Phenomics, genomics of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.): way forward for making sustainable and high yielding quality oil palm.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a heterogeneous, perennial crop having long breeding cycle with a genome size of 1.8 Gb. The demand for vegetable oil is steadily increasing, and expected that nearly 240-250 million tons of vegetable oil may be required by 2050. Genomics and next generation technologies plays crucial role in achieving the sustainable availability of oil palm with good yield and high quality. A successful breeding programme in oil palm depends on the availability of diverse gene pool, ex-situ conservation and their proper utilization for generating elite planting material. The major breeding methods adopted in oil palm are either modified recurrent selection or the modified reciprocal recurrent selection method. The QTLs of yield and related traits are chiefly located on chromosome 4, 10, 12 and 15 which is discussed in the current review. The probable chromosomal regions influencing the less height increment is observed to be on chromosomes 4, 10, 14 and 15. Advanced genomic approaches together with bioinformatics tools were discussed thoroughly for achieving sustainable oil palm where more efforts are needed. Major emphasis is given on oil palm crop improvement using holistic approaches of various genomic tools. Also a road map given on the milestones in the genomics and way forward for making oil palm to high yielding quality oil palm.

Fracture Diodes: Directional Asymmetry of Fracture Toughness.

Toughness describes the ability of a material to resist fracture or crack propagation. It is demonstrated here that fracture toughness of a material can be asymmetric, i.e., the resistance of a medium to a crack propagating from right to left can be significantly different from that to a crack propagating from left to right. Such asymmetry is unknown in natural materials, but we show that it can be built into artificial materials through the proper control of microstructure. This paves the way for control of crack paths and direction, where fracture-when unavoidable-can be guided through predesigned paths to minimize loss of critical components.

Efficacy and safety comparison of combination of 0.04% tretinoin microspheres plus 1% clindamycin versus their monotherapy in patients with acne vulgaris: a phase 3, randomized, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is an unmet need for topical treatments with good tolerability in management of acne vulgaris. The present study aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of a novel tretinoin (microsphere, 0.04%) formulation in combination with clindamycin (1%) gel for treatment of acne vulgaris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This phase 3 randomized, double-blind study included patients with moderate-to-severe acne. Patients were treated with tretinoin (microsphere, 0.04%) + clindamycin (1%) or one of the monotherapies (tretinoin, 0.025%; clindamycin, 1%). Key endpoints included percent change in lesion counts, and improvement in Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) score. RESULTS: 750 patients were randomized (combination, n = 300; tretinoin and clindamycin, each n = 150). At week 12, reductions in inflammatory (77%), non-inflammatory (71%) and total lesions (73%) were significantly greater with combination treatment versus either monotherapy (p < .03). Proportion of patients rated 'clear' or 'almost clear' with ≥2-grade ISGA improvement was higher with combination (46%) versus monotherapies (p < .02). Adverse events occurred in 20 patients, most were mild-moderate; no deaths or serious adverse events were reported. The discontinuation rates due to adverse events with combination therapy were low (≤1%). CONCLUSION: The once-daily, microsphere-based formulation was generally tolerable with a positive impact on therapeutic outcomes and patients' compliance. CLINICALTRIAL REGISTRATION NO.: CTRI/2014/08/004830.

Genome wide association study (GWAS) and identification of candidate genes for yield and oil yield related traits in oil palm (Eleaeis guineensis) using SNPs by genotyping-based sequencing.

The genotyping-based sequencing (GBS) method used for GWAS of four yield and seven oil yield related traits on highly diverse African oil palm germplasm. GBS generated 325 million-reads covering 50.78Gb of sequence data, with an average of 3.4 million-reads per sample. Finally, 4031 fully informative SNPs with a range between 157 on chromosome 15 to 455 on chromosome 1 were used for GWAS. Association mapping resulted in identification of 40 highly significant loci, where more genetic loci were found to be associated with oil to bunch (OB), followed by average bunch weight (ABW). The loci, SGI|593,593|linked to QTNOB3 explained high amount of phenotypic variance (25.3%). The nucleotide sequences of linked genetic loci for OB were found to be similar to mitogen activated protein kinase-5 (MAPK-5) protein which is an early flowering protein. The significant loci identified can be used to select desirable palms at early stage through marker assisted selection.

Genome-wide association study for leaf area, rachis length and total dry weight in oil palm (Eleaeisguineensis) using genotyping by sequencing.

The marker-trait association for complex traits using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) method is being widely spread in plants. The study aimed to identify significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations for rachis length (RL), leaf area (LA) and total dry weight (TrDW) in oil palm among diverse African germplasm. The Illumina NextSeq platform has been used for SNP genotyping and retained 4031 fully informative SNPs after applying the filter criterion. These 4031 SNPs were used for genome wide association study for the above three traits. The LD decay rates of the African germplasm using GBS data of SNP is observed to be 25 Kb at 0.45 of average pair wise correlation coefficient (r2). Association mapping led to the identification of seven significant associations for three traits using MLM approach at a P value of ≤ 0.001. Three associations were identified for total dry weight, two each for leaf area index and rachis length. The qtlLA1 was found to be highly significant at a P value of 7.39E-05 (18.4% phenotypic variance) which is located on chromosome 4. Two QTLs (qtlLA2 and qtlRL1) were located on chromosome 1, which explained 11.9% and 12.4% of phenotypic variance respectively. Three QTLs for total dry weight were located on chromosome 2, 14 and 16, all-together explained 40% phenotypic variance. The results showed that the SNP-trait associations identified in the present study could be used in selection of elite oil palm germplasm for higher yields.

Expert consensus on the management of Androgenetic Alopecia in India.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as androgenic or pattern alopecia, is a frequently reported disorder that affects both the sexes, with a higher incidence generally reported in men. AGA has immense psychological effects on the patient, irrespective of the age or stage of baldness. This consensus document has been developed taking into account the opinions of leading experts in the field of dermatology. The objective of this article is to provide the dermatologists with an evidence-based platform for choosing efficacious and safe therapy for patients with AGA. This review articulately summarizes the key opinions of the experts on all aspects of treatment for the effective management of AGA.

Expert consensus on the management of Telogen Effluvium in India.

Alopecia, a frequently reported problem, severely impacts the quality of life of patients and is often associated with loss of confidence and low self-esteem. Several conditions such as telogen effluvium (TE), anagen effluvium, diffuse type of alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss, hair shaft abnormalities, loose anagen hair syndrome, and congenital atrichia or hypotrichosis are associated with hair loss. The actual prevalence rate of TE is not reported since most cases are subclinical in nature. Further, since women get more distressed by hair fall and promptly seek treatment, they tend to be over-represented. However, both genders can suffer from this condition if triggering factors are present. This consensus paper was developed by taking into account opinions of renowned experts in the field and is hoped to serve as an evidence-based platform for selecting efficacious and safe therapy for patients with TE. This review presents a synopsis of the key opinions of experts on all aspects of treatment and effective management of this condition.

Medicinal Plant Using Ground State Stabilization of Natural Antioxidant Curcumin by Keto-Enol Tautomerisation.

Curcumin is a medicinal agent that exhibits anti-cancer properties and bioactive pigment in Turmeric has a huge therapeutic value. It has a keto-enol moiety that gives rise to many of its chemical properties. A recent study has shown that keto-enol tautomerisation at this moiety is implicated the effect of curcumin. The tautomerisation of curcumin in methanol, acetone and acetonitrile are used in nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C) spectroscopy. It was characterized using UV, IR and Raman spectral values. The molecular electrostatic potential surface of the Curcumin has been visualized in electropositive potential in the region of the CH3+ group and most electronegative potential in the two oxygen atom has very strong binding group. In the following, the modality of structural and thermo dynamical parameters, electrophilicity (ω), chemical potential (µ), chemical hardness (η) and electronic charge transfer confirms the local reactivity. The rate constant of tautomerisation of curcumin shows strong temperature dependence. Molecular electrostatic potential and Temperature dependence of various thermodynamic properties like [Formula: see text] is increase with increase in temperature for monomer and dimer of various electrical fields.

Medical Management of Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Melasma is one of the most common hyperpigmentary disorders found mainly in women and dark-skinned patients. Sunlight, hormones, pregnancy, and genetics remain the most implicated in the causation of melasma. Although rather recalcitrant to treatment, topical agents such as hydroquinone, modified Kligman's Regime, azelaic acid, kojic acid, Vitamin C, and arbutin still remain the mainstay of therapy with sun protection being a cornerstone of therapy. There are several new botanical and non botanical agents and upcoming oral therapies for the future. There is a lack of therapeutic guidelines, more so in the Indian setup. The article discusses available evidence and brings forward a suggested treatment algorithm by experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society (PDS) in a collaborative discussion called South Asian Pigmentary Forum (SPF).

Chemical Peels in Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Melasma is a notorious dermatosis, often resistant to treatment. Chemical peeling constitutes an acceptable option of management of melasma (of any type and duration). In this article, as a group of experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society (PDS) in collaboration with South Asian Pigmentary Forum (SPF), we have tried to elaborate the various chemical peeling agents for the treatment of melasma. Besides, we have reviewed the indications, mechanism of action, rationality and the detailed procedure of peeling. The evidence in favor of various peeling agents have been summarized as well.

Lasers in Melasma: A Review with Consensus Recommendations by Indian Pigmentary Expert Group.

Lasers have come up as the newest therapeutic modality in dermatological conditions including melasma. In this article, as a group of experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society in collaboration with South Asian Pigmentary Disorders Forum (SPF), we have tried to discuss the lasers which have been used in melasma and formulate simple consensus guidelines. Following thorough literature search, we have summarised the rationale of using the lasers and the supporting evidences have also been provided. It is clear that laser cannot be the first line treatment for melasma. However, it can be used as an adjuvant therapy in resistant cases, provided the selection of patient and counselling has been done properly.

Development, identification and validation of CAPS marker for SHELL trait which governs dura, pisifera and tenera fruit forms in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).

The oil palm fruit forms (dura, pisifera and tenera) governed by the shell thickness gene (Sh) plays a major role in identification of fruit type and also influences palm oil yield. Identification of desired fruit type is a major asset to the breeders and oil palm workers for applications in breeding, seed certification and to reduce time, space and money spent on identification of fruit form. In the present study, we developed Sh gene specific primer pairs and bulk segregant analysis was done using 300 genomic and 8 genic SSR markers. We identified one cleaved amplified polymorphic site (CAPS) marker for differentiation of oil palm fruit type which produced two alleles (280 and 250bp) in dura genotypes, three alleles in tenera genotypes (550, 280, and 250bp) and one allele in pisifera genotypes (550bp). The shell allele sequencing results showed that two SNPs were present, of which SNP2 contributed for variation of fruit forms. The nucleotide 'A' was present in only dura genotypes, where as 'T' was present only in pisifera genotypes, which in turn led to the change of amino acid lysine to aspargine. The identified CAPS marker was validated on 300 dura, 25 pisifera and 80 tenera genotypes, 80 dura/ pisifera cross progenies and 60 lines of tenera/ tenera cross progeny. Association mapping of marker data with phenotypic data of eight oil yield related traits resulted in identification of seven significant QTLs by GLM approach, four by MLM approach at a significant threshold (P) level of 0.001. Significant QTLs were identified for fruit to bunch and oil to bunch traits, which explained R2 of 12.9% and 11.5% respectively. The CAPS marker used in the present study facilitate selection and timely distribution of desirable high yielding tenera sprouts to the farmers instead of waiting for 4-5 years. This saves a lot of land, time and money which will be a major breakthrough to the oil palm community.

Toughening and asymmetry in peeling of heterogeneous adhesives.

The effective adhesive properties of heterogeneous thin films are characterized through a combined experimental and theoretical investigation. By bridging scales, we show how variations of elastic or adhesive properties at the microscale can significantly affect the effective peeling behavior of the adhesive at the macroscale. Our study reveals three elementary mechanisms in heterogeneous systems involving front propagation: (i) patterning the elastic bending stiffness of the film produces fluctuations of the driving force resulting in dramatically enhanced resistance to peeling; (ii) optimized arrangements of pinning sites with large adhesion energy are shown to control the effective system resistance, allowing the design of highly anisotropic and asymmetric adhesives; (iii) heterogeneities of both types result in front motion instabilities producing sudden energy releases that increase the overall adhesion energy. These findings open potentially new avenues for the design of thin films with improved adhesion properties, and motivate new investigations of other phenomena involving front propagation.

Three-dimensional analysis of the effect of epidermal growth factor on cell-cell adhesion in epithelial cell clusters.

The effect that growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) have on cell-cell adhesion is of interest in the study of cellular processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Because cell-cell adhesions cannot be measured directly, we use three-dimensional traction force microscopy to measure the tractions applied by clusters of MCF-10A cells to a compliant substrate beneath them before and after stimulating the cells with EGF. To better interpret the results, a finite element model, which simulates a cluster of individual cells adhered to one another and to the substrate with linear springs, is developed to better understand the mechanical interaction between the cells in the experiments. The experiments and simulations show that the cluster of cells acts collectively as a single unit, indicating that cell-cell adhesion remains strong before and after stimulation with EGF. In addition, the experiments and model emphasize the importance of three-dimensional measurements and analysis in these experiments.

Comprehensive findings on clinical, bacteriological, histopathological and therapeutic aspects of cutaneous tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the bacteriological and histological correlates of the three predominant clinical forms of cutaneous tuberculosis and to evaluate the efficacy of a 9-month daily regimen containing rifampicin and isoniazid. METHODS: In the dermatological clinics of two major teaching hospitals in Chennai, 213 patients with suspected clinical manifestations of cutaneous tuberculosis underwent examination and a skin biopsy for bacteriological and histological tests. They were treated with a daily regimen of rifampicin and isoniazid for 9 months and follow-up for 3 years. RESULTS: Bacteriological and/or histological confirmation of tuberculosis was obtained in 88% of the cases. Lupus vulgaris lesions were seen mainly in the extremities and verrucosa cutis occurred predominantly on the sole and foot, while the cervical and axillary regions were the commonest sites for scrofuloderma. Ninety-two per cent of the patients showed resolution of the lesions within the first 6 months of chemotherapy; 1% failed to respond to this regimen. There was no relapse in any of the cases during the follow-up period of 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical findings were adequate to identify major forms of cutaneous tuberculosis as evidenced by bacteriological and histopathological examination. A daily regimen of rifampicin and isoniazid for 9 months was effective in treating cutaneous tuberculosis.

Modified Girdlestones-Taylor procedure for claw toes in spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: A combination of review of case notes and outpatient follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the modified Girdlestones-Taylor procedure in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre (PRSIC), Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK. METHODS: Nine patients with claw toe deformities to 27 toes were treated at the PRSIC from 1996 to 2005. After examination of their medical records, their toes were assessed for pain, residual deformity and stiffness. They were also asked to grade their satisfaction with the surgical outcome. The results were tabulated. RESULTS: The average age of our series of patients was 43.3 years. The mean time from injury to surgery was 20.4 years and the mean time from surgery to last follow-up was 37.3 months. All our patients had good to excellent results, with over 70% of the toes having excellent results. CONCLUSION: The modified Girdlestones-Taylor procedure for claw toe correction appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with SCI.

An open study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tazarotene gel (0.1%) in acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Tazarotene is a new third generation topical acetylenic retinoid. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tazarotene gel (0.1%) in Indian patients of acne vulgaris. METHODS: The present study was a prospective, open, multicentric, phase III trial. The duration of study was 14 weeks, including a 12-week active treatment period, preceded by a 2-week washout phase. Patients applied 0.1% tazarotene gel as a thin film over the affected area once daily in the evening. The efficacy was evaluated by analyzing changes in the number of facial acne lesions and patient's and physicians' global assessment. The efficacy parameters were assessed at baseline, visits 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Tolerability and safety was assessed by physical examination, laboratory parameters and evaluation of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients in 6 centers completed the study. At the end of the 8th and 12th weeks, the mean number of inflammatory lesions reduced by 70.6% and 86.1%, non-inflammatory lesions by 81.5% and 92%, and total lesion count 75.6% and 88.8% respectively from baseline. Also, 90.7% and 93.6% of total study cases showed complete to moderate clearance of acne lesions according to physicians at the end of the 8th and 12th weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the efficacy and safety of tazarotene gel (0.1%) in Indian patients of acne vulgaris.

Evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Tacrolimus ointment in Indian patients of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: a multicentric, open label, phase III study.

AIM OF STUDY: Tacrolimus, a topical immunomodulator, has been introduced as a new treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Tacrolimus ointment in patients of atopic dermatitis in an Indian setting. METHODS: The present study was a prospective, open, multicentric, Phase III trial. The duration of study was 5 weeks, including a 3-week active treatment period, preceded by a 1-week washout phase and followed by a 1-week follow-up phase. Patients diagnosed to be suffering from moderate to severe atopic dermatitis as per the Rajka and Langeland criteria were treated with Tacrolimus ointment 0.03% twice daily. Efficacy was assessed by modified Eczema Area Sensitivity Index (mEASI) score, patient's and physician's global assessment. Tolerability and safety was assessed by physical examination, laboratory parameters and evaluation of adverse events. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the modified Eczema Area Sensitivity Index (mEASI) score (P< 0.05). Patient's and Physician's global evaluation of treatment was complete resolution to very good improvement in most of the patients. The laboratory values were within normal limits. The drug was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the efficacy and safety of Tacrolimus ointment 0.03% in Indian patients of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.