Maintaining Seed Quality of Maize and Wheat through Dry Chain Technology in Pakistan

Seed is inevitably deteriorated during storage and higher seed moisture content is the primary cause of this decline in seed quality. Dry Chain is a valuable tool, by using moisture proof hermetic containers to preserve seed quality throughout supply chain. This study evaluated and compared the performance of wheat and maize seed in different hermetic storage packaging (Super bag, Anaaji bag and drum) with conventionally used woven polypropylene bags after six months storage in ambient conditions. Seed moisture content was increased up to 11.53 and 13.55% in wheat and maize respectively when packed in polypropylene bags while it remained low (approximately 10 and 11.4% in wheat and maize respectively) when packed in hermetically sealed bags and drum. Germination was maintained in both cereal seeds stored in hermetically sealed Super bag, anaaji bag and drum while it reduced in polypropylene bags as compared to initial seed quality. Seed stored in polypropylene bag deteriorated quickly, which resulted in loss of seed vigour as indicated by higher malondialdehyde contents and electrical conductivity of seed leachates. It can be concluded that maintenance of seed dryness with hermetic storage is useful in preservation of seed quality and related attributes under high relative humidity environment

Frequency and Practice-Level Variation in Inappropriate Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Insights From the National Cardiovascular Disease Registry’s Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence Registry

AbstractBackgroundAmong patients without cardiovascular disease (CVD) and low 10-year CVD risk, the risks of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes associated with aspirin use outweigh any potential atheroprotective benefit. According to the guidelines on primary prevention of CVD, aspirin use is considered appropriate only in patients with 10-year CVD risk ≥6% and inappropriate in patients with 10-year CVD risk <6%.ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to examine the frequency and practice-level variation in inappropriate aspirin use for primary prevention in a large U.S. nationwide registry.MethodsWithin the National Cardiovascular Disease Registry’s Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence registry, we assessed 68,808 unique patients receiving aspirin for primary prevention from 119 U.S. practices. The frequency of inappropriate aspirin use was determined for primary prevention (aspirin use in those with 10-year CVD risk <6%). Using hierarchical regression models, the extent of practice-level variation using the median rate ratio (MRR) was assessed.ResultsInappropriate aspirin use frequency was 11.6% (7,972 of 68,808) in the overall cohort. There was significant practice-level variation in inappropriate use (range 0% to 71.8%; median 10.1%; interquartile range 6.4%) for practices; adjusted MRR was 1.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47 to 1.77). Results remained consistent after excluding 21,052 women age ≥65 years (inappropriate aspirin use 15.2%; median practice-level inappropriate aspirin use 13.8%; interquartile range 8.2%; adjusted MRR 1.61 [95% CI: 1.46 to 1.75]) and after excluding patients with diabetes (inappropriate aspirin use 13.9%; median practice-level inappropriate aspirin use 12.4%; interquartile range 7.6%; adjusted MRR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.41 to 1.67]).ConclusionsMore than 1 in 10 patients in this national registry were receiving inappropriate aspirin therapy for primary prevention, with significant practice-level variations. Our findings suggest that there are important opportunities to improve evidence-based aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD

Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets. Methods Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis. Results A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty

Genetic analysis indicate superiority of perfomance of cape goosberry (Physalis peruviana L.) hybrids

The use of hybrids as a new type of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) cultivars could improve yield in this crop, but little or no information is available on hybrid perfomance. We studied several vegetative characters, yield, fruit weight and fruit shape, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid content (AAC) in three hybrids of cape gooseberry and their parents grown outdoors and in a glasshouse. The highest yields were obtained with hybrids, specially in a glasshouse. Interaction dominance environment for yield was very important; a higher dominance effect was detected in the glasshouse, than that observed outdoors. Quality characters were highly affected by the environment and showed variable results for the different families. For fruit composition traits, the additive and additive environment interactions were most important. Broad-sense heritability for all characters was high to medium (0.48-0.91), indicating that a high response to selection would be expected. Hybrids can improve cape gooseberry yield without impairing fruit quality.Leiva-Brondo, M.; Prohens Tomás, J.; Nuez Viñals, F. (2001). Genetic analysis indicate superiority of perfomance of cape goosberry (Physalis peruviana L.) hybrids. Journal of New Seeds. 3(3):71-84. doi:10.1300/J153v03n03_04718433Abak, K., Güler, H. Y., Sari, N., & Paksoy, M. (1994). EARLINESS AND YIELD OF PHYSALIS (P. IXOCARPA BROT. AND P. PERUVIANA L.) IN GREENHOUSE, LOW TUNNEL AND OPEN FIELD. Acta Horticulturae, (366), 301-306. doi:10.17660/actahortic.1994.366.37Kang, M. S. (1997). Using Genotype-by-Environment Interaction for Crop Cultivar Development. Advances in Agronomy Volume 62, 199-252. doi:10.1016/s0065-2113(08)60569-6Klinac, D. J. (1986). Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) production systems. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 14(4), 425-430. doi:10.1080/03015521.1986.10423060Mather, K., & Jinks, J. L. (1977). Introduction to Biometrical Genetics. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-5787-9Mazer, S. J., & Schick, C. T. (1991). Constancy of population parameters for life history and floral traits in Raphanus sativus L. I. Norms of reaction and the nature of genotype by environment interactions. Heredity, 67(2), 143-156. doi:10.1038/hdy.1991.74Nyquist, W. E., & Baker, R. J. (1991). Estimation of heritability and prediction of selection response in plant populations. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 10(3), 235-322. doi:10.1080/07352689109382313Pearcy, R. W. (1990). Sunflecks and Photosynthesis in Plant Canopies. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, 41(1), 421-453. doi:10.1146/annurev.pp.41.060190.002225Péron, J. Y., Demaure, E., & Hannetel, C. (1989). POSSIBILITIES OF TROPICAL SOLANACEAE AND CUCURBITACEAE INTRODUCTION IN FRANCE. Acta Horticulturae, (242), 179-186. doi:10.17660/actahortic.1989.242.24Proctor, F. J. (1990). THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY MARKET FOR TROPICAL FRUIT AND FACTORS LIMITING GROWTH. Acta Horticulturae, (269), 29-40. doi:10.17660/actahortic.1990.269.

CIS-based registration of quality of life in a single source approach

Background: Documenting quality of life (QoL) in routine medical care and using it both for treatment and for clinical research is not common, although such information is absolutely valuable for physicians and patients alike. We therefore aimed at developing an efficient method to integrate quality of life information into the clinical information system (CIS) and thus make it available for clinical care and secondary use. Methods: We piloted our method in three different medical departments, using five different QoL questionnaires. In this setting we used structured interviews and onsite observations to perform workflow and form analyses. The forms and pertinent data reports were implemented using the integrated tools of the local CIS. A web-based application for mobile devices was developed based on XML schemata to facilitate data import into the CIS. Data exports of the CIS were analysed with statistical software to perform an analysis of data quality. Results: The quality of life questionnaires are now regularly documented by patients and physicians. The resulting data is available in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and can be used for treatment purposes and communication as well as research functionalities. The completion of questionnaires by the patients themselves using a mobile device (iPad) and the import of the respective data into the CIS forms were successfully tested in a pilot installation. The quality of data is rendered high by the use of automatic score calculations as well as the automatic creation of forms for follow-up documentation. The QoL data was exported to research databases for use in scientific analysis. Conclusion: The CIS-based QoL is technically feasible, clinically accepted and provides an excellent quality of data for medical treatment and clinical research. Our approach with a commercial CIS and the web-based application is transferable to other sites

VERTICO. IV. Environmental effects on the gas distribution and star formation efficiency of Virgo cluster spirals

GalaxiesInterstellar matter and star formatio

The GOLMePsA study protocol: an investigator-initiated, double-blind, parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial of GOLimumab and methotrexate versus methotrexate in early diagnosed psoriatic arthritis using clinical and whole body MRI outcomes

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis which impacts significantly on the quality of life and work capacity of affected individuals. Recent evidence has shown that early control of inflammation in PsA leads to improved long-term outcomes. It is postulated that prompt intervention after diagnosis using a remission-induction treatment strategy will lead to improved outcomes and optimal disease control of PsA. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of a treatment strategy in newly diagnosed, treatment naïve PsA subjects, using the combination of golimumab (GOL), methotrexate (MTX) and steroids versus standard care (MTX monotherapy plus steroids). Methods/design: GOLMePsA is an investigator initiated, phase IIIb, single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-armed, parallel-group, imaging-supplemented study. Eighty-eight PsA patients, diagnosed within 24 months prior to screening and treatment naïve, will be randomised at baseline to receive: (arm 1) the combination of intramuscular/intra-articular prednisolone, MTX and GOL or (arm 2) the combination of intramuscular/intra-articular prednisolone, MTX and placebo for 24 weeks (interventional period). Primary outcome measure is clinical improvement (at least 1 unit difference) in the Psoriatic ArthritiS Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) composite index. Reflecting a “step down” therapeutic approach, all participants successfully completing the interventional period will be followed up for a further 28 weeks. During this observational period, stable maintenance MTX monotherapy will continue for both arms, unless in case of intolerance or PsA relapse. In the latter case, additional treatment will be provided. Overall, the GOLMePsA study length is planned to be 52 weeks. Discussion: The hypothesis underlining this study is that very early treatment with first-line GOL reduces disease activity in PsA, in comparison to conventional therapy. Trial registration: EudraCT 2013–004122-28. 24/09/2013

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Life Quality Impairment Caused by Hookworm-Related Cutaneous Larva Migrans in Resource-Poor Communities in Manaus, Brazil

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a parasitic skin disease common in developing countries with hot climates. In resource-poor settings, CLM is associated with considerable morbidity. The disease is caused by animal hookworm larvae that penetrate the skin and migrate aimlessly in the epidermis as they cannot penetrate the basal membrane. Particularly in the rainy season, the intensity of infection is high with up to 40 larval tracks in an affected individual. Tracks are very itchy and are surrounded by a significant inflammation of the skin. Bacterial superinfection is common and intensifies the inflammation. The psychosocial consequences caused by CLM have never been investigated. We showed that CLM causes skin disease-associated life quality impairment in 91 patients with CLM. Skin disease-associated life quality was significantly impaired. The degree of impairment correlated to the intensity of infection and the number of body areas affected. After treatment with ivermectin, life quality was rapidly restored