Estimation of leaf area index through hemispherical photography and leaf collection in apple and cherry trees

16 p.To validate the use of hemispherical photography as a method of determining leaf area index (LAI), on apple and cherry trees, an essay was carried out on 2 orchards in the VII Region, Chile, during 2002-2004 seasons. For apples, cultivars Royal Gala, Red Chief, Braeburn and Fuji, planted in 1990-1992 on seedling rootstock, (740 to 1250 plants/ha) were used. Cherry cultivars were: Lapins, Summit, Van and Bing, planted in 1997 on Mahaleb rootstock, (800 to 1000 plants/ha). For both species, 5 trees per cultivar were photographed, taking 4 pictures per tree during 2002/2003 season and 15 – 24 pictures per tree during 2003/2004 season, depending on planting density. A digital camera was used, which was adapted with a hemispheric lens (fisheye). In order to validate the ability of the software to estimate the actual values, the same trees were defoliated by hand, and real LAI was calculated. Correlation analyses were made between real and estimated LAI. The degree of accuracy reached by hemispherical photography was very low for apples, during the first season (r=0.27). However, during 2003/2004 season an important increase in the correlation was obtained (r=0.52), being the amount of pictures taken per tree highly determinant on this fact. For cherry trees, the correlation coefficients varied between 0.73 and 0.84, and the amount of pictures per tree seemed to be less determining in the estimation of the LAI

Chromosome territories, X;Y translocation and Premature Ovarian Failure: is there a relationship?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a secondary hypergonadotrophic amenorrhea occurring before the age of 40 and affecting 1-3% of females. Chromosome anomalies account for 6-8% of POF cases, but only few cases are associated with translocations involving X and Y chromosomes.</p> <p>This study shows the cytogenetic and molecular analysis of a POF patient came to our attention as she developed a left ovary choriocarcinoma at the age of 10 and at 14 years of age she presented secondary amenorrhea with elevated levels of gonadotropins.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Breakpoint position on X and Y chromosomes was investigated using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) with a panel of specific BAC probes, microsatellite analysis and evaluation of copy number changes and loss of heterozigosity by Affymetrix^®GeneChip platform (Santa Clara, CA, USA). Patient's karyotype resulted 46, X, der(Y)t(X;Y)(q13.1;q11.223). X inactivation study was assessed by RBA banding and showed preferential inactivation of derivative chromosome. The reciprocal spatial disposition of sexual chromosome territories was investigated using whole chromosome painting and centromeres probes: patient's results didn't show a significant difference in comparison to normal controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The peculiar clinical case come to our attention highlighted the complexity of POF aetiology and of the translocation event, even if our results seem to exclude any effect on nuclear organisation. POF phenotype could be partially explained by skewed X chromosome inactivation that influences gene expression.</p

Prediccion y estrategias de control de Bitter Pit frente a diversas cargas frutales y numero de aplicaciones de Ca en manzanos cv. Braeburn

Resumen (Spanish, English)El bitter pit (BP), vinculado a déficit de calcio en el fruto, requiere ser predicho y controlado. Estudios recientes demuestran que la infiltración de fruta al vacío con Mg (IMG) en pre-cosecha, predice adecuadamente el BP. Para que el sistema sea útil para la industria, debe definirse el número de aplicaciones de Ca necesarias para reducir el BP frente a diversos grados de incidencia probable del desorden. Para determinar las estrategias de control una vez establecida la incidencia potencial de BP, se usaron plantas del cv Braeburn/Franco plantadas en 1993, de un huerto comercial de la comuna de San Clemente (35º 33’ 11,8’’ Lat. Sur ). Se establecieron árboles con diferentes potenciales de incidencia de BP (baja, media o alta; mediante alteración de la carga frutal (CF) con raleo manual el 25/11 (57 ddpf), para dejar 1 fruto/3 dardos (carga baja: CB = 55 frutos/árbol), 1 fruto/dardo (carga media: CM = 70 frutos/árbol) ó 2 frutos/dardo (carga alta CA = 140 frutos/árbol); respectivamente. Cada árbol con CB, CM ó CA recibió uno de los 3 tratamientos siguientes: a) sin Ca adicional durante la temporada (control), b) 2 aplicaciones al 0,5 % de CaCl2 cada 10 días (aporte medio) con un mojamiento de 1500 l/há., ó c) 4 aplicaciones al 0,5 % cada 5 días (aporte alto) con el mismo mojamiento. La incidencia probable de BP, se estableció con IMG 40 d pre-cosecha, tomando 4 frutos/planta. Para conocer el efecto de las aplicaciones de Ca, se tomó una 2º muestra de frutos a la cosecha. Ambos muestreos, 40 d pre-cosecha y cosecha, fueron correlacionados con los niveles de BP real obtenidos después de almacenaje convencional de 90 d (0 ºC y H.R. 98 %) más 10 d a 18 - 22 ºC. Los resultados demostraron que no existe interacción carga frutal y número de aplicaciones de Ca en la predicción de incidencia de BP (%) 40 d pre-cosecha y cosecha. Los factores individuales son significativos; al comparar el número de aplicaciones de Ca, existieron diferencias entre 0 vs 2 ó 4 aplicaciones de Ca, estas diferencias persisten al comparar 2 vs 4 aplicaciones. La capacidad de predicción de bitter pit tiende a aumentar al aumentar la carga frutal, al mismo tiempo la incidencia de bitter pit disminuye al aumentar la carga frutal, este comportamiento es semejante en la incidencia de bitter pit potencial a cosecha y la incidencia de bitter pit real

Disease Reactivation after Fingolimod Discontinuation in Pregnant Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Recent studies estimated an incidence of 4-25% of disease rebound after withdrawal of fingolimod (FTY) for any reason, but specific data on disease reactivation after FTY withdrawal due to pregnancy are limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency and predictors of disease reactivation in patients who stopped FTY for pregnancy. A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted in four Italian MS centres in 2013-2019. Both planned and unplanned pregnancies were included. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) was calculated before FTY treatment, during FTY treatment, during pregnancy and during the year after delivery. In total, 27 patients (mean age 29 years) were included. The ARR 1 year before FTY treatment was 1.3. Patients were exposed to FTY for a median of 2.9 years. The ARR was 0.04 during the last year before conception (p &lt; 0.001 compared with the ARR before FTY treatment). Eleven patients became pregnant after a mean of 88 days following FTY discontinuation, whereas 16 patients stopped FTY after pregnancy confirmation. Relapses were observed in 22% of patients during pregnancy and in 44% in the postpartum period. ARR increased both during pregnancy (0.49; p = 0.027) and in the first year after delivery (0.67; p &lt; 0.001) compared to the last year before pregnancy. Compared with radiological assessment before pregnancy, more patients showed new or enlarging T2 lesions (63% vs 30%; p = 0.02) and gadolinium-enhancing lesions (44% vs 0; p = 0.0001) on brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Relapses during pregnancy were the only significant predictor for postpartum relapses (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.11-3.1). One case of spontaneous abortion and no cases of abnormal foetal development were observed. Despite adequate and prolonged control of disease activity, women who discontinue FTY because of pregnancy are at risk for disease reactivation. In patients who relapsed during pregnancy, the initiation of high-efficacy disease modifying drugs (DMDs) soon after delivery is advisable to prevent postpartum relapses

Osservatorio Territoriale droga e tossicodipendenze. Il fenomeno delle dipendenze sul territorio della ASL MI 2. Anno 2007 - VIII Rapporto

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of the Local Healthcare Service-Mi 2, Province of Milan.L\u27analisi del fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della Azienda Sanitaria Locale Provincia di Milano Due rappresenta l\u27ottavo rapporto pubblicato dall\u27OTDT del Dipartimento delle Dipendenze. Come avviene da anni, le analisi e gli approfondimenti contenuti contribuiranno in modo importante a rendere questo strumento utile alla programmazione territoriale di settore e al sistema di controllo di gestione aziendale. La maggior parte delle analisi epidemiologiche e tutti gli aspetti non convenzionali ed innovativi sono stati possibili grazie alla collaborazione con il CNR di Pisa, che ringrazio per l\u27impegno personale dei suoi esperti anche al di l? dei compiti definiti. Devo segnalare con piacere l\u27ampia partecipazione di operatori delle varie Unit? Operative del Dipartimento alla riflessione e poi alla stesura del rapporto. Non voglio entrare nel merito della illustrazione dei capitoli del rapporto e mi limito ad alcune considerazioni. Il rapporto, basato sui dati 2006 con alcune importanti escursioni nel 2007, appare veramente completo. Nell\u27invitare il lettore al diretto approfondimento dei suoi contenuti, mi limito a sottolineare alcuni elementi rappresentativi dell\u27evolvere del fenomeno sul territorio. Aumentano ancora i soggetti in cura alle UO SerT per uso di cocaina: tra i nuovi utenti, questi superano oramai il 50% e sopravanzano i nuovi utenti da eroina del 20% circa. L\u27impatto dei servizi alcologici sul territorio ? sempre pi? evidente, con un progressivo incremento dell\u27utenza in carico. Queste informazioni vanno per? lette alla luce delle stime di prevalenza, condotte anche quest\u27anno, che confermano una forte presenza di consumatori problematici di alcol, eroina e cocaina sul territorio della ASL MI2 e alla luce delle indagini di popolazione condotte dal CNR, qui pubblicate in forma di confronto tra la nostra zona e le tendenze regionali e nazionali. Anche queste indagini, ricche di informazioni e suggestioni, confermano che tra la popolazione generale e giovanile i consumi di sostanze sia legali che illegali sono diffusi e preoccupanti e meritano l\u27attenzione dei programmatori di politiche sanitarie e di educazione alla salute. Il lettore potr? farsi una idea della complessit? dei fenomeni di consumo, abuso e dipendenza, e delle loro relazioni intrinseche ed esterne. L\u27analisi ? organizzata dalla valutazione delle tendenze dei fenomeni sul territorio fino agli interventi di prevenzione cura e riabilitazione. Questo continuum rappresenta la chiave per affrontare con una visione realistica il "che fare". Il rapporto illustra chiaramente quanto "si faccia" nel territorio della ASL MI2 e richiama tutti i soggetti istituzionali a concorrere alla tutela dei cittadini con problemi di abuso e dipendenza da sostanze o comportamenti additivi. L\u27Osservatorio ha raggiunto un elevato standard di servizio utile per rappresentare la base per la redazione del Piano annuale di programmazione del Dipartimento recepito ampiamente nel fondamentale atto di programmazione e coordinamento dei servizi sanitari e socio sanitari curato dalla Azienda Sanitaria Locale. L\u27ampio spazio dedicato alle "regole" regionali e alla riorganizzazione della direzione sociale della ASL giunge in un momento delicato. Mentre scrivo inizia la fase applicativa della delibera di giunta regionale n. 5509 del 10 ottobre 2007 che accelera l\u27applicazione di alcuni principi cardine della filosofia regionale per il settore e i servizi accreditati. Ebbene ai professionisti dei servizi spetta attestare, con l\u27impegno e la competenza, il sostegno alle pi? moderne prassi di lettura dei fenomeni, il supporto operativo ad avanzate procedure istituzionali e l\u27intervento preventivo e clinico. Dott. Prof. Alfio Lucchini Direttore del Dipartimento tecnico funzionale delle Dipendenz

Osservatorio territoriale droga e tossicodipendenze. Il fenomeno delle dipendenze sul territorio della ASL MI 2. Anno 2008- IX Rapporto

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of the Local Healthcare Service-Mi 2, Province of MilanIl report analizza il fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della ASL Milano 2. La descrizione del fenomeno si sviluppa intorno all\u27analisi degli indicatori individuati dall\u27Osservatorio Europeo delle Dipendenze di Lisbona (OEDT): 1-uso di sostanze nella popolazione generale (questo indicatore va a rilevare i comportamenti nei confronti di alcol e sostanze psicoattive da parte della popolazione generale); 2-prevalenza d\u27uso problematico delle sostanze psicoattive; 3-domanda di trattamento degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 4-mortalit? degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 5-malattie infettive. Altri due importanti indicatori che si stanno sviluppando, e che vengono qui illustrati, sono l\u27analisi delle Schede di Dimissione Ospedaliera (SDO) e gli indicatori relativi alle conseguenza sociali dell\u27uso di droghe (criminalit? droga correlata). Inoltre sono state applicate diverse metodologie standard di stima sia per quantificare la quota parte sconosciuta di utilizzatori di sostanze che non afferiscono ai servizi, sia per identificarne alcune caratteristiche

Overall mortality in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema related to systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVES: This multicentre study aimed to investigate the overall mortality of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to compare CPFE-SSc characteristics with those of other SSc subtypes (with interstitial lung disease-ILD, emphysema or neither). METHODS: Chest CTs, anamnestic data, immunological profile and pulmonary function tests of patients with SSc were retrospectively collected. Each chest CT underwent a semiquantitative assessment blindly performed by three radiologists. Patients were clustered in four groups: SSc-CPFE, SSc-ILD, SSc-emphysema and other-SSc (without ILD nor emphysema). The overall mortality of these groups was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the stratified log-rank test; Kruskal-Wallis test, t-Student test and χ² test assessed the differences between groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We enrolled 470 patients (1959 patient-year); 15.5 % (73/470) died during the follow-up. Compared with the SSc-ILD and other-SSc, in SSc-CPFE there was a higher prevalence of males, lower anticentromere antibodies prevalence and a more reduced pulmonary function (p<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrates a significantly worse survival in patients with SSc-CPFE (HR vs SSc-ILD, vs SSc-emphysema and vs other-SSc, respectively 1.6 (CI 0.5 to 5.2), 1.6 (CI 0.7 to 3.8) and 2.8 (CI 1.2 to 6.6). CONCLUSIONS: CPFE increases the mortality risk in SSc along with a highly impaired lung function. These findings strengthen the importance to take into account emphysema in patients with SSc with ILD

Predictors of DAPSA Response in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Treated with Apremilast in a Retrospective Observational Multi-Centric Study (2023-02-07)

Background: To date, only a few real-world-setting studies evaluated apremilast effectiveness in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The aims of this retrospective observational study are to report long-term Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) response of apremilast in PsA patients and to analyze the predictors of clinical response. Methods: All PsA consecutive patients treated with apremilast in fifteen Italian rheumatological referral centers were enrolled. Anamnestic data, treatment history, and PsA disease activity (DAPSA) at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months were recorded. The Mann–Whitney test and chi-squared tests assessed the differences between independent groups, whereas the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test assessed the differences between dependent samples. Logistic regressions verified if there were factors associated with achievement of DAPSA low disease activity or remission at 6 and 12 months. Results: DAPSA low disease activity or remission rates at 6 and 12 months were observed, respectively, in 42.7% (n = 125) and 54.9% (n = 161) patients. Baseline DAPSA was inversely associated with the odds of achieving low disease activity or remission at 6 months (odds ratio (OR) 0.841, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.804–0.879; p &lt; 0.01) and at 12 months (OR 0.911, 95% CI 0.883–0.939; p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Almost half of the PsA patients receiving apremilast achieved DAPSA low disease activity or remission at 6 and 12 months. The only factor associated with achievement of low disease activity or remission at both 6 and 12 months was baseline DAPSA