Search

In Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its disease-free quality seed potato production, an economic study of 200 growers grouped into small (105) and large (95) farms revealed an overall cost of cultivation at Rs. 94,667 per farm and Rs. 3,08,051 per ha in 2022-23. Among all inputs, potato seed accounted for 29% per hectare, while human labor constituted 27% of costs. The total variable cost was 89%, with fixed costs at 11% per ha. Gross income averaged Rs. 4,67,705 per ha. Efficiency analysis across farm categories showed the cost of potato production at Rs. 250 per quintal (q). Large farms exhibited a slightly higher output-input ratio (1.52) compared to small farms. Production costs ranged from Rs. 1,195 to Rs. 1,270 per q for large and small farms, respectively, with variable costs higher on small farms (Rs. 1,117) than on large ones (Rs. 1,074) per q. The reported benefit-cost ratio stood at 1.88, indicating favorable returns. Potato prices ranged from Rs. 1,860 to Rs. 1,880 per q, with larger farms realizing higher prices. Break-even analysis suggested the need for small, large, and overall farm categories to achieve at least 50.72, 38.02, and 44.14 q of potatoes, respectively, to maintain a no-profit, no-loss condition. The analysis underscores potential profit increase by optimizing human labor, manure, and fertilizer use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the nephrotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in Wistar rats using biochemical, oxidative stress and histopathological changes. Three groups of six rats were orally administered AgNPs once a day for 28 days with doses of 100, 500, 1000 mg/kg bodyweight. A control group was administered with deionized water. Blood and kidneys were collected 24 hours after the last treatment following standard protocols. The activities of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen against AgNP-induced toxicity was determined in the serum by colorimetric microplate assay. Various activity levels of oxidative stress including, Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) were evaluated in the kidney tissue. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to determine the histopathological evaluation of the kidneys. A significant increase in the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, CAT and LPO, were noted in AgNPs exposed rats compared to that in control rats. In contrast, decreased activities of SOD and GPx in a dose-dependent manner was observed in AgNPs exposed rats relative to control rats. SEM and TEM study showed significant morphological alterations in kidneys of AgNPs exposed rats in accordance with the biochemical markers. The results of the study demonstrate that AgNPs might be nephrotoxic, and its toxicity is mediated through oxidative stress mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Few studies have described obstetric and critical care outcomes in pregnant women with COVID‐19 needing intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Material and methods: Obstetric and critical care outcomes of COVID‐19 women admitted to eight ICUs from April 1, 2020 to September 15, 2021, in the North West of England were retrospectively analyzed. Women admitted to ICU were assigned to three groups: antepartum women discharged from ICU prior to delivery (antepartum ICU‐discharged group), antepartum women who had expedited delivery (antepartum ICU‐delivered group) and a postpartum group. Our aims were to describe maternal characteristics and assess how delivery influenced the obstetric and critical care outcomes in these women. Results: During the study period, 615 women tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), of whom 62 (10.1%) needed ICU admission due to symptomatic COVID‐19. Pregnancy loss (3.2%) was recorded in two women. Detailed obstetric and critical outcomes from 60 women are reported. Nine antepartum women (15%) admitted to ICU were discharged and continued their pregnancy, 13 antepartum women (21.7%) had expedited delivery by cesarean birth after ICU admission and 38 (63.3%) women were admitted to ICU during the postpartum period. Antepartum ICU‐discharged women contracted the SARS‐CoV‐2 at an earlier median gestational age (23 weeks; p = 0.0003) and needed ICU admission at an earlier median gestational age (28 weeks, p = 0.03) compared with antepartum ICU‐delivered (28 and 32 weeks) and postpartum women (35.5 and 36 weeks). Antepartum ICU‐discharged women had the lowest rate of mechanical ventilation receipt (11.1%) compared with antepartum ICU‐delivered women (52.3%) and postpartum women (44.3%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). No significant differences were observed in the frequency and severity of critical care complications in the antepartum ICU‐discharged, antepartum‐ICU delivered and postpartum women. Conclusions: Of the women admitted to ICU antepartum, 40% were discharged while remaining pregnant and 60% had expedited delivery. Antepartum women who were discharged from ICU without giving birth may receive lower rates of mechanical ventilation than those who delivered in ICU or admitted postpartum; however, further studies are needed to confirm or refute this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichodorus similis associated with potato in the Czech Republic was described and illustrated. This study provides additional information on morphometrical and morphological characters of T. similis and integrates morphological and genetic data obtained by species-specific polymerase chain reaction and sequencing (ITS1 and D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA). The knowledge on morphological variability and genetic diversity is extended, and a rapid and accurate molecular diagnostics was successfully applied.