Soil temperature strongly influences both percentage germination and time of emergence of sorghum. Ten hybrids were hand planted in the field. Soil surface was irrigated frequently and emerging plants were counted daily. On three treatments, soil temperature was monitored every hour at five depths. Treatments were designed to achieve a range in surface soil temperature. Results of the study indicated an optimum germination temperature of about 23°C and a heat requirement of 67 degree days. The maturity classifications of the hybrids did not show a consistent trend in their heat requirement for emergence.One of the most variable properties of the soil is its surface temperature. Hide 2 reported daily fluctuations of 31C at Manhattan Kansas. Depending on the transmitting properties of soil and atmosphere, daily fluctuations in surface temperature are lessened in amplitude and increased in phase lag as heat is transmitted deeper ill the soil profile 4.Haberlandt (cited by Bierhuizen 1) reported cardinal temperatures for the seed germination for many plants. Each plant has a minimum and a maximum temperature at which no seeds will germinate and an optimum temperature at which germination will be greatest. Cardinal temperatures, however, are only approximations because of external conditions, exposure time, and treatment history.

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Visual timeline methods have been used as part of face-to-face qualitative interviewing with vulnerable populations to uncover the intricacies of lived experiences, but little is known about whether visual timelines can be effectively used in telephone interviews. In this article, we reflect on the process of using visual timelines in 16 telephone interviews with women as part of the “STarting a family when you have an Autoimmune Rheumatic disease” study (STAR Family Study). The visual timeline method was used to empower women to organize and share their narratives about the sensitive and complex topic of starting a family. We conducted a thematic analysis of the audio-recorded interview data, using researchers’ field notes and reflections to provide context for our understanding of the benefits of using timelines and to understand the process of using visual timelines during telephone interviews. Resource packs were sent to women before study participation; 11 of the 16 women completed a version of the timeline activity. Six themes were identified in the methodological data analysis: (1) use and adaptation of the timeline tool, (2) timeline exchange, (3) framing the interview: emphasizing that women are in control, (4) jumping straight in, (5) taking a lead, and (6) disclosing personal and sensitive experiences. The use of visual timelines facilitated interviewee control and elicited rich narratives of participants’ experiences in telephone interviews. Women created their visual timelines autonomously and retained ownership of their timeline data; these features of the data generation process need to be considered when using visual timelines in telephone rather than face-to-face interviews. Use of visual methods within telephone interviews is feasible, can generate rich data, and should be further explored in a wider range of settings.

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (pts) are at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). The most recent ACR guidelines of 2015 recommend vaccination in pts aged ≥50 years prior to starting biologic DMARDs or tofacitinib,1 an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of RA. Live zoster vaccine (LZV) has shown 70% efficacy in immunocompetent adults aged 50–59 years and 51% efficacy in those aged ≥60 years.2 We previously reported that pts with RA on background methotrexate who started 3 months of treatment with tofacitinib after LZV had similar varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific immunity to placebo (PBO) pts, and their VZV immunity at Week 6 post-vaccination was comparable with healthy individuals aged ≥50 years.3ObjectivesTo evaluate the long-term effectiveness of LZV in pts with RA via the incidence of HZ after treatment with tofacitinib for up to 27 months.MethodsData were analysed from a prior cohort of pts (n=100) given LZV and then randomised 2–3 weeks later to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID) or PBO for 12 weeks (A3921237 [NCT02147587]). At 14 weeks post-vaccination, pts joining the long-term extension (LTE) study ORAL Sequel (NCT00413699; study ongoing; database not locked) initiated open-label treatment with tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID. The incidence of HZ post-vaccination after tofacitinib exposure up to 27 months (based on an extended follow-up beyond January 2016 data snapshot) was evaluated. Among HZ cases, we analysed measures of VZV-specific immunity with average immunity after LZV.Results112 pts were randomised to PBO (n=57) or tofacitinib 5 mg BID (n=55). 100 pts continued to receive tofacitinib in ORAL Sequel. Five cases (not adjudicated) of HZ occurred (#1: 202 days [219 days post-LZV], #2: 267 days [281 days post-LZV], #3: 702 days [748 days post-LZV], #4: 699 days [741 days post-LZV], #5: 446 days [544 days post-LZV] after initiation of tofacitinib. Cases #1, #2, #3 and #4 were monodermatomal; #5 involved 5 dermatomes. All cases resolved with treatment. Cases #1, #4 and #5 had undetectable ELISPOT measures at baseline and Week 6 post-vaccination, indicating a lack of VZV-specific immunity. Cases #2 and #3 responded adequately to vaccination by both immunoglobulin G (IgG) and ELISPOT measures, but had lower than average VZV IgG levels, both at baseline and at Week 6. (Table).ConclusionsLZV prior to treatment with tofacitinib is effective at boosting IgG levels and cell-mediated immunity towards VZV. No pts who developed both strong cell-mediated and humoral immunity against VZV developed HZ. Of the 5 pts who developed HZ, 3 did not have any cell-mediated response and 2 had a low humoral response.References Singh JA et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2016; 68: 1–25.Hales CM et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014; 63: 729–731.Winthrop K et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67: Abstract 12L. AcknowledgementsThis study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. The authors would like to acknowledge Lisa McNeil. Editorial support was provided by K Haines and C Evans of CMC and was funded by Pfizer Inc.D...

Background Certolizumab pegol (CZP) has been shown to be efficacious and have an acceptable safety profile as a monotherapy (FAST4WARD/NCT00548834) or in combination with methotrexate (014/NCT00544154) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).1,2 Objectives To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of CZP monotherapy, or in combination with other DMARDs, over 5 years. Methods The open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT00160693) enrolled patients (pts) who withdrew/completed the 24Wk FAST4WARD/014 studies. Pts received CZP 400mg Q4W for the duration of the study. The OLE objectives were to monitor safety and evaluate efficacy. Pts were permitted to take DMARDs in the OLE. Pt retention and efficacy (observed only) are reported up to Wk280 (5.4 years; last time point all sites open) and safety up to Wk364 (7 years; final data cut-point) in the OLE. Safety population included all OLE pts who received CZP (N=402; n=276 combination therapy, n=126 monotherapy), including PBO/CZP pts who completed/withdrew from either feeder study and entered OLE. Sub-populations analyzed for efficacy were (1) CZP feeder study completers who had received another DMARD at any point during either feeder/OLE studies (n=123; CZP combination completers) and (2) FAST4WARD CZP completers who entered OLE and did not receive any other DMARD at any point during either feeder/OLE studies (n=48; CZP monotherapy completers). Results The pattern and frequency of adverse events (AEs), including injection site reaction (Event Rate/100-pt years: monotherapy 1.4, combination therapy 0.9), and serious AEs were consistent with those reported previously with CZP (Table). Serious infection and malignancy rates were low (Table). 11 deaths were reported: 7 cardiovascular events, 2 infectious, 1 injury and 1 malignancy. Retention at Wk280 was similar between CZP monotherapy (24/48, 50%) and combination therapy (67/123, 55%) completers. Mean(SD) DAS28-3(CRP) and change from feeder study baseline (CFB) were 3.9(1.2) and -1.9(1.4) in the monotherapy and 4.1(1.2) and -1.8(1.2) in the combination completers at OLE entry, and 2.9(1.1) and -3.1(1.6) in the monotherapy and 2.9(1.0) and -3.0(1.3) in the combination completers at Wk280. Mean(SD) HAQ and CFB were 0.9(0.8) and -0.6(0.7) in the monotherapy and 1.1(0.7) and -0.3(0.5) in the combination completers at OLE entry, and 0.8(0.9) and -0.7(0.8) in the monotherapy and 0.8(0.6) and -0.5(0.5) in the combination completers at Wk280. Conclusions CZP monotherapy was confirmed to have a favourable risk-benefit profile within this study. Similar long-term efficacy was observed between pts who received CZP monotherapy and pts who received CZP in combination with other DMARDs; retention rates were also similar between these two groups. References Fleischmann R. Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:805-811; Choy E. Rheumatology 2012;51(7):1226-1234 Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge Costello Medical Consulting for writing and editorial assistance which was funded by UCB Pharma. Disclosure of Interest R. Fleischmann G...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis with many systemic manifestations. Several monoclonal antibodies targeting different components of the immune systems have been licensed for treatment of RA. Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) are found abundantly in the blood and the joints. The biologic effect of IL-6 on leukocyte, osteoclast, hepatocytes and bone marrow may mediate the articular and systemic inflammation in RA. Recently, an anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, tocilizumab, has been licensed for the treatment as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate of moderate to severe RA, when disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or antitumour necrosis factors (TNF) have failed. It improves symptoms and signs as well as reducing joint damage. Tocilizumab monotherapy has been shown to be superior to methotrexate. Its side-effects include infections, decrease in neutrophils, and increases in lipid and liver transaminases.Overall, tocilizumab has a welldefined and manageable safety profile that supports a favourable benefit/risk ratio for patients with RA.KeywordS Rheumatoid arthritis, treatment, monoclonal antibody, interleukin-6, tocilizumab declaratIon of IntereStS Professor Choy has received research grants and served as a member of advisory boards and speaker bureau of Abbott Laboratories,

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