Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Legume Forage Species in Southern Italy

Legume herbage quality and quantity depend on genetic background to be able to sustain metabolic activity under increasingly harsh environmental conditions. Field experiments were carried out in Foggia, a southern Italian town (a typical Mediterranean location) on varieties and ecotypes of two perennial legume (sainfoin and sulla) mostly widespread in Mediterranean environments. The experiment compared irrigated and non-irrigated conditions and two different seed rates. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of agronomic factors on herbage production and the nutritive value of the forage. Irrigation and higher seed rate treatment increased dry matter yield in both species. The genotypes of both species differed for agronomic adaptation and in nutritive characteristics which were influenced by irrigation treatment. Crude protein (CP) contents under irrigated treatment was lower than non irrigated only in sulla. Percentages of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were influenced by lower seed rate. The genotypes exploit their genetic potentiality mainly under irrigated condition in sainfoin and sulla. Lower seed rate was more suitable under non irrigated conditions. The nutritive value, in both species, was related to the dry matter production and leaf stem proportion of genotypes

The association between secondhand smoke and the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes, among non-smokers, under the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors: The CARDIO2000 case-control study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between secondhand smoke and the risk of developing a first event of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), i.e. acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina, among non-smokers, in relation to the presence of several other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Eight hundred and forty-eight patients with first event of ACS and 1078 cardiovascular disease-free matched controls completed a detailed questionnaire regarding their exposure to secondhand smoke, among other investigated parameters. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety–seven (35%) of the patients and 259 (24%) of the controls were defined as secondhand smokers. After controlling for several potential confounders, the results showed that non-smokers occasionally (< 3 time per week) exposed to cigarette smoke were associated with 26% higher risk of ACS (OR = 1.26, P-value < 0.01) compared to non-smokers not exposed to smoke, while regular exposure is associated with 99% higher risk of developing ACS (OR = 1.99, P-value < 0.001). Moreover, the previous risk increases progressively from 15% to 256% if one or more of the classical cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, sedentary life and family history of premature coronary heart disease) are present. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, this study supports the hypothesis that even occasional secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes, especially when other risk factors are present. Given the high prevalence of cigarette smoking, the public health consequences of passive smoking with regard to coronary heart disease are important