Marker Assisted Gene Pyramiding (MAGP) for bacterial blight and blast resistance into mega rice variety "Tellahamsa".

Bacterial blight (BB) and fungal blast diseases are the major biotic constraints that limit rice productivity. To sustain yield improvement in rice, it is necessary to developed yield potential of the rice varieties by incorporation of biotic stress resistance genes. Tellahamsa is a well-adapted popular high yielding rice variety in Telangana state, India. However, the variety is highly susceptible to BB and blast. In this study, simultaneous stepwise transfer of genes through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) strategy was used to introgress two major BB (Xa21 and xa13) and two major blast resistance genes (Pi54 and Pi1) into Tellahamsa. In each generation (from F1 to ICF3) foreground selection was done using gene-specific markers viz., pTA248 (Xa21), xa13prom (xa13), Pi54MAS (Pi54) and RM224 (Pi1). Two independent BC2F1 lines of Tellahamsa/ISM (Cross-I) and Tellahamsa/NLR145 (Cross-II) possessing 92% and 94% recurrent parent genome (RPG) respectively were intercrossed to develop ICF1-ICF3 generations. These gene pyramided lines were evaluated for key agro-morphological traits, quality, and resistance against blast at three different hotspot locations as well as BB at two locations. Two ICF3 gene pyramided lines viz., TH-625-159 and TH-625-491 possessing four genes exhibited a high level of resistance to BB and blast. In the future, these improved Tellahamsa lines could be developed as mega varieties for different agro-climatic zones and also as potential donors for different pre-breeding rice research.

Comparative Study Between Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Using Microdebrider and Conventional Techniques with It's Impact on Pulmonary Function Tests: A Randomized Control Trial.

The nasal airways and their close association to paranasal sinuses are an integral part of the respiratory tract. Mucociliary clearance is the predominant clearance mechanism for both upper and lower airways. The two components of mucociliary clearance are cilia and the secretions above them. It is known that CRS coexists in as many as 40-75% of patients with BA. CRS can present with polyposis or without polyposis. Treatment options for CRS include medical therapy, surgical intervention or both. According to recent guidelines, ESS is the most favourable surgical approach in patients who fail to respond adequately to medical therapy. To assess the extent of improvement in CRS following ESS (either microdebrider or conventional) and if it brings an improvement in the pulmonary function tests. This also assesses symptom scores, endoscopic appearances and CT findings pre-operatively and post-operatively. This study was carried out at the outpatient Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Meenakshi Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu. Patients were consented and started on medical treatment with systemic steroids for 2 weeks and topical nasal steroids for 1 month. If the disease persisted after medical therapy, patients were equally randomized into two groups of 30 each-microdebrider and conventional technique. Subjective symptoms of CRS were based on the CRS criteria. Symptoms score were given with Lund-Mckay symptoms scoring, pre-operatively 1 week before and post-operatively 2 months after surgery. Lund-Mckay CT scoring system separately assessed the extent of opacification of sinuses. PFT was assessed using Spirometer (KOKO Legend). There was a statistically considerable difference in the FEV1 values in microdebrider ESS than conventional ESS. Microdebrider ESS is considered superior when we have to address the coexistence of lower airway diseases along with CRS.

Impact of Routine Surveillance Imaging on Outcomes of Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: For patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is commonly used. After auto-HCT, DLBCL patients are often monitored with surveillance imaging. However, there is little evidence to support this practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective study of DLBCL patients who underwent auto-HCT (n = 160), who experienced complete remission after transplantation, and who then underwent surveillance imaging. Of these, only 45 patients experienced relapse after day +100 after auto-HCT, with relapse detected by routine imaging in 32 (71%) and relapse detected clinically in 13 (29%). RESULTS: Baseline patient characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Comparing the radiographic and clinically detected relapse groups, the median time from diagnosis to auto-HCT (389 days vs. 621 days, P = .06) and the median follow-up after auto-HCT (2464 days vs. 1593 days P = .60) were similar. The median time to relapse after auto-HCT was 191 days in radiographically detected relapses compared to 492 days in clinically detected relapses (P = .35), and median postrelapse survival was 359 days in such patients compared to 123 days in patients with clinically detected relapse (P = .36). However, the median posttransplantation overall survival was not significantly different for patients with relapse detected by routine imaging versus relapse detected clinically (643 vs. 586 days, P = .68). CONCLUSION: A majority (71%) of DLBCL relapses after auto-HCT are detected by routine surveillance imaging. Overall, there appears to be limited utility for routine imaging after auto-HCT except in select cases where earlier detection and salvage therapy with allogeneic HCT is a potential option.

Effect of protein content and denaturation on the extractability and stability of isoflavones in different soy systems.

The effect of protein on the thermal stability of isoflavones and the efficiency of their extraction from various soy matrixes was investigated. Isoflavones were extracted from soymilk, soybean. and soy protein isolate, varying in protein content and/or denaturation state, following nonenzyme-assisted solvent extraction or enzyme-assisted extraction. Selected samples were subjected to thermal treatment prior to and posthydrolysis of the protein. The extraction efficiency was a function of the enzyme used, sample to solvent ratio, protein content, and protein denaturation state. Proteolysis and reducing the sample to solvent ratio enhanced the isoflavone extractability, especially in samples with denatured protein. Results demonstrated clearly that the solvent extraction techniques currently used considerably underestimate isoflavone content in complex soy systems with high protein content. The stability of isoflavones was reduced upon protein hydrolysis, indicating that the protein moiety may have a protective effect against the thermal degradation of isoflavones.