Influence of post-treatment irrigation timings and herbicide placement on bermudagrass and goosegrass (Eleusine indica) response to low-dose topramezone and metribuzin programs

Immediate, post-treatment irrigation has been proposed as a method to reduce hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy] phytotoxicity from topramezone. Immediate irrigation is impractical since it would take a turfgrass sprayer 10 to 15 minutes to cover an average golf course fairway or athletic field. There is also insufficient evidence regarding how post-treatment irrigation, immediate or otherwise, influences mature goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] control from topramezone or low-dose topramezone plus metribuzin programs. We sought to investigate bermudagrass and E. indica response to immediate, 15-minute, and 30-minute post-treatment irrigation compared to no irrigation following topramezone at 12.3 g ae ha−1, the lowest labeled rate, or topramezone at 6.1 g ha−1 plus metribuzin at 210 g ai ha−1. We also evaluated placement of each herbicide and their combination on soil, foliage, and soil plus foliage to help elucidate the mechanisms involved in differential responses between species and herbicide mixtures. Responses were largely dependent on trial due to bermudagrass injury from high-dose topramezone being nearly eliminated by immediate irrigation in one trial and only slightly affected in another. When post-treatment irrigation was postponed for 15 or 30 minutes, topramezone alone injured bermudagrass unacceptably in both trials. Bermudagrass was injured less by low-dose topramezone plus metribuzin than by high-dose topramezone. All post-treatment irrigation timings reduced E. indica control compared to no post-treatment irrigation. The herbicide placement study suggested that topramezone control of E. indica is highly dependent on foliar uptake and phytotoxicity of both bermudagrass and E. indica is greater from topramezone than metribuzin. Thus, post-treatment irrigation likely reduces topramezone rate load with a concomitant effect on plant phytotoxicity of both species. Metribuzin reduced 21-d cumulative clipping wt and tiller production of plants, and this may be a mechanism by which it reduces foliar white discoloration from topramezone.

Orthostatic intolerance in adults with long COVID was not associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

In this observational cross-sectional study, we investigated predictors of orthostatic intolerance (OI) in adults with long COVID. Participants underwent a 3-minute active stand (AS) with Finapres NOVA, followed by a 10-minute unmedicated 70-degree head-up tilt test. 85 participants were included (mean age 46 years, range 25-78; 74% women), of which 56 (66%) reported OI during AS (OIAS). OIAS seemed associated with female sex, more fatigue and depressive symptoms, and greater inability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), as well as a higher heart rate (HR) at the lowest systolic blood pressure (SBP) point before the 1st minute post-stand (mean HRnadir: 88 vs 75 bpm, P=0.004). In a regression model also including age, sex, fatigue, depression, ADL inability, and peak HR after the nadir SBP, HRnadir was the only OIAS predictor (OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18, P=0.027). 22 participants had initial (iOH) and 5 classical (cOH) orthostatic hypotension, but neither correlated with OIAS. 71 participants proceeded to tilt, of which 28 had OI during tilt (OItilt). Of the 53 who had a 10-minute tilt, 7 (13%) fulfilled hemodynamic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) criteria, but 6 did not report OItilt. OIAS was associated with a higher initial HR on AS, which after 1 minute equalized with the non-OIAS group. Despite these initial orthostatic HR differences, POTS was infrequent and largely asymptomatic. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05027724 (retrospectively registered on August 30, 2021).

In vivo evaluation of BACtrack® Skyn™: a discrete wrist-worn transdermal alcohol monitoring device marketed to the public

A discrete wrist-worn transdermal alcohol monitoring device, the BACtrack® Skyn™, was evaluated in a subject over three drinking sessions. The relationship between transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) and breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was evaluated. The relationship amongst contemporaneous TAC/BrAC measurements revealed an R of 0.65, while the relationship in the 45-minute post-drinking phase revealed an R of 0.89. Results obtained show promise for its use. Further research is needed with many subjects in real-world drinking situations.

In vivo evaluation of BACtrack® Skyn™: a discrete wrist-worn transdermal alcohol monitoring device marketed to the public

A discrete wrist-worn transdermal alcohol monitoring device, the BACtrack® Skyn™, was evaluated in a subject over three drinking sessions. The relationship between transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) and breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was evaluated. The relationship amongst contemporaneous TAC/BrAC measurements revealed an R of 0.65, while the relationship in the 45-minute post-drinking phase revealed an R of 0.89. Results obtained show promise for its use. Further research is needed with many subjects in real-world drinking situations.

NIMG-18. [18F]FLUCICLOVINE PET TO DISTINGUISH PSEUDOPROGRESSION FROM TUMOR PROGRESSION IN POST-TREATMENT GLIOBLASTOMA

Differentiation of true tumor progression (TP) from pseudoprogression (PsP) is a major unmet need in patients with glioblastoma. [18F]Fluciclovine is a synthetic amino acid PET radiotracer that is FDA-approved in biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer. The study aim was to assess the value of [18F]Fluciclovine PET in differentiation of histologically confirmed (“true”) TP and PsP in post-treatment of glioblastoma. METHODS: 23 patients with glioblastoma with new contrast-enhancing lesions or lesions showing increased enhancement ( > 25% increase) on standard MRI after completion of radiation underwent 60-minutes dynamic [18F]Fluciclovine PET imaging. Patients subsequently underwent resection of enhancing lesion and tumor percentage vs. treatment-related changes were quantified on histopathology. Patients were considered "true” TP if tumor represented ≥ 50% of the resected specimen, mixed TP-PsP if < 50% and > 10%, and PsP if tumor represented ≤ 10%. Summed 30- to 40-minute post-injection PET images were used to measure SUVpeak and SUVmax (g/mL units). RESULTS: 15 patients with “true” TP, 3 with mixed TP-PsP, and 5 with PsP were included. There was a positive correlation between SUVpeak by PET and tumor percentage by histology (Rho= 0.56, p= 0.006). Patients who demonstrated “true” TP had significantly higher SUVpeak compared to patients with histological PsP (4.8±1.6 vs 2.9± 1.0, p= 0.02, AUC= 0.91, n=20). SUVpeak cut-off of 3.3 provided 93% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and 90% accuracy for differentiation of “true” TP from PsP. Patients with “true” TP/mixed TP-PsP also had significantly higher SUVpeak than patients with PsP (4.6±1.5 vs 2.9± 1.0, p= 0.03, AUC= 0.88, n=23). SUVmax and partial volume-corrected SUVpeak and SUVmax exhibited similar performance. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that [18F]Fluciclovine PET imaging can accurately differentiate “true” TP from PsP. Further studies are required to confirm these promising early results and determine optimal criteria for interpreting [18F]Fluciclovine PET to distinguish PsP from TP.

Development and Validation of 3 Min Incremental Step-in-Place Test for Predicting Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Home Settings: A Submaximal Exercise Study to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness

The purpose of this research was to develop the 3 min incremental step-in-place (3MISP) test for predicting maximal oxygen uptake (V•O2max). A total of 205 adults (20–64 years) completed the 3MISP and V•O2max tests. Using age, gender, body composition (BC) including percent body fat (PBF) or body mass index (BMI), and with or without heart rate (HR) at the beginning of exercise (HR0) or difference between HR at the third minute during the exercise and the first minute post exercise (ΔHR3 − HR4) in the 3MISP test, six V•O2max prediction models were derived from multiple linear regression. Age (r = −0.239), gender (r = 0.430), BMI (r = −0.191), PBF (r = −0.706), HR0 (r = −0.516), and ΔHR3 − HR4 (r = 0.563) were significantly correlated to V•O2max. Among the six V•O2max prediction models, the PBF model∆HR3 − HR4 has the highest accuracy. The simplest models with age, gender, and PBF/BMI explained 54.5% of the V•O2max in the PBF modelBC and 39.8% of that in the BMI modelBC. The addition of HR0 and ∆HR3 − HR4 increases the variance of V•O2max explained by the PBF and BMI models∆HR3 − HR4 by 17.98% and 45.23%, respectively, while standard errors of estimate decrease by 10.73% and 15.61%. These data demonstrate that the models established using 3MISP-HR data can enhance the accuracy of V•O2max prediction.

Performance and safety of induced sputum procedure in young children in Malawi: a prospective study

Background Collecting sputum specimens are a challenge in infants and young children. We assessed performance and safety of induced sputum (IS) collection in this population, embedded in a prospective study evaluating respiratory cryptosporidiosis in Malawian children with diarrheal disease. Methods We assessed sputum quality and correlation with detection of cryptosporidium, and evaluated safety and adverse events in 162 children. Results Among 159 stool specimens tested, 34 (21%, 95% CI 15.0 – 28%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. There were 160 IS and 161 nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens collected. The majority of IS specimens 122/147 (83%) were clear in appearance, and 132/147 (90%) were of good quality. Among the respiratory specimens tested, 10 (6.3%, 95% CI 2.5 – 10) IS and 4 (3% (95% CI 0 – 5)) NP were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. When stool cryptosporidium PCR was the gold standard, IS PCR sensitivity was higher (29 %, 95% CI 22 – 37) compared to NP PCR (12%, 95% CI 7 – 17) for detection of Cryptosporidium spp. One (0.4%) adverse event occurred, a drop in oxygen saturations at 30-minute post procedure evaluation. Consciousness – level, median respiratory rate and oxygen saturations were unchanged, before or after IS. Conclusions IS provides good quality specimens, is more sensitive than NP specimens for diagnosis of respiratory cryptosporidiosis, and collection can be done safely in children hospitalized with diarrheal disease.

The Diagnostic Utility of the Basal Luteinizing Hormone Level and Single 60-Minute Post GnRH Agonist Stimulation Test for Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty in Girls

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of the Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and single 60-minute post gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist stimulation test for idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.MethodsData from 1,492 girls diagnosed with precocious puberty who underwent GnRH agonist stimulation testing between January 1, 2016, and October 8, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. LH levels and LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratios were measured by immuno-chemiluminescence assay before and at several timepoints after GnRH analogue stimulation testing. Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, χ2 test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic utility of these hormone levels.ResultsThe 1,492 subjects were split into two groups: an idiopathic CPP group (n = 518) and a non-CPP group (n = 974). Basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratios were significantly different between the two groups at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after GnRH analogue stimulation testing. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed the strongest correlation between peak LH and LH levels at 60 minutes after GnRH agonist stimulation (r = 0.986, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed that the 60-minute LH/FSH ratio yielded the highest consistency, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.988 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.982–0.993) and a cut-off point of 0.603 mIU/L (sensitivity 97.3%, specificity 93.0%). The cut-off points of basal LH and LH/FSH were 0.255 mIU/L (sensitivity 68.9%, specificity 86.0%) and 0.07 (sensitivity 73.2%, specificity 89.5%), respectively, with AUCs of 0.823 (95% CI, 0.799–0.847) and 0.843 (95% CI, 0.819–0.867), respectively.ConclusionsA basal LH value greater than 0.535 mIU/L can be used to diagnose CPP without a GnRH agonist stimulation test. A single 60-minute post-stimulus gonadotropin result of LH and LH/FSH can be used instead of a GnRH agonist stimulation test, or samples can be taken only at 0, 30, and 60 minutes after a GnRH agonist stimulation test. This reduces the number of blood draws required compared with the traditional stimulation test, while still achieving a high level of diagnostic accuracy.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE TOTAL DOSE REQUIREMENTS AND HEMODYNAMIC ALTERATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF PRIMING PRINCIPLE AMONG PATIENTS INDUCED WITH PROPOFOL

Background:- Propofol given at standard induction dose, is known to produce haemodynamic instability, especially hypotension. Application of “priming principle” helps to reduce the total dose of propofol. Objectives:- To study the total dose requirements of propofol and peri-intubation haemodynamic stability in patients undergoing surgery under GACV when priming principle is applied. Methodology:- This was an observational study among 54 ASA I and II patients undergoing surgery under GACV, who were randomly divided into three groups of 18 patients each. All patients received fentanyl 1 mcg/kg over 30 seconds followed by propofol. Group 1 patients received the total (100%) calculated dose of propofol. Group 2 and 3 patients received 20% and 40% of the dose respectively as priming dose, and the remaining was given 30 seconds later, until there was loss of eyelash reex. The total dose of propofol given, the heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, mean arterial pressures at various time intervals before, during and after induction and intubation, and complications observed were compared and statistically analysed using SPSS 2.0. Results:- The mean induction dose of propofol was signicantly lower in the priming groups (71.7 ± 17.2mg in group 2 and 80.0 ± 17.1mg in group 3) compared to group1 (107.9 ± 8.0mg). The fall in mean arterial pressure was signicantly lower in groups 2 and 3 (p<0.05) compared to group1 at one minute post-induction. Conclusion:-Application of priming principle reduces the induction dose of propofol and is associated with better peri-intubation haemodynamic stability.

Development of an Endovascular Model of Pelvic Hemorrhage Using Volumetric Computed Tomography Validation

Purpose Uncontrolled pelvic hemorrhage from trauma is associated with mortality rates above 30%. The ability of an intervention to reduce blood loss from pelvic trauma is paramount to its success. The objective of this study was to determine if computed tomography volumetric analysis could be used to quantify blood loss in a porcine endovascular pelvic hemorrhage model. Materials and Methods Yorkshire swine under general anesthesia underwent balloon dilation and rupture of the profunda femoris artery, which was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. Computed tomography angiography and postprocessing segmentation were performed to quantify pelvic hemorrhage volume at 5 and 30 minutes after injury. Continuous hemodynamic and iliofemoral flow data were obtained. Baseline and postinjury hemoglobin, hematocrit and lactate were collected. Results Of 6 animals enrolled, 5 survived the 30-minute post-injury period. One animal died at 15 minutes. Median volume of pelvic hemorrhage was 141±106 cm3 at 5 minutes and 302±79 cm3 at 30 minutes with a 114% median increase in hematoma volume over 25 minutes (p=0.040). There was a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (107 to 71 mm Hg, p=0.030) and iliofemoral flow (561 to 122 mL/min, p=0.014) at 30 minutes postinjury, but no significant changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit, or heart rate. Conclusion Computed tomography volumetric analysis can be used to quantify rate and volume of blood loss in a porcine endovascular pelvic hemorrhage model. Future studies can incorporate this approach when evaluating the effect of hemorrhage control interventions associated with pelvic fractures.