ABSTRACT
In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many plant material such as artemisia (Artemisia vulgaris L) have received renewed attention as cheap, easy-to-make treatment for many infections. However, the proliferation of artemisia from seeds is often a lengthy process. Here we investigated the role of commercial (Indol-3-butyric acid - IBA, Natural Rooting Hormone Powder - NRHP, Apple Cider Vinegar - ACV) and cottage-made (coconut water - CW and aloe vera gel - AVG) rooting hormone, and water as control (CONT) on the proliferation of artemisia cuttings in a greenhouse experiment in 2021. The survival of artemisia cuttings did not differ significantly (P > .05) across the treatments. The highest number of stems (19) and plant height (138.0 cm) was observed from CW + AVG, and the differed significantly from the others (P < .05) from the others. AVG produced the highest number of leaves per plant (1466), followed by CW (1317), CW + AVG (1278), and IBA (1241). The leaf dry weight was highest in CW + AVG, followed by those of CW and IBA. A similar pettern was observed for the root dry weight. The findings from this study showed that cottage-made plant based (coconut water and aloe vera gel) growth hormone has comparable effect to commercially available IBA on overall performance of artemisia cuttings. This study has great implications for low-tech proliferation of artemisia.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hospitalization is the greatest expenditure for heart failure treatment, estimated to be 8-15 billion dollars annually with the most common cost due to acute decompensation. An approach to manage this is an infusion clinic for outpatient diuresis and observation is an effective way to reduce the admission rate and improve patient outcomes. There are limited studies about high dose IV diuretics for outpatient treatment and outcomes. Bed availability during 2021 was severely limited due to COVID, and sicker patients were cared for outside of conventional hospital treatment. Hypothesis: High dose IV diuretics for heart failure patients in an infusion clinic can reduce admission rate effectively and safely. Method(s): Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed. 83 patients with symptomatic decompensation underwent 117 treatments in 2021. They received an individualized, protocol driven bolus and infusion of IV diuretics at the clinic calculated on their baseline diuretic dosing. All but one patient was seen in follow up in 2 business days. Outcomes measured included hospital admission within 30 days, hospital days avoided, and costs saved. Adverse outcomes monitored included acute kidney injury, hypokalemia, symptomatic hypotension, and arrhythmia. Result(s): The patients had an average age of 73.6+/-12.9 years old, 64% male and 36% female. There were 80% of patients with HFpEF. The average weight gain above dry weight was 14.6 pounds. The patients had multiple comorbidities and all have chronic kidney disease stage 3 or higher. They were all on high dose diuretics. The results showed that following treatment the admission rate was 47% with 78% of those diagnosed with heart failure exacerbation. Only 1 patient was hospitalized for AKI and hypokalemia. Two patients had transient AKI at follow-up which resolved with diuretic adjustment. Estimated hospital days avoided was 372 days with a savings of 413,168 dollars based on FY21 direct cost/case. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 significantly limited the ability to provide care for patients with chronic issues in the hospital due to bed availability. Avoiding inpatient admissions on a medically complex, congested group of patients results in a significant cost saving while providing safe and effective care.Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
Introduction: A dialysis unit is compatible with a long-range airborne transmission environment resulting in a higher risk of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in hemodialysis patients. Reduction of hemodialysis frequency is a common practice to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the dialysis unit. However, the predictors to determine which patient is likely to fail from reducing frequency of dialysis is still lacking. This study determined the predictors for a failure reduction in hemodialysis frequency at 4 weeks. Method(s): This retrospective observational study enrolled adult patients receiving long-term thrice-weekly hemodialysis at Thammasat University Hospital in 2021 who decreased dialysis frequency to twice-weekly during COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. The outcomes were prevalence of failure reduction in dialysis frequency at 4 and 8 weeks and predictors of failure reduction at 4 weeks. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors and create a predicting model for failure reduction of dialysis frequency. Result(s): Of 161 patients receiving hemodialysis in 2021, 83 patients with dialysis frequency reduction had a median age of 69.6 years and a median dialysis vintage of 4.5 years. 27 (33%) and 68 (82%) patients failed to reduce dialysis frequency at 4 and 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, 22 (81.5%) patients failed to reduce dialysis frequency from hypervolemia-related causes. From multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the predictors for failure reduction at 4 weeks were pre-existing diabetes, congestive heart failure, pre-dialysis weight gain, dry weight from body composition measurement, mean pre- and post-dialysis weight gain during one week before dialysis reduction (Table 1). The model including these predictors (Table 2) demonstrated an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) of 0.78 (95% CI 0.69-0.88) for predicting a failure reduction. At 4 weeks, 0 (0%), 7 (28.0%), and 20 (54.1%) of patients with low risk (score of <0 point), intermediate risk (score of 0-1 point) and high risk (score of >1 point) failed to reduce dialysis frequency, respectively. Conclusion(s): During the COVID-19 pandemic, 33% and 88% of hemodialysis patients failed to reduce their dialysis frequency at 4 and 8 weeks. The predicting model for a failure dialysis reduction demonstrated a good performance. Conflict of interest Potential conflict of interest: - Speaker fee from Fresenius Medical Care and Boehringer Ingelheim (Thai) - Registration fee from Novo Nordisk and Sanofi Aventis ThailandCopyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Phosphorus is vital nutrient for the crop yield, and Breeding rice for tolerant to low phosphorus, efficient in uptake and assimilation is the best way for sustainable production. This study aimed to evaluate Bangladeshi rice cultivars and introgression lines (INLs) under phosphorus deficient soil to understand the genetic variation in deficiency tolerance. A total of 28 rice genotypes from various ecotypes such as Aus, Aman, Boro and Jhum and INLs were collected and grown in pot contained highly phosphorus deficient soil in the rooftop polythene shed house during October 2019 to March 2020. A phosphorus deficiency susceptible variety, IR 64, was used as control, and experiment was conducted following randomized complete block design with two replications. Biomass related traits such as dry weight (DW) and relative dry weight (RDW, %) were analyzed at early vegetative stage. Visual score based on the responses to artificial drought occurred due to absence of water for 5 consecutive days because of government imposed Covid-19 lockdown were also evaluated in a scale of 0 to 4. Plants showed wide variation in the measured traits in both in the phosphorus added normal or phosphorus deficient conditions. Two patterns of responses were observed. One pattern was similar to susceptible control IR 64 and another is highly sensitive to P-deficiency. Cluster analysis resulted four groups (I to IV). Group I consist of four rice varieties including Pathar kuchi, Lal dhan, INL-9, and INL-30, and showed low DW and low tolerances to phosphorus deficiency and artificial drought. Group II contain nine accessions including IR 64, Murali, Kuti Agrani, Kernaicha, and five INLs, and showed higher DW and susceptibility to phosphorus deficiency and artificial drought. Group III had medium DW and highly sensitive to phosphorus deficient condition and the accessions Kali jira and Aus (Awned) were included. Two jhum variety, Renkhoa Dhan and Galongpru, and seven INLs belong to the group IV which showed medium DW but tolerant to phosphorus deficiency and artificial drought compare to other groups. The genetic variations of DW and RDW under phosphorus deficient and artificial drought conditions were clarified among rice varieties in Bangladesh and INLs with IR 64 genetic background, and several varieties and INLs were found as the promising materials for further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of JAPS: Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences is the property of Knowledge Bylanes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cardiovascular events are the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis (CKD-HD). Recent evidence suggests that coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) would induce vascular endothelial function alterations to increase cardiovascular risk. However, whether COVID-19 contributes to endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD-HD is unclear. Objective: To assess whether COVID-19 worsens endothelial function in a cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis were divided into those without COVID-19 (CKD;n = 68) and mild COVID-19 (CKD-C19;n = 11, WHO criteria and PCR+). Informed consent was obtained. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MAP) blood pressures, heart rate (HR), and endothelial function (EF) were evaluated for reactive hyperemia. It was determined dry weight, height, fat mass index (FMI), muscle mass index (MMI), and body mass index (BMI). Results were compared with normal people without CKD (Control = C, n = 10). Results: CKD and CKD-C19 presented a high SBP compared to the controls and without differences between them (C: 119 ± 3, n = 10 vs. CKD: 145 ± 2, n = 68 vs. CKD-C19: 143 ± 3 mmHg, n = 11;p < 0.05 vs. C). Patients CKD-C 19 presented greater endothelial dysfunction compared to CKD and the control group (EF: CKD-C19:2 ± 1, n = 11 vs CKD:4.5 ± 1, n = 28 vs. C:12.1 ± 1, n = 10;p < 0.05). In CKD and C-C19 an increase in BMI was observed in conjunction with an increase in fat mass, without differences in the muscle mass index between both groups (X2:p: NS). No association was observed between EF and BMI or IMG. Conclusions: The present study indicates that COVID-19 would aggravate endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. This would not be related to increased BMI or elevated blood pressure. However, more studies are needed to determine the role of COVID-19 on vascular function in this population. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
Background Dry weight is defined as the lowest tolerated post-dialysis weight at which there are minimal signs or symptoms of hypovolemia or hypervolemia. Achieving dry weight is a goal for each dialysis session. That improves blood pressure control and reduces cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients. Haemodialysis patients may experience weight loss likely related to a reduction of dry mass when catabolic reactions and inflammation occur. Our aim was to assess the impact of SARSCov-2 infection on haemodialysis patients and analyse factors associated with dry weight variations observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): In this retrospective observational single-centre study, we analysed the clinical characteristics of all patients undergoing haemodialysis at the Pole Hospitalier Jolimont during COVID-19 pandemic from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022. We determined dry weight at day 1 after diagnosis of SARSCov-2 infection or at day 1 of a randomly assigned 28-days observation period and at 2, 3 and 4 weeks later. We compared infected and uninfected patients and examined the clinical features associated with SARSCov-2 infection and those associated with changes in dry weight. Result(s): Within the observation period, among the 162 haemodialysis patients, 47 patients were infected with SARSCov-2. Three patients were excluded because they have been infected before the first dialysis session and seventeen others due to missing data. Two patients were infected twice but we considered the second episodes as relevant and had therefore 144 observations. Dry weight variation ratio (dry weight variation divided by dry weight at day 1) was a continuous non normally distributed variable for which we performed Wilcoxon rank sum tests and Student's t-tests. Dry weight variations were bigger in patients infected with SARSCov-2 compared to non-infected patients: the mean dry weight variation ratio was - 2,4 +/- 2,2% (SD) in the infected dialysis patients and - 0,6 +/- 2,0% in the uninfected patients (p < 0.001). A very strong association was found between SARSCov-2 infection and loss of dry weight (0,5 kg and more) with odds ratio = 21,89;95% CI [7,17-66,85]. No difference was found whether infected patients were symptomatic or not (-2,6 +/- 2,2% vs - 2,3 +/- 2,3%;p = 0,662). Infected patients and non-infected patients significantly differ by the sex distribution (76% vs 52% males;p = 0,008). We performed a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel stratified analysis and confirmed the association between loss of dry weight and SARSCov-2 infection after controlling for effect modification or confounding by sex. Furthermore, dry weight often varies during early haemodialysis sessions and a bias such as a short dialysis duration was also ruled out. Indeed, no correlation was found between the shortest dialysis durations (less than 2 months) and the dry weight variations observed in our population. Discussion(s): SARSCov-2 infection is associated with decreases of dry weight in haemodialysis patients. Systemic effects of SARSCov-2 infection are suspected since dry weight changes are quite similar both in symptomatic and asymptomatic infected dialysis patients. Only 2 patients in our population died from complications related to SARSCov-2 infection. Adapting dry weight may be a major element in lowering mortality in infected dialysis patients.
ABSTRACT
The proceedings contain 45 papers. The topics discussed include: neuropeptide levels effect on blood pressure in chronic kidney disease patients with hypertension;dry weight gain and incidence of intradialytic hypertension: a cross-sectional study in rural hospital;why they don't take the pill: a qualitative study of antihypertensive medication nonadherence in East Borneo primary health care;antihypertensive effect of nigella sativa (Habbatus Sauda) supplementation in population with cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials;risk factors of peripheral artery disease in the hypertensive chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis;impact of day-to-day blood pressure variability to in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 and efficacy of antihypertensive agents;and systolic blood pressure as risk factor associated with persisting proteinuria after delivery in women with preeclampsia.
ABSTRACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increased use of plastic for personal protective equipment (PPE), single-use plastic bags, and food packaging raised significant environmental concerns. This study aimed to investigate the shape, abundance, and type of microplastics in the sediment of Jakarta Bay, specifically Tanjung Priok, Ancol Beach, and Sunda Kelapa Port. Sediment was collected using an Ekman sediment grab sampler and was extracted using the density separation method. The microplastics were counted and categorized according to the shape under a microscope. The differences in microplastic abundance in three different stations were determined using a one-way ANOVA. The polymer of microplastics was identified using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The results show that the abundance of the microplastics from coastal sediment was highest in the Sunda Kelapa Port (45066.67 ± 5205.13 particle/kg dry weight), which is significantly different (p<0.05) from Tanjung Priok (40533.33 ± 2444.04 particle/kg dry weight) and Ancol Beach (34666.67 ± 2444.04 particle/kg dry weight). Fragments dominated the shape of microplastic in Tanjung Priok, Ancol Beach, and Sunda Kelapa Post, comprising 36%, 40%, 38%, respectively, followed by fiber, film, and pellet. The FT-IR tests indicated that polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyamide are the most prevalent microplastic polymers.
ABSTRACT
Berries and flowers of Sambucus nigra L. tree are well known for their ability to mitigate symptoms of upper respiratory disorders related to reported antiviral properties. Industrial application and commercial cultivation of S. nigra is largely limited to a few widely grown cultivars. Restricted genetic diversity of cultivated S. nigra can be disadvantageous if new industrial applications are discovered. In this study wild S. nigra populations located on the north-east edge of the species natural range were explored by assessing genetic origin, berry and flower anti-oxidative potential, and berry rutin content. Best performing wild S. nigra extracts were selected for an assessment of previously unreported biological activity- inhibitory capacity against SARS-CoV2 S1 protein receptor binding domain (RBD) binding to recombinant human angiotensin -converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in vitro based on competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker-based genetic characterization suggested that explored wild S. nigra populations result from wild gene pool expanding northwards with admixture of historically introduced cultivated S. nigra. Average values of total phenolic content, anti-radical activity, and total flavonoids content of wild S. nigra populations did not exceed those of cv. 'Haschberg'. Concentration-dependent inhibition of ACE2-SARS-CoV2 S-protein RBD binding was demonstrated in vitro for elderberry fruits and flowers extracts (IC50 of 1.66 mg DW ml-1 and 0.532 mg DW ml-1, respectively). Wild elderberry fruit extract exhibited higher inhibitory capacity than the extract from berries of cv 'Haschberg'. This study validates the requirement for S. nigra wild germplasm bioprospecting and opens up directions for further research of new anti-SARS-CoV2 industrial applications of S. nigra.