Clinical review: Clinical management of atrial fibrillation – rate control versus rhythm control

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in the critically ill and is associated with adverse outcomes. Although there are plausible benefits from conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm (the so-called 'rhythm-control' strategy), recent randomized trials have failed to demonstrate the superiority of this approach over the rate-control strategy. Regardless of approach, continuous therapeutic anticoagulation is crucial for stroke prevention. This review addresses the findings of these studies and their implications for clinical management of patients with atrial fibrillation

Reclaimed Salt-affected Soils can Effectively Contribute to Carbon Sequestration and Food Grain Production : Evidence from Pakistan

Funding: This research was funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, grant number 518-75399-2PS5-005 and the APC was funded through bench fee by International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) through by HEC, award number IRSIP-45-BMS-75. Acknowledgments: The primary author want to acknowledge the Modelling Group, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK for providing all the facilities required in drafting of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Comparison of low-molecular-weight organic acids and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to enhance phytoextraction of heavy metals by maize

We compared acetic, ascorbic, and oxalic acids with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to enhance phytoextraction of nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) by maize. Except ascorbic acid, acids significantly (P < 0.05) decreased shoot dry weight with maximum (5.60 g pot-1) recorded with ascorbic acid and minimum with oxalic acid (4.06 g pot-1). Maximum ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepenta acetic acid (AB-DTPA)-extractable nickel (19.94 mg kg-1) was recorded with EDTA and it was minimum (10.57 mg kg-1) with oxalic acid. The EDTA significantly (P < 0.05) increased AB-DTPA-extractable lead while other acids decreased it. Except acetic acid, other acids significantly (P < 0.05) increased Ni and Zn concentration in shoots with maximum Ni (9.22 mg kg-1) and Zn (37.40 mg kg-1) with EDTA

A Preliminary Assessment and Control Strategy of Size Segregated Pollutants in Urban and Peri-urban Areas of Metropolitan Faisalabad, Pakistan

In recent years, Pakistan has experienced severe and persistent air pollution associated with urbanization and industrialization and it has substantial effects on ecosystem and air quality. In urban and periurban areas, maximum TSP concentration was observed at Satiana Road (987 µgm-3) and Chak 215 RB (1123 µgm-3). Similarly, maximum PM10 concentration was recorded at Gutte Wala (782 µgm-3) and Chak 215 RB (893 µgm-3), while maximum PM2.5 concentration was observed at Madina Food Mill (621 µgm-3) and Chak 215 RB (654 µgm-3). The statistical results suggest that there is significant difference between urban and peri-urban areas. Majority of size segregated pollutants including TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 were found with higher values than the United States Environmental Protection agency (US-EPA), National Ambient air Quality Standards (NAAQS), world health organization (WHO) and National Environmental Quality standards for Pakistan (NEQS-Pak) limits for both urban and peri-urban areas, only 4%, 8% and 4% for TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 in urban and TSP (40%) PM10 (60%) and PM2.5 (44%) in peri urban samples were found under prescribed guidelines. Furthermore, we have also compared metropolitan size segregated pollutant (PM10) with other Pakistan and Asian metropolitan cities’ and purposed strategy to control it

MONITORING OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS AT MENOFIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

The pesticide residues in drinking water, irrigation water, sediment and soil sam-ples collected from three villages, i.e. Samadon, Ashmon and El-Ramla, located at Menofia Governorate, Egypt were monitored during the period of Septemper 2002 to February 2003. The obtained results showed that the detected pesticide residues were varied in their types and structures in the investigated villages during period of study. It is clear that residues of organochlorine insecticide and the herbicide, atra-zine, were the most frequently detected in both of drinking and irrigation water sam-ples. According to the detected amounts and numbers of pesticide residues in all the collected samples, the soil samples contained higher pesticide residues (average of 0.07 ppm) sediment (average of 0.05 ppm) irrigation water (average of 0.04 ppm) drinking water (0.01-0.02 ppm). Comparing between the selected sites, Sa-madon was the highest site contained pesticide residues more than Ashmon and El-Ramla

Influence of farmyard manure on retention and availability of nickel, zinc and lead in metal-contaminated calcareous loam soils

Continuous irrigation of soils with untreated effluents can result in the accumulation and translocation of some metals in the soils and plants. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) to such soils may increase or decrease their availability and retention time. Calcareous soils contaminated with 100, 200, and 400mg kg–1 Ni, Zn, and Pb as chloride salts were used, and farmyard manure added (40g kg–1 for 90 days) with moisture contents at field capacity. Soil samples were drawn at 30 day intervals, and metals extracted with (AB-DTPA) C14H23NO3O10. With FYM application of 400 mg kg–1, Ni availability increased from 179 (day 30) to 240 mg kg–1(day 90); Zn from 163 (day 30) to 230 mg kg–1 (day 90), but, Pb decreased from 214 to 161 mg kg–1. FYM forms multi-dentate complex which greatly enhances the Ni and Zn solubility, and organic matter immobilizes Pb in the soil

Comparative effect of activated carbon, pressmud and poultry manure on immobilization and concentration of metals in maize (Zea mays) grown on contaminated soil

Metal contamination of the soils is a widespread problem and immobilization of metals with organic amendments is one of the different remediation technologies. We investigated the effect of activated carbon, poultry manure and pressmud on immobilization of nickel, manganese, copper, zinc, iron and lead in the contaminated soil, plant growth and metal concentrations in maize shoots. The amendments were applied to the soil at the rate of 4% on dry weight basis. Amendments significantly (P < 0.001) affected shoot dry weight and concentrations of all metals in maize shoots as compared to the control. The maximum shoot dry weight (4.54 g pot-1) was recorded with pressmud, while it was minimum with the control (2.22 g pot-1). Maize shoots contained the minimum nickel (3.54 mg kg-1) with activated carbon and the minimum concentrations of manganese (11.02 mg kg-1), zinc (48.06 mg kg-1) and iron (104.66 mg kg-1) were recorded with pressmud. Maize shoots contained the minimum concentrations of copper (25.41 mg kg-1) and lead (53.40 mg kg-1) with poultry manure and control, respectively. Amendments significantly (P < 0.001) decreased ammonium bicarbonate-diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (AB-DTPA) extractable concentrations of metals except lead. Activated carbon treated pots had minimum AB-DTPA extractable concentrations of all the metals except iron and lead. Activated carbon was most effective in immobilization of Ni, Mn, Zn and Cu decreasing AB-DTPA extractable Ni in the soil, while Fe and Pb was increased due to application of other amendments

Differential effect of nitrogen forms on physiological parameters and micronutrient concentration in maize (Zea mays L.)

Nitrogen is an essential macro nutrient for the plant growth. Plants can absorb nitrogen in cationic (NH4 +) and anionic (NO3 -) forms that can influence the physiological parameters, absorption of micronutrients and can cause the nutritional imbalance in plants. This study investigated the effects of urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and calcium nitrate on growth, physiological parameters and absorption of micronutrients by maize. Nitrogen forms significantly affected shoot and root dry weights, leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate and concentrations of zinc, manganese and copper in maize shoots and roots. Urea fed plants had maximum shoot dry weight (56.76 g pot-1) and root dry weight (5.50 g pot-1) while nitrate fed plants had minimum shoot (51.74 g pot-1)and root dry weights (4.42 g pot-1). Ammonium fed plants had significantly (P < 0.05) higher stomatal conductance (0.21 mmol m-2s-1), transpiration rate (5.58 mmol m-2s-1) and photosynthetic rate (20.95 mg CO2 m-2s-1) compared to the plants fed with other forms of nitrogen. Ammonium fed plants had significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of zinc (53.79 mg kg-1), manganese (51.72 mg kg-1) and copper (7.19 mg kg-1) in shoots and similar trend was observed in roots. It was concluded that urea fed plants produced maximum shoot and root dry matter and ammonium fed plants contained maximum concentration of micronutrients in shoots and roots

Incidental cardiac findings on computed tomography imaging of the thorax

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Investigation of pulmonary pathology with computed tomography also allows visualisation of the heart and major vessels. We sought to explore whether clinically relevant cardiac pathology could be identified on computed tomography pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) requested for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE). 100 consecutive CT contrast-enhanced pulmonary angiograms carried out for exclusion of PE at a single centre were assessed retrospectively by two cardiologists.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Evidence of PE was reported in 5% of scans. Incidental cardiac findings included: aortic wall calcification (54%), coronary calcification (46%), cardiomegaly (41%), atrial dilatation (18%), mitral annulus calcification (15%), right ventricular dilatation (11%), aortic dilatation (8%) and right ventricular thrombus (1%). Apart from 3 (3%) reports describing cardiomegaly, no other cardiac findings were described in radiologists' reports. Other reported pulmonary abnormalities included: lung nodules (14%), lobar collapse/consolidation (8%), pleural effusion (2%), lobar collapse/consolidation (8%), emphysema (6%) and pleural calcification (4%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CTPAs requested for the exclusion of PE have a high yield of cardiac abnormalities. Although these abnormalities may not have implications for acute clinical management, they may, nevertheless, be important in long-term care.</p

Divergent effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles alone and in combination with cadmium on nutrient acquisition and the growth of maize (Zea mays)

IntroductionThe increasing use of cerium nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) has made their influx in agroecosystems imminent through air and soil deposition or untreated wastewater irrigation. Another major pollutant associated with anthropogenic activities is Cd, which has adverse effects on plants, animals, and humans. The major source of the influx of Cd and Ce metals in the human food chain is contaminated food, making it an alarming issue; thus, there is a need to understand the factors that can reduce the potential damage of these heavy metals.MethodsThe present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of CeO2-10-nm-NPs and Cd (alone and in combination) on Zea mays growth. A pot experiment (in sand) was conducted to check the effect of 0, 200, 400, 600, 1,000, and 2,000 mg of CeO2-10 nm-NPs/kg-1 dry sand alone and in combination with 0 and 0.5 mg Cd/kg-1 dry sand on maize seedlings grown in a partially controlled greenhouse environment, making a total of 12 treatments applied in four replicates under a factorial design. Maize seedling biomass, shoot and root growth, nutrient content, and root anatomy were measured.Results and discussionThe NPs were toxic to plant biomass (shoot and root dry weight), and growth at 2,000 ppm was the most toxic in Cd-0 sets. For Cd-0.5 sets, NPs applied at 1,000 ppm somewhat reverted Cd toxicity compared with the contaminated control (CC). Additionally, CeO2-NPs affected Cd translocation, and variable Ce uptake was observed in the presence of Cd compared with non-Cd applied sets. Furthermore, CeO2-NPs partially controlled the elemental content of roots and shoots (micronutrients such as B, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Fe and the elements Co and Si) and affected root anatomy