Assessing seaweed extract as a biostimulant on the yield of organic leafy greens in Tennessee

Biostimulants are a better alternative to expensive organic fertilizers used in certified organic crop production. Seaweed extracts (Stimplex®), derived from brown algae (Ascophyllum nodosum) present in marine water, can be used as a “biostimulant” in agriculture to enhance plant yield and improve plant growth. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of Stimplex® on the yield of leafy green vegetables produced in an organic farming system. A Stimplex® greenhouse trial was conducted in fall 2015 and spring 2016 at the Tennessee State University organic research farm. Six leafy greens –lettuce, mustard, kale, Swiss chard, amaranths and collards– were foliar sprayed with Stimplex® (treated) bi-weekly for six weeks at the recommended dose of 3.2 ml/L (0.4 oz/gal of water), and six were untreated (control). Seedlings were raised in the greenhouse from organic seeds in pots, and organic management practices were followed per National Organic Program standards throughout the study. For each leafy green, a total of five treated potted plants and five untreated potted plants were used in three replications. Results showed that plants treated with Stimplex® were more vigorous, healthier and increased yield over untreated plants, except for amaranths. The percentage increase in plant yield of all crops was between 11% and 35%. The highest and lowest increase in plant yield was observed in the mustard greens (35.8 %) and Swiss chard (11.0%). Results suggest Stimplex® stimulates higher yields in leafy greens

To study the efficacy and safety of Vitamin D as an add-on therapy in patients of Type 2 diabetes mellitus on oral antidiabetic drugs

Background: Predominance of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing globally at an alarming rate. Therapies for Type 2 DM have improved but still there is a need for new insights to limit the progression of the disease. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with many non-skeletal disorders including Type 2 DM, suggesting a role in pathogenesis of Type 2 DM. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of Vitamin D as an add-on therapy in patients of Type 2 DM whose glycemic status was uncontrolled with oral antidiabetic drugs.Methods: This was a before and after, open labeled study of 12 weeks duration, conducted on 50 patients of Type 2 DM and Vitamin D deficiency. These patients were given 60,000 IU of Vitamin D3 orally/week for 12 weeks in addition to oral antidiabetic drugs. Effect of Vitamin D was observed on HbAIC, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 25(OH)D and calcium levels.Results: At the end of 12 weeks, a highly significant reduction (p<0.001) was seen in FBG levels and HbAIC decreased significantly (p<0.05). Highly significant (p<0.001) increase was observed in 25(OH)D levels and calcium levels increased significantly (p<0.05). No untoward side effect was observed in any of the patients.Conclusion: It establishes that Vitamin D therapy improves glycemic status thereby, delays the progression and consequently the complications of Type 2 DM. Therefore, supplementation of Vitamin D is a promising and safe adjuvant therapy in Vitamin D deficient Type 2 DM patients

Duration of Rapamycin Treatment Has Differential Effects on Metabolism in Mice

SummaryThe evolutionarily conserved target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling controls growth, metabolism, and aging. In the first robust demonstration of pharmacologically-induced life extension in mammals, longevity was extended in mice treated with rapamycin, an inhibitor of mechanistic TOR (mTOR). However, detrimental metabolic effects of rapamycin treatment were also reported, presenting a paradox of improved survival despite metabolic impairment. How rapamycin extended lifespan in mice with such paradoxical effects was unclear. Here we show that detrimental effects of rapamycin treatment were only observed during the early stages of treatment. These effects were reversed or diminished in mice treated for 20 weeks, with better metabolic profiles, increased oxygen consumption and ketogenesis, and markedly enhanced insulin sensitivity. Thus, prolonged rapamycin treatment lead to beneficial metabolic alterations, consistent with life extension previously observed. Our findings provide a likely explanation of the “rapamycin paradox” and support the potential causal importance of these metabolic alterations in longevity

Household transmission investigation for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a rural and urban population of north India.

BackgroundTransmissibility within closed settings, such as households, can provide a strategic way to characterize the virus transmission patterns because the denominator can be well defined. We aimed to characterize the household transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) and its associated risk factors.MethodsThis prospective case-ascertained study was conducted among the household contacts of laboratory-confirmed SARS CoV-2 cases residing in Ballabgarh, Haryana. We enrolled 148 index cases and their 645 household contacts between December 16, 2020 and June 24, 2021. We defined household contact as any person who had resided in the same household as a confirmed COVID-19 case. Baseline data collection and sample collection for real time- reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and IgM/IgG against SARS CoV-2 were done on day 1 visit, and followed for a period of 28 days. RT-PCR was repeated on day 14 or whenever the contact is symptomatic and blood sample for serology was repeated on day 28. We estimated household secondary infection rate (SIR) and other epidemiological indicators-median incubation period and serial interval. We employed binomial logistic regression to quantify risk factors associated with infection.ResultsThe household SIR was 30.5% (95% CI: 27.1-34.1%). The secondary clinical attack rate was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.2-11.8). The risk factors that showed higher susceptibility to infection were household contacts who were the primary care giver of the case, whose index cases were symptomatic, those with underlying medical conditions, those living in overcrowded households, who were sharing toilet with the index cases and also who were not wearing a mask when coming in contact with the case. The median (IQR) incubation period was 4 days (4, 5), mean (SD) serial interval 6.4 (±2.2) days, and median (IQR) serial interval 5 days (5, 7).ConclusionHouseholds favour secondary transmission of SARS CoV- 2, hence, index cases are recommended to self-isolate and wear masks; and household contacts to follow strict COVID infection control measures within households when a family member is infected

Interaction of mouse intestinal P-glycoprotein with oral antidiabetic drugs and its inhibitors

611-616Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a progressive insulin secretory defect accompanied by resistance to insulin, and thereby making glycemic control a major concern in the treatment of these patients. Oral drug administration, though a popular option for its non-invasiveness, suffer from poor bioavailability. It could be related to the efflux transport of intestinal P-glycoprotein (Pgp). In the present study, we explored the binding interactions of antidiabetic drugs i.e., sulfonylurea drugs (glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide) and rapid acting insulin secretagogues viz., nateglinide, repaglinide and rosiglitazone; and Pgp inhibitors i.e., Generation I (verapamil and tamoxifen), III (tetradrine and tariquidar), and natural inhibitors (fumagillin and piperine) in mouse Pgp model. Our results revealed that fumagillin piperine and verapamil possess maximum interaction energies with Pgp compared to antidiabetic drugs. These observations elucidate the role of fumagillin and piperine as potential natural compounds which could intervene in the efflux action of Pgp in extruding the antidiabetic drugs and may have implications for increasing efficacy of oral antidiabetic therapy

Incidental Finding of Inferior Vena Cava Atresia Presenting with Deep Venous Thrombosis following Physical Exertion

Inferior vena cava atresia (IVCA) is a rare but well described vascular anomaly. It is a rare risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), found in approximately 5% of cases of unprovoked lower extremity (LE) DVT in patients <30 years of age. Affected population is in the early thirties, predominantly male, often with a history of major physical exertion and presents with extensive or bilateral DVTs. Patients with IVC anomalies usually develop compensatory circulation through the collateral veins with enlarged azygous/hemizygous veins. Despite the compensatory circulation, the venous drainage of the lower limbs is often insufficient leading to venous stasis and thrombosis. We describe a case of extensive and bilateral deep venous thrombosis following physical exertion in a thirty-six-year-old male patient with incidental finding of IVCA on imaging

Incidental Finding of Inferior Vena Cava Atresia Presenting with Deep Venous Thrombosis following Physical Exertion.

Inferior vena cava atresia (IVCA) is a rare but well described vascular anomaly. It is a rare risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), found in approximately 5% of cases of unprovoked lower extremity (LE) DVT in patientsthirties, predominantly male, often with a history of major physical exertion and presents with extensive or bilateral DVTs. Patients with IVC anomalies usually develop compensatory circulation through the collateral veins with enlarged azygous/hemizygous veins. Despite the compensatory circulation, the venous drainage of the lower limbs is often insufficient leading to venous stasis and thrombosis. We describe a case of extensive and bilateral deep venous thrombosis following physical exertion in a thirty-six-year-old male patient with incidental finding of IVCA on imaging

Optimization of planting dates of Jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Jalapeño' L.) and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Ser.) relay cropped with strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne).

Florida strawberry growers frequently relay-crop (RC) vegetables with strawberry to offset high input costs. Relay-cropping consists of planting two crops at different times on the same raised bed which helps growers' lower risk due to diversification and maximize economic returns. Four separate experiments on relay cropping strawberry with jalapeño pepper and cantaloupe were conducted at Balm, Florida, in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The objective was to a) determine the effects of relay-cropping on crop yields, b) optimize pepper and cantaloupe planting date, and c) optimize the strawberry termination date when relay cropping with vegetables. Strawberry yields were unaffected by the presence of vegetables. Pepper yields were unaffected by the presence of strawberries, but cantaloupes yields were significantly (p = 0.0250) lower when planted with strawberry. Early January to early-February were the optimum dates to transplant pepper with strawberries transplanted in October but date of planting did not affect cantaloupe yield. Early January to early-February transplant dates for pepper resulted in net profits of around $23000-38000/ha in 2016-17 compared to the baseline treatment (strawberries alone). However, in 2017-18 all of the planting dates of pepper with strawberry except January 4 resulted in losses of$2000-18000/ha. In 2016-17, cantaloupes planted in late January and early February resulted in profits of $2986.3 and 2705.1/ha, respectively. All other planting dates resulted in loses compared to baseline treatment. In 2017-18, all the planting dates resulted in net profits of around$6700-14500/ha. In conclusion, cantaloupe and jalapeño pepper can be relay cropped with strawberry with no negative effects on strawberry yield. However, early planting dates tend to maximize economic return

Acute vomiting and mental status changes: a case of acute intraventricular haemorrhage from an optic chiasm tumour

In this article, we describe a 5- year-old girl who presented to an emergency department with 1 day of vomiting, mental status changes and decreased activity. Imaging studies revealed a mass in the optic chiasm which had haemorrhaged into her ventricles causing acute hydrocephalus. This case highlights the diligence and broad differential one must have when evaluating a child presenting with a sole complaint of vomiting