Key message
Identification and genomic characterization of major resistance locus against cotton bacterial blight (CBB) using GWAS and linkage mapping to enable genomics-based development of durable ...CBB resistance and gene discovery in cotton.
Cotton bacterial leaf blight (CBB), caused by
Xanthomonas citri
subsp.
malvacearum
(Xcm), has periodically been a damaging disease in the USA. Identification and deployment of genetic resistance in cotton cultivars is the most economical and efficient means of reducing crop losses due to CBB. In the current study, genome-wide association study (GWAS) of CBB resistance using an elite diversity panel of 380 accessions, genotyped with the cotton single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 63 K array, and phenotyped with race-18 of CBB, localized the CBB resistance to a 2.01-Mb region in the long arm of chromosome D02. Molecular genetic mapping using an F
6
recombinant inbred line (RIL) population showed the CBB resistance in cultivar Arkot 8102 was controlled by a single locus (
BB-13
). The
BB-13
locus was mapped within the 0.95-cM interval near the telomeric region in the long arm of chromosome D02. Flanking SNP markers, i04890Gh and i04907Gh of the
BB-13
locus, identified from the combined linkage analysis and GWAS, targeted it to a 371-Kb genomic region. Candidate gene analysis identified thirty putative gene sequences in the targeted genomic region. Nine of these putative genes and two NBS-LRR genes adjacent to the targeted region were putatively involved in plant disease resistance and are possible candidate genes for
BB-13
locus. Genetic mapping and genomic targeting of the
BB13
locus in the current study will help in cloning the CBB-resistant gene and establishing the molecular genetic architecture of the
BB-13
locus towards developing durable resistance to CBB in cotton.
Infections at surgical sites are a major problem all over the world. Pathogens linked to postoperative infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which presents a significant ...therapeutic challenge for surgeons and raises the financial burden placed on patients. The study aimed to find the prevalence of multidrug resistance among patients with surgical site infections in a tertiary care centre.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 3 November 2022 to 2 May 2023 among post-operative patients with surgical site infection after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Swab samples were sent for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.
Among 147 patients with surgical site infection, the prevalence of multi-drug resistance was 95 (64.63%) (56.90-72.36, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, 51 (53.68%) patients were in the 21-40 years age group and most of them were male 53 (55.79%).
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant cases was similar to other studies done in similar settings.
antimicrobial drug resistance; multidrug resistance; Staphylococcus aureus; surgical site infection.
Varicella pneumonia is uncommon among adults and can present as potentially life-threatening complications of varicella. Here we report a case of a 43-year-old man with no known history of chronic ...disease and no allergic history who presented to our hospital emergency department with widespread skin eruptions over the entire body and hemoptysis. Varicella pneumonia was diagnosed based on the patient being in contact with his 6-year-old son who had contracted chickenpox 10 days back, typical cutaneous lesions, pulmonary symptoms and radiographic findings. The patient was treated with oral acyclovir and was admitted to the intensive care unit for monitoring. The patient recovered completely after 10 days of treatment.
chickenpox; pneumonia; skin eruptions.
In cotton, most agronomic traits are controlled by polygenes. In this study, 110 F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from Upland cotton cross NC05AZ06 x NC11‐2100, were used to develop a ...linkage map and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for six fiber quality traits, three yield traits, and plant height. These RILs were genotyped using the CottonSNP63K array and phenotyped for fiber quality, yield traits, and plant height in 2‐year field trials. Analysis of variance revealed significant (p < 0.05) differences among RILs for all traits studied, and the heritability estimates were moderate (30%–60%) to high (> 60%). Both positive and negative correlations were observed for fiber quality and yield traits. A total of 3,774 polymorphic SNP markers were used to develop a genetic map with an average marker density of 1.54 SNP/cM. Thirty QTL for fiber quality traits, yield traits, and plant height were detected on 15 different chromosomes, explaining 6.80%–20.02% of the phenotypic variance (PVE). Of these, 14 were major QTL (PVE > 10%), and three major QTL were detected in both years. Candidate gene analysis in the major QTL detected in both years and plant height QTL with PVE of 20.02% revealed five putative genes for fiber quality traits and one putative gene for plant height. The linkage map and identified QTL along with the candidate genes in the study could serve as additional breeding resources for Upland cotton genetic improvement.
Core Ideas
A RIL population derived from accessions with maximum allele diversity was used for QTL mapping of fiber quality and yield traits, and plant height in cotton.
Broad sense heritability of the 10 agronomic traits studied ranged from moderate (30%–60%) to high (>60%) values.
Thirty QTL, including 14 major QTL, of which 3 major stable QTL, were detected for fiber quality and yield traits, and plant height.
Hyperuricemia in dyslipidemic patients has been addressed as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease, because of its association with atherosclerosis and elevated oxidative stress. Hence, ...the main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of statins on blood uric acid level in patients being treated for dyslipidemia at a tertiary care hospital.
The study comprised 120 patients with dyslipidemia who were treated at UCMS-TH's outpatient medicine department over a six-month period from December 2022 to May 2023. Participants who met the inclusion criteria for this interventional longitudinal study had their serum uric acid and lipid parameters measured at the start of the study and again after 6 weeks of statin therapy. Using a dependent t-test, we compared the effects of statin on uric acid reduction in the serum.
Statin significantly reduced serum uric acid levels from 6.36 ± 1.02 mg/dL baseline to 5.12 ± 0.43 mg/dL (P < 0.001) after 6 weeks of treatment. The lipid markers LDL-C, TG, TC, and VLDL were all lowered, whereas the HDL level was raised (P < 0.05) after 6 weeks of statin medication.
Because of the association between elevated serum uric acid levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, statins like atorvastatin may be prescribed to dyslipidemic individuals at high risk for cardiovascular mortality due to hyperuricemia.
Abstract
Cotton bacterial blight (CBB), caused by the pathogen
Xanthomonas citri
subsp.
malvacearum
(
Xcm
), can inflict significant damage to cotton (
Gossypium hirsutum
L.) production. Previously, ...we identified and mapped the broad‐spectrum CBB‐resistant locus
BB‐13
on the long arm of chromosome D02 using array‐based single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In the current study, linked SNPs were converted into easily assayable Kompetitive Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) markers to enable efficient detection and marker‐assisted selection of alleles at the
BB‐13
locus. The KASP marker's efficiency in detecting the
BB‐13
resistant gene was validated using an Upland cotton diversity panel of 72 accessions phenotyped with
Xcm
race 18. The KASP marker NCBB‐KASP4, derived from the CottonSNP63K array‐based marker i25755Gh that is closely associated with
BB‐13
, predicted the CBB response phenotypes with an error rate of 4.17% in the diversity panel. Additionally, two independent biparental recombinant inbred line populations segregating for resistance to
Xcm
race 18 were used for KASP marker validation and to test their utility in detecting the presence of the
BB‐13
locus in the resistant accession CABD3CABCH‐1‐89. NCBB‐KASP4, validated across breeding populations and broad germplasm, is a reliable KASP marker for detection and testing of
BB‐13
locus in cotton. Further, diagnostic array‐based SNP marker i25755Gh's allele pattern and the potential CBB response is described for 875
Gossypium
accessions. These SNP‐based phenotypic predictions for 875 accessions along with disease response phenotypes to
Xcm
race 18 for 253 accessions provide a reference for CBB resistance in diverse cotton germplasm in the United States.
Core Ideas
Linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) converted into easily assayable Kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) markers to enable detection and marker‐assisted selection of alleles at the
BB‐13
locus.
Validated NCBB‐KASP4 is a reliable KASP marker for detection and testing of
BB‐13
locus in cotton.
BB‐13
diagnostic KASP markers' utility was validated using a diversity panel and segregating inbred populations.
SNP‐based phenotypic predictions along with cotton bacterial blight response phenotypes for diverse cotton accessions were described.
Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is commonly used regional anesthetic technique for below elbow upper limb surgeries. Ultrasound and nerve stimulator are used for higher success rates and fewer ...complications. Ropivacaine has been used as an alternative to Bupivacaine for rapid onset and longer duration along with lesser or no cardiac and neurotoxicity.The study was conducted with objective of assessing sensory and motor block characteristics of Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine in terms of onset, duration and adverse effects.
A prospective observational study lasting three month duration from 15th February, 2022 to 14th May, 2022 was conducted among 60 patients divided by convenient sampling method into 30 in Group R (0.2% Ropivacaine 30 ml) and 30 in Group B (0.2% Bupivacaine 30 ml) undergoing below elbow orthopedic surgery under ultrasound and peripheral nerve stimulator guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.
Block using Ropivacaine as compared to Bupivacaine had faster sensory onset in minutes (7±3.37 vs. 10.17±3.34; P value 0.0005), faster motor onset in minutes (10.17±5 vs. 22.33±5.04), shorter duration of sensory block in minutes (437.16±55.54 vs. 633.38±58.33), shorter duration of motor block in minutes (411±57.15 vs. 698.16±47.89), shorter time required for rescue analgesia in minutes (78.66±25.56 vs. 73.83±21.11) and no complications.
0.2% Ropivacaine can be used as an alternative to 0.2% Bupivacaine in below elbow upper limb orthopaedic surgeries under ultrasound and nerve stimulator guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block for rapid onset of sensory block and early regression of motor block.
This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts from the leaves of twelve different medicinal plants in Nepal. We then evaluated the total ...phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the extract using in-vitro assays and characterized it using GC-MS analysis. Results revealed that most of the leaf extracts contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins. Few plants also showed the presence of glycosides, phytate, and vitamin C. Among the studied plants, Neolamarckia cadamba exhibited the highest total phenolic and tannin contents, as 241.53 ± 0.20 µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg and 74.48 ± 1.081 µg of tannic acid equivalent/mg, respectively. Ipomoea batatas exhibited the highest total flavonoid content, as 53.051 ± 1.11 µg of quercetin equivalent/mg. Moreover, Raphanus sativus demonstrated significant ferrous ion chelating, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities with IC50 value of 4.76 ± 0.68 µg/mL, 5.84 ± 0.14 µg/mL, 6.89 ± 0.16 µg/mL, and 8.99 ± 0.20 µg/mL, respectively. Similarly, Colocasia esculenta and Cicer arietinum exhibited the highest hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activities, measuring IC50 value of 7.22 ± 0.56 µg/mL and 9.06 ± 0.10 µg/mL, respectively. Among all the extracts, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius displayed significant human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization activity (IC50 = 6.22 ± 0.78 µg/mL). Furthermore, Raphanus sativus, Chenopodium album, Cicer arietinum, and Murraya koenigii exhibited the highest inhibitory activities against protein denaturation with bovine serum albumin, antiarthritic, lipoxygenase inhibitory, and proteinase inhibitory, measuring IC50 of 7.48 ± 0.48 µg/mL, 9.44 ± 1.62 µg/mL, 14.67 ± 1.94 µg/mL, and 28.57 ± 2.39 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the twelve leaf extracts’ significant antioxidant, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory activities.
Clinical presentations, management strategies and outcomes of patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are complex due to variable natural history and uncertainty in the optimal ...treatment modality. Data are scarce regarding patients with bAVMs from developing countries either due to low incidence or a low detection rate. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with bAVMs treated microsurgically in a university hospital from Nepal.
The clinical records of patients confirmed to have bAVMs and microsurgically excised between July 2015 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, morphometric characteristics of bAVMs on imaging, management strategies, and the 6-month outcomes were abstracted and analyzed.
Out of 43 bAVMs diagnosed, 23 were microsurgically excised during the study period. The mean age of the patients was 28 (7–57) years. Eighteen patients (78.2%) presented with hemorrhage whereas 5 (17.4%) had seizures. Eight (34.8&) patients had bAVMs on the motor cortex (6 on the right side and 2 on the left side). Only one patient had infratentorial bAVM. Seventeen (73.9%) out of 23 were in Spetzler-Martin grade II and III before surgery. One patient had flow-related two arterial aneurysms. A single-stage surgery was performed with angiographic confirmation of obliteration in all patients. The favorable outcome (mRS 0–2) was achieved in 22 (95.6%) patients. One patient died.
The overall number of subjects diagnosed with bAVMs in our hospital is markedly lower than cerebral aneurysms. The resource limitation in the diagnosis due to the limited availability of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and angiography is the most likely cause of low detection. With an individualized and careful selection strategy, surgical results are excellent even in this low-volume setting.
