Search

During the study, different control practices, such as host plant resistance, imidacloprid seed treatment combined with the use of blue sticky traps, neem seed kernel extract, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and synthetic insecticides (acephate and chlorfenapyr), were tested individually and in various combinations for managing thrips (Megalurothrips distalis). A mungbean genotype, 13TM-04, known for its comparative resistance, was chosen for these trials. The treatments, whether applied alone or in various combinations, showed significant differences in efficacy when compared with each other. A combination of treatments viz., imidacloprid seed treatment+ installation of blue sticky traps and chlorfenapyr 360 SC @ 100ml/acre spray was observed to be the most successful against thrips and resulted in maximum yield 1970.1 kg/ha of mungbean. While imidacloprid seed treatment with blue sticky trap installation, alone, did not show distinctive impact on the thrips population as well as on the yield in mungbean. The imidacloprid seeds treatment remained effective up to 38 days after sowing against the thrips. The application of chlorfenapyr and acephate, either individually as sprays or in combination with other control measures, resulted in a notable reduction in the thrips population. For the management of M. distalis in mungbean combination of imidacloprid seed treatment, blue sticky traps installation and chlorfenapyr at 100 ml/acre should be applied. Current studies provide useful information to adopt integrated pest management of thrips at Bhakkar district for the local farmers for better crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, a crop variety grown on the commercial scale and under different conditions becomes vulnerable to various kinds of issues involving both biotic and abiotic plant stresses, alone or in combinations. This demands their substitution with new and improved genotypes possessing higher productivity and inherent resistance/tolerance against yield-limiting stresses. In this context, this editorial reports the development of a new chickpea kabuli variety "Noor-2019". This cultivar has improved yield potential, dietary elements (proteins, fat, ash), and more importantly, resistance against fusarium wilt and ascochyta blight compared to the existing varieties. The evolution of this strain commenced in 2002-03 cropping season by crossing K-90399 as a female parent with K-52582 as a male parent. The female parent had high yield potential, whereas the male parent had wilt resistance and was developed through introgression breeding using ILWC-126, an accession of Cicer reticulatum. Henceforth, the genetic variability was created to select for high yield and wilt resistant recombinants in subsequent generations. Resultantly, a uniform and high yielding progeny line PCK-09012, later designated as "Noor-2019" was selected and evaluated for yield, agronomy, and insect pests. This cultivar revealed a potential yield of 2882 kg ha-1 in testing phase and outperformed standard checks by producing 78.2%, 13.1%, and 28.8% higher grain yield in station, adaptation and national uniform yield trials, respectively. The plants of Noor-2019 are 60-65cm tall, semi-erect, and medium in canopy spread. Its grains are light brown, ram-headed, medium in size with a 100-seed weight of 25 g. Adoption of this cultivar across different climatic regions of Punjab, and other provinces could contribute in attaining self-sufficiency in local chickpea production as well as plummeting import bill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with excessive fibrinolysis (XFL) as an unusual presenting manifestation of metastatic prostate cancer (PC), which was successfully treated with chemotherapy with Docetaxel which not only controlled the disease but also reversed the patient's coagulopathy within seven days effectively. Thus highlighting rare and life-threatening haemorrhagic complications of prostate cancer along with its satisfactory management option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Mentzer index as a screening tool for iron deficiency anaemia, using an iron profile as the gold standard in patients presenting with hypochromic microcytic anaemia. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Dec 2021 to May 2022. Methodology: Data was collected from 163 patients with hypochromic microcytic anaemia. Red cell indices were noted for each patient and recorded on a defined proforma. Results: The mean age of the patients was 8.23±3.57 years. 85(52.1%) patients were males and 78(47.9%) were females. Moreover, out of 163 patients, the specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of the Mentzer index for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia were 90.1%, 90.1%, 84.6%, 93.8%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The cell-count-based indices, especially the Mentzer index, are reliable and available methods for diagnosing iron deficiency anaemia. They have an accurate discrimination ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the dependency on feeding gastrostomy tubes in patients with head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. Study Design: Retrospective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan, from Jan and Jul 2022. Methodology: A total of 115 patients with head and neck cancers having no baseline dysphagia and having gastrostomy tubes were included. All had received an equivalent of 60 greys in 30 fractions or more of radiotherapy. Their swallowing was evaluated weekly during radiotherapy and then every 4-6 weeks on post-treatment follow-up. The total time duration of patient dependency on feeding gastrostomy tube after treatment completion was noted for each head and neck cancer subsite. Results: Of a total of 115 patients, 49(43%) of the patients had nasopharyngeal cancers, 22(19%) had laryngeal, 29(24%) oral cavity, 7(6%) hypopharyngeal and 9(8%) had cervical esophageal cancers. Proportion retaining gastrostomy tube for more than six months of treatment was 8.7% (median duration of retention was five months) with hypopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, oral cavity, and laryngeal cancer were 14%, 9%, 9% and 5%, respectively. Conclusion: The proportion of patients with head and neck cancers requiring more than six months of a gastrostomy tube is 5-14%. Baseline assessment of swallowing and nutrition and prophylactic feeding gastrostomy can avoid treatment interruptions. Longer duration of retention of a gastrostomy tube is associated with poor quality of life in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation or concurrent chemo-radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are serious pests in rice sown under direct-seeded rice (DSR) technology. Herbicide-based weed management is becoming increasingly popular, but there is a dire need to choose appropriate herbicides and their effective dose for controlling weeds in DSR fields. A field trial was conducted to appraise the comparative efficacy of three post-emergent herbicides applied at different doses [Clover 20% EC (bispyribac sodium) at 39.54, 59.30, and 79.07 g a.i. ha-1, Pyranex Gold 30% WDG (bispyribac sodium + bensulfuron methyl) at 74.13, 111.20, and 148.26 g a.i. ha-1, and Puma Super 7.5% EW (fenoxaprop-p-ethyl) at 46.33 and 92.66 g a.i. ha-1] at 20 days after sowing (DAS) for weed control and paddy yield performance under DSR system. A weedy check was retained as control. Results revealed that Clover and Pyranex Gold applied at either dose significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the population and growth of Cyperus iria (90-97% weed density and 93-97% weed dry biomass) and Echinochloa colona (94-97% weed density and weed dry biomass) weeds over control, while Puma Super proved efficient in suppressing Leptochloa chinensis and Echinochloa colona weeds. Among all the tested treatments, application of Puma Super at 92.66 g a.i. ha-1 furnished the highest number of tillers (137.3 in 2014 and 141.3 in 2015), grains panicle-1 (77 in 2014 and 79 in 2015), final paddy yield (1983.8 and 1570 kg ha-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively), and net economic returns (Rs. 95915 ha-1), followed by the use of Puma Super at 46.33 g a.i. ha-1 which offered the next best economic benefits (Rs. 81906 ha-1). Thus, applying Puma Super at 92.66 g a.i. ha-1 is appeared viable approach to control grassy weed flora and ensure higher paddy yield with higher economic returns when rice is sown under DSR technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]