Understanding the Transcription Factor Mediated Regulatory Mechanism Towards Abiotic Stress Response in Cereal Crops

Cereal crops are critical to global food security and are valued for their adaptability and nutritional value. However, they are increasingly threatened by abiotic stresses such as water scarcity, high soil salinity, severe climatic conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. This review focuses on the central role of transcription factors (TFs) in the response of cereal crops to these environmental challenges. TFs, such as the DREB family, the bZIP family, and the WRKY family, emerge as central players in this intricate regulatory network. They initiate or inhibit the activation of stress-responsive genes by binding to specific cis-regulatory elements located in gene promoters and enhance the resilience of cereal crops to various abiotic stresses. For example, DREB1/CBF TFs alleviate cold stress, NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2 (NAC) factors combat salinity stress, and WRKY TFs modulate responses to drought, salinity, and cold stress by initiating vital physiological processes, including osmotic regulation, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis, ultimately promoting stress tolerance. Genetic engineering strategies that overexpress these stress-responsive genes and TFs hold great promise for enhancing crop resilience and productivity in the face of climate change. In addition, this review also emphasizes the potential of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, to fine-tune the control of genes that respond to abiotic stresses. These findings benefit agriculture by addressing global food security challenges

Diagnostic yield of percutaneous computed tomography guided core needle biopsy of lung lesion and its complications in tertiary hospital

Background: Early diagnosis of lung cancer can reduce its mortality and morbidity. Minimally invasive image guided percutaneous core needle biopsy can obtain tissue sample for diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, which is crucial for correct management of lung lesions. Common complications of lung biopsy include pneumothorax, parenchymal haemorrhage and haemoptysis. The study was aimed to determine diagnostic yield and complications of the percutaneous computed tomography (CT) guided core needle biopsy of lung lesion in tertiary hospital.Methods: Hospital based prospective study was performed in 40 patients in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. CT guided biopsy of lung lesions was performed with 18-gauge semi-automated biopsy instrument. The complications following the biopsy were recorded and correlated with different factors using chi-square test. Histopathology report were obtained to measure the diagnostic yield.Results: Among 40 patients who underwent guided lung biopsy, histopathology showed definitive diagnosis in 37 patients; 31 malignant and 6 benign lesions. Parenchymal haemorrhage, pneumothorax and haemoptysis were seen in 13, 8 and 5 respectively; however, none required active intervention. Emphysema in traversing lung and numbers of pleural punctures used were predictive factors of complication (p value <0.05).Conclusions: The study showed percutaneous image guided core needle biopsy has high diagnostic yield with fewer complication rates and is thus recommended for routine biopsies of lung lesions

Comparison Between Computed Tomography and Ultrasonography in Detection of Urinary Tract Calculi

Introduction: In the past decade, developments in CT technology have changed the trend of imaging modalities used in the evaluation of urinary system. The present study was undertaken to compare between Computed Tomography (CT) and Ultrasonography (USG) in detection of urinary tract calculi.  Methods: The prospective, cross-sectional and observational research design was used. The study was conducted in Department of Radiology and Imaging of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from June 2017 to September 2017 in 96 patients. Patients who underwent plain CT abdomen (CT KUB) with suspicion of urolithiasis after performing USG were enrolled in the study. Ultrasound and CT findings were compared on the basis of age, gender, clinical complaints, number of stones and their locaton (site of occurrence). Similarly, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of USG were calculated using CT as gold standard.  Results: A total number of 96 patients were studied from June 2017 to September 2017. Among them 56 were males and 40 were females with male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The mean age among the males was 34±14.79 years and  females was 38±18.74 years. Flank pain was the commonest complaint recorded in 35.41% of patients. On the CT scan, 80% patients had renal calculi, 15.60% of stones were found in vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) and 41.66% stones were seen bilaterally. Out of the 22 cases with ureteric calculi, USG detected calculi only in 5 cases and the sensitivity of USG in diagnosing ureteric calculi in comparision to CT was 22.72% with 100 % specificity, 100% PPV and 81% NPV.  Conclusion: Ultrasound has lower sensitivity for the detection of ureteric calculi. CT helps in precise detection of calculi during initial evaluation which is critical for clinical decision making and patient counselling.

Computed tomography diagnosis of truncus arteriosus type IV: a case report

Truncus arteriosus (TA) is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly of which type IV is considered a rare variant. Recognition is crucial for proper treatment planning. The prognosis without treatment is poor. Echocardiography alone may not be useful in evaluation. Computed tomography (CT) finding is complicated. We report an 18 months child with ventricular septal defect (VSD), diagnosed on echocardiography, and further review by CT showed VSD with descending thoracic aorta giving rise to the pulmonary arteries suggestive of pseudo truncus (Collet and Edwards Truncus arteriosus Type IV) and right sided aortic arch with mirror image branching. Keywords: echocardiography, Collet and Edwards, computed tomography (CT), truncus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect (VSD

Correlation coefficient and path analysis of yield and yield attributing characters of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes under reproductive drought stress in the Terai region of Nepal

An experimental trial of nine rice genotypes was conducted in the Agronomy field of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) Paklihawa Campus under a randomized block design layout with three replications from July to November of 2022. The aim was to study genetic variability and analyze the character association of yield and yield-attributing components in rice genotypes and their direct and indirect effect on grain yield under reproductive drought stress conditions. Observations on days to flowering (50%), plant height, panicle length, panicle weight, number of grains/panicles, effective panicle/m², grain yield, and 1000 kernel weight were recorded. Grain yield showed a highly positive significant correlation with effective panicle/m² (0.713**), followed by plant height (0.347) and panicle length (0.289). The path coefficient analysis of different traits revealed the highest positive direct effect of the effective panicle per m² (0.748963), followed by panicle length (0.24145) and plant height (0.227505). The highest negative direct effect was shown by the number of grains per panicle (-0.31218). The experimental results revealed that the selection of trait-effective panicle per square meter would be most beneficial for the improvement of yield in rice genotypes facilitating selection and plant breeding programs

Abnormal Anatomic Variation of Pancreaticobiliary Union in Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Department of Radiology and Imaging in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The knowledge of the variations of the abnormal anatomy of pancreaticobiliary union is of great importance for understanding various pathologies of the biliary tract, gall bladder, and pancreas as well as to avoid surgical complications and morbidity which may arise from pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Moreover, it helps in the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of pancreaticobiliary disease. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of abnormal anatomic variations of the pancreaticobiliary union in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography examinations. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in patients referred for Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography examinations for various clinical indications from 1 February 2021 to 30 May 2021. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 306 (6-11)E 2 077/078]. The variations in the pancreaticobiliary union, length of the common channel, and angle between the common bile duct and major pancreatic duct were obtained from the 1.5T magnetic resonance scanner in 90 patients. The three‑dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography images were visually analyzed and classified into four categories. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 90% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 90 patients, 73 (81.11%) (74.34-87.88, 90% Confidence Interval) patients had abnormal pancreaticobiliary union with pancreaticobiliary type as the most common occurrence seen in 33 (36.67%) patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of abnormal anatomic variation of pancreaticobiliary union was found to be higher than other studies done in similar settings

Phosphoglycerate kinase - glyceraldtehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase interaction: Reaction rate studies

88-100<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:387.0pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">Rate studies using phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) - glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) enzyme pair have been carried out to distinguish between the two mechanisms of intermediate metabolite transfer, namely diffusion through the solvent versus "substrate channelling" within an enzyme-enzyme complex. A procedure has been described for the assay of the rates of PGK-catalysed and the PGK-GPDH coupled reactions at high (saturating) GPDH concentration. With PGKs of rabbit muscle and yeast, the coupled reaction proceeded faster than the PGK-catalysed reaction. At a high salt concentration (0.5 M KCI), where a PGK-GPDH complex is known to dissociate, the two reactions proceeded at almost equal rates. At fixed PGK concentration, the rate of the coupled reaction at high (saturating) GPDH concentration varied with the nature (biological origin) of the latter enzyme. In the presence of 0.5 M KCI, the saturating rate values with different GPDHs were almost equal. The PGK-catalysed reaction exhibited typical Michaelian behaviour on varying the substrate concentrations (linear double reciprocal plots). The Km values for 3-PGA (0.51 mM) and ATP (0.40 rn<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">M) were independent of the concentration of the second substrate. The double reciprocal plots for the coupled reaction showed downward curvature, i.e. activation at higher substrate concentrations. The ratio of the rate of the coupled reaction : the rate of the PGK catalysed reaction was found to be a function of the nature of PGK, nature of GPDH, nature of buffer, pH, salt concentration and substrate concentrations. The ratio varied between close to unity at low substrate concentrations, to three when the V max values of the two reactions were compared. At low substrate concentrations, the rate of the coupled reaction became independent of the nature of GPDH. It has been suggested that in the PGK-GPDH pair, the intermediate metabolite (BPG) is transferred directly from one enzyme to the other within an enzyme-enzyme complex, except at high salt or low substrate concentrations. Under the latter conditions, data were consistent with metabolite transfer by diffusion. Implications of these results for coupled enzyme assays have been discussed. </p

Variation in the Branches of Arch of Aorta in Patients Undergoing Contrast Enhanced Multidetector Computed Tomography in a Tertiary Centre, Nepal

Introduction: Variations in the branching pattern of the Arch of Aorta (AoA) are common in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced Multidetector Computed Tomography, the identification of which is crucial in managing patients undergoing cardiovascular/neck surgeries and interventions. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 513 patients who were sent to the Department of Radiology for evaluation of various pathologies of chest and neck between August 2018 and July 2019. After approval from the Institutional Review Committee {Reference No: 11(6-11) E2/075/076}, contrast-enhanced computed tomography images were evaluated with variations in branches of the left-sided arch of the aorta and symptoms associated. Results: Variations in branches of the arch of aorta were seen in 69 (13.45%; 95% CI: 10.60%-16.71%) of cases, left common carotid artery and brachiocephalic trunk having common origin or common trunk was 51(9.94%). The mean age was 52.4±20 years (Range 3 months to 92 years) with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the modality of choice for the detection of the variations in branches of AoA, recognition of which is crucial in vascular intervention and surgical procedures to reduce the postoperative morbidity and mortality of the patients