Projecting potential impact of COVID-19 on major cereal crops in Senegal and Burkina Faso using crop simulation models.

CONTEXT: The rapid emergence of COVID-19 could have direct and indirect impacts on food production systems and livelihoods of farmers. From the farming perspective, disruption of critical input availability, supply chains and labor, influence crop management. Disruptions to food systems can affect (a) planting area; and (b) crop yields. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the impacts of COVID-19 on major cereal crop's production and their cascading impact on national economy and related policies. METHODS: We used the calibrated crop simulation model (DSSAT suite) to project the impact of potential changes in planting area and grain yield of four major cereal crops (i.e., rice, maize, sorghum, and millet) in Senegal and Burkina Faso in terms of yield, total production, crop value and contribution to agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). Appropriate data (i.e., weather, soil, crop, and management practices) for the specific agroecological zones were used as an input in the model. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The simulated yields for 2020 were then used to estimate crop production at country scale for the matrix of different scenarios of planting area and yield change (-15, -10, -5, 0, +5, +10%). Depending on the scenario, changes in total production of four cereals combined at country levels varied from 1.47 M tons to 2.47 M tons in Senegal and 4.51 M tons to 7.52 M tons in Burkina Faso. The economic value of all four cereals under different scenarios ranged from $771 Million (M) to $1292 M in Senegal and from $1251 M to $2098 M in Burkina Faso. These estimated total crop values under different scenarios were compared with total agricultural GDP of the country (in 2019 terms which was $3995 M in Senegal and $3957 M in Burkina Faso) to assess the economic impact of the pandemic on major cereal grain production. Based on the scenarios, the impact on total agricultural GDP can change -7% to +6% in Senegal and - 8% to +9% in Burkina Faso. SIGNIFICANCE: Results obtained from this modeling exercise will be valuable to policymakers and end-to-end value chain practitioners to prepare and develop appropriate policies to cope or manage the impact of COVID-19 on food systems.

Antiviral activity of some plants used in Nepalese traditional medicine.

Methanolic extracts of 41 plant species belonging to 27 families used in the traditional medicine in Nepal have been investigated for in vitro antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and influenza virus A by dye uptake assay in the systems HSV-1/Vero cells and influenza virus A/MDCK cells. The extracts of Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata, Cassiope fastigiata and Thymus linearis showed potent anti-herpes viral activity. The extracts of Allium oreoprasum, Androsace strigilosa, Asparagus filicinus, Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata and Verbascum thapsus exhibited strong anti-influenza viral activity. Only the extracts of A. rivularis and B. ciliata demonstrated remarkable activity against both viruses.

De Garengeot hernia: an analysis of our experience.

AIM: The presence of a vermiform appendix in a femoral hernia sac is termed De Garengeot hernia. It may present as a tender and/or erythematous groin swelling and is often misdiagnosed as an incarcerated or strangulated femoral hernia. The purpose of this study is to review the management of De Garengeot hernia at a single institution since 1991. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of seven consecutive patients operated upon at our institution from 1991 to 2006 with De Garengeot hernia was undertaken. Patients' demographics, treatment performed and postoperative outcome were analysed. RESULTS: There were three men and four women. The median age was 55 years. None of the patients were diagnosed preoperatively. The commonest presenting symptom was painful groin swelling. All patients therefore underwent emergency surgery with a presumptive diagnosis of either incarcerated or strangulated femoral hernia. Operative findings included four normal appendices, two inflamed appendices and one perforated appendix in the femoral hernial sac. Patients with normal appendix (n = 4) had mesh hernia repair without an appendicectomy. The rest of the patients (n = 3) with abnormal appendix underwent emergency open appendicectomy followed by sutured hernia repair. We had no deaths in this series and one minor wound infection. No recurrent hernia has been detected to date. CONCLUSION: Inflammation of the appendix determines the type of hernia repair and surgical approach. Incidental appendicectomy in the case of a normal appendix is not preferred.

Renal Artery Thrombosis with Renal Infarction: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen.

Renal artery thrombosis with renal infarction is a rare entity. Due to the nonspecific clinical presentation, the diagnosis is usually delayed. We describe such a case in a middle-aged man with membranous nephropathy who was in remission and presented with severe abdominal pain. He was managed with selective intra-arterial thrombolysis with a good outcome.

ABO-incompatible renal transplantation in developing world - crossing the immunological (and mental) barrier.

ABO incompatibility has been considered as an important immunological barrier for renal transplantation. With the advent of effective preconditioning protocols, it is now possible to do renal transplants across ABO barrier. We hereby present a single center retrospective analysis of all consecutive ABOi renal transplants performed from November 2011 to August 2014. Preconditioning protocol consisted of rituximab, plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and maintenance immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate sodium, and prednisolone. The outcome of these ABOi transplants was compared with all other consecutive ABO-compatible (ABOc) renal transplants performed during same time. Twenty ABOi renal transplants were performed during the study period. Anti-blood group antibody titer varied from 1:2 to 1:512. Patient and graft survival was comparable between ABOi and ABOc groups. Biopsy proven acute rejection rate was 15% in ABOi group, which was similar to ABOc group (16.29%). There were no antibody-mediated rejections in ABOi group. The infection rate was also comparable. We conclude that the short-term outcome of ABOi and ABOc transplants is comparable. ABOi transplants should be promoted in developing countries to expand the donor pool.

Invasive gastric mucormycosis and cytomegalovirus infection in an ABO incompatible renal transplant recipient.

Opportunistic infections are common in immunocompromised patients, such as solid organ transplant recipients. Both fungal and viral infections in posttransplant period increase morbidity and mortality. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains one of the most important pathogens. CMV disease may manifest as a nonspecific febrile syndrome or tissue-invasive infections. Zygomycosis is a rare infection, usually presents in rhino-cerebral, pulmonary and disseminated forms; gastrointestinal (GI) tract being a rare site of involvement. Newer techniques for early diagnosis and efficient therapies are essential for a better outcome of the disease; however, mortality rate remains high despite aggressive therapy. We report a renal transplant recipient, who developed gastric mucormycosis along with tissue invasive CMV disease, within 4 weeks of renal transplant and was diagnosed on the basis of upper GI endoscopy and gastric biopsy. The patient succumbed to the infection in spite of gastrectomy, antifungal and antiviral therapy.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in a renal transplant recipient: A case report and review of literature.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology characterized by multiple cutaneous ulcers with mucopurulent or hemorrhagic exudate. This sterile neutrophilic dermatosis is known to occur in association with malignancy, infection, autoimmune disorders and drugs. Occurrence of PG in a renal transplant recipient, who is already on immunosuppressants, is rare. We hereby report a renal transplant recipient who developed PG 1-month after transplant and responded well to treatment with escalated dose of oral steroid.

Paired kidney exchange transplantation: Maximizing the donor pool.

In the last decade, paired kidney exchange (PKE) transplantation has gained popularity worldwide as a viable alternative for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who have incompatible or sensitized donors. This study presents our experience with PKE transplantation and compares outcome between PKE and non-PKE renal transplant recipients. Between February 2010 and November 2013, 742 transplants were performed, of which 26 (3.5%) were PKE transplantations. All were two-way exchanges. PKE recipients were significantly older than non-PKE (46.73 ± 9.71 vs. 40.08 ± 13.36 years; P = 0.012) while donor ages were comparable. PKE patients had significantly higher number of HLA mismatches (5.03 ± 1.14 vs. 3.49 ± 1.57; P < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 20 months (range: 3-47 months), there was no significant difference in patient survival (PKE 96.16% vs. non-PKE 96.65%; P = 0.596) and death censored graft survival (PKE 96.16% vs. non-PKE 96.37%; P = 1). Mean serum creatinine at 1 month and at last follow-up was lower in PKE versus non-PKE group (0.98 ± 0.33 vs. 1.3 ± 0.61 mg/dl; P = 0.008 and 0.96 ± 0.30 vs. 1.27 ± 0.57 mg/dl, P = 0.006, respectively). Biopsy proven acute rejection rate was 11.5% in PKE group and 16.89% in non-PKE patients (P = 0.6). To conclude, paired kidney donation is an excellent way of increasing the donor pool and needs to be promoted to overcome the shortage of suitable kidney in our country.

Overproduction and rapid purification of human fast skeletal beta troponin T using Escherichia coli expression vectors: functional differences between the alpha and beta isoforms.

Troponin T (TpnT), an essential component of the Ca(2+)-regulatory troponin complex, is involved in protein-protein interactions with other thin-filament proteins during muscle contraction in vertebrate striated muscle (VSM). The isoforms of TpnT are encoded by members of a multigene family which, by alternate splicing, produces a complex pattern of isoproteins in VSM. The functional domains of TpnT are only tentatively identified and structure-function analysis on this protein is limited due to the heterogeneity of the multiple isoforms. We reasoned that the overproduction and purification of a single TpnT species in Escherichia coli would provide an insight into these studies, besides being useful in crystallizing the protein. We cloned the human fast skeletal beta TpnT-encoding cDNA (beta TpnTf) in three expression vectors. Overexpression was achieved in an E. coli BL21 (DE3) lysogen using a T7 RNA polymerase promoter-based vector, pET17b. The unfused recombinant protein was purified by a simple and rapid procedure in a biologically active and immunoreactive form. This is the first successful synthesis of a complete beta TpnTf polypeptide from any species using an in vitro expression system. Purified human beta TpnTf, a predominant fetal form, was less Ca(2+)-sensitive and exhibited considerably reduced affinity for troponin C and tropomyosin, as compared to the rabbit fast skeletal alpha TpnT, a predominant adult isoform. These results provide a biochemical correlate to the age-related differences in Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development in vertebrate fast skeletal muscles.

Simultaneous synthesis of enzymatically active luciferase and biologically active beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in caterpillars infected with a recombinant baculovirus.

The beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG), a secretory and extensively glycosylated hormone, and firefly luciferase, a non-secretory enzyme, were simultaneously synthesized in Spodoptera larvae upon infection with a dual expression recombinant baculovirus, vAc beta hCG-luc. Luciferase was retained predominantly in the body tissue while beta hCG was secreted into the hemolymph of infected larvae. Both the proteins were similar to their authentic counterparts in terms of immunoreactivity and bioactivity. The caterpillar-derived recombinant hCG exhibited reduced electrophoretic mobility on SDS-PAGE and increased biological activity as compared to the hCG expressed in insect cells in culture. The implications of using the larval system for expressing an extensively glycosylated protein are discussed.

Firefly luciferase, synthesized to very high levels in caterpillars infected with a recombinant baculovirus, can also be used as an efficient reporter enzyme in vivo.

Trichoplusia ni and Spodoptera littoralis larvae were infected with a recombinant AcNPV, having the viral polyhedrin gene replaced with the cDNA encoding firefly luciferase. Both S. littoralis and T. ni synthesized very high levels of luciferase representing greater than or equal to 25% and greater than or equal to 15%, respectively of the total Coomassie blue stainable protein. Luciferase was apparently not secreted into the hemolymph but was contained within the body tissue. Expression in S. littoralis larvae suggests that luciferase can be an excellent reporter enzyme to study virus infection, dissemination and expression in different tissues, host range determination, insect physiology and also to monitor the release of recombinant virus in the environment when used as a biocide.

Isolation and characterization of human fast skeletal beta troponin T cDNA: comparative sequence analysis of isoforms and insight into the evolution of members of a multigene family.

A cDNA encoding human fast skeletal beta troponin T (beta TnTf) has been isolated and characterized from a fetal skeletal muscle library. The cDNA insert is 1,000 bp in length and contains the entire coding region of 777 bp and 5' and 3' untranslated (UT) segments of 12 and 211 bp, respectively. The 3' UT segment shows the predicted stem-loop structure typical of eukaryotic mRNAs. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence is the first available sequence for human beta TnTf protein. It is encoded by a single-copy gene that is expressed in a tissue-specific manner in fetal and adult fast skeletal muscles. Although the human beta TnTf represents the major fetal isoform, the sequence information indicates that this cDNA and the coded protein are quite distinct from the fetal and neonatal TnTf isoforms reported in other mammalian fetal muscles. The hydropathy plot indicates that human beta TnTf is highly hydrophilic along its entire length. The protein has an extremely high degree of predicted alpha-helical content involving the entire molecule except the carboxy-terminal 30 residues. Comparative sequence analysis reveals that the human beta TnTf shares a high level of sequence similarity in the coding region with other vertebrate TnTf and considerably reduced similarity with slow skeletal and cardiac TnT cDNAs. The TnT isoforms have a large central region consisting of amino acid residues 46-204 which shows a high sequence conservation both at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. This conserved region is flanked by the variable carboxy-terminal and an extremely variable amino-terminal segment. The tropomyosin-binding peptide of TnT, which is represented by amino acid residues 47-151 and also includes a part of troponin I binding region, is an important domain of this central segment. It is suggested that this conserved segment is encoded by an ancestral gene. The variable regions of vertebrate striated TnT isoforms reflect the subsequent addition and modification of genomic sequences to give rise to members of the TnT multigene family.

Beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone and firefly luciferase simultaneously synthesized in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus are differentially expressed and transported.

A recombinant baculovirus vAc beta hCG-luc was constructed that carried the cDNAs encoding firefly luciferase (luc) and beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) placed under the transcriptional control of individual copies of the baculovirus polyhedrin gene promoter. The simple, rapid, and sensitive detection of LUC expression was used for selecting recombinant viruses that simultaneously expressed beta hCG, which was identical in all respects to that synthesized using a recombinant baculovirus carrying the beta hCG gene alone. Immunofluorescence staining of virus-infected cells using anti-LUC antibodies revealed that LUC, a nonglycosylated, intracellular protein was retained within the cells whereas beta hCG, an extensively glycosylated, secretory protein, was processed and secreted into the culture medium. LUC and beta hCG were both immunoreactive on Western blot. beta hCG was bioactive, as evident from its ability to associate with alpha hCG and bind with the receptor and produce testosterone in an in vitro mouse Leydig cell assay system. Comparison of recombinant LUC and beta hCG synthesized by the virus-infected insect cells surprisingly revealed that the level of the former was quantitatively higher by at least 10-fold than the latter. A blot of total RNA isolated from vAc beta hCG-luc-infected insect cells, when probed with probes corresponding to the 3' region of the beta hCG or luc genes, indicated differential transcription of the two genes. Computer-aided sequence analysis indicated extensive secondary structure and stem-loop complex-forming potential of the beta hCG gene, which could be responsible for the transcriptional difference observed.

DNA sequencing and comparative sequence analysis reveal that the Escherichia coli genomic DNA may replace the target DNA during molecular cloning: evidence for the erroneous assembly of E. coli DNA into database sequences.

DNA sequencing and similarity search of databases provide experimental evidence that portions of the host Escherichia coli genome may get ligated into the cloning vector, resulting in clones containing nontargeted inserts. Several lines of evidence suggest that this non-targeted ligation, as observed by us while subcloning troponin I cDNA, is presumably due to a recombination-mediated mechanism by which host DNA replaces the target DNA in the cloning vector. The E. coli genome mapping to 64-65 min and 92.8-00.1 min, the latter containing insertion sequences, appears to be the hotspot regions involved in this process. We examined the possibility that some sequences reported in the databases may also contain genomic sequences of E. coli. A search of current databases revealed that a rat hepatic glutathione transporter cDNA contains a 2.2-kb-long portion of the E. coli genome that has been wrongly assembled into its 5' untranslated and coding regions. In addition, about 30 sequences in databases, including a Yersinia pestis toxin gene, showed relatively high sequence identity with those portions of the E. coli genome that were present in the nonauthentic clones.

Patterns of leaf conductance and water potential of five Himalayan tree species.

We studied variations in water relations and drought response in five Himalayan tree species (Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. (chilaune) and Castanopsis indica (Roxb.) Miq. (dhale katus) at an elevation of 1400 m, Quercus lanata Smith (banjh) and Rhododendron arboreum Smith (lali gurans) at 2020 m, and Quercus semecarpifolia Smith (khasru) at 2130 m) at Phulchowki Hill, Kathmandu, Nepal. Soil water potential at 15 (Psi(s15)) and 30 cm (Psi(s30)) depths, tree water potential at predawn (Psi(pd)) and midday (Psi(md)), and leaf conductance during the morning (g(wAM)) and afternoon (g(wPM)) were observed from December 1998 to April 2001, except during the monsoon months. There was significant variation among sites, species and months in Psi(pd), Psi(md), g(wAM) and g(wPM), and among months for all species for Psi(s15). Mean Psi(pd) and Psi(md) were lowest in Q. semecarpifolia (-0.40 and -1.18 MPa, respectively) and highest in S. wallichii (-0.20 and -0.63 MPa, respectively). The minimum Psi value for all species (-0.70 to -1.79 MPa) was observed in March 1999, after 4 months of unusually low rainfall. Some patterns of Psi(pd) were related to phenology and leaf damage. During leafing, Psi(pd) often increased. Mean g(wAM) and g(wPM) were highest in Q. semecarpifolia (172 and 190 mmol m(-2) s(-1), respectively) and lowest in C. indica (78 and 74 mmol m(-2) s(-1), respectively). Soil water potential (Psi) at 15 cm depth correlated with plant Psi in all species, but rarely with g(wAM) and not with g(wPM). Plant Psi declined with increasing elevation, whereas g(w) increased. As Psi(pd) declined, so did maximal g(w), but overall, g(w) was correlated with Psi(pd) only for R. arboreum. Schima wallichii maintained high Psi, with low stomatal conductance, as did Castanopsis indica, except that C. indica had low Psi during dry months. Rhododendron arboreum maintained high Psi(pd) and g(w), despite low soil Psi. Quercus lanata had low g(w) and low Psi(pd) in some months, but showed no correlation between tree Psi and g(w). Quercus semecarpifolia, which grows at the highest elevation, had low soil and plant Psi and high g(w).

Neuritic leprosy: epidemiology and therapeutic responsiveness.

We studied epidemiology, progression and therapeutic responsiveness in 62 cases of neuritic leprosy. Numbness was the main presenting symptom. Mononeuritis involving the ulnar nerve, followed by the common peroneal nerve was the commonest presentation. The lepromin test was positive in 34 cases while a slit-skin smear was negative in all cases. We treated 20 of these cases with dapsone monotherapy and 5 cases (25%) developed a skin lesion after an average duration of 3 months' treatment. We treated 42 cases with a combination of dapsone and rifampicin, and 3 cases (7%) developed a skin lesion after an average duration of 2-6 months. The subsequent diagnosis in cases developing skin lesions was borderline--lepromatous in 1 case, borderline-tuberculoid in 4 cases, tuberculoid in 2 cases and indeterminate in 1 case.

Localized borderline lepromatous leprosy.

A 48-year-old soldier presented with 3 small leprosy lesions localized over the flexor area of the forearm. There was no nerve thickening and clinically the lesions looked like borderline-tuberculoid leprosy. However, these lesions demonstrated a bacteriological index (BI) of 4+ while no acid-fast bacilli (AFB) could be demonstrated from any other site of the body. A lepromin test was negative. Histologically evidence of borderline lepromatous leprosy was conspicuous. The case was diagnosed as localized borderline lepromatous-leprosy and treated with multidrug therapy. After 1 year of treatment, the lesions regressed, a lepromin test was positive (5 mm) and the BI from the lesions fell to 1+.

Characterization of a rabbit fast skeletal troponin I cDNA: a comparative sequence analysis of vertebrate isoforms and tissue-specific expression of a single copy gene.

A cDNA encoding skeletal fast troponin I (TnIf) has been isolated and characterized from an adult rabbit fast skeletal muscle cDNA library. This cDNA contains the entire coding region of 549 base pairs (bp), the 3' untranslated (UT) segment of 78 bp and the 5' UT segment of 74 bp. The 3' UT segment shows the predicted stem-loop structure characteristic of eukaryotic mRNAs. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence is not identical to the chemically-derived and the recently reported cDNA-derived amino acid sequences for rabbit TnIf, and thus enables to make the necessary corrections in the sequence information. The rabbit TnIf is encoded by a single copy gene which is expressed in adult fast skeletal muscle in a tissue-specific manner. Comparative sequence analysis of the vertebrate TnI isoforms and their cDNAs shows a high level of sequence conservation in the coding region among the TnIf interspecies isoforms. The sequence similarity is markedly decreased among the fast, slow and cardiac intra- and inter-species isoforms. The C-terminal halves of TnI isoforms including a segment believed to be involved in critical interactions with actin and troponin C (TnC) show high sequence conservation whereas the N-terminal halves show considerable difference in sequence and size. The significance of these results in relation to the biological function and evolution of members of the vertebrate TnI multigene family is discussed.

Indeterminate leprosy: a therapeutic evaluation.

Out of 50 cases of indeterminate leprosy, 46 were male and 4 were female. The only clinical finding was a single hypopigmented macule in 38 (76%) cases. Nine (18%) patients had two and three (6%) cases had three hypopigmented macules. All patients were treated with multidrug therapy for one year. At the end of six months, the lesions were still active in 12 (24%) cases. At the end of one year of treatment it was found that 33 (66%) patients became inactive and 3 (6%) cases were still to be active. The study shows that all indeterminate leprosy cases must be treated with multidrug therapy till all signs of activity are subsided.

A clinico-pathological study of multidrug regimen in paucibacillary leprosy.

Preliminary results of a clinical trial in one hundred untreated paucibacillary leprosy cases with multidrug therapy (MDT) as per WHO recommendation are presented. Out of 100 fresh cases studied 18 had indeterminate, 35 tuberculoid and 47 cases had borderline tuberculoid leprosy. All were given MDT consisting of rifampicin 600 mg once a month and dapsone 100 mg daily for six months. At the end of six months all the cases were evaluated clinically and histopathological examination of lesions were studied. The lesions were still active in 35% of patient clinically and 47% histologically. Complete histological resolution have come across only in 4 cases suffering from indeterminate leprosy. Altogether 65% cases receiving MDT have shown marked improvement to total inactivation. Histologically, lymphocytic infiltration still persisted in 90% of slides examined and nerve infiltration were still present in 64% of cases at the end of six months receiving MDT.