[Changes in nepetalactone content and biochemical traits of catnip [nepeta cataria l.] in response to induction of biostimulants compounds]

Background: The use of organic and biological stimulants at different stages of plant growth may increase growth and yield of plants in addition to reducing environmental stresses

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the induction effect of various formulations of chitosan, humic acid, and nicgtric acid on nepetalactone content and biochemical traits in catnip

Methods: This study, which was based on a completely randomized design [CRBD], was conducted in the research greenhouse of Medicinal Plants Research Institute, ACECR. Treatments consisted of: control, citric acid, different concentrations of humic acid, dual combinatorial formulations of chitosan and citric acid, and triple combinatorial formulations of chitosan, citric acid, and humic acid. First, the roots of the transplants were treated before being transferred to the pot. Then, about 20 days after planting, treatments were sprayed on the plants three times - once everylS days

Results: Results showed that the induction of different formulations of humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had significant effects on plant height [P<0.05], the number of lateral branches, the number of leaves, dry weight of leaves, stems, and shoot, content of soluble sugar, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and nepetalactone [P<0.01]. The highest amounts - in most morpho-physiological traits - were observed 400 ppm chitosan + 800 ppm humic acid + 400 ppm citric acid treatment. The maximum content of nepetalactone was obtained at 200 ppm chitosan + 800 ppm humic acid + 400 ppm citric acid

Conclusion: The use of biostimulants formulation including humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had a significant positive effect on improving vegetative characteristics and especially on phytochemical traits of catnip [Nepeta cataria L.]

Radiographic findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in Tehran in comparison with other institutional studies

Tuberculosis [TB] is one of the most common worldwide infections, especially in developing countries. Early diagnosis is very important for prevention of the chronic form of the disease and sequel formation. Chest x-ray [CXR] is an easy, feasible, non-expensive and quick tool for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. We retrospectively evaluated 200 chest x-rays of secondary pulmonary TB cases in university-affiliated hospitals. These cases were all proved by a positive sputum smear or culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, we correlated CXR findings of 100 male and 100 female patients. The peak age of involvement in both groups was 61-80 years. None of the chest x-rays were normal. The main radiographic findings were consolidation-infiltration, fibrosis, pleural effusion, cavitation, pleural thickening and bronchiectasis. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was detected in 9% of the cases. Pulmonary infiltration with consolidation was the most common finding [55%]. Miliary shadowing, atelectasis and pneumomediastinum were the least common presentations. Lymphadenopathy was more common in 40 to 60-year-old women. Right lung involvement was more common than the left side and the upper zones were involved in most cases. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Infiltration in diabetic patients and fibrotic appearances in hypertensive patients were common findings. There was no significant difference between our data and the other studies carried out in Iran. The patients were younger in the studies from other countries. However, cavitary lesions were more common in other studies than this study, which seems to be due to the higher prevalence of underlying diseases such as HIV or diabetes