Variability in Colletotrichum infecting chilli plants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Aim: The aim of the present study was to understand the basic pathogen dynamics of Colletotrichum species infecting chilli crop in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for disease management practices. Methodology: Twenty fungal isolates associated with chilli (Capsicum annuum) anthracnose disease from diverse locations of tropical Andaman, India were characterized using polyphasic approaches. Results: Upon morphological studies, out of twenty isolates, fourteen isolates were found chromogenic and eleven showed concentric ring pattern of mycelial growth. Based on conidial morphology, the isolates were grouped into two species (C. capsici and C. gloesporioides). The pathogenicity tests on three chilli varieties revealed difference in the pathogenic potential among the collected isolates. The sequence analysis using internal transcriber spacer (ITS) region revealed the presence of two other species C. siamense and C. plurivorum, in addition to C. gloesporioides and C. capsici. Interpretation: The present study revealed the presence of high level of genetic and pathogenic variability among the Colletotrichum isolates infecting chilli in Andaman Islands.

Molecular diversity in rice genotypes differing in physiological mechanisms of salt tolerance through SSR and ISSR markers.

Two different DNA-based techniques viz, simple sequence repeat (SSR) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to estimate genetic diversity among 20 rice genotypes possessing different physiological mechanisms contributing to salt tolerance. A total of 11 clear and repeatable bands were amplified from ten selected SSR primers pairs and 43 fragments were detected from nine ISSR primers. The level of polymorphism was 1.1% with SSR compared to 90.7% with ISSRs. Mean genetic similarity of 0.88 based on SSRs and 0.85 using ISSRs was observed. A total of 43 (39 polymorphic) and 11 bands were detected using 9 ISSR primers and 10 well distributed mapped SSR markers, respectively. Estimates of genetic similarity of ISSRs based on the 39 polymorphic markers between 20 rice cultivars ranged from 0.55 for PR108/CSR19 to 0.94 for Pokkali/CSR20 with an average of 0.81. The estimates revealed by the 11 polymorphic SSR bands showed the average value (0.94) and also the range of genetic similarity (from 0.86 to 1.00 for CSR22/CSR18 and CSR24/CSR20, respectively) reflecting their hyper variability and their high resolution power. The findings are likely to expedite breeding new salt tolerant cultivars by involving parents from diverse molecular clusters.

Non-familial multiple keratoacanthomas in a 70 year-old long-term non-progressor HIV-seropositive man.

We describe here multiple keratoacanthomas in an Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-seropositive 70 year-old man. The patient had multiple epithelial tumors of the skin showing rapid growth, histopathological features of a keratoacanthoma and a conspicuous tendency toward spontaneous remission. A diagnosis of nonfamilial multiple keratoacanthoma was established. The patient had a CD4 count of 633 cells/microL. The HIV disease in our patient was of a nonprogressive nature with CCR5-positive T cells.

Serum leptin levels in obese Indian children relation to clinical and biochemical parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum leptin levels in obese Indian children and its correlation to anthropometric and biochemical parameters. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Referral tertiary hospital. METHODOLOGY: Leptin levels were measured in 36 children (26 boys, age 1.5 to 15 years) and 37 adults (21 men, age 25 to 69 years) with obesity and 29 normal weight controls (15 children and 14 adults). RESULTS: Leptin levels were higher than controls in obese children (19.4 +/- 6.4 ng/mL against 5.4 +/- 1.7 ng/mL, p = 0.0001) and obese adults (18.9 +/- 6.4 ng/mL against 7.8 +/- 5.6 ng/mL, p = 0.0001). Leptin levels were higher than males in obese girls (23.5 +/- 1.7 ng/mL against 18.0 +/-7.6 ng/mL, p = 0.040) and women (21.3 +/- 4.4 ng/mL against 15.8 +/- 7.4 ng/mL). Leptin levels correlated with body mass index, waist circumference and waist to-hip ratio. A positive correlation was observed between serum leptin and cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. No correlation was seen with fasting blood glucose and HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Leptin levels correlate significantly with anthropometric and laboratory parameters in obese children. There is a need for further studies on the role of leptin in childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Oral ulcer as an unusual feature of visceral leishmaniasis in an AIDS patient.

Leishmaniasis, a globally prevalent parasitic disease, occurs in three forms, viz, visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous. It is transmitted by female Phlebotomus sandflies. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is increasing worldwide and several reports indicate a rising trend of VL / HIV co-infection, modifying the traditional anthroponotic pattern of VL transmission. India is one of the countries having the largest burden of leishmaniasis; nevertheless, there are very few HIV / leishmania co-infection cases reported so far. We report a 35-year-old homemaker infected with the human immunodeficiency virus; she presented with an oral ulcer. The investigations carried out on her revealed that she was afflicted by visceral leishmaniasis and the oral ulceration was a part of the same. This is only the second such case from the Indian subcontinent and more significantly from a non-endemic area.

Angiosarcoma of scalp: a case report.

Cutaneous angiosarcomas are rare and constitute less than 1% of all malignant mesenchymal tumours. Most angiosarcomas of skin arise in the following clinical settings: 1. face and scalp of elderly 2. following lymphoedema and 3. post radiation. We present a case of an elderly man presenting with scalp lesion of 18 months duration. Histological examination of the biopsy revealed features of an angiosarcoma, which showed imunohistochemical positivity for factor VIII related antigen.

Late-onset polymyositis in a case of poikilodermatomyositis.

A case of poikiloderma developed polymyositis ten years after the onset of skin changes. This rare case of poikilodermatomyositis, hitherto not reported from Asian continent, is documented.

Histoid leprosy with ENL reaction.

A 23-year old man presented with firm cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules of histoid leprosy. Some of the nodules suppurated after multidrug therapy (MDT) and these nodules showed features of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) on histopathological examination. ENL is a rare phenomenon observed in histoid leprosy.

Epidemic dropsy: a study of cutaneous manifestations with histopathological correlation.

Clinical and histopathological features of epidemic dropsy were studied in 19 patients. Bilateral pitting pedal oedema, erythrocyanosis and tachycardia without fever were the predominant clinical features. Histology revealed deposition of hyaline material on the walls of dermal blood vessels.

Abdominal hernia following abdominal herpes zoster.

We report a case of abdominal hernia in TIO and 11 segments following herpes zoster at T11 segment.

Psychiatric profile of patients with neurodermatitis.

Fifty patients of neurodermatitis attending the dermatology clinic of a general hospital were screened for psychiatric morbidity. Fifty patients suffering from tinea from the same clinic were taken as a control group (age, sex and socio-economic class matched). A majority of neurodermatitis patients were between 21-30 years of age-group (52%), males (84%), married (90%), literate up to primary (42%) and belonged to socio-economic class V (44%). The common sites of neurodermatitis were legs (28%), arms (16%), scrotum (12%) or multiple sites (36%). The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 month to 2 years (average duration was 6 months). The study group also showed significantly higher occupational and psychosexual problems (p < 0.001). The neurodermatitis patients scored significantly higher on N-2 scale and Hamilton rating scale for depression.

The histopathology of type I (lepra) and type II (ENL) reactions in leprosy.

The histopathological features in type I (lepra) reaction comprised a loose and disorganised granuloma in the upper and mid-dermis, dermal edema and variable cellular contents, namely, epithelioid cells, lymphocytes, giant cells, and macrophages. While ENL reactions, were characterised by predominant involvement of subcutaneous vessels, vasculitis, and polymorphonuclear infiltration in and around the blood vessels.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) in histoid leprosy.

The morphological features of ENL, occurring in histoid leprosy are described. Its infrequent occurrence has been emphasised. The possible immunopathogenesis of its occurrence in histoid leprosy is briefly outlined.