Life at the borderlands: microbiomes of interfaces critical to One Health.

Microbiomes are foundational components of the environment that provide essential services relating to food security, carbon sequestration, human health, and the overall well-being of ecosystems. Microbiota exert their effects primarily through complex interactions at interfaces with their plant, animal, and human hosts, as well as within the soil environment. This review aims to explore the ecological, evolutionary, and molecular processes governing the establishment and function of microbiome-host relationships, specifically at interfaces critical to One Health-a transdisciplinary framework that recognizes that the health outcomes of people, animals, plants, and the environment are tightly interconnected. Within the context of One Health, the core principles underpinning microbiome assembly will be discussed in detail, including biofilm formation, microbial recruitment strategies, mechanisms of microbial attachment, community succession, and the effect these processes have on host function and health. Finally, this review will catalogue recent advances in microbiology and microbial ecology methods that can be used to profile microbial interfaces, with particular attention to multi-omic, advanced imaging, and modelling approaches. These technologies are essential for delineating the general and specific principles governing microbiome assembly and functions, mapping microbial interconnectivity across varying spatial and temporal scales, and for the establishment of predictive frameworks that will guide the development of targeted microbiome-interventions to deliver One Health outcomes

Superficial Parotidectomy by Retrograde Facial Nerve Dissection

Introduction: Tumors of the salivary gland are relatively uncommon and represent less than two percentage of all head and neck neoplasms. Parotid gland tumor comprises 85% of the salivary gland tumors of which 80% are being benign. Superficial parotidectomy is the commonest procedure done for parotid tumors which can be performed by either anteretrograde or retrograde facial nerve dissection technique. Methods: Outcome of 60 patients after superficial parotidectomy with retrograde facial nerve dissection has been studied. Results: Total of 60 patients had been studied. Complications like facial nerve weakness, Freys syndrome, salivary fistula, and wound infection were taken into account. Among them, 13.33% patients developed temporary facial nerve weakness, followed by temporary salivary fistula, 1.6%. None of the patients developed any severe complication. Conclusion: Superficial parotidectomy by retrograde facial nerve dissection is an easy technique to carry out with low complication rate and without compromising surgical outcome. Journal of Gandaki Medical College Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, page: 25-2

Ethanolamine phosphoglycerol attachment to eEF1A is not essential for normal growth of Trypanosoma brucei

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is the only protein modified by ethanolamine phosphoglycerol (EPG). In mammals and plants, EPG is attached to conserved glutamate residues located in eEF1A domains II and III, whereas in the unicellular eukaryote, Trypanosoma brucei, a single EPG moiety is attached to domain III. A biosynthetic precursor of EPG and structural requirements for EPG attachment to T. brucei eEF1A have been reported, but the role of this unique protein modification in cellular growth and eEF1A function has remained elusive. Here we report, for the first time in a eukaryotic cell, a model system to study potential roles of EPG. By down-regulation of EF1A expression and subsequent complementation of eEF1A function using conditionally expressed exogenous eEF1A (mutant) proteins, we show that eEF1A lacking EPG complements trypanosomes deficient in endogenous eEF1A, demonstrating that EPG attachment is not essential for normal growth of T. brucei in culture

Long-term yield trend and sustainability of rainfed soybean–wheatsystem through farmyard manure application in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

A long-term (30 years) soybean–wheat experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India to study the effects of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on grain yield trends of rainfed soybean (Glycine max)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system and nutrient status (soil C, N, P and K) in a sandy loam soil (Typic Haplaquept). The unfertilized plot supported 0.56 Mg ha−1 of soybean yield and 0.71 Mg ha−1 of wheat yield (average yield of 30 years). Soybean responded to inorganic NPK application and the yield increased significantly to 0.87 Mg ha−1 with NPK. Maximum yields of soybean (2.84 Mg ha−1) and residual wheat (1.88 Mg ha−1) were obtained in the plots under NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) treatment, which were significantly higher than yields observed under other treatments. Soybean yields in the plots under the unfertilized and the inorganic fertilizer treatments decreased with time, whereas yields increased significantly in the plots under N + FYM and NPK + FYM treatments. At the end of 30 years, total soil organic C (SOC) and total N concentrations increased in all the treatments. Soils under NPK + FYM-treated plots contained higher SOC and total N by 89 and 58% in the 0–45 cm soil layer, respectively, over that of the initial status. Hence, the decline in yields might be due to decline in available P and K status of soil. Combined use of NPK and FYM increased SOC, oxidizable SOC, total N, total P, Olsen P, and ammonium acetate exchangeable K by 37.8, 42.0, 20.8, 30.2, 25.0, and 52.7%, respectively, at 0–45 cm soil layer compared to application of NPK through inorganic fertilizers. However,the soil profiles under all the treatments had a net loss of nonexchangeable K, ranging from 172 kg ha−1 under treatment NK to a maximum of 960 kg ha−1 under NPK + FYM after 30 years of cropping. Depletion of available P and K might have contributed to the soybean yield decline in treatments where manure was not applied. The study also showed that although the combined NPK and FYM application sustained long-term productivity of the soybean– wheat system, increased K input is required to maintain soil nonexchangeable K level

Nuchal Translucency in Normal Fetus and Its Variation With Increasing Crown Rump Length (Crl) and Gestational Age

Background Nuchal translucency (NT) is the fluid collection behind the fetal neck which can be measured by ultrasound at 11-14 weeks of gestation. Increase in the nuchal translucency thickness is associated with various congenital anomalies.Objective To study the relationship between nuchal translucency thickness, crown rump length and gestational age in normal fetus.Methods Prospective analytical study conducted on 211 pregnant women from March 2011 to August 2012. Measurement of Nuchal translucency thickness and crown rump length was performed by ultrasound at 11-14 weeks of gestation. The relationship between nuchal translucency thickness, crown rump length and gestational age was studied by using linear regression analysis.Results The mean CRL was 63.67+13.48mm (range 41.2-88mm) and mean NT thickness was 1.55+0.35mm (range 0.8-2.7mm), respectively. The median gestational age was 12.9 weeks. The regression equation which shows relation between median NT thickness and CRL was described as follows: expected NT thickness = 0.013CRL+0.725, (R2 = 0.258, p &lt;0.001). There was increase in the incidence of NT thickness more than or equal to 2.5mm; 1.7% in fetus between 12-12.9 weeks of gestation to 15.1% in fetus between 14.0-14.9 weeks.Conclusion Our study offers normative data of NT thickness in normal fetus, which can be used as reference to screen various chromosomal and congenital abnormalities between 11- 14 weeks of gestation. NT thickness increased with increasing CRL and a false positive rate increases with increasing gestational age.Kathmandu Univ Med J 2013; 11(4): 282-286</jats:p

Distribution of Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome – a Hospital Based Study

A total of 230 patients admitted in coronary care unit of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre in between November 2001 and October 2002 were studied. 157 (68.2%) were male, with mean age of 62.8±11.8 years. Majority of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events were observed in males with advanced age (> 65 years). About 68% patients with ACS were smoker, the most common modifiable risk factor followed by hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes. A strong trend towards development of coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in subjects with positive family history of CAD. Multiple risk factors (2 or more) were present in vast majority of patients. Modifiable risk factors, with smoking at number one position are more common in acute coronary syndrome patients. Appropriate management of modifiable risk factors is advisable to reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease. Key Words: Coronary Artery Disease, Risk Factors

Pattern of Valvular Involvement in Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Patients attending Referral Cardiac Center in Nepal

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is very common in developing countries. It is one of the commonest cardiac problems in Nepal. It is more common in rural areas than in the cities. We performed a retrospective study of RHD patients attending and undergoing echocardiography in Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC) from January 2002 to December 2002. There were a total of 1843 RHD patients among which 787 (42.8%) were males and 1056 (57.2%) were females.</jats:p