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Venkatesh, M. S., Hazra, K. K., Ghosh, P. K., Praharaj, C. S. and Kumar, N. 2013. Long-term effect of pulses and nutrient management on soil carbon sequestration in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 127–136. As an important component of crop diversification, pulses/legumes are known to improve soil quality through their unique characteristics of biological N2 fixation, root exudates, leaf litter fall and deep root system. Changes in the soil organic carbon pool due to the inclusion of pulses in an upland maize-based cropping system were evaluated after seven cropping cycles. The results indicate that inclusion of pulses in an upland maize-based cropping system improved the total soil organic carbon content, being greater in surface soil (0–0.2 m) and declining with soil depth. Of the four carbon fractions of total soil organic carbon (C frac 1 –C frac 4 ) measured in the upland maize-based system, the most labile C fraction (C frac 1 ) was dominant. Distribution of the carbon pool varie...

To investigate the ameliorative potential of sodium selenite and zinc sulfate on intensive-swimming-induced testicular disorders, 48 Wistar male rats (age, 4 months; mass, 146.2 ± 3.6 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups: the unexercised-control group (n = 12); the exercised group (n = 12); the control supplemented group (n = 12); and the exercised supplemented group (n = 12). For 10 weeks, the exercised rats underwent a protocol that consisted of 4 h·d–1swimming, for 6 d·week–1; the control rats did not exercise. For 10 weeks, both the supplemented groups received an oral daily dose of a combination of sodium selenite and zinc sulfate (6 and 3 mg·kg body mass–1, respectively). After 10 weeks, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) was seen in rats in the exercised group, compared with rats in both control groups, in paired testicular masses; in epididymal sperm count; in testicular Δ5, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17β-HSD; in plasma levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin; in the numbers of preleptotine spermatocytes, midpachytene spermatocytes, and stage 7 spermatids of the stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle; and in fertility performance. As well, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was seen in the exercised group, compared with both control groups, in plasma corticosterone levels and in testicular content of malondialdehyde and catalase activity. At the same time, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the exercised group, compared with both control groups, in plasma concentrations of zinc and selenium; in the testicular content of glutathione (GSH), the glutathione and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) ratio, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol; and in testicular activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase in the testes. No significant changes were seen in the number of spermatogonia-A from the stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle or the testicular content of GSSG among the groups. Sodium selenite and zinc sulfate supplementation significantly protected against exercise-induced testicular gamatogenic and spermatogenic disorders, prevented testicular oxidative stress, and increased antioxidant status. It can be concluded that intensive-swimming-induced oxidative stress causes dysfunctions in the male reproductive system, which can be protected by the coadministration of sodium selenite and zinc sulfate.

The fate of every organ allografting is ‚rejection’ if nothing is done to halt this natural process. The risks of ‘hyperacute’ ‘accelerated acute’ and ‘acute’ rejection have restricted scientists and clinicians over the years in performing organ transplantationwithin ABO blood group matched pairs only. Subsequent to the development in the field of immunosuppression, ABO incompatible transplants have gained momentum to incorporate a significant population of end stage renal disease patients with incompatible blood group donors into the transplant program. However, optimizing the recipient for transplantation and subsequent accommodation with optimal graft function without tilting to the much easier path of rejection is a challenge. Although most of these steps come under the domain of the nephrologist, it is crucial that as the perioperative physician of a very high stake life modifying surgery, the anesthesiologist, surgeons as well as the intensivist should understand the complex process of desensitization, patient preparation and perioperative management for the best outcome. Lack of understanding about a couple of crucial considerations can jeopardize the delicate balance of immunotolerance and can prove catastrophic. The article highlights these considerations important for the perioperative clinicians along with a description of first 20 patients of blood group incompatible renal transplantation at our Institute.