Effects of Phosphorous Application on Growth Performance, Yield and Nutritional Value of Cockscomb ( Celosia argentea L)

Effects of phosphorous (P) level on performance, yield and nutritional value of Celosia argentea L. were evaluated with the aim of determining the P level that supports the best growth, yield and nutritional qualities of the crop. The levels of P were: normal (1.348 mg\ub7kg-1 of P/pot, NP), medium (6.743 mg\ub7kg-1 of P/pot, MP), high (13.48 mg\ub7kg-1 of P/pot, HP) and no P application (control, CP). The crop growth rate (CGR) increased with increase in phosphorus gradients (NP = 0.05 g/m2\ub7d-1, MP = 0.09 g/m2\ub7d-1 and HP = 0.12 g/m2\ub7d-1). High and medium P rates increased the relative growth rate (RGR), HP had the highest RGR (0.05 g\ub7g-1/day) followed by MP (0.04 g\ub7g-1/day). Addition of P increased leaf area (LA) of C. argentea. Crude protein of the control was higher (5.56%) compared to the other P treatments (NP = 5.14, MP = 5.11 and HP = 5.03%). Phosphorus applications were beneficial for growth and enhancement of nutritional quality of C. argentea. NP and MP are recommended for growing this vegetable crop

The efficacy of preopoerative instruction in reducing anxiety following gyneoncological surgery: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is a quasi-experimental case control research focusing on the impact of systematic preoperative instruction on the level of postoperative anxiety in gyneoncologic patients. The population studied consists of the gyneoncologic surgery patients admitted to the Gynecologic Oncology Service at Zekai Tahir Burak Gynecology Training and Research Hospital from May to September 2010.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>Through a random sampling, 60 patients were recruited in each group. The study group was given a systematic preoperative instruction while the control group was given routine nursing care. Patients were interviewed in the postoperative period and anxiety was measured. The data-collecting tool consisted of the Individual Information Form and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS Program to find the frequency, the percentage, the mean and the standard variables, and the hypothesis was tested with Chi-square, variance, and t-independent test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was found that the incidence rates from the post-operative anxiety score of the study group were lower than those of the control group (p < .05). The results of this research demonstrated that gyneoncologic surgery patients who were given systematic preoperative instruction felt less anxious than the ones who were given merely a routine nursing care.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results of this study suggest that preoperative instruction programs aiming at informing gyneoncologic surgery patients at the preoperative stage should be organized in hospitals and have an essential role.</p

Physiological response of the three most cultivated pepper species (Capsicum spp.) in Africa to drought stress imposed at three stages of growth and development

Drought and excess water are divergent weather conditions, predicted to strongly affect the physiology of plants. The present study investigated the effects of varying drought stress imposed at different stages of growth and development on the three most cultivated Capsicum species in Africa. This was with a view to elucidating the physiological and biochemical responses of these plants to aftermath of drought and to further ascertain the most critical stage of drought in them. Capsicum spp. were exposed to four drought regimes by withholding water to 80-85%, 55-60%, 40-45% and 30-35% water holding capacity (WHC) respectively representing control, light, moderate and severe drought stress conditions. Results showed that moderate and severe drought induced significant reduction in leaf relative water content (LRWC), relative growth rate (RGR), carotenoid, chlorophyll "a", "b" and total chlorophyll content of the study plants at the vegetative stage, particularly in Capsicum chinense. C. chinense exposed to severe drought stress had highest LAR and leaf weight ratio (LWR) at flowering and fruiting stages. Furthermore, C. chinense under moderate and severe drought treatment had higher phenol content at vegetative stage. Irrespective of the growth stage, no pinch of capsaicin content was detected in C. annum. Capsaicin content of C. chinense exposed to drought stress at vegetative stage was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those exposed to the same drought stress at fruiting stage. The present findings revealed that Capsicum chinense was more tolerant to drought stress than the other two species. Data presented in this study suggest that the three-capsicum species are likely to be more susceptible to the aftermath of drought at the vegetative stage than at either the fruiting or the flowering stage

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AimThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery.MethodsThis was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin.ResultsOverall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P ConclusionOne in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease