Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

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Not AvailableThe ever growing human population coupled with reduced natural resources and the need for more environmentally friendly agricultural practices have highlighted the need for sustainable farming. The intricacies of the plant–microbiome interaction and its impact on plant health and productivity need to be understood for obtaining healthier and more productive plants. Suppressive soils represent an under utilised resource for the control of soil borne pathogens of food, fiber, and ornamental crops. Early research identified the characteristics of soil suppressiveness and the major groups of microorganisms involved, but in recent past due to availability of molecular tools, it has been made possible to characterize and identify the factors and mechanisms responsible for genetic and functional determinants underlying the activity of some biologically suppressive soils. Adoption of different agronomic practices by the farmers spectacularly altered the soil microbiome and considerably enhanced soil suppressiveness to various soilborne diseases. The use of organic amendments or composts for the suppression of plant pathogens could be a promising and environmentally benign alternative to chemical pesticides. The deeper understanding of microbial ecology processes could also provide directions for possible manipulations of the community, leading to a reproducible suppressive amendment. Combining measures of microbial structural diversity with functional traits should be explored in relation to soil and root health in agricultural systems. Manipulating soil quality to achieve an economic level of disease control via agronomic management has been deliberately reviewed with some skepticism. However, crop rotation, residue management practices, and various forms of organic amendments do contribute to the suppression of soil borne diseases. However, the level of understanding for the mechanisms involved in suppressive soils is still limited and not so clear. The benefits of applying organic amendments for disease control are incremental and long lasting depending upon soil ecosystems. The conventional agricultural systems need to be discouraged because of poor production efficiency due to reduced crop diversity, increased genetic uniformity, and shorter rotations. More attention is to be paid on conservation agriculture including maximum use of natural resources. Through the application of green and livestock manures, mulches, and composts, it is hoped that plant beneficial soil microbial populations will develop spontaneously. Selection of complementary rotation crops may also increase the buildup of beneficial microflora during suc- cessive field seasons. Plants can manage the development of beneficial microbial populations through the release of specific root exudates in the root zone. Recently, it has been proposed that plants may also be able to camouflage their presence to phytopathogens by blending into the soil microbial background through restricting the proliferation of root zone bacterial populations. Therefore, the future studies of biologically based soil suppressiveness will put new insights into the microbial ecology of agricultural soils and lay the foundation for the development of creative management strategies for the suppression of soilborne diseases.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableProfitability in groundnut cultivation has been analyzed for five major groundnut-growing states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu for the past fifteen years (1996-97 to 2010-11) using secondary data. On considering cost C2, loss was observed in ten or more years in all the states, except Gujarat. Considering cost A2 with family labour cost, it was found that farmers earned profit in all the fifteen years in Gujarat, while incurred loss in Tamil Nadu (in 2001-02), Andhra Pradesh (in 1999-00 and 2001-02), Karnataka (in 1999-00, 2001-02 and 2008-09) and Maharashtra (in 2002-03, 2004-05 and 2008-09). Implicit prices were found higher than the minimum support price (MSP) in eleven or more years, but less than cost of production in twelve or more years, except in Gujarat. The frequent losses in groundnut have pointed out the need for better farm management through mechanization, competitive MSP and trade policy reforms to make groundnut cultivation a sustainable enterprise.Not Availabl

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Crop Diversification in Rice-Wheat Cropping System with Maize in HaryanaCrop Diversification in Rice-Wheat Cropping System with Maize in HaryanaNot Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2011 and 2012 at Junagadh, Gujarat to improve productivity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) by using water soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation. Results indicated that maximum SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) was recorded with the application of water soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation @ 150 kg/ha at 50 DAS, while dry matter accumulation/plant, plant height and number of nodules/plant (at 75 DAS) were found higher in the treatment receiving water soluble fertilizer @ 226.5 kg/ha through drip irrigation. Similarly, number and weight of mature pods/plant, 100-kernel weight and shelling out-turn were also recorded higher with water soluble fertilizer @ 226.5 kg/ha through drip irrigation. Maximum pod yield (2.67 t/ha), haulm yield (4.96 t/ha), kernel yield (1.82 t/ha), oil content (50.3%), oil yield (0.92 t/ha), protein yield (0.50 t/ha) and nutrient uptake (200.1 kg NPKB/ha) were recorded with the application of water soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation @ 226.5 kg/ha. This treatment also gave maximum net returns (50.9 × 103 /ha) and water productivity (787 g/m3), while maximum benefit: cost ratio (2.42) was obtained under recommended dose of fertilizers (25 kg N, 22 kg P and 24.9 kg K/ha) fb check basin method of irrigation. After harvesting of groundnut, maximum actual N (36.0 kg/ha), P (8.5 kg/ha) and K (31.4 kg/ha) gains were recorded in the treatment receiving water soluble fertilizer @ 250 kg/ha through drip irrigation compared to all other treatments. Application of water soluble fertilizers through drip also saved 36–38% water over check basin method of irrigation.ICA

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Not AvailableLarge number of studies show adverse effects of crop residue burning on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil fertility and soil health, and long-term sustainability of crop production. In India, enormous quantities of crop residues are produced annually whose improper management creates unsustainability in the production systems. Crop residues as a crucial source of carbon (C) and plant nutrients can be a boon for sustainable agriculture and their ploughing back into the soil will help protect soils against soil erosion, improve water conservation, enhance SOC and recycle nutrients. Returning crop residues back in the soils follows the principle of taking whatever you want and plowing rest back to the soil for sustainability. Several technologies available for handling residues of crops include mushroom cultivation, composting, biochar formation, manufacturing of non-woven composites, and in-situ mechanical intensification management using crop management techniques focused on agricultural conservation. Due to largescale residue production in Indo-Gangetic Plains, in-situ management is the more sustainable and practical method for recycling of residues.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted during 2009–11 at Junagadh, Gujarat to find out the effect of citric acid (CA) and its delivery methods on yield, nutrient uptake and use efficiencies of phosphorus in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Results (mean of three years) revealed that application of citric acid at 2 kg along with farmyard manure (FYM) at 2 t/ha recorded significantly higher pod yield (2.61 t/ha), harvest index (36%) and net returns ( 38,283/ha), which were 28.6, 22.0 and 44.5% higher respectively, over FYM at 2 t/ha without citric acid. Soil available P content (18 kg P/ha) significantly increased with citric acid at 6 kg along with single super phosphate (SSP) at 250 kg/ha over control. Citric acid at 4 and 6 kg along with SSP at 250 kg/ha significantly increased P content in pod and haulm, respectively. P uptake significantly increased with citric acid at 4 kg/ha. Application of citric acid at 2 kg along with FYM 2 t/ha (17.2 kg P), citric acid at 4 kg along with SSP 250 kg/ha (17.2 kg P) and citric acid at 4 kg along with FYM 1 t/ha (8.6 kg P) recorded higher agronomic efficiency (19.5%), recovery efficiency (10.8%) and P harvest index (69%) respectively, over control plots. Application of higher levels of citric acid decreased yield, P uptake and P-use efficiencies. Thus, application of 2 kg citric acid along with FYM at 2 t/ha found appropriate in enhancing groundnut yield and net returns under semi-arid agro-ecosystem.ICA

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Crop Residue Generation, Recycling and its Management for Agricultural SustainabilityLarge number of studies show adverse effects of crop residue burning on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil fertility and soil health, and long-term sustainability of crop production. In India, enormous quantities of crop residues are produced annually whose improper management creates unsustainability in the production systems. Crop residues as a crucial source of carbon (C) and plant nutrients can be a boon for sustainable agriculture and their ploughing back into the soil will help protect soils against soil erosion, improve water conservation, enhance SOC and recycle nutrients. Returning crop residues back in the soils follows the principle of taking whatever you want and plowing rest back to the soil for sustainability. Several technologies available for handling residues of crops include mushroom cultivation, composting, biochar formation, manufacturing of non-woven composites, and in-situ mechanical intensification management using crop management techniques focused on agricultural conservation. Due to largescale residue production in Indo-Gangetic Plains, in-situ management is the more sustainable and practical method for recycling of residues.Not Availabl