Italian guidelines for primary headaches: 2012 revised version

The first edition of the Italian diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for primary headaches in adults was published in J Headache Pain 2(Suppl. 1):105–190 (2001). Ten years later, the guideline committee of the Italian Society for the Study of Headaches (SISC) decided it was time to update therapeutic guidelines. A literature search was carried out on Medline database, and all articles on primary headache treatments in English, German, French and Italian published from February 2001 to December 2011 were taken into account. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) and meta-analyses were analysed for each drug. If RCT were lacking, open studies and case series were also examined. According to the previous edition, four levels of recommendation were defined on the basis of levels of evidence, scientific strength of evidence and clinical effectiveness. Recommendations for symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of migraine and cluster headache were therefore revised with respect to previous 2001 guidelines and a section was dedicated to non-pharmacological treatment. This article reports a summary of the revised version published in extenso in an Italian version

Can closed substrate culture be an alternative for small-scale farmers?

8th International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates -- FEB 19-24, 2006 -- Agadir, MOROCCOWOS: 000250706700007Closed soilless culture systems have gained importance since they increase water and fertilizer use efficiency, and decrease environmental pollution; however, they require further monitoring of nutrient solution with regard to its elemental composition and potential for infection with pathogens. Automatic systems have been used for circulation of nutrient solution in large commercial firms. Besides, use of technology is limited at small-scale farmers' level. We carried out demonstration and training studies with regard to developing a simple closed system for small-scale farmers in Tahtah Dam preservation area in Izmir. Eight growers who had no experience on soilless culture participated in this project. These growers developed their own systems under the supervision of the staff of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs with the collaboration of Ege University. They used locally available volcanic tuff as growing medium. Data collected from the most successful grower from a yield point of view were analysed in this study to expose the economical aspect of soilless vegetable production under small growers' conditions. Average total net return for pilot greenhouse (980 m(2)) was calculated as US $2727 and 217 in cucumber and in lettuce productions, respectively. Annual net return (cucumber + lettuce) varied between US$ 2009 and 3390.Int Soc Hort Sc

Comparison of the effectiveness of intravenous diltiazem and metoprolol in the management of rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) diltiazem and metoprolol in the management of rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: This prospective, randomised study was conducted in the Emergency Department of the Uludag University Medical Faculty Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. Forty AF patients with a ventricular rate ⩾120/minute and systolic blood pressure ⩾95 mm Hg were included and randomised to receive IV diltiazem 0.25 mg/kg (maximum 25 mg) or metoprolol 0.15 mg/kg (maximum 10 mg) over 2 minutes. Blood pressures and heart rate were measured at 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes. Successful treatment was defined as fall in ventricular rate to below 100/minute or decrease in ventricular rate by 20% or return to sinus rhythm. Results: Between January 2000 and July 2002, 40 patients (18 men, 22 women) met the inclusion criteria. Of these 20 (8 men, 12 women; mean age 60.2 years, range 31–82) received diltiazem and 20 (10 men, 10 women; mean age 64.0 years, range 31–82) received metoprolol. The success rate at 20 minutes for diltiazem and metoprolol was 90% (n = 18) and 80% (n = 16), respectively. The success rate at 2 minutes was higher in the diltiazem group. The percentage decrease in ventricular rate was higher in the diltiazem group at each time interval. None of the patients had hypotension. Conclusion: Both diltiazem and metoprolol were safe and effective for the management of rapid ventricular rate in AF. However, the rate control effect began earlier and the percentage decrease in ventricular rate was higher with diltiazem than with metoprolol