Genetic Variability and Its Implications on Early Generation Sorghum Lines Selection for Yield, Yield Contributing Traits, and Resistance to Sorghum Midge

Sorghum is the second most important cereal crop in Niger. The crop is grown in a wide range of ecological environments in the country. However, sorghum grain yield in Niger is limited by both abiotic and biotic constraints. Recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross of a local variety with a midge resistant variety and two local checks were evaluated during the 2015 rainy season across two planting dates in two environments in Niger. The objective was to investigate genetic variability for yield, yield related traits, and resistance to sorghum midge. High phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) versus genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was observed in both sites and planting dates. Across planting dates at both Konni and Maradi, grain yield, plant height, panicle weight, and midge damage had high heritability coupled with high estimates of genetic advance. At Konni, high genetic advance coupled with high heritability was detected for grain yield, plant height, panicle weight, and resistance to midge. There were similar results at Maradi for grain yield, plant height, and panicle weight. Therefore, selection might be successful for the above characters in their respective environments

Efficacy of sub-Tenon's block using an equal volume of local anaesthetic administered either as a single or as divided doses. A randomised clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sub-Tenon's anaesthetic is effective and reliable in producing both akinesia and anaesthesia for cataract surgery. Our clinical experience indicates that it is sometimes necessary when absolute akinesia is required during surgery to augment the block with 1–2 ml of local anaesthetic. Hypothesis was that after first injection some of the volume injected may spill out and before second injection the effect of hyaluronidase has taken place and second volume injectate will have desired effect.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, randomised, control trial in which patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups. In group 1, single injection of 5 ml of local anaesthetic was injected. In group 2, 3 ml of the same anaesthetic solution was injected followed by application of gentle orbital pressure for 2 minutes. A further 2 ml of the same anaesthetic solution was injected through the same conjunctival incision. Measurement of movement in four quadrants of eye was done by the surgeon at 3 and 6 minutes. Intraocular pressure, chemosis, and subconjuctival haemorrhage were also measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant differences at 3 minutes between groups for overall movement, medial, superior, and lateral quadrants occurred. At 6 minutes no significant group differences emerged for the overall movement or for any of four quadrants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Single injection of local anaesthesia for sub-Tenon's block with mixture of lignocaine with adrenaline, bupivacaine and hyaluronidase was found to be superior to provide akinesia of ocular muscles compared to divided dose given by two injections. No difference in groups in terms of haemorrhage, chemosis, patient's satisfaction and intraocular pressure was found.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Trial registration no-ISRCTN73431052</p

Ten-year long-term outcomes of conventional and eversion carotid endarterectomy. Multicenter study

Aim. To analyze the immediate and long-term outcomes of eversion and conventional carotid endarterectomy (CE) with patch angioplasty.Material and methods. For the period from February 1, 2006 to September 1, 2021, the present retrospective multicenter open comparative study included 25106 patients who underwent CE. Depending on the technique of operation, the following groups were formed: group 1 (n=18362) — eversion CE; group 2 (n=6744) — conventional CE with patch angioplasty. The long-term follow-up period was 124,7±53,8 months.Results. In the hospital postoperative period, the groups were comparable in incidence of all complications: lethal outcome (group 1: 0,19%, n=36; group 2: 0,17%, n=12; p=0,89; odds ratio (OR) =1,1; 95% confidence interval (CI) =0,57- 2,11); myocardial infarction (MI) (group 1: 0,15%, n=28; group 2: 0,13%, n=9; p=0,87; OR=1,14; 95% CI=0,53-2,42); stroke (group 1: 0,33%, n=62; group 2: 0,4%, n=27; p=0,53; OR=0,84; 95% CI=0,53-1,32); bleeding with hematoma formation (group 1: 0,39%, n=73; group 2: 0,41%, n=28; p=0,93; OR=0,95; 95% CI=0,61-1,48); internal carotid artery (ICA) thrombosis (group 1: 0,05%, n=11; group 2: 0,07%, n=5, p=0,9; OR=0,8; 95% CI=0,28-2,32). In the long-term follow-up, the groups were comparable only in MI incidence: group 1: 0,56%, n=103; group 2: 0,66%, n=45; p=0,37; OR=0,84; 95% CI=0,59-1,19. All other complications were more frequent after conventional CE with patch angioplasty: all-cause death (group 1: 2,7%, n=492; group 2: 9,1%, n=616; p&lt;0,0001; OR=0,27; 95% CI=0,24-0,3); lethal ischemic stroke (group 1: 1,0%, n=180; group 2: 5,5%, n=371; p&lt;0,0001; OR=0,17; 95% CI=0,14-0,21); non-lethal ischemic stroke (group 1: 0,62%, n=114; group 2: 7,0%, n=472; p&lt;0,0001; OR=0,08; 95% CI=0,06-0,1); ICA restenosis &gt;60%, requiring re-revascularization (group 1: 1,6%, n=296; group 2: 12,6%, n=851; p&lt;0,0001; OR=0,11; 95% CI=0,09-0,12). Thus, the composite endpoint (lethal ischemic stroke + non-lethal ischemic stroke + MI) after conventional CE with patch angioplasty was more than 6 times higher than this parameter of eversion CE: group 1: 2,2%, n=397; group 2: 13,2%, n=888; p&lt;0,0001; OR=0,14; 95% CI=0,12-1,16.Conclusion. Conventional CE with patch angioplasty is not prefer for cerebral revascularization in the presence of hemodynamically significant ICA stenosis due to the high prevalence of deaths, stroke, and ICA restenosis in the long-term follow-up

Prognostic factors in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinomas are associated with metastases and decreased survival in a small group of patients. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with recurrences/metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. Subjects and methods: One hundred and thirty-one patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were evaluated retrospectively. The diagnosis was papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) in 48 patients. All patients had undergone near-total/total thyroidectomy. Radioactive iodine was given to 103 patients. Age at diagnosis, gender, previous history of thyroid disease, tumor stage, histopathological characteristics of tumor and initial treatment strategies were evaluated. Results: Recurrences/metastases developed in 17 patients during follow-up. Recurrences developed at a significantly higher percentage in patients with a tumor stage >T1 and patients with lymph node metastasis at presentation. No significant difference was observed in recurrence ratio between patients with PMC and patients with a tumor diameter 21 cm. In the Cox-regression analysis only the advanced tumor stage (>T1) and presence of lymph node metastases were found to be significant predictors for recurrence (univariate analysis, odds ratio =4.02 and 3.15, respectively). However, multivariate analysis did not reveal any significant independent predictors. According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, lymph node metastases at presentation were associated with a decrease in recurrence-free survival at statistical significance (p=0.05). No mortality was observed during follow-up. Conclusion: Papillary thyroid carcinoma leads to recurrences/metastases in a small group of patients. Initial characteristics of the patients - i.e. presence of lymph node metastases - may predict recurrences/metastases in these patients. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 31: 1032-1037, 2008) (C) 2008, Editrice Kurti

A young female patient with an androgen-secreting tumor: A rare malignant disease

A 23-year-old female patient presented with hirsutism and fatigue nine months after delivery, Endocrine assessment showed high testesterone, DHEA-S and androstenedione levels. Abdominal computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed the presence of a large tumor in the right renal region. Right adrenalectomy was performed resulting in a diagnosis of a functional adrenal tumor. Pathological examination showed a steroidogenically active tumor. Adjuvant chemotheraphy was administered postoperatively, At three months following surgery all endocrinological tests normalized, but river metastases were detected by abdominal CT, Eight months after the operation the patient died of hepatic and renal failure, Androgen-secreting adrenal tumors are seen Very rarely yet the prognosis is poor due to their agressive nature

Thyroid metastasis of malignant melanoma

Clinically significant metastases to the thyroid gland are very rare; however, they can present as the initial malignancy. The authors report a 53-year-old man who underwent surgery for malignant melanoma 5 years earlier, and recently presented with a thyroid nodule that turned out to be a metastasis of the primary malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration showed malignant cells, but was unable to indicate that their origin was malignant melanoma. Total thyroidectomy was the therapy chosen for the patient

Graves' disease, with and without nodules, and the risk of thyroid carcinoma

Objective: Thyroid nodules are frequently present in Graves' disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of thyroid carcinoma in Graves' disease patients, with and without ultrasonographically identified nodules, who subsequently underwent surgical treatment

Efficiency of gamma probe and dual-phase Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy in surgery for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of the intraoperative gamma probe and the efficacy of dual-phase Tc-99m sestamibi imaging in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

Effects of pneumoperitoneum created through CO2 insufflation and parameters of mechanical ventilation (PEEP application) on systemic dissemination of intraabdominal infections

Background: To examine whether CO2 pneumoperitoneum and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) in mechanical ventilation affect the systemic spread of intraabdominal infection