Comparing chromium phyto-assessment in Brachiaria mutica and Leptochloa fusca growing on chromium polluted soil.

Industrial discharge of chromium (Cr) into environment puts serious threat on living beings due to its potent toxicity. Phytostabilization, a type of in-situ phytoremediation is aimed to immobilize and stabilize the toxic elements in soil using root system of metal resistant potential plants. To evaluate the phytostabilization potential of two grass species Brachiaria mutica and Leptochloa fusca, a pot study was conducted using soil spiked with different concentrations of Cr (control, 25, 50 and 100 mg kg-1). Three plants were sown in each pot with three replications and arranged following completely randomized design. After three months of growth, the plants were harvested and above and below ground plant's parts were analyzed for various growth and physiological parameters. Data revealed that plant biomass, chlorophylls and carotenoids reduced substantially with increasing Cr concentration. Antioxidant enzymatic activity increased significantly in L. fusca as compared to B. mutica with increasing Cr levels (up to 50 mg kg-1), then reduced at maximum Cr level (100 mg kg-1) in both grasses. Leptochloa fusca performed better with maximum root Cr accumulation 93.7 µg plant-1, shoot Cr accumulation 24.7 µg plant-1, root bioconcentration factor (BCF) 2.0, shoot BCF 0.08, shoot TF 0.06 and MTI 87%. While B. mutica showed maximum root Cr accumulation 18.4 µg plant-1, shoot Cr accumulation 7.6 µg plant-1, shoot BCF 0.03, root BCF 1.28, shoot TF 0.04, and MTI 56%. These results showed that L. fusca possessed good potential with better Cr bioaccumulation, MTI, BCF and antioxidant activities compared to B. mutica. Hence L. fusca can be used as good phytostabilizing agent for the soils contaminated with lower to moderate levels of Cr.

Paracentesis-Induced Circulatory Dysfunction With Modest-Volume Paracentesis Is Partly Ameliorated by Albumin Infusion in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) is a serious complication of large-volume (>5 L) paracentesis in cirrhosis and is reduced with albumin infusion. There is a lack of data on PICD in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Because ACLF patients have greater hemodynamic derangements than patients with decompensated cirrhosis, we investigated whether PICD could develop with modest-volume paracentesis (MVP) and the role of albumin infusion. APPROACH AND RESULTS: A total of 80 ACLF patients undergoing <5 L paracentesis were randomized to receive albumin (8 g/dL of ascitic fluid; n = 40) or no albumin (n = 40) and serially followed to detect PICD. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups, including volume of ascitic tap (4.16 ± 0.23 versus 4.14 ± 0.27 L; P = 0.72) and plasma renin activity (PRA; 20.5 ± 7.03 versus 23.2 ± 8.24 ng/mL/hour; P = 0.12). PICD was more frequent in the no-albumin group than the albumin group (70% versus 30%; P = 0.001), with higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (50% versus 27.5%; P = 0.04), hyponatremia (67.5% versus 22.5%; P < 0.001), acute kidney injury (62.5% versus 30%; P = 0.001), and in-house mortality (62.5% versus 27.5%; P = 0.003). PRA of 25.15 ng/mL at day 3 had sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 68%, respectively, for development of PICD at day 6. Albumin infusion decreased the incidence of PICD at day 6 (odds ratio, 0.068; 95% confidence interval, 0.011-0.43; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: PICD is common and develops even with MVP in ACLF patients. Albumin infusion decreases the incidence of PICD and mortality in patients with ACLF. Clinical trial identifier: NCT02467348.

Phytoremediative potential of salt-tolerant grass species for cadmium and lead under contaminated nutrient solution.

Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils represents a promising technique and salt-tolerant hyperaccumulators for multiple metals are the need of time. Therefore, phytoremediation potential of four salt-tolerant grass species [Dhab (Desmostachya bipinnata), Kallar (Leptochloa fusca), Para (Brachiaria mutica) and Sporobolus (Sporobolus arabicus Boiss)] was evaluated for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in a hydroponic study. The plants were harvested after a growth period of 3 months in a nutrient solution containing different levels of Cd (0, 5, and 25 mg L-1) and Pb (0, 25, and 125 mg L-1). Results indicated that Dhab grass showed the highest root and shoot dry matter yield followed by Para, Kallar and Sporobolus grass irrespective of metal or its level under which they were grown. All the grass species showed considerable Cd-accumulating potential with an accumulation of >150 mg kg-1of shoot dry matter at a higher level of Cd-contamination (25 mg L-1). While in case of shoot Pb-accumulation only Para grass performed well and accumulated Pb >1000 mg kg-1 of shoot dry matter at the higher level of Pb-contamination (125 mg L-1). Moreover, Para and Dhab grasses performed better for shoot Cd-uptake, while only Para grass showed promising shoot Pb uptake potential. In conclusion, these grass species could be penitentially used for phytoremediation of salt-affected Cd and Pb contaminated soils.

A note on the haematophagous nature of poultry shaft louse, Menopon gallinae (Amblycera: Phthiraptera).

An analysis of the crop contents of the poultry shaft louse, Menopon gallina indicates that 67 % of adult males and 72 % of the adult females examined carried red content compatible to host blood, along with feather barbules. The percentage of nymphal instars carrying red content in the crop was quite low. On the basis of crop contents the louse does not seem to harbor any triturating agent and is also not involved in cannibalism or predation. SEM studies on the ventral side of head do not indicate the presence of any pointed structure which can be used to pierce the skin.

Sleep deprivation and its associated factors among general ward patients at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occurrence rate of sleep deprivation and to identify the environmental, staff-related and patient-related factors associated with SD among general ward patients of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, a pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 108 patients admitted into the general medical and general surgical wards of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. RESULTS: In all, 50 (46.3%) respondents felt deprived of adequate sleep in the hospital. Worry about illness disturbed the night-time sleep of 47 (43.5%) patients; most of these had SD (70%) (p < 0.001). Other patients' noise disturbed 31.5% of study subjects and a significant majority (68%) of these had SD (p = 0.003). Over 17% of study subjects reported cell phone's ringing as a disturbing factor; more by those with SD (68%) compared to those with no SD (32%); again the difference was significant (p = 0.003). Physical discomfort and presence of cannula were reported as disturbing factors by 41.7% and 28.7% of the study subjects respectively but these were not significantly associated with SD. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that sleep deprivation occurs commonly among general ward patients in tertiary care setting. Factors found to be associated with SD were amenable to modification to a greater extent.