Increase maize productivity and water use efficiency through application of potassium silicate under water stress.

In Egypt, water shortage has become a key limiting factor for agriculture. Water-deficit stress causes different morphological, physiological, and biochemical impacts on plants. Two field experiments were carried out at Etay El-Baroud Station, El-Beheira Governorate, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt, to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate (K-silicate) of maize productivity and water use efficiency (WUE). A split-plot system in the four replications was used under three irrigation intervals during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Whereas 10, 15, and 20 days irrigation intervals were allocated in main plots, while the three foliar application treatments of K-silicate (one spray at 40 days after sowing; two sprays at 40 and 60 days; and three sprays at 40, 60, and 80 days, and a control (water spray) were distributed in the subplots. All the treatments were distributed in 4 replicates. The results indicated that irrigation every 15 days gave the highest yield in both components and quality. The highly significant of (WUE) under irrigation every 20 days. Foliar spraying of K-silicate three times resulted in the highest yield. Even under water-deficit stress, irrigation every fifteen days combined with foliar application of K-silicate three times achieved the highest values of grain yield and its components. These results show that K-silicate treatment can increase WUE and produce high grain yield requiring less irrigation.

Effect of antioxidant therapy on hepatic fibrosis and liver iron concentrations in ß-thalassemia major patients.

To assess the effects of combined vitamin therapy on oxidant-antioxidant hepatic status and hemoglobin (Hb) derivatives on ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM), a prospective study of 60 ß-TM patients aged 4 to 17 years, was conducted. Thirty-nine patients with initial low serum vitamins E, C and A, were treated with oral combined vitamins for 1 year compared to 21 patients with normal vitamin levels. Serum transaminases, serum ferritin, hepatic fibroscan elastography (TE) and magnetic resonance imaging R2* (MRI R2*) for liver iron concentration (LIC), were assessed before and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, superoxide dismutase and GSH enzymes. The studied vitamins, reduced GSH and Hb levels were significantly elevated and paralleled by progressive decline in MDA and ferritin during therapy (p <0.001). Serum transaminase and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased, while GSH reductase was significantly elevated during therapy (p <0.001). Improvement of hepatic fibrosis as 23.0% had TE (>12 kPa) at baseline compared to 20.5% after therapy (p >0.05), although LIC values were significantly decreased (p <0.001). Combined vitamin therapy improves the antioxidant/oxidant balance, LIC and hepatic fibrosis in young ß-TM patients.

Topical 5-fluorouracil for granular myringitis: a double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Granular myringitis is a poorly understood disease which causes considerable discomfort and concern to affected individuals. Some cases may progress to inflammatory obliteration of the deep ear canal. Treatment options are diverse, and no single accepted treatment modality exists. Local application of 5-fluorouracil has recently been trialled in the treatment of chronic otitis media, with promising results. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of topical 5-fluorouracil in cases of granular myringitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with granular myringitis were enrolled in this controlled, double-blinded study. Patients were divided randomly into two equal groups. Patients in the study group (n = 30) received three successive applications of topical 5-fluorouracil 5 per cent cream, with two-week intervals between treatments. Patients in the control group (n = 30) received only local petroleum jelly cream packing at the same intervals. Follow-up appointments were scheduled every two weeks for the first three months; patients were then seen again after two years for evaluation of any persistent disease. Outcome measures were: (1) after three months, symptomatic response to treatment (i.e. quantity of aural discharge as reported by patient) and change in the amount of granulation tissue (as assessed by the physician via endoscopic examination); and (2) persistent disease after two years. RESULTS: There was a highly statistically significant difference in the studied outcomes, comparing the study and control groups. CONCLUSION: Local application of 5-fluorouracil is a new treatment method for granular myringitis. In this study, it proved safe and efficacious, with no serious local reactions or complications.