EFFECTS OF CERVICAL MUSCLES STRENGTHENING WITH AND WITHOUT SHOULDER EXERCISES IN POST-MASTECTOMY PATIENTS WITH NECK PAIN

Background of the Study: To compare the effects of cervical muscles strengthening with and without shoulder exercises on post- mastectomy patients with neck pain. Methodology: It was a randomized clinical trial, conducted in physical therapy department of a clinical setting through Dynamometer. Sample size of 24 patients were taken. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. A written consent form was taken from patients meeting inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated. In one group, patients were treated with cervical Muscles strengthening with shoulder exercises. In other group, patients were treated with cervical Muscles strengthening alone. Treatment was given once a day for three weeks. Muscle strength was examined using dynamometer, Baseline data was taken before treatment on first day after inclusion in study and again on the last day after treatment. SPSS 25 was used to analyze the data. Results: Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare individuals within the group which showed significant results in both groups, p-value 0.000 (i.e. <0.001) for neck strength. Between groups comparison was done using Mann-Whitney U Test and it showed no significant changes for cervical extensors (p- value;0.143) , cervical side bending (right) (p-value; 0.315) and cervical side bending (left) (p-value; 0.853) strength differences, but however cervical flexors strength showed statistically significant results as p-value was 0.003. Conclusion: It was concluded that Cervical strengthening along with shoulder Rehabilitation can help improve the strength of cervical flexors. However, both the groups have equally resulted in improved cervical extensor, Side bending right and left strength.

Selenium Biofortification in Wheat Through Different Application Methods

Studies to evaluate selenium (Se) supplementation through various application methods for its enrichment in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were conducted in the Seed Science Laboratory and Agronomic Research Area, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Initially, two laboratory studies were conducted to optimize the rate of Se supplementation for seed priming and seed coating of two wheat cultivars Shafaq-2006 and Lasani-2008. Laboratory experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design in factorial arrangements and replicated thrice. In an initial field study, the impact of exogenous Se supplementation by various methods on the enrichment of two local bread wheat cultivars was undertaken while in a second experiment, grain enrichment potential through foliage applied Se on wheat cv. Lasani-2008 was investigated. Both field experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement having a net plot size of 2.7× 6.0 m with three and four replications respectively. Results of the laboratory priming experiment revealed that seeds primed in 0.125 mM and 1.25 mM Se priming solution gave a significantly improved stand establishment and seedling growth rate as exhibited by a substantial reduction in the time to undertake 50% emergence (T50) and the mean emergence time (MET) as compared to other treatments. In the second laboratory trial, coating of 1 kg of wheat seed with either 1.5 or 1.0 g Se considerably improved the early emergence, which in turn resulted in a healthy seedling stand establishment and better growth of seedlings of both wheat cultivars studied. In the first field study, Se supplementation by foliage feeding (100 g ha-1 or 50 g ha-1) significantly improved spike length, number of spikelets spike-1, number of grains spike-1, the number of productive tillers m- 2, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index of both wheat cultivars and during both years of the study. However, non-significant variation in plant height for both varieties was recorded with Se nutrition. Maximum Se enrichment was observed in grains of wheat cv. Lasani- 2008 when treated with foliar feeding of 100 g Se ha-1. Lasani-2008 showed better potential for accumulation of Se in grains as compared to Shafaq-2006. Results of the second field study revealed that different sources of Se supplementation, applied at different growth stages, significantly affected the growth and yield of wheat. Maximum grain yield was attained with foliar spray of sodium selenate at booting stage. In contrast, Se foliage sprays applied at anthesis (flowering) caused significantly higher accumulation of Se in wheat grains as compared to all other treatments. In first field trial, Se application through seed priming, at the rate of 0.125 mM showed the maximum net benefit while in the second field study; maximum net benefit was obtained with the Se foliar spray at the booting stage of growth.