Environmental and economic assessment of sustainability in Mediterranean wheat production

ArticleThis study proposes the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and economic evaluations conducted on different cereal production systems in semi-arid environments. Two different crop management systems of durum wheat were analysed by distinguishing Continuous Cropping (CC) and Crop Rotation (CR) with vetch, that are conducted through two different levels of crop intensification (in terms of tillage and fertilization strategies): Conventional (Conv) and Conservative (Cons). The resulting four scenarios were examined using LCA methodology to assess the environmental impacts, and the Production Cost (PC) analysis to estimate the economic results. Overall, the findings of this research provide an opportunity to identify sustainable crops management strategies

Correction of human phospholamban R14del mutation associated with cardiomyopathy using targeted nucleases and combination therapy

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Transcription profiling of HCN-channel isotypes throughout mouse cardiac development

Hyperpolarization-activated ion channels, encoded by four mammalian genes (HCN1-4), contribute in an important way to the cardiac pacemaker current If. Here, we describe the transcription profiles of the four HCN genes, the NRSF, KCNE2 and Kir2.1 genes from embryonic stage E9.5 dpc to postnatal day 120 in the mouse. Embryonic atrium and ventricle revealed abundant HCN4 transcription but other HCN transcripts were almost absent. Towards birth, HCN4 was downregulated in the atrium and almost vanished from the ventricle. After birth, however, HCN isotype transcription changed remarkably, showing increased levels of HCN1, HCN2 and HCN4 in the atrium and of HCN2 and HCN4 in the ventricle. HCN3 showed highest transcription at early embryonic stages and was hardly detectable thereafter. At postnatal day 10, HCN4 was highest in the sinoatrial node, being twofold higher than HCN1 and fivefold higher than HCN2. In the atrium, HCN4 was similar to HCN1 and sevenfold higher than HCN2. In the ventricle, in contrast, HCN2 was sixfold higher than HCN4, while HCN1 was absent. Subsequently all HCN isotype transcripts declined to lower adult levels, while ratios of HCN isotypes remained stable. In conclusion, substantial changes of HCN isotype transcription throughout cardiac development suggest that a regulated pattern of HCN isotypes is required to establish and ensure a stable heart rhythm. Furthermore, constantly low HCN transcription in adult myocardium may be required to prevent atrial and ventricular arrhythmogenesis

Adherence issues related to sublingual immunotherapy as perceived by allergists

Objectives: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, and is widely used in clinical practice in many European countries. The clinical efficacy of SLIT has been established in a number of clinical trials and meta-analyses. However, because SLIT is self-administered by patients without medical supervision, the degree of patient adherence with treatment is still a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception by allergists of issues related to SLIT adherence. Methods: We performed a questionnaire-based survey of 296 Italian allergists, based on the adherence issues known from previous studies. The perception of importance of each item was assessed by a VAS scale ranging from 0 to 10. Results: Patient perception of clinical efficacy was considered the most important factor (ranked 1 by 54% of allergists), followed by the possibility of reimbursement (ranked 1 by 34%), and by the absence of side effects (ranked 1 by 21%). Patient education, regular follow-up, and ease of use of SLIT were ranked first by less than 20% of allergists. Conclusion: These findings indicate that clinical efficacy, cost, and side effects are perceived as the major issues influencing patient adherence to SLIT, and that further improvement of adherence is likely to be achieved by improving the patient information provided by prescribers. © 2010 Scurati et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd

Increased sensitivity of SARS-coronavirus to a combination of human type I and type II interferons

There is currently an urgent need to identify effective antiviral agents that will prevent and treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. In this study, we have investigated and compared the antiviral effect of different interferons (IFNs) on SARS-CoV replication in the epithelial kidney monkey Vero cell line. The results showed that SARS-CoV grown in Vero cells is moderately sensitive to IFN-beta and only weakly sensitive to IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, in comparison to other IFN-sensitive viruses, such as those for encephalomyocarditis, vesicular stomatitis and Newcastle disease. Simultaneous incubation of Vero cells with IFN-beta and IFN-gamma indicated that they may act synergistically against SARS-CoV replication. The IFN-induced MxA protein was detected in the IFN-treated Vero cells. The data, however, suggest that the antiviral activity of IFN against SARS-CoV virus is independent of MxA expression

Heart Rate Reduction Prevents The Global Phenotype Of Post-myocardial LV Infarction Remodeling

Rationale LV remodeling is a crucial phenomenon of adaptation/maladaptation to heart diseases and plays a major role in HF progression after myocardial infarction. We tested if in a post-MI rat model, a pure HR reduction by ivabradine (IVA) is able to modulate structural and electrophysiological remodeling processes. Methods IVA (10 mg/kg/d) was given in drinking water for 3 months to Wistar rats, 7 days after LAD ligation (MI). SHAM rats (n = 14) were used as control (untreated; n = 14) or for electrophysiology (IVA; n = 7). MI rats were randomly allocated to IVA (n = 17) or vehicle (n = 15). At 3 months, end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and EF were evaluated by echocardiography. BNP was tested in plasma by IEA. IVA effect on transient K+ outward current (Ito), the main current changed in HF, was recorded in single LV myocyte (LVM) in whole-cell configuration by applying a voltage protocol activation. OH-proline, an indirect index of collagen content in LV, was measured by spectrophotometry (n = 6/group). Results Echocardiography: At 3 months, in MI, IVA significantly reduced HR (208 ± 5 bpm vs. 235 ± 4, p < 0.05). ESV increased in MI vs. control SHAM (0.78 ± 0.10 vs. 0.41 ± 0.03 ml) while it was significantly reduced by IVA (0.54 ± 0.1 ml, p < 0.05). As there is no effect on EDV, IVA improved EF (62.8 ± 1.7 vs. 54.7 ± 2.3%, p < 0.05) in MI. Neuroendocrine response. Circulating BNP significantly increased in MI vs. control SHAM (2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 ng/ml, p < 0.01) and tended to be reduced in MI treated rats. Electrophysiology: IVA did not change peak Ito density measured at +50 mV in LVMs from SHAM. Significantly reduced in LVMs from MI untreated rats (5.1 ± 0.7 pA/pF, n = 30, p < 0.01) vs. SHAM, peak Ito was partially restored in LVMs from MI treated rats (7.3 ± 0.8 pA/pF, n = 28, p < 0.05). Interstitial remodeling: IVA significantly reduced OH-proline content in MI vs. control SHAM (9.03 ± 1.93 vs. 14.85 ± 1.70 µg/mg dry weight, p < 0.05), which is significantly correlated with infarct scare (r = 0.887, p = 0.0001) and HR (r = 0.593, p < 0.05). Conclusions HR reduction by IVA prevents electrophysiological as well as mechanical, cellular and interstitial alteration during post-MI LV remodeling. These results reinforce the potential interest of HR reduction in HF management