Dissipation Kinetics of Trifloxystrobin and Tebuconazole on Wheat Leaves and Their Harvest Time Residues in Wheat Grains and Soil

Following single application of Nativo 75 WG (trifloxystrobin 25 % + tebuconazole 50 %) on wheat crop @ 300 and 600 g ha⁻¹, resulting in active application of trifloxystrobin @ 75.0 and 150.0 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and tebuconazole @ 150 and 300 g a.i. ha⁻¹, the average initial deposits of trifloxystrobin on wheat leaves were 5.54 and 8.30 mg kg⁻¹, and that of tebuconazole were 14.66 and 27.94 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Half-life values for trifloxystrobin were observed to be 2.80 and 2.51 days whereas those for tebuconazole were found to be 2.46 and 1.85 days at recommended and double the recommended dosages, respectively. The residues of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole dissipated to the extent of >89 % at both the dosages after 7 days. Wheat grain samples at harvest having pre harvest interval of 140 days did not show the presence of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole at their determination limit of 0.01 mg kg⁻¹.     

Unexplained absence of both fallopian tubes with ovary in the omentum

A rare case of unexplained absence of both fallopian tubes and ovaries from their normal position, resulting infertility is presented. On careful search an ectopic ovary containing dermoid cyst was found in the omentum. Possible mechanism and clinical significance of such a rare occurrence is discussed.     

Endometrial histology and progesterone levels in women using norethindrone acetate implants for contraception

The effect of a single implant-D containing 40 mg of norethindrone acetate on the endometrium and serum progesterone, and its mode of contraceptive action was investigated. 20 women aged 20-40 (parity 1-5) had used implant-D for periods of 7-27 months. Endometrial biopsies and peripheral venous bloods were collected between the 16th-28th days of the menstrual cycle. Endometrial dating was done according to the criteria of Noyes et al. 19 of the 20 biopsies taken showed the endometrium in the secretory phase, and serum progesterone levels above 3 ng/ml confirming that ovulation had occurred. The biopsy of the remaining woman showed proliferative endometrium and serum progesterone of 2.15 ng/ml. The dating of the endometrium revealed disparity between stromal, glandular, and vascular components of the specimens; thus, only approximate dates could be assigned to a particular specimen. In the dating of the endometrium, 5 women showed retardation by more than 3 days and 4 women showed enhancement of 3 or more days. The results show that the norethindrone-acetate-containing silastic implant-D does not inhibit ovulation and 1 mode of its interaction in fertility control is by bringing about an imbalance in endometrial maturation during the luteal phase.     

CYBA and GSTP1 variants associate with oxidative stress under hypobaric hypoxia as observed in high-altitude pulmonary oedema

HAPE (high-altitude pulmonary oedema) is characterized by pulmonary hypertension, vasoconstriction and an imbalance in oxygen-sensing redox switches. Excess ROS (reactive oxygen species) contribute to endothelial damage under hypobaric hypoxia, hence the oxidative-stress-related genes CYBA (cytochrome b-245 α polypeptide) and GSTP1 (glutathione transferase Pi 1) are potential candidate genes for HAPE. In the present study, we investigated the polymorphisms -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) of CYBA and I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) of GSTP1, individually and in combination, in 150 HAPE-p (HAPE patients), 180 HAPE-r (HAPE-resistant lowland natives) and 180 HLs (healthy highland natives). 8-Iso-PGF2α (8-iso-prostaglandin F2α) levels were determined in plasma and were correlated with individual alleles, genotype, haplotype and gene-gene interactions. The relative expression of CYBA and GSTP1 were determined in peripheral blood leucocytes. The genotype distribution of -930A/G, H72Y (C/T) and I105V (A/G) differed significantly in HAPE-p compared with HAPE-r and HLs (P≤0.01). The haplotypes G-C of -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) in CYBA and G-C and G-T of I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) in GSTP1 were over-represented in HAPE-p; in contrast, haplotypes A-T of -930A/G and H72Y (C/T) in CYBA and A-C of I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) in GSTP1 were over-represented in HAPE-r and HLs. 8-Iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in HAPE-p and in HLs than in HAPE-r (P=2.2×10(-16) and 1.2×10(-14) respectively) and the expression of CYBA and GSTP1 varied differentially (P<0.05). Regression analysis showed that the risk alleles G, C, G and T of -930A/G, H72Y (C/T), I105V (A/G) and A114V (C/T) were associated with increased 8-iso-PGF2α levels (P<0.05). Interaction between the two genes revealed over-representation of most of the risk-allele-associated genotype combinations in HAPE-p and protective-allele-associated genotype combinations in HLs. In conclusion, the risk alleles of CYBA and GSTP1, their haplotypes and gene-gene interactions are associated with imbalanced oxidative stress and, thereby, with high-altitude adaptation and mal-adaptation.     

Leflunomide: an unlikely trigger and mechanistically a beneficial drug for alopecia areata

Clinical Rheumatology -     

Long-term contraception by steroid-releasing implants. II. A preliminary report on long-term contraception by a single silastic implant containing norethindrone acetate (ENTA) in women.

A preliminary report on the long-term contraceptive effectiveness and acceptability of a single subdermal silastic implant containing norethindrone acetate (ENTA) is presented. The 4 types of implants used varied in length, wall thickness, and amount of ENTA; implant A contained 20-25 mg ENTA, implant B contained 30-35 mg ENTA, implant C contained 45-50 mg ENTA as was longer than all the other implants, and implant D contained 40 mg ENTA and had a greater wall thickness than all the other implants. 213 women volunteers received a single implant and were followed for a total of 909 cycles. 2 of 13 women receiving implant A, 2 of 39 women receiving implant B, 3 of 76 women receiving implant C, and none of the 85 women receiving implant D became pregnant. Implant D had the longest expected life-span (10 months). Menstrual irregularities were fewest with implants A (23%) and D (20%), and greatest with implant C (42%). there were no complaints of nausea, insomnia, tender breasts, or loss of libido. 4 patients with implant B and 6 patients with implant C had the capsules removed for medical reasons. More detailed studies of implant D are in progress.