The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Determination of volume weight and water content of wood fiber substrates with different methods

Different methods for the investigation of physical properties of wood fiber substrates and one other organic substrate were compared. The parameters volume weight and volumetric water content are discussed. The results lead to important aspects for the application of these methods to investigate wood fiber and other organic substrates. With less work and less time involved the LUFA method provides similar results as the ISHS method for the detemination of the volume weight of organic substates. To evaluate the true conditions within a pot only the "pot-method" is suitable. An example for calculating the N-min-content of the substrate with volume weight obtained from different methods is given. To measure the volumetric water content on the base f a given volume weight either a modified ISHS method, the positive or the negative pressure method can be used. Close relationships have been obtained between the modified ISHS method and the other two methods at pF = 1.0, 1.7 and 2.0. A prerequisite for good results in measurments of substrate mixtures is a homogeneous material. Thus, independent of laboratory facilities investigation on substrat€s can be done at least for physical properties, where the ISHS method has not been introduced.Peer Reviewe

Einfluss der Wasserversorgung von Jungpflanzen angezogen in verschiedenen Substraten und Anzuchtsystemen auf biomorphologische und pflanzenphysiologische Merkmale bei Kopfsalat

Wood fiber substrates perform well for lettuce seedlings production in speedling trays compared to standard commercially used press pots as well as growing media on peat base. Wood fibers contain a high air volume to allow higher levels of water tension without danger of water saturation in the substrate. For optimum growth they require a "high" matric potential. For cultivation of lettuce seedlings irrigation pulses at phi = -30 to -50 hPa are recommended in ebb and flood cultivation systems. This will provide good rooting and the least amount of proline, an indicator for plant stress. Accumulation of proline in lettuce seedlings could only be proved under conditions of visible stress symptoms. Not only water tension, but also the substrates in raising systems influence the free content of proline. At phi = -200 hPa proline in lettuce seedlings cultivated in a peat based press pots were ca. 40 % lower compare to seedlings in a wood fiber substrate in speedling trays. The difference in proline content between well-watered and stressed seedlings was smaller than with tomato transplants. Also, the correlation between proline content of lettuce seedlings and critical water tension for irrigation pulses was lower than with tomato transplant. The lettuce plants performed well after transplanting and no differences derived from seedling-treatments were recorded.Peer Reviewe

Einfluss der Wasserversorgung auf biomorphologische und pflanzenphysiologische Merkmale von Tomatenjungpflanzen in Holzfasersubstrat

Recently the use of the mixture with wood fiber substrates for cultivation of vegetable transplants has received increasing attention. Several experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of water supply on bio-morphological and plant-physiological parameters of tomato transplants cultivated in pure wood fiber substrates in order to optimize cultivation. Optimal growth of transplants in these substrates requires high moisture levels. Comparing time-dependent with water-tension-dependent irrigation (φ = -30 hPa) showed that almost identical bio-morphological plant characteristics were achieved. In an ebb/flood system, irrigation pulses are recommended at φ = -30 hPa for better leaf morphological parameters and optimal root development of tomato transplants in a coarse substrate. Measurements of free proline in plants grown under these irrigation levels support these results. Critical water tension for irrigation pulses and content of free proline in tomato transplants were closely correlated (r(2)=0.95).Peer Reviewe

N-Immobilisierung in Holzfasersubstratenbei der Anzucht von Tomatenjungpflanze(Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. ex Farw.)

N-immobilization of wood fiber substrates during production of vegetable transplants was studied in greenhouse and under phytotron conditions. Tomato transplants were grown on white peat, unimpregnated and impregnated wood fiber with three N-levels respectively N-immobilization was calculated on the basis of N-balance including N-uptake by plants and residual mineral N in the substrates. in addition, the influence on net photosynthesis rate was examined. Higher N-immobilization was found by increasing of N-application rates. Net-N-immobilization in impregnated wood fiber substrates was comparable to white peat with 100 mg N l(-1). Tomato transplants, cultivated on impregnated wood fiber substrates, showed significantly higher growth compared to plants cultivated in unimpregnated wood fibers. With additional N-fertilization (level N3) the significance of N-immobilization in impregnated wood fiber substrates for the growth of tomato plants could be neglected. However, general recommendations for the amount of fertilizer to be added are difficult, because of strongly varying contents of mineral nutrients in the different substrate loads. Nevertheless, it is necessary to supply wood fiber substrates with nutrient solutions or fertilizer from the beginning of plant culture. Substrates without plants, exposed to the same conditions showed the same tendencies in N-immobilization, as substrates with plants.Peer Reviewe