Therapeutic suggestion helps to cut back on drug intake for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care unit

Research was conducted on ventilated patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) under identical circumstances; patients were divided into two groups (subsequently proved statistically identical as to age and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II [SAPS II]). One group was treated with positive suggestions for 15-20 min a day based on a predetermined scheme, but tailored to the individual patient, while the control group received no auxiliary psychological treatment. Our goal was to test the effects of positive communication in this special clinical situation. In this section of the research, the subsequent data collection was aimed to reveal whether any change in drug need could be demonstrated upon the influence of suggestions as compared to the control group. Owing to the strict recruitment criteria, a relatively small sample (suggestion group n = 15, control group n = 10) was available during the approximately nine-month period of research. As an outcome of suggestions, there was a significant drop in benzodiazepine (p < 0.005), opioid (p < 0.001), and the α2-agonist (p < 0.05) intake. All this justifies the presence of therapeutic suggestions among the therapies used in ICUs. However, repeating the trial on a larger sample of patients would be recommended. © 2013 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest

Confirmation of novel type 1 diabetes risk loci in families.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Over 50 regions of the genome have been associated with type 1 diabetes risk, mainly using large case/control collections. In a recent genome-wide association (GWA) study, 18 novel susceptibility loci were identified and replicated, including replication evidence from 2,319 families. Here, we, the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC), aimed to exclude the possibility that any of the 18 loci were false-positives due to population stratification by significantly increasing the statistical power of our family study. METHODS: We genotyped the most disease-predicting single-nucleotide polymorphisms at the 18 susceptibility loci in 3,108 families and used existing genotype data for 2,319 families from the original study, providing 7,013 parent-child trios for analysis. We tested for association using the transmission disequilibrium test. RESULTS: Seventeen of the 18 susceptibility loci reached nominal levels of significance (p < 0.05) in the expanded family collection, with 14q24.1 just falling short (p = 0.055). When we allowed for multiple testing, ten of the 17 nominally significant loci reached the required level of significance (p < 2.8 × 10(-3)). All susceptibility loci had consistent direction of effects with the original study. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The results for the novel GWA study-identified loci are genuine and not due to population stratification. The next step, namely correlation of the most disease-associated genotypes with phenotypes, such as RNA and protein expression analyses for the candidate genes within or near each of the susceptibility regions, can now proceed

Heterodynes dominate precipitation isotopes in the East Asianmonsoon region, reflecting interaction of multiple climate factors

For the past decade, East Asian monsoon history has been interpreted in the context of an exceptionally well-dated, high-resolution composite record of speleothem oxygen isotopes (&delta;18Ocave) from the Yangtze River Valley. This record is characterized by a unique spectral response, with variance concentrated predominantly within the precession band and an enigmatic lack of variance at the eccentricity and obliquity bands. Here we examine the spectral characteristics of all existing &gt;250-kyr-long terrestrial water isotope records in Asia, including a new water isotope record using leaf wax hydrogen isotope ratios from the Chinese Loess Plateau. There exist profound differences in spectral characteristics among all orbital-scale Asian water isotope records. We demonstrate that these differences result from latitudinal gradients in the influence of the winter and summer monsoons, both of which impact climate and water isotopes throughout East Asia. Water isotope records therefore do not reflect precipitation during a single season or from a single circulation system. Rather, water isotope records in East Asia reflect the complex interplay of oceanic and continental moisture sources, operating at multiple Earth-orbital periods. These non-linear interactions are reflected in water isotope spectra by the presence of heterodynes. Although complex, we submit that water isotope records, when paired with rapidly developing isotope-enabled model simulations, will have the potential to elucidate mechanisms causing seasonal precipitation variability and moisture source variability in East Asia.</p

Elemental and morphological analyses of filter tape deposits from a beta attenuation monitor

An hourly average PM10 concentration of 1402 mu g m(-3) was registered at 1400 Pacific Standard Time (PST), 1/11/2007, on the beta attenuation monitor (BAM) at a North Las Vegas, Nevada sampling site. The high PM10 concentration at similar to 1245-similar to 1331 PST was a microscale event, limited strictly to the PM10 sampler; it did not affect the adjacent PM2.5 concentrations. A method was developed for retrospective compositional analysis of BAM glass-fiber filter tape sample deposits. Sample punches were submitted for optical examination, followed by elemental and morphological analyses with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses, respectively. Geological samples surrounding the sampling site were acquired to establish source profiles and identify source markers. Although blank levels for many elements were high on the glass-fiber filter tape from the BAM, they were consistent enough to allow background subtraction from the deposit concentrations for most chemical components. Chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model source apportionment for the event closely matched the paved road dust sample collected adjacent to the sampling site. It is likely that this high mass event was the result of environmental vandalism. This study demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing BAM filter tape deposits for source attribution, especially for short-duration fugitive dust events. Filter tapes should be time-stamped and immediately retained after an event for future analysis.</p

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Not AvailableDRR Dhan 53 was released for commercial cultivation in Samba Mahsuri/Improved Samba Mahsuri growing regions of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra by Central Sub-committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties in 2020. It is a cross between Improved Samba Mahsuri*3/PAU 3554. DRR Dhan 53 (IET 27294) is a marker assisted selection (MAS) derived product in the genetic background of Improved Samba Mahsuri. DRR Dhan 53 is a durable bacterial blight resistant, high-yielding, fine-grain type rice variety having the major bacterial blight resistance genes, Xa21+xa13+xa5+Xa38 with seed to seed maturity of 130-135 days and average yield of 5.5- 6 t/ ha.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableNot RNAi mediated silencing of pectin degrading enzyme of R. solani gives a high level of resistance against sheath blight disease of rice. Rice sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (telemorph; Thanatephorus cucumeris) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases which cause severe loss to rice grain production. In the absence of resistant cultivars, the disease is currently managed through fungicides which add to environmental pollution. To explore the potential of utilizing RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated resistance against sheath blight disease, we identified genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in the RNAi pathway in this fungal pathogen. The RNAi target genes were deciphered by RNAseq analysis of a highly virulent strain of the R. solani grown in pectin medium. Additionally, pectin metabolism associated genes of R. solani were analyzed through transcriptome sequencing of infected rice tissues obtained from six diverse rice cultivars. One of the key candidate gene AG1IA_04727 encoding polygalacturonase (PG), which was observed to be significantly upregulated during infection, was targeted through RNAi to develop disease resistance. Stable expression of PG-RNAi construct in rice showed efficient silencing of AG1IA_04727 and suppression of sheath blight disease. This study highlights important information about the existence of RNAi machinery and key genes of R. solani which can be targeted through RNAi to develop pathogen-derived resistance, thus opening an alternative strategy for developing sheath blight-resistant rice cultivars.Not Availabl