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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) as an important food and fuel crop is undergone breeding for novel types, and its expansion into the new environments is necessary, however the efforts become complicated for breeders as well as agronomists to select for the best performing genotype in a particular environment due to unexpected, but significant genotype x environment interaction. This study was performed to thoroughly analyse the trade-offs between the agronomic performance and stability of sorghum genotypes produced under agro ecological conditions of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Three sorghum lines i.e., G1 (S14), G2 (S22) and G3 (Jowar-86) were evaluated under eight environments which were formed by combining two sites of varying soil conditions (saline and normal soil) and were sown at four different sowing dates in order to determine the yield performance. Furthermore, AMMI analysis and GGE (generation×gene×environment) interactions were performed to identify the most stable variety for semi-arid environment. The results revealed that soil conditions significantly affect the grain yield of sorghum. The highest yield was obtained in E4 (1799 kg ha -1) under normal soil conditions and the best performing line was identified as G1. While under saline/problematic conditions E3 gave mean yield of 1530 kg ha-1 while line G1 gave 1505 kg ha-1 of yield. As far as the AMMI and GGE analysis is concerned, significant value for scores of PCAs were obtained as PC1 (61.3%) and PC2 (38.7%) while GGE analysis also gave significantly different scores for PC1 and PC2 as 86.8 and 13.2% respectively. The genotype G1 had low PC1 scores (1.59) as compared to G2 and G3 and thus it was identified as most stable genotype. The environment (E3) and (E4) were highly correlated to each and (E6), (E8) were discriminatory environments for all tested genotypes.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of hepatoprotective potentials of Ocimum sanctum against Valproic-acid-induced-hepatotoxicity in Wistar-albino-rats. METHOD: 70% of ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum was prepared under reduced pressure of rotary evaporator. Wistar albino rats were used as the experimental model and rats were divided into four groups (six animals each). The normal group received normal saline and group 2, 3 and 4 was injected valproic acid (500mg/kg) for four consecutive days respectively. Group 1 and 2 received normal saline throughout the period of study about 21 days while group 3 and 4 received different doses of extract of OS i.e. 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg. Through retro-orbital blood samples were collected on alternative days such as 0,7,21. By using one-way ANOVA, data was analyzed. Hepatotoxicity induced by valproic acid at the dosage of (500mg/kg) resulted in significant elevation in weight of animals and serum hepatic enzymes level of ALAT, ASAT, ALP and increase in the serum bilirubin. RESULTS: OS at different doses (200mg/kg and 300mg/kg) considered statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) against all parameters. OS cause a significant reduction in weight of animals and serum enzymes biomarkers i.e. (ALAT, ASAT and ALP) including bilirubin content. OS may prove its hepatoprotective activity by increase a significant level of protein albumin. CONCLUSION: antioxidant activity of OS and secondary metabolites such as flavonoids depicts hepatoprotective nature against valproic-acid-induced-hepatotoxicity.

Lipoprotein phospholipid (PL) plays a major role in neutralization of endotoxin. This study tested the hypothesis that prophylactic administration of a PL-enriched emulsion (PRE), which augments PL content of serum lipoproteins and neutralizes endotoxin in vitro, would preserve cardiovascular function and improve survival in porcine septic peritonitis. A control group was compared with low-, mid-, and high-dose treatment groups that received PRE by primed continuous infusion for 48 h. A fibrin clot containing live Escherichia coli 0111.B4 was implanted intraperitoneally 30 min after the priming dose. Survival increased in a dose-dependent manner and was correlated with serum PL. Infused PL was associated with high-density lipoprotein in the low-dose group and all serum lipoproteins at higher doses. Treatment significantly lowered serum endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, preserved cardiac output and ejection fraction, and attenuated increases in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. This study demonstrated that augmentation of lipoprotein PL via administration of PRE improved survival and offered a novel therapeutic approach to sepsis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) synthetase (PARS) contributes to mortality rate, myocardial dysfunction, and cardiovascular collapse in a porcine model of sepsis induced by implantation of an infected clot. DESIGN Prospective, random animal study. SETTING Research laboratory at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center. SUBJECTS Twenty pigs were chronically instrumented with intracardiac transducers to measure left ventricular pressure, sonomicrometer crystals in the left ventricle to measure short axis diameter, an ultrasonic flow meter to measure cardiac output, and catheters in the pulmonary artery and aorta to measure blood pressures and collect samples. INTERVENTIONS By using a randomized study design, we administered either the novel potent PARS inhibitor PJ34 (10 mg/kg for 1 hr, 2 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) for 96 hrs) or vehicle to pigs immediately before intraperitoneal implantation of Escherichia coli 0111.B4 (2.3 +/- 0.1 x 10(10) colony-forming units/kg)-laden fibrin clots to produce peritonitis and bacteremia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In vehicle-treated pigs, 12% survival was recorded at 24 hrs, whereas 83% and 66% survival was recorded in the PJ34-treated animals at 24 and 96 hrs, respectively (p

This study tested the hypothesis that tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) would improve mortality and morbidity evoked by peritonitis-induced bacteremia in pigs. Secondarily, it sought to determine if TFPI treatment would attenuate cardiodynamic abnormalities produced by this septic model. 32 pigs were chronically instrumented with intracardiac transducers to measure left ventricular pressure and diameter, pulmonary and aortic pressures, and cardiac output. At least 5 days after surgery to implant transducers, basal cardiovascular readings and blood samples were obtained. Using a randomized, blinded study design, either purified, reconstituted TFPI (1 mg/kg bolus, 10 mg/kg/min for 48 h), placebo (arginine buffer), or saline was administered to pigs immediately after Escherichia coli 0111.B4 (3.0-11 x 10(9) colony-forming U/kg)-laden fibrin clots were implanted intraperitoneally, producing peritonitis and bacteremia. Pigs did not receive antibiotics or supportive therapy. No significant differences in primary or secondary endpoints were noted between the arginine and saline groups, so these data were combined into a control group (N = 20). 5 of 12 TFPI pigs survived (42%), while 5 of 20 control pigs survived (25%); this difference was not significant (p = .714, Fisher's exact test). TFPI treatment augmented cardiac output in surviving pigs, but did not affect any other cardiovascular performance variable (heart rate, % diameter shortening, or systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance). In controls, peritonitis induced rapid increase in plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (428 +/- 771 to 5,933 +/- 559 pg/mL at 2 h) and interleukin-8 (180 +/- 153 to 1,393 +/- 145 pg/mL at 2 h). TFPI treatment significantly attenuated cytokine responses to sepsis, reducing peak tumor necrosis factor-alpha to 2,103 +/- 813 pg/mL and reducing peak interleukin-8 levels to 534 +/- 211 pg/mL at 2 h (p < .05, Tukey test, two-way ANOVA). In conclusion, TFPI treatment attenuated important mediator components of the inflammatory response but did not provide significant survival benefit.