Evaluation of selected characteristics in industrial hemp after phytohormonal treatment

Plant growth and development is significantly influenced by phytohormones \u2013 endogenous molecules present naturally in plants. The best known plant hormones are auxins and cytokinins. This study examined the possible effect of externally applied plant hormone analogues (growth regulators): 1-naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) on industrial fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L., variety Bialobrzeskie). Plants were treated with three different concentrations of NAA (5, 10 and 20 mg/l) and three different concentrations of BAP (10, 25 and 50 mg/l). Morphological and physiological characteristics, such as apical dominance, shoot branching, fibre properties, and flavonoid content were evaluated. The chosen variety of hemp had a significant response to exogenous application of growth regulators, as has been observed with other plant species. Most notably completely understood and controlled synthetic auxin treatment has a potential to increase the bark fibre yield of hemp

Extended Thromboprophylaxis with Betrixaban in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Background Patients with acute medical illnesses are at prolonged risk for venous thrombosis. However, the appropriate duration of thromboprophylaxis remains unknown. Methods Patients who were hospitalized for acute medical illnesses were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous enoxaparin (at a dose of 40 mg once daily) for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban placebo for 35 to 42 days or subcutaneous enoxaparin placebo for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban (at a dose of 80 mg once daily) for 35 to 42 days. We performed sequential analyses in three prespecified, progressively inclusive cohorts: patients with an elevated d-dimer level (cohort 1), patients with an elevated d-dimer level or an age of at least 75 years (cohort 2), and all the enrolled patients (overall population cohort). The statistical analysis plan specified that if the between-group difference in any analysis in this sequence was not significant, the other analyses would be considered exploratory. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of asymptomatic proximal deep-vein thrombosis and symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The principal safety outcome was major bleeding. Results A total of 7513 patients underwent randomization. In cohort 1, the primary efficacy outcome occurred in 6.9% of patients receiving betrixaban and 8.5% receiving enoxaparin (relative risk in the betrixaban group, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 1.00; P=0.054). The rates were 5.6% and 7.1%, respectively (relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.98; P=0.03) in cohort 2 and 5.3% and 7.0% (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.92; P=0.006) in the overall population. (The last two analyses were considered to be exploratory owing to the result in cohort 1.) In the overall population, major bleeding occurred in 0.7% of the betrixaban group and 0.6% of the enoxaparin group (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.12; P=0.55). Conclusions Among acutely ill medical patients with an elevated d-dimer level, there was no significant difference between extended-duration betrixaban and a standard regimen of enoxaparin in the prespecified primary efficacy outcome. However, prespecified exploratory analyses provided evidence suggesting a benefit for betrixaban in the two larger cohorts. (Funded by Portola Pharmaceuticals; APEX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01583218. opens in new tab.

The use of RAPD and AFLP markers for characterisation of winter barley genotypes for breeding to Fusarium head blight resistance

The objectives of the study were to test diversity among winter barley breeding lines exhibiting various sensitivity to FHB and to find RAPD markers and AFLP markers that will distinguish between susceptible and moderately resistant genotypes. A test of a set of winter barley genotypes artificially infected in field trials by fusaria was carried out. Based on the results from field and laboratory evaluation and deoxynivalenol (DON) content assessment, barley genotypes with different responses to FHB were selected. The genotypes were hybridized and doubled haploid (DH) lines were derived in F1 generation using the in vitro androgenesis method. Initial parental components and derived DH lines were tested for FHB infection and DON content. A set of parental genotypes of winter barley was tested with 80 RAPD markers. Based on analyses of 80 RAPD primers in a set of parental genotypes of winter barley, the primer H15 was selected that provides specific product of 650-bp size for moderately resistant winter barley genotypes. In consecutive detection, this specific product was found in 4 DH lines. During the study, some DH lines were selected that exhibited improved resistance to Fusarium infection. A low infection level and low DON content were found in the winter barley line DH 610 from the combination of Br2611m × Duet. The AFLP technique was used to analyze parental genotypes of winter barley as well as 7 selected DH lines of winter barley. The detected markers can be further evaluated and employed to select breeding materials

Fiber Quality of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Grown in Soil Irrigated by Landfill Leachate Water

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for industrial use is often considered as a renewable resource for cultivation in polluted areas, on one hand, for the purpose of possible remediation of soil and, on the other hand, for wide options of the possible use of plant material after the harvest in such areas, namely hemp fiber. This study summarizes the effects of landfill leachate irrigation on agronomic parameters and fiber properties in two cultivars of hemp has grown and harvested in two consecutive seasons. Cultivar Bialobrzeskie shows more promising results in terms of total fiber content and phloem fiber content, while it tends to sacrifice the density of both xylem and phloem fiber in comparison to cultivar Monoica. The two cultivars also demonstrate different sensitivity and responses to the presence of heavy metals, namely zinc and chromium

Comparison of Fatal or Irreversible Events With Extended-Duration Betrixaban Versus Standard Dose Enoxaparin in Acutely III Medical Patients: An APEX Trial Substudy

BACKGROUND: Extended-duration betrixaban showed a significant reduction in venous thromboembolism in the APEX trial (Acute Medically Ill VTE Prevention With Extended Duration Betrixaban Study). Given the variable clinical impact of different efficacy and safety events, one approach to assess net clinical outcomes is to include only those events that are either fatal or cause irreversible harm. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a post hoc analysis of the APEX trial-a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing extended-duration betrixaban versus standard-of-care enoxaparin. A composite of all fatal or irreversible safety (fatal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage) and efficacy events (cardiopulmonary death, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic stroke) was evaluated in a time-to-first event analysis. In patients with positive D-dimer results, betrixaban reduced fatal or irreversible events at 35 to 42 days (4.80% versus 3.54%; hazard ratio, 0.73; absolute risk reduction, 1.26%; number needed to treat, 79 [P=0.033]) and at study end at 77 days (6.27% versus 4.36%; hazard ratio, 0.70; absolute risk reduction, 1.91%; number needed to treat, 52 [P=0.005]) versus enoxaparin. In all patients, betrixaban reduced fatal or irreversible events at 35 to 42 days (4.08% versus 2.90%; hazard ratio, 0.71; absolute risk reduction, 1.18%; number needed to treat, 86 [P=0.006]) and 77 days (5.17% versus 3.64%; hazard ratio, 0.70; absolute risk reduction, 1.53%; number needed to treat, 65 [P=0.002]). CONCLUSIONS: Among hospitalized medically ill patients, extended-duration betrixaban demonstrated an ≈30% reduction in fatal or irreversible ischemic or bleeding events compared with standard-duration enoxaparin. A total of 65 patients would require treatment with betrixaban to prevent 1 fatal or irreversible event versus enoxaparin. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01583218.status: publishe

Comparison of fatal or irreversible events with extended-duration betrixaban versus standard dose enoxaparin in acutely Ill medical patients: An APEX trial substudy

Background-Extended-duration betrixaban showed a significant reduction in venous thromboembolism in the APEX trial (Acute Medically Ill VTE Prevention With Extended Duration Betrixaban Study). Given the variable clinical impact of different efficacy and safety events, one approach to assess net clinical outcomes is to include only those events that are either fatal or cause irreversible harm. Methods and Results-This was a post hoc analysis of the APEX trial-a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing extended-duration betrixaban versus standard-of-care enoxaparin. A composite of all fatal or irreversible safety (fatal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage) and efficacy events (cardiopulmonary death, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic stroke) was evaluated in a time-to-first event analysis. In patients with positive D-dimer results, betrixaban reduced fatal or irreversible events at 35 to 42 days (4.80% versus 3.54%; hazard ratio, 0.73; absolute risk reduction, 1.26%; number needed to treat, 79 [P=0.033]) and at study end at 77 days (6.27% versus 4.36%; hazard ratio, 0.70; absolute risk reduction, 1.91%; number needed to treat, 52 [P=0.005]) versus enoxaparin. In all patients, betrixaban reduced fatal or irreversible events at 35 to 42 days (4.08% versus 2.90%; hazard ratio, 0.71; absolute risk reduction, 1.18%; number needed to treat, 86 [P=0.006]) and 77 days (5.17% versus 3.64%; hazard ratio, 0.70; absolute risk reduction, 1.53%; number needed to treat, 65 [P=0.002]). Conclusions-Among hospitalized medically ill patients, extended-duration betrixaban demonstrated an 48 30% reduction in fatal or irreversible ischemic or bleeding events compared with standard-duration enoxaparin. A total of 65 patients would require treatment with betrixaban to prevent 1 fatal or irreversible event versus enoxaparin