Abstract Introduction Radiotherapy provides excellent outcome in early stage glottic cancer; however, the optimal radiotherapy dose fractionation remains unknown. Objective To investigate the outcome of patients with T2N0M0 treated with either hypofractionated (HypoFxn) or conventionally fractionated radical (ConFxn) radiotherapy. Methods According to our institutional protocol, patients with T2N0M0 glottic cancer can be treated either with ConfFxn or HypoFxn radiotherapy, as per clinician’s and patient’s choice, following shared decision making discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both modalities. A total of 77 patients with T2N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of glottis treated with either HypoFxn 55Gy in 20 fractions (n = 19) or ConFxn 63 to 65Gy in 30 fractions (n = 58) were included. Results With median follow-up of 3.4 years, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival (median: HypoFxn = 65.2 months, and ConFxn = 75.3 months; p = 0.874), local recurrence free survival rates (median: HypoFxn = 78.8 months vs. ConFxn = 81.2 months; p = 0.274), and overall survival (median: HypoFxn = 65.9 months vs. ConFxn = 67.7 months; p = 0.532). Elective neck irradiation was given to 43 patients, all in the ConFxn group, and this was associated with poorer local control (p = 0.027). The use of radiotherapy modality, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT) versus intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), was not a prognostic factor (p = 0.36). In the HypoFxn group, grade III acute dysphagia requiring nasogastric tube was 16%, compared with 25% in the ConFxn group (p = 0.446). Conclusion HypoFxn radiotherapy provides a comparable treatment outcome with acceptable toxicity. The addition of prophylactic irradiation of the neck lymph nodes has no impact on regional control.

ABSTRACT Diploschistes pakistanicus sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forest, Pakistan. ITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Diploschistes and, together with its morphology and chemistry, suggest that it is separate from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by grey to greyish white pruinose thallus, perithecioid-type ascomata, small apothecia 0.1‒0.4 mm wide, hypothecium 20‒25µm thick, ascus of 85‒110 × 9‒17 µm in size, 3‒5 transverse and 2‒4 longitudinal septa in large ascospores 42‒55 × 18‒30; also differing from related species in ITS region.

Abstract This study was performed to screen out the various species of ‘Cucurbitaceae’ family, musk melon (Kalash and Durga), bottle gourd (Crystal Long and Nuefield) and squash (Green Round, and Squash Malika) against the salt stress. All genotypes were treated with five different levels of NaCl (T0 = control, T1 = 1.5 dS m-1, T2 = 3.0 dS m-1, T3 = 4.5 dS m-1 and T4 = 6.0 dS m-1) and half strength of Hoagland’s nutrients solution as the base nutrient solution. Results showed that the bottle gourd varieties “Nuefield” and “Crystal Long” performed best by maintaining the highest germination (93.2% and 85.6%), number of leaves per plant (4.5 and 5.7), shoot length (16.84 cm and 16.14 cm), root length (13.48 cm and 13.00 cm), plant fresh weight (942.2 g and 918.6 g), plant dry weight (118.4 g and 107.5 g), leaf area (171.2 cm2 and 169.1 cm2), chlorophyll content (3.5 μg/cm-2 and 3.4 μg/cm-2) with low chloride (1.57 ppm and 1.59 ppm) and sodium content (0.47 ppm and 0.51 ppm) under salt stress followed by varieties of Squash (Green Round, and Squash Malika) and musk melon (Kalash and Durga). It was also found that a higher level of salinity (4.5 dS m-1 and 6.0 dS m-1) has more adverse effects on the performance of all selected genotypes. Conclusively, it can be recommended that as compared to all tested species, bottle gourd varieties “Nuefield” and “Crystal Long” have the ability to withstand against salinity stress and should be planted under salt stress conditions.

RESUMO O estresse salino é uma das principais restrições à produção de trigo. A manutenção de um baixo acúmulo de Na+ nas folhas pode melhorar a tolerância do tecido ao estresse salino. Um experimento de campo foi conduzido para discriminar vinte genótipos de trigo, com base no acúmulo de Na+ nas folhas como critério para tolerância ao sal, e avaliar o efeito do acúmulo de sódio na produção de biomassa, características fisiológicas e de produção de genótipos cultivados em ambiente salino-sódico. A concentração de Na+ foi determinada em folhas jovens totalmente expandidas, no estágio de crescimento vegetativo. Os genótipos foram categorizados em dois grupos contrastantes (com baixo e alto teor de Na+), em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições. Os genótipos com baixo teor de Na+ (V-03094, V-02156, TURACO, V0005 e PVN) mostraram retenção de clorofila, teor de K+ foliar, prolina e conteúdo fenólico por períodos muito mais longos do que os com alto teor. Os efeitos da salinidade sobre os componentes de rendimento também foram menores nos genótipos com baixo teor de Na+ nas folhas do que os com alto teor. O maior rendimento de grãos de genótipos com baixo acúmulo de Na+ deveu-se ao aumento no número e peso dos grãos em seus perfilhos, que mostraram-se fortemente associados ao maior efluxo de Na+ das folhas. Os genótipos com baixo acúmulo de sódio melhoraram a emergência de plântulas (%) e o rendimento de grãos, em solo salino-sódico.

ABSTRACT Salt stress is a major production constraint in wheat. The maintenance of a low Na+ accumulation in the leaves may improve the tissue tolerance against salt stress. A field experiment was conducted to discriminate twenty wheat genotypes, based on leaf Na+ accumulation as a criterion for salt tolerance, and evaluate the effect of sodium accumulation on the biomass production, physiological and yield traits of wheat genotypes grown in a saline-sodic environment. The Na+ concentration was determined in young fully expanded leaves at the vegetative growth stage. The genotypes were categorized into two contrasting groups (with low and high Na+ content), in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The low Na+ genotypes (V-03094, V-02156, TURACO, V0005 and PVN) showed much longer chlorophyll retention, leaf K+ content, proline and phenolic contents than the high Na+ genotypes. The salt effects on yield components were also less in the wheat genotypes with low leaf Na+ content than the high Na+ genotypes. The greater grain yield of low Na+ accumulating genotypes was due to the enhanced grain number and weight in their tillers, which were strongly associated with the higher Na+ efflux from the leaves. The low sodium accumulator genotypes improved the seedling emergence (%) and grain yield in saline-sodic soil.

We synthesized a series of compounds bearing pharmacologically important 1,3,4-oxadiazole and piperidine moieties. Spectral data analysis by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR and EI-MS was used to elucidate the structures of the synthesized molecules. Docking studies explained the different types of interaction of the compounds with amino acids, while bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding interactions showed their pharmacological effectiveness. Antibacterial screening of these compounds demonstrated moderate to strong activity against Salmonella typhi and Bacillus subtilis but only weak to moderate activity against the other three bacterial strains tested. Seven compounds were the most active members as acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors. All the compounds presented displayed strong inhibitory activity against urease. Compounds 7l, 7m, 7n, 7o, 7p, 7r, 7u, 7v, 7x and 7v were highly active, with respective IC50 values of 2.14±0.003, 0.63±0.001, 2.17±0.006, 1.13±0.003, 1.21±0.005, 6.28±0.003, 2.39±0.005, 2.15±0.002, 2.26±0.003 and 2.14±0.002 µM, compared to thiourea, used as the reference standard (IC50 = 21.25±0.15 µM). These new urease inhibitors could replace existing drugs after their evaluation in comprehensive in vivo studies.

Abstract Introduction Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard of care in inoperable locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancers. The most widely accepted schedule of concomitant cisplatin is 100mg/m2 given on a 3 weekly basis but the optimal regime is unknown. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the tolerability, compliance, and clinical outcomes of weekly cisplatin (40mg/m2). Methods During the period of January 2007-December 2009, we analyzed retrospectively 122 patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, and oral cavity) treated with definitive chemoradiation. All patients received 63 Gy in 30 daily fractions with concomitant weekly cisplatin 40mg/m2. We assessed treatment toxicities and patient compliance. We estimated overall survival using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Sixty-eight percent of patients managed to complete all six cycles of chemotherapy while 87% of patients completed at least 5 cycles of weekly cisplatin. Incidence of grade 3/4 toxicity was as follows: mucositis 33%, dermatitis 41%, dysphagia 15%, mouth/neck pain 17%, neutropenia 2%, and renal impairment 3%. 53% patients required at least one hospital admission for symptom control. The 5-year overall survival rate was 60%. Conclusion Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using weekly cisplatin at 40mg/m2 per week is an effective, well tolerated regimen allowing most patients to receive at least 5 cycles of chemotherapy. However, a phase III randomized control trial comparing the standard dose of 100mg/m2 cisplatin tri-weekly with a weekly regimen is needed to establish the long term clinical outcome.

Genetic diversity was assessed among 32 advanced wheat breeding lines included in the National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (2006-07) of Pakistan using molecular (DNA) and biochemical (SDS-PAGE) markers. Of the 72 RAPD primers used for initial screening, 15 were found polymorphic. A total of 140 bands (61.4% polymorphic) were generated by the 15 random decamer primers. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.94 for rainfed and from 0.70 to 0.93 for the normal seeding date group. Cluster analysis using the unweighted pair group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustered the 32 advanced wheat breeding lines into one major and three small groups. Maximum level of polymorphism (90%) was observed for the primer OPA-05. Lines N9 and N11 showed the least genetic similarities (0.70-0.82 and 0.71-0.83, respectively) with rest of the lines studied. Line RF1 had the maximum similarity (0.81-0.94) with other lines. Wheat lines included in the normal seeding date were relatively distantly related than those in the rainfed group. Seed storage protein analysis produced 19 subunits ranging from 29-120KDa. Similarity coefficients ranged from 0.53 to 1.0 for the normal seeding date and from 0.47 to 1.0 for the rainfed group. High molecular weight subunits (particularly 120KDa) showed greater polymorphism than the lower molecular weight subunits. Narrow genetic base was observed in wheat lines included in the rainfed group. DNA fingerprinting of advanced breeding lines may help to avoid release of varieties with narrow genetic base in the future.