ABSTRACT
The individual application of pure and active compounds such as methionine may help to address water scarcity issues without compromising the yield of wheat. As organic plant growth stimulants, amino acids are popularly used to promote the productivity of crops. However, the influence of the exogenous application of methionine in wheat remains elusive. The present investigation was planned in order to understand the impact of methionine in wheat under drought stress. Two wheat genotypes were allowed to grow with 100% field capacity (FC) up to the three-leaf stage. Twenty-five-day-old seedlings of two wheat genotypes, Galaxy-13 and Johar-16, were subjected to 40% FC, denoted as water deficit-stress (D), along with 100% FC, called control (C), with and without L-methionine (Met; 4 mM) foliar treatment. Water deficit significantly reduced shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights, seed yield, photosynthetic, gas exchange attributes except for transpiration rate (E), and shoot mineral ions (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus) in both genotypes. A significant increase was recorded in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and sodium ions (Na+) due to water deficiency. However, foliar application of Met substantially improved the studied growth, photosynthetic, and gas exchange attributes with water deficit conditions in both genotypes. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were further enhanced under stress with Met application. Met improved potassium (K), calcium (Ca2+), and phosphorus (P) content. In a nutshell, the foliar application of Met effectively amended water deficit stress tolerance by reducing MDA and H2O2 content under water deficit conditions in wheat plants. Thus, we are able to deduce a positive association between Met-induced improved growth attributes and drought tolerance.
ABSTRACT
Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common childhood intraocular malignancy. In high-income countries over the past decade, upfront enucleation for unilateral RB is least favoured due to other alternatives that can help in globe preservation, but in low-middle income countries it is still the preferred option due to lack of resources and expertise. The treatment of RB after enucleation is tailored based on the histopathological risk features, as adjuvant chemotherapy with high-risk features reduces the risk of metastasis. The aim of our study was to analyse the survival outcomes of adjuvant therapy based on histopathological risk stratification in patients who underwent upfront enucleation for unilateral RB with advanced disease. A retrospective study was carried out at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Pakistan. A total 113 patients (aged 3 months till 16 years) diagnosed with unilateral RB who had upfront enucleation from July 2009 till January 2019 were included in this study. The mean age of diagnosis was 37.4 months (±24.5) and male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The most common clinical presentation was leukocoria (74.3%). Patients who underwent enucleation had advanced disease; group D present in 62.8% followed by group E (32.7%). Histopathology revealed high-risk features in 29 patients (25.7%) and intermediate risk in 54 patients (47.8%). Disease progression and relapse was seen in patients with high-risk histopathological features. The 4-year over-all survival and EFS observed for this cohort was 74% and 71%. Awareness about the early symptoms among the general population and health care personnel at a nationwide level is needed to facilitate early detection and lessen disease related morbidity and mortality.
