Assessment of Sugarcane Germplasm ( Saccharum spp. complex) Against Red Rot Pathogen Colletotrichum Falcatum

ABSTRACT Red rot, caused by Colletotrichum falcatum Went is the most important disease of sugarcane in India inflicting substantial loss to both cane industry and cane growers. To keep in view the importance of red rot disease of sugarcane, 117 accession of sugarcane germplasm including different Saccharum species and Indian and foreign commercial hybrids were tested against red rot with Cf 07, Cf 08 & Cf 09 (national pathotypes) by plug method of inoculation. Out of 117, 6 were found resistant and 12 were moderately resistant against red rot and rest were moderately susceptible/susceptible/highly susceptible. Theses resistance and moderately resistant accession can be further utilize to produce resistance varieties against the most devastating pathogen of sugarcane.

Does cyclophosphamide benefit relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disease. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and treatment. It can present in acute as well as chronic forms. Cyclophosphamide has been reported to be beneficial in relapsing TTP. Herein a case of acute TTP evolving into relapsing phase of the disease is presented. Cyclophosphamide in our case achieved partial remission without the need for plasma exchange therapy. The rationale of cyclophosphamide in management of relapsing TTP is discussed.

Anti-keratin antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

As the proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have anti-keratin antibodies (AKA) varies in different ethnic groups, we studied its occurrence in a hospital populations with RA and its association with different disease variables. Sera from 84 consecutive patients with RA, 100 healthy controls and 85 disease controls (polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis) were tested for AKA by an indirect immunofluorescence assay that used rat esophagus as substrate. The proportion of patients with RA who had AKA (47/84) was higher than in healthy controls (2/100; P < 0.001) and in disease controls (2/85; P < 0.001). The frequency of AKA positivity was higher among patients who had severe disease (P < 0.05) and rheumatoid factor. Anti-keratin antibody is present in 56 per cent of our patients with RA and is associated with severe disease.