Evaluation and selection of elite plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for suppression of sheath blight of rice caused by rhizoctonia solani in a detached leaf bio-assay.

Sheath blight (ShB) of rice, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is one of the most important rice diseases worldwide. The objective of this study was to screen selected plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains for suppression of ShB under controlled conditions. Sclerotia of R. solani were produced on PDA and immature sclerotia (< 5-day-old) were harvested. Leaves of 60-day-old rice plants grown under greenhouse conditions were used to screen PGPR strains by detached leaf assay. Leaf sections of 8 cm in length were cut and placed in Petri dishes, inoculated with immature sclerotia, and incubated in a growth chamber. Approximately 70 PGPR strains were screened. The disease was quantified by the Relative Lesion Height (RLH) method. Among 70 strains, 31 significantly suppressed the RLH of ShB lesions compared to the control. Among these, Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600 resulted in greatest suppression of ShB disease severity under the conditions tested.

Grave prognosis on spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: GP on STAGE score.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is more common in Asia than in western countries, and has a high mortality rate. A simple prognostic score for predicting grave prognosis of ICH is lacking. Our objective was to develop a simple and reliable score for most physicians. MATERIAL AND METHOD: ICH patients from seven Asian countries were enrolled between May 2000 and April 2002 for a prospective study. Clinical features such as headache and vomiting, vascular risk factors, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), body temperature (BT), blood pressure on arrival, location and size of haematoma, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), hydrocephalus, need for surgical treatment, medical treatment, length of hospital stay and other complications were analyzed to determine the outcome using a modified Rankin scale (MRS). Grave prognosis (defined as MRS of 5-6) was judged on the discharge date. RESULTS: 995 patients, mean age 59.5 +/- 14.3 years were analyzed, after exclusion of incomplete data in 87 patients. 402 patients (40.4%) were in the grave prognosis group (MRS 5-6). Univariable analysis and then multivariable analysis showed only four statistically significant predictors for grave outcome of ICH. They were fever (BT > or = 37.8 degrees c), low GCS, large haematoma and IVH. The grave prognosis on spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (GP on STAGE) score was derived from these four factors using a multiple logistic model. CONCLUSION: A simple and pragmatic prognostic score for ICH outcome has been developed with high sensitivity (82%) and specificity (82%). Furthermore, it can be administered by most general practitioners. Validation in other populations is now required.