Growth and uptake of sodium and potassium in broad bean (Vicia faba L.) under salinity stress

Vicia faba L. (broad bean or faba bean), a food crop of worldwide importance, is moderately tolerant of saline conditions, such as are increasingly common in Mediterranean countries and in Turkey. Our objective was to determine the influence of two salinity levels [50 and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)] and two potassium salts, potassium nitrate (KNO3) (N1 and N2) or potassium acetate (CH3COOK) (A1 and A2), on the development of seedlings of two cultivars of broad bean (cvs. Eresen 87 and Filiz 99) grown in pots of perlite under controlled greenhouse conditions. Flame photometer (FP) analysis of tissues from roots, stems, and leaves of 3-month-old seedlings showed significant differences in growth, internodal length, and potassium (K+)/sodium (Na+) ratios. The FP analyses revealed that Na+ was the ion most responsible for inhibition of growth parameters seen in both cultivars and salt treatments. K+ contents were consistently higher in cv. Filiz 99 than in cv. Eresen 87. Possible correlations between these data and the tolerance to salinity of these cultivars are discussed

Effects of humic acid on root development and nutrient uptake of Vicia faba L. (Broad Bean) seedlings grown under aluminum toxicity

Interactions of humic acid with development and uptake by seedlings of Vicia faba L., (cv. Eresen 87) grown in conditions of aluminium toxicity have been investigated in pot experiments in a controlled greenhouse environment. The objective of the study was to investigate whether humic acid moderates aluminum toxicity. The seedlings were treated with solutions of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) prepared in Hoagland control nutrient solution (HO) and 50 and100 μM and humic acid + Hoagland (HA) solutions, respectively. The 50 and100 μM HA solutions increased root fresh (RFW) and dry (RDW) weights, where the RFW differed significantly from controls (HO) after statistical evaluation by NCSS (NCSS, Kaysville, Utah) with two-sample T-test range at the 5% level. The results of the current experiment suggested that humic acid had suppressed or counteracted the toxic effect of aluminum (Al3+) on both main and lateral root growth. Humic acid seems to block the effect of Al3+ on nutrient uptake, as tested by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and flame photometery (FP). Al3+ content in the roots was significantly decreased by 219% in 50-μM HA and by 49% in 100-μM HA treatments respectively. Potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), and iron (Fe3+) were recorded as the other elements taken up in the greatest amounts among the tested nutrients, in addition to Al3+. Humic acid increased the contents of Na+, K+, manganese (Mn2+), and zinc (Zn2+) significantly in both concentrations of HA treatment compared to controls. The Fe3+ content in the roots decreased, in both treatments of HA, application by 252% and 32% respectively. The reduction in the former was significant

Medication errors in chemotherapy preparation and administration: A survey conducted among oncology nurses in Turkey

Background: Medication errors in oncology may cause severe clinical problems due to low therapeutic indices and high toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. We aimed to investigate unintentional medication errors and underlying factors during chemotherapy preparation and administration based on a systematic survey conducted to reflect oncology nurses experience. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 18 adult chemotherapy units with volunteer participation of 206 nurses. A survey developed by primary investigators and medication errors (MAEs) defined preventable errors during prescription of medication, ordering, preparation or administration. The survey consisted of 4 parts: demographic features of nurses; workload of chemotherapy units; errors and their estimated monthly number during chemotherapy preparation and administration; and evaluation of the possible factors responsible from ME. The survey was conducted by face to face interview and data analyses were performed with descriptive statistics. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used for a comparative analysis of categorical data. Results: Some 83.4% of the 210 nurses reported one or more than one error during chemotherapy preparation and administration. Prescribing or ordering wrong doses by physicians (65.7%) and noncompliance with administration sequences during chemotherapy administration (50.5%) were the most common errors. The most common estimated average monthly error was not following the administration sequence of the chemotherapeutic agents (4.1 times/month, range 1-20). The most important underlying reasons for medication errors were heavy workload (49.7%) and insufficient number of staff (36.5%). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the probability of medication error is very high during chemotherapy preparation and administration, the most common involving prescribing and ordering errors. Further studies must address the strategies to minimize medication error in chemotherapy receiving patients, determine sufficient protective measures and establishing multistep control mechanisms

The effect of lateral pectoral nerve sparing technique and radiotherapy on the pectoralis major muscle applied with modified radical mastectomy

Summary: Background/Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate with electromyography (EMG) the effect of lateral pectoral nerve sparing technique (LPNST) and radiotherapy (RT) on the lateral pectoral nerve (LPN) in patients applied with modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Methods: The study included 66 patients who underwent MRM surgery. The patients were separated into 2 groups as those applied with LPNST and those who underwent standard surgery (Control group). Within these 2 groups, patients were again separated as those who received or did not receive RT. The EMG evaluations were made by a neurology specialist blinded to the patient groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.3 ± 10.6 years. Standard surgery was applied to 33 (50%) patients and LPNST to 33 (50%) patients, RT was applied to 32 (48.5%) patients and not to 34 (51.5%) patients. In the EMG evaluation, latency was 2.1 ms (1.4–3.2) in the LPNST and 3.7 ms (1.9–12.4) in the control (p 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that electromyographically the latency and amplitude values were better protected in the LPNST group. It was also seen that RT increased the formation of nerve damage in both groups. Keywords: Modified radical mastectomy, Radiotherapy, Electromyography, Lateral pectoral nerve, Pectoralis major muscl