Effects of crop season, storage conditions, cultivars and fungicide on postharvest mold fungi infecting sorghum grain

The frequency of fungal infection of sorghum grain samples taken from 5 storage systems (gunny bags, mud-lined baskets (MB), polypropylene bags (PB), an MB/PB mix and open storage in the corner of a room), involving 26 different varieties, hybrids or local cultivars, 2 seasons (1996 rainy and 1996/97 post-rainy) and 4 fungicide treatments (surface sterilization with 1% sodium hypochlorite plus benomyl treatment, sodium hypochlorite or benomyl alone, and an untreated control) was recorded from rural areas of India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra) in 1997. The major fungi recorded in the samples were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris australiensis [Cochliobolus australiensis], Curvularia lunata [Cochliobolus lunatus], C. lunata var. aeria, Fusarium moniliforme [Gibberella fujikuroi], Lisea fujikuroi [Gibberella fujikuroi], Penicillium citrinum, Phoma sorghina and Rhizopus stolonifer. Full results are tabulated. Grain germination was better in samples collected after the rainy season and from grain stored in gunny bags and mud-lined baskets. Local cultivars tended to germinate better than hybrids and have lower fungal infection. Grains surface-sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite and treated with benomyl (0.05%) had the highest germination (81%), but sterilization did not eliminate all fungal contamination. It is suggested that grain be stored in gunny bags or jute bags to minimize damage from Fusarium spp. and that mould tolerant/resistant genotypes are grown during the rainy season

Effects of Selective Deletion of Tyrosine Hydroxylase from Kisspeptin Cells on Puberty and Reproduction in Male and Female Mice.

The neuropeptide kisspeptin, encoded by Kiss1, regulates reproduction by stimulating GnRH secretion. Kiss1-syntheizing neurons reside primarily in the hypothalamic anteroventral periventricular (AVPV/PeN) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei. AVPV/PeN Kiss1 neurons are sexually dimorphic, with females expressing more Kiss1 than males, and participate in estradiol (E2)-induced positive feedback control of GnRH secretion. In mice, most AVPV/PeN Kiss1 cells coexpress tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis (in this case, dopamine). Dopamine treatment can inhibit GnRH neurons, but the function of dopamine signaling arising specifically from AVPV/PeN Kiss1 cells is unknown. We generated a novel TH flox mouse and used Cre-Lox technology to selectively ablate TH specifically from Kiss1 cells. We then examined the effects of selective TH knock-out on puberty and reproduction in both sexes. In control mice, 90% of AVPV/PeN Kiss1 neurons coexpressed TH, whereas in mice lacking TH exclusively in Kiss1 cells (termed Kiss THKOs), TH was successfully absent from virtually all Kiss1 cells. Despite this absence of TH, both female and male Kiss THKOs displayed normal body weights, puberty onset, and basal gonadotropin levels in adulthood, although testosterone (T) was significantly elevated in adult male Kiss THKOs. The E2-induced LH surge was unaffected in Kiss THKO females, and neuronal activation status of kisspeptin and GnRH cells was also normal. Supporting this, fertility and fecundity were normal in Kiss THKOs of both sexes. Thus, despite high colocalization of TH and Kiss1 in the AVPV/PeN, dopamine produced in these cells is not required for puberty or reproduction, and its function remains unknown

Developing health-related indicators of climate change: Australian stakeholder perspectives

Published: 22 May 2017Climate-related health indicators are potentially useful for tracking and predicting the adverse public health effects of climate change, identifying vulnerable populations, and monitoring interventions. However, there is a need to understand stakeholders' perspectives on the identification, development, and utility of such indicators. A qualitative approach was used, comprising semi-structured interviews with key informants and service providers from government and non-government stakeholder organizations in South Australia. Stakeholders saw a need for indicators that could enable the monitoring of health impacts and time trends, vulnerability to climate change, and those which could also be used as communication tools. Four key criteria for utility were identified, namely robust and credible indicators, specificity, data availability, and being able to be spatially represented. The variability of risk factors in different regions, lack of resources, and data and methodological issues were identified as the main barriers to indicator development. This study demonstrates a high level of stakeholder awareness of the health impacts of climate change, and the need for indicators that can inform policy makers regarding interventions.Maryam Navi, Alana Hansen, Monika Nitschke, Scott Hanson-Easey and Dino Pisaniell

Sentinel lymph node biopsy before mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction may predict post-mastectomy radiotherapy, reduce delayed complications and improve the choice of reconstruction

AbstractBackgroundAdjuvant post-mastectomy radiotherapy (RT), which is often unpredicted, is known to increase complications following immediate breast reconstruction (IBR).AimTo investigate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN) in predicting RT and improving the choice of IBR.Patients and methodsAll patients who had mastectomy and IBR between January 2004 and January 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Axillary staging (clearance or SLN) was performed at the same time until October 2005 (Group 1), when the Unit’s protocol was updated to perform SLN initially prior to mastectomy and IBR (Group 2). Patients in Group 2 with positive SLN were offered either a delayed reconstruction or a temporary subpectoral immediate tissue expander, while all options were offered if SLN was negative and in Group 1 patients.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-nine patients were reviewed. 20 patients received unexpected RT in Group 1 (14 tissue expander, 4 Latissimus Dorsi flap with an implant and 2 DIEP flaps) compared to 11 patients in Group 2 who had a temporary tissue expander due to expected RT (P=0.03). Unexpected RT caused delayed complications in 14 patients (70%) compared to no delayed complications in patients who received expected RT in Group 2.ConclusionSLN biopsy before IBR helps to predict RT and avoids its complications on breast reconstruction. Patients with positive SLN biopsy are best offered a temporary subpectoral tissue expander for IBR

Acute ischaemic stroke in active cancer versus non-cancer patients: stroke characteristics, mechanisms and clinical outcomes.

Demographics, clinical characteristics, stroke mechanisms and long-term outcomes were compared between acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients with active cancer (AC) versus non-cancer patients. Using data from 2003 to 2021 in the Acute STroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne, a retrospective cohort study was performed comparing patients with AC, including previously known and newly diagnosed cancers, with non-cancer patients. Patients with inactive cancer were excluded. Outcomes were the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months, death and cerebrovascular recurrences at 12 months before and after propensity score matching. Amongst 6686 patients with AIS, 1065 (15.9%) had a history of cancer. After excluding 700 (10.4%) patients with inactive cancer, there were 365 (5.5%) patients with AC and 5621 (84%) non-cancer AIS patients. Amongst AC patients, 154 (42.2%) strokes were classified as cancer related. In multivariable analysis, patients with AC were older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.03), had fewer vascular risk factors and were 48% less likely to receive reperfusion therapies (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35-0.76). Three-month mRS scores were not different in AC patients (aOR 2.18, 95% CI 0.96-5.00). At 12 months, death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.91, 95% CI 1.50-2.43) and risk of cerebrovascular recurrence (sub-distribution hazard ratio 1.68, 95% CI 1.22-2.31) before and after propensity score matching were higher in AC patients. In a large institutional registry spanning nearly two decades, AIS patients with AC had less past cerebrovascular disease but a higher 1-year risk of subsequent death and cerebrovascular recurrence compared to non-cancer patients. Antithrombotic medications at discharge may reduce this risk in AC patients

Host plant resistance to grain mould in germplasm accessions of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.)

The paucity of information on the moulds in Indian pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) led to the studies that were conducted at ICRISAT, India to evaluate (a) 447 germplasm accessions of 32 countries for mould reaction in rainy season, (b) threshed grain mould rating (TGMS) and mycoflora on grains of each accession, and (c) mould scores in field and in vitro. Post physiological maturity evaluation showed that 16% of the accessions secured a mould rating of 2. In TGMS, 18% were mould free and 57% secured a rating of 2 on a 1 – 9 scale. Assessment of twenty representative accessions in vitro against individual and mixed conidial suspensions (1610(6) conidia ml(71)) of Fusarium moniliforme, F. pallidoroseum and Curvularia pennisetti indicated significant correlation (r¼0.97) between the overall field and in vitro scores of mixed spores inoculations. The mycoflora for TGMS in blotter test revealed that Fusarium moniliforme, F. pallidoroseum, Curvularia pennisetti, Helminthosporium spp., Alternaria spp. and Colletotrichum spp. to be the major fungi affecting pearl millet grain. It is advisable to harvest panicles at the physiological maturity stage to obtain better quality grains. A strong negative correlation between TGMS and % GS (r¼0.4601) and positive correlation between TGMS and % UGS (r¼0.4654) indicated that, the lesser the threshed grain mould rating higher the % seed germination

Prevalence of major foliar and panicle diseases of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) in the Deccan plateau of India

Extensive on-farm disease surveys were conducted from August 1999 until March 2001 in four sorghum-growing states of the Indian Deccan plateau. A total of 965 fields were surveyed covering 228 fields in Andhra Pradesh (AP), 406 in Karnataka (KAR), 290 in Maharashtra (MH) and 41 in Tamil Nadu (TN). Among 14 foliar diseases observed, maize stripe virus (MStV), a tenuivirus transmitted by the delphacid plant hopper (Peregrinus maidis), and among five panicle diseases, ergot or sugary disease (Claviceps sorghi and C. africana) were the most destructive diseases. MStV was prevalent in 28.4% and ergot in 13.4% of the fields surveyed in two years across four states. Yet, the mean incidence of MStV in AP was 6% with 85% mean severity. The values in KAR were 12% incidence and 83% severity, in MH 5% and 67%, and in TN 12% and 76%, respectively. The mean incidence of ergot in AP was 34% with 67% mean severity. The values in KAR were 41% and 79%, in MH, 30% and 67%, and in TN 100% and 100%, respectively. Variation in frequency of occurrence of MStV was observed between 1999 and 2001. Variations in frequency could be due to weather factors, vector survival, cropping pattern, and host specificity. The frequency of ergot also was varying among years, locations, seasons and cultivars. An ergot epidemic was observed during the 1999 rainy season in Maachinenipalli village (16°35′N; 78°3′E), Andhra Pradesh. In September 2000, the disease had spread to 13 neighboring administrative zones damaging about 130 000 ha. This paper elucidates the distribution of diseases observed between 1999 and 2001 but does not imply that the diseases are restricted necessarily to a particular zone or location

Prevalence of ergot of sorghum in India

This paper reports the incidence and severity of ergot (Claviceps sorghi and Claviceps africana) on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 1999 to 2002. Crops were surveyed at vegetative to physiological maturity stages and disease incidence (number of plants infected) and severity (percentage, based on the number of florets infected within panicles) recorded in 12 m2 areas. Percentage incidence of ergot infection varied with location, with Rajasthan and Gujarat recording only trace infections from 1999-2002 and Karnataka having 27-60% infection. Disease severity followed the same pattern