Comparative analysis of delivery of primary eye care in three European countries

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Saatgutgesundheit im ökologischen Landbau – Schwerpunkt Weizensteinbrand (Tilletia caries)

Im ökologischen Landbau sind Arbeiten, die zur Erzeugung gesunden Saatgutes oder zur Sanierung infizierten Saatgutes beitragen, gegenwärtig von besonderer Relevanz. Das Auftreten samenbürtiger Krankheiten kann auch bei Einhaltung aller für einen hohen Herkunftswert wesentlichen acker- und pflanzenbaulichen Faktoren nicht immer verhindert werden. Die Kontrolle der Krankheiten durch eine Kombination indirekter und direkter Maßnahmen ist deshalb ein Forschungsschwerpunkt. Die hier beschriebenen Arbeiten konzentrieren sich auf die im ökologischen Getreidebau wichtigste Krankheit, den Weizensteinbrand (Tilletia caries). Untersuchungen zur Sortenanfälligkeit, zur Ermittlung von Befallstoleranzgrenzen sowie zu direkten Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen wurden durchgeführt. Entsprechend dem Grundsatz des ökologischen Landbaus, auf die Anwendung chemischsynthetischer Mittel zu verzichten, wurden alternative, d. h. physikalische und biologische Verfahren der Saatgutbehandlung hinsichtlich ihrer Wirksamkeit und Anwendbarkeit untersucht. Die Untersuchungen zur Sortenanfälligkeit wurden mit 25 zugelassenen Sorten und fünf Zuchtlinien an fünf verschiedenen Standorten nach künstlicher Infektion des Saatgutes mit vom jeweiligen Standort stammenden Tilletia-Sporen (0,2 %ig,w/w) durchgeführt. Dabei erwiesen sich die Sorten / Zuchtlinien 'Tommi', 'Tambor', 'Tarso', 'Tataros', 'Cardos', 'Korund', 'Stava', 'Magnifik', 'SW 51136' und 'Jakobi' als tolerant bis gering anfällig gegenüber T. caries. Bei einigen Sorten wurden an den verschiedenen Standorten unterschiedliche Ergebnisse erzielt. Zur Ermittlung der Befallstoleranzen und der Wirkung ausgewählter Behandlungen wurden an fünf Standorten Feldversuche mit jeweils drei unterschiedlich anfälligen Sorten ('Ökostar', 'Aron', 'Batis'), drei Inokulationsstufen (20, 100, 1.000 Sporen / Korn; Sporen einer Herkunft) und zwei Behandlungen (Heißwasser, Tillecur) angelegt. Die Auszählung des Bestandes im Frühjahr ergab starke Auswinterungsschäden bis zum völligen Ausfall der Sorten 'Aron' und 'Batis' an einem Standort. Der Steinbrandbefall war insgesamt gering, aber in Abhängigkeit vom Aussaattermin und der Witterung an den einzelnen Standorten unterschiedlich hoch. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Inokulationsstufen und den Sorten waren deutlich sichtbar. Bei den Sorten 'Ökostar' und 'Batis' waren schon in der niedrigsten Stufe, bei 'Aron' erst ab 1.000 Sporen / Korn befallene Ähren vorhanden. In den Tillecur-behandelten Varianten waren an allen Standorten nahezu keine Brandähren nachzuweisen, die Heißwasserbehandlung zeigte eine etwas geringere Wirkung. Die neu zugelassene Sorte 'Ökostar' erwies sich in diesen Versuchen als hoch anfällig für Steinbrand. Vorläufige Schwellenwerte können abgeleitet werden. Danach ist bei anfälligen Sorten bereits bei einer sehr geringen Kontamination von 5-10 Sporen / Korn eine Behandlung durchzuführen, geringer anfällige Sorten sind ab 1.000 Sporen / Korn zu behandeln. Alle Ergebnisse bedürfen der Bestätigung in einem weiteren Versuchsjahr

Weiterentwicklung des RSA zur Vermeidung von Pflegebedürftigkeit: Erarbeitung eines Konzepts zur nachhaltigen Stärkung von Anreizen für die gesetzlichen Krankenkassen zur Vermeidung von Pflegebedürftigkeit

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Untersuchungen zur Wirkung alternativer Saatgutbehandlungen gegen Auflaufschaderreger in Getreide

Since all plant material used for organic farming should have been produced under organic farming conditions, and due to the generally occurring expansion of organic agriculture, the significance of healthy seed in organic farming is increasing. In a joint research project (2004-2006) the currently available as well as some promising methods and substances were tested and evaluated for their use in practice. Results of investigations concerning the control of pathogens affecting field emergence of rye and wheat by different natural products and physi-cal methods are presented. It has been proved that hot water treatment as well as several plant strengthening products (Tillecur®, LEBERMOOSER, Milsana®) and microbial products (Serenade, Cerall) can improve the field emergence and the development of the plants

Stand der Bekämpfung von Brandkrankheiten im ökologischen Getreidebau

With the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of techniques and measures for control of cereal bunts and smuts in organic farming systems, field trials were carried out in multiple locations from 2004 to 2006. The relevant fungal diseases included in the trials were common bunt (Tilletia tritici), dwarf bunt (T. controversa), loose smut (Usti-lago tritici, U. nuda), covered smut (U. hordei) and black loose smut (U. avenae). The following treatments were found to be effective. Common bunt: different physical methods, Tillecur, acetic acid. Loose smut of barley and wheat: warm and hot water treatment, seed treatment with ethanol (more trials needed). Covered smut of barley: warm water treatment, ethanol, Lebermooser. Loose smut of oats: hot water treat-ment, ethanol. Field resistant varieties are available (although in some cases only in limited number) for common bunt, loose smut of wheat and barley and covered smut. The status of varietal resistance against dwarf bunt is only insufficiently known. In case of black loose smut research on resistant varieties is currently being conducted

Presentation and medical management of peripheral arterial disease in general practice: rationale, aims, design and baseline results of the PACE-PAD Study

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is highly prevalent among individuals of higher age or those with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Screening for PAD is recommended, since it is often linked to atherothrombotic manifestations in the coronary or carotid circulation and associated with a substantial increase in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. We aimed to assess patients with newly diagnosed, suspected and confirmed PAD in the primary care setting with regards to clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic management (including referral to specialists), and medium-term outcomes. Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study with a cross-sectional and a longitudinal part. A total of 2,781 general practitioners across Germany were cluster randomised to document five consecutive patients each in one of the strata: (1) patients with intermittent claudication (IC) or other typical PAD-related complaints (group A) or (2) patients >55 years of age with one or more risk factors (group B) for PAD (current smoking, diabetes, previous myocardial infection and/or previous stroke). Patients with confirmed PAD will be followed up for diagnostic procedures, therapy and vascular events over 18 months. Results: In group A, a total of 2,131 patients with suspected PAD (80.1% confirmed, 75.9% with referral to specialists) and in group B 9,921 patients were included (44.6% confirmed, 54.6% referral). The ankle-brachial index was calculated in 41.3% and 33.5% only. Mean age was 66.6 years (group A) and 68.4 years (group B), respectively. Vascular risk factors were prevalent in both groups, in particular smoking (group A 44.6%, group B 44.4%), hypertension (73.2 and 78.1%), hypercholesterolaemia (64.6 and 70.6%) and diabetes mellitus (41.7 and 60.6%). Concomitant atherothrombotic morbidities were frequent in both groups. In patients with the respective diseases, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, lipid-lowering and antithrombotic therapies were prescribed in group A in 96.6, 96.0, 91.1 and 89.7% and in group B in 98.3, 97.4, 94.1 and 91.2%. Conclusion: The cross-sectional part of the study indicates a substantial burden of disease in PAD patients in primary care. Treatment rates appear to have improved compared to earlier surveys. In the follow-up period, outcomes of these patients and their association with disease stages, guideline-oriented treatment or patient compliance and disease-coping strategies, among other factors, will be determined

Collective Sensemaking Around COVID-19: Experiences, Concerns, and Agendas for our Rapidly Changing Organizational Lives

Uncertainty is at the forefront of many crises, disasters, and emergencies, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different in this regard. In this forum, we, as a group of organizational communication scholars currently living in North America, engage in sensemaking and sensegiving around this pandemic to help process and share some of the academic uncertainties and opportunities relevant to organizational scholars. We begin by reflexively making sense of our own experiences with adjusting to new ways of working during the onset of the pandemic, including uncomfortable realizations around privilege, positionality, race, and ethnicity. We then discuss key concerns about how organizations and organizing practices are responding to this extreme uncertainty. Finally, we offer thoughts on the future of work and organizing informed by COVID-19, along with a list of research practice considerations and potentially generative research questions. Thus, this forum invites you to reflect on your own experiences and suggests future directions for research amidst and after a cosmology event

Outcomes of medical management of peripheral arterial disease in general practice: follow-up results of the PACE-PAD Study

Aim: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a marker of elevated vascular risk, is highly prevalent in general practice. We aimed to investigate patient characteristics and outcomes of PAD patients treated according to the guidelines versus those who were not. Methods: The Patient Care Evaluation-Peripheral Arterial Disease Study (PACE-PAD) was a multicenter, cluster randomized, prospective, longitudinal cohort study of patients with PAD in primary care, who were followed up for death or vascular events over 18 months. Guideline orientation was assumed if patients received anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, exercise training, and (if applicable) advice for smoking cessation and therapy of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia, respectively. Results: Of the 5,099 PAD patients (mean age 68.0 ± 9.0 years, 68.5% male subjects) who were followed up, 22.5, 34.6, 30.1, 7.8, and 3.5% (1.5% not specified) were in Fontaine stages I, IIa, IIb, III, and IV. Comprehensive guideline orientation was reported in 28.4% only; however, patients in lower Fontaine stages received guideline-oriented therapy more often (I: 30.3%, IIa: 31.6%, IIb: 29.1%, III: 9.8%, IV: 18.0%). During 18 months, 457 patients died (224 due to cerebrovascular or coronary deaths), 319 had unstable angina pectoris, 116 myocardial infarction, and 140 an ischemic stroke event. In total, 24% of patients had experienced any vascular event (19.1% a first event). Event rates did not differ between patients treated according to guidelines and those who were not. Conclusion: The present PAD cohort was a high-risk sample with an unexpectedly high rate of deaths and vascular events. While physicians appear to focus on the treatment of individual risk factors, rates of comprehensive PAD management in line with guideline recommendations are still suboptimal. Factors contributing to the lacking difference between outcomes in the guideline-oriented and non-guideline-oriented groups may comprise low treatment intensity or other reasons for unsatisfactory effect of treatment, misclassification of events, and patient’s noncompliance with therapy

The Sec1/Munc18 protein Vps45 regulates cellular levels of its SNARE binding partners Tlg2 and Snc2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Intracellular membrane trafficking pathways must be tightly regulated to ensure proper functioning of all eukaryotic cells. Central to membrane trafficking is the formation of specific SNARE (soluble N-ethylmeleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complexes between proteins on opposing lipid bilayers. The Sec1/Munc18 (SM) family of proteins play an essential role in SNARE-mediated membrane fusion, and like the SNAREs are conserved through evolution from yeast to humans. The SM protein Vps45 is required for the formation of yeast endosomal SNARE complexes and is thus essential for traffic through the endosomal system. Here we report that, in addition to its role in regulating SNARE complex assembly, Vps45 regulates cellular levels of its SNARE binding partners: the syntaxin Tlg2 and the v-SNARE Snc2: Cells lacking Vps45 have reduced cellular levels of Tlg2 and Snc2; and elevation of Vps45 levels results in concomitant increases in the levels of both Tlg2 and Snc2. As well as regulating traffic through the endosomal system, the Snc v-SNAREs are also required for exocytosis. Unlike most vps mutants, cells lacking Vps45 display multiple growth phenotypes. Here we report that these can be reversed by selectively restoring Snc2 levels in vps45 mutant cells. Our data indicate that as well as functioning as part of the machinery that controls SNARE complex assembly, Vps45 also plays a key role in determining the levels of its cognate SNARE proteins; another key factor in regulation of membrane traffic