Aamer et al.: Foliar application of glycinebetaine (GB) alleviates the cadmium toxicity in spinach through reducing Cd uptake and improving the activity of anti-oxidant system -7575 -

The exposure assessment study was conducted in the southern Punjab, the cotton growing area of Pakistan among two female groups, one as cotton pickers (occupationally exposed) and the other group as non-pickers. The average blood cholinesterase activity before the spraying in non-pickers were found to be 5.32 ± 0.70 kU/L with the average activity of female cotton pickers 5.31 ± 1.12 kU/L. Whereas, due to environmental contamination the average activity of enzyme cholinesterase (ChE) was calculated to be 4.80 ± 1.08 kU/L in non picker's blood samples, collected after exposure to pesticides (post-season) as compared to 2.81 ± 1.32 kU/L in female cotton pickers. All these values were found be in the normal range. The mean values of ChE were found significantly different (1.95) among various groups when statistically analyzed by Z-test (α = 0.05). The effects of pesticides found equal in both groups of female were discussed in detail with common symptoms observed in majority of cotton pickers.

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ObjectiveGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is becoming a public health concern in low/middle-income countries, and is known to cause severe morbidity and mortality for mothers and newborns. However, evidence reported for the incidence and risk factors of GDM is scant in Ethiopia. We aimed to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, GDM in Goba town, Southeast Ethiopia.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingGoba town, Southeast Ethiopia.ParticipantsFour hundred eighty pregnant women on antenatal care follow-up from 30 April to 30 September 2021.Primary and secondary outcomesIncidence and risk factors of GDM using fasting capillary blood glucose. Log-binomial model was used to identify the risk factors of GDM. Adjusted relative risk (aRR), along with 95% CIs, were calculated to estimate the strength of associations.ResultsThe cumulative incidence rate of GDM in this study was 15.7% (95% CI: 12.3% to 19.2%). Being unemployed (aRR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.36 to 5.47), having a family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (3.01; 2.09 to 4.35), low physical activity (2.43; 1.11 to 5.32), inadequate dietary diversity (1.48; 1.29 to 1.92), anaemia (2.51; 1.32 to 3.54) and antenatal depression (4.95; 3.35 to 7.31) were significantly associated with GDM.ConclusionThe cumulative incidence of GDM was relatively high among the study participants. Having antenatal depression symptoms, low physical activity, inadequate dietary diversity, being unemployed, anaemia and a family history of DM were significant risk factors for GDM.

Efficacy of Dimlor 662 EC was monitored against corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) under three different micro-climatic conditions i.e. seedling of maize sown on plastic pots covered with glass chimneys, seedling in test tubes, and maize leaves placed on petri dishes. Maize leaves and seedling were painted with serial dilutions i.e. 0.0003, 0.0006, 0.0012, 0.0025, 0.0050 and 0.01 percent. It was found effective and statistically non significant in all micro-climatic conditions. A liner regression model was developed between concentration and percentage mortality. The LC 90 were calculated as 0.0024, 0.0041 and 0.005 percent, respectively. This study will help in determining appropriate dosage of insecticide for the aphid control would be beneficial in resistance monitoring, IPM development, and product screening.