Application of cold argon plasma on germination, root length, and decontamination of soybean cultivars

Applying cold discharge plasma can potentially alter plants' germination characteristics by triggering their physiological activities. As a main crop in many countries, soybean was examined in the present study using cultivars such as Arian, Katoul, Saba, Sari, and Williams in a cold argon plasma. This study has been motivated by the importance of plant production worldwide, considering climate change and the increasing needs of human populations for food. This study was performed to inspect the effect of cold plasma treatment on seed germination and the impact of argon plasma on microbial decontamination was investigated on soybeans. Also, the employed cultivars have not been studied until now the radicals generated from argon were detected by optical emission spectrometry (OES), and a collisional radiative model was used to describe electron density. The germination properties, including final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), root length, and electrical conductivity of biomolecules released from the seeds, were investigated after the plasma treatments for 30, 60, 180, 300, and 420 s. The decontamination effect of the plasma on Aspergillus flavus (A.flavus) and Fusarium solani (F.solani) was also examined. The plasma for 60 s induced a maximum FGP change of 23.12 ± 0.34% and a lowest MGT value of 1.40 ± 0.007 days. Moreover, the ultimate root length was 56.12 ± 2.89%, in the seeds treated for 60 s. The plasma exposure, however, failed to yield a significant enhancement in electrical conductivity, even when the discharge duration was extended to 180 s or longer. Therefore, the plasma duration of 180 s was selected for the blotter technique. Both fungi showed successful sterilization; their infectivity inhibition was 67 ± 4 and 65 ± 3.1%, respectively. In general, the cold plasma used for soybeans in the present study preserved their healthy qualities and reduced the degree of fungal contamination.

[Management of patients treated for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Tunisia: Preliminary results of FAST-MI Tunisia Registry from Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery]

FAST-MI Tunisian registry was initiated by the Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardio-vascular Surgery to assess characteristics, management, and hospital outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

We prospectively collected data from 203 consecutive patients (mean age 60.3 years, 79.8 % male) with STEMI who were treated in 15 public hospitals (representing 68.2 % of Tunisian public centres treating STEMI patients) during a 3-month period at the end of 2014. The most common risk factor was tobacco (64.9 %), hypertension (38.6 %), diabetes (36.9 %) and dyslipidemia (24.6 %).

RESULTS

Among these patients, 66 % received reperfusion therapy, 35 % with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PAMI), 31 % with thrombolysis (28.6 % of them by pre-hospital thrombolysis). The median time from symptom onset to thrombolysis was 185 and 358 min for PAMI, respectively. The in-hospital mortality was 7.0 %. Patients enrolled in interventional centers (n=156) were more likely to receive any reperfusion therapy (19.8 % vs 44.6 %; p<0.001) than at the regional system of care with less thrombolysis (26.9 % vs 44.6 %; p=0.008) and more PAMI (52.8 % vs 8.5 %; p<0.0001). Also the in-hospital mortality was lower (6.4 % vs 9.3 %) but not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary results from FAST-MI in Tunisia show that the pharmaco- invasive strategy should be promoted in non-interventional centers.