Effect of bioformulations on the biocontrol efficacy, microbial viability and storage stability of a consortium of biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt of banana.

AIMS: This study sought to investigate the effect of bioformulation on the biocontrol efficacy, microbial viability and storage stability of a consortium of Pseudomonas aeruginosa DRB1 and Trichoderma harzianum CBF2 against Foc Tropical Race 4 (Foc-TR4). MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Four bioformulations consisting of dry (pesta granules, talc powder and alginate beads) and liquid formulations were evaluated for their ability to control Foc-TR4, sustain microbial populations after application and maintain microbial stability during storage. All tested bioformulations reduced disease severity (DS) by more than 43·00% with pesta granules producing the highest reduction in DS by 66·67% and the lowest area under the disease progress curve value (468·75) in a glasshouse trial. Microbial populations of DRB1 and CBF2 were abundant in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane and within the roots of bananas after pesta granules application as compared to talc powder, alginate beads and liquid formulations 84 days after inoculation (DAI). The stability of both microbial populations after 180 days of storage at 4°C was the greatest in the pesta granule formulation. CONCLUSION: The pesta granule formulation was a suitable carrier of biological control agents (BCA) without compromising biocontrol efficacy, microbial population and storage stability as compared to other bioformulations used in this study. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pesta granules could be utilized to formulate BCA consortia into biofertilizers. This formulation could be further investigated for possible applications under agricultural field settings.

Patent urachus in a neonate: findings at micturating cystourethregram.

A term female infant with an antenatal diagnosis of a urachal anomaly presented at 5 days of age for elective surgical repair of the anomaly. She had been passing urine via the umbilicus since birth. No other abnormalities had been detected on clinical examination. Preoperative micturating cystourethregram (MCUG) was performed, and during catheterization of the bladder per urethra, the catheter tip passed into the bladder and out of the umbilicus, thus confirming the diagnosis of a patent urachus.

Radiological catheter drainage of abscesses in children.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of radiological catheter drainage of fluid collections and abscesses in children, and to review the principles, indications, technique, and possible complications of these procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of all radiologically guided catheter placements performed between March 1999 and April 2003. Patients' age, sex, location of the collection, technical details of the procedure, including modality used for guidance, technique of placement, type of catheter used, catheter indwelling time, and time for temporization were recorded from chart reviews. Success rate was calculated based on the number of curative drainage procedures. RESULTS: 33 children (16 boys and 17 girls) aged between 7 days and 14 years of age (mean 7 years) underwent 37 procedures. Successful drainage was achieved in 31 of 33 patients (94%). The dwell time for catheters ranged between 1 day and 30 days (mean 5.7 days). Mean duration for defervescence was 2 days. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: Imaging-guided catheter drainage of fluid collections in children is safe and effective. Newer approaches, better imaging, and improved techniques have resulted in improved cure rates. The basic principles, common indications, various techniques, and the possible complications of these procedures, with special reference to the pediatric population, are reviewed in this article.

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma: a questionably benign tumour.

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma is a rare intracranial tumour of childhood that involves the cerebral cortex and the leptomeninges. We report two patients with desmoplastic infantile gangliogliomas and multiple cerebrospinal metastases. To our knowledge, only two similar cases have been reported in the published literature. Pathologically, this rare intracranial tumour shows glial and ganglionic differentiation, accompanied by an extreme desmoplastic reaction. These are low-grade neoplasms that are questionably benign.

Anterior abdominal wall defects and biliary obstruction.

Three infants with anterior abdominal wall defects (gastroschisis and exomphalos) who presented with obstructive jaundice secondary to biliary obstruction, are described. All three infants had abnormal biliary systems, with mechanical distortion of the biliary tree. Biliary obstruction secondary to structural biliary anomalies should be considered in patients with abdominal wall defects and cholestasis, as prolonged unrelieved biliary obstruction may lead to biliary cirrhosis and portal hypertension.