Determination of gene action for yield and its related traits in soybean under North-Western Himalayas conditions of India

Aim: To understand the nature and magnitude of gene action for yield and its related traits in soybean.Methodology: Fifty four triple test cross progenies developed by crossing 18 lines with three testers Him soya and Hara soya (P1 and P2) and their F1s were used as testers ‘L1’,’L2’ and ‘L3’. F1 seeds were produced by crossing Him soya with Hara soya during kharif 2011. By crossing these three testers with 18 lines (females), 54 triple test cross hybrids were developed during kharif 2012. The fifty four F1 hybrids along with 18 lines and 3 testers were sown during kharif 2013 in a randomized block design with three replications. Results: In the triple test cross progenies, sufficient genetic variations were found for all the traits, except petiole length. Epistasis was observed to be an integral part of genetic variations for traits like plant height, branches per plant, nodes on main stem, internode length, pods per plant, pod length, biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant, oil content, crude protein content. Epistatic interaction for most traits was additive x dominance and dominance x dominance (j+l) type. In addition to additive x dominance and dominance x dominance (j+l), additive x additive (i) type epistasis was observed for plant height, internode length, pods per plant and biological yield per plant. For the inheritance of most traits, fixable type of gene action was found as additive component (D), was more pronounced than dominance component (H), except pod length. Interpretation: For improvement of traits, selection in the early generations will be useful as additive gene action was observed. The importance of additive x dominance (j) and dominance x dominance (l) type of epistasis in the inheritance of seed yield and other related traits signifying the importance of recurrent selection in order to develop high yielding varieties. For pod length, both additive and dominant components were observed. Thus genetic improvement in seed yield would be easier through indirect selection for pod length.

Magnetic resonance imaging in pre‑operative staging of endometrial cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers and the fourth most common cancer in the female. Although clinical evaluation with diagnostic imaging has not yet proved to be accurate enough in the evaluation of tumor extent to replace surgical staging, it may enable optimization of the surgical procedure and a better tailored therapeutic strategy. This study will review the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in endometrial carcinomas in the pre‑operative staging of endometrial carcinomas and compare it with the newly revised Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging scheme of 2009 based on post‑operative surgical histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective analysis of 36 patients diagnosed and treated for endometrial carcinoma in our institute from January 2009 to December 2012. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (61%) were between the age group of 41‑60 years. Most of the patients (72%) were postmenopausal at the time of presentation. Most common histopathology of endometrial carcinoma was endometroid adenocarcinoma (27 patients, 75%). FIGO staging of 12 patients (85.7%) showed concordance with MRI Staging for Stage Ia, with up‑gradation of two patients to Stage Ib. CONCLUSION: The information provided by MRI can define prognosis, help planning the surgical approach and identify those patients requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Determination of Frequency of Occurrence of ABO Blood group in Sagar.

The present paper is the result of frequency of occurrence of ABO blood group carried out in Sagar (M.P.). The frequency of B blood group is highest with percentile frequency of 0.361 and lowest AB blood group with percentile frequency of 0.095. The x2 test as well as D/o show significant values.

Neonatal bacteremia in a neonatal intensive care unit: analysis of causative organisms and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Background: Bangladesh has a neonatal death rate that is substantially high and demands urgent attention. Objective: This retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence of bacterial neonatal sepsis condition in the Chittagong area of Bangladesh with focus on various demographic characteristics of neonates, causative organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility. Methodology: Blood culture was performed on all neonates with risk factors or signs of suggestive sepsis. Blood samples were cultured using tryptone soya broth (TSB- blood broth) according to standard method. Results: From the 1400 neonates 104 had positive blood culture for neonatal sepsis infection. Among the infected children 40 (38.46%) were born in the hospital and 64 (61.54%) were born at home. The EONS (Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis) accounted for 68 (65.38%) and LONS (Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis) accounted for 36 (34.62%). Among the isolated organism Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 79 (75.96%), Serratia marcescens 19 (18.27%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 04 (3.85%) and Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 02 (1.92%). Among the isolated species 102 were attributed to G (-ve) bacteria and 02 were attributed to G (+ve) bacteria. Most of the G (-ve) bacteria showed resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, ceftriaxon and gentamicin. In this study all isolates showed sensitivity to the imipenem. Conclusion: Collection of up-to-date data is mandatory for appropriate use of antibiotics.

Simultaneous separation and identification of antibiotic drugs in complex mixtures by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS).

Antibiotics are generally considered to be potential lifesaving drugs. In recent times it has been observed that these drugs are being used indiscriminately by many individuals, including youngsters and the elderly. It is well known that most drugs including antibiotics, can cause anaphylactic shock in certain individuals, and this can lead to forensic investigation because of the unexpected nature and abruptness of the death. It is important therefore to have an effective method for the identification of these antibiotic compounds in forensic samples. Earlier workers had performed the separation and identification of fluoroquinolone antibiotics by using various analytical techniques such as High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In this study, a simple and selective qualitative method was developed for the separation and identification of four fluoroquinolone antibiotic drugs (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin and Gatifloxacin) in forensic samples by using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) by using Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) functions. The limit of detection (LOD) was observed to be 10 ng/mL for Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin and Gatifloxacin, while it was 0.5 ng/mL for Ofloxacin.

A selective method for the qualitative determination of paroxetine in forensic biological samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Paroxetine is a schedule H antidepressant drug. It has occasionally been implicated in lethal overdoses. To identify and estimate the level of this drug in toxicological samples is a forensic challenge. Attempts have been made in the past to extract and detect paroxetine in blood samples by using a variety of techniques such as gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high pressure liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, etc. However, no studies have been reported in other biological samples. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify paroxetine in biological samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode at 330.15192.11. The product ion spectra proved to be very helpful in identification of the drug. Furthermore, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) enhances the reliability and specificity of the method. The use of modified mobile phase produces good quality of qualifier ions. This method appears to be simple, sensitive, specific, and reliable.

Association between lower hair zinc levels and neural tube defects.

Though folic acid supplementation has reduced the incidence of Neural Tube Defects (NTD), NTD still constitutes one of the important congenital malformations having wide medical, social and ethical implications. Zinc deficiency has been reported to produce NTD in animals. This study was designed to evaluate zinc status of the newborn babies with NTD and their mothers. Eighty newborn babies with NTD and their mothers served as cases. Eighty apparently normal newborn babies and their mothers served as controls. Serum and scalp hair zinc levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal mothers were 74.1 +/- 4.1 micrograms/dl and 142.3 +/- 8.0 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels of the mothers who delivered NTD babies were 75.7 +/- 5.6 micrograms/dl and 129.9 +/- 5.3 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal newborn babies were 77.8 +/- 5.3 micrograms/dl and 188.8 +/- 6.2 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in NTD babies were 80.1 +/- 12.9 micrograms/dl and 174.2 +/- 10.7 micrograms/g respectively. The hair zinc levels of the affected babies and their mothers were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the controls. This study has found association between NTD and decreased hair zinc levels and large population based studies are recommended to confirm the association between zinc and NTD and to investigate whether zinc supplementation would reduce the overall incidence of NTD.

Zinc levels in women and newborns.

Zinc is an important trace element having a definitive role in the metabolism, growth and development and reproduction. During pregnancy the requirements for zinc increase. This study was designed to evaluate the zinc status of normal women, normal pregnant women and their newborn babies. Forty normal adult females, 40 normal pregnant women and their newborn babies were randomly selected and their serum and hair zinc levels were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean serum and hair zinc levels in normal women were 69.47 +/- 1.4 micrograms/dl and 147.45 +/- 6.12 micrograms/g respectively. The mean serum and hair zinc levels in normal pregnant women were 69.0 +/- 3.22 micrograms/dl and 142.83 +/- 4.39 micrograms/g respectively while the mean serum (cord blood) and hair levels in normal new born babies were 72.77 +/- 5.14 micrograms/dl and 188.36 +/- 4.12 micrograms/g respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in hair zinc levels during pregnancy. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in zinc levels in new born babies when the time interval between the previous delivery and the present delivery was less than 3.4 years. The results of the present study reinforce the need for zinc supplementation during pregnancy especially if the interval between pregnancies is short.

Cardiac output of Indian men by a non-invasive method the Indirect Fick Principle.

The cardiac-output (Q) of seven young healthy Indians with common physical characteristics at rest and after a single bout of exercise of 600 kpm for 10 min on a bicycle ergometer was ascertained by the Indirect Fick Principle. The end tidal alveolar Co2 pressure was obtained at the end of a normal expiration and PvCo2 was obtained by the help of the exponential rise (Defares method) in Co2 concentration during rebreathing from an initially low Co2 in O2 mixture (3-4%). The standard Co2 dissociation curve of oxygenated blood was used to find out the corresponding arterial and venous Co2 content, assuming the Hb content of these individuals to be normal. The mean value of the Cardiac-Output so obtained during rest is 4.21 liters/min when Co2 rebreathing time does not exceed 10 secs, and 17.33 litres/min., 2 to 3 breaths after exercise, when rebreathing time did not exceed 5 to 7 secs. Repeated studies and better training of the subjects will perhaps improve the resting values, while after exercise and during recovery our values are better reproducible.

Comparative evaluation of dexamethasone with cyclophosphamide, chloramphenicol and cyproheptadine hydrochloride as immunosuppressive agents on skin homografts in rats and rabbits.

An experimental study on immunosuppressive action of cyclophosphamide, chloramphenicol and cyproheptadine hydrochloride in comparison with the control and dexamethasone was undertaken on skin homografts in rabbits and rats. The survival period of skin homografts in cyclophosphamide treated group was significantly increased (P less than 0.01) in rabbits, but there was insignificant increase in rats (P greater than 0.01). With chloramphenicol there was significant increase in survival period in both the species (P less than 0.01). Cyproheptadine did not show significant result in any of the species. The probable mechanisms of immunosuppressive action have been discussed.