The Role of IL-6 for Predicting Neonatal Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a common and life-threatening disorder in infants. Previous studies showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) may be a valid non-invasive and rapid method for diagnosis of NS. We conducted this review to assess the validity of IL-6 for predicting NS. Methods: This was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Embase, Medline and Web of Science databases were searched between January 1990 and December 2009. The search terms used were “cytokine”, “neonate”, “sepsis” and “interleukin-6". We used standard methods recommended for meta analyses of diagnostic test evaluations. The analysis was based on a summary ROC (SROC) curve. Meta-regression analysis was used to assess the effects of some confounding factors on the results of meta-analysis. Potential presence of publication bias was tested using funnel plots and the Egger test. Findings: Meta-analysis was performed on 13 publications including 353 infants with sepsis and 691 control infants. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of IL-6 was 0.79 and 0.84, respectively. The maximum joint sensitivity and specificity (i.e., the Q value) in SROC curve was 0.82 and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84-0.94). Meta-regression analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of IL-6 was not affected by confounding variables. The evaluation of publication bias showed that the Egger test was not significant (P=0.07). Conclusion: IL-6 seems to be a valid marker for predicting NS. It may be considered for early diagnosis of sepsis in neonatal care units

Evaluation of dietary soybean meal as fish meal replacer for juvenile whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei reared in biofloc system

Abstract Different levels of dietary soybean meal (SBM) as a fish meal (FM) replacer, with and without amino acid supplementation, for whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei reared in the biofloc system was examined in eight weeks of feeding trial. Eight experimental diets consisted of a basal diet with 0% FM replacement by SBM provided in clear sea water without biofloc system (S0SW), four diets replacing FM at 0% (S0), 33% (S33), 67% (S67) and 100% (S100) by SBM, and three diets replacing FM at 33% (S33A), 67% (S67A) and 100% (S100A) by SBM supplemented with amino acids (methionine and lysine) in the seawater biofloc system. Results of water quality analyses showed significantly lower total suspended solids and nitrate for S0SW group than all other treatments. Diets S0 and S33A resulted in higher weight gain and specific growth rate among all groups, with no significant differences with S33 group. In addition, whole-body protein and amino acid compositions of shrimp fed S0SW were lower than most biofloc groups. Haemolymph parameters showed significant differences in total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride between groups S0 and S0SW. Also, superoxide dismutase activity showed a decreasing trend with increasing replacement level. In conclusion, based on these results, SBM could replace up to 33% of FM with or without amino acid supplementation in juvenile whiteleg shrimp diets reared in the biofloc system

Organic fertilizer sources improve the yield and quality attributes of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids by improving soil properties and nutrient uptake under drought stress

In abiotic stresses, drought is the main problem in agricultural production which inhibits the plants to show off their genetic potential. Maize is not only the cereal crop of the world but also 3rd important cereal crop in Pakistan. Maize is drought-sensitive and affected at each growth and development stage. So, the organic amendment is not only the solution to mitigate the drought stress due to long-lasting moisture availability but also improves the growth, yield, quality, and nutrient uptake with improving soil properties. Therefore, a two-year field experiment during 2018 and 2019 was laid out at Agronomy Research Area, Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. Treatments included pre-screened maize hybrids: P-1429 (drought-sensitive) and Dk-6724 (drought-tolerant); pre-optimized levels of each organic fertilizer source (OFS); recommended chemical fertilizer source (CS), 10 t/ha biochar (BC), 10 t/ha farmyard manure (F.M) and 10 t/ha poultry manure (P.M); and irrigation regimes i.e normal irrigation (Ck) 100 % field capacity and severe drought (SD) 50 % field capacity. The Experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-split plot arrangement and was replicated three times. Irrigation regimes were put in the main plot, organic fertilizer sources were put in the subplot and maize hybrids were put in the sub-sub plot. Different agronomic growth and yield attributes, quality attributes, crop physiology, soil physical properties, nutrient uptake, and activity of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. It resulted that in organic fertilizer sources application, 10 t/ha poultry manure and farmyard manure followed by biochar improved the growth and yield of maize hybrids significantly, under normal irrigation and severe drought. These also improve the quality of maize by improving the nutrient uptake and soil physical properties like increasing the soil porosity and decreasing the soil bulk density during consecutive years 2018 and 2019. It was also noticed that the application of organic fertilizers mitigated the adverse effect of drought by the antioxidant defense system with the production of SOD, POD and CAT