Exploring genetic diversity and ascertaining genetic loci associated with important fruit quality traits in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.).

Genetic diversity is the primary source of variability in any crop improvement program, and the diverse germplasm of any crop species represents an important genetic resource for gene or allele mining to meet future needs. Huge genetic and phenotypic diversity is present in the apple gene pool, even though, breeding programs have been mainly focused on a few traits of interests, which have resulted in the reduction of the diversity in the cultivated lines of apple. Therefore, the present study was carried out on 70 diverse apple genotypes with the objective of analyzing the genetic diversity and to identify the genetic loci associated with important fruit quality traits. A total of 140 SSR primers were used to characterize the 70 genotypes of apples, out of which only 88 SSRs were found to be polymorphic. The PIC values varied from 0.03 to 0.75. The value of MI, EMR, and RP varied from 0.03 to 3.5, 0.5 to 5.0, and 1.89 to 6.74, respectively. The dendrogram and structure analysis divided all the genotypes into two main groups. In addition to this, large phenotypic variability was observed for the fruit quality traits under study indicated the suitability of the genotypes for association studies. Altogether 71 novel MTAs were identified for 10 fruit quality traits, of which 15 for fruit length, 15 for fruit diameter, 12 for fruit weight, 2 for total sugar, 2 for TSS, 4 for reducing sugar, 5 for non-reducing sugar, 5 for fruit firmness, 5 for fruit acidity and 6 for anthocyanin, respectively. Consistent with the physicochemical evaluation of traits, there was a significant correlation coefficient among different fruit quality characters, and many common markers were found to be associated with these traits (fruit diameter, length, TSS, total sugar, acidity and anthocyanin, respectively) by using the different modeling techniques (GLM, MLM). The inferred genetic structure, diversity pattern and the identified MTAs will be serving as resourceful grounds for better predictions and understanding of apple genome towards efficient conservation and utilization of apple germplasm for facilitating genetic improvement of fruit quality traits. Furthermore, these findings also suggested that association mapping could be a viable alternative to the conventional QTL mapping approach in apple. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01382-w.

Osteolytic lesions of hand and feet: a seven-year experience from a tertiary referral centre of North India.

There are 106 bones in hands and feet but their lesions are not commonly reported. This was a retrospective study of all osteolytic lesions involving bones of the hands or feet presenting to the only tertiary referral centre of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand during the 7-year period from January 2006 to December 2012. A compilation of the various demographic, clinical, radiological and histopathological findings was made. Of the 52 lesions encountered in the 7-year record, 75% were asymptomatic. 20 (38.4%) were benign tumours, 20 (38.4%) tumour-like lesions, 9 (17.3%) inflammatory and post traumatic lesions and only 3 (5.7%) were malignant lesions. Giant cell tumour was the most common benign tumour, aneurysmal bone cyst the most common tumour-like lesion and non-specific osteomyelitis was the most common inflammatory and post-traumatic pathology. All phalangeal lesions were non-malignant and 62% were either giant cell tumours or giant cell reactions. Giant cell reaction was confined to upper limb bones; metatarsals were afflicted exclusively with giant cell tumours (n=3) while malignant lesions affected the metacarpals in two and carpal bones in one instance. Aneurysmal bone cysts were seen exclusively in the tarsal (n=4) and carpal bones (n=2), a very rare finding. More cases need to be studied to define patterns of lesions of hands and feet. The definitive diagnosis is essential as many patients with osteolytic lesions may not require surgical intervention.

Tracheal polyp treated with endobronchial electrocautery.

Fibroepithelial polyps of trachea are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of tracheal polyp in a 40-year-old woman that was managed successfully with endobronchial electrocautery with a review of the relevant literature.

Male genitourinary tuberculosis--13 years experience at a tertiary care center in India.

We conducted a retrospective study of genitourinary tuberculosis (TB) among males attending a hospital in the northern Himalayan region of India. Records from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2009 were reviewed for clinical history, relevant radiological findings laboratory data, histopathology and treatment. Of the 1,113 male urogenital non-neoplastic specimens received at the histopathology laboratory of the hospital, tuberculosis was diagnosed in 25 cases (2.2%). Urinary bladder and prostate were the most common organs involved. Thirty-six percent of cases had a previous history of TB; 12% of cases presented with no symptoms. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was positive in 72% of cases. Cultures were positive for TB in 42.8% of cases and polymerase chain reaction was positive in two cases in which it was performed. Antituberculosis treatment was required for up to 12 months in some cases and surgery was required in 32% of cases. Genitourinary TB in this study had varying presentations. Cases having strong clinical and radiological findings and suggestive histopathology for tuberculosis, even without demonstration of mycobacteria may be considered for TB treatment, particularly in endemic areas. Patients living in more remote areas may have more specific and severe symptoms due to late presentation. Histopathology plays a crucial role in diagnosis due to lack of sophisticated techniques. The emphasis should be on early detection followed by prompt treatment to avoid further complications.

Study of PD-L1 Expression with Association of Pathological Factors and Molecular Subtypes in Breast Carcinoma.

Background Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), expressed on cancer cells, shows varied results in the prognosis of breast cancer. This study was conducted to study the expression of PD-L1 in breast carcinoma and to correlate it with pathological, molecular classification and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods PD-L1 expression was correlated with tumor size, histopathological grade, necrosis, lymphovascular, perineurial invasion, lymph node metastasis, molecular classification, and survival in breast carcinoma cases. Results Fifty cases were included which showed statistically significant difference of PD-L1 with mean age, tumor size, histopathological grade, lymphovascular emboli, and lymph node metastasis ( p < 0.05). Estrogen receptor was strongly positive in 46%, progesterone receptor in 42%, and PD-L1 in 6% of cases. No statistically significant difference between pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging and PD-L1 expression ( p = 0.354) was observed. Receptor operating characteristic curve analysis showed that at the cutoff of PD-L1 greater than 120, specificity was 56.1%, sensitivity 66.7%, negative predictive value 88.5%, and positive predictive value 25% for predicting living status. Conclusion PD-L1 is associated with poor prognostic factors including tumor size, histopathological grade, lymphovascular emboli, and lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma. However, no significant association was observed between PD-L1 and pathological TNM stage or molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma. It is suggested that immunohistochemical reporting of PD-L1 should be standardized so that it is reproducible and reliable for the evaluation of breast carcinoma. Further, larger studies with extended follow-ups are recommended so that the exact role of PD-L1 as a prognostic marker in breast carcinoma could be ascertained.

Expression of CD10 in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and its correlation with histopathological grade, pathological stage, and survival of patients.

BACKGROUND: CD10 plays a role in signal transduction pathway and regulation of cell growth apoptosis, and therefore, it has been evaluated in different malignancies. The present study was conducted to study the immunoexpression of CD10 in urothelial carcinoma and to correlate it with histological grade, pathological stage, and survival of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 51 cases of urothelial carcinoma diagnosed on histopathology along with 50 controls having nonneoplastic urothelium. All the cases and controls were subjected to CD10 immunostaining. The CD10 expression was compared between the cases and controls and was also correlated with histological grade, pathological stage, histomorphological features, and 1-year survival. RESULTS: The study included 78.4% of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) and 21.6% of low-grade urothelial carcinoma. The positive score of CD10 expression was observed in 68.6% of cases, while 96% of controls observed negative immunostaining. About 90.9% of low-grade carcinoma observed score 0, while 83.7% of high grade observed positive score of 1 and 2. Although there was statistical significant difference between CD 10 score and stage of tumor, its expression did not correlate with 1-year survival of cases. CONCLUSION: CD10 expression increases with the grade of tumor and thus may be helpful in differentiating low grade from HGUC. Its expression also increases with stage and poor prognostic factors suggesting its possible role in pathogenesis and progression of urothelial carcinoma. CD 10 may be further analyzed for molecular targeted therapy against urothelial carcinoma.

Von Meyenburg complex clinically presenting as metastatic liver nodule: A rare finding in an elderly male.

Von Meyenburg complex is a benign biliary hamartoma observed in approximately 3% of the autopsies conducted. These hamartomas are small, multiple and can be seen anywhere in the liver. There is usually no abnormality in liver function tests, and the patient is mostly asymptomatic. They serve as a diagnostic dilemma, particularly during metastatic workup in suspected cancer patients. Imaging studies are usually noncontributory, and biopsy is necessary for a definite diagnosis. We present here a middle-aged North Indian male who underwent liver biopsy to rule out metastasis.

Unusual Visceral Sarcomas: Report of 2 Cases with Review of Literature.

Sarcomas account for only 1% of adult solid tumours. Visceral sarcomas except Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) are rare and therefore little is known about the natural history and prognosis of these tumours. They tend to occur in older adults with no sex predilection and are characterized by an aggressive behaviour. Proper evaluation of these tumours is necessary because these are uncommon tumours which often present with advanced disease in an anatomically complex location. Since there are very few published studies on visceral sarcomas, the data is insufficient to suggest prognosis and optimum treatment strategies. We present two cases of such unusual malignancies in spleen and urinary bladder.

A new species of the genus Tameothrips Bhatti (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with four new records of thrips from India.

A new thrips species of the grass-inhabiting Anaphothrips genus-group, Tameothrips arundo sp. n., is described from specimens collected on Arundo donax (Poaceae) from high altitude in Himachal Pradesh State of India. Four species of thrips in two subfamilies of family Thripidae are also reported for the first time from India, all of them well outside their known range: Helionothrips aino Ishida and Panchaetothrips noxius Priesner in the Panchaetothripinae, and Parabaliothrips takahashii Priesner and Scirtothrips kenyensis Mound in the Thripinae. This is the first record of Parabaliothrips Priesner from India. Diagnostic features and data on material studied for these species are provided.

Vacuum Assisted Closure Therapy versus Standard Wound Therapy for Open Musculoskeletal Injuries.

Background. This study was performed to evaluate the results of vacuum assisted wound therapy in patients with open musculoskeletal injuries. Study Design and Setting. Prospective, randomized, and interventional at tertiary care hospital, from 2011 to 2012. Materials and Methods. 30 patients of open musculoskeletal injuries underwent randomized trial of vacuum assisted closure therapy versus standard wound therapy around the upper limb and lower limb. Mean patient age was 39 ± 18 years (range, 18 to 76 years). Necrotic tissues were debrided before applying VAC therapy. Dressings were changed every 3 or 4 days. For standard wound therapy, debridement followed by daily dressings was done. Data Management and Statistical Analysis. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results. The size of soft tissue defects reduced more than 5 mm to 25 mm after VAC (mean decrease of 26.66%), whereas in standard wound therapy, reduction in wound size was less than 5 mm. A free flap was needed to cover exposed bone and tendon in one case in standard wound therapy group. No major complication occurred that was directly attributable to treatment. Conclusion. Vacuum assisted wound therapy was found to facilitate the rapid formation of healthy granulation tissue on open wounds in the upper limb and lower limb, thus to shorten healing time and minimize secondary soft tissue defect coverage procedures.

Outcomes of patients with unresected stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: A single institution experience.

INTRODUCTION: To report on the demographic profile and survival outcomes of North Indian population affected with stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2008 to January 2012, 138 consecutively diagnosed NSCLC patients were included in this study. The patient, tumor and treatment related factors were analyzed. Median overall survival (OS), Kaplan-Meier survival plots, t-test, Cox proportional hazards models were generated by multivariate analysis [MVA]) and analyzed on SPSS software (version 19.0; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Median OS of stage III patients was 9.26 ± 1.85 months and 2-year survival rate of 13% while stage IV patients had median OS of 5 ± 1.5 months with a 2-year survival rate of 8%. Cox regression modeling for MVA demonstrated higher biologically equivalent dose (BED) (P = 0.01) in stage III while in stage IV non-squamous histology (P = 0.01), administration of chemotherapy (P = 0.02), partial responders to chemotherapy (P = 0.001), higher BED (P = 0.02), and those with skeletal metastasis alone (P = 0.17) showed a better OS. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that a higher BED is associated with favorable outcomes, indicating a role of dose escalated radiation therapy to the primary lesion in both stage III and essentially in stage IV NSCLC. Additionally, optimal use of chemotherapy relates to better survival. The developing, resource restrained nations need to follow an economically feasible multimodality approach.

Round Cell Vaginal Malignant Melanoma: A rare entity.

Malignant melanoma is predominantly a skin disease but in rare instances it may occur at other sites. A vaginal melanoma is a rare clinical entity and the round cell type is an uncommon variant. Although the present case was clinically diagnosed as a urethral caruncle, on histopathological examination and immunostaining it was diagnosed as a round cell pigmented malignant melanoma. The patient refused radical surgery and was given a full course radiotherapy treatment but died a year later. Malignant vaginal melanoma carries a very poor prognosis even when lesion is localised at the time of presentation. The five-year survival rate ranges from 10-20% with the prognosis being influenced by tumour size. A tumour size ≥3cm has a poor prognosis. Age, mitotic count, stage, and location of the lesion do not influence survival rates.

Experimental posterolateral spinal fusion with beta tricalcium phosphate ceramic and bone marrow aspirate composite graft.

BACKGROUND: Beta tricalcium phosphate is commonly used in metaphyseal defects but its use in posterolateral spinal fusion remains controversial. There are very few published animal studies in which use of beta tricalcium phosphate has been evaluated in the posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis model. Hence we conducted a study to evaluate the potential of composite graft of beta tricalcium phosphate and bone marrow aspirate in comparison to autologous bone graft, when used for posterolateral spinal fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single level posterolateral lumbar fusion was performed in 40 adult male Indian rabbits, which were assigned randomly into one of the four groups based on graft materials implanted; a) 3 gm beta tricalcium phosphate plus 3 ml bone marrow aspirate (Group I); b) 3 ml bone marrow aspirate alone (Group II); c) 3 gm beta tricalcium phosphate (Group III) and d) 3 gm autologous bone graft (Group IV). Each group had 10 rabbits. Half of the rabbits were sacrificed by injecting Phenobarbitone intraperitoneally after eight weeks and the remaining after 24 weeks, and were evaluated for fusion by X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, manual palpation test and histology. RESULTS: Beta tricalcium phosphate used with bone marrow aspirate produced best results when compared to other groups (P =.0001). When beta tricalcium phosphate was used alone, fusion rates were better as compared to fusion achieved with autologous iliac crest bone graft though statistically not significant (P =0.07). Autologous bone graft showed signs of new bone formation. However, the rate of new bone formation was comparatively slow. CONCLUSION: Composite graft of beta tricalcium phosphate and bone marrow aspirate can be used as an alternative to autologous iliac crest bone graft.

Transplantation of free tibial periosteal grafts for the repair of articular cartilage defect: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Articular chondrocytes have got a long lifespan but rarely divides after maturity. Thus, an articular cartilage has a limited capacity for repair. Periosteal grafts have chondrogenic potential and have been used to repair defects in the articular cartilage. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the differentiation of free periosteal grafts in the patellofemoral joint where the cambium layer faces the subchondral bone and to investigate the applicability of periosteal grafts in the reconstruction of articular surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out over a period of 1 year on 25 adult, male Indian rabbits after obtaining permission from the institutional animal ethical committee. A full-thickness osteochondral defect was created by shaving off the whole articular cartilage of the patella of the left knee. The defect thus created was grafted with free periosteal graft. The patella of the right knee was taken as a control where no grafting was done after shaving off the articular cartilage. The first animal was used to study the normal histology of the patellar articular cartilage and periosteum obtained from the medial surface of tibial condyle. Rest 24 animals were subjected to patellectomy, 4 each at serial intervals of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 48 weeks and the patellar articular surfaces were examined macroscopically and histologically. RESULTS: The grafts got adherent to the underlying patellar articular surface at the end of 4 weeks. Microscopically, graft incorporation could be appreciated at 4 weeks. Mesenchymal cells of the cambium layer were seen differentiating into chondrocytes by the end of 4 weeks in four grafts (100%) and they were arranged in a haphazard manner. Till the end of 8 weeks, the cellular arrangement was mostly wooly. At 16 weeks, one graft (25%) had wooly arrangement of chondrocytes and three grafts (75%) had columnar formation of cells. Same percentage was maintained at 32 weeks. Four grafts (100%) at 48 weeks showed columnar orientation. The control side showed no changes over the shaved off articular surface in all the rabbits. One rabbit at 4 weeks had a dislocation of the patella on the control side. None of the rabbits developed any infection or wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Autologous periosteal graft transplantation can be a promising substitute for articular cartilaginous defects.

Osteolytic lesions of hand and feet: a seven-year experience from a tertiary referral centre of North India

There are 106 bones in hands and feet but their lesions are not commonly reported. This was a retrospective study of all osteolytic lesions involving bones of the hands or feet presenting to the only tertiary referral centre of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand during the 7-year period from January 2006 to December 2012. A compilation of the various demographic, clinical, radiological and histopathological findings was made. Of the 52 lesions encountered in the 7-year record, 75% were asymptomatic. 20 (38.4%) were benign tumours, 20 (38.4%) tumour-like lesions, 9 (17.3%) inflammatory and post traumatic lesions and only 3 (5.7%) were malignant lesions. Giant cell tumour was the most common benign tumour, aneurysmal bone cyst the most common tumour-like lesion and non-specific osteomyelitis was the most common inflammatory and post-traumatic pathology. All phalangeal lesions were non-malignant and 62% were either giant cell tumours or giant cell reactions. Giant cell reaction was confined to upper limb bones; metatarsals were afflicted exclusively with giant cell tumours (n=3) while malignant lesions affected the metacarpals in two and carpal bones in one instance. Aneurysmal bone cysts were seen exclusively in the tarsal (n=4) and carpal bones (n=2), a very rare finding. More cases need to be studied to define patterns of lesions of hands and feet. The definitive diagnosis is essential as many patients with osteolytic lesions may not require surgical intervention.

Utilization of blood and components in a tertiary care hospital.

PURPOSE: Blood transfusion is an important part of patient management. Indications for blood use must be clear in the mind of ordering clinicians, to avoid its misuse and also to avoid unnecessary exposure of the patient to donor blood antigens, adverse reactions and transfusion transmissible diseases. METHODS: In a retrospective pilot study, details of whole blood and components transfused were noted and correlated with the patient's diagnosis and indications for transfusion, during 1 month. RESULTS: The blood units supplied were 720. Whole blood was the most utilized product; followed by packed red blood cells. Supply of blood was maximum to the surgical wards. The patients of trauma followed by malignancy and surgery required whole blood mostly. Anemia was the most common indication for blood products. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic review of blood component usage is very important to assess the blood utilization pattern in any hospital.