Improvement of cocktail tomato yield and consumer-oriented quality traits by potassium fertilization is driven by the cultivar.

BACKGROUND: The market for cocktail tomatoes is growing continuously, mainly because of their good taste. Titratable acids (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and dry matter (DM) contents correlate positively with good taste. So far, the impact of different potassium (K) applications on yield and consumer-oriented quality traits has not been comprehensively described for cultivars of smaller fruits. To fill this gap, we tested the effect of different K fertilization regimes on three cultivars of small-sized or cocktail tomatoes. RESULTS: A positive impact on quality parameters (TSS, TA, DM, color and firmness) was detected by raising the K fertilizer application for the cocktail tomato cultivars Primavera and Yellow Submarine. The cultivar Resi showed no response to fertilization, except for TSS and TA. Yield increased significantly by higher K application only in Primavera, the most productive cultivar. The K concentration in tomato rose with increasing K application. CONCLUSION: Because TSS and TA increased in all cultivars, whereas only one cultivar showed an increase in yield, the results of the present study emphasize the importance of the application of cultivar-specific mineral fertilizers on yield- and consumer-oriented quality traits. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Association of an impaired GH-IGF-I axis with cardiac wasting in patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) resistance is characterized by high GH levels but low levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) and, for patients with chronic disease, is associated with the development of cachexia. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether GH resistance is associated with changes in left ventricular (LV) mass (cardiac wasting) in patients with cancer. METHODS: We measured plasma IGF-I, GH, and GHBP in 159 women and 148 men with cancer (83% stage III/IV). Patients were grouped by tertile of echocardiographic LVmass/height2 (women, < 50, 50-61, > 61 g/m2; men, < 60, 60-74, > 74 g/m2) and by presence of wasting syndrome with unintentional weight loss (BMI < 24 kg/m2 and weight loss ≥ 5% in the prior 12 months). Repeat echocardiograms were obtained usually within 3-6 months for 85 patients. RESULTS: Patients in the lowest LVmass/height2 tertile had higher plasma GH (median (IQR) for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tertile women, 1.8 (0.9-4.2), 0.8 (0.2-2.2), 0.5 (0.3-1.6) ng/mL, p = 0.029; men, 2.1 (0.8-3.2), 0.6 (0.1-1.7), 0.7 (0.2-1.9) ng/mL, p = 0.003). Among women, lower LVmass was associated with higher plasma IGF-I (68 (48-116), 72 (48-95), 49 (35-76) ng/mL, p = 0.007), whereas such association did not exist for men. Patients with lower LVmass had lower log IGF-I/GH ratio (women, 1.60 ± 0.09, 2.02 ± 0.09, 1.88 ± 0.09, p = 0.004; men, 1.64 ± 0.09, 2.14 ± 0.11, 2.04 ± 0.11, p = 0.002). GHBP was not associated with LVmass. Patients with wasting syndrome with unintentional weight loss had higher plasma GH and GHBP, lower log IGF-I/GH ratio, and similar IGF-I. Overall, GHBP correlated inversely with log IGF-I/GH ratio (women, r = - 0.591, p < 0.001; men, r = - 0.575, p < 0.001). Additionally, higher baseline IGF-I was associated with a decline in LVmass during follow-up (r = - 0.318, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In advanced cancer, reduced LVmass is associated with increased plasma GH and reduced IGF-I/GH ratio, suggesting increasing GH resistance, especially for patients with wasting syndrome with unintentional weight loss. Higher baseline IGF-I was associated with a decrease in relative LVmass during follow-up.

Nutritional and Physiological Effects of Postharvest UV Radiation on Vegetables: A Review.

Effective ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been used as a postharvest technology to reduce decay, delay ripening, and delay senescence in crop products. In this review, the effects of UV radiation of different wavelengths and doses on physiological and phytochemical parameters in postharvest vegetables are discussed in summary, including appearance (color and texture), microbial load, respiration rate, enzymatic antioxidant system, and various bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds, carotenoids, chlorophylls, vitamins, glucosinolates, betalains, and antioxidant activities). In particular, postharvest UV radiation affects oxidative metabolism and increases the antioxidant activity of plant products, which could help delay yellowing and senescence of vegetables, trigger defense responses, and reduce decay and diseases. In some cases, irradiation stimulates the synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites that may improve the nutritional value of vegetables. The findings presented in this review are very useful and valuable for the preservation and improvement of the nutritional quality of vegetables after harvest. It will also provide scientific support for industrial and commercial applications of UV radiation in postharvest.

Cardiovascular health-related quality of life in cancer: a prospective study comparing the ESC HeartQoL and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

AIMS: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is highly relevant in cancer and often assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Cardiovascular HRQoL in cancer can be measured with the ESC HeartQoL questionnaire. We compared these instruments and examined their prognostic value. METHODS AND RESULTS: Summary scores for EORTC QLQ-C30 (0-100 points) and ESC HeartQoL (0-3 points) questionnaires were prospectively assessed in 290 patients with mostly advanced cancer (stage 3/4: 81%, 1-year mortality: 36%) and 50 healthy controls (similar age and sex). Additionally, physical function and activity assessments were performed. Both questionnaires demonstrated reduced HRQoL in patients with cancer versus controls (EORTC QLQ-C30: 67 ± 20 vs. 91 ± 11, p < 0.001; ESC HeartQoL: 1.8 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 0.4, p < 0.001). The instruments were strongly correlated with each other (summary scores [r = 0.76], physical [r = 0.81], and emotional subscales [r = 0.75, all p < 0.001]) and independently associated with all-cause mortality (best cut-offs: EORTC QLQ-C30 <82.69: hazard ratio [HR] 2.33, p = 0.004; ESC HeartQoL <1.50: HR 1.85, p = 0.004 - adjusted for sex, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], high-sensitivity troponin T, cancer stage/type), with no differences in the strength of the association by sex (p-interaction > 0.9). Combining both questionnaires identified three risk groups with highest mortality in patients below both cut-offs (vs. patients above both cut-offs: HR 3.60, p < 0.001). Patients with results below both cut-offs, showed higher NT-proBNP and reduced physical function and activity. CONCLUSIONS: The EORTC QLQ-C30 and ESC HeartQoL - assessing cancer and cardiovascular HRQoL - are both associated with increased mortality in cancer patients, with even greater stratification by combing both. Reduced HRQoL scores were associated with elevated cardiovascular biomarkers and decreased functional status.

Hand grip strength in patients with advanced cancer: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Hand grip strength (HGS) is a widely used functional test for the assessment of strength and functional status in patients with cancer, in particular with cancer cachexia. The aim was to prospectively evaluate the prognostic value of HGS in patients with mostly advanced cancer with and without cachexia and to establish reference values for a European-based population. METHODS: In this prospective study, 333 patients with cancer (85% stage III/IV) and 65 healthy controls of similar age and sex were enrolled. None of the study participants had significant cardiovascular disease or active infection at baseline. Repetitive HGS assessment was performed using a hand dynamometer to measure the maximal HGS (kilograms). Presence of cancer cachexia was defined when patients had ≥5% weight loss within 6 months or when body mass index was <20.0 kg/m2 with ≥2% weight loss (Fearon's criteria). Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to assess the relationship of maximal HGS to all-cause mortality and to determine cut-offs for HGS with the best predictive power. We also assessed associations with additional relevant clinical and functional outcome measures at baseline, including anthropometric measures, physical function (Karnofsky Performance Status and Eastern Cooperative of Oncology Group), physical activity (4-m gait speed test and 6-min walk test), patient-reported outcomes (EQ-5D-5L and Visual Analogue Scale appetite/pain) and nutrition status (Mini Nutritional Assessment). RESULTS: The mean age was 60 ± 14 years; 163 (51%) were female, and 148 (44%) had cachexia at baseline. Patients with cancer showed 18% lower HGS than healthy controls (31.2 ± 11.9 vs. 37.9 ± 11.6 kg, P < 0.001). Patients with cancer cachexia had 16% lower HGS than those without cachexia (28.3 ± 10.1 vs. 33.6 ± 12.3 kg, P < 0.001). Patients with cancer were followed for a mean of 17 months (range 6-50), and 182 (55%) patients died during follow-up (2-year mortality rate 53%) (95% confidence interval 48-59%). Reduced maximal HGS was associated with increased mortality (per -5 kg; hazard ratio [HR] 1.19; 1.10-1.28; P < 0.0001; independently of age, sex, cancer stage, cancer entity and presence of cachexia). HGS was also a predictor of mortality in patients with cachexia (per -5 kg; HR 1.20; 1.08-1.33; P = 0.001) and without cachexia (per -5 kg; HR 1.18; 1.04-1.34; P = 0.010). The cut-off for maximal HGS with the best predictive power for poor survival was <25.1 kg for females (sensitivity 54%, specificity 63%) and <40.2 kg for males (sensitivity 69%, specificity 68%). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced maximal HGS was associated with higher all-cause mortality, reduced overall functional status and decreased physical performance in patients with mostly advanced cancer. Similar results were found for patients with and without cancer cachexia.

The effect of potassium fertilization on the metabolite profile of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

The macronutrient potassium (K) has vital physiological functions in plants and its availability can strongly impact quality of crops like tomato. The impact of K nutrition on conventional tomato fruit quality parameters has been described several times, but detailed investigations on the effect of K supply on the fruit metabolite profile are still rare. To fill this gap, we investigated the influence of K fertilization on the metabolite profile of tomato fruits. For this purpose, an outdoor pot experiment with three different cocktail tomato cultivars was performed. A fertilization regimen with five K levels was applied, ranging from deficiency to sufficient supply. Fruit samples were analyzed by untargeted GC×GC-MS to cover the primary metabolite profile as well as some secondary metabolites. As verified using ICP-OES, fruit K content was highly proportional to the supplied amount of K. At the metabolite profile level, the most prominent and cultivar-independent effect of increased K fertilization was the rise of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. Further effects were more cultivar-specific, for example an increase of the mobile nitrogen pool (e.g. amines like putrescine and amides like asparagine), changes in the profile of minor sugars (especially disaccharides) as well as higher levels of some secondary metabolites. Pronounced response patterns were mainly observed in the cultivars Primavera and Yellow Submarine that were recently characterized as higher yielding, demanding a stronger consideration of cultivar differences in future studies.