Grape production, technological parameters, and stilbenic compounds as affected by lime-induced chlorosis

Vitis vinifera L. cv. Merlot clone R3, grafted on 3309 C (lime-susceptible) rootstock, was grown in pots on a noncalcareous and a calcareous soil. The aim of the experiment was to check the effect of lime stress conditions on chlorosis, grape yield, technological parameters and stilbene (resveratrol, piceid, piceatannol, ε-viniferin) concentrations in grapes. Lime-induced chlorosis decreased grape yield per plant to a very high extent, as a result of a reduction of cluster and berry size. Technological grape parameters such as soluble solids, pH, anthocyanins, increased under lime stress over the control, whilst titratable acidity was not affected. All the tested stilbenes, being stress compounds, increased in the grapes of chlorotic vines.

Role of image-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the management of patients with splenic metastasis

BACKGROUND: Splenic metastases are very rare and are mostly diagnosed at the terminal phase of the disease or at the time of autopsy. The cytohistological diagnosis, when done, is made prevalently by splenectomy. Reports on splenic percutaneous biopsies in the diagnosis of splenic metastasis are fragmentary and very poor. The aims of this study are to analyse retrospectively the accuracy, safety and the clinical impact of ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (UG-FNAB) in patients with suspected splenic metastasis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 1800 percutaneous abdominal biopsies performed at our institute during the period from 1993 to 2003 was done and 160 patients that underwent splenic biopsy were found. Among these 160 patients, 12 cases with the final diagnosis of solitary splenic metastases were encountered and they form the basis of this report. The biopsies were performed under US guidance using a 22-gauge Chiba needle. All the patients underwent laboratory tests, CT examination of the abdomen and chest, US examination of abdomen and pelvis. RESULTS: There were 5 women and 7 men, median age 65 years (range 48–80). Eight patients had a known primary cancer at the time of the diagnosis of splenic metastasis: 3 had breast adenocarcinoma, 2 colon adenocarcinoma, 2 melanoma and 1 lung adenocarcinoma. Four patients were undiagnosed at the time of the appearance of splenic metastasis and subsequent investigations showed adenocarcinoma of the lung in 2 patients and colon adenocarcinoma in the remaining 2. There was a complete correspondence between the US and Computed Tomography (CT) in detecting focal lesions of the spleen. The splenic biopsies allowed a cytological diagnosis of splenic metastasis in all the 12 patients and changed clinical management in all cases. Reviewing the 160 patients that underwent UG-FNAB of the spleen we found no complications related to the biopsies. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that UG-FNAB is a successful technique for diagnosis of splenic metastasis allowing an adequate treatment of the affected patients

Efeitos da temperatura e do período de molhamento foliar na infecção da soja por Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a interação do período de molhamento foliar com diferentes temperaturas na infecção de folhas por Sclerotinia sclerotiorum em soja

Preliminary results on the effect of cluster thinning on stilbene concentration and antioxidant capacity of Vitis vinifera L. 'Barbera' wine

Research Note

Efeito multivariado dos fatores físico-químicos de solos na sobrevivência de Trichoderma sp. e no parasitismo de escleródios de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Este trabalho objetivou elucidar fatores responsáveis pela sobrevivência de Trichoderma sp. em solos de diferentes texturas e níveis de fertilidade, e que afetam o parasitismo de escleródios de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Patient controlled pressure support ventilation

Introduction Pressure support ventilation is mostly used in weaning from mechanical ventilaton in acute respiratory failure. There are no data regarding the optimal level of assistance for each patient in different clinical conditions. We approach a new method that allows patients to set their own PSV level by a remote control connected to the ventilator. Materials and methods In 9 awake intubated patients (age 57 \ub1 17 years, BMI 24 \ub1 3 kg/m2, PaO2/FiO2 283 \ub1 51, Ramsey 1.9 \ub1 0.4) we measured the breathing pattern (VT, RR), the work of breathing (WOB J/min, estimated from a modified Campbell diagram [1]) and the dyspnea sensation using the Borg visual scale [2]. Patients were studied at three fixed levels of PSV (5-15-25 cmH2O). At the end of each step we gave the patient the possibility to change the level of PSV using the remote control. Patients were previously instructed by attendant physician about the use of the remote control. Results See Table and Figure. It appears that increasing the pressure support level, the patient work of breathing decreases while the Borg dyspnea scale shows no significant differences. Figure. The dyspnea sensation when patient is allowed to set the pressure support level. Conclusions Patient controlled PSV could be a useful technique in ventilatory management of critically ill awake patients