Effects of granulated baits on meso and macrofauna in soybean soil system.

Studies were done to see the effects of five toxic baits based on metaldehyde and/or carbaryl on the taxonomic composition of soil meso and macrofauna, and determined the density of beneficial organisms in soybean under no tillage. Six treatments were tested and soil monoliths were taken before application and at 45 and 75 days after application (DAA). Before application, 1601 individuals were recorded, belonging 1086 to mesofauna and 515 to macrofauna. In soil mesofauna such as Annelida: Enchytraeidae (44%), Nematoda (33%) and Arthropoda (23%) were found. In the macrofauna Arthropoda 93% and Annelida: Oligochaeta, Megadrilli 7% were observed. No differences were observed among the treatments (p>0.05) in the total mesofauna density, at 45 and 75 DAA. The density of enchytraeids, mites, collembolans and symphylids showed no differences at45 and 75 DAA (p > 0.05). The total macrofauna density showed differences (p < 0.05) at 45 and 75 DAA. The highest density was obtained with 4 kg ha(-1) MataBibos Acay at 45 and 75 DAA. Earthworm and diplopod densities at45 and 75 DAA showed no differences (p>0.05). The diversity of meso and macrofauna was not affected at 45 and 75 DAA. Bait application did not affect either the abundance or the diversity of soil beneficial invertebrates.

Bicuspid aortic valve in competitive athletes.

AIM: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac condition. The presence of BAV in non-elite athletes has been poorly investigated; it is usually asymptomatic until valvular stenosis, regurgitation or other vascular alterations are evident. DESIGN: Over a three-year period, 2273 competitive athletes were consecutively investigated with transthoracic echocardiography. The traditional parameters, the aortic root dimensions at four levels and the systolic and diastolic flow of aortic valve, were studied with continuous Doppler according to the echo guidelines. SETTING: The study protocol included all the non-elite athletes investigated for the first evaluation to obtain eligibility. PATIENTS: 2273 competitive athletes aged 8-60 years from several sports and regularly trained were evaluated with anamnesis, clinical check-up and echocardiography in order to exclude subjects with systemic or congenital heart disease. RESULTS: BAV was diagnosed in 58 athletes (2.5%). Of these, nine had normal valvular function, 47 had abnormal valvular function with mild-moderate aortic regurgitation, and two had moderate stenosis. Aortic root dimensions at all levels were significantly greater in athletes with BAV than in athletes with a normal tricuspid valve. No relation was found with age, body surface area, aortic regurgitation or years of training. CONCLUSIONS: BAV is a relatively common congenital cardiac disease in athletes and commonly asymptomatic for a long time. This study suggests the usefulness of evaluating young athletes using echocardiography at least once when they start their sporting activity.

Top-down approach from satellite to terrestrial rover application for environmental monitoring of landfills.

This paper describes a methodology to perform chemical analyses in landfill areas by integrating multisource geomatic data. We used a top-down approach to identify Environmental Point of Interest (EPI) based on very high-resolution satellite data (Pleiades and WorldView 2) and on in situ thermal and photogrammetric surveys. Change detection techniques and geostatistical analysis supported the chemical survey, undertaken using an accumulation chamber and an RIIA, an unmanned ground vehicle developed by CNR IIA, equipped with a multiparameter sensor platform for environmental monitoring. Such an approach improves site characterization, identifying the key environmental points of interest where it is necessary to perform detailed chemical analyses.

RAS genes influence exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophy: an elite athletes study.

PURPOSE: The association of ACE I/D polymorphism with changes in LV mass in response to physical training has been observed, but no association has been found with AT1R A1166C polymorphism. We investigated the ACE I/D, AT1R A1166C, and AT1R CA microsatellite polymorphisms genotype distribution in elite athletes and whether the presence of AT1R C1166 variant, in addition to ACE D allele affects the training-induced LV mass alterations in elite trained athletes. METHODS: The study population comprised 28 healthy players recruited from an Italian elite male soccer team and 155 healthy male subjects. LV mass, LV mass adjusted for body surface area, septal thickness, posterior wall, end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular dimension, and ejection fraction were determined by echocardiography in pretrained period, at rest and 7 months later during the training. All subjects were genotyped for ACE I/D, AT1R A1166C, and CA microsatellite polymorphisms. RESULTS: Training induced an LV mass increase in all but six athletes. The percentage of athletes in whom an increase of LV mass was found after training was statistically different in relation to the ACE D allele: no increase was observed in three of 24 D allele carriers and in three of four II genotype players (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02). As AT1R is concerned, no increase was observed in 4 of 15 C allele carriers and in 2 of 13 AA genotype athletes (Fisher's exact test, P > 0.05). The contemporary presence of ACE D and AT1R C allele did not affect the changes after training. No difference has been observed in the CA microsatellite marker allele frequencies between athletes and controls (P = 0.46). CONCLUSION: In this study, we provide the evidence that soccer play does not select athletes on genotype basis. Training-induced LV mass changes in male elite athletes are significantly associated with the presence of ACE D allele, but not of AT1R C allele.

Bone loss in perimenopausal women: a longitudinal study.

A longitudinal evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD) and metabolism was performed in premenopausal women. During the 2-year observation period, the menstrual pattern, plasma estradiol and FSH levels as well as the values of bone markers and BMD did not show any significant modification in a group of eumenorrhoic women (n = 37). Conversely, in age-matched oligomenorrhoic women (n = 37) a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the cycle length with a concomitant significant (P < 0.05) increase in circulating plasma FSH and parallel decrease of plasma estradiol levels (P < 0.05) was evident. In this group a significant (P < 0.05) increase in both urinary excretion of OH-P/Cr and plasma BGP levels paralleled a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in radial BMD. These data suggest that premenopausal impairment of ovarian function can lead to a bone loss in a significant proportion of women in which prevention should be considered before menopause.

[The effects of training on skeletal and cardiac muscle mass in professional soccer players]. / Effetti dell'allenamento sulla massa muscolare scheletrica e cardiaca in calciatori professionisti.

Ongoing physical exercise is able to increase skeletal and cardiac muscle mass. Echocardiography and body impedance analysis permit non-invasive evaluation of these two parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of training and detraining on the heart and skeletal muscles of professional soccer players. Twenty-one professional athletes (average age 24 +/- 3.5 years) were evaluated during five different phases of their athletic training and compared with 21 age- and height-matched healthy, non-obese sedentary subjects. All subjects underwent measurement of body mass distribution by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis and of left ventricular mass by means of echocardiography. The control group had lower values of lean and cellular body mass, as well as lower left ventricular mass than the professional athletes. Over the 13-month study period, the athletes showed no substantial modifications in fat and muscle mass parameters. Instead, left ventricular mass values increased during the playing season, evidencing physiological hypertrophy after 6 months of competitive activity. No subsequent increases were observed over the next 2 months, and after detraining, left ventricular mass returned to baseline values. We thus conclude that exercise training brings about changes in cardiac mass without producing parallel changes in skeletal muscular mass.

Ipriflavone prevents the bone mass reduction in premenopausal women treated with gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonists.

In the present study we assessed the effects of ipriflavone in the prevention of increased bone turnover and the rapid bone loss that follows medical induced hypogonadism caused by the administration of a gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A). In a double blind, placebo-controlled study, ipriflavone (600 mg/day, tdd (three divided doses)) or identical placebo tablets were given with 500 mg/day of calcium to patients treated with 3.75 mg leuproreline acetate every 30 days, for 6 months. In placebo-treated subjects (n = 39), urinary hydroxyproline excretion and plasma bone GLA protein levels showed a substantial (P < 0.01) increase, while spine bone density and total body bone density significantly (P < 0.01) decreased after 3 and 6 months of GnRH-A administration. Conversely, in ipriflavone treated group (n = 39), no significant difference in bone markers and bone density was evidenced. These data indicate that ipriflavone can restrain the bone remodeling processes and prevent the rapid bone loss that follows medical induced hypogonadism. Thus, ipriflavone administration can be of value in the prevention of osteopenia in women treated with GnRH-A.