13 research outputs found
Molecular identification of S-alleles associated with self-incompatibility in apple (Malus spp.) genotypes
Gametophytic self-incompatibility, governed by the S-locus in apple (Malus spp.) plays a vital role for pollination and fruit set. The identification and cloning of RNases has enabled the use of molecular techniques to characterize Sgenotypes in apple cultivars. To identify the S-alleles associated with self-incompatibility, allele specific primers were tested using PCR, evaluating eight apple genotypes. A total of 6 pollen incompatibility groups in apple genotypes were identified among eight accessions by PCR based S-allele typing analysis. Eight putative S-alleles (S1, S2, S7, S19, S21, S23, S24 and S26) were identified with S1S7, S1S23, S1S24, S2S26, S19S24 diploid and S1S21S24 triploid combinations that had not previously been identified from apple cultivars. The molecular allele typing system of Sgenotypes based on PCR is a useful and rapid method for identifying new S-alleles and incompatibility groups in apple and the present results enabled the characterization of eight apple cultivars with respect to S-allele composition which
is an important and preliminary step for pollination management and hybridization in apple breeding programmes
Symptoms and quality of life in late stage Parkinson syndromes: a longitudinal community study of predictive factors
BACKGROUND
Palliative care is increasingly offered earlier in the cancer trajectory but rarely in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease(IPD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy(PSP) or Multiple System Atrophy(MSA). There is little longitudinal data of people with late stage disease to understand levels of need. We aimed to determine how symptoms and quality of life of these patients change over time; and what demographic and clinical factors predicted changes.
METHODS
We recruited 82 patients into a longitudinal study, consenting patients with a diagnosis of IPD, MSA or PSP, stages 3-5 Hoehn and Yahr(H&Y). At baseline and then on up to 3 occasions over one year, we collected self-reported demographic, clinical, symptom, palliative and quality of life data, using Parkinson's specific and generic validated scales, including the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS). We tested for predictors using multivariable analysis, adjusting for confounders.
FINDINGS
Over two thirds of patients had severe disability, over one third being wheelchair-bound/bedridden. Symptoms were highly prevalent in all conditions - mean (SD) of 10.6(4.0) symptoms. More than 50% of the MSA and PSP patients died over the year. Over the year, half of the patients showed either an upward (worsening, 24/60) or fluctuant (8/60) trajectory for POS and symptoms. The strongest predictors of higher levels of symptoms at the end of follow-up were initial scores on POS (AOR 1.30; 95%CI:1.05-1.60) and being male (AOR 5.18; 95% CI 1.17 to 22.92), both were more predictive than initial H&Y scores.
INTERPRETATION
The findings point to profound and complex mix of non-motor and motor symptoms in patients with late stage IPD, MSA and PSP. Symptoms are not resolved and half of the patients deteriorate. Palliative problems are predictive of future symptoms, suggesting that an early palliative assessment might help screen for those in need of earlier intervention
Proximal major limb amputations – a retrospective analysis of 45 oncological cases
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Proximal major limb amputations due to malignant tumors have become rare but are still a valuable treatment option in palliation and in some cases can even cure. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse outcome in those patients, including the postoperative course, survival, pain, quality of life, and prosthesis usage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data of 45 consecutive patients was acquired from patient's charts and contact to patients, and general practitioners. Patients with interscapulothoracic amputation (n = 14), shoulder disarticulation (n = 13), hemipelvectomy (n = 3) or hip disarticulation (n = 15) were included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The rate of proximal major limb amputations in patients treated for sarcoma was 2.3% (37 out of 1597). Survival for all patients was 42.9% after one year and 12.7% after five years. Survival was significantly better in patients with complete tumor resections. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiation did not prolong survival. Eighteen percent of the patients with malignant disease developed local recurrence. In 44%, postoperative complications were observed. Different modalities of postoperative pain management and the site of the amputation had no significant influence on long-term pain assessment and quality of life. Eighty-seven percent suffered from phantom pain, 15.6% considered their quality of life worse than before the operation. Thirty-two percent of the patients who received a prosthesis used it regularly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Proximal major limb amputations severely interfere with patients' body function and are the last, albeit valuable, option within the treatment concept of extremity malignancies or severe infections. Besides short survival, high complication rates, and postoperative pain, patients' quality of life can be improved for the time they have remaining.</p
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Not AvailableThirty-six apple cultivars representing Malus domestica Borkh. were evaluated for diversity in fruit quality. Colour traits ‘L’, ‘b’ and ‘Tint’ were positively correlated with TSS and fruit size. ‘a’ values showed negative correlation with TSS but was positively correlated with fruit firmness. ‘L’ values ranged from 32.66 (Well Spur) to 76.48 (Super more Gold). Negative ‘a’ value was observed for Orange Val (-5.17), Snow Drift (-1.67) and Green sleeves (-7.70) indicating that these cultivars are green in colour at the time of harvesting. The ‘b’ values ranged from 6.86 (King Hacious) to 52.18 (Supermore Gold) indicating that these cultivars are yellow in colour and none blue. Positive ‘Tint’ value (2.36) was observed in Green sleeves cultivar and rest of the cultivars showed negative value. Fruit firmness ranged from 26.00(Starkrimson Gold) to 90.85 RI (Top Red) and TSS from 11.80°B (Razakwari) to 20.03°B (Salvapobedetalian).Principal component analysis showed that first three components with Eigen values were able to explain more than 78% of total variation. PC1, PC2 and PC3 accounted for 37, 28 and 13% respectively, of the trait variability. Cluster analysis distinguished all the cultivars into five distinctgroups/clusters and one cultivar Starkrimson Gold does notform the part of any cluster. Cluster analysis also revealedthe importance of fruit weight and fruit firmness forgrouping of apple cultivars while as TSS was found to have no significant role in grouping. The PCA and clustering analysis in this study indicated a high level of diversity in the apple cultivars. The present study is useful for identifying the apple cultivars with desirable fruit quality traits useful for commercialization and crop improvement through breeding.Not Availabl
A terrain evaluation using remote sensing and gis—case study of neyyar wild life sanctuary, Kerala
The ED-SED Study: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study of Practice Patterns and Clinical Outcomes Associated With Emergency Department SEDation for Mechanically Ventilated Patients.
OBJECTIVES: To characterize emergency department sedation practices in mechanically ventilated patients, and test the hypothesis that deep sedation in the emergency department is associated with worse outcomes.
DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective cohort study.
SETTING: The emergency department and ICUs of 15 medical centers.
PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated adult emergency department patients.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All data involving sedation (medications, monitoring) were recorded. Deep sedation was defined as Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale of -3 to -5 or Sedation-Agitation Scale of 2 or 1. A total of 324 patients were studied. Emergency department deep sedation was observed in 171 patients (52.8%), and was associated with a higher frequency of deep sedation in the ICU on day 1 (53.8% vs 20.3%; p \u3c 0.001) and day 2 (33.3% vs 16.9%; p = 0.001), when compared to light sedation. Mean (SD) ventilator-free days were 18.1 (10.8) in the emergency department deep sedation group compared to 20.0 (9.8) in the light sedation group (mean difference, 1.9; 95% CI, -0.40 to 4.13). Similar results according to emergency department sedation depth existed for ICU-free days (mean difference, 1.6; 95% CI, -0.54 to 3.83) and hospital-free days (mean difference, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.26-4.32). Mortality was 21.1% in the deep sedation group and 17.0% in the light sedation group (between-group difference, 4.1%; odds ratio, 1.30; 0.74-2.28). The occurrence rate of acute brain dysfunction (delirium and coma) was 68.4% in the deep sedation group and 55.6% in the light sedation group (between-group difference, 12.8%; odds ratio, 1.73; 1.10-2.73).
CONCLUSIONS: Early deep sedation in the emergency department is common, carries over into the ICU, and may be associated with worse outcomes. Sedation practice in the emergency department and its association with clinical outcomes is in need of further investigation
The ED-SED Study: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study of Practice Patterns and Clinical Outcomes Associated With Emergency Department SEDation for Mechanically Ventilated Patients
OBJECTIVES: To characterize emergency department sedation practices in mechanically ventilated patients, and test the hypothesis that deep sedation in the emergency department is associated with worse outcomes.
DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective cohort study.
SETTING: The emergency department and ICUs of 15 medical centers.
PATIENTS: Mechanically ventilated adult emergency department patients.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All data involving sedation (medications, monitoring) were recorded. Deep sedation was defined as Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale of -3 to -5 or Sedation-Agitation Scale of 2 or 1. A total of 324 patients were studied. Emergency department deep sedation was observed in 171 patients (52.8%), and was associated with a higher frequency of deep sedation in the ICU on day 1 (53.8% vs 20.3%; p \u3c 0.001) and day 2 (33.3% vs 16.9%; p = 0.001), when compared to light sedation. Mean (SD) ventilator-free days were 18.1 (10.8) in the emergency department deep sedation group compared to 20.0 (9.8) in the light sedation group (mean difference, 1.9; 95% CI, -0.40 to 4.13). Similar results according to emergency department sedation depth existed for ICU-free days (mean difference, 1.6; 95% CI, -0.54 to 3.83) and hospital-free days (mean difference, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.26-4.32). Mortality was 21.1% in the deep sedation group and 17.0% in the light sedation group (between-group difference, 4.1%; odds ratio, 1.30; 0.74-2.28). The occurrence rate of acute brain dysfunction (delirium and coma) was 68.4% in the deep sedation group and 55.6% in the light sedation group (between-group difference, 12.8%; odds ratio, 1.73; 1.10-2.73).
CONCLUSIONS: Early deep sedation in the emergency department is common, carries over into the ICU, and may be associated with worse outcomes. Sedation practice in the emergency department and its association with clinical outcomes is in need of further investigation