Characterization of Alternaria blotch disease of apple in Himachal Pradesh, India: insights on morphology, pathogenicity, and molecular features.

BACKGROUND: Alternaria blotch disease in Himachal Pradesh, India, caused by Alternaria spp., adversely affects apple cultivars, resulting in reduced fruit size and quality accompanied by premature leaf fall. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen Alternaria isolates from apple growing regions underwent comprehensive analysis including morphology, pathogenicity, and molecular characterization. Variations in conidiophore and conidia dimensions, shapes, and divisions were observed among isolates. Pathogenicity assays revealed differences in incubation periods, latent phases, and disease responses. Molecular characterization via nuclear ITS rDNA and RAPD analysis indicated 99-100% homology with Alternaria alternata, Alternaria mali, and other Alternaria spp., with a close phylogenetic relationship to Chinese isolates. Differentiation of isolates based on origin, cultural characteristics, and morphology was achieved using RAPD markers. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies diverse genotypes and morphotypes of Alternaria contributing to apple blotch disease in Himachal Pradesh. These findings highlight the complexity of the pathogenic environment and hold significant implications for disease management in apple orchards.

Steiner's cephalometric norms for the Nepalese population.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the Steiner's cephalometric norms for a Nepalese population, compare the gender and inter-racial variations in dentoskeletal and soft tissue structures, and to test the null hypothesis that there are no racial differences in cephalometric measurements between Nepalese, Caucasians and other populations. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty lateral cephalograms of Nepalese subjects aged 16-21years with class I normal occlusion and balanced facial aesthetics were selected. The cephalometric variables were measured. An independent one sample t test was used to compare the Steiner's ideal values with Indo-Aryan Nepalese means and independent t test to compare Japanese means with Mongoloid Nepalese means and Mongoloids with Aryans. Intra-investigator error was assessed with Lin's concordance method and the reliability of aesthetic evaluation of the photographs was tested with Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Nepalese Mongoloid males possessed more protrusive lips (Z angle mean difference, 8°; P < 0·001) than the Indo-Aryan males. Mongoloid females had more protrusive mandible (SNB angle mean difference, 3·7°; P<0·001), greater class II skeletal bases (SND angle mean difference, 3·5°; P < 0·001), longer SL length (mean difference, 5·6 mm; P < 0·01), more proclined upper incisors (U1-NA mean difference, 6°; P < 0·01) and a more protrusive lower lip (lower lip-S line mean difference, 0·9 mm; P = 0·003), lower lip-E line (2·0 mm; P < 0·001) and Z angle (4·4°; P < 0·001), than the Indo-Aryan females. Differences between the Nepalese sample and published Caucasian and Japanese norms are also described. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the cephalometric values exist between the two ethnic groups in Nepal, as well as between our Nepalese sample and published Caucasians and Japanese norms. The norms published in this article will be useful when planning orthodontic treatment in Mongoloid and Indo-Aryan individuals.

Skeletal and soft tissue point A and B changes following orthodontic treatment of Nepalese Class I bimaxillary protrusive patients.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that there is no correlation in the interrelationships of skeletal and soft tissue points A and B with anterior teeth retraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult Class I bimaxillary protrusion patients treated with preadjusted appliances after first premolar extraction were included. Pretreatment and posttreatment variables were compared using paired t-test, and the relationship of soft and hard tissue variables was studied using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression equation. RESULTS: Mean point A and soft tissue point A (sA) were retracted 2.7 mm (P < .001) and 1.7 mm (P < .001), and mean point B and soft tissue point B (sB) were retracted 2.1 mm (P < .001) and 1.2 mm (P < .001), respectively. Mean ratio of retraction of point A with sA and point B with sB was 1.5:1 and 1.7:1, respectively. A significant degree of correlation existed between retraction of point A and soft tissue point A (r = 0.648, P < .01) and point B and soft tissue point B (r = 0.806, P < .01). Linear regression analysis used to predict the changes in sA and sB showed significant relationship between point A and sA (r = 0.543, F = 11.7, R2 = 0.29, P < .001) and point B and sB (r = 0.825, F = 59.7, R2 = 0.68, P < .001). Decreases in hard and soft tissue convexity were due to the retraction of the skeletal and soft tissue points A and B in addition to the lips retraction. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis is rejected. Retraction of skeletal point A and B lead to retraction of sA and sB under controlled root positions. Nearly proportionate changes existed in the skeletal points and overlying corresponding soft tissue points.

Epidemiology of malocclusions and assessment of orthodontic treatment need for the population of eastern Nepal.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of malocclusions in eastern Nepal, estimate the treatment need, and compare the findings with those of other populations. METHODS: Seven hundred patients between 7 and 48 years of age were evaluated. Their orthodontic treatment need was assessed subjectively and via the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) (dental health component [DHC]). Dependency of the subjective assessment grades and those of the IOTN (DHC) on sex were checked with the chi-square test. Age and Angle class were cross-tabulated to test for relationships using analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The prevalence of Class I, II, and III were 67.5%, 28.8%, and 3.7%, respectively. The most common age group was 12 to 24 years. The female to male ratio was 2:1. The subjective assessment indicated that treatment was indicated in 66.9%, urgently indicated in 30.9%, and not indicated in 2.2%. The IOTN (DHC) showed that 62.0% had a severe/extreme need of treatment, 28.1% a moderate/borderline need, and 9.9% little/no need. The mean age was not related to any specific malocclusion. Also, there was no relationship among sex, IOTN, and the subjective assessment grades (except for IOTN grade 4, which was found significantly more frequently in females). CONCLUSION: Class I malaoolusion is the most common, while Class III is the least prevalent in eastern Nepal. The most prevalent age group seeking treatment was that of 12 to 24 years of age, with more females than males. The majority of those visiting the orthodontic department actually needed treatment.