Zeolite amendment reduces lead accumulation and improves growth and yield in tomato plants irrigated with sewage water.

Although sewage water (SW) is a source of nutrients, it also causes heavy metal accumulation in soil; especially, lead (Pb) contamination of soil is a serious concern in agriculture. Soil contaminants limit the bioavailability of nutrients to plants. So, they affect plant growth and produce quality.

gel coating delays softening and maintains quality of stored persimmon ( Thunb.) Fruits.

Unlabelled: The effect of a (AV) gel coating was studied on antioxidant enzymes activities, oxidative stress, softening and associated quality attributes of persimmon fruits. The fruits were coated with 0 and 50% AV-gel coating and stored for 20 days at 20 ± 1 ºC. AV-gel coated fruits exhibited considerably less weight loss, hydrogen peroxide level, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content.

Synergistic effect of gum Arabic and carboxymethyl cellulose as biocomposite coating delays senescence in stored tomatoes by regulating antioxidants and cell wall degradation.

This study tested a novel combination of hydrocolloid gum arabic (GA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to extend postharvest life of tomatoes. For this purpose, tomato fruits were coated with GA 10%, CMC 0.5% and GA 10% + CMC 0.

Carboxymethyl cellulose coating delays ripening of harvested mango fruits by regulating softening enzymes activities.

The effect of carboxymethyl cellulose [(1%) CMC] was evaluated on mango fruits under storage at 20 ± 1 °C for 20 days. The CMC coating noticeably reduced weight loss and disease incidence. Application of CMC delayed climacteric peak of ethylene and respiration rate with significantly reduced relative ion leakage, malondialdehyde, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide content.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve growth and yield related attributes of chili under low nitrogen availability.

Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient desired by crop plants in large quantities. However, hiking fertilizer prices need alternative N sources for reducing its requirements through appropriate management practices. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are well-known for their role in lowering N requirements of crop plants.

Incorporation of ascorbic acid in chitosan-based edible coating improves postharvest quality and storability of strawberry fruits.

Recent postharvest studies have shown that adding an antioxidative agent in a polysaccharide-based edible coating reduces postharvest losses and extends the shelf life of a coated fruit. Therefore, the effect of addition of ascorbic acid (AA, 1%) in chitosan-based coating (CH, 1%) on strawberry fruits under cold storage conditions at 4 ± 1 °C and 85 ± 5% RH was investigated for 15 days. It was observed that addition of AA in CH coating reduced weight loss, decay percentage, malondialdehyde content and hydrogen peroxide compared to CH alone.

Effect of gum arabic coating on antioxidative enzyme activities and quality of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruit during ambient storage.

The effect of gum arabic (GA) coating was studied on apricot fruit at 20 ± 1°C for 8 days. GA coating substantially reduced weight loss, disease incidence, malondialdehyde concentration, and hydrogen peroxide compared to the control. GA coating resulted in significantly higher total phenols, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity in contrast to the control.

Carboxymethyl cellulose coating delays chilling injury development and maintains eating quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin fruits during low temperature storage.

The application of edible coatings is an efficient way to reduce mass loss and to conserve the quality of a coated fresh produce during postharvest storage. In the present research, the impact of carboxymethyl cellulose [CMC (1%] coating was studied on 'Kinnow' mandarins during cold storage at 5 ± 1 °C for 30 days. Results showed that CMC treatment substantially suppressed chilling injury symptoms, disease incidence, fresh weight loss, malondialdehyde content, hydrogen peroxide and electrolyte leakage compared with control.

Outcome of pyeloplasty in children.

Background: Hydronephrosis in children is a common congenital urologic problem with pelviureteric junction obstruction being its most common cause. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of pyeloplasty for congenital pelviureteric junction obstruction in children.

Methods: This study was conducted in department of Paediatric Surgery, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College/Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from July 2008 to December 2010.

Comparison between Double J (DJ) Ureteral Stenting and Percutaneous Nephrostomy (PCN) in Obstructive Uropathy.

Objective: To compare the complications rate of percutaneous nephrostomy and double J ureteral stenting in the management of obstructive uropathy.

Methodology: Total number of 300 patients of age 20-80 years who underwent JJ stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy for obstructive uropathy were included in this study. Patients were divided in two groups i.

Outcome of end-to-end urethroplasty in post-traumatic stricture of posterior urethra.

Objective: To determine the outcome of delayed end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty in blind post-traumatic stricture of posterior urethra at our setup.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College/Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from January 2009 to June 2011.

Relationship of thyroid-stimulating hormone with metabolic syndrome in a sample of euthyroid Pakistani population.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome is a group of factors that predispose to cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is rising rapidly. Recently, a few studies have suggested that lower thyroid function in the reference range may be associated with metabolic syndrome, but the issue remains unsettled.