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Abstract Introduction Low phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) of fertiliser is a critical problem in sustainable crop production, especially in strongly weathered tropical soils with a high P‐fixation capacity. Both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation have shown to improve the P availability of rhizosphere soil, but the effect of a combined approach of using both intercropping and rhizobium inoculation is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizobium inoculation on the soil–plant P dynamics and fertilised PUE under the intercropping system in strongly weathered tropical soil. Materials and Methods We conducted an 85‐day cultivation pot experiment with pigeon pea (PP) and maize using highly weathered tropical soil under eight treatments: monocropping (CS) or intercropping, with or without rhizobium (Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61) inoculation (−I, +I) and with or without P fertilisation (0P, 50P) (2 × 2 × 2 = 8 treatments). We evaluated the effects of intercropping and rhizobium inoculation on plant growth parameters, P dynamics of the rhizosphere and bulk soil using the Hedley P fractionation method, the amount of organic acid from plant roots as a plant P‐mobilising capacity, and fertilised PUE. Results Total plant P uptake per pot was significantly increased by intercropping but not by combining intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, resulting in better fertilised PUE only in intercropping. The available inorganic P (Pi) and less labile Pi of the soil were higher in the rhizosphere than those in the bulk by intercropping under 50P and were similar in PP + I under 50 P. The amount of organic acid per pot under 50P increased with each treatment, that is, intercropping and rhizobium inoculation, but not with their combination. Conclusion The intercropping system has a strong potential to improve PUE by stimulating the P‐mobilising capacity of intercropping plant roots, whereas rhizobium inoculation of the intercropping system did not improve PUE in this study.

Background and Objectives: Evidence for perioperative methods to prevent persistent postsurgical pain (PPP) is uncertain, in part because few treatments have been directly compared. Here we have used component network meta-analysis (cNMA) to incorporate both direct and indirect evidence in the evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological and neural block treatments., Databases and Data Treatment: We searched the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Embase, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry up to January 2021 for randomized, double-masked, controlled trials that reported the prevalence of PPP. We assessed trial quality with the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2.0). We analysed the results with frequentist cNMA models. The primary outcome was the relative risk (RR) of PPP. We assessed efficacy in relation to a clinically important effect size of RR = 0.9, which is a 10% improvement with treatment., Results: The analysis included 107 trials (13,553 participants) of 13 treatments. The effects of complex interventions were the multiplicative effects of their components. Compared with placebo, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), neural block alone, or in combination with NMDA receptor blockers or gabapentanoids were effective. Treatments with benefit in the immediate post-operative period predicted a reduced risk of PPP., Conclusions: Several treatments and treatment combinations effectively reduce PPP prevalence. Pain outcomes in the immediate postoperative period are an important mediator of PPP. Multimodal interventions can be analysed using cNMA., Significance: Systematic reviews of PPP prevention usually focus on the efficacy of specific treatments in comparison with control interventions. In this study we used component network meta-analysis to compare interventions to each other, including both pharmacological and neural block techniques, and multimodal interventions. Interventions that are not effective alone may improve the efficacy of multimodal interventions that include neural block techniques. Immediate postoperative benefit was an important mediator for reduction of PPP., Study Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42018085570 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/., (© 2022 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.)

Background: Glutamine interacts with insulin-mediated glucose disposal, which is a component of the increase in energy expenditure (EE) after a meal. The study aim was to examine if glutamine supplementation alters postmeal nutrient oxidation., Methods: Ten healthy young adults consumed a mixed meal (6.5 kcal/kg, 14%:22%:64% = protein:fat:carbohydrate) containing either glutamine (GLN:1.05 kcal/kg) or an isocaloric amino acid mixture (alanine: glycine:serine = 2:1:0.5; CON). GLN and CON treatments were administered on separate days in random order for each subject. EE, nonprotein respiratory quotient (RQ), and fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates were assessed using indirect calorimetry for 30 minutes before and for 360 minutes after meal ingestion., Results: Premeal EE and RQ were similar between treatments. The increase in EE above basal during both early (0-180 minutes) and late (180-360 minutes) postmeal phases was greater in GLN than in CON (p < .05), resulting in postmeal EE being 49% greater during the total postmeal phase (p < .05). Net change of carbohydrate oxidation was 38% higher during the early phase with GLN (p < .05), whereas it was 71% lower during the later phase (p < .05). GLN enhanced fat oxidation by approximately 42 kcal compared with CON during the late phase (p < .05)., Conclusions: Glutamine supplementation with a mixed meal alters nutrient metabolism to increase postmeal EE by increasing carbohydrate oxidation during the early postmeal phase and fat oxidation during the late postmeal phase. Consideration must be given to the potential that these postprandial changes in EE are related to glutamine-mediated changes in insulin action and consequently glucose disposal.

Background: The goal of the current study was to evaluate the objective response rate and toxicity associated with the oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 (a combination of tegafur, 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine, and potassium oxonate) in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma., Methods: Thirty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/m2 twice daily for 28 days, followed by a 14-day rest period. Treatment was repeated every 6 weeks unless disease progression was observed., Results: A combined total of 173 courses of S-1 were administered to the 38 enrolled patients. The median number of courses administered to a given patient was 3.5 (range, 1-18). Although no patient exhibited a complete response to treatment, 15 had partial responses (response rate, 39.5%; 95% confidence interval, 24.0-56.6%). In addition, 5 patients had minor responses, and 14 had stable disease. Four patients were found to have progressive disease after two courses of treatment. The median survival time was 358 days (95% confidence interval, 305-490 days), and the 1-year survival rate was 47.4%. The most common adverse reactions included myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity; most cases involved Grade 1 or 2 toxicity, but Grade 3 toxicities (anemia [7.9% of patients], neutropenia [5.3% of patients], diarrhea [2.6% of patients], and abnormal bilirubin levels [7.9% of patients]) also were noted. Neither Grade 4 toxicity nor treatment-related death was observed during the study., Conclusions: Orally administered S-1 is active against metastatic colorectal carcinoma and has an acceptable toxicity profile. This promising agent has the potential to become a valuable chemotherapeutic option., (Copyright 2004 American Cancer Society.)

Background: To improve the clinical usefulness of prostate specific antigen (PSA), unique methods have been proposed. The percentage of free PSA in serum facilitates the distinction between benign histologic conditions and prostate carcinoma while retaining high sensitivity., Methods: Using monoclonal antibodies, an AIA total PSA assay system was established that recognized PSA equally in free or complex form. The clinical usefulness of the ratio of two different molecular forms of PSA was investigated using 268 archival serum samples., Results: Men with prostate carcinoma had significantly lower ratios of free to total PSA than those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (P = 0.0001). At total PSA levels between 2.1 and 10 ng/mL, medians of total PSA were not significantly different between men with prostate carcinoma and men with BPH. Differences in median percentages of free PSA for these two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.0001). The ratio of free to total PSA was useful for identifying prostate carcinoma in palpably benign glands with total PSA of 2.1-10 ng/mL (P = 0.0001), whereas total PSA was not useful for such identification. When calculated for low total PSA levels between 2.1 and 4 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 91.7% and 72.2%, respectively, with a cutoff value of 17%. This ratio of free to total PSA was as useful as PSA density in receiver-operating curve analysis., Conclusions: The use of the ratio of free to total PSA renders total PSA of greater use of distinguishing prostate carcinoma and is applicable to patients with low total PSA. Elderly men with a clinical diagnosis of BPH who are scheduled for surgery may benefit from the determination of this ratio.