Development of High Yielding Fusarium Wilt Resistant Cultivar by Pyramiding of "Genes" Through Marker-Assisted Backcrossing in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Pusa 391, a mega desi chickpea variety with medium maturity duration is extensively cultivated in the Central Zone of India. Of late, this variety has become susceptible to Fusarium wilt (FW), which has drastic impact on its yield. Presence of variability in the wilt causing pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri (foc) across geographical locations necessitates the role of pyramiding for FW resistance for different races (foc 1,2,3,4 and 5). Subsequently, the introgression lines developed in Pusa 391 genetic background were subjected to foreground selection using three SSR markers (GA16, TA 27 and TA 96) while 48 SSR markers uniformly distributed on all chromosomes, were used for background selection to observe the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG). BC1F1 lines with 75-85% RPG recovery were used to generate BC2F1. The plants that showed more than 90% RPG recovery in BC2F1 were used for generating BC3F1. The plants that showed more than 96% RPG recovery were selected and selfed to generate BC3F3. Multi-location evaluation of advanced introgression lines (BC2F3) in six locations for grain yield (kg/ha), days to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight and disease incidence was done. In case of disease incidence, the genotype IL1 (BGM 20211) was highly resistant to FW in Junagarh, Indore, New Delhi, Badnapur and moderately resistant at Sehore and Nandyal. GGE biplot analysis revealed that IL1(BGM20211) was the most stable genotype at Junagadh, Sehore and Nandyal. GGE biplot analysis revealed that IL1(BGM 20211) and IL4(BGM 20212) were the top performers in yield and highly stable across six environments and were nominated for Advanced Varietal Trials (AVT) of AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea) in 2018-19. BGM20211 and BGM 20212 recorded 29 and 28.5% average yield gain over the recurrent parent Pusa 391, in the AVT-1 and AVT-2 over five environments. Thus, BGM20211 was identified for release and notified as Pusa Manav/Pusa Chickpea 20211 for Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, Southern Rajasthan, Bundhelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh states by the Central Sub-Committees on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties of Agricultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, for commercial cultivation in India (Gazette notification number S.O.500 (E) dt. 29-1-2021).Such pyramided lines give resilience to multiple races of fusarium wilt with added yield advantage.

Peritoneal Spread of Low-grade Appendiceal Tumours - 2 Days of Early Postoperative Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy Are Enough.

BACKGROUND/AIM: While controversial, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and early postoperative intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) remains the mainstay of treatment for low grade appendiceal neoplasm with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). Our study aimed to investigate the difference in survival when administering HIPEC alone vs. HIPEC + EPIC. Additionally, we examined whether the duration of EPIC affects survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared the difference in survival in 238 patients who underwent CRS + HIPEC alone vs. CRS + HIPEC/EPIC combination for low grade appendiceal cancer. We also compared short course (1-2 days) vs. long course (3-5 days) of EPIC. RESULTS: HIPEC/EPIC combination group (n=179) showed a significantly better 5-year survival of 95% compared to 71% in HIPEC alone (n=59). There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival between short course (n=22) and long course of EPIC (n=157). CONCLUSION: Combined use of HIPEC and EPIC improves 5-year survival in low-grade appendiceal neoplasm. Two days of EPIC are sufficient.

Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: An Update on Incidence, Risk Factors, Management, and Clinical Sequelae in 1,141 Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: An update on the incidence, risk factors, clinical sequalae, and management of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the St George CRS/HIPEC database. RESULTS: Sixty-five (5.7%) out of 1,141 patients developed a POPF. Patients with POPFs were older, had a higher peritoneal cancer index, longer operation time, and required more units of blood intraoperatively. Splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy were significant risk factors for developing POPFs. While there was no effect on overall long-term survival in POPF patients, they did suffer higher rates of Clavien-Dindo grade 3/4 complications, in-hospital deaths, and longer hospital length of stay. Of the 65 POPF patients, 23 were taken back to theatre, 48 required radiological drains and 7 underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. CONCLUSION: There are multiple risk factors for developing POPFs that are non-modifiable. While POPFs are associated with increased postoperative morbidity, long-term survival does not appear to be affected.

Anti-Thyroid Antibodies and TSH as Potential Markers of Thyroid Carcinoma and Aggressive Behavior in Patients with Indeterminate Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology.

BACKGROUND: Indeterminate fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) imposes challenges in the management of thyroid nodules. This study aimed to examine whether preoperative anti-thyroid antibodies (Abs) and TSH are indicators of thyroid malignancy and aggressive behavior in patients with indeterminate FNAC. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of thyroidectomy patients from 2008 to 2016. We analyzed Abs and TSH levels, FNAC, and histopathology. Serum antibody levels were categorized as 'Undetectable', 'In-range' if detectable but within normal range, and 'Elevated' if above upper limit of normal. 'Detectable' levels referred to 'In-range' and 'Elevated' combined. RESULTS: There were 531 patients included. Of 402 patients with preoperative FNAC, 104 (25.9%) had indeterminate cytology (Bethesda III-V). Of these, 39 (37.5%) were malignant and 65 (62.5%) benign on histopathology. In the setting of indeterminate FNAC, an increased risk of malignancy was associated with 'Elevated' thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) (OR 7.25, 95% CI 1.13-77.15, P = 0.01) and 'Elevated' thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) (OR 6.79, 95% CI 1.23-45.88, P = 0.008). Similarly, while still 'In-range', TSH ≥ 1 mIU/L was associated with an increased risk of malignancy (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.14-9.33, P = 0.01). In all patients with malignancy, the mean tumor size was 8 mm larger in those with TSH ≥ 1 mIU/L (P = 0.03); furthermore, in PTC patients, 'Detectable' TgAb conferred a 4 × risk of lymph node metastasis (95% CI 1.03-13.77, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In this cohort, in indeterminate FNAC patients, Abs and TSH were associated with an increased risk of malignancy. Additionally, TgAb and TSH were potential markers of aggressive biology. As such, they may be diagnostic and prognostic adjuncts.

RSM-GA Based Optimization of Bacterial PHA Production and In Silico Modulation of Citrate Synthase for Enhancing PHA Production.

The inexhaustible nature and biodegradability of bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) make them suitable assets to replace synthetic plastics. The eventual fate of these eco-friendly and non-toxic bioplastics relies upon the endeavors towards satisfying cost and, in addition, execution necessity. In this study, we utilized and statistically optimized different food (kitchen-/agro-) waste as a sole carbon/nitrogen source for the production of PHA at a reduced cost, indicating a proficient waste administration procedure. Seven different types of kitchen-/agro-waste were used as unique carbon source and four different types of nitrogen source were used to study their impact on PHA production by Bacillus subtilis MTCC 144. Among four different studied production media, mineral salt medium (MSM) (biomass: 37.7 g/L; cell dry weight: 1.8 g/L; and PHA: 1.54 g/L) was found most suitable for PHA production. Further, carbon and nitrogen components of MSM were optimized using one-factor-at-a-time experiments, and found that watermelon rind (PHA = 12.97 g/L) and pulse peel (PHA = 13.5 g/L) were the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in terms of PHA (78.60%) recovery. The concentrations of these factors (sources) were statistically optimized using response surface methodology coupled with the genetic algorithm approach. Additionally, in order to enhance microbial PHA production, the interaction of citrate synthase, a key enzyme in the TCA cycle, with different known inhibitors was studied using in silico molecular docking approach. The inhibition of citrate synthase induces the blockage of the tricarboxylic cycle (TCA), thereby increasing the concentration of acetyl-CoA that helps in enhanced PHA production. Molecular docking of citrate synthase with different inhibitors of PubChem database revealed that hesperidin (PubChem compound CID ID 10621), generally present in citrus fruits, is the most efficient inhibitor of the TCA cycle with the binding score of -11.4 and warrants experimental validation. Overall, this study provides an efficient food waste management approach by reducing the production cost and enhancing the production of PHA, thereby lessening our reliance on petroleum-based plastics.

Syphilis as an atypical cause of perianal fissure.

We present the case of a 29-year-old woman who attended a surgical outpatient clinic with symptoms of perianal fissure due to syphilitic infection. This uncommon aetiology of a common condition is often alluded to in textbooks, but little information exists in the scientific literature regarding the pathogenesis, presentation and treatment of fissure-in-ano secondary to syphilis. We present the case and an overview of the topic aimed at surgeons and clinicians who manage patients with perianal pathology. Syphilis is far from a disease of antiquity; in patients presenting with fissure-in-ano a thorough sexual history and sexually transmissible infection screening in at-risk groups may avoid mis-diagnosis, community transmission and unnecessary procedures.