SUSTAINABILITY OF LIVING WALL SYSTEMS THROUGH AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES LENS

Speaking about the sustainability of the urban environment and the role of greening, the multiple use of different technical and ecological solutions must be the future approach for planners and designers. The holistic approach and multidisciplinary teams of research are needed to provide a complete knowledge of the different urban ecosystems, in order to achieve the best long-term result. The green infrastructures network in the European cities and Metropolitan areas include a lot of nature-based solutions devoted to improve both the urban natural capital and the quality of life of citizens. Among these solutions green corridors, parks and gardens, green roofs and green walls can be included. The aim of the following paragraphs is to make the point about the green walls, starting from the description of the different types and technologies, then moving to the analysis of the ecosystem services provided. In particular, a literature review of papers published during the last fifteen years has been done with a particular attention on the European context

Comparison of dual nucleoside-analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens with HIV-1 who have not previously been treated: the PENTA 5 randomized trial

Introduction Treatment options for children with HIV-1 are limited. We aimed to compare activity and safety of three dualnucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimens with or without a protease inhibitor in previously untreated children with HIV-1. Methods In our multicentre trial, we randomly assigned 36 children to zidovudine and lamivudine, 45 to zidovudine and abacavir, and 47 to lamivudine and abacavir. Children who were symptomfree (n=55) were also randomly assigned to receive nelfinavir or placebo. Children with more advanced disease received open-label nelfinavir (73). Primary endpoints were change in plasma HIV-1 RNA at 24 and 48 weeks for the NRTI comparison and occurrence of serious adverse events for both randomised comparisons. Analyses were by intention to treat. Findings Children had a median CD4 percentage of 22% (IQR 15–29) and a mean HIV-1 RNA concentration of 5·0 log copies/mL (SD 0·8). One child was lost to follow-up and one died of sepsis. At 48 weeks, in the zidovudine/lamivudine, zidovudine/abacavir, and lamivudine/abacavir groups, mean HIV-1 RNA had decreased by 1·71, 2·19, and 2·63 log copies/mL, respectively (estimated in absence of nelfinavir) (p=0·02 after adjustment for baseline factors). One child had a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir; and three with possible reactions stopped abacavir. There were 24 serious adverse events—six in the symptom-free children (all on nelfinavir), but none were attributed to nelfinavir. Interpretation Regimens containing abacavir were more effective than zidovudine/lamivudine. Such regimens could be combined with protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for safe and effective treatment of previously untreated children with HIV-1