Is there a perfect protocol for patients with low ovarian reserve: a retrospective study comparing antagonist or agonist protocol in patients with low ovarian reserve

Background: The high prevalence of infertility has made it a major healthcare problem in the present era. A majority of patients presenting with infertility have poor ovarian reserve (POR). Patients with POR are challenging to treat due to reduced treatment success and high cycle cancellation rate as there is no uniform definition and treatment protocol for these patients. The present retrospective study was performed to compare the pregnancy outcome between a long agonist protocol and flexible antagonist protocol in patients with POR. Patients with AMH ≤1.5 ng/mL and AFC ≤4 was included in the study. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is the basis of any in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure. There is no universally accepted ideal stimulation protocol for patients with POR, and it remains a challenge.Methods: This was a retrospective study covering the period from May 2019 to March 2020. Ninety-nine patients with low ovarian reserve (AMH ≤1.5 ng/mL and AFC ≤4) were included in the study. The patients underwent GnRH agonist/GnRH antagonist stimulation protocol using recombinant FSH. Demographic characteristics like age, BMI, duration of infertility was comparable. Total days of stimulation, total Gonadotropin dose used and clinical pregnancy rate in both the protocols was analyzed. Difference between the two groups was considered statistically significant at p-value <0.05.Results: Fifty-three patients underwent antagonist stimulation protocol and forty-six long agonist protocol. The clinical pregnancy rate was 37.7% (20/53) and 32.6% (15/46) in antagonist and agonist protocol respectively (p-value=0.5983). Pregnancy rate was higher in the antagonist group but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Antagonist protocol could marginally increase pregnancy rate in patients with low ovarian reserve. However, patients with poor ovarian reserve require a tailor-made protocol

Conceptual study of Yuktaratha Basti and its mode of action

Basti Chikitsa regarded as the prime treatment modality among the Panchakarma. It is having not only curative action but also preventive and promotive actions. Acharya Sushruta has described various kind of Basti in Chikitsasthana. Yuktarathabasti is a type of Niruhabasti and Vikalpa of Madhutailik Basti. Synonyms are Yapana, Siddha and Yuktarathabasti. As the patient can travel even after the administration of Basti on chariots, back of elephants or horses it is called as Yuktaratha. These are normally strictly contraindicated in Basti therapy as it causes Samkshobha (irritation) and complications. This characteristic of Yuktarathabasti makes it applicable to out-door patients without hospitalization. It enhances Deepana, Pachana and has the Kati, Pada, Jangha, Uru, Trikashoolahara property. So that it can be useful in Vatavyadhis like Sandhigatvata

Negative Giant Longitudinal Magnetoresistance in NiMnSb/InSb: An interface effect

We report on the electrical and magneto-transport properties of the contact formed between polycrystalline NiMnSb thin films grown using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and n-type degenerate InSb (100) substrates. A negative giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect is observed when the external magnetic field is parallel to the surface of the film and to the current direction. We attribute the observed phenomenon to magnetic precipitates formed during the magnetic film deposition and confined to a narrow layer at the interface. The effect of these precipitates on the magnetoresistance depends on the thermal processing of the system.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Factors Influencing Population Dynamics of Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. cumini in the Presence and Absence of Cumin Crop in Arid Solis

In a 16-month field experiment, the effects of fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, total microbial population, soil moisture and soil temperature on the population dynamics of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini were studied in soils with or without a cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) crop at different soil depths. The greatest fungal population and survival in cumin-planted soil were recorded at 0–5 cm depth, but the population density tended to decline progressively with increasing soil depth. The population of Fusarium increased progressively with continuous cultivation of cumin for two seasons, but remained almost stationary in fallow soil without a host. Correlations and path coefficient analyses were carried out to determine the role of individual factors influencing the population of F. o. f. sp. cumini. In soil planted with cumin, there were significant positive correlations of the Fusarium population with maximum soil temperature (r=0.50), bacteria (r=0.51) and total microbial population (r=0.53) at 0–5 cm soil depth. In path coefficient analyses, total bacteria had the highest direct effect on the Fusarium population, followed by microbial population and maximum soil temperature. However, in the soil not planted with a cumin crop, none of the studied factors had significant correlations with the Fusarium population at any soil depth,

Relative Efficacy of On-Farm Weeds as Soil-Amendement for Managing Dry Root Rot of Clusterbean in an Arid Environment

The effectiveness of certain on-farm weeds as soil amendments was ascertained against Macrophomina phaseolina, a soil-borne pathogen causing dry root rot of crops grown under rainfed conditions in arid regions. Population changes in M. phaseolina were determined in soils amended separately with residues (1%, w:w) of Aerva persica, Celosia argentea, Corchorus depressus, Euphorbia hirta, Heliotropium subulatum and Polycarpaea corymbosa, for a period of 90 days. Significant reductions by 90.4–100% in the population of M. phaseolina were achieved with all the weed residues except P. corymbosa. Celosia and Euphorbia residues completely eradicated viable propagules of M. phaseolina. A strong increase (44–61%) in the population of antagonistic actinomycetes was also found in soil amended with Corchorus and Euphorbia. In field tests, soil amended (50 g m2) with Euphorbia, Aerva and Celosia residues significantly reduced dry root rot incidence on clusterbean and also reduced M. phaseolina propagules in the soil. However, dry root rot incidence in Polycarpaea-amended soil (5.8–24.6%) was not significantly different from that in non-amended soil (4.3–25.3%) in both years of the experiment. P. corymbosa also increased the number of propagules of M. phaseolina in the soil. The results demonstrate that dry root rot of rainfed-cultivated annual crops in arid land can be managed with certain weeds as a soil amendment

Surface and interface study of pulsed-laser-deposited off-stoichiometric NiMnSb thin films on Si(100) substrate

We report a detailed study of surface and interface properties of pulsed-laser deposited NiMnSb films on Si (100) substrate as a function of film thickness. As the thickness of films is reduced below 35 nm formation of a porous layer is observed. Porosity in this layer increases with decrease in NiMnSb film thickness. These morphological changes of the ultra thin films are reflected in the interesting transport and magnetic properties of these films. On the other hand, there are no influences of compositional in-homogeneity and surface/interface roughness on the magnetic and transport properties of the films.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Brassica amendments and summer irrigation for the control of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini in hot arid region

The combined effect of Brassica amendments (mustard oil–cake or mustard residue at 2.5 tons ha-1) and summer irrigation was tested for survival of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini and on the severity of dry root rot on clusterbean in the rainy season and on wilt of cumin in the subsequent winter season in the same field. Seed coating with a Bacillus sp., an antagonist bacterium against M. phaseolina, was also integrated with pod residues to improve control of dry root rot. The soil temperature of amended soil after one summer irrigation in June ranged from 38–44°C at 15-cm depth. These temperatures were 0.5–5°C higher than those recorded in unamended soil for the same period and 6–16°C higher when amendments were incorporated in July. A single summer irrigation led to a significant reduction in viable propagules of M. phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini, plant mortality due to dry root rot in clusterbean and incidence of wilt on cumin from Brassica amendments, as compared with the application of amendments in July. A seed coating with Bacillus sp. alone was also effective, but integration with residues did not improve control of dry root rot. In general, amended soil held more soil moisture than unamended soil. These findings have a potential value for irrigated pockets in the hot arid zone of India as well as for many countries with the appropriate climatic conditions

Cumin wilt management – a review

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest seed spice and an important production constraint is wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini Prasad and Patel (Foc) and crop losses could be up to 60%. Maximum population of Foc was estimated at 0-5 cm soil depth in the presence of crop, but the population density tended to decline progressively with distance from the surface. Resting structures of the Foc, the chlamydospores, survive in the soil for more than 10 years. The inoculum density in the soil increases with each year of cumin cultivation and is directly proportional to disease incidence in the field. In this review, an effort has been made to compile research findings generated during past four decades on symptomatology, ecology and management strategies. In the absence of resistant sources against Foc, to reduce population of pathogen below the economic threshold level, integration of cultural, chemical and biological control measures is the only effective way to manage this diesease. &nbsp