Effects of seeding rates on competition indices of barley and vetch intercropping systems in the Eastern Mediterranean

Forage mixtures are common agricultural practices for the energy and protein needs of animals. In this study, common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.), and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) mixtures in diferent seeding rates were investigated in terms of forage yield and quality. In order to evaluate the efect of vetch, cereal intercropping and the competition/ economic indices of 8 diferent legume–barley mixtures, along with their pure stands, were assessed during the 2008–2009 and 2009– 2010 growth seasons in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Te feld experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block design with 3 replications for each year. Intercropping indices were calculated by means of land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressivity (A), crowding ratio (CR), and actual yield loss (AYL). Competition indices revealed that both the common vetch–barley and the Hungarian vetch–barley intercroppings at a seeding ratio of 80%:20%, respectively, were advantageous due to their high yield, land use efciency, and economic value compared to other mixtures or pure stands. All samples were analyzed for quality parameters such as dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fber (NDF), and acid detergent fber (ADF) content. While digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not difer among treatments, CP, NDF, ADF, TDN (total digestible nutrients), DDM, RFV (relative feed value), and NE1 (net energy for lactation) content signifcantly difered among the diferent vetches–barley mixtures (P < 0.01). Te results emphasize that both vetch species combined with barley and using the seeding ratio of 80% vetch:20% barley should be proftable for farmers in terms of implementation and maximum yield per unit area under Eastern Mediterranean conditions.Forage mixtures are common agricultural practices for the energy and protein needs of animals. In this study, common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.), and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) mixtures in diferent seeding rates were investigated in terms of forage yield and quality. In order to evaluate the efect of vetch, cereal intercropping and the competition/ economic indices of 8 diferent legume–barley mixtures, along with their pure stands, were assessed during the 2008–2009 and 2009– 2010 growth seasons in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Te feld experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block design with 3 replications for each year. Intercropping indices were calculated by means of land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressivity (A), crowding ratio (CR), and actual yield loss (AYL). Competition indices revealed that both the common vetch–barley and the Hungarian vetch–barley intercroppings at a seeding ratio of 80%:20%, respectively, were advantageous due to their high yield, land use efciency, and economic value compared to other mixtures or pure stands. All samples were analyzed for quality parameters such as dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fber (NDF), and acid detergent fber (ADF) content. While digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not difer among treatments, CP, NDF, ADF, TDN (total digestible nutrients), DDM, RFV (relative feed value), and NE1 (net energy for lactation) content signifcantly difered among the diferent vetches–barley mixtures (P < 0.01). Te results emphasize that both vetch species combined with barley and using the seeding ratio of 80% vetch:20% barley should be proftable for farmers in terms of implementation and maximum yield per unit area under Eastern Mediterranean conditions

Influence of aluminum salts on COVID-19 infected patients

Background/aim: Based on the antiviral and antibacterial properties of aluminum salts, we aimed to find out the influence of aluminum salts on COVID-19 infected patients. Materials and methods: We performed an observational retrospective cohort study which includes the patients diagnosed as COVID-19 and received aluminum salts in addition to actual treatments during hospitalization as the treatment group (Alum Group). Patients who received standard COVID-19 treatment protocols in the Infectious Diseases Clinics were included as the Control Group. Clinical findings, laboratory parameters, length of stay, survival, radiological follow-up, intensive care and mechanical ventilation needs, the presence of comorbidity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, symptoms, symptom recovery times, hospital stay times, treatment protocols, and clinical presence of pneumonia were examined in all patients. Advanced chemical composition analyzes of existing aluminum salts were also performed. Results: A total of 109 patients, 54 in the alum group and 55 in the control group, were included in the study. None of the patients in the aluminum group developed side effects due to the intake of aluminum salt. Survival status was significantly different between the two groups as there were 5 loss in the Control Group and none in the Alum Group (P = 0.023). The symptom recovery time was significantly shorter in the Alum Group; 2 (1-3) vs. 1 (1-2) days, P= 0.003. According to the paired samples analyses of the comparison between hospitalization and discharge, CRP levels significantly drops in the Alum Group (from 54.09 to 27, P = 0.001) but not in the Control Group. The drop was significantly same for the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and procalcitonin levels with P = 0.001. Conclusion: It has been observed that aluminum salts have beneficial effects in COVID-19 infected cases. Considering the low systemic toxicity of intermittent oral intake of aluminum salts as food supplements and the fact that pandemic control is still not achieved, the use of aluminum salts is promising

Relation of red cell distribution width with dipper and non-dipper hypertension

Aim Red cell distribution width (RDW), an index of erythrocyte size, is associated with high risk for cardiovascular disease. Nondipping hypertension (HT) is lack of nocturnal fall in blood pressure (BP). The association between RDW and non-dipping BP in normotensive and hypertensive patients was investigated. Methods A total of 170 patients were categorized into 4 groups: Normotensive-Dipper (NT-D), Normotensive-Non-dipper (NTND), Hypertensive-Dipper (HT-D) and Hypertensive-Non-dipper (HT-ND). RDW and hs-CRP levels were measured. Results Hypertensive patients had higher RDW and hs-CRP levels (14.5 ± 0.87 vs.12.7 ± 0.66, p<0.001 for RDW; 0.99 ± 0.52 vs.0.63 ± 0.43, p<0.001 for hs-CRP). Besides, the RDW levels were higher in non-dippers (13.0 ± 0.63 vs.12.4 ± 0.55, p<0.001 for NT-ND and NT-D; 14.9 ± 0.78 vs.14.2 ± 0.82, p<0.001 for HT-ND and HT-D) Conclusion RDW is elevated in non-dipping BP both in normotensive and hypertensive subjects, which may be related with increased inflammatory state

Galectin-3: A biochemical marker to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of arrhythmia. AF leads to electrical remodelling and fibrosis of the atria; however, the mechanism(s) remain poorly understood. Galectin-3 is a potential mediator of cardiac fibrosis. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between serum galectin-3 levels and paroxysmal AF. Methods: Forty-six patients with paroxysmal AF and preserved left ventricular systolic function, and 38 age- and gender-matched control subjects, were involved in the study. Serum galectin-3 levels were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum galectin-3 levels (median 1.38 ng/mL; 1.21 ng/mL-1.87 ng/mL; p< 0.001) were significantly elevated in patients with paroxysmal AF compared with the control. Left atrial diameter was significantly higher in patients with paroxysmal AF (41.2±3.0 mm vs. 39.6±3.3 mm). Left atrial diameter was found to be significantly correlated with serum galectin-3 levels in patients with paroxysmal AF (r= 0.378, p= 0.001). Conclusion: Serum galectin-3 levels are significantly elevated and significantly correlated with left atrial diameter in patients with paroxysmal AF