Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents a generalized myopathic process affecting both ventricular and atrial myocardium. We assessed the global and regional left atrial (LA) function and its relation to left ventricular (LV) mechanics and clinical status in patients with HCM using Vector Velocity Imaging (VVI). Methods: VVI of the LA and LV was acquired from apical four- and two-chamber views of 108 HCM patients (age 40 ± 19years, 56.5% men) and 33 healthy subjects, all had normal LV systolic function. The LA subendocardium was traced to obtain atrial volumes, ejection fraction, velocities, and strain (ϵ)/strain rate (SR) measurements. Results: Left atrial reservoir (ϵsys,SRsys) and conduit (early diastolic SRe) function were significantly reduced in HCM compared to controls (P < .0001). Left atrial deformation directly correlated to LVϵsys, SRsys and negatively correlated to age, NYHA class, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), LA volume index and severity of mitral regurge (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characterist was constructed to explore the cutoff value of LA deformation in differentiation of LA dysfunction; ϵsys < 40% was 75% sensitive, 50% specific, SRsys < 1.7s− 1 was 70% sensitive, 61% specific, SRe> − 1.8s− 1 was 81% sensitive and 30% specific, SRa> − 1.5s− 1 was 73% sensitive and 40% specific. By multivariate analysis global LVϵsys and LV septal thickness are independent predictors for LAϵsys, while end systolic diameter is the only independent predictor for SRsys, P < .001. Conclusion: Left atrial reservoir and conduit function as measured by VVI were significantly impaired while contractile function was preserved among HCM patients. Left atrial deformation was greatly influenced by LV mechanics and correlated to severity of phenotype.

B ENZYL ADENINE, indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid at different concentrations were sprayed to study their effects on growth, chemical components and volatile oils of sweet basil in 2018 and 2019 seasons Plant height, number of leaves/plant, average leaf area, and herb fresh and dry weights/ plant greatly improved with the applied treatments especially with IAA treatments followed by GA 3 treatments. However, the number of lateral branches/plant and stem diameter were increased with BA treatments especially with 10 ppm than 5 ppm. Generally, the second cut was superior in the studied vegetative growth parameters than the first cut. The highest values of N, P, K, Fe, and Mn were recorded with BA at 10 ppm, whereas higher Zn values were recorded with BA at 5 ppm. Active ingredients including total phenols, total flavones, total chlorophyll, and L-ascorbic acid greatly increased with IAA at 50 or 100 than the other treatments or the control. However, volatile oil percentage and volatile oil content/plant were high in IAA at 50 or 100 ppm followed by GA3 at 200 ppm. The second cut was superior to the first cut in promoting volatile oil percentage and volatile oil content/ plant in both studied seasons. The main components in volatile oil were 1,8-cineole, linalool, á-trans-bergamotene, germacrene D and á-muurolol. The highest values of linalool, the main component in the volatile oil of sweet basil (50.90%) was recorded by IAA at 100 ppm.

The effect of lavender, lemongrass and thyme volatile oils as a supplementary cold storage treatments on quality preservation of fresh cut herb of Menthe piperita L., during storage for 15 days at 5°C and 7°C followed by 5 days at 20°C, as a marketing condition simulation, was evaluated during 2018 and 2019 seasons. Physical properties, chemical constituents, respiration rate and volatile oil contents were recorded. The results illustrated that discarded herb %, weight loss %, and external appearance (scale) were greatly affected by both factors of the study. The great effect in this respect was obtained with storage at 5°C than 7°C and the effect was also continuous during marketing period at 20°C. An evident decrease in discarded herb % and weight loss % were obtained due to the applied treatments, whereas external appearance values were higher with applied treatments than control during cold storage durations and marketing period. Aromatic oils treatments with 0.50% of lavender, lemongrass and thyme oils were effective than 0.25% of the three aromatic oils. However, chemical constituents i.e total chlorophyll, L-ascorbic acid and total phenols of fresh cut herb were scored highly increases by storage at 5°C than at 7°C storage conditions. Furthermore, The richest chemical constituents mentioned above were obtained with 0.50% of the three aromatic oils treatments and with superior for marketing durations for 5 days at 20°C. On contrary, total acidity of fresh cut herb recorded the minimum values with applied treatments than control (except the treatment of 0.25% thyme oil) during all cold storage durations and marketing pe-riod. On the reverse, electrolyte leakage and respiration rate values were controlled and minimized with the applied aromatic oils treatments under 5°C or 7°C cold storage conditions and followed by 5 days at 20°C as a marketing period. The decreases of both electrolyte leakage and respiration rate of fresh cut herb either with cold storage or due to the applied treatments are considered a good indicators to increase storage longevity and high quality. Meanwhile, volatile oil was greatly affected by both cold storage conditions and supplementary refrigeration treatments with lavender, lemongrass and thyme aromatic oils. Conclusively, it could be concluded that the peppermint fresh cut herb can be treated with lavender, lemongrass and thyme aromatic oils before storage at 5°C for 15 days, handling and marketing under 20°C to conserve the quality of the herb.

The effect of magnetic water compared with saline water, nano-Mg at 100 and 200 ppm and nano-Zn at 50 and 100 ppm treatments and their combinations on lemongrass plants (Cymbopogen citratus L.) was studied during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.Vegetative growth parameters including plant height, number of tillers/ plant, leaf area, herb fresh and dry weights were greatly affected by both studied factors. Magnetic water treatments recorded the highest values of all vegetative growth parameters compared with saline water. However, all nanoparticles of Mg and Zn treatments were superior than control in promoting vegetative growth parameters and the treatments of 100 ppm nano-Zn and 200 ppm nano-Mg recorded the maximum values of vegetative growth parameters. The combined treatments showed that the highest values of vegetative growth measurements were obtained in plants irrigated with magnetic water and sprayed with 100 ppm nano-Zn, in both cuts In 1 st and 2 nd seasons. N, P, K and Mg contents were significantly higher in lemongrass plants irrigated with magnetic water than those irrigated with saline water. Moreover, the treatments of 100 ppm nano-Zn exhibited the highest significant values of N, P, K, whereas 100 and 200 ppm of nano-Mg treatments were superior in recording the highest values of Mg content, in the two seasons. The combination treatments of lemongrass plants irrigated with magnetic water and sprayed with 100 ppm nano-Zn or 200 ppm nano-Mg produced the richest values of N, P and K% D.W., whereas, the treatments of magnetic water