Germination responses of Cola acuminata (Pal. De Beauv.) seeds to different substrates, photoperiods and dehydration

Cola acuminata (Pal. De Beauv.), one of the many forest tree species which are of socio-economic importance in Western and Central Africa, is still exploited in the wild by subsistence farmers because it has not been domesticated yet. As a contribution to its domestication, the present study aimed at determining germination requirements and desiccation tolerance of seeds. Three substrates (forest topsoil, river sand and mixture of forest top soil and river sand), two photoperiods (12 hours/day and continuous darkness) and dehydration were investigated for their effects on seeds germination percentage. To evaluate the seeds’ tolerance to desiccation, fresh seeds were dried at laboratory temperature for 16 days during which seeds moisture content, seeds germination percentage and electrical conductivity of seeds leachate were monitored at two-day intervals. Results showed that the mean germination percentage recorded on the mixture of forest top soil and river sand (97.2 ± 1.0%) was significantly higher than that recorded on forest topsoil (85.5 ± 4.0%), which was in turn higher than that obtained on river sand (70 ± 1.5%). The effect of photoperiod on germination percentage was not significant (p = 0.112). As response to seeds drying, the mean germination percentage slightly decreased as moisture got lost, then drastically dropped when moisture content was below 45.95 ± 4.2%. Seeds failed to germinate when their moisture content fell below 27.1 ± 2.1%. Electrical conductivity of seed leachate exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with both germination percentage (p ˂ 0.01, r = -0.926) and moisture content (p ˂ 0.01, r = -0.931). It is concluded that the best substrate for C. acuminata seeds’ germination is the mixture of forest top soil and river sand in a 1/1 (v/v) ratio. Cola acuminata seeds are desiccation-sensitive and their storage behavior is recalcitrant. This is a significant constraint for conservation that should be addressed in further researches.Keywords: Cola acuminate, seed germination, photoperiod, desiccation tolerance, moisture content, storage behavior

Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Supraduodenal Artery with Aberrant Origin

Angiography and endovascular embolization play an important role in controlling acute arterial upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, particularly when endoscopic intervention fails to do so. In our case, the patient presented with recurrent life-threatening bleed in spite of multiple prior endoscopic interventions and gastroduodenal artery embolization. Our teaching points focus on the role of angiography in acute upper gastrointestinal bleed and when to conduct empiric embolization, while reviewing the supraduodenal artery as an atypical but important potential culprit for refractory upper gastrointestinal bleed

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Les tendinopathies et desmopathies de la région métacarpienne et –tarsienne: une revue des thérapies actuelles. Première partie : la structure, les lésions du tendon et le diagnostic.

Les lésions tendineuses sont fréquentes chez le cheval. Elles figurent parmi les causes de mise à la retraite anticipée tant du cheval de sport que du cheval de loisir. Depuis des décennies l’homme est à la recherche de traitements miracles pour soigner les tendinites. Néanmoins, la plupart de ces traitements n’ont qu’une base empirique et peu d’entre eux ont pu réellement prouver leur efficacité. Les avancées faites dans la connaissance des structures tendineuses et de la pathophysiologie des tendinites couplées à l'évolution des techniques diagnostiques comme l’échographie ont permis de mieux évaluer les avancées faites dans les différentes options thérapeutiques disponibles à ce jour. Cet article, composé de deux parties, donne en premier lieu un aperçu sur la structure, la lésion, la cicatrisation et sur l’évaluation échographique du tendon pour ensuite, dans la deuxième partie, élaborer les traitements disponibles.Lesions to the horse’s tendon are very frequent and are a non negligible reason for early retirement of sport and leisure horses. For decades man has been searching for “the” treatment but unfortunately most of the known treatments have empiric bases and very few have actually proven their real efficiency. Better knowledge of tendon anatomy and pathophysiology of tendonitis together with evolutions in diagnostic techniques like ultrasonography allows us to better evaluate the improvements made in tendonitis therapies today. The first part of this article gives a review on tendon structure, tendon healing and ultrasonographic evaluation of the tendon. In the second part an overview of therapeutic options for tendonitis will be discussed

Temporary tracheotomy in horses

Tracheotomy means the incision of the trachea with the aim to bypass the nasal area, larynx and cranial trachea. Tracheotomy is often performed as an emergency procedure under difficult conditions. This article firstly describes the anatomy, histology and clinical examination of the trachea in horses. Secondly, it gives the indications for temporary tracheotomy, surgical technique as well as associated risks

Impending fibroid expulsion on MRI after uterine fibroid embolization

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors seen in women and can be managed with a variety of treatment options, including hysterectomy, myomectomy, and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). UFE is an acceptable alternative to surgical treatment in well-selected cases and offers the added benefit of decreased hospital stay and avoidance of general anesthesia risk. Like any other procedure, UFE carries risks and complications. Post-UFE fibroid expulsion is one of them.We present a case of impending fibroid expulsion pre-emptively identified on magnetic resonance imaging at 6-month follow-up after UFE. While the majority of fibroid expulsions occur spontaneously by 3 months post-UFE, delayed expulsions have been reported as late as 4 years following the procedure. Therefore, a high degree of clinical suspicion is paramount for early diagnosis of this complication in UFE patients. Keywords: Uterine artery embolization, Fibroid expulsion, Submucosa

Tendinopathies and desmopathies of the metacarpian and tarsian region: a review of current therapies second part: treatments

Les lésions tendineuses sont fréquentes chez le cheval. Elles figurent en bonne place parmi les causes de mise à la retraite anticipée tant du cheval de sport que du cheval de loisir. Depuis des décennies l’homme est à la recherche de traitements « miracles » pour soigner les tendinites. La plupart des traitements utilisés jusqu’à présent étaient malheureusement empiriques et peu d’entre eux ont pu réellement prouver leur efficacité. Les techniques de diagnostic comme l’échographie permettent de mieux évaluer les avancées faites dans les différentes options thérapeutiques disponibles à ce jour. Les deux thérapies les plus innovantes sont probablement celle utilisant des cellules souches et la thérapie génique. Elles ne demandent qu’à prouver leur efficacité. Cet article vous donne un aperçu des différentes possibilités de traitement des tendinites à l’heure actuelle.Lesions to the horse’s tendon are very frequent and are a non negligible reason for early retirement of sport and leisure horses. For decades man has been searching for “the” treatment but unfortunately most of the known treatments have empiric bases and very few have actually proven their real efficiency. Diagnostic techniques like ultrasound allows to better evaluate the improvements made in tendonitis therapies. Stem cells and gene therapy are probably the most innovating of them, but their long-term effectiveness still has to stand the test of times. This article gives an overview of the possible treatments of tendonitis today