Exogenous Ca/Mg quotient reduces the inhibitory effects of PEG induced osmotic stress on Avena sativa L

Abstract Drought is one of the most damaging abiotic stress that hinder plant growth and development. The present study aimed to determine the effects of various Ca/Mg quotients under polyethylene glycol (PEG)–induced osmotic stress on growth, uptake and translocation of Ca and Mg in Avena sativa (L). Plants were grown in nutrient solution supplemented with three different Ca/Mg molar quotients (0.18, 2, and 4). After 30 days plants were exposed to two different PEG (Polyethylene glycol) concentrations (0.6 MPa & 0.2 MPa) for 8 days, and solutions were renewed after 4 days. A solution containing Ca and Mg nutrients has mitigated the negative impact caused via osmotic stress on relative growth rate (RGR), absolute growth rate (AGR), crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area ratio (LAR), Leaf index ratio (LAI), root-shoot ratio (RSR), water use efficiency (WUE) and net assimilation rate (NAR). In addition, it adversely affected germination parameters, including final emergence percentage (FEP), mean germination time (MGT), Timson germination Index (TGI), germination rate index (GRI) and percent field capacity (%FC), of oat (Avena sativa L.). Mg and Ca in shoot and root and Ca translocation factor decreased with increasing Ca in solution, while Mg translocation factor increased with increasing Ca in nutrient solution. In this work, the combined effects of various Ca/Mg quotients and osmotic stress produced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) in different concentrations (0.6 MPa, 0.2 MPa) on the growth and element uptake of Avena sativa L. are examined. As a result, the Ca/Mg Quotient may naturally combat the moderate drought stress experienced by field crops.

The human-wildlife conflict in Musk Deer National Park, Neelum Gureze Valley, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract Growing human population is a solemn risk to biodiversity at a global level. Massive anthropogenic pressure and invasion in the natural habitats initiated the human-wildlife conflict in rural areas. Present study aimed to assess human-wildlife conflict in Musk Deer National Park (MDNP) from 2013 to 2018. Results revealed an estimated 241784 nomadic and 5589 residential livestock heads grazed in different areas of MDNP during the summer season. A total of 126 heads were depredated by carnivores during the study period. Majority (n=39) of livestock heads were killed in May (n=29). Livestock depredation resulted in economic losses worth 3.115 million PKRs (25744 US$) to the herder community while farmers received 1.629 million PKRs (13466 US$) losses due to crop raiding. Most (64%) of the respondents believed human-wildlife conflict heightened due to scarcity of food or prey in the natural habitats of carnivores. Majority (92%) of the respondents did not like the presence of predators in MDNP. Loss compensation schemes could turn this negative attitude into the positive one and increase tolerance about the presence of carnivores in their vicinity. This study provides an insight into the human-wildlife conflict in MDNP and paves a way for understanding the conflict and conservation of carnivore species in the study area.

Evaluation of carboxylated poly l-lysine for cryopreservation of Labeo rohita sperm

Carboxylated poly l-lysine (CPLL) is an anti-freeze agent having pronounced non-permeating yet membrane stabilizing cryoprotective capabilities. The objective was to evaluate the CPLL supplementation in extender in terms of post thaw quality (sperm), total antioxidant activity (milt) and fertilization potential of cryopreserved Labeo rohita sperm. For this purpose, male brood fish reared at fish seed hatchery, Rawal Town Islamabad, Pakistan were captured from different rearing ponds and acclimatized in hatchery ponds for 6 hours. The brooder were injected with Ovaprim (0.2 ml/kg), milt was collected after 8 hours in cooled sterilized falcon tubes, maintained at 4°C and evaluated for sperm motility. The milt collected from three brooders (n=3) was diluted in extenders viz., modified Kurokura-2 extender having 10% methanol (control); experimental extenders with CPLL supplementation at the rate of 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Diluted milt was filled in 0.5ml straws, exposed to liquid nitrogen vapors and cryopreserved. Cryopreserved milt was thawed at 25⁰ C and assessed for post-thaw sperm quality. Sperm motility, motility duration, viability, total antioxidant capacity and DNA integrity was significantly higher (P<0.05) in extender having 1.5% CPLL than control. To evaluate the fertilization rates, male and female brooders were injected with Ovaprim at 0.2ml/Kg and 0.5ml/Kg body weight respectively. Fresh eggs and milt were collected through abdominal stripping. Batches of 10g of eggs from each female (n=2) were fertilized with one straw, each from frozen sperm with KE+methanol (control), KE+methanol+1.5% CPLL and 50 μl fresh milt (negative control). After 1.5 hours of fertilization, eggs were collected from all jars and a total of 200 eggs were counted. The fertilized eggs appeared clear and transparent while unfertilized eggs looked opaque with disintegrated nucleus. Sperm fertilization rate (%) was higher (P<0.05) in extender KE+methanol+1.5%CPLL (78.7±0.5) compared to control (KE+methanol) (52.0±0.4) however, it was lower compared to that of negative control, the fresh milt (85.2±0.6). In conclusion, supplementation of carboxylated poly l-lysine (1.5%) to modified Kurokura-2 extender having 10% methanol improves post thaw motility, motility duration, viability, DNA integrity, anti-oxidant capacity (milt) and fertilizing ability of cryopreserved L. rohita sperm.

Transcriptomic response and immunological responses to chimpanzee adenovirus- and MVA viral-vectored vaccines for RSV in healthy adults

Cohorts of healthy younger adults (18-50yrs) and healthy older adults (60-75yrs) were immunized intramuscularly or intranasally with an adenovirus-vectored RSV vaccine (PanAd3-RSV) as a prime dose and boosted with PanAd3-RSV or a poxvirus-vectored vaccine (MVA-RSV) encoding the same insert. Whole blood gene expression was measured at baseline, 3- and 7-days post vaccination. Intramuscular prime vaccination with PanAd3-RSV induced differential expression of 643 genes (DEGs, FDR < 0.05). Intranasal prime vaccination with PanAd3-RSV did not induce any differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in blood samples at 3 days post vaccination. Intranasally primed participants showed greater numbers of DEGS on boosting than intramuscularly primed participants. The most highly enriched biological processes related to DEGs after both prime and boost vaccination were type-1 interferon related pathways, lymphocytic and humoral immune responses.

The Cost-effectiveness of Watch and Wait for Rectal Cancer

The existing literature suggests with a high degree of certainty that watch and wait is more cost-effective than initial total mesorectal excision. However, it is heavily reliant on poor-quality health-related quality of life data. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of organ preservation from a broader societal perspective has not been studied. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of emerging adjuncts to watch and wait for organ preservation, such as contact X-ray brachytherapy, local excision and total neoadjuvant therapy, need to be characterised.

Range of factors in the reduction of hyperhydricity associated with in vitro shoots of Salvia santolinifolia Bioss

Hyperhydricity is a serious physiological disorder and affects In vitro propagation of many plants and as well of Salvia santolinifolia. The donor material to initiate the in vitro culture was the callus taken from the in vitro shoots produced on Murashig and Skoogs (MS) medium at 4.0 mg/l BA. This callus formed numerous hyperhydric shoots on culturing upon the medium of the same composition. The aim was to systematically evaluate the effect of cytokinins (Benzyladnine (BA) and N6-(-2-isopentenyl) adenine (2iP), culture vessels magnitude, medium solidification, source of nitrogen and calcium chloride for the alleviation of hyperhydricity. In the tissue cultures of S. santolinifolia BA and 2iP induced severe hyperhydricity, when other factors i.e. culture vessels magnitude and a suitable concentration of agar, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), potassium nitrate (KNO3) & calcium chloride (CaCl2.2H2O) were not optimized. After 30 days' culture, we observed 83.82% hyperhydric shoots at increased level (1.5 mg/l 2iP) and 81.59% at decreased levels (1.0 mg/l 2iP). On the other hand, hyperhydricity percentage at decreased (0.4%) and at increased (0.8%) levels of agar were 72.37% and 39.08%, respectively. MS medium modification with NH4NO3 (412 mg/l), KNO3 (475 mg/l) and CaCl2.2H2O (880 mg/l) was found the best medium to reduced hyperhydricity (23.6%).

Gender-based incidence, recovery period, and mortality rate of COVID-19 among the population of district Attock, Pakistan

COVID-19 is reported as an extremely contagious disease with common symptoms of fever, dry cough, sore throat, and tiredness. The published literature on incidence and gender-wise prevalence of COVID-19 is scarce in Pakistan. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the distribution, incubation period and mortality rate of COVID-19 among the male and female population of district Attock. The data were collected between 01 April 2020 and 07 December 2020 from the population of district Attock, Pakistan. A total of 22,962 individuals were screened and 843 were found positive for RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. The confirmed positive cases were monitored carefully. Among the positive cases, the incidence of COVID-19 was 61.7% among males and 38.2% among females. The average recovery period of males was 18.89±7.75 days and females were 19±8.40 days from SARS-CoV-2. The overall mortality rate was 8.06%. The death rate of male patients was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to female patients. Also, the mortality rate was higher (P<0.05) in male patients of 40-60 years of age compared to female patients of the same age group. Moreover, the mortality rate significantly increased (P<0.05) with the increase of age irrespective of gender. In conclusion, the incidence and mortality rate of COVID-19 is higher in males compared to the female population. Moreover, irrespective of gender the mortality rate was significantly lower among patients aged <40 years.

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of Schizothorax plagiostomus at River Swat

Snow trout (Schizothorax plagiostomus) is an economically important freshwater fish, mostly found in northern areas of water reservoirs of Pakistan. The current study was conducted in River Swat to analyze the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn) in tissues of Schizothorax plagiostomus. Tissues were extracted and dissolved in perchloric acid (HClO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) along with hotplate. The heavy metals, zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and Nickel (Ni) were determined using Perkin Elmer 2380 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results shows great variation in the content of the metal related to tissue type and sampling sites. A high concentration of bioaccumulation was reported at Charbagh, whereas lowest at Odigram: Charbagh>Landakai>Odigram. In the same way, Cr was the most accumulated heavy metal followed by lead, nickel, and Zinc.

Drug-induced inhibition of phosphorylation of STAT5 overrides drug resistance in neoplastic mast cells

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a mast cell (MC) neoplasm with complex pathology and a variable clinical course. In aggressive SM (ASM) and MC leukemia (MCL) responses to conventional drugs are poor and the prognosis is dismal. R763 is a multi-kinase inhibitor that blocks the activity of Aurora-kinase-A/B, ABL1, AKT and FLT3. We examined the effects of R763 on proliferation and survival of neoplastic MC. R763 produced dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in the human MC lines HMC-1.1 (IC₅₀ 5-50 nM), HMC-1.2 (IC₅₀ 1-10 nM), ROSA^{KIT WT} (IC₅₀ 1-10 nM), ROSA^{KIT D816V} (IC₅₀ 50-500 nM) and MCPV-1.1 (IC₅₀ 100-1000 nM). Moreover, R763 induced growth inhibition in primary neoplastic MC in patients with ASM and MCL. Growth-inhibitory effects of R763 were accompanied by signs of apoptosis and a G2/M cell cycle arrest. R763 also inhibited phosphorylation of KIT, BTK, AKT and STAT5 in neoplastic MC. The most sensitive target appeared to be STAT5. In fact, tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5 was inhibited by R763 at 10 nM. At this low concentration, R763 produced synergistic growth-inhibitory effects on neoplastic MC when combined with midostaurin or dasatinib. Together, R763 is a novel promising multi-kinase inhibitor that blocks STAT5 activation and thereby overrides drug-resistance in neoplastic MC.

Severe acute maternal morbidity and intensive care in a public sector university hospital of Pakistan

BACKGROUND

The study was planned to review the case series of pregnant women requiring intensive care due to severe acute maternal morbidity in the public sector university hospital, in order to identify failures and priorities in maternal health care provision in Pakistan.

METHODS

A retrospective case series study was performed of critically ill obstetrics patients admitted to general intensive care unit of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan, from January 1st to 31st December 2006. Data included demographics, disease responsible for critical illness, complications that prompted ICU admissions, intervention required, length of ICU stay and the resulting foeto-maternal mortality and morbidity.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 30 obstetric patients were transferred to general ICU, representing 1.34% of 2224 deliveries. Seventy three % of women belonged to rural areas, 96% were un-booked while history of surgical intervention was present in 87% of cases. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (50%) and sepsis (17%) were the two main obstetrical conditions responsible for maternal illness. Respiratory failure (57%) and haemodynamic instability (40%) were the major indications for ICU transfer. Mechanical ventilatory support was the commonest intervention required in the ICU followed by the ionotropic support (33%). The foetal mortality rate was 43%, while maternal mortality rate was 33%.

CONCLUSION

Maternal morbidity and mortality can be reduced by meticulous adaptation of safe motherhood initiative, provision of separate ICU services for critically ill obstetrical patients and early assessment and aggressive intervention through a team approach involving obstetricians, intensivists and anaesthetists.

Hypotensive action of coumarin glycosides from Daucus carota

Daucus carota (carrot) has been used in traditional medicine to treat hypertension. Activity-directed fractionation of aerial parts of D. carota resulted in the isolation of two cumarin glycosides coded as DC-2 and DC-3. Intravenous administration of these compounds caused a dose-dependent (1-10 mg/kg) fall in arterial blood pressure in normotensive anaesthetised rats. In the in vitro studies, both compounds caused a dose-dependent (10-200 microg/ml) inhibitory effect on spontaneously beating guinea pig atria as well as on the K+ -induced contractions of rabbit aorta at similar concentrations. These results indicate that DC-2 and DC-3 may be acting through blockade of calcium channels and this effect may be responsible for the blood pressure lowering effect of the compounds observed in the in vivo studies.

Central nervous system abscesses due to Coccidioides species

Meningitis occurs in one-third to one-half of patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis, but mass lesions have rarely been described; these lesions are usually found at autopsy. We report six cases of disseminated coccidioidomycosis with central nervous system (CNS) abscesses. Four patients had cerebellar involvement, and two had spinal cord involvement. Four patients were diabetic, and two subsequently died. Review of the literature on CNS coccidioidomycosis indicated that parenchymal brain involvement occurs in 1%-33% of cases, and < 40 cases with mass lesions have been reported since 1905. Almost all patients were male and had other active disseminated foci of coccidioidomycosis. In approximately one-third of all cases, meningitis was absent. Brain lesions may be superficial or deep and multiple or single. In the absence of meningitis, serology of cerebrospinal fluid is negative. Hematogenous origin appears to be more common than direct extension from the meninges. Spinal cord involvement is rare. Diabetes was present in several cases, thus suggesting a vascular predisposition. We hope our experience will increase awareness of this entity, which appears to be more common than previously appreciated, and will facilitate diagnosis.

Detection of coliform organisms in drinking water by radiometric method

The radiometric method has been used for detection of coliform bacteria in water. The method is based on measuring the released metabolic 14CO2 from 14C-lactose in growth media containing coliform organisms incubated at 37 degrees C under continuous shaking. This rapid and sensitive radiometric method permits the detection of even single coliform organisms within 6 hours of incubation. Using this automated method, a total of 102 samples (in duplicate) collected from different areas in and around Rawalpindi and Islamabad were assessed for coliform bacteria. Of these 102 samples, 50 were tap water samples, 40 from wells and 6 each were from Rawal and Simly dams. About 47% and 67% tap water samples, while 62% and 74% well water samples were found unsatisfactory from around Islamabad and Rawalpindi areas, respectively. About 83% and 66% water samples from Rawal dam and Simly dam respectively were found to be unsatisfactory.