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Pea is a commercially significant legume that is widely utilized worldwide and has a elevated amount of nutrition and bioactive components. Its consumption is attributed to a number of health benefits and its potential as a functional food. Fulvic acid can be used as a bio-stimulant to promote plant growth and increase nutrient availability and uptake. A field experiment was designed during two subsequent cropping seasons (i.e., 2022–23 and 2023–24) to evaluate the impact of two methods of fulvic acid application of seed priming and foliar spray on the growth, yield, antioxidant content, and nutritional value of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants. The seeds were primed with fulvic acid at 1.5, 3 g L−1, and water, while a foliar spray of fulvic acid with the same doses was performed on the seedlings of non-primed seeds. The results obtained exhibited that the seed priming technique with fulvic acid outperformed the fulvic acid foliar applications. The increase in the fulvic acid dose to 3 g L−1 in both application techniques exhibited the highest plant growth, heaviest fresh and dry weights, and highest green seed yield. The maximum growth parameters were recorded after the foliar spray treatment at a dose of 3 g L−1, as it led to improvement in the growth parameters, leaf pigments, and total carbohydrates. The highest number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, and seed yield were obtained by the seed priming technique. From the results obtained, it may be concluded that the application of fulvic acid at 3 g L−1 via the seed priming technique is beneficial for enhancing the productivity of peas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato fruit's quality, firmness, and resistance to hard postharvest handling and storage conditions can be raised via different preharvest applications, including fertilization. This study aimed to study the impact of preharvest field humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on the postharvest quality of tomato fruits. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design in five treatments as follows: 20 mL L−1 HA plus 2 g L−1 FA (T1), 20 mL L−1 HA plus 0.5 g L−1 SA (T2), 40 mL L−1 HA plus 2 g L−1 FA (T3), 40 mL L−1 HA plus 0.5 g L−1 SA (T4), and untreated plants (T5). HA was added as a soil supplementation, while FA and SA were applied as a foliar application. Tomato fruits were collected at the beaker stage and maintained at 12 °C and 95% relative humidity for the postharvest storage period. The results obtained revealed that all physicochemical traits were significantly influenced by all treatments applied when comparing with the control fruit. The firmness of tomato fruits was better retained with the HA plus FA treatments than HA plus SA. T3 treatment improved the carotenoids and total soluble solids by 10.0% and 92.0%, respectively, relative to the control fruits. By the end of the storage period, the highest reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and pectin content was exhibited by tomatoes subjected to T3 treatment followed by T1 and T4. Preharvest treatment enhanced antioxidant content enzymes of α-amylase, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) enzymes in tomato fruit during the storage period. Moreover, the T3 treatment recorded the lowest weight loss percentage (5.9%) by the end of storage period. The results revealed that combining preharvest HA and FA treatments effectively maintains the quality and shelf life of tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity and water security are significant challenges in arid climates, necessitating effective practices to enhance crop productivity in these stressful environments. To address this, a study was conducted during the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023 using a randomized, completely block setup with three replications. The research assessed the effects of different mulch materials, unmulched (bare soil), white plastic, rice straw, and sawdust, combined with biostimulant foliar applications (control, bulk chitosan at 250 mg/L, and two concentrations of chitosan nanoparticles at 125 mg/L and 62.5 mg/L) on physiochemical and biological properties of salt-affected soil, as well as on the growth and yield of cowpeas. The findings of this study indicate that different mulch materials exert distinct effects based on their type. For instance, white plastic mulch with chitosan nanoparticles at a concentration of 62.5 mg/L markedly decreased soil salinity (by 10.80% and 14.64%) and ESP (by 6.93% and 6.80%). In contrast, white plastic mulch paired with a control foliar application significantly increased the soil moisture content (by 23.93% and 27.63%) compared to un-mulched soil. The combination of organic mulches and biostimulant foliar treatments significantly enhanced soil health by increasing the pH, organic carbon, nutrient content, and beneficial bacteria while reducing the bulk density and suppressing harmful fungi. Biostimulant foliar treatments have a modest affected soil property. Additionally, this study highlights that integrating specific mulching materials with biostimulant foliar treatments can significantly improve cowpea's vegetative growth, yield, and nutrient content. This suggests that combining mulches and biostimulants may provide a sustainable solution for enhancing cowpea production in saline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In our paper, we examine various facets of prostate cancer lung metastasis. We explore their clinical manifestations, such as respiratory symptoms and potential complications. Diagnostic modalities, including imaging techniques and biomarker analysis, are scrutinized for accurate identification. Treatment strategies, encompassing surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies, are discussed for their efficacy. Survival outcomes are assessed to gauge the effectiveness of different interventions. Through comprehensive analysis, we aim to provide insights into managing prostate cancer lung metastasis and enhancing patient care and outcomes. Prostate cancer lung metastasis represents a clinical conundrum due to its implications for advanced disease progression and the complexities it introduces in treatment planning. As the disease progresses to distant sites such as the lung, the clinical management becomes increasingly intricate, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies to address the unique characteristics of metastatic lesions. This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge surrounding prostate cancer metastasis to the lung, shedding light on the diverse array of clinical presentations encountered, ranging from subtle radiological findings to overt symptomatic manifestations. By examining the diagnostic modalities utilized in identifying this metastasis, including advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analyses, this review aims to provide insights into the diagnostic landscape and the challenges associated with accurately characterizing lung metastatic lesions in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, this review delves into the nuances of therapeutic interventions employed in managing prostate cancer lung metastasis, encompassing systemic treatments such as hormonal therapies and chemotherapy, as well as metastasis-directed therapies including surgery and radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adult diabetic patients during 3 years. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on the adult diabetic population who attended a large private referral ophthalmology center in Assiut City, Upper Egypt for 3 years. All cases were subjected to full history taking, ophthalmological examination, and dilated fundus examination for evidence of DR, and besides, the associated systemic complications were assessed. Results The study included a total of 2178 cases and the prevalence of DR was 18.2%. DR was more prevalent in females than males (67.9% vs. 32.1%). Also, DR was significantly associated with insulin use, moderate and poor control of diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, and nephropathy (P<0.01 for all). The risk factors for DR were; older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.69; 95% CI =0.91–1.97; P≤0.01), female sex (AOR 1.65; 95% CI =1.21–1.86; P =0.02), smoking (AOR 1.73; 95% CI =1.41–2.11; P =0.02), longer duration of DM (> 15 years) (AOR 2.87; 95% CI =2.48–3.29; P ≤0.01), insulin use (AOR 1.42; 95% CI =0.94–1.65; P=0.03), poor control of DM (AOR 3.98; 95% CI =3.69–5.41; P≤0.01), presence of HTN (AOR 2.62; 95% CI =2.37–2.89; P≤0.01) and dyslipidemia (AOR 1.65; 95% CI =1.42–2.02; P=0.03). Conclusion The prevalence of DR in adult diabetic patients was 18.2% and the significant risk factors for DR (arranged descendingly in power) were; poor control of DM, longer duration of DM (> 15 years), presence of HTN, smoking, high age, dyslipidemia, female sex, and insulin use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a case series of 25 prostate cancer patients who developed malignant ascites, a rare and aggressive disease progression. The study found that malignant ascites due to prostate cancer is associated with advanced metastatic castration-resistant disease, particularly involving the liver, and poor clinical outcomes despite standard systemic therapy. The median overall survival for the whole cohort was 4 months, with no significant difference between patients who received chemotherapy and those who received supportive care. The article emphasizes the need for better systemic therapy and highlights the importance of providing the best supportive care to improve the quality of life for these patients. [Extracted from the article]