Quality of potatoes from different farming systems

Increasing public concern about environment and human health reflects in growing consumers´ interest in organic food. In order to have a free and informed choice between organic and conventional foods, an objective assessment of a product quality based on a sound scientific knowledge is needed. The aim of this project was an investigation of the influence of growing conditions on the potato (Solanum tuberosum) quality. Two traditional varieties (Katka and Finka) were grown at two different localities in Czech Republic. To determine a possible inter-annual variability, the experiments were performed on crops over a period of three consecutive years (2008 – 2010). The monitored parameters included biologically active compounds (chlorogenic acid, reducing sugars, amino acids, vitamin C etc.) and also toxic secondary metabolites (total glycoalkaloids and calystegines). Levels of these biologically active compounds depended mainly on the variety and climatic conditions such as year of farming, but the type of a cultivation system did not play a significant role. The currently investigated natural toxic alkaloids calystegines were found at higher concentration levels than the natural toxicants glycoalkaloides, monitoring of which is required by legislation

Biofeedback Based Home Balance Training can Improve Balance but Not Gait in People with Multiple Sclerosis

Background. Impaired balance is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be present even in those with a mild disability level. With increasing disability, gait, and balance impairment progress, and lead to increased risk of falls. In some recent studies, interactive commercial video games were used for improving balance, but their limitation is their lack of individual training parameter settings needed for rehabilitation purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of balance exercise in the home setting using the rehabilitation Homebalance® system. Methods. A single-centre, controlled, single blind study with allocation to intervention group or to control group was utilised. Participants were assessed at baseline, after four weeks of home-based balance training, and follow-up after four weeks. The primary outcomes were the Berg Balance Test (BBT). The secondary outcome measures included the Mini-BESTest, Timed Up, and Go Test (part of Mini-BESTest), and spatio-temporal gait parameter evaluation using the GAITRite instrument. The patient reported outcomes (PRO) included the 12-Item MS Walking Scale, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and the Falls Efficacy Scale. Results. A total of 39 people with Multiple Sclerosis (10 men) were enrolled into the study. The mean age of participants was 40.69 ± 10.2 years, with a mean disease duration 14.76 ± 9.1 years and mean disability level 3.8 ± 1.9 EDSS (EDSS range 1.5–7). Statistically significant improvements within the home exercise group were present for the BBT and the Mini-BESTest. This improvement was more significant in the subgroup with moderate and higher disability (EDSS 4.5–7). All other gait parameters and PRO did not show any improvement. Follow-up assessment after four weeks showed that the reached improvement persisted for a short time period after finishing the regular training regimen. Conclusion. In comparison with no intervention, a short-term programme of home-based balance training using Homebalance® improved balance but not gait performance in a group of people with MS. It seems that home-based balance training tailored according to individual needs by a physiotherapist may be a future approach to consider for telerehabilitation of people with MS

Prognostic Factors for Survival in Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Analysis Focused on the Role of Hemoglobin

Background: Although several prognostic factors for survival have been identified in glioblastoma, there are numerous other potential markers (such as hemoglobin) whose role has not yet been confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate a wide range of potential prognostic factors, including HIF-1α and hemoglobin levels, for survival in glioblastoma. A secondary aim was to determine whether hemoglobin levels were associated with HIF-1α expression. Methods: A retrospective study of 136 patients treated for glioblastoma at our institution between 2012 and 2021 was performed. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated. In addition, bivariate non-parametric correlation analyses were performed for key variables. Results: Median survival was 11.9 months (range: 0–119.4). According to the univariate analysis, 13 variables were significantly associated with survival: age, performance status, extent of surgery, tumor depth, tumor size, epilepsy, postoperative chemoradiotherapy, IDH mutations, CD44, HIF-1α, HIF-1β, vimentin, and PDFGR. According to the multivariate regression analysis, only four variables remained significantly associated with survival: age, extent of surgery, epilepsy, and HIF-1α expression. No significant association was observed between hemoglobin levels (low Conclusions: In this retrospective study of patients with glioblastoma, four variables—age, extent of surgery, HIF-1α expression, and epilepsy—were significant prognostic factors for survival. Hemoglobin levels were not significantly associated with survival or HIF-1α expression. Although hypoxia is a well-recognized component of the glioblastoma microenvironment, more research is needed to understand the pathogenesis of onset tumor hypoxia and treatment implication

Bladder cancer therapy using a conformationally fluid tumoricidal peptide complex

Partially unfolded alpha-lactalbumin forms an oleic acid complex with antitumorigenic properties. Here, the authors define a structurally flexible, peptide-based oleate complex and report a phase I/II clinical trial where this complex is used to treat patients with bladder cancer