[5-(2-Fur­yl)-6-nitro-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexa­hydro­imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-8-yl](phen­yl)methanone

In the title compound, C18H17N3O4, the furyl and phenyl rings are inclined at almost right angles [85.77 (7) and 63.25 (7)°, respectively] to the central imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl unit. The structure displays both inter- and intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

(4-Fluoro­phen­yl)[6-(2-fur­yl)-7-nitro-2,3,4,6,7,8-hexa­hydro-1H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-9-yl]methanone

In the title compound, C19H18FN3O4, the fused pyridine and pyrimidine rings adopt half-chair conformations. The structure displays intra­molecular N—H⋯O and inter­molecular N—H⋯F hydrogen bonding

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in apple orchard soils of Kashmir Himalaya, India

Apple orchards constitute an important agro-ecosystem across Kashmir Himalayan Region (KHR), but estimates of their soil organic carbon (SOC) are unavailable. We investigated 174 apple orchards for estimating SOC spatial distribution across KHR at regional scale and evaluate accuracy of five interpolation methods. The selected orchards were representative of varied size, age, and management practices prevalent across KHR. Soil samples were collected from both tree rows and alleys between tree rows by digging pits at three depth intervals of 0–10; 10–20 and 20–30 cm. A total of 1044 soil samples were collected. The interpolation methods used included, ordinary kriging (OK), inverse distance weighing, empirical bayesian kriging, radial basis functions and local polynomial interpolation. Cross validation was used to assess the comparative performance of each method by measuring interpolation bias and accuracy. The soils were structurally less stony, with weak granular to moderate crumb at surface and sub-angular to angular blocky structure at sub-surface. The soils exhibited lowest co-efficient of variation for soil acidity and highest for soil electrical conductivity. With mean value of 12.33 ± 3.98 g kg−1 on concentration basis and 48.45 Mg C ha−1 on stock basis, the SOC declined with increasing soil depth, so much that near surface (0–10 cm) SOC content could explain well over 64% and 35% of second (20–30 cm) and third layer (20–30 cm) variation respectively. Exponential model best described SOC content across all depths. Semi-variograms of SOC at topsoil exhibited larger nugget effect while nugget sill ratios of 43% suggested moderate SOC spatial dependence. Cross validation exhibited better accuracy for OK in terms of indicating good match between observed and predicted SOC. This study exemplifies that apple orchards across KHR are significant carbon pool, improves our understanding of spatial distribution of SOC and help in evaluating soil health by providing site specific maps

ESTIMATION OF TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN: 1970-2005

Water is a most important element for life. Water pollution is the most common threat concerning to public health in Pakistan. In order to check groundwater quality for drinking purpose, research was conducted in Lyallpur town which is an industrial area of District Faisalabad. The area was divided into four zones for sampling and groundwater quality evaluation. Sixty water samples from existing sources along with coordinates and four soil samples were taken to understand the mobility behavior of contaminants. Paharrang drain passing through research area was expected to be the main source of soil and groundwater contamination. Therefore sampling points for drinking water samples were selected keeping in consideration the relative position from the drain. The collected samples were analyzed for physio-chemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Ca, Mg, Cl, bicarbonates. The results obtained from these samples were compared with WHO guidelines. The values of these results were represented by a mapping of quality parameters using ArcView GIS v9.3 and IDW was used for raster interpolation. The long term trends of all the groundwater quality parameters revealed that there is an increasing effect of contamination with respect to time. Soil analysis of the study area showed sandy loam soil texture overall consequently showing high rates of infiltration through soil. It was concluded that water is partially not fit for drinking specifically due to increased concentration of TDS, Chlorine, and hardness. Direct use of this groundwater for drinking purpose may cause health issues gastrointestinal illness, nausea, eye/nose irritation etc

Rational Design, Synthesis, Separation, and Characterization of New Spiroxindoles Combined with Benzimidazole Scaffold as an MDM2 Inhibitor

Rational design for a new spiroxindoles, combined with a benzimidazole scaffold to identify a new murine double minute two (MDM2) inhibitor was synthesized and characterized. The desired spiroxindoles were achieved via a [3+2] cycloaddition reaction approach which afforded the cycloadducts with four asymmetric centers separated in an excellent regioselective and diastereoselective compound. The separated spiroxindoles were subjected to a set of biochemical assays including an NCI cell panel assay, MTT assay, and MDM2 binding analysis by a microscale thermophoresis assay. The anticancer reactivity for the tested compounds showed IC50 (µM) in the range between 3.797–6.879 µM, and compound 7d with IC50 = 3.797 ± 0.205 µM was the most active candidate between the series. The results showed promising results that identified that compound 7a could be inhibited the MDM2 with KD = 2.38 μm. Compound 7a developed a network of interactions with the MDM2 receptor studied in silico by molecular docking