Wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) in the Rice-Wheat Systems of South Asia Is Influenced by Terminal Heat Stress at Late Sown Condition: A Case in Bangladesh

Wheat plays an important role in attaining food and nutritional security in Bangladesh after rice. The demand of wheat has been increasing every year at the rate of 13% due to rapid changes in dietary habits, socio-economic upliftment, enhancement of per capita income, etc. Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) has already released 34 high yielding, disease-resistant, and abiotic stress-tolerant wheat varieties, and improved management practices to the farmers. Although all the released varieties have climatic yield potential as high as 6.0 t ha−1 with the attainable average yield is 4.0–4.5 t ha−1, the national average yield in farmers’ field is only 3.49 t ha−1; it is specified that there is a huge yield gap existing among potential, attainable and actual yields. One of the most important reasons for this yield gap of wheat is the terminal high temperature stress (HS) in late sowing wheat. Generally, farmers in Bangladesh are sowing wheat lately due to delay in sowing monsoon rice and subsequent late harvest of the rice; as a result, late sown wheat faces terminal HS at reproductive stage. The chapter highlighted the consequences of terminal HS on wheat and potential approaches to mitigate the stress in Bangladesh

Plant health emergencies demand open science:Tackling a cereal killer on the run

Outbreaks of emerging plant diseases and insect pests are increasing at an alarming rate threatening the food security needs of a booming world population. The role of plant pathologists in addressing these threats to plant health is critical. Here, we share our personal experience with the appearance in Bangladesh of a destructive new fungal disease called wheat blast and stress the importance of open-science platforms and crowdsourced community responses in tackling emerging plant diseases. Benefits of the open-science approach include recruitment of multidisciplinary experts, application of cutting-edge methods, and timely replication of data analyses to increase the robustness of the findings. Based on our experiences, we provide some general recommendations and practical guidance for responding to emerging plant diseases

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Three Bitter Plants-Enhydra fluctuans, Andrographis Peniculata and Clerodendrum Viscosum.

Purpose: In this study, three important medicinal plants (Enhydra fluctuans Lour, Clerodendrum viscosum Vent and Andrographis peniculata Wall) of Bangladesh were investigated to analyze their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities against some pathogenic microorganisms and Artemia salina (brine shrimp nauplii). Methods: The coarse powder material of leaves of each plant was extracted separately with methanol and acetone to yield methanol extracts of leaves of Enhydra fluctuans (MLE), Clerodendrum viscosum (MLC) and Andrographis peniculata (MLA), and acetone extracts of leaves of Enhydra fluctuans (ALE), Clerodendrum viscosum (ALC) and Andrographis peniculata (ALA). The disc diffusion method and the method described by Meyer were used to determine the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of each plant extract. Results: Among the test samples, MLE and ALE showed comparatively better antimicrobial activity against a number of bacteria and fungi with inhibition zones in the range of 06-15 mm and according to the intensity of activity, the efficacy against microorganisms were found in the order of Enhydra fluctuans> Andrographi speniculata> Clerodendrum viscosum. In cytotoxicity assay, all samples were found to be active against brine shrimp nauplii (Artemia salina) and ALA produced lowest LC50 value (7.03 μg/ml). Conclusion: Enhydra fluctuans and Andrographi speniculata possesses significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

Incidence and Outcome of Vocal Cord Polyp: An Endoscopic Experience and Perception

Background: The larynx is an intricate part of the body which has to perform a very composite function like protection, respiration, phonation. To carry out the function, larynx should be adaptable and flexible. Any structural disorder like vocal cord polyp alter these specialized function and squander the laryngeal pacing, and increasing voice discomfort of the patient like hoarseness, dysphonia, and odynophagia day by day. Phonosurgery is the mainstay of treatment. Methods: It is a cohort retrospective study of 54 cases in the Department of Otolaryngology and Head- Neck Surgery, Comilla Medical College, Bangladesh, from 20 February 2017 to 27 October 2019. Result: Incidence of vocal cord polyp in laryngeal disorder patient was 6.83%, and the laryngeal operative patient was 28.27%. All patients were treated by micro laryngeal surgery with rigid Hopkin’s laryngeal telescope, and setback was 2 (3.70%). Of them, male were 41(75.92%), females were 13(24.08%), below 20 years were 2(3.70%), 20-50years 39(72.23%,) and above 50years 13(24.07%), unilateral was 50(92.59%) and 4(7.41%) were bilateral, smoker was 41(75.92%), nonsmoker 13(24.08%), industrial workers were 21(38.89%), professional voice user was 13(24.07%)

Incidence and outcome of thyroglossal duct cyst

Background: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the cyst in the cervical midline that arises from the embryonic remnant of the thryroglossal duct. It is most common congenital abnormality in the head and neck region which may present at any age particularly occur in children. The definitive treatment is surgical excision of the cyst and tract. Methods: It is a cohort retrospective study of 26 cases in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck surgery, Comilla Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from 01 July 2016 to 31 June 2019. Results: Incidence of TGDC was 0.02% out of total outdoor patient and 0.94% in total indoor routine operation. All patient was operated by Sistrunk’s procedure and recurrent 2 (7.69%) cases were operated by modified or extended Sistrunk’s procedure without complications afterwards. Of them female was 14 (53.85%), male was 12 (46.15%), children were 22 (84.61%), adult were 4 (15.35%). Infrahyoid was 21 (80.76%), surahyoid was 5 (19.24%). The patient presented as painful abscess were 10 (38.46%) and fistula were 3(11.51%), painless cyst was 8 (30.77%) and fistula were 5 (19.24%). Conclusions: TGDC is common congenital anomaly. It has a various type of presenting feature. Sistrunk’s procedure is gold standard surgical treatment procedure. But recurrence cases need modified or extended Sistrunk’s procedure to minimize the postoperative complication and manage the patient’s hope and requirements

Early p53 mutations in nondysplastic Barrett's tissue detected by the restriction site mutation (RSM) methodology

Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant condition whose incidence is rising dramatically. Molecular markers are urgently needed to identify Barrett's patients at the highest risk of cancer progression. To this end, we have used a rapid molecular technique, restriction site mutation (RSM), to detect low-frequency mutations in the p53 tumour suppressor gene in premalignant Barrett's tissues of cancer-free patients. In total, 38 endoscopically diagnosed Barrett's patients with a range of histological stages of Barrett's progression, plus four control patients without Barrett's oesophagus, were analysed for early p53 mutations. Tissue samples taken from these patients (93 samples in total) were analysed for the presence of low-frequency p53 mutations at hotspot codons: 175, 213, 248, 249, 282. In total, 13 of the 38 Barrett's patients were shown to possess a p53 mutation in at least one sample (no mutations in the four control patients). Although no statistically significant associations were found, p53 mutations reflected histological progression in Barrett's patients with p53 mutations found in 30% of metaplasia patients (P=0.4) and low-grade dysplasia patients (P=0.33) and 45% of high-grade dysplasia patients (P=0.15). Detected p53 mutations were mainly GC to AT transitions at CpG sites

Enhancement of Growth and Grain Yield of Rice in Nutrient Deficient Soils by Rice Probiotic Bacteria

Plant associated bacteria are promising alternatives to chemical fertilizers for plant growth and yield improvement in an eco-friendly manner. In this study, rice associated bacteria were isolated and assessed for mineral phosphate solubilizationand indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production activity in vitro. Six promising strains, which were tentatively identified as phylotaxon Pseudochrobactrum sp. (BRRh-1), Burkholderia sp. (BRRh-2), Burkholderia sp. (BRRh-3), Burkholderia sp. (BRRh-4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BRRh-5 and BRRh-6) based on their 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, exhibited significant phosphate solubilizing activity in National Botanical Research Institute phosphate growth medium, and BRRh-4 displayed the highest phosphate solubilizing activity, followed by BRRh-5. The pH of the culture broth declined, resulting in increase of growth rate of bacteria at pH 7, which might be due to organic acid secretion by the strains. In presence of L-tryptophan, five isolates synthesized IAA and the maximum IAA was produced by BRRh-2, followed by BRRh-1. Application of two most efficient phosphate solubilizing isolates BRRh-4 and BRRh-5 by root dipping (colonization) of seedling and spraying at the flowering stage significantly enhanced the growth and grain yield of rice variety BRRI dhan-29. Interestingly, application of both strains with 50% of recommended nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers produced equivalent or higher grain yield of rice compared to the control grown with full recommended fertilizer doses, which suggests that these strains may have the potential to be used as bioinoculants for sustainable rice production

Kashima Operation: an endoscopic phonosurgery by LASER for bilateral vocal cord palsy

Complete or partial restriction of the vocal cords usually occurs due to cancer, neurologic causes or mechanical causes like huge neck mass, trauma to the neck, viral infection, and sometimes iatrogenic during surgery. Bilateral vocal cord palsy is a severe condition that can lead to significant problems in breathing, speaking, and swallowing. If any patient presents with stridor, it requires urgent surgical airway management followed by specific treatment. A case of viral bilateral abductor vocal cord palsy in a 41-year-old female is reported here. The patient presented with stridor, and immediate tracheostomy was done. The stridor developed first 3 months earlier followed by cold and fever for a week. The stridor worsened gradually and leads to a state of commencing immediate tracheostomy. There was no history of trauma to the neck or any neck surgery. All basic laboratory blood test was within the normal limit. The laryngoscopic examination showed both vocal cords were immobile and almost median position with a small gap at the posterior commissure. Chest and neck plain X-ray along with computed tomography scan of neck was normal which ruled out the other causes of bilateral vocal cord palsy. The patient subsequently underwent successful left posterior cordectomy by laser, and decannulation of tracheostomy was done, known as Kashima operation