Liquid Leachate Produced from Vermicompost Effects on Some Agronomic Attributes and Secondary Metabolites of Sweet Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) Exposed to Severe Water Stress Conditions

Water stress is one of the most critical threats to the growth and productivity of plants and is one of the most studied topics in agricultural sciences. In order to enhance the tolerance of plants to water stress conditions, synthetic fertilizers have been widely used in the field. However, due to their toxic effects, recent reports have focused on organic options. In this study, the effects of liquid vermicompost applications (25, 50, 75, and 100%) on the agronomic attributes, phenolic compounds, and essential oil compounds of basil plants exposed to drought stress conditions were investigated. Accordingly, water stress critically reduced the factors of plant height, plant fresh weight, root fresh weight, leaf length, and leaf diameter. On the other hand, vermicompost applications significantly affected all of the parameters considered, except the leaf length of well-watered basil plants. However, a two-way ANOVA analysis revealed that the interactions of water stress and vermicompost were significant on root length and root fresh weight. Regarding the essential oil compounds, the contents of humulene, anethol, eucalyptol, estragole, bisabolene, germacrene, and caryophyllene were quantified. Estragole was determined as a major component by 85–90%. The results revealed that the highest estragole content was determined in the 25% vermicompost + water stress, water stress, and control groups. Of the major phenolic compounds, caffeic acid decreased as a result of water stress conditions but increased with vermicompost treatments. The rosmarinic acid content increased during water stress conditions, attaining the highest content at 25% via the vermicompost and water stress interaction. In general, the 25% and 50% vermicompost applications increased the content of phenolic compounds in plants under either well-watered or stress conditions

Predictors of Complex Aortic Plaques in Patients Undergoing Transoesophageal Echocardiography

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most important causes of ischaemic stroke according to the TOAST classification. The CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score is a widely used scoring system for estimating systemic thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular AF. TOAST classification indicates that an ischaemic stroke may also be due to large artery atherosclerosis. Since some of the atherosclerotic risk factors also occur in the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scoring system, we hypothesised that this scoring system can also predict the presence of complex aortic plaques and their stroke risk

Foliar application of either melatonin or sodium nitpoprusside regulates the antioxidant status, and the morpho-physiological attributes and essential oil production in sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under salinity stress

Soil salinity is one of the most severe abiotic stress factors affecting crop growth and yield. Among the molecules used to mitigate the adverse effects of salt, melatonin (MT) and the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) played a crucial role in mediating plant responses to salt stress. However, the molecules are worthy of further consideration and investigation with regard to the secondary metabolism of plants suffering from salt stress. Herein, the potential role of MT and SNP in alleviating/buffering the negative effects of salt stress on sage (Salvia officinalis L.) seedlings was investigated. In this context, MT (0, 50 μM, and 100 μM) and SNP (0, 50 μM, and 100 μM) were applied individually. The interactive effects of each molecule with salt stress (50 and 100 mM NaCl) were assessed using a range of morpho-physiological, biochemical and analytical parameters of sage. The results of the study showed that high salinity (100 mM NaCl) critically reduced growth and photosynthetic traits and increased oxidative stress damage parameters. On the other hand, high concentrations (100 μM) of MT or SNP treatments significantly improved growth, enhanced photosynthetic traits and mitigated oxidative stress damage parameters. For instance, individual treatments of both MT and SNP enhanced tolerance of sage against salinity stress by increasing relative water content, proline, total carbohydrates, total phenolics and flavonoid content, and the antioxidant enzymes and DPPH scavenging activities. Essential oil yield and individual essential oil compounds were also increased by MT and SNP. Overall, these molecules can be considered as potential protective agents against salinity stress in sage seedlings

Real Life Multicenter Comparison of 24-Month Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Diabetic Macular Edema in Turkey: Ranibizumab vs. Aflibercept vs. Ranibizumab-Aflibercept Switch

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with aflibercept (AFB) or ranibizumab (RNB) only, and after switching from RNB to AFB. This was a retrospective, real-world, multicenter (7 cities) 24 month study. Overall, 212 eyes in the AFB group, 461 in the RNB group, and 141 in the RNB to AFB group were included. The primary endpoints were differences in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to the final visit. The secondary outcomes were the percentage of eyes that achieved &ge;10 letters gain and &ge;10 letters loss in vision at month 12 and 24, and the percentage of eyes that achieved a thinning of &ge;20% in CMT at month 3 and month 6. The results showed that VA did not significantly differ at baseline (AFB: 0.62 &plusmn; 0.38, RNB: 0.61 &plusmn; 0.36, RNB to AFB: 0.61 &plusmn; 0.38), at checkpoints, or at the final visit (AFB: 0.46 &plusmn; 0.38, RNB: 0.5 &plusmn; 0.37, RNB to AFB: 0.53 &plusmn; 0.36) (p &gt; 0.05). Though the mean CMT at baseline was significantly thicker in the RNB to AFB group (479 &plusmn; 129.6 &mu;m) when compared to the AFB (450.5 &plusmn; 122.6 &mu;m) and RNB (442 &plusmn; 116 &mu;m) groups (p &lt; 0.01), similar measurements were obtained after 12 months. The percentages of eyes that gained or lost &ge;10 letters in the AFB, RNB, and RNB to AFB groups at year 1 and 2 were similar, as was the percentages of eyes that demonstrated &ge;20% CMT thinning at month 3 and 6. Our study showed similar visual improvements in non-switchers (AFB and RNB groups) and switchers (RNB to AFB group) through 2 years follow-up, however, AFB patients required fewer injections, visits, or need for additional treatments

Real Life Multicenter Comparison of 24-Month Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Diabetic Macular Edema in Turkey: Ranibizumab vs. Aflibercept vs. Ranibizumab-Aflibercept Switch

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with aflibercept (AFB) or ranibizumab (RNB) only, and after switching from RNB to AFB. This was a retrospective, real-world, multicenter (7 cities) 24 month study. Overall, 212 eyes in the AFB group, 461 in the RNB group, and 141 in the RNB to AFB group were included. The primary endpoints were differences in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to the final visit. The secondary outcomes were the percentage of eyes that achieved ≥10 letters gain and ≥10 letters loss in vision at month 12 and 24, and the percentage of eyes that achieved a thinning of ≥20% in CMT at month 3 and month 6. The results showed that VA did not significantly differ at baseline (AFB: 0.62 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.61 ± 0.36, RNB to AFB: 0.61 ± 0.38), at checkpoints, or at the final visit (AFB: 0.46 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.5 ± 0.37, RNB to AFB: 0.53 ± 0.36) (p > 0.05). Though the mean CMT at baseline was significantly thicker in the RNB to AFB group (479 ± 129.6 μm) when compared to the AFB (450.5 ± 122.6 μm) and RNB (442 ± 116 μm) groups (p < 0.01), similar measurements were obtained after 12 months. The percentages of eyes that gained or lost ≥10 letters in the AFB, RNB, and RNB to AFB groups at year 1 and 2 were similar, as was the percentages of eyes that demonstrated ≥20% CMT thinning at month 3 and 6. Our study showed similar visual improvements in non-switchers (AFB and RNB groups) and switchers (RNB to AFB group) through 2 years follow-up, however, AFB patients required fewer injections, visits, or need for additional treatments

THE LONGITUDINAL EVOLUTION OF COVID-19 OUTCOMES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: A NATIONWIDE MULTICENTRE CONTROLLED STUDY

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