Selectivity of the photosensitiser Tookad® for photodynamic therapy evaluated in the Syrian golden hamster cheek pouch tumour model

The response to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the photosensitiser (PS) Tookad was measured in the Syrian hamster cheek pouch model on normal mucosae and chemically induced squamous cell carcinoma. This PS is a palladium-bacteriopheophorbide presenting absorption peaks at 538 and 762 nm. The light dose, drug dose and drug injection-light irradiation times (DLI), ranging between 100 and 300 J cm(-2), 1-5 mg kg(-1) and 10-240 min respectively, were varied and the response to PDT was analysed by staging the macroscopic response and by the histological examination of the sections of the irradiated cheek pouch. A fast time decay of the tissular response with drug dose of 1-5 mg kg(-1) was observed for DLI ranging from 10 to 240 min and for light doses of 100-300 J cm(-2) delivered at a light dose rate of 150 mW cm(-2). A significantly higher level of tissular response was observed for squamous cell carcinoma compared to normal tissue. Nevertheless, the threshold level of the drug-light dose for a detectable response was not significantly different in the tumoral vs normal tissue. The highest response at the shortest DLIs and the absence of measurable response at DLI larger than 240 min at light dose of 300 J cm(-2) and drug dose of 5 mg kg(-1) reveals the predominantly vascular effect of Tookad. This observation suggests that Tookad could be effective in PDT of vascularised lesions

Cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric rheumatic diseases: a review

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is familiar to pediatric rheumatologists mainly as a cause of opportunistic disease in pharmacologically immune suppressed patients. However, HCMV also has a variety of immuno-modulatory effects, through which it may influence the course of rheumatic conditions. In this article we discuss the interplay between HCMV and the immune system, and review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of HCMV infection in children with rheumatic disease

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Not AvailableThe rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is a major production system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India covering nearly 10.5 million hectares including 4.1 million hectares of the northwestern (NW) states comprising Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh. In India, RW systems account for >80% of the total cereal production and about 50% of the total calorie intake. More than 90% area of the RW area is irrigated and is facing yield stagnation, soil degradation, declining ground water table and air pollution (Singh et al., 2011). Planting techniques are among the important factors affecting soil properties and crop yield. Among the crop production factors, tillage contributes up to 20% (Khurshid et al., 2006) and affects the sustainable use of soil resources through its influence on soil properties (Lal and Stewart, 2013).Conservation tillage positively influences several aspects of the soil whereas excessive and unnecessary tillage operations give rise to opposite phenomena that are harmful to soil. Therefore, currently there is a significant interest and emphasis on the shift from extreme tillage to conservation and no-tillage methods for the purpose of controlling erosion process (Jill et al., 2011; Naresh et al., 2015). The human population continues to grow steadily with the shrinking resources being used for agricultural production situates great challenge against Indian agricultural system to attain food and environmental security. To counter these twin challenges in the country there is urgent need of application of modern Hi-tech technologies for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the rice-wheat system for long term on scientific basis. Precision farming (PF) looks a win-win technology towards improving the capability of agricultural land to produce crops on sustainable basis. The PF is based on the concept of determination of spatial and temporal variability in the crop production which in turn aimed for increasing crop productivity and reducing environmental menaces. It is innovative technology which comprises the application of several Hi-tech tools like Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Remote Sensing (RS), Variable Rate Technology (VRT), Decision Support System (DSS), and Farmer. Precision land leveling, precision planting, precision nutrient management by using Green Seeker, leaf color chart (LCC), site specific nutrient management has a lot of potential for enhancing crop yield and input use efficiency under field conditions while reducing the cost of production and deleterious impacts on environmental. Among different precision nutrient management practices STCR produced significantly higher grain yield by 13.86 and 33.83% over SPAD and control, respectively, but it remained at par with Green seeker and 100% RDF. N, P, K content and uptake in grain, straw and total as well as protein content were significantly higher with SSNM. However, Amongst N precision management practices, STCR resulted significantly higher N, P and K harvest index and agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery and physiological efficiency except nitrogen physiological efficiency in green seeker. In India, there are wide possibilities to practice a part of PF technologies in rice-wheat system accomplished through the use of simple and inexpensive gadgets like LCCs and expensive gadgets like chlorophyll meter and optical sensors.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is a major production system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India covering nearly 10.5 million hectares including 4.1 million hectares of the northwestern (NW) states comprising Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh. In India, RW systems account for >80% of the total cereal production and about 50% of the total calorie intake. More than 90% area of the RW area is irrigated and is facing yield stagnation, soil degradation, declining ground water table and air pollution (Singh et al., 2011). Planting techniques are among the important factors affecting soil properties and crop yield. Among the crop production factors, tillage contributes up to 20% (Khurshid et al., 2006) and affects the sustainable use of soil resources through its influence on soil properties (Lal and Stewart, 2013).Conservation tillage positively influences several aspects of the soil whereas excessive and unnecessary tillage operations give rise to opposite phenomena that are harmful to soil. Therefore, currently there is a significant interest and emphasis on the shift from extreme tillage to conservation and no-tillage methods for the purpose of controlling erosion process (Jill et al., 2011; Naresh et al., 2015). The human population continues to grow steadily with the shrinking resources being used for agricultural production situates great challenge against Indian agricultural system to attain food and environmental security. To counter these twin challenges in the country there is urgent need of application of modern Hi-tech technologies for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the rice-wheat system for long term on scientific basis. Precision farming (PF) looks a win-win technology towards improving the capability of agricultural land to produce crops on sustainable basis. The PF is based on the concept of determination of spatial and temporal variability in the crop production which in turn aimed for increasing crop productivity and reducing environmental menaces. It is innovative technology which comprises the application of several Hi-tech tools like Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Remote Sensing (RS), Variable Rate Technology (VRT), Decision Support System (DSS), and Farmer. Precision land leveling, precision planting, precision nutrient management by using Green Seeker, leaf color chart (LCC), site specific nutrient management has a lot of potential for enhancing crop yield and input use efficiency under field conditions while reducing the cost of production and deleterious impacts on environmental. Among different precision nutrient management practices STCR produced significantly higher grain yield by 13.86 and 33.83% over SPAD and control, respectively, but it remained at par with Green seeker and 100% RDF. N, P, K content and uptake in grain, straw and total as well as protein content were significantly higher with SSNM. However, Amongst N precision management practices, STCR resulted significantly higher N, P and K harvest index and agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery and physiological efficiency except nitrogen physiological efficiency in green seeker. In India, there are wide possibilities to practice a part of PF technologies in rice-wheat system accomplished through the use of simple and inexpensive gadgets like LCCs and expensive gadgets like chlorophyll meter and optical sensorsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableAgriculture faces many challenges, making it more and more difficult to achieve its primary objective ‐ feeding the world – each year. Population growth and changes in diet associated with rising incomes drive greater demand for food and other agricultural products, while global food systems are increasingly threatened by land degradation, climate change, and other stressors. Uncertainties exist about regional and local impacts of climate change, but the overall global pattern suggests that the stability of the food system will be at greater risk due to short-‐term variability in food supply. Humankind has to nourish about 9.5 billion people by 2050 which requires maintaining the integrity of the soil and water resources with changing global climate system. Land degradation is a worldwide challenge, substantially affecting productivity in more than 80 countries and especially serious in developing countries. The impact of land degradation has already put at risk the livelihoods, economic well-being, and nutritional status of more than 1 billion people in developing countries (FAO, 2009). Agriculture must change to meet the rising demand, to contribute more effectively to the reduction of poverty and malnutrition, and to become ecologically more sustainable. Poverty and hunger must be eradicated in our generation and should therefore be a prominent stand-‐alone goal. The majority of the world’s poor people live in rural areas, and agriculture growth has proven effective in lifting rural families out of poverty and hunger. Managing the linkages between agriculture, poverty and nutrition is critical as we look towards providing children with an opportunity to reach their full potential. Land degradation adversely affects the ecological integrity and productivity of about 2 billon ha, or 23 percent of landscapes under human use and up to 40 percent of the world’s agricultural land are seriously degraded. India with 2.4% land area supports more than 17% of the world population. Achieving food security under the regime of climate change will require a holistic system approach, incorporating the principles of natural farming or conservation agriculture (CA), and judicious crop rotation. Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) an offer workable options to eradicate poverty and hunger while improving the environmental performance of agriculture, but requires transformative, simultaneous interventions along the whole food chain, from production to consumption. It also requires unprecedented, large-‐scale behavior change by consumers as well as producers of food. Long‐lasting solutions will require re-‐thinking of rural development and smallholder agriculture towards structural transformations that include and benefit the poor. Improved farming systems and new technologies and business models can create decent jobs, allow the overcoming of resource constraints, enable greater market participation, and also lessen physical hardships in agriculture.Not Availabl

Clinical significance and molecular characterization of nonsporulating molds isolated from the respiratory tracts of bronchopulmonary mycosis patients with special reference to basidiomycetes.

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