Role of TGF-β1 haplotypes in the occurrence of myocardial infarction in young Italian patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene play an important role in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI), however no investigation has been conducted so far in young AMI patients.</p> <p>In this study, we evaluated the influence of TGF-β1 polymorphisms/haplotypes on the onset and progression of AMI in young Italian population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>201 cases and 201 controls were genotyped for three TGF-β1 polymorphisms (G-800A, C-509T and Leu10Pro). The main follow-up end-points (mean follow-up, 107 ± 49 months) were death, myocardial infarction or revascularization procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant risk factors were smoking (p < 10^-4), family history for coronary artery disease (p < 10^-4), hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.001) and hypertension (p = 0.002). The C-509T and Leu10Pro polymorphisms showed significant differences (p = 0.026 and p = 0.004) between cases and controls.</p> <p>The most common haplotypes revealed a possible protective effect (GCT, OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57–0.99, p = 0.042) and an increased risk of AMI (GTC, OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.13–2.02, p = 0.005), respectively.</p> <p>No statistical differences were observed in genotype distribution in the follow-up study between the two groups: 61 patients with subsequent events (13 deaths) and 108 without events.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even though our results need to be further confirmed in larger studies, this is the first study reporting on a possible role of TGFβ1 common haplotypes in the onset of AMI in young patients.</p

POLYETHYLENE AND BIODEGRADABLE STARCH-BASED MULCHING FILMS FOR USE IN MELON PRODUCTION IN THE WESTERN COAST OF SICILY

Plastic mulching is currently used in many areas of the world for growing warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, melons and water melons. The winter melon is widely grown in Sicily on about 6000 hectares. Plants are grown in the open field during the spring-summer months. In the last decades, mulching plastic films have enhanced winter melon early and total yields in Sicily. However, the disadvantage of polyethylene plastic mulches is that they have to be removed and disposed of after use. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable mulching films on yield, fruit size and quality of several winter melon genotypes. Sicilian landraces (‘Cartucciaro’, ‘Recattivo’, ‘Purceddu’ L9’, and ‘Purceddu di Alcamo’) and commercial cultivars (Helios and Tendral) were compared. Both mulching films positively influenced plant growth and early flowering as compared to bare soil control. Generally, PE mulched plots gave higher early and total marketable yields followed by biodegradable Mater-BiTM mulched plots. Unmulched plots gave the lowest yield. However, the response to the mulching treatments varied among the genotypes tested. ‘Cartucciaro’, ‘Helios’, and ‘Recattivo’ gave higher early yields as compared to other genotypes