Changes in soil microbial biomass and organic C pools improve the sustainability of perennial grass and legume system under organic nutrient management.

Introduction: The perennial grass-legume cropping system benefits soil because of its high biomass turnover, cover cropping nature, and different foraging behaviors. We investigated the response of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and their stock to organic and inorganic nutrient management in the Guinea grass and legume (cowpea-Egyptian clover) cropping system. Methods: Depth-wise soil samples were collected after harvesting the Egyptian clover. Based on the ease of oxidation with chromic acid, different pools of SOC oxidizable using the Walkley-Black C method, very labile, labile, less labile, non-labile; and dissolved organic C (DOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and total organic C (TOC) in soils were analyzed for computing several indices of SOC. Result and discussion: After 10 years of crop cycles, FYM and NPKF nutrient management recorded greater DOC, MBC, SOC stocks, and C sequestration than the NPK. Stocks of all SOC pools and carbon management index (CMI) decreased with soil depth. A significant improvement in CMI, stratification ratio, sensitivity indices, and sustainable yield index was observed under FYM and NPKF. This grass-legume intercropping system maintained a positive carbon balance sequestered at about 0.8Mg C ha-1 after 10 years without any external input. Approximately 44-51% of the applied carbon through manure was stabilized with SOC under this cropping system. The DOC, MBC, and SOC in passive pools were identified for predicting dry fodder yield. This study concludes that the application of organics in the perennial grass-legume inter cropping system can maintain long-term sustainability, enhance the C sequestration, and offset the carbon footprint of the farm enterprises.

Mapping of the QTLs governing grain micronutrients and thousand kernel weight in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using high density SNP markers.

Biofortification is gaining importance globally to improve human nutrition through enhancing the micronutrient content, such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc, in staple food crops. The present study aims to identify the chromosomal regions governing the grain iron concentration (GFeC), grain zinc concentration (GZnC), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in wheat, developed from a cross between HD3086 and HI1500. The experiment was conducted in four different production conditions at Delhi viz., control, drought, heat, and combined heat and drought stress and at Indore under drought stress. Grain iron and zinc content increased under heat and combined stress conditions, while thousand kernel weight decreased. Medium to high heritability with a moderate correlation between grain iron and zinc was observed. Out of 4,106 polymorphic markers between the parents, 3,407 SNP markers were used for linkage map construction which spanned over a length of 14791.18 cm. QTL analysis identified a total of 32 chromosomal regions governing the traits under study, which includes 9, 11, and 12 QTLs for GFeC, GZnC, and TKW, respectively. A QTL hotspot was identified on chromosome 4B which is associated with grain iron, grain zinc, and thousand kernel weight explaining the phenotypic variance of 29.28, 10.98, and 17.53%, respectively. Similarly, common loci were identified on chromosomes 4B and 4D for grain iron, zinc, and thousand kernel weight. In silico analysis of these chromosomal regions identified putative candidate genes that code for proteins such as Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase, P-loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase, Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, Serine-threonine/tyrosine-protein kinase and F-box-like domain superfamily proteins which play role in many important biochemical or physiological process. The identified markers linked to QTLs can be used in MAS once successfully validated.

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and density functional theory of organotin and organosilicon complexes of bioactive ligands containing nitrogen, sulfur donor atoms as antimicrobial agents: in vitro and in silico studies.

Recently inorganic-based metallodrugs provide an effective mechanism for the drugs on the choice of metal and its properties. Medicinal complex compounds provide an efficient platform for various pharmacological and therapeutic applications. Six new organotin and organosilicon complexes containing sulphur and nitrogen donor atoms were synthesised. These complexes of (E)-2-((4-methoxybenzylidene)amino)benzenethiol were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weights, conductance measurements, infrared, electronic, and NMR spectroscopy. The data analysis indicated that the Schiff base contains bidentate nitrogen sulfur (NS) domains and was coordinated to silicon (Si) and tin (Sn) moieties via the imine-N and thiolic-S atoms, resulting in penta- and hexa-coordinated complexes in 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 ratios, respectively. The geometries around the Sn and Si atoms in complexes 1, 3, and 5 were five-coordinated and 2, 4, and 6 were six-coordinated octahedra, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to determine the optimal structural parameters. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes were determined. These data indicate that metal complexes are more effective against bacteria and fungi in comparison to the free ligand. Molecular docking was performed to interpret the interaction of protein and various complexes and it was observed that compound 6 showed the highest binding affinity.

Comparability of blinded remote and site-based assessments of response to adjunctive esketamine or placebo nasal spray in patients with treatment resistant depression.

Functional unblinding due to treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) may occur with any investigational drug and poses a challenge for double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. This pilot study compared site-based Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores to remote, site-independent scores by blinded raters. Audio-digital recordings of site-based MADRS interviews were obtained from a subset of patients during a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of esketamine nasal spray or placebo spray in treatment resistant depression (Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01998958). Fourteen of 67 patients (21%) in the ITT population were randomly selected from 3 clinical trial sites. The site-based MADRS interviews were recorded at the baseline and 2 h post-dose assessments on the first intranasal dosing day. Site-independent raters scored the recordings and were blinded to treatment and all reported TEAEs, including any transient dissociative/perceptual symptoms. None of the 7 placebo-assigned patients achieved a treatment response or remission at the 2-h post-dose assessment. Four of the 7 esketamine-assigned patients (57.1%) achieved a treatment response at 2-h post-dose, and 3 patients (42.9%) achieved remission. Three esketamine-treated patients experienced transient dissociative symptoms. The remote site-independent raters essentially replicated the site-based MADRS scores and yielded a 92.9% predictive value for matching treatment response and remission rates. This small pilot study affirms that blinded remote ratings (without the likelihood of functional unblinding) are comparable to site-based ratings of efficacy of esketamine nasal spray. The audio-digital recording method offers a reasonable strategy for other studies that may also be vulnerable to functional unblinding due to distinctive TEAEs.

CEREBELLAR ATAXIA AS A PRESENTING FEATURE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM.

CONTEXT: Besides its typical features, hypothyroidism comes to notice sometimes with neurologic features like reversible cerebellar ataxia, dementia, peripheral neuropathy, coma, etc. Therefore hypothyroidism should be suspected in all cases of cerebellar ataxia, as it is easily treatable. OBJECTIVE: Here we illustrate a case of hypothyroidism initially reported with cerebellar ataxia. CASE REPORT: A 40 year-old male presented with history of gait-ataxia. His investigations revealed frank primary hypothyroidism with positive anti-TPO antibody. The patient was put on thyroxine and he improved completely within eight weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This case report emphasizes that hypothyroidism can present with ataxia as one of the initial features. Therefore, hypothyroidism should be considered in all cases of cerebellar ataxia as it is a reversible cause of ataxia.

Implications of retinal effects observed in chronic toxicity studies on the clinical development of a CNS-active drug candidate.

The development path described for JNJ-26489112 provides perspectives on interpretation of retinal effects observed in nonclinical studies and their implications for clinical development. JNJ-26489112 is a CNS-active investigational drug that has potential as a novel treatment for treatment-resistant and bipolar depression, epilepsy, and neuropathic/inflammatory pain. In a 6-month toxicity study in albino rats, retinal atrophy was observed at supratherapeutic exposures to JNJ-26489112. The histopathological changes and topography of the lesions were characteristic of light-induced damage specific to albino rats. The species/strain specificity is supported by an absence of any ocular effects in dogs and in pigmented and albino rats, housed under standard and reduced lighting, respectively. To further evaluate its potential to cause ocular effects, in vivo functional and structural ocular analyses were included in a 9-month monkey toxicity study. Reductions in rod- and cone-mediated electroretinograms were observed at supratherapeutic exposures but without any histopathologic changes. These data suggested that the effects of JNJ-26489112 in monkeys were neuromodulatory and not neurotoxic. Taken together, data related to the light-induced atrophy in albino rats and reversible neuromodulatory effects in monkeys, supported the safe evaluation of JNJ-26489112 in a clinical proof-of-concept study that included comprehensive functional and structural ocular monitoring.

Statistical analysis of composition fluctuations and short-range order in stoichiometric Ni-Cr-Mo alloys.

In the solution treated state Ni-Cr-Mo based alloys exhibit short-range order characterized by the appearance of diffuse intensity spots in electron diffraction patterns at {1 ½ 0} positions. This short-range order appears due to of the formation of chemical heterogeneities. In the present work we report on the investigation of short-range order in Ni-33 at% Cr and Ni-16.7 at% Cr-16.7 at% Mo alloys using transmission electron microscopy. Chemical heterogeneities and their sizes are analyzed by statistical methods applied to three-dimensional atom probe data obtained on the same alloys. The obtained chemical heterogeneities are correlated to regions of short-range order in Ni-33 at% Cr and Ni-16.7 at% Cr-16.7 at% Mo alloys.

Observation of X(3872)→J/ψγ and search for X(3872)→ψ'γ in B decays.

We report a study of B→(J/ψγ)K and B→(ψ'γ)K decay modes using 772×106 B ̅B events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We observe X(3872)→J/ψγ and report the first evidence for χ(c2)→J/ψγ in B→(X_{c ̅cγ)K decays, while in a search for X(3872)→ψ'γ no significant signal is found. We measure the branching fractions, B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→J/ψγ)=(1.78(-0.44)(+0.48)±0.12)×10(-6), B(B(±)→χ(c2)K(±))=(1.11(-0.34)(+0.36)±0.09)×10(-5), B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→ψ'γ)<3.45×106 (upper limit at 90% C.L.), and also provide upper limits for other searches.

LASER INTERVENTION IN MACULAR OEDEMA DUE TO BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.

20 out of 25 patients of Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO), with macular oedema of more than six months duration and less than one year, with visual acuity (VA) less than 6/18 corrected and without retinal neovascularisation (NVE) or capillary non-perfusion (CNP) were subjected to argon-green laser photocoagulation applied in a macular grid fashion. At the end of two years 14/20 (70%) laser treated eyes in comparison to 2/5 (40%) of the non-laser group had corrected visual acuity of 6/12.

Potassium Salts Inhibit Growth of the Cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. in Pond Water and Defined Media: Implications for Control of Microcystin-Producing Aquatic Blooms.

Ten metals were assayed in 21 Indian ponds which comprised three groups: (i) eutrophic alkaline ponds containing <2.5 mM potassium and thick growths of Microcystis aeruginosa or Microcystis flos-aquae during most of the year, (ii) equally eutrophic alkaline ponds containing >2.8 mM potassium and no detectable Microcystis growth, and (iii) oligo- or mesotrophic ponds with various potassium and hydrogen ion concentrations and no persistent Microcystis blooms. The effects of potassium on Microcystis growth were examined in filter-sterilized pond water and in defined culture media. A 50% reduction in the 10-day yield of cultured M. aeruginosa was observed in DP medium and pond water supplemented with 1 and 3 mM KCl, respectively. In contrast, the addition of 2 to 30 mM NaCl did not suppress the growth of M. aeruginosa in either DP medium or pond water. Both 5 mM KCl and 20 mM KHCO(inf3) in J medium strongly inhibited the growth of M. flos-aquae C3-9, whereas 5 to 30 mM NaCl had no effect and 20 mM NaHCO(inf3) was stimulatory. For pond water cultured with a mixture of M. aeruginosa and the duckweed Wolffia arrhiza, M. aeruginosa dominated in unsupplemented water and W. arrhiza dominated in water supplemented with 4.8 mM KCl. Implications for the ecology and control of Microcystis blooms are discussed.

Amlodipine once a day in stable angina: double-blind crossover comparison with placebo.

Although calcium antagonists form a mainstay of therapy in patients with angina pectoris, the currently available agents have significant limitations. Nifedipine, diltiazem, and verapamil are all high-clearance agents with significant hepatic extraction and rapid clearance, leading to limited and short-lived bioavailability necessitating frequent daily administration. In contrast, amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, has a long half-life of 35-50 h (compared with 3 to 4 h elimination half-life of diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine). After oral doses, the relative bioavailability of amlodipine is high (64%) and absorption is smooth, with peak plasma levels being achieved 6-12 h postdose. Bioavailability is not affected by the consumption of food. In common with other dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, amlodipine is eliminated mainly by metabolism. None of the metabolites of amlodipine has significant calcium antagonist effects in humans. In contrast to verapamil or diltiazem, amlodipine has no effect on sinus or atrioventricular node and little or no effect on the resting heart rate. Amlodipine does not have any appreciable negative inotropic effect with the relevant clinical dose. Other clinical studies have shown amlodipine to be effective when used once-daily in chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina. Comparative studies indicate that the antianginal efficacy of amlodipine is comparable to the beta blocker nadolol and the benzothiazepine calcium antagonist diltiazem. Amlodipine has also been found to provide improved antianginal effects when combined to treatment with beta blockers and/or long-acting nitrates. Treatment with amlodipine either as monotherapy or combined with other antianginal therapy for up to 26 weeks shows that efficacy is maintained, with no evidence of tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amlodipine combined with beta blockade for chronic angina: results of a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind study.

Amlodipine, a potent long-acting dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, was compared with placebo in a parallel, randomized, double-blind study in 134 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris maintained on beta-adrenergic blocking agents. After a single-blind, two-week placebo period, patients were randomized to receive either amlodipine (2.5, 5, and 10 mg) or placebo once daily for four weeks. The effects of amlodipine on maximal exercise time, work, time to angina onset, and subjective indices including angina frequency, nitroglycerin tablet consumption, and patient and investigator ratings were assessed. Each dose of amlodipine produced increases in exercise time and calculated total work accomplished compared to baseline. Improvements at 5 and 10 mg were significantly greater than placebo which produced no significant change (p less than 0.05). Qualitative improvements in the severity of angina were produced by amlodipine at 5 and 10 mg daily assessed by patient-rating questionnaires (p less than 0.05). Reductions in angina frequency attacks per week and weekly nitroglycerin tablet consumption occurred but were not statistically significant when compared with placebo. Adverse effects observed during amlodipine treatment prompted discontinuation of treatment in only 2 out of 100 patients. Three patients discontinued treatment for reported lack of efficacy. No laboratory abnormalities prompted treatment discontinuation and minor side effects of dizziness, nausea, headache, and fatigue were observed infrequently. The results of this controlled, large-scale multicenter trial suggest that amlodipine significantly increased exercise capacity and was well tolerated when added to the antianginal regimen of patients remaining symptomatic while receiving beta-blocking agents.

Doxazosin for the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure: results of a randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

In this study we evaluated the effects of once-daily administration of oral doxazosin in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). After a stabilization period of at least 2 weeks with digitalis and diuretics, 73 patients with chronic CHF were randomized to receive additionally either doxazosin or placebo in double-blind fashion. Patients underwent weekly dose adjustments with increasing doses of doxazosin (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg daily) or placebo for 5 weeks, and 67 were evaluated for 12 additional weeks on maximally tolerated doses of blinded study drugs. Treatment groups were evaluated with respect to symptoms of heart failure, indexes of quality of life and left ventricular function, frequency and type of arrhythmia, adverse events, and mortality rates. Doxazosin (11.9 +/- 0.9 mg) given once daily produced a favorable trend in the investigators' and patients' assessments of symptomatic change. Doxazosin was associated with a significantly higher level of voluntary submaximal exercise and a favorable trend on left ventricular ejection fraction (increase of 9.8% of the baseline value vs 2.7% with placebo; p = NS). During the 3-month steady-dosing period, patients treated with doxazosin had a significant (p less than 0.004) reduction in ventricular arrhythmias and significantly fewer morbid and mortal cardiac events (including episodes of worsening heart failure severe enough to prompt discontinuation of the study, myocardial infarction, and death). Doxazosin was well tolerated, producing no major side effects and only a slightly higher frequency of minor treatment-related side effects compared with placebo (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum magnesium levels in chronic renal failure. Clinical significance and correlation with sodium potassium and calcium.

Fifty cases with chronic renal failure and 25 age and sex matched normal healthy controls were studied. The mean serum magnesium level was significantly higher (4.10 +/- 0.85 mg/dl) in the patients as compared to controls (2.40 +/- 0.14 mg/dl; p less than 0.001) and levels rose progressively with deterioration in renal function. Significantly higher serum magnesium levels were observed in patients of chronic renal failure with encephalopathy than in those without. Greater the impairment in level of consciousness, higher was the magnesium level. Improvement in neurological status correlated well with fall in serum magnesium level. The fall was significantly higher in patients on dialysis as compared to non-dialysed patients. Serum magnesium is a worthwhile tool in assessing duration of disease, morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal failure. Its estimation may help in evaluating conservative treatment and dialysis in chronic renal failure.

Coronary artery dissection secondary to blunt chest trauma.

A 38-yr-old woman presented with an anterolateral myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Subsequent cardiac catheterization revealed a large left ventricular aneurysm and angiographic evidence of dissection of the proximal left anterior descending artery. Review of the literature and management are discussed.

Reversion mode activation by myopotential sensing in a ventricular inhibited demand pacemaker.

Pacemaker follow-up in a 72-year-old woman revealed occasional failure to sense and pace, which was confirmed by Holter monitor. Neither reprogramming the pacemaker sensitivity nor repositioning the lead resolved the problem. A recheck of the Holter recordings revealed pacing and sensing failures were concurrent with "baseline artifact," suggestive of myopotentials. Furthermore, the inappropriate pacing spikes occurred at a rate of 90 pulses per minute (ppm). It was theorized that myopotential sensing was alternately inhibiting the pacer and activating the reversion mode, an asynchronous rate of 90 ppm. Reprogramming the unit to a lower sensitivity restored normal pacer function.

Mitral valve prolapse and spasm of normal coronary arteries: report of four cases and review of the literature.

The association between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and atypical chest pain has been well-described. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain this association. A number of lines of evidence suggest that underlying ischemia may cause chest pain in some patients with MVP. We have recently evaluated 4 patients with chest pain syndromes who had angiographic evidence of MVP and spasm of angiographically normal coronary arteries. The possibility that coronary spasm is the underlying etiology of chest pain in some patients with mitral valve prolapse raises a theoretical argument against beta-blockade in these patients. Three of our patients were successfully treated with calcium channel blockers.