Root rot diseases of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L) as affected by defloliation intensity

The aim of this work was to study the effect of sugar beet re-growth after water stress defoliation on root rots of three cultivars (Europa, Rival Corsica), which were spring sown in Thessaly, central Greece, for two growing seasons (2003-04). At the beginning of July, sugar beets were subjected to water deficit with irrigation withholding. A month later, three defoliation levels (control - C, moderate - MD, severe - SD) and irrigation were applied. Thus, sugar beets were forced to re-grow and three harvests (15, 30 and 40 days after defoliation - DAD) were conducted. Rotted roots per hectare were counted and pathogens were identified. Data were analyzed as a four-factor randomized complete block design with years, defoliation levels, sampling times and cultivars as main factors. The number of rotted roots was increased with the defoliation level and was significantly higher for SD sugar beets (3748 roots ha–1). No significant differences were found between C and MD treatments (1543 and 2116 roots ha–1, respectively). Rival was the most susceptible cultivar to root rots. Sugar beets were more susceptible to rotting 15 and 40 DAD (2778 and 2998 roots ha–1). The causal agents of root rots were the fungi, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer, Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani

Epidemiology of interstitial lung diseases in Greece

SummaryIntroductionFew data are available on the epidemiology of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), especially after the current classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. The aim of this study is to provide data on the epidemiology of ILDs in Greece, under the ATS/ERS international consensus.MethodsDepartments of Pneumonology were contacted and asked to complete a questionnaire for every case of ILD that was alive on 2004 as well as for every new case from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2004. Questions on the patients' demographic data, the exact diagnosis and the procedures used to establish the diagnosis were included. Centers covering about 60% of the Greek population have been analyzed.ResultsA total of 967 cases have been registered. The estimated prevalence of ILDs is 17.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The estimated annual incidence of ILDs is 4.63 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The most frequent disease is sarcoidosis (34.1%), followed in decreasing order by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (19.5%), ILD associated with collagen vascular diseases (12.4%), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (5.3%), histiocytosis (3.8%), and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (2.6%). Unclassified ILD or not otherwise specified accounted for the 8.5% of prevalent cases.ConclusionsThese data suggest that sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are the most frequent ILDs in our population. In comparison with the few previous reports, interesting dissimilarities have been observed

Effect of defoliation on leaf physiology of sugar beet cultivars subjected to water stress and re-watering

Abstract Water stress causes defoliation, which can reduce yield and root quality of sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.) through altered gas exchange characteristics of the leaves. In a two-year experiment, three sugar beet cultivars (Europa, Rival and Corsica) were subjected to three defoliation levels (control-C, moderate-MD, severe-SD) and re-watering after their exposition to drought for a month. Leaf physiological traits including net photosynthesis (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g s ), intracellular CO 2 (C i ), water use efficiency (WUE L -A/E and WUE i -A/g s ), leaf N concentration, petiole NO 3 -N concentration, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water potential (WP) and leaf water content (LWC), were determined before defoliation and 15, 30 and 40 days after defoliation (DAD). On contrary to previous reports, water-stressed cultivars differed significantly in their leaf physiology; the late-season cultivar Corsica had the lowest E and g s values without any significant reduction in A. Thus, Corsica was the most water-conservative cultivar. Re-watering rapidly restored leaf physiology but a gradual decline, with the progress of DAD, was evident for A, E, g s and C i . After re-growth, cultivars differed only in WP and LWC with Europa, the early-harvested cultivar, to have the highest values. Thus, the better response (higher yield increase and lower root quality degradation) of Corsica to re-watering and the subsequent re-growth, as reported b

Alterations of Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase activity in patients suffering from asthma attacks

Background. Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may play an important role in the development and progression of bronchial asthma. However, the role of blood antioxidants especially in asthma exacerbation has not been fully discussed. Objective. This study examines a part of the intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism in asthmatic patients admitted to hospital due to severe exacerbation of their disease. Methods. Peripheral blood Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity was measured in 38 patients (33 men - 5 women, with a mean age of 56±2.8 yrs), using a colorimetric method. On the days of admission and discharge the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the Partial arterial Oxygen pressure (PaO2) were recorded and correlated with SOD activity at the same time. Results. A statistically significant decrease of SOD activity was observed on the day of admission compared to SOD activity on the day of discharge (43.64±31.78 vs. 96.16±54.05 units/ml, p<0.001), suggesting the presence of oxidative stress during an asthma attack. A statistically significant correlation was observed between FEV1 on admission and SOD activity at the same time (r=0.57, p<0.001). Furthermore, SOD activity on admission was correlated with PaO2 on discharge (r=0.55, p<0.001), as well as SOD on discharge with PaO2 on discharge (r=0.53, p=0.001). Conclusions. Decreased systemic erythrocyte SOD activity was observed during asthma attacks. This activity was correlated with severity criteria such as FEV1 and PaO2. Therefore, it seems that measurement of SOD activity could be a useful tool in the evaluation of an asthma attack. The supplementary administration of antioxidants in the future needs further clarification

Exophthalmos as a First Manifestation of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Long-Term Follow-Up

Small cell lung cancer is characterized by rapid growth and early metastasis. Despite its sensitivity to cytotoxic therapy, until now treatments have failed to control or cure this disease in most patients. Orbital metastases are a rare manifestation of systemic malignancies. Breast and lung cancers represent more than two thirds of the primary cancer sites. Metastases to the eye and orbit develop in approximately 0.7–12% of patients with lung cancer. Here, we report a rare case of exophthalmos as the first manifestation of a metastatic carcinoma due to small cell lung cancer, and a 6-months follow-up with complete exophthalmic response to chemotherapy

Epidemiologic trends in lung cancer over two decades in Northern Greece: an analysis of bronchoscopic data

Background and Aim. The relative frequency of histological subtypes of lung cancer in Europe has changed dramatically during the 20th century. The aim of this study was to explore the changing epidemiology of lung cancer in Northern Greece over the last two decades. Methods. From the extensive database of the Bronchoscopy Unit of the G. Papanicolaou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, we identified all patients with a histologic and/or cytologic report positive for lung cancer over two consecutive decades. Results. Between 1/1/1986 and 31/12/2005 we identified 9981 patients with specimens positive for lung cancer. A significant increase in mean patient age was observed during the second decade (64.8±9.4 vs. 62.1±8.9, p=0.001). Men developed lung cancer ten times more often than women. The predominant histological type was squamous cell cancer in males (4203 cases, 45.7%) and adenocarcinoma (418 cases, 52.6%) in females. The number of lung cancer cases was significantly higher during the second decade compared to the first decade (5766 cases [57.8%] vs. 4215 cases [42.2%], respectively, p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of squamous cell carcinoma in males in the second decade (2317 cases [44.1%] vs. 1886 cases [48.0%], p<0.001), and an increase in adenocarcinoma (1021 cases [19.4%] vs. 609 [11.6%], p<0.001). In females, the relative incidence of adenocarcinoma was decreased and that of squamous cell carcinoma was increased, but not significantly. There was no obvious change in the incidence of small cell lung cancer. Neoplastic lesions were most often located in the upper lobes. Conclusion. The number of lung cancer cases has increased in the last decade. Squamous lung cancer appears to be decreasing in men and increasing in women. Adenocarcinoma appears to be increasing in men and decreasing in women. There appears to be no change in small cell lung cancer. During the second decade there has been a significant decrease in the male: female ratio

Utilization and responsiveness of the asthma control test (ACT) at the initiation of therapy for patients with asthma: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to assess the responsiveness of the asthma control test (ACT) to detect changes at the initiation of therapy and its utilization in the initiation of asthma treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was designed as a randomized clinical trial conducted in a primary care setting. The subjects were asthma patients who had not received controller therapy for at least two months. The patients were randomized into two groups: The Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) group. Treatment in the SINA group was initiated at step1 when the ACT scores ≥ 20, step 2 when the score between16-19, and step 3 when the score < 16 began at step 3. The GINA group patients were started on step 2 when they had persistent asthma symptoms or step 3 when they had severely uncontrolled disease.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-five patients were analyzed in each group. The improvement in ACT score after treatment initiation was significantly higher when the SINA approach was used (2.9 in the SINA group compared to 1.7 in the GINA group (<it>p </it>= 0.04)). The improvement in FEV₁was 5.8% in the SINA group compared to 3.4% in the GINA group (<it>p </it>= 0.46). The number of patients who achieved asthma control at the follow-up visit and required no treatment adjustment was 33 (73.3%) in the SINA group and 27 (60%) in the GINA group (<it>p </it>= 0.0125).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ACT was responsive to change at the initiation of asthma treatment and was useful for the initiation of asthma treatment.</p> <p>Trial Registration number</p> <p><a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN31998214">ISRCTN31998214</a></p

Organic residue analysis shows sub-regional patterns in the use of pottery by Northern European hunter–gatherers

The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the spread of agriculture and pastoralism from the Near East. The adoption of pottery technology by hunter–gatherers in Northern and Eastern Europe does not fit this paradigm, and its role within these communities is so far unresolved. To investigate the motivations for hunter–gatherer pottery use, here, we present the systematic analysis of the contents of 528 early vessels from the Baltic Sea region, mostly dating to the late 6th–5th millennium cal BC, using molecular and isotopic characterization techniques. The results demonstrate clear sub-regional trends in the use of ceramics by hunter–gatherers; aquatic resources in the Eastern Baltic, non-ruminant animal fats in the Southeastern Baltic, and a more variable use, including ruminant animal products, in the Western Baltic, potentially including dairy. We found surprisingly little evidence for the use of ceramics for non-culinary activities, such as the production of resins. We attribute the emergence of these subregional cuisines to the diffusion of new culinary ideas afforded by the adoption of pottery, e.g. cooking and combining foods, but culturally contextualized and influenced by traditional practices

Chemical analysis of pottery demonstrates prehistoric origin for high-altitude alpine dairying

The European high Alps are internationally renowned for their dairy produce, which are of huge cultural and economic significance to the region. Although the recent history of alpine dairying has been well studied, virtually nothing is known regarding the origins of this practice. This is due to poor preservation of high altitude archaeological sites and the ephemeral nature of transhumance economic practices. Archaeologists have suggested that stone structures that appear around 3,000 years ago are associated with more intense seasonal occupation of the high Alps and perhaps the establishment of new economic strategies. Here, we report on organic residue analysis of small fragments of pottery sherds that are occasionally preserved both at these sites and earlier prehistoric rock-shelters. Based mainly on isotopic criteria, dairy lipids could only be identified on ceramics from the stone structures, which date to the Iron Age (ca. 3,000 - 2,500 BP), providing the earliest evidence of this practice in the high Alps. Dairy production in such a marginal environment implies a high degree of risk even by today’s standards. We postulate that this practice was driven by population increase and climate deterioration that put pressure on lowland agropastoral systems and the establishment of more extensive trade networks, leading to greater demand for highly nutritious and transportable dairy products