Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018) : Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.Peer reviewe

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Adubação orgânica na produção, rendimento e composição do óleo essencial da alfavaca quimiotipo eugenol Organic fertilization in the production, yield and chemical composition of basil chemotype eugenol

Este trabalho foi realizado na UFPR, município de Pinhais-PR, de outubro de 2005 a junho de 2006. Avaliou-se a resposta do Ocimum gratissimum à adubação orgânica com composto de esterco de carneiro, verificando a viabilidade dessa prática para o aumento no rendimento de biomassa, na quantidade e qualidade de seu óleo essencial. As mudas foram plantadas com espaçamento de 0,5 m entre plantas dentro das parcelas e 1 m entre as parcelas. Testaram-se 3 doses de adubação com composto orgânico (4; 8 e 12 kg m-2) e uma testemunha, com 5 repetições e 8 plantas por parcela. As colheitas foram realizadas aos 150 e 226 dias após o plantio, sendo avaliado o rendimento de massa fresca e massa seca total e de folhas, flores e caule, o teor de óleo essencial das folhas e flores e a sua composição por cromatógrafo a gás acoplado a um detector de massas (CG-MS). Houve diferença entre os tratamentos, quanto ao rendimento de biomassa na primeira colheita, onde o tratamento com 8 kg m-2 de composto orgânico foi superior à testemunha sem adubação, para a massa fresca de flores por planta e massa seca total e de flores por planta, mas não diferiu dos outros níveis de adubação. Na segunda colheita não houve diferença entre os tratamentos. Quanto ao rendimento de óleo essencial não houve diferença entre os tratamentos nas duas colheitas. Também não foram observadas grandes variações nos componentes do óleo essencial decorrente dos tratamentos aplicados. Entretanto, ocorreram variações na composição do óleo essencial quando extraído das folhas e das flores, sendo o teor médio de eugenol de 90,4% nas folhas e 80,8% nas flores, na colheita em março. Já na colheita em junho, houve uma redução do teor de eugenol nas folhas e uma elevação dos teores, principalmente de alfa trans trans farneseno, beta bisaboleno, beta cariofileno, germacrene D e alfa selineno.<br>This work was carried out at the Universidade Federal do Parana, Paraná State, Brazil, from October 2005 to June 2006. The effect of organic fertilization with sheep manure was evaluated on Ocimum gratissimum development and the viability of this practice was determined to increase biomass and essential oil yield and quality. The plants were spaced 0.5 m from each other in the experimental units which were separated in 1 m. Three rates of organic fertlization (4; 8 and 12 kg m-2) were compared to control (without fertilizers), with 5 replications and 8 plants by experimental unit. Plants were harvested 150 and 226 days after planting, and the total, leaves, flowers and stems fresh and dried biomass, essential oil yield from leaves and flowers and composition by GC/MS beign evaluated. There was significant difference among the treatments on biomass production at the first harvest, where the plants treated with 8 kg m-2 of organic fertilizer presented higher flowers fresh biomass, and flowers and total dry biomass than plants without fertilizer (control plants), but with no difference compared to other organic fertilization levels. At the second harvest there were no differences among treatments. Regarding the essential oil yield no differences were found comparing the organic fertilization levels in both harvest times. In addition, the essential oil composition was similar on plants from all treatments. However, some variations in composition were observed when the essential oil was extracted from flowers and leaves, where the eugenol percentage was 90.4% on leaves and 80.8% on flowers at the first harvest. At the second harvest, a reduction of eugenol content and an increase of alpha trans trans farnesene, beta bisabolene, beta cariophilene, germacrene D and alfa selineno was found

Tipos de cobertura do solo e épocas de colheita na produção de melissa Types of mulching and harvesting time on lemon balm production

Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes tipos de cobertura do solo e épocas de colheita sobre a produção de biomassa e o rendimento de óleo essencial de Melissa officinalis. O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental do Canguiri da UFPR, no município de Pinhais-PR, de novembro de 2005 a maio de 2006. Os tratamentos testados foram acículas de pinus, plástico preto e a testemunha sem cobertura. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso em arranjo de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com seis repetições e 20 plantas por parcela. Foram feitas três colheitas, aos 84, 134 e 191 dias após o plantio, sendo o corte dos ramos feito a 10 cm do solo. Foram avaliados a massa fresca e seca por planta e por hectare e o teor de óleo essencial por hidrodestilação. Não houve efeito significativo da interação entre coberturas do solo e épocas de colheita sobre as características analisadas. Houve decréscimo na produção de biomassa na terceira colheita, uma vez que o rendimento médio de massa seca que foi de 976 e 1135 kg ha-1 na primeira e segunda colheitas, respectivamente, reduziu para 781 kg ha-1 na terceira. O rendimento de óleo essencial também reduziu com as colheitas sucessivas, cujos valores médios foram de 4,63; 2,97 e 0,43 L ha-1 na primeira, segunda e terceira colheitas, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que a cobertura do solo com acículas de pinus e plástico preto não interferiram no rendimento de biomassa e de óleo essencial da M. officinalis. O crescimento e o acúmulo de óleo essencial da M. officinalis reduzem nas colheitas realizadas no outono na região de Pinhais-PR.<br>The effect of covering and harvesting time on biomass production and essential oil production of Melissa officinalis was evaluated. The experiment was carried out at the Estação Experimental de Canguiri, Pinhais, Paraná State, Brazil, from November 2005 to May 2006. The treatments included pine needles, black plastic and control without covering. The experimental design was of randomized blocks in split plot in time with six replications and 20 plants per experimental unit. Three harvests were performed (84, 134 and 191 days after planting), cutting the stems at 10 cm from the soil surface. The fresh and dry masses per plant and essential oil yield by hidrodestilation were determined. There was no significant effect of the interaction between the mulch and the harvesting time for the evaluated characteristics. A decrease in biomass production was observed at the third harvest, where the average of dry mass production was of 976 and 1135 kg ha-1 at the first and second harvest respectively, reducing to 781 kg ha-1 at the third harvest. The essential oil production also decreased with the successive harvests, being 4.63; 2.97 and 0.43 L ha-1 at the first, second and third harvest, respectively. The type of mulching did not interfere in biomass and essential oil production of M. officinalis. The vegetative growth and essential oil accumulation of M. officinalis decreased in the autumn harvest in Pinhais

Direct observation of the dead-cone effect in quantum chromodynamics

The direct measurement of the QCD dead cone in charm quark fragmentation is reported, using iterative declustering of jets tagged with a fully reconstructed charmed hadron