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Background: ''Classic'' stiff person syndrome (SPS) features stiffness, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies, and other findings. Anti-GAD antibodies are also detected in some neurological syndromes (such as ataxia) in which stiffness is inconsistently present. Patients with otherwise ''classic'' SPS may either lack anti-GAD antibodies or be seropositive for others. Hence, SPS cases appear to fall within a clinical spectrum that includes conditions such as progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), which exhibits brainstem and autonomic features. We have compiled herein SPS-spectrum cases reported since 2010, and have segregated them on the basis of likely disease mechanism (autoimmune, paraneoplastic, or cryptogenic) for analysis. Methods: The phrases ''stiff person syndrome'', ''PERM'', ''anti-GAD antibody syndrome'', and ''glycine receptor antibody neurological disorders'' were searched for in PubMed in January 2015. The results were narrowed to 72 citations after excluding non-English and duplicate reports. Clinical descriptions, laboratory data, management, and outcomes were categorized, tabulated, and analyzed. Results: Sixty-nine autoimmune, 19 paraneoplastic, and 13 cryptogenic SPS-spectrum cases were identified. SPS was the predominant diagnosis among the groups. Roughly two-thirds of autoimmune and paraneoplastic cases were female. Anti-GAD antibodies were most frequently identified, followed by antiamphiphysin among paraneoplastic cases and by anti-glycine receptor antibodies among autoimmune cases. Benzodiazepines were the most commonly used medications. Prognosis seemed best for cryptogenic cases; malignancy worsened that of paraneoplastic cases. Discussion: Grouping SPS-spectrum cases by pathophysiology provided insights into work-up, treatment, and prognosis. Ample phenotypic and serologic variations are present within the categories. Ruling out malignancy and autoimmunity is appropriate for suspected SPS-spectrum cases.

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Thermal stress during reproductive development and grain-filling phases is a serious threat to the quality and productivity of grain legumes. The optimum temperature range for grain legume crops is 10−36°C, above which severe losses in grain yield can occur. Various climatic models have simulated that the temperature near the earth’s surface will increase (by up to 4°C) by the end of this century, which will intensify the chances of heat stress in crop plants. The magnitude of damage or injury posed by a high-temperature stress mainly depends on the defence response of the crop and the specific growth stage of the crop at the time of exposure to the high temperature. Heat stress affects grain development in grain legumes because it disintegrates the tapetum layer, which reduces nutrient supply to microspores leading to premature anther dehiscence; hampers the synthesis and distribution of carbohydrates to grain, curtailing the grain-filling duration leading to low grain weight; induces poor pod development and fractured embryos; all of which ultimately reduce grain yield. The most prominent effects of heat stress include a substantial reduction in net photosynthetic rate, disintegration of photosynthetic apparatus and increased leaf senescence. To curb the catastrophic effect of heat stress, it is important to improve heat tolerance in grain legumes through improved breeding and genetic engineering tools and crop management strategies. In this review, we discuss the impact of heat stress on leaf senescence, photosynthetic machinery, assimilate translocation, water relations, grain quality and development processes. Furthermore, innovative breeding, genetic, molecular and management strategies are discussed to improve the tolerance against heat stress in grain legumes.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important grain legume that is grown and consumed all over the world. Chickpea is mostly grown in rainfed areas and marginal soils with low available zinc (Zn); however, its productivity is affected by micronutrient deficiencies in soil, particularly Zn deficiency. Zinc is a structural constituent and regulatory cofactor of enzymes involved in various plant biochemical pathways. As such, Zn deficiency impairs plant growth and development by reducing enzyme activity, disturbing ribosomal stabilisation, and decreasing the rate of protein synthesis. Moreover, Zn deficiency induces flower abortion and ovule infertility, leading to low seedset and substantial yield reductions. Nonetheless, inclusion of chickpea in cropping systems (e.g. rice–wheat), either in rotation or intercropped with cereals, improves Zn availability in the soil through the release of phosphatases, carboxylates, and protons by roots and soil microbes. This review discusses the role of Zn in chickpea biology, various factors affecting Zn availability, and Zn dynamics in soil and chickpea-based cropping systems. The review also covers innovative breeding strategies for developing Zn-efficient varieties, biofortification, and agronomic approaches for managing Zn deficiency in chickpea. Strategies to improve grain yield and grain Zn concentration in chickpea through use of different Zn-application methods—soil, foliar and seed treatments—that are simple, efficient and cost-effective for farmers are also discussed. Screening of efficient genotypes for root Zn uptake and translocation to the grain should be included in breeding programs to develop Zn-efficient chickpea genotypes.

The current study reports the outbreaks of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in the small ruminant population of Pakistan. The objectives were to understand the clinical picture of disease under field conditions, estimate the basic epidemiological parameters for the local population of small ruminants and to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of PPR during 2005 to 2007 in Pakistan. A total of 62 outbreaks were investigated among sheep and goat flocks in the five provinces of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The PPR virus activity in these outbreaks was demonstrated by clinical picture and presence of PPR virus specific antibodies by employing cELISA. The combined estimates of mean cumulative morbidity and mortality for sheep and goats were estimated 65.37% and 26.51% respectively with a case fatality of 40.40%. The species specific mean cumulative morbidity, mortality and case fatality for goats were 68.80%, 29.45% and 42.75% respectively, while these estimates for sheep were 48.77%, 14.98% and of 26.16% respectively. These estimates for goats were significantly higher (P < 0.001 to P = 0.001) than those for sheep. It was concluded that PPR is wide spread throughout the country and epidemiological picture suggest that disease has established as an endemic infection in the country.

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