Effect of some fertilizers on hatching of cereal cysts nematode, Heterodera avenae.

Experiments were conducted in laboratory and pot conditions to determine the effects of urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), single super phosphate (SSP), muriate of potash (MOP) and zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) on hatching of Heterodera avenae. Two concentrations of each fertilizer were tested in lab for which 10 cysts and 5 ml of each concentration were taken in 5 cm diameter Petri plates. Observations were recorded at weekly intervals up to six weeks. Urea, DAP, SSP and MOP inhibited hatching and ZnSO4 increased it. After six weeks, hatching was least (5.45%) in higher dose of urea and greatest (46.9%) in higher dose of ZnSO4. In pot experiment, two doses of urea and single dose of SSP, MOP, and ZnSO4 were applied in H. avenae-infested soil and WH-1105 wheat was sown. Observations on nematodes in roots, soil and remaining cyst contents were recorded 40 days after sowing. Among all the fertilizers, least nematodes in soil and roots were found at higher dose of urea and greatest number in ZnSO4.

Effects of tillage and poultry manure application rates on Salmonella and fecal indicator bacteria concentrations in tiles draining Des Moines Lobe soils.

Application of poultry manure (PM) to cropland as fertilizer is a common practice in artificially drained regions of the Upper Midwest United States. Tile-waters have the potential to contribute pathogenic bacteria to downstream waters. This 3-year study (2010-2012) was designed to evaluate the impacts of manure management and tillage practices on bacteria losses to drainage tiles under a wide range of field conditions. PM was applied annually in spring, prior to planting corn, at application rates ranging from 5 to 40 kg/ha to achieve target rates of 112 and 224 kg/ha nitrogen (PM1 and PM2). Control plots received no manure (PM0). Each treatment was replicated on three chisel-plowed (CP) plots and one no-till (NT) plot. Tile-water grab samples were collected weekly when tiles were flowing beginning 30 days before manure application to 100 days post application, and additional grab samples were obtained to target the full spectrum of flow conditions. Manure and tile-water samples were analyzed for the pathogen, Salmonella spp. (SALM), and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), Escherichia coli (EC), and enterococci (ENT). All three bacterial genera were detected more frequently, and at significantly higher concentrations, in tile-waters draining NT plots compared to CP plots. Transport of bacteria to NT tiles was most likely facilitated by macropores, which were significantly more numerous above tiles in NT plots in 2012 as determined by smoke-testing. While post-manure samples contained higher concentrations of bacteria than pre-manure samples, significant differences were not seen between low (PM1) and high (PM2) rates of PM application. The highest concentrations were observed under the NT PM2 plot in 2010 (6.6 × 10(3) cfu/100 mL EC, 6.6 × 10(5) cfu/100 mL ENT, and 2.8 × 10(3) cfu/100 mL SALM). Individual and 30-day geometric mean ENT concentrations correlated more strongly to SALM than EC; however, SALM were present in samples with little or no FIB.

Prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease in an urban Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in government employees across India. METHODS: The study population consisted of government employees in different parts of India ({n=10,642 men and n=1966 women; age 20-60 years}) and comprised various ethnic groups living in different environmental conditions. Recruitment was carried out in 20 cities across 14 states, and in one union territory. All selected individuals were subjected to a detailed questionnaire, medical examinations and anthropometric measurements. Blood samples were collected for blood glucose and serum lipid profile estimation, and resting ECG was recorded. Results were analysed using appropriate statistical tools. RESULTS: The study revealed that 4.6% of the study population had a family history of premature CAD. The overall prevalence of diabetes was 16% (5.6% diagnosed during the study and the remaining 10.4% already on medication). Hypertension was present in 21% of subjects. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly high, with 45.6% of study subjects having a high total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio. Overall, 78.6% subjects had two or more risk factors for CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates a high prevalence of CAD risk factors in the Indian urban population. Therefore, there is an immediate need to initiate measures to raise awareness of these risk factors so that individuals at high risk for future CAD can be managed.

Can endoscopic ultrasound distinguish between mediastinal benign lymph nodes and those involved by sarcoidosis, lymphoma, or metastasis?

BACKGROUND: Lymph nodes (LNs) echofeatures on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and concurrent fine needle aspiration (FNA) are alternatives to highly invasive approaches for etiologic diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy (MLAD). AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of LNs echofeatures and FNA via EUS to distinguish benign LNs from LNs involved by sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and metastasis in non-lung cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent EUS-FNA for MLAD was performed. Echofeatures of LNs including echogenicity, margins, shape, and LN size were recorded. Final diagnosis was made based on surgical sampling or clinical diagnosis with long-term follow-up. Only patients diagnosed as benign MLAD, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and metastasis included. Diagnostic value of echofeatures and FNA was evaluated. RESULTS: Included were 162 patients with final diagnosis of benign (68), sarcoidosis (33), lymphoma (20), and metastasis (41). The median LN along axis in the benign group [20.5 mm (6-76)] was significantly shorter than in the metastasis [28 mm (9-82)] and sarcoidosis [27 mm (17-50)] groups (p < 0.05). The median LN short axis in the benign group [11 mm (2-50)] was significantly shorter than in the metastasis [17 mm (5-44)] and lymphoma [16 mm (7-47)] groups (p < 0.05). No other echofeatures showed a discriminant value among the groups. When performing FNA, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 73.7, 100, 100, 72.2, and 84.4 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although benign MLAD tend to be smaller than other etiologies, echofeatures of LNs are not reliable etiologic diagnostic approach to MLAD. Therefore, FNA is suggested when feasible. However, due to relatively low sensitivity, LNs with benign FNA results should be subjected to further work-up if they are clinically suspicious.

Glycemic control after total pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: an exploratory study.

Background. Glycemic control following total pancreatectomy (TP) has been thought to be difficult to manage. Diffuse intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a potentially curable precursor to pancreatic adenocarcinoma, best treated by TP. Objective. Compare glycemic control in patients undergoing TP for IPMN to patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Design/Setting. Retrospective cohort. Outcome Measure. Hemoglobin A1C(HbA1C) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after TP. In the control group, baseline was defined as 6 months prior to the first HbA1c measure. Results. Mean HgbA1C at each point of interest was similar between TP and type I DM patients (6 months (7.5% versus 7.7%, P = 0.52), 12 months (7.3% versus 8.0%, P = 0.081), 18 months (7.7% and 7.6%, P = 0.64), and at 24 months (7.3% versus 7.8%, P = 0.10)). Seven TP patients (50%) experienced a hypoglycemic event compared to 65 type 1 DM patients (65%, P = 0.38). Limitations. Small number of TP patients, retrospective design, lack of long-termfollowup. Conclusion. This suggests that glycemic control following TP for IPMNcan be well managed, similar to type 1 DM patients. Fear of DM following TP for IPMN should not preclude surgery when TP is indicated.

A case of mesenteric ischemia secondary to Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) with a positive outcome after intervention.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic angiopathy, which commonly affects the renal and internal carotid arteries. Although rare, FMD has the potential of involving the mesenteric vasculature. Due its low incidence and relatively little knowledge concerning its risk factors and etiology, actual diagnosis of FMD involving the mesenteric vessels requires a very high degree of suspicion. Upon review of the few reported cases of FMD causing mesenteric ischemia, it is clear that therapeutic interventions are rarely discussed and that positive outcomes are even more uncommon. Herein, we present the case of a 47 year-old female with mesenteric ischemia secondary to FMD, which was diagnosed and treated originally with angioplasty, then repeat angioplasty with stent placement, and finally with a bypass graft. Ultimately, the patient had a positive outcome, including eight month follow-up.

Vitamin D status in pregnant Indian women across trimesters and different seasons and its correlation with neonatal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the vitamin D status of pregnant Indian women and their breast-fed infants. Subjects were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics, Armed Forces Clinic and Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi. A total of 541 apparently healthy women with uncomplicated, single, intra-uterine gestation reporting in any trimester were consecutively recruited. Of these 541 women, 299 (first trimester, ninety-seven; second trimester, 125; third trimester, seventy-seven) were recruited in summer (April-October) and 242 (first trimester, fifty-nine, second trimester, ninety-three; third trimester, ninety) were recruited in winter (November-March) to study seasonal variations in vitamin D status. Clinical, dietary, biochemical and hormonal evaluations for the Ca-vitamin D-parathormone axis were performed. A subset of 342 mother-infant pairs was re-evaluated 6 weeks postpartum. Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) of pregnant women was 23.2 (SD 12.2) nmol/l. Hypovitaminosis D (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) was observed in 96.3 % of the subjects. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in winter in the second and third trimesters, while serum intact parathormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher in winter in all three trimesters. A significant negative correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D and iPTH in mothers (r - 0.367, P = 0.0001) and infants (r - 0.56, P = 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was observed between 25(OH)D levels of mother-infant pairs (r 0.779, P = 0.0001). A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed in pregnancy, lactation and infancy with no significant inter-trimester differences in serum 25(OH)D levels.

Nitrate leaching to shallow groundwater systems from agricultural fields with different management practices.

Monitoring the concentration of NO(3)-N from agricultural fields to the subsurface and shallow ground water resources have received considerable interest worldwide, since agriculture has been identified as a major source of nitrate-nitrogen (NO(3)-N) pollution of groundwater systems in intensively farmed watersheds. A study was conducted to quantify the impact of two tillage practices viz. chisel plow (CP) and no till (NT) with liquid swine manure application on nitrate leaching to the shallow ground water system under corn-soybean production system. This study is part of the long-term field experiments conducted at Iowa State University using completely randomized block design. The NO(3)-N concentrations in the shallow ground water were monitored at three depths viz., a network of subsurface drains at a depth of 1.2 m and piezometers at depths of 1.8 m and 2.4 m. Results of this study showed that the average NO(3)-N concentration during the study period was 16.1 mg l(-1), 14.4 mg l(-1) and 11.8 mg l(-1) at 1.2 m, 1.8 m and 2.4 m depths, respectively implying significant amount of NO(3)-N leaching past the subsurface drain depth of 1.2 m into the shallow groundwater but the NO(3)-N concentration decreases with the depth. The NO(3)-N concentrations in shallow groundwater were significantly higher under the chisel plow system in comparison with the no till method of tillage. Fall application of liquid swine manure caused more leaching in comparison with the spring application. Higher NO(3)-N concentration was observed under corn in comparison with the soybean plots. An in-depth analysis of the data showed a definite relationship between the NO(3)-N concentration in subsurface drain water at a depth of 1.2 m and shallow groundwater at depths of 1.8 m and 2.4 m depths.

Skill set development of doctoral and post-doctoral graduates in life sciences.

Doctoral and post-doctoral training programs at leading research universities in the USA are highly important in generating the much needed knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for keeping rural and urban economies strong and societies healthy and prosperous. In addition, innovative graduate and post doctoral research programs are the driving engines of the success of U.S. economy and have made the U.S. the most successful model of generating new knowledge in the broader areas of life sciences (and agricultural education, research, and extension). We need to do everything in our power to make these training programs innovative, collaborative, independent, and resourceful so that students are trained in different disciplines making them more flexible within a range of challenges and opportunities. The training programs must empower students to solve complex and interdisciplinary problems of the society in 21st century and make our students competitive within a global economic system, to improve the health of the nation's economy. If our land grant schools and institutions of higher learning are not preparing doctoral students to be globally competitive scientists to create new knowledge and technologies to solve complex and interdisciplinary problems of the 21st century, then either we need to redefine the mission of our land grant system or we risk losing our role to serve the public and industry effectively. Doctoral and post doctoral students should be given the needed skills and experiences to prepare them for tenure track faculty jobs at leading US Universities in the 21st century as well as prepare them for the world outside of academia. I would say minimum competency skills are needed as "bare survival skills" for all doctoral students to become successful after obtaining PhD degrees. Today's PhD students will be working in a global but highly competitive, rapidly changing, and complex world. It is no longer enough to be a good researcher and a good teacher; researchers and teachers must be good team players and leaders to lead interdisciplinary research programs, and exceptional managers to effectively manage their research staff, MS and PhD students, and post doctoral researchers. Doctoral students have exceptional opportunities during their PhD degree programs to acquire these skills from their world class supervisors and participate in available workshops on how to develop successful and winning grant proposals, improving communication skills, and participate in "future faculty programs" on their campuses.

Lung cancer staging by combined endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): The gastroenterologist's perspective.

This review deals with the combined approach of endoscopic ultrasound and endobronchial ultrasound for lung cancer staging. The review provides an overview for the gastroenterologist who performs endosonography with regard to the current evidence supporting the use of endoscopic ultrasound and endobronchial ultrasound in clinical practice.

Patient outcomes after total pancreatectomy: a single centre contemporary experience.

INTRODUCTION: Total pancreatectomy (TP) is associated with significant metabolic abnormalities leading to considerable morbidity. With the availability of modern pancreatic enzyme formulations and improvements in control of diabetes mellitus, the metabolic drawbacks of TP have diminished. As indications for TP have expanded, we examine our results in patients undergoing TP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 47 patients undergoing TP from January 2002 to January 2008 was performed. Patient data and clinical outcomes were collected and entered into a database. Disease-free survival and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Fifteen males and 32 females with a median age of 70 years underwent TP for non-invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) (21), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (20), other neoplasm (3), chronic pancreatitis (2) and trauma (1). Median hospital stay and intensive care stay were 11 days and 1 day, respectively. Thirty-day major morbidity and mortality was 19% and 2%, respectively. With a median follow-up length of 23 months, 33 patients were alive at last follow-up. Estimated overall survival at 1, 2 and 3 years for the entire cohort was 80%, 72% and 65%, and for those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 63%, 43% and 34%, respectively. Median weight loss at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery was 6.8 kg, 8.5 kg and 8.8 kg, respectively. Median HbA1c values at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery were 7.3, 7.5 and 7.7, respectively. Over one-half of the patients required re-hospitalization within 12 months post-operatively. CONCLUSION: TP results in significant metabolic derangements and exocrine insufficiency, diabetic control and weight maintenance remain a challenge and readmission rates are high. Survival in those with malignant disease remains poor. However, the mortality appears to be decreasing and the morbidities associated with TP appear acceptable compared with the benefits of resection in selected patients.

Pilot study on light dosimetry variables for photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia.

PURPOSE: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used to treat Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and mucosal carcinoma. Outcomes are variable with some patients having persistent disease, whereas others develop strictures. The aims of this study were (a) to compare porfimer sodium tissue uptake, light dose, and esophageal thickness with clinical outcomes and (b) to determine the selectivity of porfimer sodium uptake in diseased and normal epithelium. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Forty-eight hours after porfimer sodium infusion, patients underwent mucosal biopsy for quantification of the porfimer sodium. Laser light was delivered at 48 hours and again 24 or 48 hours later. Porfimer sodium was extracted from the biopsy samples and quantified using fluorescence spectroscopy. The enhanced photodynamic dose was determined as [porfimer sodium content * light dose/esophageal thickness]. PDT efficacy was determined 6 to 8 weeks later based on persistence or complete ablation of dysplasia or carcinoma. RESULTS: Mean porfimer sodium content of 6.2 mg/kg (range, 2.6-11.2 mg/kg) and mean total light dose of 278 J/cm (range, 225-360 J/cm) resulted in a complete treatment. Mean porfimer sodium tissue content of 3.9 mg/kg (range, 2.1-8.1 mg/kg) and mean total light dose of 268 J/cm (range, 250-350 J/cm) resulted in an incomplete treatment. The total esophageal thickness (range, 1.7-6.0 mm) and enhanced photodynamic dose were correlated with treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal thickness is the strongest predictor of treatment outcome. The porfimer sodium content of Barrett's and normal tissue is not significantly different. "Photodynamic dose" for esophageal PDT should incorporate the esophageal thickness.

The natural history of upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: a multicenter endoscopic ultrasound survey.

GOALS: To evaluate the natural course of <3-cm upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and to determine the appropriate timing for EUS follow-up. BACKGROUND: Subepithelial tumors (SETs) can range from benign lesions to tumors with malignant behavior or potential to become malignant such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). EUS is considered a valuable tool for their evaluation as it estimates the exact size and layer of origin, and also additional morphologic features that can suggest the diagnosis. For high surgical risk patients and when no worrisome EUS features are seen, EUS surveillance of subepithelial tumors is often used. METHODS: Fifty-one patients (mean age, 61.2+/-11.8 y; median, 63 y) with asymptomatic <3-cm SETs of second and fourth echolayer were followed for a mean period of 29.7 months (range, 3 to 84; median, 23 mo) in 3 tertiary care institutions. Evaluation included location, echolayer, tumor diameter, internal echo pattern, and outer margin of lesions by EUS. EUS was performed by using miniprobes, radial and linear echoendoscopes. RESULTS: Follow-up revealed increase in size and/or change in echogenic features in 7/51 (13.7%) patients. Surgical follow-up was available for 3 of 7 of these patients. Two of the fourth layer SETs, which had both increase in size and change in echogenicity were found to be GISTs (+c-kit). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of <3-cm SETs does not change during a median of 23 months. The change in echogenicity and increase in size may indicate a GIST.

Hydatid disease of the lung mimicking a pericardial cyst.

We report a young girl who presented to us with chest discomfort and had a paracardiac mass on chest radiograph. Computerised tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax was suggestive of pericardial cyst. Hydatid serology was negative. The cyst was excised.

Establishment of reference range for thyroid hormones in normal pregnant Indian women.

BACKGROUND: Interpretation of thyroid function tests during pregnancy needs trimester-related reference intervals from pregnant populations with minimal risk for thyroid dysfunction. While India has become iodine sufficient after two decades of salt iodisation, there is no normative data for thyroid function from healthy pregnant women of this country. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine trimester-specific reference ranges for free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), free thyroxine (FT(4)) and thyrotropin (TSH) from healthy pregnant Indian women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in a reference population of pregnant women. SETTING: Primary care level obstetric department in India. POPULATION: Women with uncomplicated pregnancy in any trimester. METHODS: Five hundred and forty-one apparently healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated single intrauterine gestations reporting to the Armed Forces Clinic in any trimester were consecutively recruited. Clinical examination, thyroid ultrasound for echogenicity and nodularity and estimation of FT(3), FT(4), TSH and antithyroid antibodies (antithyroperoxidase [anti-TPO] and antithyroglobulin [anti-Tg]) using electrochemiluminescence technique were carried out. From this entire sample, a disease- and risk-free reference population was obtained by excluding those with any known factor that could affect thyroid function or those who were being treated for thyroid dysfunction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: None. RESULTS: Of the 541 consecutive pregnant women in different trimesters enrolled for the study, 210 women were excluded. The composition of reference population comprising 331 women was 107 in first trimester, 137 in second trimester and 87 in third trimester. The 5th and 95th percentiles values were used to determine the reference ranges for FT(3), FT(4) and TSH. The trimester-wise values in the first, second and third trimesters were: FT(3) (1.92-5.86, 3.2-5.73 and 3.3-5.18 pM/l), FT(4) (12-19.45, 9.48-19.58 and 11.32-17.7 pM/l) and TSH (0.6-5.0, 0.44-5.78 and 0.74-5.7 iu/ml), respectively. Analysis of mean, median values for FT(3), FT(4) and TSH between each trimester showed no significant difference in FT(3) and TSH values (95% CI). However, FT(4) showed significant variation between trimesters with values decreasing with advancing gestational age (P value: first versus second = 0.015, first versus third = 0.003 and second versus third = not significant). Women with antibody positivity and hypoechogenicity of thyroid gland had significantly higher TSH values when compared with women with antibody negativity and normoechogenicity. CONCLUSIONS: Reference ranges of FT(3), FT(4) and TSH have been established for pregnant Indian women using 5th and 95th percentiles.

Endoscopic mucosal ablation for the treatment of gastric antral vascular ectasia with the HALO90 system: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) often results in GI bleeding and chronic anemia. Treatment options are limited and include medical, endoscopic, and surgical therapies. OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of endoscopic mucosal ablative therapy by using the HALO(90) system for patients with GAVE and recurrent bleeding. DESIGN: Prospective open-label case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Six consecutive patients with GAVE, bleeding, and blood transfusion dependence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of preablation and postablation Hb levels and transfusion requirements. To assess the number of ablation sessions needed to stabilize the Hb level and eliminate the need for blood transfusion. RESULTS: Six patients, (4 men, mean age 58 years, range 47-65 years) underwent endoscopic mucosal ablation of antral lesions (mean procedure time 29 minutes; mean treatments 1.7, range 1-3). The mean Hb level improved from 8.6 to 10.2 g/dl (mean 2 months after the last ablation). Five of 6 patients are no longer dependent on blood transfusions to maintain a stable Hb level. LIMITATIONS: This is a pilot study, with a small number of patients at a single center, with limited patient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that endoscopic mucosal ablation by using the HALO(90) system is a promising treatment option for chronic bleeding related to GAVE.