Incidence of low bone mineral density in patients with advanced prostate cancer before hormonal manipulation

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men with an estimated 1.3 million cases diagnosed in 2018 according to the most recent International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report.A large proportion of men still present with advanced disease and in this situation androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the mainstay of treatment.Prostate cancer is largely androgen-dependent and responds to endocrine therapy. ADT is an effective treatment modality which decreases the rate of disease progression, alleviates symptoms, and prolongs patients’ survival. ADT can be achieved through surgery (i.e., bilateral orchidectomy) or medical therapy (gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists, antagonists and antiandrogens).Methods: With the approval from institutional ethic committee, a case control study was planned at the urology outpatient department (OPD) at SMS Hospital from April 2019 to March 2020. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 patients with newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer and requiring hormone manipulation were enrolled in study. Age matched control (age±2 years) was selected from patients attending urology clinics with conditions other than prostate cancer. Ratio of cases and control was kept 1:1. Written consent was taken from all participants.Results: Total 88 patients were enrolled in study, 44 in each group. The age of patients ranged from 57 to 86 years among the case group and 55–85 among the control group. Mean age of cases was 65.24±6.8 and control was 64.98±7.6 years (p=0.25). Body mass index which is calculated with standard formula (weight in kg/height in meter square) was significantly high among controls (24.20±2.46) in comparison to cases (23.42±2.84). Statistically significant difference was observed among case and control groups for PSA (p=0.0001) and serum calcium (p=0.005) however difference for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D was found insignificant (p>0.05).Conclusions: Low bone mineral density in patients with advanced prostate cancer before hormonal manipulation is nearly 50%. PSA and serum calcium level were significant different among case and control however this difference was not found for ALP, PTH and vitamin D. Consideration should be given to performing BMD studies in these men before initiating treatment, to avoid or minimize potential bone-related complications in these patients

Bilateral retrorenal colon-a case report

Ascending and descending colon normally lie in anterior pararenal space anterior to kidneys. Extension of colon behind kidney is rare. It is more frequently found on the left side behind lower pole of the left kidney. Bilateral retrorenal colon is rare. Its detection is important prior to Retrorenal, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) to avoid complications. We report a case of bilateral retrorenal colon detected incidentally in a case of obstructive jaundice

Effect of post-harvest ripening and drying methods on seed quality and storability in pumpkin cv Pusa Hybrid 1

An investigation was carried out, to study the effect of post-harvest ripening and drying methods on the seed quality in pumpkin cv Pusa Hybrid 1, during summer 2008 and 2009 at Seed Production Unit, IARI, New Delhi. After harvesting, the fruits were allowed for post-harvest ripening (PHR) of zero days (P0), 10 days (P1) and 20 days (P2) and seeds obtained from each of the PHR treatments were subjected to three methods of drying, viz. shade drying (D1), sun drying (D2) and mechanical drying (D3). The results showed that seed obtained from 20 days PHR followed by shade drying (P2D1) had given superior quality seed with respect to germination (94.33 %), seedling length (34.30 cm), vigour index - I (3236.52) and electrical conductivity (17.30 m mhos/cm/g) followed by P2D3 (20 days PHR and mechanical drying), while germination (%) was significantly lower in PoD2 during storage. In all treatments the seeds stored for 12 months showed maximum germination followed by reduction after eighteen months of storage. The germination percentage was maintained above the Indian minimum seed certification standards (IMSCS) of 60% up to eighteen months of storage in all treatments

Effect of growing conditions on seed yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis stivus) hybrid

The present investigation was carried out at Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT) farm at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during summer and kharif seasons 2011 under naturally ventilated polyhouse, insect proof net house and open field conditions to study the influence of different growing conditions on seed yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) hybrid (Cv Pant Shankar Khira 1) seed production. The seed parent and pollen parent were grown in 3:1 ratio. Water and nutrients were provided through drip fertigation in all three conditions. In all three growing conditions, vine length and number of leaf nodes were significantly more in kharif season compared to summer season. Number of fruit developed to maturity was significantly more in kharif (2.15) than summer (1.90). The vine length, number of leaves, fruit weight, fruit length and fruit width were significantly higher under naturally ventilated polyhouse and insect proof net house compared to open field in both of the seasons. The number of seeds/fruit was significantly higher in insect proof net house (204.15) and naturally ventilated polyhouse (188.35) as compared to open condition (126.05). The seed yield/fruit, seed yield/plant and seed yield per 1000 m2 were significantly higher in kharif season as compared to summer. Whereas higher seed yield was recorded in insect proof net house followed by naturally ventilated polyhouse and open field condition. The seed quality attributes, viz. germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, vigour index I and II and seed moisture content immediately after harvest were also significantly superior in naturally ventilated polyhouse and insect proof net house in comparison to open field conditions. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is higher in insect proof net house (1:2.25) followed by open condition (1:1.12) naturally ventilated polyhouse (1:0.37)

Effect of stage of harvest and post-harvest ripening of fruits on hybrid seed yield and quality in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

The effect of stage of harvest and post-harvest ripening of fruits on seed yield and quality in Pusa Hybrid 1 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir) was studied during summer 2008 and 2009 at Seed Production Unit Farm, IARI, New Delhi. Among the six different treatments of harvesting and post-harvest ripening stages, viz. H1-50 DAA, H2 - 60 DAA, H3 - 70 DAA, H1P1 - 50 DAA + 10 PHR, H1P2 - 50 DAA + 20 PHR and H2P1 - 60 DAA + 10 PHR, the fruits harvested at H3 stage outperformed others in respect of fruit weight (3.77 kg), fruit diameter (22.34 cm), cavity length (16.22 cm) and cavity diameter (16.06 cm). However, fruits obtained from H2P1 (60 DAA + 10 PHR) recorded significantly higher number of filled seeds (489.85), total number of seeds (494.35), 100 seed weight (14.68 g) and other seed quality attributes, viz. germination (93.44 %), seedling length (31.26 cm), seedling dry weight (54.96 mg), vigour index - I & II (2921.65 and 5141.64) compared to other treatments. The seed obtained from H2P1 also showed superiority in seed anatomical attributes such as weight of the seed coat (0.294 g), embryo (0.024 g) and cotyledons (1.413 g) as well as protein (399.5 mg/g) and oil (45.5 %) content indicating highest level of development and metabolic gain of the seed

Synthesis and application of biochar in conjunction with various amendments to improve salt-affected soil and crop productivity

Soil salinity is an important abiotic constraint that affects soil quality and crop productivity and has a direct impact on crop yields. Ensuring the sustainable use of saline soils while maintaining environmental integrity is of utmost importance. To achieve this, it is essential to explore and implement methods that can enhance productivity without causing harm to the ecosystem. In the current study, the effect of biochar, Simultaneous inoculation of biomes (Trichoderma harzanium and Pseudomonas fluorescence) and gypsum on soil properties and growth parameters of chickpea was investigated. Of all treatments, the combination of 75 percent GR + biochar@20t/ha and biome @2kg/ha had the greatest effect on lowering pH (9.32 to 7.61), EC (3.65 to 1.6 dSm-1) and SAR (24.22 to 5.9 Cmolc (+) kg-1). As a result, there was a notable improvement in the length of chickpea shoots and roots as well as the overall production of dry matter

Influence of plant growth retardants on growth, seed yield and quality in onion (Allium cepa) cv. Pusa Riddhi

A field experiment was conducted at New Delhi during rabi 2013-14 and 2014-15 to evaluate the effect of growth retardants on seed scape height, seed yield and quality attributes in onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Pusa Riddhi. The experiment consisted of 15 treatments in combinations of three growth retardants, viz. paclobutrazol, ethephon and triadimefon. The results revealed that among different growth retardants, 100 ppm paclobutrazol significantly reduced the seed scape height (69.9 cm) and increased the seed scape diameter (3.71 cm). The paclobutrazol application also significantly improved the umbel diameter, umbellates/umbel, productive umbellates/umbel, seed setting (%), 1 000 seed weight and seed yield/umbel but it reduced the leaves/plant and seed scapes/plant. The triadimefon treatment significantly reduced the disease severity and disease incidence which affects the seed yield and quality. Seed quality attributes were not much influenced by growth retardant applications but higher seed vigour index-I (952.14) and II (186.13) were recorded under triadimefon and paclobutrazol treatments respectively. Paclobutrazol application also influenced the total leaf chlorophyll content and seed antioxidant enzymes, viz. SOD, catalase and glutathione reductase over the control treatment

Effect of planting time and density on plant growth, seed yield and quality attributes in onion (Allium cepa) cv. Pusa Riddhi

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of planting time and density on plant growth, seed yield and quality attributes in onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Pusa Riddhi at SPU, IARI, New Delhi during rabi 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment consists of three different planting dates, i.e. 15 October (T1), 25 October (T2) and 5 November (T3) with three spacings, viz. 60×10 cm (S1) 60×20 cm (S2) 60×30 cm (S3). The experimental results revealed that the date of planting and plant spacing had significant influence on growth attributes, flowering, yield and quality characters. The planting on 15 October (T1) showed significant higher, seed scape height (101.4 cm), umbel diameter (6.54 cm), productive umbellates/umbel (414.73), seed setting (83.69%), seed yield/plant (8.71 g) and yield/ ha (6.86 q), germination (%) (88.43), seedling length (9.48 cm), seedling dry weight (1.9 mg) and vigour index-I and II (8.33.32 and 167.08) than 25 October and 5 November planting. The plant spacing 60×30cm (S3) showed higher number of leaves/plant (40.89) seed scape height (102.26 cm), scape diameter (1.88 cm), total scapes/plant (11.72), umbel diameter (6.58 cm), productive scapes/plant (8.35), umbellates/umbel (503.52), productive umbellates/umbel (419.4), yield/umbel (3.48 g), seed yield/plant (12.43 g), seed yield/ha (6.22 q), 1000 seed weight (3.01 g), germination (%) (89.76) and seed vigour-I and II (918.56 and 172.96) than closer spacing. The incidence of disease, disease severity index and scape lodging (%) were significantly lower in 15 October (T1) and 60×30 (S3)

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PALMAROSA CULTIVATION IN INDIA

ABSTRACT Cymbopogon martinii, commonly known as palmarosa, is an essential oil-bearing crop cultivated by the farmers for production of oil used in perfumery, cosmetics and flavour industries. The study on the economics of palmarosa cultivation has shown that the major portion of operational cost was shared by human labour, distillation charges and preparation of nursery. Total variable cost was found to be 47926 per hectare per year. The gross returns were found to be 124000 per hectare e per year. The net returns over variable cost were 76074 per hectare. The benefit-cost ratio was found to be 2.59 indicating a higher profit to the farmers. The independent variables like human labour, planting material and distillation charges were positive indicating significant impact on the returns from the crop. There is need for effective market intelligence system to ensure remunerative price of the produce to the farmers