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Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence and significance of incidental findings on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) studies and to assess the diagnostic yield of CTPA in identifying an alternate diagnosis to pulmonary embolism (PE) on PE negative exams.Methods: All patients who had a CTPA exam for PE evaluation between Jan 2016 and Dec 2018 with a negative PE result were included in the study. A total of 2083 patients were identified. We retrospectively queried the electronic medical record and the radiology report and recorded the following: Age, Sex, BMI, Patient location and Incidental findings. The incidental findings were classified into type 1 (Alternate diagnosis other than PE which could explain the patient's symptoms), type 2 (non-emergent findings which needed further work up) and type 3 findings (non-emergent findings which did not need further work up). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine what factors affected the probability of finding a type 1 incidental (alternate diagnosis) or a type 2 incidental.Results: 74.5% of the patients in our study had at least one incidental finding. Type 1 incidental findings (alternate diagnosis to PE) were found in 864 patients (41.5%). The most common type 1 finding was pneumonia followed by fluid overload. Male sex, increased age and lower BMI were significantly associated with increased odds of a type 1 incidental(p < 0.05). Similarly, all the patient locations had significantly different odds of finding a type-1 incidental, with ICU having the highest odds, followed by inpatient, ED and outpatient locations (p < 0.05). 563 patients (27%) had at least one type 2 incidental findings and the most common type 2 findings were progressive lung malignancy/ metastatic disease and new pulmonary nodule. Increased age was significantly associated with the probability of a type 2 finding (p < 0.05).Conclusions: CTPA may suggest an alternative diagnosis to pulmonary embolism in approximately 40% of the patients with a negative study. The probability of finding an alternate diagnosis (type 1 incidental) is higher in elderly patients and in patients referred from ICU and inpatient units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted at the research fields of Plant Protection Research Institute, Iran, at six locations in 2005–2006 to examine the weed suppressive ability of some newly registered herbicides in wheat compared with some current herbicides. Treatments consisted of post-emergence applications of chlorsulfuron at 10.5 and 15ga.i./ha, metsulfuron methyl plus sulfosulfuron at 32 and 36ga.i./ha, both as dual purpose herbicides, pinoxaden at 45 and 60ga.i./ha as a grass weed herbicide, pinoxaden at 45ga.i./ha plus non-ionic surfactant at 0.2% (v/v), tribenuron methyl at 18.75ga.i./ha plus clodinafop propargyl at 64ga.i./ha, clodinafop propargyl, bromoxynil plus MCPA, bromoxynil plus MCPA at 600ga.i./ha plus clodinafop propargyl at 64ga.i./ha, pre-emergence applications of dual purpose herbicide prosulfocarb at 2400 and 3200ga.i./ha, and a weed infested check. Post-emergence herbicides were applied at wheat tillering. Results showed that metsulfuron methyl plus sulfosulfuron at 36ga.i./ha is a suitable option for the post-emergence control of broadleaved and grass weeds in wheat. This treatment almost resulted in the highest grain yield at different locations too. The results also showed the importance of different wheat varieties and environmental conditions on herbicide efficacy; that is the best control option may vary based on variety and location. Chlorsulfuron and prosulfocarb also did not have a significant priority over older herbicides at these experiments, so further investigations are needed to examine their efficacy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in 2005 at 4 locations in Iran, to evaluate maize yield response and control of weeds with nicosulfuron at 40, 60, and 80g ai/ha, foramsulfuron at 337.5, 450, and 562.5g ai/ha, rimsulfuron at 5, 7.5, and 10g ai/ha as dual purpose herbicides, and 2,4-D plus MCPA as reference standard. All herbicides were applied at three- to six-leaf stage of maize. Results indicated that nicosulfuron and foramsulfuron at the highest dose provided satisfactory control of broadleaved and grass weeds in maize. Application of nicosulfuron at 80g ai/ha resulted in the highest maize yield after the weed-free check. However, 2,4-D plus MCPA plots had the lowest grain yield among all treatments. This could be attributed to the spectrum of weed control with this herbicide, since the grass weeds escaped control where maize was sprayed with 2,4-D plus MCPA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Safety of and humoral immune response to the anti-influenza vaccine in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients were evaluated. The trivalent vaccine was administered to 137 eligible CAD patients and 67 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Antibody (Ab) titers were measured before and 1 month after vaccination. CAD and HC groups were not significantly different in serologic response and magnitude of change in antibody titers against each of the vaccine antigens. In multivariate analyses, regular exercise and using multivitamin supplements were independently associated with better antibody response among CAD patients. There were no major cardiac or general adverse effects. Influenza vaccine was found safe in CAD patients and antibody responses were similar to HCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Use of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) changed the growth traits of fenugreek. • Use of EMS changed the morpho-physiological traits of fenugreek. • The maximum value of growth traits was attained in 0.2 % of EMS. • The nicotinic acid, trigonline and diosgenin content increased with the use of EMS. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a member of the Fabaceae family which is an annual, dicotyledonous and self-pollinated plant. Since genetic diversity is the basis of plant breeding programs, it is important to create genetic mutations in order to increase diversity. To induce mutation, this experiment was conducted by applying four levels (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 %) of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) on fenugreek seeds. The treated seeds were planted in the research greenhouse on basis of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that different EMS concentrations had significant effect on all the studied characteristics. The lowest values of the studied traits were observed in the control. Although the highest values of most morpho-physiological traits were obtained in 0.2 % of EMS, but the highest amount of phytochemical compounds were related higher concentrations of EMS. The content of trigonelline, diosgenin, nicotinic acid, and mucilage of grain were significantly increased with increasing EMS concentration. The highest and lowest contents of grains trigonelline were obtained in 0.3 % of EMS and control treatment, respectively. The nicotinic acid content had a positive and significant correlation with trigonelline, diosgenin and mucilage content. Also, the diosgenin content of grains had a positive significant correlation with mucilage content. In general, the application of sufficient concentrations of EMS mutants could be used as an effective tool to increase grain yield and secondary metabolites in breeding programs of fenugreek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gamma irradiation improved the growth characteristics of fenugreek plants. • The seed yield was increased by low dose (100 Gy) gamma rays. • Trigonelline content increased in the plants raised from low dose irradiated seeds. • Low dose gamma rays application can be a useful seed pre-sowing technique. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), an aromatic and spice herb, is extensively used to treat a wide range of diseases such as paralysis and diabetes. In order to improve fenugreek growth and pro-health potential, seeds of fenugreek were exposed to gamma rays (including 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g) from cobalt 60 gamma radiation source. This experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that, number of leaves per plants, shoot diameter, stems dry weight, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, number of pods per plant, 1000-seeds weight and biological yield in plants exposed to different doses of gamma radiation were significantly higher than those of the non-irradiated control. In addition, low-dose gamma irradiation especially 100 Gy had stimulatory effects on the number of branches per plant, pod length, seed yield, seed trigonelline and nicotinic acid content, while high-dose gamma irradiation (400 Gy) exhibited inhibitory effects. Furthermore, the maximum amounts of seeds diosgenin and mucilage were recorded in the control samples, while those of the samples exposed to gamma irradiation were gradually decreased by increment of gamma dose. These results indicate that the irradiation of low dose gamma rays (100 Gy) can be useful for improving the growth characteristics and accumulation of some valuable compounds in fenugreek seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]