Abscisic acid-induced gene expression in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha is mediated by evolutionarily conserved promoter elements.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone widely distributed among members of the land plant lineage (Embryophyta), regulating dormancy, stomata closure and tolerance to environmental stresses. In angiosperms (Magnoliophyta), ABA-induced gene expression is mediated by promoter elements such as the G-box-like ACGT-core motifs recognized by bZIP transcription factors. In contrast, the mode of regulation by ABA of gene expression in liverworts (Marchantiophyta), representing one of the earliest diverging land plant groups, has not been elucidated. In this study, we used promoters of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha dehydrin and the wheat Em genes fused to the ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene to investigate ABA-induced gene expression in liverworts. Transient assays of cultured cells of Marchantia indicated that ACGT-core motifs proximal to the transcription initiation site play a role in the ABA-induced gene expression. The RY sequence recognized by B3 transcriptional regulators was also shown to be responsible for the ABA-induced gene expression. In transgenic Marchantia plants, ABA treatment elicited an increase in GUS expression in young gemmalings, which was abolished by simultaneous disruption of the ACGT-core and RY elements. ABA-induced GUS expression was less obvious in mature thalli than in young gemmalings, associated with reductions in sensitivity to exogenous ABA during gametophyte growth. In contrast, lunularic acid, which had been suggested to function as an ABA-like substance, had no effect on GUS expression. The results demonstrate the presence of ABA-specific response mechanisms mediated by conserved cis-regulatory elements in liverworts, implying that the mechanisms had been acquired in the common ancestors of embryophytes.

Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in Bangladesh amid COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious violation of women's human rights and a dominant chronic global public health problem. Although it is suspected that epidemic-induced economic downturns have fueled the IPV, enough empirical literature are not available to make a consensus. Against this backdrop, the present study has attempted to explore the prevalence and associated factors of IPV amid the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study has included Bangladesh as the study area and collected data from married women who lived with her intimate partner. Total of 605 women were reached and 84.30% (510) women, aged 16-45 with mean age 30.12 (±6.27) years, provided their consent and required information. The study has employed the translated version of WHO multi-country study tools to screen the IPV. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study has found the prevalence of IPV about 45.29%, where 44.12% are emotionally abused, 15.29% physically, 10.59% sexually, and 19.22% are abused either physically or sexually. The study has found that types of marriage, area of residence, women's employment status, husband's age and level of education, family income status, and pandemic induced economic downturns were the associated factors of intimate partner violence amid the pandemic. LIMITATIONS: Self-reported cross-sectional study has some methodological limitations, and the present study is not free from them. CONCLUSIONS: The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the associated factors of IPV amid the pandemic, which will help to make preventive policy.

Right-sided Aortic Arch with Aberrant Left Subclavian Artery in a Pregnant Female: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery is a rare variant of vascular anatomy. Three types of right-sided aortic arches are described and classified based on the arrangement of the aortic arch vessels, the presence or absence of congenital heart abnormalities, the relationship of the aortic arch to the trachea and esophagus, as well as the presence or absence of a complete or incomplete vascular ring. On review of the existing literature, 31 case reports were found with a spectrum of clinical presentation sand outcomes. In this case report, we highlight a case of a young female in her early 20'swho presented with choking spells, shortness of breath along with intermittent dysphagia since childhood. She was otherwise healthy and pregnant at 26 weeks gestational age. A Computed tomography scan with angiography (CTA) of the thorax was performed to rule out a pulmonary embolism (PE) however surprisingly, a right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery was revealed instead. Subsequently, an extensive literature review was carried out to better understand clinical presentation sand treatment strategies for this rather rare disorder.

Primary molar with chronic periapical abscess showing atypical presentation of simultaneous extraoral and intraoral sinus tract with multiple stomata.

Chronic periapical abscess drains through a sinus tract either intraorally or extraorally. However, intraoral drainage is more common than extraoral in both dentitions. Nevertheless, the simultaneous presentation of extraoral and intraoral sinus tract is very rarely reported in primary dentition. This case report discussed the management of a girl aged 7 years with a chronic periapical abscess of tooth no. 85 with both non-healing extraoral and intraoral sinus tract having multiple stomata. Non-vital pulpectomy using calcium hydroxide paste intracanal dressing was performed initially until 2 weeks without remarkable healing; then antibiotic dressing consisting of a mixture of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and clindamycin was placed as an intracanal medicament for 1 week, which shows uneventful healing of both intraoral and extraoral sinus tract. This case report clearly indicates about how history, correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment of endodontic infection associated with sinus tract can be conservatively healed with endodontic treatment alone.

Abscisic acid-induced rearrangement of intracellular structures associated with freezing and desiccation stress tolerance in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.

The plant growth regulator abscisic acid (ABA) is known to be involved in triggering responses to various environmental stresses such as freezing and desiccation in angiosperms, but little is known about its role in basal land plants, especially in liverworts, representing the earliest land plant lineage. We show here that survival rate after freezing and desiccation of Marchantia polymorpha gemmalings was increased by pretreatment with ABA in the presence of increasing concentrations of sucrose. ABA treatment increased accumulation of soluble sugars in gemmalings, and sugar accumulation was further increased by addition of sucrose to the culture medium. ABA treatment of gemmalings also induced accumulation of transcripts for proteins with similarity to late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, which accumulate in association with acquisition of desiccation tolerance in maturing seeds. Observation by light and electron microscopy indicated that the ABA treatment caused fragmentation of vacuoles with increased cytosolic volume, which was more prominent in the presence of a high concentration of external sucrose. ABA treatment also increased the density of chloroplast distribution and remarkably enlarged their volume. These results demonstrate that ABA induces drastic physiological changes in liverwort cells for stress tolerance, accompanied by accumulation of protectants against dehydration and rearrangement and morphological alterations of cellular organelles.

Rhino-orbital mucourmycosis in a non-immunocompromised patient.

Mucormycosis, also known as phycomycosis or zygomycosis, is caused by common Zygomycete fungi frequently found in soil and decaying vegetation. These mainly infect immunocompromised patients and cause an acute fulminating fungal disease; mucormycosis rarely affects otherwise healthy people. Mucormycosis is a fatal infection with a poor prognosis. Of the different types of mucormycosis, the rhinocerebral type is the most severe one, and its type 2 subtype, the rhino-orbital-cerebral form is the deadliest variety. Here, we report a case of mucormycosis presenting with extensive necrosis of the maxilla with extension into the retrobulbar and infrabulbar region in an otherwise healthy patient. He underwent extensive debriding surgery followed by amphotericin B first and then oral antifungal therapy, but unfortunately, even after extensive surgery and medical treatment, he did not survive.