Assessment of Sugarcane Germplasm ( Saccharum spp. complex) Against Red Rot Pathogen Colletotrichum Falcatum

ABSTRACT Red rot, caused by Colletotrichum falcatum Went is the most important disease of sugarcane in India inflicting substantial loss to both cane industry and cane growers. To keep in view the importance of red rot disease of sugarcane, 117 accession of sugarcane germplasm including different Saccharum species and Indian and foreign commercial hybrids were tested against red rot with Cf 07, Cf 08 & Cf 09 (national pathotypes) by plug method of inoculation. Out of 117, 6 were found resistant and 12 were moderately resistant against red rot and rest were moderately susceptible/susceptible/highly susceptible. Theses resistance and moderately resistant accession can be further utilize to produce resistance varieties against the most devastating pathogen of sugarcane.

Long term results of the Corin C-Fit uncemented total hip arthroplasty in young patients.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the long-term results after Corin C-Fit uncemented total hip arthroplasty in young patients with hydroxyapatite or porous coated components. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively followed 36 patients (38 hips) who had Corin C-Fit uncemented total hip arthroplasties by eight experienced consultant surgeons at two centres. The acetabular and femoral components were hydroxyapatite or porous coated. RESULTS: The overall 10-year survival rate for the Corin C-Fit arthroplasty was 43%. The 10-year survivorship for the femoral implant was 56% and for the acetabular component 59%. CONCLUSION: The evidence presented in this study suggests that the Corin C-Fit uncemented total hip arthroplasty has one of the highest mid- and long-term failure rates for both femoral and acetabular components in the literature. We believe this implant should not be used and patients who have had this form of total hip arthroplasty should be kept under regular review.

Does cyclophosphamide benefit relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disease. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and treatment. It can present in acute as well as chronic forms. Cyclophosphamide has been reported to be beneficial in relapsing TTP. Herein a case of acute TTP evolving into relapsing phase of the disease is presented. Cyclophosphamide in our case achieved partial remission without the need for plasma exchange therapy. The rationale of cyclophosphamide in management of relapsing TTP is discussed.

Anti-keratin antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

As the proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have anti-keratin antibodies (AKA) varies in different ethnic groups, we studied its occurrence in a hospital populations with RA and its association with different disease variables. Sera from 84 consecutive patients with RA, 100 healthy controls and 85 disease controls (polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis) were tested for AKA by an indirect immunofluorescence assay that used rat esophagus as substrate. The proportion of patients with RA who had AKA (47/84) was higher than in healthy controls (2/100; P < 0.001) and in disease controls (2/85; P < 0.001). The frequency of AKA positivity was higher among patients who had severe disease (P < 0.05) and rheumatoid factor. Anti-keratin antibody is present in 56 per cent of our patients with RA and is associated with severe disease.

Surgical extraction of guinea worm: disability reduction and contribution to disease control.

Surgical extraction of Guinea worm prior to eruption through the skin has long been performed by traditional healers in India. Using modern aseptic techniques under local anesthesia, unerupted worms can be completely and painlessly removed in several minutes. As a result, the average number of working days lost due to a single worm is reduced from three weeks or more to three days. In the field, the procedure results not only in a dramatic decrease in Guinea worm associated disability, but also in an improvement in detecting cases, and appears to reduce disease transmission.

Chelation in metal intoxication XXX: Alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids as antidotes to cadmium toxicity.

alpha-Mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), beta-1,2-phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA) and beta-1,4-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) were compared to sodium N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NBG-DTC) an effective cadmium chelator, for their ability to mobilize Cd and influence the Cd induced tissue metallothionein (MT) in rats administered 109CdCl2, 72 hr earlier. MFA was almost as effective as NBG-DTC but more effective than MHA in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion of Cd, reducing tissue and blood levels of Cd and in lowering Cd induced increase in hepatic and renal MT contents. 1,2-PDMA and 1,4-PDMA were effective only in reducing the hepatic burden of Cd. The resuls do not indicate any direct relationship between the efficacy of alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids to decorporate body Cd and their lipophilic-hydrophilic character or number-arrangement of their sulfhydryl groups.

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXIX: Alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids as antidotes to mercury (II) toxicity.

alpha-Mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(phenyl) acrylic acid (MPA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(4-methoxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MMA), beta-1,2-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1, 2-PDMA) and beta-1, 4-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1, 4-PDMA) enhanced faecal excretion and reduced liver, spleen and blood burden of inorganic mercury when administered (0.5 m mol/kg, in two split doses) 24 hr after Hg (II) (1 mg/kg) in rats. MFA, MPA, MHA, and MMA were also effective in lowering renal Hg mainly from the cytosol, without any significant increase in urinary excretion of Hg. The results indicate that all the mono-mercapto acrylic acids including MFA were more effective than di-mercapto acrylic acids and act through the mechanism characteristic of thiol chelators, that is, mobilization of Hg as their complexes, contrary to the reported observation that MFA acts through the induction of metallothionein.

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXVII: Chelating agents containing vicinal thioether groups as antidotes of lead toxicity.

The chelating agents containing vicinal thioether groups viz. 4,5-dicarboxy-3,6-dithiaoctanedioic acid (DMSA), disodium-3,6-dithia - 1,8-octanediol-4,5 dicarboxylate (DMES) and 2,9 diamino- 5,6 dicarboxy-4,7 dithiadecanedioic acid (DCSA) were about equally effective but far more effective than pounds-mercapto- beta -(2-thienyl) acrylic acid (MTA) in enhancing excretion of lead, reversing certain Pb induced biochemical alterations and mobilizing tissue Pb in poisoned rats. The results indicate that vicinal thioether groups participate in chelation of Pb. However, none of them could decrease brain Pb. Owing to their water solubility, low toxicity and ability to chelate toxic metals, the chelators with vicinal thioether groups appear as promising antidotes of Pb intoxication.

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXV: Mercaptoacrylic acids as antidotes of lead and nickel toxicity.

beta-1,2-Phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA), beta-1,4-phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) and alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA) were synthesized and compared with 2,3-dimercapto-propane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) for their ability to counteract toxic effects of lead and nickel in rats. 1,2-PDMA and DMPS were most effective in enhancing the excretion of metals, restoring most of the metal induced biochemical alterations and reducing the body burden of the metals; These observations confirm that the chelating agents with two adjacent sulfhydryl groups are better than those with non-adjacent SH groups as metal antidotes. The success of MHA in mobilizing the tissue metals and increasing their urinary excretion indicates participation of the hydroxy group on the benzene nucleus besides the SH group of the MHA molecule, in chelation of the metals.

Chelation in metal intoxication. XIX. alpha-Mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acid as antidotes to nickel and lead toxicity.

In view of the reported effectiveness of alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA) as an effective antidote to inorganic mercury toxicity, some alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids were synthesized and examined for their efficacy in counteracting nickel and lead intoxication in rats. alpha-mercapto-beta-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid (MDA) was most effective and other compounds were less but about equally effective in enhancing urinary excretion and in reducing tissue concentration of Ni. MDA was the only compound to remove Ni from the brain. MFA was also more effective than other structurally related compounds in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion and in lowering body burden of Pb. All the compounds significantly reduced the inhibition of the activity of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) and increase in the urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) caused by Pb. The results do not show any relationship between the nature of the substitution at the beta-position of alpha-mercapto acrylic acids and their ability to reduce the concentration and the toxic effects of the two metals. However, these thiol chelating agents appear promising as antidotes to Ni and Pb poisoning.