Current developments in the diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is the most common vasculitis in adults above 50 years old. The disease is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of medium and large arteries, particularly the temporal artery, and is associated acutely with headache, claudication, and visual disturbances. Diagnosis of the disease is often complicated by its protean presentation and lack of consistently reliable testing. The utility of color doppler ultrasound at the point-of-care and FDG-PET in longitudinal evaluation remain under continued investigation. Novel techniques for risk assessment with Halo scoring and stratification through axillary vessel ultrasound are becoming commonplace. Moreover, the recent introduction of the biologic tocilizumab marks a paradigm shift toward using glucocorticoid-sparing strategies as the primary treatment modality. Notwithstanding these developments, patients continue to have substantial rates of relapse and biologic agents have their own side effect profile. Trials are underway to answer questions about optimal diagnostic modality, regiment choice, and duration

Impact of Bois Noir disease on grapevine performance and wine quality of <em>Vitis Vinifera</em> L. Cv. 'Chardonnay' in Hungary

Impact of "bois noir" disease (BN) on performance of 'Chardonnay' grown in Eger (Hungary) is reported from plant (vegetative and reproductive parameters, fruit composition) to wine (wine quality, sensory analysis). BN-associated chlorophyll degradation and leaf rolling resulted in a loss in functioning surface of the canopy. Lack of lignification and non-viable buds evoked unpredictable crop production. Severity and extent of reduction in production varied between years, but the crop loss was always above 53%. In the case of BN-affected grapevines the reduced quantity resulted in a low quality of grape bunch composition, which enhanced unfavourable outcomes in wines. Differences in fruit composition and wine quality between healthy and BN affected grapevines were most pronounced in years with optimal weather conditions and the negative effect was covered up in poor years. In wine regions where mechanical harvesting is applied, harvesting of phytoplasma diseased vineyards can therefore not be selective and qualitative. According to the three years study presented BN induce severe loss, and BN-affected plants compromise the yield and wine quality, and therefore the overall profitability of a vineyard

Impact of Bois Noir disease on grapevine performance and wine quality of <em>Vitis Vinifera</em> L. Cv. 'Chardonnay' in Hungary

Impact of "bois noir" disease (BN) on performance of 'Chardonnay' grown in Eger (Hungary) is reported from plant (vegetative and reproductive parameters, fruit composition) to wine (wine quality, sensory analysis). BN-associated chlorophyll degradation and leaf rolling resulted in a loss in functioning surface of the canopy. Lack of lignification and non-viable buds evoked unpredictable crop production. Severity and extent of reduction in production varied between years, but the crop loss was always above 53%. In the case of BN-affected grapevines the reduced quantity resulted in a low quality of grape bunch composition, which enhanced unfavourable outcomes in wines. Differences in fruit composition and wine quality between healthy and BN affected grapevines were most pronounced in years with optimal weather conditions and the negative effect was covered up in poor years. In wine regions where mechanical harvesting is applied, harvesting of phytoplasma diseased vineyards can therefore not be selective and qualitative. According to the three years study presented BN induce severe loss, and BN-affected plants compromise the yield and wine quality, and therefore the overall profitability of a vineyard