value was in the range of 4.80-24.11 g m(-2) per day. The best yielder BR39 produced grain of 4.21 t ha(-1) and the worst yielder Khazar gave 1.42 t ha(-1). Total dry matter (TDM) yield varied from 4.04 to 12.26 t ha(-1) where genotypes proved their energy use efficiency a range between 0.58 to 1.65%. Emu showed a significant positive relation with TDM (r=0.80(**)), CGR (r=0.72(**)) and grain yield (r=0.66(**)). A negative correlation was established between TDM and harvest index and LAI and RGR. Path analysis result showed that NAR at heading stage exerted highest positive direct effect (0.70) on Emu

Crop water requirement at different growing stages of pineapple production in BRIS soil

The BRIS (Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales) soils are the sandy marine deposits at the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The area is less suitable for usual field crops. Pineapple (Ananas comosus) may be introduced in the area for commercial cultivation. An experiment was conducted in the glass house condition of UPM. Pineapple plants were nurtured in the lysimeters, filled with BRIS soil, to assess the water requirements at different growth stages. Highest requirement of irrigation water was found 2.43 mm/day in initial stage (1). Subsequent development stage (2), mid-stage (3) and ripening stage (4) required smaller amount of irrigation water (approximately 1.55 mm/day). The daily average evapotranspiration (ETc) was 0.83 mm/day in Stage 1, followed by 0.73 mm/day in Stage 2. The lowest ETc was found 0.65 mm/day in Stage 3. The estimated crop coefficient (K ) was found maximum 0.51 in initial stage. The Kc values showed a continuous decreasing trend up harvesting time. The second highest Kc value was 0.37 in development stage followed by 0.33 in mid-stage and minimum 0.30 during ripening stage

Potential Use of Sea Water for Pineapple Production in BRIS Soil.

An experiment was conducted to determine the response of four sea water treatments on an improved pineapple genotype “N- 36” grown in Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil. Sea water treatments were prepared by substitution of K with Na ions i.e., 0% (in control), 15%, 30% and 60% of required K doses were replaced by Na ions from sea water. Treatment effects were non-significant up to 30% sodium replacement from sea water. Na replacement (60%) showed significant impact on different growth parameters at different stages (8-10 months after planting). However, the fruit yield, the final target of crop harvest was not adversely affected at significance level. Therefore, sea water irrigation can easily fulfil 60% dose of potassium fertilizer by sodium ions for the production of pineapple in BRIS soil

Regeneration potential of seedling explants of chilli (Capsicum annuum)

A study was conducted with hypocotyl, cotyledon and shoot tip of chilli as explants for regeneration on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins. Regeneration potential was determined by two ways. One is regeneration of shoot via callus formation from hypocotyls and cotyledon explants; another was direct shoot regeneration from shoot tip explant. The highest callus was induced from hypocotyl in a combination of BAP (5.0 mgL-1) with NAA (0.1 mgL-1) and cotyledon in a combination of BAP (5.0 mgL-1) with IAA ((1.0 mgL-1). The callus induction as well as shoot initiation was higher in hypocotyls than cotyledon. Shoot tips regenerated into plantlets directly with sporadic small callus at the base. Shoot elongation was accelerated by using additional supplementation of GA3 and AgNO3. Regenerated shoots rooted best on the MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L-1 NAA + 0.05 mg L-1 IBA

Efficiency of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for the enhancement of rice growth

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. The use of PGPR is steadily increasing in agriculture and offers an attractive way to replace chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and supplements. Here, we have isolated and characterized the PGPR from the rhizosphere soil of rice field for the enhancement of growth of rice. Rhizosphere soils were collected from different areas of Mymensingh inBangladesh. Ten isolates of bacteria, designated as PGB1, PGB2, PGB3, PGB4, PGB5, PGT1, PGT2, PGT3, PGG1 and PGG2, were successfully isolated and characterized. Subsequently, to investigate the effects of PGPR isolates on the growth of rice, a pot culture experiment was conducted. Prior to seeds grown in plastic pots, seeds were treated with PGPR isolates and seedlings were harvested after 21days of inoculation. Isolates PGB4, PGT1, PGT2, PGT3, PGG1 and PGG2 induced the production of indole acetic acid (IAA), whereas only PGT3 isolate was able to solubilize phosphorus. Most of isolatesresulted in a significant increase in plant height, root length, and dry matter production of shoot and root of rice seedlings. Furthermore, PGPR isolates remarkably increased seed germination of rice.Among the ten isolates, PGB4 and PGG2 were found almost equally better in all aspects such as dry matter production, plant height and root length of rice, and IAA production. Isolate PGT3 was alsofound to be promising in IAA production having an additional property of phosphate solubilization. The present study, therefore, suggests that the use of PGPR isolates PGB4, PGG2 and PGT3 as inoculantbiofertilizers might be beneficial for rice cultivation as they enhanced growth of rice, and induced IAA production and phosphorus solubilization