Strigolactones: A promising tool for nutrient acquisition through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis and abiotic stress tolerance.

Strigolactones (SLs) constitute essential phytohormones that control pathogen defense, resilience to phosphate deficiency and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, SLs are released into the soil by roots, especially in conditions in which there is inadequate phosphate or nitrogen available. SLs have the aptitude to stimulate the root parasite plants and symbiotic cooperation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in rhizosphere. The use of mineral resources, especially phosphorus (P), by host plants is accelerated by AMF, which also improves plant growth and resilience to a series of biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, these SL treatments that promote rhizobial symbiosis are substitutes for artificial fertilizers and other chemicals, supporting ecologically friendly farming practices. Moreover, SLs have become a fascinating target for abiotic stress adaptation in plants, with an array of uses in sustainable agriculture. In this review, the biological activity has been summarized that SLs as a signaling hormone for AMF symbiosis, nutrient acquisition, and abiotic stress tolerance through interaction with other hormones. Furthermore, the processes behind the alterations in the microbial population caused by SL are clarified, emphasizing the interplay with other signaling mechanisms. This review covers the latest developments in SL studies as well as the properties of SLs on microbial populations, plant hormone transductions, interactions and abiotic stress tolerance.

Chlorophyll fluorescence, physiology, and yield of winter wheat under different irrigation and shade durations during the grain-filling stage.

The uneven spatial and temporal distribution of light resources and water scarcity during the grain-filling stage pose significant challenges for sustainable crop production, particularly in the arid areas of the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of drought and shading stress on winter wheat growth and its physio-biochemical and antioxidative responses. Wheat plants were subjected to different drought levels- full irrigation (I100), 75% of full irrigation (I75), 50% of full irrigation (I50), and 25% of full irrigation (I25), and shading treatments - 12, 9, 6, 3 and 0 days (SD12, SD9, SD6, SD3, and CK, respectively) during the grain-filling stage. The effects of drought and shading treatments reduced yield in descending order, with the most significant reductions observed in the SD12 and I25 treatments. These treatments decreased grain yield, spikes per plant, 1000-grain weight, and spikelets per spike by 160.67%, 248.13%, 28.22%, and 179.55%, respectively, compared to the CK. Furthermore, MDA content and antioxidant enzyme activities exhibited an ascending trend with reduced irrigation and longer shading durations. The highest values were recorded in the I75 and SD12 treatments, which increased MDA, SOD, POD, and CAT activities by 65.22, 66.79, 65.07 and 58.38%, respectively, compared to the CK. The Pn, E, Gs, and iCO2 exhibited a decreasing trend (318.14, 521.09, 908.77, and 90.85%) with increasing shading duration and decreasing irrigation amount. Drought and shading treatments damage leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, decreasing yield and related physiological and biochemical attributes.

Sugarcane bagasse biochar boosts maize growth and yield in salt-affected soil by improving soil enzymatic activities.

Salinization is a leading threat to soil degradation and sustainable crop production. The application of organic amendments could improve crop growth in saline soil. Thus, we assessed the impact of sugarcane bagasse (SB) and its biochar (SBB) on soil enzymatic activity and growth response of maize crop at three various percentages (0.5%, 1%, and 2% of soil) under three salinity levels (1.66, 4, and 8 dS m-1). Each treatment was replicated three times in a completely randomized block design with factorial settings. The results showed that SB and SBB can restore the impact of salinization, but the SBB at the 2% addition rate revealed promising results compared to SB. The 2% SBB significantly enhanced shoot length (23.4%, 26.1%, and 41.8%), root length (16.8%, 20.8%, and 39.0%), grain yield (17.6%, 25.1%, and 392.2%), relative water contents (11.2%, 13.1%, and 19.2%), protein (17.2%, 19.6%, and 34.9%), and carotenoid (16.3, 30.3, and 49.9%) under different salinity levels (1.66, 4, and 8 dS m-1, respectively). The 2% SBB substantially drop the Na+ in maize root (28.3%, 29.9%, and 22.4%) and shoot (36.1%, 37.2%, and 38.5%) at 1.66, 4, and 8 dS m-1. Moreover, 2% SBB is the best treatment to boost the urease by 110.1%, 71.7%, and 91.2%, alkaline phosphatase by 28.8%, 38.8%, and 57.6%, and acid phosphatase by 48.4%, 80.1%, and 68.2% than control treatment under 1.66, 4 and 8 dS m-1, respectively. Pearson analysis showed that all the growth and yield parameters were positively associated with the soil enzymatic activities and negatively correlated with electrolyte leakage and sodium. The structural equational model (SEM) showed that the different application percentage of amendments significantly influences the growth and physiological parameters at all salinity levels. SEM explained the 81%, 92%, and 95% changes in maize yield under 1.66, 4, and 8 dS m-1, respectively. So, it is concluded that the 2% SBB could be an efficient approach to enhance the maize yield by ameliorating the noxious effect of degraded saline soil.

A Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST) in the Duodenum in a Young Adult.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are rare gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, but the most prevalent mesenchymal tumours of the GI tract arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal. They account for 1-3% of all GI malignancies, and only 3-5% of all cases of GIST are located at the duodenal. We present a case of a young adult who presented to the ED with symptoms of GI bleeding.

Best Practices in Nuclear Imaging for the Diagnosis of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in KSA: The Eagle Eyes of Local Experts.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a complex and serious form of heart failure caused by the accumulation of transthyretin amyloid protein in the heart muscle. Variable symptoms of ATTR-CM can lead to a delayed diagnosis. Recognizing the diagnostic indicators is crucial to promptly detect this condition. A targeted literature review was conducted to examine the latest international consensus recommendations on a comprehensive diagnosis of ATTR-CM. Additionally, a panel consisting of nuclear medicine expert consultants (n = 10) and nuclear imaging technicians (n = 2) convened virtually from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to formulate best practices for ATTR-CM diagnosis. The panel reached a consensus on a standard diagnostic pathway for ATTR-CM, which commences by evaluating the presence of clinical red flags and initiating a cardiac workup to assess the patient's echocardiogram. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging may be needed, in uncertain cases. When there is a high suspicion of ATTR-CM, patients undergo nuclear scintigraphy and hematologic tests to rule out primary or light-chain amyloidosis. The expert panel emphasized that implementing best practices will support healthcare professionals in KSA to improve their ability to detect and diagnose ATTR-CM more accurately and promptly. Diagnosing ATTR-CM accurately and early can reduce morbidity and mortality rates through appropriate treatment.

Role of dexmedetomidine in modifying immune paralysis in patients with septic shock: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Immune paralysis can be defined as a hypoinflammatory state associated with the incapacity of the immune system to release proinflammatory mediators despite the clearance of pathogens by antimicrobials. Persistent immune paralysis leads to failure to eradicate primary infections with a substantial increase in the risk of multiorgan dysfunction and mortality. The state of immune paralysis is caused mainly by the diminished ability of monocytes to release proinflammatory cytokines in response to endotoxin. This phenomenon is known as endotoxin tolerance. This study aimed to assess the role of dexmedetomidine in modifying immune paralysis in septic shock patients. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with septic shock were randomized into two groups of 12 patients. A continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine started at 0.15 µg kg-1 hr-1 and adjusted by 0.15 µg kg-1 h-1 to a maximum of 0.75 µg kg-1 h-1 (10 ml h-1), while midazolam was started at 1 mg h-1 (2 mL hr-1) and adjusted by 1 mg h-1 to a maximum of 5 mg h-1 (10 mL h-1). All infusions were adjusted by increments of 2 mL/hr-1 to maintain blinding. Serum levels of CD42a+/CD14+, HLADR+/CD14+, CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were measured at baseline (T1), 12 h (T2), and 24 h (T3). RESULTS: Treatment with dexmedetomidine yielded no significant difference in CD42a+/CD14+, HLADR+/CD14, CD24b-MFI, HLADR-MFI, IL6 and TREM1 at all time points when compared with midazolam treatment. There was no significant difference in TLR levels between the two groups. Cardiac output in the dexmedetomidine group showed a significant decrease at 6, 12 and 24 h (P = 0.033, 0.021, and 0.005, respectively) compared with that in the midazolam group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that dexmedetomidine did not affect CD42a+/CD14+ and HLA-DR+/CD14+ expression in septic patients. Furthermore, cytokine production and inflammatory biomarkers did not change with dexmedetomidine infusion. Trial registration Clinical trial.gov registry (NCT03989609) on June 14, 2019, https://register. CLINICALTRIALS: gov .

Assessment of inter-centre agreement across multidisciplinary team meetings for patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Decision-making in the management of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma is complex and requires input from a number of different specialists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of agreement in terms of resectability, treatment allocation, and organs proposed to be resected across different retroperitoneal sarcoma multidisciplinary team meetings. METHODS: The CT scans and clinical information of 21 anonymized retroperitoneal sarcoma patients were sent to all of the retroperitoneal sarcoma multidisciplinary team meetings in Great Britain, which were asked to give an opinion about resectability, treatment allocation, and organs proposed to be resected. The main outcome was inter-centre reliability, which was quantified using overall agreement, as well as the chance-corrected Krippendorff's alpha statistic. Based on the latter, the level of agreement was classified as: 'slight' (0.00-0.20), 'fair' (0.21-0.40), 'moderate' (0.41-0.60), 'substantial' (0.61-0.80), or 'near-perfect' (>0.80). RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were reviewed at 12 retroperitoneal sarcoma multidisciplinary team meetings, giving a total of 252 assessments for analysis. Consistency between centres was only 'slight' to 'fair', with rates of overall agreement and Krippendorff's alpha statistics of 85.4 per cent (211 of 247) and 0.37 (95 per cent c.i. 0.11 to 0.57) for resectability; 80.4 per cent (201 of 250) and 0.39 (95 per cent c.i. 0.33 to 0.45) for treatment allocation; and 53.0 per cent (131 of 247) and 0.20 (95 per cent c.i. 0.17 to 0.23) for the organs proposed to be resected. Depending on the centre that they had attended, 12 of 21 patients could either have been deemed resectable or unresectable, and 10 of 21 could have received either potentially curative or palliative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Inter-centre agreement between retroperitoneal sarcoma multidisciplinary team meetings was low. Multidisciplinary team meetings may not provide the same standard of care for patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma across Great Britain.

Immediate surgery compared with short-course neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus capecitabine, FOLFIRINOX, or chemoradiotherapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (ESPAC5): a four-arm, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have relatively low resection rates and poor survival despite the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of our study was to establish the feasibility and efficacy of three different types of short-course neoadjuvant therapy compared with immediate surgery. METHODS: ESPAC5 (formerly known as ESPAC-5f) was a multicentre, open label, randomised controlled trial done in 16 pancreatic centres in two countries (UK and Germany). Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with a WHO performance status of 0 or 1, biopsy proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic head, and were staged as having a borderline resectable tumour by contrast-enhanced CT criteria following central review. Participants were randomly assigned by means of minimisation to one of four groups: immediate surgery; neoadjuvant gemcitabine and capecitabine (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15, and oral capecitabine 830 mg/m2 twice a day on days 1-21 of a 28-day cycle for two cycles); neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, irinotecan 180 mg/m2, folinic acid given according to local practice, and fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 bolus injection on days 1 and 15 followed by 2400 mg/m2 46 h intravenous infusion given on days 1 and 15, repeated every 2 weeks for four cycles); or neoadjuvant capecitabine-based chemoradiation (total dose 50·4 Gy in 28 daily fractions over 5·5 weeks [1·8 Gy per fraction, Monday to Friday] with capecitabine 830 mg/m2 twice daily [Monday to Friday] throughout radiotherapy). Patients underwent restaging contrast-enhanced CT at 4-6 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy and underwent surgical exploration if the tumour was still at least borderline resectable. All patients who had their tumour resected received adjuvant therapy at the oncologist's discretion. Primary endpoints were recruitment rate and resection rate. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, 89500674, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Sept 3, 2014, and Dec 20, 2018, from 478 patients screened, 90 were randomly assigned to a group (33 to immediate surgery, 20 to gemcitabine plus capecitabine, 20 to FOLFIRINOX, and 17 to capecitabine-based chemoradiation); four patients were excluded from the intention-to-treat analysis (one in the capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy withdrew consent before starting therapy and three [two in the immediate surgery group and one in the gemcitabine plus capecitabine group] were found to be ineligible after randomisation). 44 (80%) of 55 patients completed neoadjuvant therapy. The recruitment rate was 25·92 patients per year from 16 sites; 21 (68%) of 31 patients in the immediate surgery and 30 (55%) of 55 patients in the combined neoadjuvant therapy groups underwent resection (p=0·33). R0 resection was achieved in three (14%) of 21 patients in the immediate surgery group and seven (23%) of 30 in the neoadjuvant therapy groups combined (p=0·49). Surgical complications were observed in 29 (43%) of 68 patients who underwent surgery; no patients died within 30 days. 46 (84%) of 55 patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy were available for restaging. Six (13%) of 46 had a partial response. Median follow-up time was 12·2 months (95% CI 12·0-12·4). 1-year overall survival was 39% (95% CI 24-61) for immediate surgery, 78% (60-100) for gemcitabine plus capecitabine, 84% (70-100) for FOLFIRINOX, and 60% (37-97) for capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (p=0·0028). 1-year disease-free survival from surgery was 33% (95% CI 19-58) for immediate surgery and 59% (46-74) for the combined neoadjuvant therapies (hazard ratio 0·53 [95% CI 0·28-0·98], p=0·016). Three patients reported local disease recurrence (two in the immediate surgery group and one in the FOLFIRINOX group). 78 (91%) patients were included in the safety set and assessed for toxicity events. 19 (24%) of 78 patients reported a grade 3 or worse adverse event (two [7%] of 28 patients in the immediate surgery group and 17 [34%] of 50 patients in the neoadjuvant therapy groups combined), the most common of which were neutropenia, infection, and hyperglycaemia. INTERPRETATION: Recruitment was challenging. There was no significant difference in resection rates between patients who underwent immediate surgery and those who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Short-course (8 week) neoadjuvant therapy had a significant survival benefit compared with immediate surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with either gemcitabine plus capecitabine or FOLFIRINOX had the best survival compared with immediate surgery. These findings support the use of short-course neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. FUNDING: Cancer Research UK.

Evaluation of accuracy and performance of self-reported HIV and antiretroviral therapy status in the Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (2018).

BACKGROUND: Data on awareness of HIV status among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are critical to estimating progress toward epidemic control. To ascertain the accuracy of self-reported HIV status and antiretroviral drug (ARV) use in the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), we compared self-reported HIV status with HIV rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results and self-reported ARV use with detectable blood ARV levels. METHODS: On the basis of responses and test results, participants were categorized by HIV status and ARV use. Self-reported HIV status and ARV use performance characteristics were determined by estimating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Proportions and other analyses were weighted to account for complex survey design. RESULTS: During NAIIS, 186,405 participants consented for interview out of which 58,646 reported knowing their HIV status. Of the 959 (weighted, 1.5%) who self-reported being HIV-positive, 849 (92.1%) tested HIV positive and 64 (7.9%) tested HIV negative via RDT and polymerase chain reaction test for discordant positive results. Of the 849 who tested HIV positive, 743 (89.8%) reported using ARV and 72 (10.2%) reported not using ARV. Of 57,687 who self-reported being HIV negative, 686 (1.2%) tested HIV positive via RDT, with ARV biomarkers detected among 195 (25.1%). ARV was detected among 94.5% of those who self-reported using ARV and among 42.0% of those who self-reported not using ARV. Overall, self-reported HIV status had sensitivity of 52.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49.4%-56.0%) with specificity of 99.9% (95% CI: 99.8%-99.9%). Self-reported ARV use had sensitivity of 95.2% (95% CI: 93.6%-96.7%) and specificity of 54.5% (95% CI: 48.8%-70.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported HIV status and ARV use screening tests were found to be low-validity measures during NAIIS. Laboratory tests to confirm self-reported information may be necessary to determine accurate HIV and clinical status for HIV studies in Nigeria.

Sulfur Enhancement for the Improvement of Castor Bean Growth and Yield, and Sustainable Biodiesel Production.

Due to limited conventional energy sources, there is a need to find substitute non-conventional sources of energy to meet the societal demands on a sustainable basis. Crude oil and edible oil remain major import items in Pakistan, the deficit of which can be compensated by using biomass, preferably inedible oilseeds. Therefore, the current study evaluated the role of sulfur (S) fertilization for improving yield (seed and oil) and biodiesel value of castor bean, a potential inedible crop with minimum input requirements. For this purpose, a combined approach of field experimentation and laboratory analysis was conducted to explore the potential of two castor bean cultivars (DS-30 and NIAB Gold) against four S supply rates, namely, 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg S ha-1, in terms of growth, phenology, and yield parameters. Subsequently, the obtained seed samples were analyzed for biodiesel-related parameters in the Bio-analytical Chemistry lab, Punjab Bio-energy Institute, Faisalabad. The incremental S rates increased the seed yield for both cultivars, and the highest yield was recorded at 60 kg S ha-1 for NIAB Gold. For NIAB Gold, the oil content increased by 7% with S fertilization at 60 kg ha-1, and for DS-30, the oil content increased by 6% at 60 kg ha-1. As with incremental S fertilization, the oil yield increased on a hectare basis, and the quantity of biodiesel produced also increased. Importantly, the tested quality parameters of biodiesel, except biodiesel viscosity, were in the ASTM standard range. Overall, it has been concluded that castor bean is a promising and sustainable option for producing biodiesel as it is non-competitive to food crops and requires little input.

Effect of norepinephrine on blood volume, cardiac output, and systemic filling pressure in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with liver cirrhosis develop symptoms comparable to those of patients with sepsis, who have increased total vascular compliance, which may cause blood pooling in the venous pool. No previous studies have evaluated the effect of using norepinephrine on the intravascular blood volume. We investigated the norepinephrine infusion's effect on the mean systemic filling pressure, venous return, and cardiac preload in patients undergoing liver transplantation. METHODS: Overall, 33 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation were included in this study. Cardiac output (CO) was measured using a PiCCO device (Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany). The mean systemic filling pressure was calculated using the inspiratory hold maneuver at four time intervals - at baseline, 10 min after the norepinephrine infusion, 5 min after norepinephrine discontinuation, and after infusion of 500 cc of 5% albumin. Other hemodynamic parameters, including the mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure variation, stroke volume variation, global end-diastolic volume, and mitral inflow velocity (E wave), were also evaluated. RESULTS: The norepinephrine infusion increased MAP and systemic vascular resistance in all patients. Moreover, it increased CO, mean systemic filling pressure, and global end-diastolic volume in 20 patients (60%), whereas there were no changes in these variables in 13 patients (40%). In all patients, norepinephrine infusion discontinuation caused a significant decrease in MAP, CO, resistance to venous return, and mean systemic filling pressure. Infusion of 500 cc colloid increased CO; however, interestingly, it was associated with a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance; hence, MAP and mean systemic filling pressure showed no changes. CONCLUSIONS: The norepinephrine infusion at 0.1 µg-1 kg-1 min-1 was associated with an increase in CO in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation. Norepinephrine's effect on CO was primarily attributable to an increase in venous return due to an increase in mean systemic filling pressure.

Perioperative fluid management and outcomes in adult deceased donor liver transplantation - A systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Fluid management practices during and after liver transplantation vary widely among centers despite better understanding of the pathophysiology of end-stage liver disease and of the effects of commonly used fluids. This reflects a lack of high quality trials in this setting, but also provides a rationale for both systematic review of all relevant studies in liver recipients and evaluation of new evidence from closely related domains, including hepatology, non-transplant abdominal surgery, and critical care. OBJECTIVES: To develop evidence-based recommendations for perioperative fluid management to optimize immediate and short-term outcomes following liver transplantation. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central. METHODS: Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations using the GRADE approach derived from an international expert panel. Studies included those evaluating the following postoperative outcomes: acute kidney injury, respiratory complications, operative blood loss/red cell units required, and intensive care length of stay. PROSPERO protocol ID: CRD42021241392 RESULTS: Following expert panel review, 18 of 1624 screened studies met eligibility criteria for inclusion in the final quantitative synthesis. These included six single center RCTs, 11 single center observational studies, and one observational study comparing centers with different fluid management techniques. Definitions of interventions and outcomes varied between studies. Recommendations are therefore based substantially on expert opinion and evidence from other clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: A moderately restrictive or "replacement only" fluid regime is recommended, especially during the dissection phase of the transplant procedure. Sustained hypervolemia, based on absence of fluid responsiveness, elevated filling pressures and/or echocardiographic findings, should be avoided (Quality of Evidence: Moderate | Grade of Recommendation: Weak for restrictive fluid regime. Strong for avoidance of hypervolemia). Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) should be maintained at >60-65 mmHg in all cases (Quality of Evidence: Low | Grade of Recommendation: Strong). There is insufficient evidence in this population to support preferential use of any specific colloid or crystalloid for routine volume replacement. However, we recommend against the use of 130/.4 HES given the high incidence of AKI in this population.

Bio-diesel production of sunflower through sulphur management in a semi-arid subtropical environment.

Energy security is a prime focus of policy makers to support agriculture, industrialisation, and transportation. Due to limited conventional energy sources, there is a need to harness non-conventional energy sources. In this regard, one of the proposed approaches is using biomass (e.g. energy crops) to produce biofuel-a renewable source of energy. Sunflower has several agronomic features to be exploited for a renewable, non-conventional, and environment-friendly source of bioenergy. Sulphur (S) fertilisation holds key for realising sunflower potential for seed and oil yield. In response to variable S supply rates, here we compared and quantified sunflower yield (seed, oil, and biodiesel) and biodiesel quality according to the ASTM international standards. We used a combined approach of field experimentation and rigorous lab analysis. Firstly, in a field experiment laid out in randomised complete block design with split-plot arrangement, response of two local sunflower hybrids (FH-331 and FH-689) to four S supply rates (0, 25, 50, 75 kg S ha-1) was evaluated in terms of agronomic traits. Experimental data showed that fertilisation of S significantly influenced growth and yield (seed, oil) traits; the response was different between two hybrids which also interacted with S supply rate. FH-331 recorded the highest achene yield at S fertilisation of 75 kg S ha-1, whereas FH-689 recorded the highest achene yield at 50 kg ha-1; achene yield of FH-331 was 13.6% higher than FH-689. Compared to control, S at 75 kg S ha-1 increased oil yield of FH-331 by 22% whereas S at 50 kg ha-1 increased oil yield by 23% of FH-689. Seed samples were analysed for different biodiesel quality parameters. The ranges of all quality parameters of sunflower biodiesel such as viscosity, calorific values, acid value, iodine value, saponification value, cetane number, and pour point were in ASTM standard range. We conclude that sunflower is a promising and sustainable option for producing biodiesel, the potential of which can be increased by optimal S management under field conditions.

Identification of "Digital Sarcopenia" Can Aid the Detection of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency and Malnutrition Assessment in Patients with Suspected Pancreatic Pathology.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and subsequent malnutrition can be difficult to diagnose but lead to sarcopenia and increased mortality and morbidity even in benign disease. Digital skeletal muscle analysis has been increasingly recognised as a tool to diagnose sarcopenia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with PEI secondary to benign disease using novel skeletal muscle recognition software. METHODS: Prospective recruitment of patients referred for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with suspected pancreatic pathology. Patients with suspected pancreatic cancer on initial computed tomography (CT) were excluded. The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) was based on CT and EUS findings. PEI was assessed with faecal elastase-1. Digital measurement of skeletal muscle mass identified sarcopenia, with demographic and comorbidity data also collected. RESULTS: PEI was identified in 45.1% (46/102) of patients recruited, and 29.4% (30/102) had changes of CP. Sarcopenia was significantly more prevalent in PEI 67.4% (31/46) than no-PEI 37.5% (21/56) (37.5%), regardless of CP changes (p < 0.003). The prevalence of sarcopenia (67% vs. 35%; p = 0.02) and sarcopenic obesity (68.4% vs. 25%; p = 0.003) was significantly higher when PEI was present without a radiological diagnosis of CP. Multivariate analysis identified sarcopenia and diabetes to be independently associated with PEI (odds ratio 4.8 and 13.8, respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia was strongly associated with PEI in patients undergoing assessment for suspected benign pancreatic pathology. Digital skeletal muscle assessment can be used as a tool to aid identification of sarcopenia in patients undergoing CT scan for pancreatic symptoms.

Validity of Pulse Oximetry-derived Peripheral Perfusion Index in Pain Assessment in Critically Ill Intubated Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of pain in critically ill intubated patients is difficult and subjective. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of oximetry-derived peripheral perfusion index (PPI) in pain assessment in critically ill intubated patients using the behavioral pain scale (BPS) as a reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 35 adult mechanically ventilated surgical patients during their first 2 postoperative days in the intensive care unit. Values of PPI, BPS, Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), heart rate, and blood pressure were obtained before and after a standard painful stimulus (changing the patient position) and the ratio between the second and the first reading was calculated to determine the change (Δ) in all variables. The outcomes were the correlation between ΔBPS and ΔPPI as well as other hemodynamic parameters. The ability of the PPI to detect pain (defined as BPS ≥6) was analyzed using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Paired readings were obtained from 35 patients. After the standard painful stimulus, the PPI decreased while the BPS and the Richmond agitation sedation scale increased. The Spearman correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) between Δ PPI and Δ BPS was 0.41 (0.09-0.65). PPI values showed poor accuracy in detecting pain with area under receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval): 0.65 (0.53-0.76), with best cutoff value of ≤2.7. CONCLUSION: The PPI decreased after application of a standard painful stimulus in critically ill intubated patients. ∆PPI showed a low correlation with ∆BPS, and a PPI of ≤2.7 showed a low ability to detect BPS ≥6. Therefore, PPI should not be used for pain evaluation in critically ill intubated surgical patients.

Admission SpO2 and ROX index predict outcome in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pulse oximetry-derived oxygen saturation (SpO2) on room air, determined at hospital admission, as a predictor for the need for mechanical ventilatory support in patients with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, demographic and clinical details of the patients were obtained during ICU admission. SpO2 and respiratory rate (RR) on room air were determined within the first 6 h of hospital admission. As all measurements were obtained on room air, we calculated the simplified respiratory rate­oxygenation (ROX) index by dividing the SpO2 by the RR. Based on the use of any assistance of mechanical ventilator (invasive or noninvasive), patients were divided into mechanical ventilation (MV) group and oxygen therapy group. The accuracy of the SpO2, CT score, and ROX index to predict the need to MV were determined using the Area under receiver operating curve (AUC). RESULTS: We included 72 critically ill patients who tested COVID-19-positive. SpO2 on the room air could predict any MV requirement (AUC [95% confidence interval]: 0.9 [0.8-0.96], sensitivity: 70%, specificity 100%, cut-off value ≤78%, P < 0.001). Within the MV group, the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) was successful in 37 (74%) patients, whereas 13 patients (26%) required endotracheal intubation. The cut-off ROX value for predicting early NIV failure was ≤1.4, with a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 86%, and an AUC of 0.86 (95% confidence interval of 0.73-0.94, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A baseline SpO2 ≤78% is an excellent predictor of MV requirement with a positive predictive value of 100%. Moreover, the ROX index measured within the first 6 h of hospital admission is a good indicator of early NIV failure.

Effect of National Early Warning Scoring System Implementation on Cardiopulmonary Arrest, Unplanned ICU Admission, Emergency Surgery, and Acute Kidney Injury in an Emergency Hospital, Egypt.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of national early warning scoring system (NEWS) implementation in identifying patients at risk of clinical deterioration at an emergency hospital. BACKGROUND: Early warning score has been developed to facilitate early detection of deterioration by categorizing a patients' severity of illness and prompting nursing staff to request a medical review at specific trigger points. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, control/intervention groups', quasi-experimental design was utilized. A sample of 364 adult patients were admitted to the inpatient unit at an emergency hospital for six months. The patients were divided into a study group (174 patients) and a control group (190 patients). All study patients were followed up to either death or hospital discharge before and after implementing a new observation chart. The patients' outcomes were compared and analyzed between both groups. RESULTS: In the intervention period, compared to the control period, a significant reduction was seen in the number of cardiopulmonary arrest (4.7% vs 1.1%, p = 0.046), unplanned ICU admission (5.3% vs 1.7%, p = 0.049), emergency surgery (6.3% vs 0%, p = 0.001), acute kidney injury (6.8% vs 1.1%, p = 0.006). As well, there was a significant increase in the number of patients receiving medical reviews following clinical deterioration in terms of escalation plan (3.2% vs 26.4%, p = <0.001). CONCLUSION: The implementation of NEWS was associated with a significant improvement in patients' outcomes in hospital wards, increases in the frequency of vital signs measurements, and an increase in the number of medical reviews following clinical instability.

Sustainable Development of Chitosan/Calotropis procera-Based Hydrogels to Stimulate Formation of Granulation Tissue and Angiogenesis in Wound Healing Applications.

The formation of new scaffolds to enhance healing magnitude is necessarily required in biomedical applications. Granulation tissue formation is a crucial stage of wound healing in which granulation tissue grows on the surface of a wound by the formation of connective tissue and blood vessels. In the present study, porous hydrogels were synthesized using chitosan incorporating latex of the Calotropis procera plant by using a freeze-thaw cycle to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and angiogenesis in wound healing applications. Structural analysis through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the interaction between chitosan and Calotropis procera. Latex extract containing hydrogel showed slightly higher absorption than the control during water absorption analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis showed high thermal stability of the 60:40 combination of chitosan (CS) and Calotropis procera as compared to all other treatments and controls. A fabricated scaffold application on a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) showed that all hydrogels containing latex extract resulted in a significant formation of blood vessels and regeneration of cells. Overall, the formation of connective tissues and blood capillaries and healing magnitude decreased in ascending order of concentration of extract.

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in a non-COVID-19 teaching university hospital.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the published reports on COVID-19 emphasized that health care workers (HCWs) get infected more than the general population representing one of the most vulnerable groups. However, that the real percentage of HCWs infected by SARS-CoV-2 in Egypt remains unknown. The researchers conducted the current study to assess seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG among HCWs working in a hospital with no SARS-CoV-2 patients, and to identify the potential factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity. DESIGN AND METHODS: The current study is a cross-sectional study carried out among 455 HCWs at Cairo University Hospital. The researchers administered a questionnaire shortly before the SARS-CoV-2 rapid test is performed using closed-ended question format to obtain information on demographic data of the study participants including age, sex, specialty, clinical information including questions about medical conditions, and. history of previous exposure with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, and history of COVID-19- compatible symptoms during the previous 14 days (cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, anosmia, ageusia, and chills). RESULTS: We screened 455 HCWs for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 31.4% were in the high-risk group, and 68.6% in the low-risk group. The overall IgG seroprevalence was 36 (7.9%) (95% CI 5.8 to 10.8). The IgG seroprevalence was significantly higher in low-risk group 11% (35/312) versus high-risk group 0.7% (1/143), p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Low seropositivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs is suggestive of lack of immunity and we are still far from herd immunity.

The ability of pulse oximetry-derived peripheral perfusion index to detect fluid responsiveness in patients with septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Fluid challenge test is a widely used method for the detection of fluid responsiveness in acute circulatory failure. However, detection of the patient's response to the fluid challenge requires monitoring of cardiac output which is not feasible in many settings. We investigated whether the changes in the pulse oximetry-derived peripheral perfusion index (PPI), as a non-invasive surrogate of cardiac output, can detect fluid responsiveness using the fluid challenge test or not. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 58 patients with septic shock on norepinephrine infusion. Fluid challenge test, using 200 mL crystalloid solution, was performed in all study subjects. All patients received an additional 300 mL crystalloid infusion to confirm fluid responsiveness. Velocity time integral (VTI) (using transthoracic echocardiography), and PPI were measured at the baseline, after 200 mL fluid challenge, and after completion of 500 mL crystalloids. Fluid responsiveness was defined by 10% increase in the VTI after completion of the 500 mL. The predictive ability of ∆PPI [Calculated as (PPI after 200 mL - baseline PPI)/baseline PPI] to detect fluid responders was obtained using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (74%) were fluid responders; in whom, the mean arterial pressure, the central venous pressure, the VTI, and the PPI increased after fluid administration compared to the baseline values. ∆PPI showed moderate ability to detect fluid responders [area under receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval) 0.82 (0.70-0.91), sensitivity 76%, specificity 80%, positive predictive value 92%, negative predictive value 54%, cutoff value ≥ 5%]. There was a significant correlation between ∆PPI and ∆VTI induced by the fluid challenge. CONCLUSION: ∆PPI showed moderate ability to detect fluid responsiveness in patients with septic shock on norepinephrine infusion. Increased PPI after 200 mL crystalloid challenge can detect fluid responsiveness with a positive predictive value of 92%; however, failure of the PPI to increase does not exclude fluid responsiveness. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER: NCT03805321. Date of registration: 15 January 2019. Clinical trial registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03805321?term=ahmed+hasanin&rank=9 .