Glycine betaine affects the antioxidant system and ion accumulation and reduces salinity-induced damage in safflower seedlings

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an important oilseed crop, usually grown on a small scale and in salt-affected soils. Salinity stress can cause oxidative damage to plants. Upregulation of the antioxidant defense system induced by glycine betaine (GlyBet) alleviates the damaging effects of oxidative stress in plants. In the present investigation, seeds were treated with 0, 10, 30 and 60 mM of GlyBet solutions. Germination and the primary growth of the seedling were examined using sodium chloride salt (NaCl) at 0 (non-stress), 50, 100 and 150 mM concentrations. The obtained results indicate that at 50 and 100 mM NaCl, priming with 30 and 60 mM GlyBet increased root and shoot lengths compared to the control (0 mM). In addition, at all stress levels, priming with 60 mM GlyBet led to lower malondialdehyde, total soluble sugars and proline contents than in control seedlings. Priming with GlyBet increased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities and protein content, while it reduced the activity of peroxidase under salinity stress. In addition, priming with GlyBet reduced the Na+/K+ ratio of seedlings and increased K+ under all salinity stress levels. Priming with 60 mM GlyBet also reduced the Na+ content under 150 mM NaCl. Together, these results show that 60 mM GlyBet had the most pronounced effect on tolerance to salinity stress in safflower seedling. The glycine betaine-increased tolerance to salt in safflower was mainly related to increased CAT and SOD activities, and the prevention of cell membrane damage as a result of reduced lipid peroxidation and improved ion homeostasis under salinity stress condition

Investigation of the Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Some Growth Indices and Yield Parameters of Safflower Under Different Soil Salinity Levels

In order to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) PGPR( on salt tolerance in vegetative and reproductive growth stages of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), a randomized complete block design with a factorial combination of bacterial inoculation and salinity, each in three levels, and four replications was conducted in experimental glasshouse of Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Bacterial inoculation treatment included control (non inoculation), inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens strains 12 and 52 and salinity stress treatment included (electrical conductivity of 1 (control), 6 and 12 dS.m-1 in soil). Results showed that leaf area decreased with increase in salinity, but Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 12 significantly increased leaf area. Both strains significantly increased leaf chlorophyll index at mid grain filling stage comared to to uninoculated control. Finally, grain number per capitol, grain yield per plant, mean grain weight, oil yield, and biological yield decreased with increasing in salinity level, but capitol number per plant and harvest index remained unchanged. Two bacteria strains applied in this study increased only oil concentration in control level of salinity and were uneffective on other yield components. It seems that bacterial inoculation may improve some vegetative indices of safflower but its impact on yield needs to be further studied

Quality of Elderly\'s Life in Shiraz, Jahandidegan Club

Objectives: Aging is a personal and social experience. while experiences may cause happiness for some individuals, it may cause sadness or tedious in the others. Making decision and planning aimed to improve elderly quality of life among older people, require identification of their problems . Methods & Materials: This study was a cross&ndash;sectional study conduced in Jahandidegan Club Foundation for elderly in 2007. Participants were 232 elderly women aged 60&ndash;79 years old recruited through a random zed sampling. Data collection was conducted through LEIPAD questionnaire including two domains (essential domain and simplify domain). Data were analyzed using T-test, ANOVA and linear regression in SPSS. Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between QOL mean scores (in each of the two domains and total score)and marital status (P<0.05), as singles had better scores in total than divorced and the other groups, Widowed and divorced elderly women had lower QOL scores than married. QOL scores (in each two domain and total score) were strongly correlated with educational level however, only in essential domain a significant difference was observed (P=0.047). QOL mean score decreased with increasing age (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between QOL scores (in essential domain and total score) with age of the elderly women, there was also a significant difference between QOL scores (in each two domain and total score) with income (P<0.05), QOL mean increased with increasing income. There was a significant difference between QOL mean (in each two domain and total score) with existence chronic disease (P<0.05). Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated some factors such as disease, level of education, marital status, age, income and job may affect quality of elderly's life, Therefore these factors need to be considered in planning and solving older people's problems

Transition of patients from intensive care unit: A concept analysis

Background: Patient transition in the health care system is a complex process with several potential challenges including instability and unanticipated changes which usually disturb normal life. Evidence shows that there is a need for greater clarity regarding the concept of patient transition from ICU. Objective: The present study was conducted to clarify the core elements of patient transition from ICU, focusing on healthcare professionals. Methods: The Walker and Avant model was used to provide a comprehensive definition of transition. The literature was reviewed from 2000 until 2020 in different databases with mesh extracted keywords of transition, patient transfer, critical care, ICU, transition care, and transition process. Results: Transition is a complex, multifaceted concept with the following attributes: critical points and events, disturb normal life, the passage of change, instability and un-anticipated changes, multiple needs, multiple factors, collaborative, involving the patient, family/caregivers, multidisciplinary healthcare team, care and service coordination, awareness, engagement, and adaptation. The patient's responses to transition were different and depend on the patient's condition or environmental factors which lead to the development of confidence, adaptation, recovery from critical illness, and return to normal life or disability and other complications. Conclusion: The patient transition from ICU is a complex process, collaborative, patient-centered phenomena. Our conceptual definition can assist healthcare providers, organizational leaders, and policymakers to design and implement effective transition care and guideline. Also, the result of this study provides a definition of patient transition from ICU that can be relevant and useful for clinical and practical research