Identification of a disease complex involving a novel monopartite begomovirus with beta- and alphasatellites associated with okra leaf curl disease in Oman

Okra leaf curl disease (OLCD) is an important viral disease of okra in tropical and subtropical areas. The disease is caused by begomovirus-satellite complexes. A begomovirus and associated betasatellite and alphasatellite were identified in symptomatic okra plants from Barka, in the Al-Batinah region of Oman. Analysis of the begomovirus sequences showed them to represent a new begomovirus most closely related to cotton leaf curl Gezira virus (CLCuGeV), a begomovirus of African origin. The sequences showed less than 85 % nucleotide sequence identity to CLCuGeV isolates. The name okra leaf curl Oman virus (OLCOMV) is proposed for the new virus. Further analysis revealed that the OLCOMV is a recombinant begomovirus that evolved by the recombination of CLCuGeV isolates with tomato yellow leaf curl virus-Oman (TYLCV-OM). An alpha- and a betasatellite were also identified from the same plant sample, which were also unique when compared to sequences available in the databases. However, although the betasatellite appeared to be of African origin, the alphasatellite was most closely related to alphasatellites originating from South Asia. This is the first report of a begomovirus-satellite complex infecting okra in Oman.     

Methylcellulose-Directed Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Zeolite NaA with High CO2 Uptake

Zeolite NaA nanocrystals with a narrow particle size distribution were prepared by template-free hydrothermal synthesis in thermo-reversible methylcellulose gels. The effects of the amount of methylcellulose, crystallization time and hydrothermal treatment temperature on the crystallinity and particle size distribution of the zeolite NaA nanocrystals were investigated. We found that the thermogelation of methylcellulose in the alkaline Na₂O-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-H₂O system played an important role in controlling the particle size. The synthesized zeolite nanocrystals are highly crystalline, as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the nanocrystals can also display a well-defined facetted morphology. Gas adsorption studies on the synthesized nanocrystalline zeolite NaA showed that nanocrystals with a size of 100 nm displayed a high CO₂ uptake capacity (4.9 mmol/g at 293 K at 100 kPa) and a relatively rapid uptake rate compared to commercially available, micron-sized particles. Low-cost nanosized zeolite adsorbents with a high and rapid uptake are important for large scale gas separation processes, e.g., carbon capture from flue gas.     

A case of metastatic non‐neural granular cell tumor in a 13‐year‐old girl

Conventional granular cell tumor represents a mesenchymal neoplasm observed in a variety of locations and is now believed to be of Schwann cell origin. Granular cell change has also been observed in a variety of different tumors, but recently described in the skin has been a distinct entity termed non‐neural granular cell tumor, which lacks expression of S100 protein and is of uncertain histogenesis. This tumor typically displays a greater degree of nuclear atypia and mitotic activity than conventional granular cell tumor but appears to behave in a relatively benign fashion, as only two previous instances of lymph node metastasis have been documented. Herein, we report a case of non‐neural granular cell tumor arising on the back of a 13‐year‐old girl, and later axillary lymph node metastasis with extracapsular extension was observed.     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and riboflavin in radiated germinating chickpea

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and riboflavin in radiated germinating chickpea seeds was studied at ambient room temperature (20-35 degrees C). Synthesis of these vitamins increased significantly with increasing germination time up to 120 hrs depending upon the treatment (P less than 0.05). Maximum amounts of ascorbic acid, 22.32 and 16.84 mg/100 g (wet weight) were found in the 0.10 kGy samples after 120 hrs of germination in tap and distilled waters respectively. Radiation dose of 0.20 kGy resulted in the development of maximum riboflavin, 11.4 and 11.0 micrograms/g (dry weight) on germination in tap and distilled waters respectively. An overall significant linear relation (r = 0.954 to 0.957) was found between vitamin biosynthesis and germination time up to 120 hrs in both the radiated and unradiated chickpea.     

Phorbol esters inhibit ionomycin-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholine in bovine corneal epithelial cells.

The effects of phorbol esters on phospholipase C (PLC) activity towards phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in bovine corneal epithelial cells were examined. The cells were labeled with 32Pi, myo[3H]inositol or methyl[14C]choline, and PLC stimulated by incubation of the cells with Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. The PLC activity was assessed by monitoring the loss of radioactivity from the labeled phospholipids or the accumulation of their radioactive metabolites. The data from this study can be summarized as follows: Addition of 20 microM ionomycin to the prelabeled cells resulted in a rapid hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and somewhat slower hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) with concomitant several-fold increase in phosphatidic acid (PA). The effects of the ionophore were time- and dose-dependent. Incubation of the cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused increased radioactivity in PC and PA, whereas the radioactivity in PI and PIP2 remained unchanged. The effects of PDBu were inhibited by staurosporine and H-7, and inactive derivatives of phorbol esters failed to exert any effect on phospholipid metabolism. Pretreatment of the corneal epithelial cells with PDBu or PMA abolished the ionomycin-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and PC. The data suggest that activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters in corneal epithelial cells results in inhibition of PLC activity towards phosphoinositides and PC through a mechanism probably involving phosphorylation of the enzyme.     

A DOUBLE-BUND,RANDOMISED COMPARISON OF FLUVOXAMINE WITH DOTHIEPIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

SUMMARY The efficacy and tolerability of the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine were compared with the tricyclic dothiepin in 52 elderly (age > 64 years) hospital patients in a multi-centre double-blind randomised trial. Patients met DSM-III criteria for ‘major depressive episode’ and scored > 29 on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) after a one-week placebo baseline. Active treatment was for six weeks. The dosage of both drugs was 50 mg nocte for three days, 100 mg nocte for the remainder of the first week, thereafter increasing to a maximum of 200 mg/day according to response/tolerance. MADRS scores improved by 63.5% with fluvoxamine and 60.0% with dothiepin; there were no significant differences between treatments at any assessment. Nausea, dizziness, headache, somnolence and constipation in both groups, plus dry mouth and asthenia in the dothiepin group were more frequent than single reports. Two patients in each group discontinued treatment owing to unwanted effects. There were no clinically significant changes in haematological, biochemical or cardiovascular parameters.     

Patient-controlled analgesia in children

We report our experience in introducing patient-controlled analgesia at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow. Twenty-five children used the technique after orthopaedic or general surgery using the Graseby system. The pump was loaded with 1 mg/kg morphine sulphate in 50 ml. A bolus dose of 0.02 mg/kg (1 ml) and a lockout interval of 10 minutes were the initial settings. The dose used, pain and sedation scores, respiratory rate and arterial oxygen saturation were recorded. Ages ranged from 5-15 years (mean 9.6) and the method was used for a mean of 48 hours after operation. Morphine requirements averaged 26 (micrograms/kg)/hour (SD 10.6). Pain control was good and sedation minimal. Adverse effects were few and minor. Education of patients, parents and nurses is essential for its success and safety. The technique is an effective and safe means of providing good quality analgesia in school age children.