Drought and High Temperature Stress in Sorghum: Physiological, Genetic, and Molecular Insights and Breeding Approaches.

Sorghum is one of the staple crops for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA). The future climate in these sorghum production regions is likely to have unexpected short or long episodes of drought and/or high temperature (HT), which can cause significant yield losses. Therefore, to achieve food and nutritional security, drought and HT stress tolerance ability in sorghum must be genetically improved. Drought tolerance mechanism, stay green, and grain yield under stress has been widely studied. However, novel traits associated with drought (restricted transpiration and root architecture) need to be explored and utilized in breeding. In sorghum, knowledge on the traits associated with HT tolerance is limited. Heat shock transcription factors, dehydrins, and genes associated with hormones such as auxin, ethylene, and abscisic acid and compatible solutes are involved in drought stress modulation. In contrast, our understanding of HT tolerance at the omic level is limited and needs attention. Breeding programs have exploited limited traits with narrow genetic and genomic resources to develop drought or heat tolerant lines. Reproductive stages of sorghum are relatively more sensitive to stress compared to vegetative stages. Therefore, breeding should incorporate appropriate pre-flowering and post-flowering tolerance in a broad genetic base population and in heterotic hybrid breeding pipelines. Currently, more than 240 QTLs are reported for drought tolerance-associated traits in sorghum prospecting discovery of trait markers. Identifying traits and better understanding of physiological and genetic mechanisms and quantification of genetic variability for these traits may enhance HT tolerance. Drought and HT tolerance can be improved by better understanding mechanisms associated with tolerance and screening large germplasm collections to identify tolerant lines and incorporation of those traits into elite breeding lines. Systems approaches help in identifying the best donors of tolerance to be incorporated in the SSA and SA sorghum breeding programs. Integrated breeding with use of high-throughput precision phenomics and genomics can deliver a range of drought and HT tolerant genotypes that can improve yield and resilience of sorghum under drought and HT stresses.

Impact of supplementing preoperative intravenous omega 3 Fatty acids in fish oil on immunomodulation in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of supplementing intravenous omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (IVFO) in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery. This was a single centre, randomized, controlled, comparative, phase IV study in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery. The subjects, within the age range of 50-90 years, were assigned randomly to the group receiving intravenous omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (IVFO, Omegaven®) or the control group not receiving intravenous fish oil (n = 20 in each group). IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HS-CRP levels were the inflammatory markers assessed in this study. The within-group comparison was done by paired t-test and between-group comparison by unpaired t-test. At day 4, IL-6 values in the IVFO group decreased as compared to day 0. At day 4, IL-8 mean values increased for both IVFO and control groups. This increase was highly significant in the control group (P = 0.0182). IL 10 values decreased at day 4 and increased at day 8 in the IVFO group. Increase in HS-CRP levels was nonsignificant at day 4 in the IVFO group (P = 0.60) and significant at day 8 for the control group (P = 0.0084) as compared to day 0. Various biochemical parameters including albumin, protein, SGOT, SGPT, blood glucose, and urea values generated evidence regarding the safety profile of IVFO. This study suggests a role for IVFO in the short-term suppression of inflammatory mediators for patients undergoing hip surgery. However, further, larger trials may be needed to establish its definitive role in this patient population.

Mycetoma in South India: retrospective analysis of 13 cases and description of two cases caused by unusual pathogens: Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Aspergillus flavus.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative and/or granulomatous inflammatory lesion of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and tendons caused by the traumatic inoculation of either fungal (eumycotic) or bacterial (actinomycotic) organisms present in the soil. The disease is characterized by triad of tumefaction, discharging sinuses, and grains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen new cases of biopsy proven mycetomas were analyzed, retrospectively, from January 2000 to October 2009. Clinical parameters, bone involvement, microbiological properties, and histopathological features were evaluated. Categorization into eumycotic or actinomycotic was based upon features on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections with special stains. Therapeutic outcome was presented wherever available. RESULTS: There were eight actinomycetomas and five eumycetoma cases including 11 men and two women. Foot and lower extremities were the most common site of involvement (9 of 13, 69%). Culture results were available in 8 of 13 cases (61.5%). Madurella mycetomatis, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, and Aspergillus flavus were the isolates among eumycetomas whereas Acinomadura madurae, Actinomadura pelletieri, and Nocardia species were the isolates among actinomycetomas. Two cases had underlying bone involvement. On follow-up, four of five eumycetoma cases showed partial improvement following surgery and antifungal therapy, one had amputation of the lower leg. Of the actinomycetomas, six of eight had dramatic improvement following sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim based therapy, one had complete cure, and one was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Strong clinical suspicion, exact categorization of lesion into eumycotic or actinomycotic along with culture correlation, is essential for prognosis and effective therapy.

Lesions of the bones of the hands and feet: a study of 50 cases.

CONTEXT: The bones of the hands and feet constitute more than half of the bones in the human skeleton (106/ 206), but lesions occurring in them are infrequently reported. Although many of the lesions that occur in the rest of the skeletal bones can occur in bones of the hands or feet, their distribution and frequency differ. OBJECTIVE: To study lesions involving bones of the hands or feet. DESIGN: Retrospective study of all lesions involving bones of the hands or feet during the period from January 2000 to September 2006 from a university hospital in southern India. Clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features were reviewed. RESULTS: The 50 lesions encountered included 23 (46.0%) infections/inflammatory lesions, 16 (32.0%) benign tumors, 6 (12.0%) malignant tumors, and 5 (10.0%) tumorlike lesions. Giant cell tumor was the most common benign tumor. Malignant tumors involved the nonphalangeal bones, with chondrosarcoma the most common. CONCLUSIONS: Lesions of the bones of the hands or feet are uncommon. Awareness and correlation of clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features help in making correct diagnoses.

Multifocal osseous involvement as the sole manifestation of Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Rosai-Dorfman disease may involve extranodal sites exclusively. Osseous involvement as the sole manifestation of disease is uncommon. The present report describes a 60-year-old woman presenting with lytic lesions in the lower end of femur and mid-fibula on one side and unaccompanied by disease elsewhere.

An evaluation of antidepressants in rheumatic pain conditions.

In a randomized, double-blind, parallel study, fluoxetine and amitriptyline were compared with placebo in the treatment of chronic rheumatic pain. A total of 59 patients were evaluated during 4 wk of treatment and received 20 mg fluoxetine, 25 mg amitriptyline, or placebo daily. Pain intensity, pain relief, vital variables, and global evaluation were used to assess efficacy. To evaluate safety variables, the incidence of side effects was noted. Both amitriptyline and fluoxetine significantly reduced pain intensity compared with placebo. Similarly, pain relief was greater with both amitriptyline and fluoxetine than with placebo. At the end of the fourth week, fluoxetine was superior in efficacy to amitriptyline. The incidence of adverse effects was significantly greater with amitriptyline; dryness of the mouth was the most predominant side effect. We conclude that fluoxetine is an effective analgesic with fewer side effects.