Comparison of Propofol and Fentanyl for Preventing Emergence Agitation Following Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Study in Bangladesh

Background: Emergence agitation (EA) is a common phenomenon observed in pediatric patients following general anesthesia. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of propofol and fentanyl in preventing EA and to compare their associated complications or side effects. Methods: This prospective randomized observational comparative study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2013 to June 2014. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of propofol and fentanyl on EA in children aged 18 to 72 months undergoing circumcision, herniotomy, and polypectomy operations. Ninety children were included in the study, with 45 in each group. Patients with psychological or neurological disorders were excluded. Various parameters including age, sex, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, duration of anesthesia, Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (SPO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score, duration of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, incidence of laryngospasm, nausea, vomiting, and rescue drug requirement were compared between the two groups. Results: Age, sex, weight, ASA class, and duration of anesthesia were comparable between the two groups. Perioperative SpO2 and HR were similar in both groups. However, the PAED score was significantly higher in the fentanyl group during all follow-ups except at 30 minutes postoperatively. The mean duration of PACU stay was significantly longer in the fentanyl group. Although the incidence of laryngospasm was higher in the fentanyl group, it was not statistically significant. Conversely, nausea or vomiting was significantly higher in the fentanyl group. The requirement for rescue drugs was significantly higher in the fentanyl group compared to the propofol group. Conclusion: Both propofol and fentanyl were effective in preventing emergence agitation in pediatric patients undergoing various surgical procedures under sevoflurane anesthesia. However, propofol demonstrated a better safety profile with fewer incidences of nausea, vomiting, and rescue drug requirements compared to fentanyl.

Nurse anesthetists’perceptions and experiences of managing emergence delirium:A qualitative study

BACKGROUND This study employs a descriptive phenomenological approach to investigate the challenges anesthesia nurses face in managing emergence delirium(ED),a common and complex postoperative complication in the post-anesthesia care unit.The role of nurses in managing ED is critical,yet research on their understanding and management strategies for ED is lacking.AIM To investigate anesthetic nurses’cognition and management experiences of ED in hopes of developing a standardized management protocol.METHODS This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach from qualitative research methodologies.Purposeful sampling was utilized to select 12 anesthetic nurses from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai as research subjects.Semi-structured interviews were conducted,and the data were organized and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method,from which the final themes were extracted.RESULTS After analyzing the interview content,four main themes and eight subthemes were distilled:Inefficient cognition hinders the identification of ED(conceptual ambiguity,empirical identification),managing diversity and challenges(patientcentered safe care,low level of medical-nursing collaboration),work responsibilities and pressure coexist(heavy work responsibilities,occupational risks and stress),demand for high-quality management(expecting the construction of predictive assessment tools and prevention strategies,and pursuing standardized management processes to enhance management effectiveness).CONCLUSION Nursing managers should prioritize the needs and suggestions of nurses in order to enhance their nursing capabilities and provide guidance for standardized management processes.

Influencing factors and risk prediction model for emergence agitation after general anesthesia for primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND General anesthesia is commonly used in the surgical management of gastrointestinal tumors;however,it can lead to emergence agitation(EA).EA is a common complication associated with general anesthesia,often characterized by behaviors,such as crying,struggling,and involuntary limb movements in patients.If treatment is delayed,there is a risk of incision cracking and bleeding,which can significantly affect surgical outcomes.Therefore,having a proper understanding of the factors influencing the occurrence of EA and implementing early preventive measures may reduce the incidence of agitation during the recovery phase from general anesthesia,which is beneficial for improving patient prognosis.AIM To analyze influencing factors and develop a risk prediction model for EA occurrence following general anesthesia for primary liver cancer.METHODS Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 200 patients who underwent hepatoma resection under general anesthesia at Wenzhou Central Hospital(January 2020 to December 2023)was conducted.Post-surgery,the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale was used to evaluate EA presence,noting EA incidence after general anesthesia.Patients were categorized by EA presence postoperatively,and the influencing factors were analyzed using logistic regression.A nomogram-based risk prediction model was constructed and evaluated for differentiation and fit using receiver operating characteristics and calibration curves.RESULTS EA occurred in 51(25.5%)patients.Multivariate analysis identified advanced age,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)grade Ⅲ,indwelling catheter use,and postoperative pain as risk factors for EA(P<0.05).Conversely,postoperative analgesia was a protective factor against EA(P<0.05).The area under the curve of the nomogram was 0.972[95%confidence interval(CI):0.947-0.997]for the training set and 0.979(95%CI:0.951-1.000)for the test set.Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fit(χ^(2)=5.483,P=0.705),and calibration curves showed agreement between predicted and actual EA incidence.CONCLUSION Age,ASA grade,catheter use,postoperative pain,and analgesia significantly influence EA occurrence.A nomogram constructed using these factors demonstrates strong predictive accuracy.

Correlation between pre-anesthesia anxiety and emergence agitation in non-small cell lung cancer surgery patients

BACKGROUND Preoperative anxiety is a common emotional problem during the perioperative period and may adversely affect postoperative recovery.Emergence agitation(EA)is a common complication of general anesthesia that may increase patient discomfort and hospital stay and may be associated with the development of postoperative complications.Pre-anesthetic anxiety may be associated with the development of EA,but studies in this area are lacking.AIM To determine the relationship between pre-anesthetic anxiety and EA after radical surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS Eighty patients with NSCLC undergoing surgical treatment between June 2020 and June 2023 were conveniently sampled.We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale’s(HADS)anxiety subscale(HADS-A)to determine patients’anxiety at four time points(T1-T4):Patients’preoperative visit,waiting period in the surgical waiting room,after entering the operating room,and before anesthesia induction,respectively.The Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale(RSAS)examined EA after surgery.Scatter plots of HADS-A and RSAS scores assessed the correlation between patients’pre-anesthesia anxiety status and EA.We performed a partial correlation analysis of HADS-A scores with RSAS scores.RESULTS NSCLC patients’HADS-A scores gradually increased at the four time points:7.33±2.03 at T1,7.99±2.22 at T2,8.05±2.81 at T3,and 8.36±4.17 at T4.The patients’postoperative RSAS score was 4.49±1.18,and 27 patients scored≥5,indicating that 33.75%patients had EA.HADS-A scores at T3 and T4 were significantly higher in patients with EA(9.67±3.02 vs 7.23±2.31,12.56±4.10 vs 6.23±2.05,P<0.001).Scatter plots showed the highest correlation between HADS-A and RSAS scores at T3 and T4.Partial correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between HADS-A and RSAS scores at T3 and T4(r=0.296,0.314,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Agitation during anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing radical resection for NSCLC correlated with anxiety at the time of entering the operating room and before anesthesia induction.

Climate change and the emergence and exacerbation of infectious diseases:A review

Experts expressed severe concerns over the possibility of increasing burden of infectious diseases as the planet’s climate began to change years ago.There have been increased rates of climate-related catastrophes and as global temperatures rise,emergence of certain viruses has become a serious concern.Vectors are susceptible to changing temperatures as they exhibit innate responses to thermal stress to increase survivability.Climate change impacts virus reservoirs,increasing transmission rates of vectors.Vector-borne diseases have already witnessed increasing numbers compared to before.Certain non-endemic areas are encountering their first-ever infectious disease cases due to increasing temperatures.Tick-borne diseases are undergoing transformations provoking a heightened prevalence.Food-borne illnesses are expected to increase owing to warmer temperatures.It is important to recognize that climate change has a multivariable impact on the transmission of viruses.With climate change comes the potential of increasing interspecies interactions promoting jumps.These factors must be considered,and an informed strategy must be formulated.Adaptation and mitigation strategies are required to curb these diseases from spreading.Despite significant evidence that climate change affects infectious diseases,gaps in research exist.We conducted this review to identify the potential role climate change plays in the emergence of new viruses.

Field Experiment for the Effects of Rice Straw Returning and Seeding Pattern on Wheat Seedling Emergence and Grain Yield

In order to study the effect of rice straw returning and seeding patterns on seedling emergence and grain yield, field experiment was conducted to investi- gate the effects of straw mechanized returning and different seeding patterns on e- mergence rate, emergence uniformity and yield traits of wheat after rice. The results were as follows： in rice straw removal treatments, the emergence rate of mechani- cal seeding in drill was lower than that of mechanical uniform planting and manual broadcast sowing, which were 51.84%, 90.89% and 88.87%, respectively; the emer- gence uniformity of manual broadcast sowing was inferior to mechanical seeding in drill and mechanical uniform planting, which were 0.49, 0.26 and 0.23, respectively. As for the treatments with rice straw returning to the field, the emergence rate and emergence uniformity all decreased in the three seeding patterns, of which mechan- ical seeding in drill dropped markedly with emergence rate decreased by 36.54%. The emergence rate and emergence uniformity affected grain yield by affecting pan- icle, grains per spike and 1 000-grain weight. The grain yield for the treatment with rice straw removal was 6 091.34 kg/hm2, while that with rice straw returning to field was 6 476.20 kg/hm2, and both were higher than the yields of the other two seed- ing patterns. Therefore, mechanical uniform planting was？recommended for its higher emergence rate, better emergence uniformity, which was conductive to increase grain yield in wheat after rice production with rice straw returning to field.

Study on Pupa Changes and Emergence Behaviors of Dacne picta Crotch

[ Objective ] The research aimed to study the pupa changes and emergence behaviors of Dacne picta Crotch. [ Method ] The D. p/cta reared in the labo- ratory were observed and recorded. [ Result ] Before the emergence, the color of compound eyes, maxillae, tarsi and wing pads d pupae was gradually deepened. The 14^th- 16^th d after pupation were the peak time for emergence, and the ratio of female to male was close to 1： 0.77. During the emergence, the puparium of D. picta dehisced from pronotum, and the hind wing had extension phenomenon before contraction and folding. [ Conclusion] The research confirmed the pupa changes and the emergence behaviors of D. picta.

Pre-emergence herbicides affect seedling emergence of tropical forest tree species

Testing techniques to reduce weed infestation is a crucial step in developing direct tree seeding systems. The use of pre-emergence herbicides may be an alternative to manual weeding techniques, but so far, information on how they affect the seeds of native tree species is scarce. We established a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of four pre-emergence herbicides (atrazine, diuron, isoxaflutole and oxyfluorfen) on weed suppression and seedling emergence and early growth of seven tropical forest tree species (Annona coriacea Mart., Citharexylum myrianthum Cham., Cordia ecalyculata Vell., Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub., Psidium guajava L., Pterogyne nitens Tul. and Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of a single dose of each pre-emergence herbicide and a control. Throughout the 60 days after sowing we evaluated weed cover and seedling emergence and early growth of tree species. Overall, our results suggest that all tested herbicides reduced weed cover; however, they also negatively affected tree species seedling emergence. Of the four herbicides tested, atrazine and diuron showed the greatest effects on tree seedling emergence, oxyfluorfen was least aggressive towards native species and isoxaflutole was most effective in weed control. Native tree species varied in their responses to herbicides, indicating that future experiments should increase the number of species tested as well as investigate how seed traits can affect the species responses to different herbicides.

Exploration of larvicidal and adult emergence inhibition activities of Ricinus communis seed extract against three potential mosquito vectors in Kolkata,India

Objective:To determine the larvicidal and adult emergence inhibition activities of castor （Ricinus communis） seed extract against three potential mosquito vectors Anopheles stephensi（An. slephensi）,Culex quinquefasciatus（Cx.quinquefasciatus） and Aedes albopictus（Ae.albopictus） in India.Methods:The R.communis seed extract was tested,employing WHO procedure,against fourth larval instars of the three mosquito species for 24 h and larval mortalities were recorded at various concentrations（2-64μg/mL）:the 24 h LC50 values of the R.communis seed extract were determined following Probit analysis.The larval killing,antipupation and adult emergence inhibition rates of the test extract,using a single concentration of 2μLC50,were studied at different time periods（24-72 h）:the extract toxicity was tested against a fish.Oreochromis niloticus（O.niloticus）.Results:The R.communis seed extract exhibited larvicidal effects with 100%killing activities at concentrations 32-64μg/mL,and with LC50 values 7.10.11.64 and 16.84μg/mL for Cx.quinquefasciatus,An.stephensi and Ae.albopictus larvae,respectively. When the larvae were treated with the extract at a single concentration of 2×LC50,significant differences were observed,compared to control groups,in rate of pupation（P【0.001） as well as in adult formation（P【0.001）.Conclusions:The present findings suggest that the R.communis seed extract provided an excellent potential for controlling An.stephensi,Cx.quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus mosquito vectors.

Phytotoxicity assessment of phenanthrene, pyrene and their mixtures by a soil-based seedling emergence test

Seedling emergence tests were conducted in a meadow brown soil using five plant species(i.e., Chinese cabbage, green onion, tomato, turnip and wheat) to determine the phytotoxicity of phenanthrene, pyrene and their mixtures. The soil was amended with up to 1000 mg/kg soil of phenanthrene or 600 mg/kg soil of pyrene. Seedling emergence and root growth were measured. The results indicated that root elongation was more sensitive than seedling emergence. Root length decreased with increasing phenanthrene or pyrene concentrations(p≤0 05). Phenanthrene was more phytotoxic than pyrene. The lowest observable adverse effect concentration(LOAEC) was 10 mg/kg for phenanthrene when tested with green onion, and 50 mg/kg for pyrene when tested with wheat. Among the five species, wheat was found to be the most sensitive. When amended jointly at or below their respective LOAEC, phenanthrene and pyrene produced a synergistic toxic effect.

Precipitation amount and frequency affect seedling emergence and growth of Reaumuria soongarica in northwestern China

Climate change is shifting the amount and frequency of precipitation in many regions, which is expected to affect seedling recruitment across ecosystems. However, the combined effects of precipitation amount and frequency on seedling recruitment remain largely unknown. An understanding of the effects of precipitation amount and frequency and their interaction on seedling emergence and growth of typical desert plants is vital for managing populations of desert plants. We conducted two experiments to study the effects of variation in precipitation on Reaumuria soongarica （Pall.） Maxim. First, greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the effects of three precipitation amount treatments （ambient, ＋30%, and -30%） and two precipitation frequency treatments （ambient and -50%） on seedling emergence. Second, the morphological responses of R. soongarica to changes in precipitation amount and frequency were tested in a controlled field experiment. Stage-specific changes in growth were monitored by sampling in different growth seasons. Our results showed that precipitation amount significantly affected germination, seedling emergence, and growth of R. soongarica, and there was a larger effect with decreased precipitation frequency compared with ambient. Germination and seedling emergence increased as precipitation increased under the same frequency of precipitation. The highest emergence percentage was obtained with a 30% increase in precipitation amount and a 50% reduction in precipitation frequency. Compared with ambient precipitation, a 30% increase in precipitation amount increased above- and below-ground biomass accumulation of R. soongarica during the growth season. A decrease of 30% in precipitation amount also resulted in an increase in below-ground biomass and root/shoot ratio in the early stages of the growth season, however, above- and below-ground biomass showed the opposite results at the end of the growth season, with larger effects on above-ground than below-ground biomass under decreased precipitation frequency. When precipitation frequency decreased by 50%, values of all growth traits increased for a given amount of precipitation. We concluded that precipitation frequency may be as important as precipitation amount to seedling emergence and growth of R. soongarica, and that understanding the effects of precipitation variability on seedling recruitment requires the integration of both precipitation amount and frequency. In particular, the combination of a 30% increase in precipitation amount and 50% reduction in precipitation frequency increased the emergence and growth of seedlings, suggesting that alteration of amount and frequency of precipitation caused by climate change may have significant effects on seedling recruitment of R. soongarica.

Emergence,Mating and Oviposition Behavior of the Chinese Population in Pink Bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)

The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella （Lepidoptera： Gelechiidae） is one of the most serious lepidopteran pests of cotton in the world. This pest invaded China at the onset of the 20th century, possibly through repeated introductions from several different locations worldwide. In this paper, we describe different behavioral parameters of this Hubei P. gossypiella strain under laboratory and field conditions. Using an infra-red video recorder, we observed （nocturnal） emergence, flight and mating activities, and oviposition patterns. Moth emergence started from 13：00 and continued up till 23：00. Under laboratory and field conditions, 2-7-d-old moths initiated flight around sunset, peaked 50 rain later and gradually declined until 04：00. Although mating started immediately after darkness （i.e., 20：00）, mating behavior was most intense from 23：00 to 03：40. Oviposition also showed distinct time-related patterns, with approx. 70% eggs laid between 20：00 and 22：00. In the studies of the relationship between flight and oviposition, the duration of flight had an effect on oviposition. The 1-d-old moths flown for 6 and 12 h began oviposition earlier than the unflown ones, and the 6-h flight had no effect on the egg production. However, the longevity of the flown moths was shortened after flight. In addition, the peaks of oviposition for the flown moths were advanced 2-3 d. The age when the moths flied affected the oviposition of adult moths. The earlier the moths started to fly after emergence, the greater the fecundity they had. The average egg production of moths flown for 24 h was less than that of non-flown moths which were of the same age. Both flight and delay in mating could advance the oviposition peak. Our study provides detailed insights in nocturnal activities and the reproductive biology of local P. gossypiella populations, which could be employed to fine-tune current pest management programs in China.

Changes in Nutrient-Homeostasis and Reserves Metabolism During Rice Seed Priming:Consequences for Seedling Emergence and Growth

In this study influence of different seed priming treatments on the nutrient-homeostasis and reserve metabolism during seedling emergence and growth of rice were determined. Seed priming treatments included pre-germination, hydropriming for 48 h, osmohardening with KCl and CaCl2, ascorbate priming and hardening. All treatments shortened the emergence time and enhanced the energy and index of seedling emergence. Seedlings from primed seeds had greater length, number of roots and fresh and dry mass than control. Among the treatments, CaCl2, ascorbate and KCl proved better in enhancing emergence and seedling growth. Seed priming changed the pattern of N and Ca^2＋ homeostasis both of the seeds and seedlings, which were associated to enhancing s-amylase activity and reducing sugars content. Positive correlations of seedling attributes with nutrient content suggested that as a result of seed priming, most of N and Ca^2＋ were partitioned to embryo, which enhanced seedling emergence and subsequent growth of rice seedlings.

Effect of seed mass on emergence and seedling development in Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.

We investigated the effect of seed mass on emergence, seedling survival and growth ofPterocarpus marsupium Roxb., a medium to large, commercially valuable and deciduous tree species. Among the three size classes viz. small （10-12 mm）, medium （13-15 mm） and large （16-17 mm）, the maximum proportion, of seed by number （54.12%） and dry weight （51.87%） was recorded, in the medium size seed class. Seed length and seed width were greatest in the large seed class （16.50 mm, 7.33 mm） followed by medium （13.50 mm, 5.60 mm） and small （11.37 ram, 3.66 mm）. Similarly, hundred seed weight （100 sw） varied from a maximum of 12.92 g in the large seed class to intermediate 10.95 g in the medium seed class and minimum of 7.02 g in the small seed class. The large seed size showed maximum emergence and shoot length over the medium and small seed class. After six months of growth, significant variations due to seed size were also observed for the growth and dry weight of P. marsupium seedlings. Seedling vigour, expressed in terms of height, collar diameter, number of leaves and dry biomass, was sig- nificantly affected by seed class. Seedlings that emerged from large seeds showed better growth and produced heavier seedlings as compared to medium and small seeds.

Adult emergence inhibition and adulticidal activities of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles stephensi Liston

Objective:To determine the adult emergence inhibition（EI） and adulticidal activities of hexane,chloroform,ethyl acetate,and acetone leaves extracts of Anisomeles malabarica（A. malabarica）,Euphorbia hirta（E,hirta）,Ocimum basilicum（0.basilicum）,Ricinus communis（R. communis）,Solanum trilobatum（S.trilobatum）,Tridax procumbens（T.procumbens） and seeds of Gloriosa superba（G.superba） against Anopheles stephensi（An,stephensi）.Methods:The EI and adulticidal trials were carried out according to World Health Organization（WHO） procedures with slight modifications.The extracts were diluted in dimethyl sulphoxide in order to prepare a serial dilution of test dosages（15.625,31.25,62.5,125,250,500 and 1 000μg/mL）.Five duplicate trials were carried out for every sample concentration,and for each trial a negative control was included and the mortality was determined after 24 h of exposure.Results:The highest EI activity was found in ethyl acetate extracts of A malabarica,chloroform extracts of O.basilicum, S.trilobatum,acetone of extract of R.communis,T.procumbens,and seed extract of G.superba with EI50 values 143.12,119.82.157.87,139.39,111.19,and 134.85μg/mL,and the effective adulticidal activity was observed in chloroform,acetone extracts of G.superba,T.procumbens,R. communis,S.trilobatum and ethyl acetate extract of 0.basilicum with LD50 values 120.17,108.77, 127.22,163.11,118.27,and 93.02μg/mL,respectively.Chi-square value was significant at P【0.05 level.Conclusions:These results should encourage further efforts to investigate the compounds that might possess good EI and adulticidal properties when isolated in pure form.

The Influences of Mg^(2+), Ca^(2+) and Mg ^(2+)/Ca ~ (2+) Ratio in Mixed Seawater on the Emergence Rate of Penaeus japonicus Postlarva

This paper reports the approprite ranges of Mg 2+, Ca 2+ and their ratio Mg 2+/Ca 2+ in mixed seawater for rearing of Penaeus japonicus larvae. The ranges for the above three indices are 1150-1450 mg/L, 360-440 mg/L and 2.8-3.4, respectively. The proper salinity range of mixed seawater is 22.1-33.8 obtained by mixing estuarine water and concentrated seawater.

Comparative Study and Safe Dose Analysis of Dexmedetomidine in the Prevention of Emergence Agitation and Emergency Delirium in Children Undergoing General Anesthesia

The purpose of this paper is to explore the safe and effective dose of dexmedetomidin for the prevention of agitation and delirium during the awakening period for children undergoing general anesthesia. Samples of 989 cases are collected from children with comprehensive treatment of dental caries, and were randomly divided into four groups. Group A, group B and group C were intravenously at constant speed （60 mL/h）, 0.5 and 0.25 infusion with 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine. Group D （control group） was intravenously saline at the same speed. The score of 5-point scale and the incidence of ED （emergency delirium） and EA （emergence agitation） in four groups were compared. Comparison of four groups of CHIPPS （children and infants postoperative pain） score, the amount of operation time and record seven halothane （TO）, time to stop cover drug withdrawal of laryngeal anesthesia （TM）, eye opening time （TE）, independent records of children at the time of ICU stay after anesthesia （TP）. Results show that there was no significant difference between the four groups （p 〉 0.05）, among which the TM in B, C groups was significantly higher than that in A, D groups （p 〈 0.05）. Group C was significantly higher than group B （p 〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference in TE and TP between the A, B, D groups （p 〉 0. 05）. TE in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A, D （p 〉 0. 05）. The TP of group C was significantly higher than that of groups A, D （p 〈 0.05）, but there was no significant difference between the B, C groups （p 〉 0.05）. The incidence rates of EA and ED in groups A and B were significantly lower than those in group D （p 〈 0.05）. Group C was significantly lower than group A （p 〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference between group C and group C （p 〉 0.05）. The CHIPPS score and sevoflurane dosage in groups A and B were significantly lower than those in group D （p 〈 0.05）. Group C was significantly lower than group A （p 〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference between group C （p 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： the dose of dexmetomidine 0.5 μg/kg in children with general anesthesia can prevent restlessness and delirium after operation.

Seed Health Status of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt) from Five Areas in China and Effect on Field Seedling Emergence

The health status of 18 sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt) hybrids classified to two types, collected from five areas in China, was examined by PDA method, and factors influencing seed health and relationships between seed health and field seedling emergence were studied. Seventeen fungal genera were isolated and Fusarium was the most frequently isolated. There were significant differences both in incidence of Fusarium and in percentage of infected seeds among 18 hybrids. Research also showed that significant and consistent differences both in seed-borne fungal taxa and in percentage of infected seeds existed between two types of sweet corn. Sugar enhanced corn is more slightly infected than super sweet corn both in fungal taxa (13 and 16, respectively) and in percentage of infected seeds (62.0 and 79.2%, respectively). There were also significant differences both in seed-borne fungal taxa and in percentage of infected seeds among five areas. Seeds from South China were most severely infected, for there were 14 fungal genera detected and the percentage of infected seeds was highly 99.1% while those from Northwest China were slightly infected, for there were 10 fungal genera detected and the percentage of infected seeds was only 14.3%. Further research showed that there were significant negative correlations both between incidence of Fusarium and percentage of field seedling emergence and between percentage of infected seeds and percentage of field seedling emergence. Percentage of field seedling emergence could be estimated by regression equations built by regression analysis.

Effects of Plant Protein Hydrolysate on Emergence and Growth of Rice Seedlings

With the rise of organic agriculture,researches on the production of slow-release organic fertilizer from natural organic materials have attracted much attention.Plant protein and peptides have potential applications in agricultural production.The effects of bioactive peptides derived from plant protein on rice seed germination and seedling growth and development were systematically studied using bioassays and greenhouse growth experiments.The feasibility of phytoprotein peptide application in the rice seedling stage was discussed.The results showed that the phytoprotein peptides had no adverse effects on rice,and the application when applied to rice seedlings,phytoprotein peptides within a certain concentration range produced obvious promotion effects on the growth and development of rice seedlings,which were more pronounced in the underground part of the plants.Phytoprotein peptides increased root length and dry matter accumulation and improved the robustness of rice seedlings.A 40 g·mol^(-1)·L^(-1) dose of phytoprotein peptides increased root length,plant fresh weight,plant dry weight,root fresh weight and root dry weight by 59.24%,20.14%,26.32%,51.57%and 81.70%,respectively compared to the control.In addition,the phytoprotein peptides significantly increased the chlorophyll content,root activity and nitrate reductase activity of rice seedlings,as well as superoxide dismutase,peroxidase,catalase andβ-1,3-glucanase activity in rice leaves,which could improve stress resistance.Plant peptides were simple to produce and cost-effective.Reasonable development and excavation of plant protein and protein hydrolysate peptide in China's agricultural application had a good practical basis and value significance.

Reduced emergence agitation with proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery

Purpose:To investigate the effect of proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops on emergence agitation after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery.Methods:Paediatric patients(3-12 years-old)receiving strabismus surgery were randomly assigned to receive 1-2 drops of isotonic saline(n=129)or proparacaine hydrochloride(n=129)after surgery.The incidence and degree of emergence agitation were recorded and compared between groups.Results:A significantly lower occurrence of emergence agitation was observed with proparacaine hydrochloride drops compared to isotonic saline(12.4% vs.31.8%;p<0.05).Conclusion:Proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops reduce the incidence of emergence agitation after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery.