Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Major RNAi Genes Highlighting Their Associated Factors in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.).

In different regions of the world, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an important vegetable and an excellent source of protein. It lessens the malnutrition of the underprivileged in developing nations and has some positive effects on health, such as a reduction in the prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, occasionally, certain biotic and abiotic stresses caused a sharp fall in cowpea yield. Major RNA interference (RNAi) genes like Dicer-like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) are essential for the synthesis of their associated factors like domain, small RNAs (sRNAs), transcription factors, micro-RNAs, and cis-acting factors that shield plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, applying BLASTP search and phylogenetic tree analysis with reference to the Arabidopsis RNAi (AtRNAi) genes, we discovered 28 VuRNAi genes, including 7 VuDCL, 14 VuAGO, and 7 VuRDR genes in cowpea. We looked at the domains, motifs, gene structures, chromosomal locations, subcellular locations, gene ontology (GO) terms, and regulatory factors (transcription factors, micro-RNAs, and cis-acting elements (CAEs)) to characterize the VuRNAi genes and proteins in cowpea in response to stresses. Predicted VuDCL1, VuDCL2(a, b), VuAGO7, VuAGO10, and VuRDR6 genes might have an impact on cowpea growth, development of the vegetative and flowering stages, and antiviral defense. The VuRNAi gene regulatory features miR395 and miR396 might contribute to grain quality improvement, immunity boosting, and pathogen infection resistance under salinity and drought conditions. Predicted CAEs from the VuRNAi genes might play a role in plant growth and development, improving grain quality and production and protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, our study provides crucial information about the functional roles of VuRNAi genes and their associated components, which would aid in the development of future cowpeas that are more resilient to biotic and abiotic stress. The manuscript is available as a preprint at this link: doi:10.1101/2023.02.15.528631v1.

Population dynamics and biorational management of sucking insect vectors on chili (Capsicum annuum L.) in Bangladesh.

To evaluate population fluctuations in relation to weather parameters and biorational management of sucking insect vectors in chili (Capsicum annuum L.), we conducted a study at the experimental field of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, in 2020 and 2021. It has been shown in this study that sucking insects (aphids, jassids, whiteflies, and thrips) were active throughout the study period. The highest count of sucking insect vectors (24.67 aphids, 13.72 whitefly, and 56.56 thrips) in March and (14.83 jassid) in April was recorded at average temperatures of 34-36°C and 31°C, respectively. There was a positive correlation between pest abundance and temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall for all insects, with the exception of a negative correlation between whiteflies and temperature and rainfall. The results of linear regression models showed that abiotic factors contribute to pest abundance levels, with 100R2 values of 14.9 (thrips), 46.3 (jassids), 7.1 (whiteflies), and 0.67 (aphids); the results were statistically significant for all models in the case of thrips, jassids, and whiteflies, but not significant in the case of aphids. The most effective treatment was spinosad 45SC, a bacterium-derived pesticide recommended for the control of sucking insect vector complexes in chili. The results from the spinosad-treated plot, in terms of insect counts and corresponding mortality rates, were as follows: aphids (3.68), 68.89%; jassids (3.52), 72.01%; whiteflies (3.00), 66.69%; and thrips (3.40), 69.20%. The results of this study will aid in developing predictive models of different control agents against sucking insect vectors in vegetable crops.

Postexposure psychological sequelae in frontline health workers to COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh, India.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has engulfed the globe since December 2019. Healthcare workers remain at the forefront of this battle, and like prior pandemics face mental health challenges along with physical risks. We aimed to study the perceived stress and possible posttraumatic stress in the frontline workers exposed to active COVID-19 duties in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. METHODOLOGY: A special voluntary, anonymous, survey-based Google questionnaire was designed with mandatory consent form and queries to clarify inclusion exclusion criteria. Tools included valid, reliable self-administered scales, namely General Health Questionnaire 12, Perceived Stress Scale and Impact of Events Scales-Revised. A purposive sampling method was adopted, by posting the survey questionnaire on WhatsApp groups of doctors, interns, and nurses working on active COVID-19 duty in Andhra Pradesh. RESULTS: About 69.7% of the frontline workers recorded higher perceived stress and definitive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was found in 34.8%, with psychological distress recorded in 53%. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of perceived stress discovered in the vast majority with definitive PTSD features in a third of the sample indicates the need for provision of mental health support proactively among frontline workers on active COVID-19 duty.

Founding and managing a mental health establishment under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017.

The World Health Organization Atlas reveals lower bed and mental health professionals ratio per population in India. This may be due to a poor allocation of funding in the mental health sector by the Government. This resulted in a lack of complete and comprehensive care ranging from acute treatment to long-term rehabilitation throughout the country. The spiral of specialist care needs such as deaddiction, child psychiatric needs, and rehabilitation facility are available only to a handful of the population in metropolitan cities in India. The launching or establishment of new Mental Health Establishments (MHEs) and upgrading mental health service may provide strategies to bridge this gap from the private mental health sector. Following the inception of "Mental Healthcare Act 2017" (MHCA 2017), the process of setting up MHEs and their operations comes with new legal and healthcare aspects that remain debatable and unsettled. We put forth the basic measures that can be considered and undertaken to establish an exemplary MHE under the MHCA 2017.

The prospective, 24-week assessment of cost-efficacy of and compliance to antidepressant medications in a rural setting (PACECAR) study.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are common mental health disorders that are responsible for considerable societal burden. There are no data on cost-efficacy and medication compliance related to the treatment of these disorders in rural India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consenting adults (n = 455) diagnosed with generalized anxiety or (unipolar) depressive disorders in Suttur village, Karnataka, were treated with open-label fluoxetine (20-60 mg/day), sertraline (50-150 mg/day), escitalopram (10-20 mg/day), desvenlafaxine (50-150 mg/day), duloxetine (30-90 mg/day), amitriptyline (75-150 mg/day), or clomipramine (75-150 mg/day) in a structured, monotherapy dosing plan. The study was nonrandomized and otherwise naturalistic. Patients were followed up every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Study discontinuation was defined as medication noncompliance for 3 or more days or withdrawal due to treatment nonresponse. RESULTS: There was substantial discontinuation (34.5%) in the first 4 weeks; 55.4% had discontinued by 12 weeks. Subsequently, only 11.2% discontinued treatment. Only 33.4% of the subjects tolerated the treatment, responded to it, and remained compliant for 24 weeks. Such successful completion was highest for escitalopram and desvenlafaxine (46%-47%) and lowest for clomipramine and amitriptyline (10%-14%). Adverse events were the most common reason for noncompliance with clomipramine and amitriptyline (45%-46%); the experience of sufficient improvement was the most common reason for noncompliance with the remaining drugs (28%-49%). Whereas the average cost of efficacious treatment for a continuous period of 24 weeks was lowest for fluoxetine, an examination of the cost-efficacy tradeoff suggested maximum advantage for escitalopram, sertraline, and desvenlafaxine. The cost-efficacy profile for amitriptyline and clomipramine was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for noncompliance vary by drug class and need to be considered when prescribing antidepressant drugs. Escitalopram, sertraline, and desvenlafaxine perhaps have the most favorable 24-week cost-efficacy profile; tricyclics are poorly tolerated. Rural subjects need to be educated that treatment must be continued even after improvement is established.

Suttur study: An epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders in south Indian rural population.

BACKGROUND: Based on review of literature World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burden of Disease Study has estimated that psychiatric disorders are among the most burdensome, around the globe and has suggested general population surveys for future research. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and study their association with various socioeconomic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an exploratory study where a door-to-door survey of the entire population residing in a South Indian village was done (n = 3033). Mini international neuropsychiatric interview kid (MINI) or MINI plus were administered to all the subjects according to the age group. RESULTS: It was found that 24.40% of the subjects were suffering from one or more diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Prevalence of depressive disorders was found to be 14.82% and of anxiety disorders was 4%. Alcohol dependence syndrome was diagnosed in 3.95% of the population. Prevalence of dementia in subjects above 60 years was found to be 10%. CONCLUSION: Our study is among the very few epidemiological studies with respect to methodological design which does not use screening questionnaires and evaluates each subject with detailed administration of MINI. It concluded that one among four were suffering from a psychiatric disorder. Improving the training of undergraduate medical and nursing students is likely to play a significant role in addressing the increasing psychiatric morbidities.