Micropropagules can Profitably Save the Choicest Silk Banana from Extinction

Panama wilt, a deadly disease of banana in general and Silk group in particular, is creating havoc worldwide. Infected planting material being a major mode of disease spread, production of disease free quality planting material is a must for area expansion. Micropropagation offers a viable solution for overcoming this problem. Though protocols for micropropagation have been standardized for various varieties of banana, their in field trials along with the conventional propagules have seldom been made. This study deals with agronomic, phenological and post harvest attributes of in vitro propagated plantlets of Silk banana var. Nanjanagud Rasabale in comparison to their traditional counterparts. Tissue cultured plantlets were superior to sucker derived plants in terms of vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters. Further micropropagules were precocious by eight weeks and exhibited synchronized flowering.     

Effect of Pluchea lanceolata bioactives in LPS-induced neuroinflammation in C6 rat glial cells

Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in various chronic and acute pathological conditions of the central nervous system. In the Indian system of medicine, Pluchea lanceolata is used to treat the neurological disorders. We investigated the effect of major pentacyclic triterpene and its naturally occurring acetate derivative isolated from P. lanceolata on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neuroinflammatory condition associated to inflammatory cytokine production in rat astrocytoma cell line (C6). The log concentration dependence of Pluchea bioactive taraxasterol (Tx) significantly (p?<?0.05) attenuates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6, while its in situ produced acetyl derivative, i.e., taraxasterol acetate (TxAc), did not inhibit the LPS-induced IL-6 production at lower concentration (p?>?0.05). Surflex-Dock molecular modeling study was performed to simulate the binding capacity of compounds into the active site of the TNF-α (2AZ5), tumor protein P53 (2VUK), and NF-kappa-B (1RAM). The differential inhibition of cytokines by Tx and TxAc was further confirmed by high docking scores showing the high affinity to target proteins. Findings of the study demonstrated the comparatively greater role of Pluchea triterpene than its in situ produced acetate derivate in neuroinflammation-associated disorders.     

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in systemic transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR)

Objective: To identify the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in patients with transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis.

Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with biopsy-proven ATTRwt (wild-type transthyretin amyloid protein) and genopositive ATTR V122I (valine-to-isoleucine substitution at position 122 of the TTR gene) amyloidosis evaluated at the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University and Boston Medical Center between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2016.

Results: There were a total of 226 patients with ATTRwt and ATTR V122I amyloidosis evaluated during the specified time frame with 155 and 71 patients in each cohort, respectively. Those with complete medical records, 140 patients with ATTRwt and 57 V1221 ATTRm subjects, were included in the analyses. Fifty-five patients (39%) in the ATTRwt cohort and 28 patients (49%) in the ATTR V122I cohort had an MGUS, as indicated by an abnormality in the serum-free light-chain ratio and/or serum immunofixation electrophoresis.

Conclusion: These data confirm the high prevalence of coexistent MGUS with ATTR amyloidosis in this patient population, with an MGUS rate that is higher than the general population. These findings also highlight the importance of a thorough diagnostic evaluation in patients with amyloidosis to determine the precursor protein, as the clinical course and treatment of AL (light-chain amyloid protein) and ATTR amyloidosis are distinct.     

Clinico-immunological profile in a case of hepatic tubercular abscess: A rare manifestation of extrapulmonary TB in an immunocompetent child

Tubercular liver abscess is a rare entity even in an endemic area for TB. We report here a rare case of pediatric tuberculous liver abscess, the etiology of which was established using recently introduced Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT). A 7 years old male child presented with vomiting, pain abdomen and fever. Hepatomegaly was found on examination. Ultrasound of abdomen revealed two liver abscesses in the right lobe. Patient remained symptomatic even after empirical antimicrobial therapy. On diagnostic tap Gram stained smear of the pus showed polymorphs with negative culture. CBNAAT was positive for Mycobacterial tuberculosis and sensitive to rifampicin. Subjecting difficult extrapulmonary specimens to relevant microbiological investigations along with CBNAAT and other newer methods may improve diagnosis of tuberculosis in such rare cases thus leading to an early management and decrease in morbidity.     

Rehabilitation and education are underutilized for mild stroke and TIA sufferers

Purpose: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and mild stroke represent a large proportion of cerebrovascular events, at high risk of being followed by recurrent, serious events. The importance of early education addressing risk management, secondary prevention and lifestyle modifications is the centerpiece of further stroke prevention. However, delivering education and rehabilitation to this population can be complex and challenging.

Methods: Via synthesis of a narrative review and clinical experience, we explore the unique and inherent complexities of rehabilitation management and education provision for patients following mild stroke and TIA.

Results: A considerable proportion of TIA/mild stroke survivors have ongoing rehabilitation needs that are poorly addressed. The need for rehabilitation in these patients is often overlooked, and available assessment tools lack the sensitivity to identify common subtle impairments in cognition, mood, language and fatigue. Active and accessible education interventions need to be initiated early after the event, and integrated with ongoing rehabilitation management. Priority areas in need of future development in this field are highlighted and discussed.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Survivors of mild stroke and TIA have ongoing unmet rehabilitation needs and require a unique approach to rehabilitation and education.

• Rehabilitation needs are difficult to assess and poorly addressed in this cohort, where available assessment tools lack the sensitivity required to identify subtle impairments.

• Education needs to be initiated early after the event and involve active engagement of the patient in order to improve stroke knowledge, mood and motivate adherence to lifestyle modifications and secondary prevention.

• Rehabilitation physicians are currently an underutilized resource, who should be more involved in the management of all patients following TIA or mild stroke.