Are organic farming soils more disease suppressive?

Due to lack of diversity, commercial banana plantations are susceptible to pests and diseases. Organic agriculture is a way of farming that aims to develop holistic management in an ecological way. Organic agriculture tries to promote disease suppression through healthy soils by increasing biological activity and diversity. This is achieved through the application of organic fertilizers and increasing organic inputs to stimulate soil microbial biomass and activity (1). Fusarium wilt of bananas caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), also known as Panama disease, has been a devastating disease throughout the world. So far, no fungicides or cultural measures have been found that sufficiently control Foc. The aim of this research was to assess whether organic farming systems and soils are more resilient than inorganic farming systems to soilborne diseases, in particular Fusarium wilt

Reduced quality of life in ICU survivors - the story behind the numbers: A mixed methods study

PURPOSE: To gain insight into the daily functioning of ICU survivors who reported a reduced quality of life (QoL) one year after ICU admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-phase mixed method study design. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire before admission and after one year (Phase 1). Participants reporting a reduced QoL were invited for an in-depth interview (Phase 2). Interview data were coded thematically using the PROMIS framework. RESULTS: Of the 797 participants, 173 (22%) reported a reduced QoL, of which 19 purposively selected patients were interviewed. In line with their questionnaire scores, most participants described their QoL as reduced. They suffered from physical, mental and/or cognitive problems, impacting their daily life, restricting hobbies, work, and social activities. A new balance in life, including relationships, had to be found. Some interviewees experienced no changes in their QoL; they were grateful for being alive, set new life priorities, and were able to accept their life with its limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in QoL is due to physical, mental, and cognitive health problems, restricting participants what they want to do. However, QoL was not only affected by the critical illness, but also by factors including independency, comorbidity, and life events. Registration: NCT03246334 (clinical trials.gov)

Barriers, facilitators and attitudes influencing health promotion activities in general practice: an explorative pilot study

Contains fulltext : 118054.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The number of chronically ill patients increases every year. This is partly due to an unhealthy lifestyle. However, the frequency and quality of (evidence-based) health promotion activities conducted by Dutch general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) are limited. The aim of this pilot study was to explore which lifestyle interventions Dutch GPs and PNs carry out in primary care, which barriers and facilitators can be identified and what main topics are with respect to attitudes towards health promoting activities. These topic areas will be identified for a future, larger scale study. METHOD: This qualitative study consisted of 25 semi-structured interviews with sixteen GPs and nine PNs. ATLAS.ti was used to analyse the transcripts of the interviews. RESULTS: All GPs and PNs said they discuss lifestyle with their patients. Next to this, GPs and PNs counsel patients, and/or refer them to other disciplines. Only few said they refer patients to specific lifestyle programs or interventions in their own practice or in the neighbourhood. Several barriers and facilitators were identified. The main topics as barriers are: a lack of patients' motivation to make lifestyle changes, insufficient reimbursement, a lack of proven effectiveness of interventions and a lack of overview of health promoting programs in their neighbourhood. The most cited facilitators are availability of a PN, collaboration with other disciplines and availability of interventions in their own practice. With respect to attitudes, six different types of GPs were identified reflecting the main topics that relate to attitudes, varying from 'ignorer' to 'nurturer'. The topics relating to PNs attitudes towards health promotion activities, were almost unanimously positive. CONCLUSION: GPs and PNs all say they discuss lifestyle issues with their patients, but the health promotion activities that are organized in their practice vary. Main topics that hinder or facilitate implementation are identified, including those that relate to attitudes of GPs and PNs