Integrated management of bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ginger bacterial wilt (GBW) is a destructive disease of ginger in Ethiopia. Field studies were conducted to determine effect of integrated management of GBW, through host resistance and cultural practices, on wilt epidemics at Teppi and Jimma, southwestern Ethiopia in 2017. Treatments were factorial arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance indicated that effect of variety, cultural practices and variety x cultural practice interactions significantly reduced GBW epidemic parameters and enhanced yield at both locations. Boziab recorded lower wilt incidence, area under disease progress curve and wilt progress rates than Local variety. Integration of lemon grass with soil solarisation and fertiliser reduced wilt incidence in Local variety up to 38.3% (Teppi) and 42.05% (Jimma) compared to the control on final wilt assessment date. In Boziab variety, integrated use of lemon grass with soil solarisation and fertiliser reduced wilt incidence up to 42.5% at Teppi and 33.85% at Jimma compared to the control on final date of wilt assessment. The overall results revealed that integrating cultural practices with host resistance are found effective to slow down GBW epidemics and improve ginger productivity; and thus, recommended for the study areas along with other crop management practices.     

High IKZF1/3 protein expression is a favorable prognostic factor for survival of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients treated with lenalidomide

The aim of this study is to assess nucleoprotein expression of IKZF1/3 in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) who received lenalidomide-based therapy and correlated them with their clinical outcomes. A total of 50 patients diagnosed with MM were entered in the study with the median follow-up of 86.4 months. By immunohistochemistry (IHC), IKZF1 and IKZF3 were expressed in 72 and 58% of the cases, respectively. IKZF1 and IKZF3 expressions were associated with longer median progression free survival (P?=?0.0029 and P?<?0.0001) and overall survival (P?=?0.0014 and P?<?0.0001). IKZF3 expression also appears predicted a favorable response to the lenalidomide-based therapy.     

Health seeking behavior and use of medicinal plants among the Hamer ethnic group,South Omo zone,southwestern Ethiopia

Background

Health seeking behavior of people around the globe is affected by different socio-cultural and economic factors. In Ethiopia, people living in rural areas in particular, are noted for their use of medicinal plants as a major component of their health care option. This study was conducted to document ethnopharmacological information of the Hamer semi-pastoralists ethnic group in southwestern Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out whereby information on demographic characteristics, prevalence of perceived illnesses, factors associated with preference of health care seeking options, medicinal plants used and hoarded as well as some healers’ socio-economic characteristics were collected using two sets of semi-structured questionnaires – one for household (HH) heads and the other for traditional healers supplemented by focus group discussions (FGDs). Households were selected using a cluster sampling followed by systematic sampling techniques; whereas healers and FGD participants were purposively selected with the assistance of local leaders and elders from the community.

Results

The study revealed that the use of traditional medicine among the Hamer ethnic group is very high. Females preferred traditional medicine more than males. The main reasons for this preference include effectiveness, low cost and ease of availability. Malaria (gebeze) was the most frequently occurring illness in the area identified by all FGD participants. A total of 60 different medicinal plants were reported [34 by HH respondents, 14 by traditional healers and 12 by both]. Fifty-one medicinal plants were fully identified, 3 at generic level and 6 have not yet been identified.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that traditional medical practices, particularly herbal aspect, is widely used by the Hamer ethnic group, although health seeking behavior of the community is affected by different socio-economic and cultural factors.

     

Fluorine‐Free Noble Salt Anion for High‐Performance All‐Solid‐State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Amongst post‐Li‐ion battery technologies, lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have captured an immense interest as one of the most appealing devices from both the industrial and academia sectors. The replacement of conventional liquid electrolytes with solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) enables not only a safer use of Li metal (Li°) anodes but also a flexible design in the shape of Li–S batteries. However, the practical implementation of SPEs‐based all‐solid‐state Li–S batteries (ASSLSBs) is largely hindered by the shuttling effect of the polysulfide intermediates and the formation of dendritic Li° during the battery operation. Herein, a fluorine‐free noble salt anion, tricyanomethanide [C(CN)₃^?, TCM^?], is proposed as a Li‐ion conducting salt for ASSLSBs. Compared to the widely used perfluorinated anions {e.g., bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion, [N(SO₂CF₃)₂)]^?, TFSI^?}, the LiTCM‐based electrolytes show decent ionic conductivity, good thermal stability, and sufficient anodic stability suiting the cell chemistry of ASSLSBs. In particular, the fluorine‐free solid electrolyte interphase layer originating from the decomposition of LiTCM exhibits a good mechanical integrity and Li‐ion conductivity, which allows the LiTCM‐based Li–S cells to be cycled with good rate capability and Coulombic efficiency. The LiTCM‐based electrolytes are believed to be the most promising candidates for building cost‐effective and high energy density ASSLSBs in the near future.     

Mucosal transmission and induction of simian AIDS by CCR5-specific simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV(SF162P3)

Nonhuman primate models are increasingly used in the screening of candidate AIDS vaccine and immunization strategies for advancement to large-scale human trials. The predictive value of such macaque studies is largely dependent upon the fidelity of the model system in mimicking human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection in terms of viral transmission, replication, and pathogenesis. Herein, we describe the efficient mucosal transmission of a CCR5-specific chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus, SHIV(SF162P3). Female rhesus macaques were infected with SHIV(SF162P3) after a single atraumatic application to the cervicovaginal mucosa. The disease course of SHIV(SF162P3)-infected monkeys is similar and as varied as natural HIV infection in terms of viral replication, gradual loss of CD4(+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and the development of simian AIDS-defining opportunistic infections. The SHIV(SF162P3)/macaque model should facilitate direct preclinical assessment of HIV vaccine strategies in addition to antiviral compounds directed towards envelope target cell interactions. Furthermore, this controlled model provides the setting to investigate immunologic responses and putative host-specific susceptibility factors that alter viral transmission and subsequent disease progression.     

Infection of macaques with a molecular clone,SHIVSF33A2, provides evidence for tissue specific variants

Infection of rhesus macaques with chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) is an established model to study acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pathogenesis. Such a controlled system allows for detailed analysis of the molecular determinants of viral pathogenesis in addition to studying host-specific immune responses that modulate disease progression. Furthermore, the use of a pathogenic molecular clone affords the opportunity to study both viral evolution within a host and to examine the generation of tissue specific variants. In this report we describe viral diversification within tissues of two rhesus macaques infected intravenously with the CXCR4-specific molecular clone SHIVSF33A2. Heteroduplex tracking analysis (HTA) was used to determine the complexity of viral DNA within distinct lymphoid tissues. Not surprising, heterogeneity of the proviral quasispecies in tissues obtained during the acute infection was limited. However, tissues obtained at necropsy harbored a more diverse and often different population of env variants. As the inoculating virus is a molecular clone, the variants generated are likely due to the presence of tissue specific selective forces rather than a founder's effect.     

Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis in the differentiation of related species of mycobacteria

This study explores the potential of the amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) for intra- and interspecies identification of the genus Mycobacteria. A set of primers was used to amplify part of the 16S and 23S rDNA as well as the 16S-23S rDNA spacer from 121 isolates belonging to 13 different mycobacterial species. Restriction analysis was carried out with five different restriction enzymes, namely CfoI, HaeIII, RsaI, MspI and TaqI. Restriction digestion of the PCR product using CfoI enabled differentiation between 9 of the 13 mycobacterial species, whereas the remaining four enzymes differentiated between 7 of these 13 species. None of the five enzymes distinguished between different isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or between species within the M. tuberculosis complex i.e., M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. bovis BCG and M. africanum. Although ARDRA analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA does not seem to have a potential for intraspecies differentiation, it has proven to be a rapid and technically relatively simple method to recognise strains belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex as well as to identify mycobacterial species outside this complex.     

Prevalence and Predictors of Asymptomatic Malaria Parasitemia among Pregnant Women in the Rural Surroundings of Arbaminch Town,South Ethiopia

Background

In Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, malaria in pregnancy is a major public health threat which results in significant morbidities and mortalities among pregnant women and their fetuses. In malaria endemic areas, Plasmodium infections tend to remain asymptomatic yet causing significant problems like maternal anemia, low birth weight, premature births, and still birth. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic Plasmodium infection among pregnant women in the rural surroundings of Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community based cross-sectional study comprising multistage sampling was conducted between April and June, 2013. Socio-demographic data were collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Plasmodium infection was diagnosed by using Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy and a rapid diagnostic test (SD BIOLINE Malaria Ag Pf/Pv POCT, standard diagnostics, inc., Korea).

Results

Of the total 341 pregnant women participated in this study, 9.1% (31/341) and 9.7% (33/341) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium species by microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), respectively. The geometric mean of parasite density was 2392 parasites per microliter (μl); 2275/ μl for P. falciparum and 2032/ μl for P. vivax. Parasitemia was more likely to occur in primigravidae (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 9.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3–60.5), secundigravidae (AOR: 6.3, 95% CI: 2.9–27.3), using insecticide treated bed net (ITN) sometimes (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8- 57.9), not using ITN at all (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.4–14.4) compared to multigravidae and using ITN always, respectively.

Conclusion

Asymptomatic malaria in this study is low compared to other studies’ findings. Nevertheless, given the high risk of malaria during pregnancy, pregnant women essentially be screened for asymptomatic Plasmodium infection and be treated promptly via the antenatal care (ANC) services.     

Final height in children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency treated with a fixed dose of recombinant growth hormone

There is no consensus regarding the optimal dosing of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) for children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Our objective was to evaluate the final adult height (FAH) in children with idiopathic GHD treated with a fixed rhGH dose of 0.18 mg/kg/week. We reviewed all charts of patients with idiopathic GHD treated with rhGH since 1985 who reached FAH. Ninety-six patients were treated for an average of 5.4 years. The mean age was 11.9 years, the mean height -2.87 standard deviation score (SDS) and the mean FAH was -1.04 SDS. Females had a lower predicted adult height than males at the initiation of therapy (-2.0 vs. -1.01 SDS; p = 0.0087) but a higher FAH - predicted adult height (1.08 vs. 0.04 SDS; p = 0.0026). In multiple regression analysis, the FAH SDS was positively related to the midparental height SDS, the height SDS at GH initiation and growth velocity during the first year of therapy, and negatively correlated with peak GH and bone age at initiation (r(2) = 0.51; p < 0.005). Treatment of children with idiopathic GHD with a fixed dose of 0.18 mg/kg/week rhGH is sufficient to reach FAH within 2 SDS of the normal population range (84%) with an average FAH within -0.5 SDS of midparental height.