Effects of intermittent-direct-electric-current (IDC) on polyphenols and antioxidant activity in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) during growth

In the present study the effects of intermittent-direct-electric-current (IDC; for one hour per day) on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was studied. The radish plants were cultivated in rock wool substrate in combination with drip irrigation. Two stainless steel plates were added on the rock wool substrate and acted as electrodes to supply the currents to the plants. Three different IDC treatments (200 mA, 600 mA, and 1000 mA) were applied during growth period and passed horizontally through the nutrient solution as well as through the tissue of the radish plants. After 16 days of growth the radish plants were randomly harvested, divided into three segments (root, tuber, shoot) and were used for the determination of total phenolic content, anthocyanins, and antioxidative activity.This new technology increased the health-promoting phytochemical compounds in radish segments with no sign of damage. In radish tubers total phenol content, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity increased with increasing IDC. The same was observed for the total phenol content in radish roots. However in contrast, the phenolic compounds of radish shoots remained unaffected by IDC. In conclusion IDC can serve as a general mean to stimulate the synthesis of phenolic compounds and associated antioxidant activity in radish tubers

Feasibility of Adjuvant Treatment with Abemaciclib—Real-World Data from a Large German Breast Center

Abemaciclib significantly improves invasive disease-free survival when combined with endocrine therapy in clinical high-risk patients with HR+/Her2− early breast cancer (eBC). The objective of the following study was to model how many patients with eBC would be available for adjuvant treatment with abemaciclib in a real-world setting. Patients that underwent complete surgical treatment for eBC between January 2018 and December 2020 in a large single-center university hospital in Germany were eligible. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient population that could benefit from abemaciclib according to the inclusion criteria of monarchE. Of 1474 patients with eBC, 1121 (76.1%) had a HR+/Her2− subtype. Of these, 217 (19.4%) fulfilled the monarchE inclusion criteria. Within patients that fulfilled the monarchE inclusion criteria, 48.9% received no adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Thus, in a real-world situation, fewer patients will be pretreated with chemotherapy than was the case in monarchE. Breast care units are facing a significant patient burden, since the 2-year abemaciclib therapy requires regular monitoring of toxicities. Specific care concepts to strengthen therapy adherence as well as further studies to deescalate adjuvant systemic treatment and individualize CDK 4/6 inhibitor therapy are therefore needed

Sustainable Cities: Viability of a Hybrid Aeroponic/Nutrient Film Technique System for Cultivation of Tomatoes

Growing environmental and sustainability concerns have driven continual modernization of horticultural practices, especially for urban farming. Controlled environment and soilless production methods are increasing in popularity because of their efficient resource use and intensive cropping capabilities. However, some popular substrates used for hydroponic cultivation, particularly rock wool, represent a large environmental burden in regard to their manufacture and disposal. Substrate-less hydroponic systems are effective in producing short cropping cycle plants such as lettuce or herbs, but less information is available for the production of plants with larger root-systems and longer cropping times. Here, we investigated the viability of a hybrid aeroponic/nutrient film technique (AP/NFT) system for the cultivation of greenhouse tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Panovy’). The plants grown in the AP/NFT system had a more compact phenotype, accumulated more Na+ and less P and S than the rock wool grown counterparts. Due to forced irrigation interruptions, we propose that the differences observed were cofounded by the differing severity of water-stress for plants with and without substrate. They may also be caused by a higher root zone temperature predominant in plants exposed to AP/NFT. However, leaf area, stem diameter, and number of trusses did not differ significantly. The same was found for leaf pigments and plant photosynthetic efficiency. Overall, the AP/NFT system appears to be viable for the production of greenhouse tomato, enabling the environment to be relieved by way of lessening rock wool usage