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In the present study, oocytes retrieved from cross bred Karan Fries cows by ovum pick-up technique were graded into Group 1 and Group 2, based on the morphological appearance of the individual cumulus--oocyte complexes (COCs). To analyze whether the developmental potential of the COCs bears a relation to morphological appearance, relative expression of a panel of genes associated with; (a) cumulus-oocyte interaction (Cx43,Cx37,GDF9 andBMP15 ), (b) fertilization (ZP2 andZP3 ), (c) embryonic development (HSF1,ZAR1 and bFGF ) and (d) apoptosis and survival (BAX,BID and BCL-XL,MCL-1, respectively) was studied at two stages: germinal vesicle (GV) stage and after in vitro maturation. The competence was further corroborated by evaluating the embryonic progression of the presumed zygotes obtained from fertilization of the graded COCs. The gene expression profile and development rate in pooled A and B grade (Group 1) COCs and pooled C and D grade (Group 2) COCs were determined and compared according to the original grades. The results of the study demonstrated that the morphologically characterized Group 2 COCs showed significantly (P <0.05) lower expression for most of the genes related to cumulus-oocyte interplay, fertilization and embryonic development, both at GV stage as well as after maturation. Group 1 COCs also showed greater expression of antiapoptotic genes (BCL-XL andMCL1 ) both at GV stage and after maturation, while pro-apoptotic genes (BAX and BID ) showed significantly (P <0.05) elevated expression in poor quality COCs at both the stages. The cleavage rate in Group 1 COCs was significantly higher than that of Group 2 (74.46 ± 7.06v . 31.57 ± 5.32%). The development of the presumed zygotes in Group 2 oocytes proceeded up to 8- to 16-cell stages only, while in Group 1 it progressed up to morulae (35.38 ± 7.11%) and blastocyst stages (9.70 ± 3.15%), indicating their better developmental potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreased compliance of the conduit arteries is now recognized as an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular pathology. Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) is regarded as the gold standard method for the non-invasive measurement of arterial compliance. Currently, there is no consensus about which sites should be used for optimal estimation of aPWV. True aPWV is a variable of great importance as the compliance of the aorta determines cardiac afterload. The most commonly used technique for measuring aPWV is tonometry, but measurement sites are limited to superficial vessels. The purpose of this study was to estimate the difference in pulse wave velocity measured between the ascending aorta and common femoral artery with values measured between the ascending aorta and abdominal aorta. Ethics Committee approval was obtained to study patients undergoing elective surgery requiring general anaesthesia. Doppler signals were recorded for 2 min with the proximal probe held on the supraclavicular fossa (to insonate the ascending aorta) and the distal probe held at the abdominal aorta at the umbilical level. Doppler signals were recorded again with the proximal probe in the same position and the distal probe moved to the inguinal ligament to insonate the femoral artery. Pulse transit times between the two Doppler signals were measured by cross-correlating the signals and the aPWV was calculated, knowing the distance between the probes (measured to the nearest millimetre with a flexible tape). There was good correlation between the pulse wave velocity measured at the abdominal and femoral sites (r=0.87, P<0.005, n=10). The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean difference between the two approaches was 20.28 ms-1. A paired t-test revealed that there was no significant difference in PWV between the two measurement sites [PWVabd=6.77 ms-1 (1.47) (SD); PWVfem=6.49 (1.42)]. There was one outlier (Fig. 14). The femoral measurement site provides a good estimate of true aPWV values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate cultural practices need to be determined for enhancing crop yields with low inputs under rainfed conditions. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of tillage practices and fertilizer levels on yield, nitrogen (N) uptake and carbon (C) isotope discrimination in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under semi-arid conditions at three sites in north-west Pakistan: NIFA, Urmar and Jalozai. Two fertilizer levels, 60kgNha−1+30 kg P ha−1 (L1) and 60kgNha−1+60 kg P ha−1 (L2), were applied to wheat grown under conventional tillage (T1) and no-tillage (T0) practices. Labeled urea having 1% 15N atom excess at 60 kg N ha−1 was applied as aqueous solution in microplots within each treatment plot. A pre-sowing irrigation of 60 mm was applied and during the growing season, the crop relied entirely on rainfall (268 mm). Biomass yield, N uptake and stable C isotope composition (δ13C) of plants were determined at maturity. Yield of wheat was improved by tillage at two sites (Sites 1 and 2), while at the third site yield was reduced by tillage as compared with the no-tillage treatment. At Sites 1 and 2, nutrient addition (L2, 60kgNha−1+60 kg P ha−1) increased the yield of all plant parts (straw, grain and root) in contrast to Site 3 where only grain yield was increased significantly. Maximum grain yield of wheat was observed with tillage under nutrient level L2 at all sites. Generally, the tillage treatment did not affect the N content in plant parts compared with no-tillage (T0) treatment at all three sites. However, fertilizer N uptake by wheat was variable under different fertilizer levels and tillage practices. Nitrogen derived from fertilizer (Ndff) for grain at Site 2 was higher in tilled plots but was not affected by tillage practice at the other sites. The C isotope (δ13C) values varied from −28.96 to −26.03‰ under different treatments at the three sites. The δ13C values were less negative indicating more effective water use at Sites 2 and 3 compared to Site 1. The C isotope discrimination (Δ) values were positively correlated with yield of wheat straw (r=0.578∗), grain (r=0.951∗∗) and root (r=0.583∗). Further, the Δ in grain had significant negative relationship (r=0.912∗∗) with Ndff (%). The tillage practice exerted a positive effect on yield, N uptake and plant N derived from fertilizer by wheat compared to no-tillage. The positive correlation of Δ with grain, straw and root yields and negative correlation with the Ndff (%) by wheat suggest that this value (Δ) could be used to predict these parameters. However, further studies on different crops under varied environmental conditions are necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]