Ruderal- und Saumgesellschaften des Etschtals zwischen Bozen und Rovereto / von Dietmar und Elisabeth Brandes

Aus dem Etschtal zwischen Bozen und Rovereto werden 44 Ruderal- und Saumgesellschaften beschrieben und mit Literaturangaben aus anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verglichen. Die meisten Assoziationen werden erstmalig für Südtirol mit Aufnahmen belegt. Die Ruderalvegetation spiegelt die klimatischen Verhältnisse des Untersuchungsgebietes sehr genau wider, sowohl den submediterranen Einfluß im südlichen Teil, als auch die mit zunehmender Höhe abnehmende Klimagunst.44 ruderal and skirt communities are described from the Etsch valley between Bozen and Rovereto and compared with literature dates from other parts cf Central Europe. Most of the phytosociological associations are documented for the first time for South Tyrol. The ruder al vegetation reflects the climate in the explored area exactly, on the one hand the increasing submediterranean influence, on the other the decreasing favour of climate by increasing of altitude

In vitro impact of platinum nanoparticles on inner ear related cell culture models

So far, it was supposed that the increase of electrical impedance following cochlear implant (CI) insertion was due to technical defects of the electrode, inflammatory and/or formation of scar tissue along the electrode. However, it was recently reported that corrosion of the platinum electrode contacts may be the reason for high impedances. It could be shown that platinum particles were stripped from the electrode surfaces. Its potential cytotoxic effects within the inner ear remains to be examined. In this study in vitro cell culture models of the mouse organ of Corti cell line (HEI-OC1) and the spiral ganglion (SG) cells derived from the cochleae neonatal rats were used to investigate the effects of the polyvinylpyrrolidone coated platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPPVP, 3 nm) on cell metabolism, neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. Our data revealed no decrease of the metabolic activity of the HEI-OC1 cells at Pt-NPPVP concentrations between 50-150 μg/ml. Also, staining with Calcein AM/ EthD demonstrated prevalent presence of vital cells. As shown by transmission electron microscopy no Pt-NPPVP could be found at the cell surface or in the cytosol of the HEI-OC1 cells. Similarly, the SG cells exposed to 20-100 μg/ml Pt-NPPVP did not show any reduced survival rate and neurite outgrowth following staining of the neurofilament antigen even at the highest Pt-NPPVP concentration. Although the SG cells were exposed to Pt-NPPVP for further 72 h and 96 h immunocytochemical staining of the glial cells and fibroblasts presented normal cell morphology and growth independently of the cultivation period. Our data indicates that the used Pt-NPPVP do not trigger the cellular uptake and, thus, presumable do not initiate apoptotic pathways in cells of the organ of Corti cell line or the auditory nerve. The protection mechanisms to the Pt-NPPVP interactions remain to be clarified

Classification of Chemicals According to UN-GHS and EU-CLP: A Review of Physical Hazard Classes and Their Intricate Interfaces to Transport and Former EU Legislation

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN-GHS) is being implemented in more and more countries all over the world; the EU has done so with the CLP-Regulation (EU-CLP). Compared to the undeniably important questions on health and environmental hazards, the classification of physical hazards of chemicals often has not been in the focus, although their implementation can be challenging and there are traps and pitfalls to be avoided. The following overview of the classification systematics for physical hazards aims at a principle understanding without detailing all criteria or test methods. Similarities and differences between the classification systems of the UN-GHS and EU-CLP, the transport of dangerous goods and the former EU system are reviewed with regard to the physical hazard classes. Available physical hazard classifications for the transport of dangerous goods and according to the former EU system can be used as available information when classifying according to the GHS. However, the interfaces of these classification systems and their limitations have to be understood well when concluding on GHS/CLP classifications. This applies not only to industry when applying CLP but especially to legislators when adapting legislation that in one way or another refers to the classification of chemicals

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Emerging Use of Early Health Technology Assessment in Medical Product Development: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Early health technology assessment is increasingly being used to support health economic evidence development during early stages of clinical research. Such early models can be used to inform research and development about the design and management of new medical technologies to mitigate the risks, perceived by industry and the public sector, associated with market access and reimbursement. Over the past 25 years it has been suggested that health economic evaluation in the early stages may benefit the development and diffusion of medical products. Early health technology assessment has been suggested in the context of iterative economic evaluation alongside phase I and II clinical research to inform clinical trial design, market access, and pricing. In addition, performing early health technology assessment was also proposed at an even earlier stage for managing technology portfolios. This scoping review suggests a generally accepted definition of early health technology assessment to be “all methods used to inform industry and other stakeholders about the potential value of new medical products in development, including methods to quantify and manage uncertainty”. The present review also aimed to identify recent published empirical studies employing an early-stage assessment of a medical product. With most included studies carried out to support a market launch, the dominant methodology was early health economic modeling. Further methodological development is required, in particular, by combining systems engineering and health economics to manage uncertainty in medical product portfolios

The flora of Maltese walls

The wall flora of Malta contains some 140 species. The participation of plant families and life forms is discussed with regard to the types of walls. The Parietario-Antirrhinetum siculi is documented by plant sociological relevés. Oxalis pes-caprae is the most important alien species in the wall vegetation.Die Mauerflora von Malta umfaßt mindestens 140 Gefäßpflanzenarten. Deren Verteilung auf Familien und Lebensformen wird im Hinblick auf die verschiedenen Mauertypen diskutiert. Das Parietario-Antirrhinetum siculi wird mit pflanzensoziologischen Aufnahmen belegt. Oxalis pes-caprae ist der bedeutendste Neophyt in der Mauervegetation

Ruderal- und Saumgesellschaften des Etschtals zwischen Bozen und Rovereto

Aus dem Etschtal zwischen Bozen und Rovereto werden 44 Ruderal- und Saumgesellschaften beschrieben und mit Literaturangaben aus anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verglichen. Die meisten Assoziationen werden erstmalig für Südtirol mit Aufnahmen belegt. Die Ruderalvegetation spiegelt die klimatischen Verhältnisse des Untersuchungsgebietes sehr genau wider, sowohl den submediterranen Einfluss im südlichen Teil, als auch die mit zunehmender Höhe abnehmende Klimagunst.44 ruderal and skirt communities are described from the Etsch valley between Bozen and Rovereto and compared with literature dates from other parts of Central Europe. Most of the phytosociological associations are documented for the first time for South Tyrol. The ruderal vegetation reflects the climate in the explored area exactly, on the one hand the increasing submediterranean influence, on the other the decreasing favour of climate by increasing of altitude