Gynotypic X environmental interaction of Cowpea genotypes

Twenty four Cowpea varieties were raised at NIAB and ARRI, Faisalabad selected for plant height [42-136cm] days taken to 95% flowering [62-79 days] and for diseases resistance [0.67-7 rating]. Infestation was maximum on IT-97K-461-4, 1068-7, IT-97K 1042-8 and IT-98k-558-1 and was graded as susceptible. Maximum grain yield was recorded in Elite [649 kg/ha] and lowest grain yield was observed in IT-95K-1156-3 [332.3 kg/ha]. Yield and yield contributing characters of twenty four entries tested revealed that they differ significantly from each other. The stability parameters for 12 locations indicated that the interaction was of cross over nature because the ranking of mean seed yield at 12 locations was dissimilar except NCP-1 which stood first at all the 12 locations. Regression coefficient of the six genotypes was non significant from zero. Standard deviation to regression S2d was also non significant except IT-97k-1042-8 genotype Elite with second highest yield performance had 0.982 non significant value of b near to unity and non significant S2d almost equal to zero [0.001]. In addition to Elite the highest yielding line NCp-1 also showed stability because it had non significant regression coefficient [b] value from unity and non significant standard deviation to regression [S2d] from zero

value of clinical signs in diagnosis of cirrhosis

To document the value of various clinical signs of cirrhosis in its diagnosis. It also reviews the current status of the disease. Observational and descriptive study.Place and duration of study: Medical wards of PNS Shifa, Karachi and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan from June 2002 to May 2003.Subjects and One hundred and seventy diagnosed adult patients having an unequivocal evidence of cirrhosis on ultrasound examination of abdomen were included in the study. Two trained clinicians examined the cases and their clinical signs were recorded on a format specially designed to record the clinical signs. Age, gender, hepatitis status [hepatitis B, C, or other wise] was also documented. Sixty two percent were males and 38% were females. Patient average age was 53.2 years without gross age difference in the HCV positive and HBsAg positive groups.Twenty eight percent were HCV positive, 22% were HBsAg positive, 10% had no evidence of previous infection of hepatitis B or hepatitis C and 40% had no record of these tests. Males dominated the HBsAg group compared to HCV positive group. Pedal edema was present in 92 percent of patients, ascites in 89 percent, jaundice in 64 percent, clubbing in 25 percent, palmar erythema in 23 percent, Terry's nails in 21 percent, testicular atrophy in 4 percent, gynaecomastia in 4 percent, pectoral area hair loss in 2.4 percent, leuconychia in 2.4 percent and hepatic encephalopathy in different grades in 19 percent. No spider navei, caput medusae and Dupuytren's contracture were noted. We document that in current clinical practice the classical signs of cirrhosis expected to be present in advanced cases are observed quite infrequently and therefore, cannot be relied upon in clinical diagnosis of the disease alone. The diagnosis of cirrhosis should be supported by other means including ultrasound examination of the abdomen etc. Further multicenter studies should be conducted to consolidate our findings