Study of energetic properties of different tree organs in six Olea europaea L. cultivars.

Pruning is an important horticultural practice for the management of olive orchards (Olea europaea L.) that generates a considerable amount of residues every year. Olive orchards are increasingly expanding beyond the Mediterranean Basin to new growing Countries (Australia, California, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) and this will certainly lead to larger availability of pruning material. Currently, the interest in use of olive tree pruning residues for energy purposes is increasing but unfortunately, the information on the differences among organs of the tree, in terms of calorific value and ash content, is scarce. Another unknown aspect is the effect of cultivar vigour on dry matter partition among different tree organs, these are important traits to establish the energetic quality of pruning residues. The aim of this research was to study energetic aspects of six olive cultivars, largely grown in the Sicilian olive industry and characterized by different vigour. The trees taken into consideration in the study were selected in an experimental orchard to avoid any effect due to differences in environmental conditions and management. The energetic characteristics, calorific value and ash content, were evaluated for the various tree organs particularly shoots, leaves and branches; also root system was evaluated, although the roots can only be used once the trees are uprooted. Significant differences were observed in the calorific values among the different tree organs and the cultivars. Regarding the ash, shoots and leaves showed the highest content with respect to the other organs, thus causing a possible tendency in slagging with fouling and corrosion of boiler components.

Association of airborne particulate matter with pollen, fungal spores, and allergic symptoms in an arid urbanized area.

Studies focused on the seasonal distribution of pollen and spores in semiarid cities are scarce. At these sites, climate change potentiates the emission and transport of fine (PM10) to ultrafine particles (PM2.5), easily attached to pollen surfaces, causing allergen's release. This study examines the potential correlation of seasonal variations of pollen, fungal spores, PM10, and meteorological parameters with allergic reactions of 150 people living in a Sonoran desert city. We collected PM10, airborne pollen, and spores during a year. We also studied topsoil and road dust samples as potential PM-emission sources. We obtained dust-mineralogy, chemistry, and particle size attached to pollen by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Results show that seasonal high PM-loading in the urban atmosphere coincides with aeroallergens promoting micro- to nanoparticles' attachment to pollen's surface. A collapsed membrane was observed in several samples after individual grains show the following maximum wall coverage: Poaceae 28%, Asteraceae 40%, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthacea 29%, Fabaceae 18%. Most of the particles covering pollen's surface have a geogenic origin mixed with metals linked to traffic (bromide, chlorine, and antimony). Mineralogical, granulometric analysis, and main wind-direction show that two local soil-types are the main contributors to PM. A high frequency of positive sensitization to pollen with high particle loading was detected. These results suggest that climate-driven dust emissions may alter pollen and spore surfaces' physicochemical characteristics with the further consequences in their allergenic potential.

Evaluation of possible impact on human health of atmospheric mercury emanations from the Popocatépetl volcano.

The contribution of Hg from volcanic emanations is decisive for assessing global mercury emissions given the impact of this highly toxic contaminant on human health and ecosystems. Atmospheric Hg emissions from Popocatépetl volcano and their dispersion were evaluated carrying out two gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) surveys during a period of intense volcanic activity. Continuous GEM measurements were taken for 24 h using a portable mercury vapor analyzer (Lumex RA-915M) at the Altzomoni Atmospheric Observatory (AAO), 11 km from the crater. In addition, a long-distance survey to measure GEM was conducted during an automobile transect around the volcano, covering a distance of 129 km. The evaluation of the GEM data registered in the fixed location showed that heightened volcanic activity clearly intensifies the concentration of atmospheric Hg, extreme values around 5 ng m-3. Highest concentrations of GEM recorded during the mobile survey were about 10 ng m-3. In both surveys, the recorded concentrations during most of the measurement time were below 2 ng m-3, but measurements were taken at a considerable distance from the crater, and GEM is subject to dilution processes. During both surveys, recorded GEM did not exceed the 200 ng m-3 concentration recommended by the WHO (Air quality guidelines for Europe, 2000) as the regulatory limits for Hg in the atmospheric environment for long-term inhalation. Because this study was carried out in inhabited areas around the volcano during a period of intense volcanic activity, it can be concluded that the Popocatépetl does not represent a risk to human health in terms of Hg.

Distinctive clinical features of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus in three different age classes.

It is estimated that around 20% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have their onset in childhood but there have been conflicting data about the prevalence and severity of the clinical features in different age classes. We conducted this study to analyse the clinical features of patients with pediatric SLE (pSLE) with onset in infancy, prepubertal and postpubertal age. The charts of patients followed at the Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, who met the criteria for SLE diagnosis, were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups based on age at disease onset: group A, patients < or =2 years old, group B patients aged between 2 and 10 years, group C patients between 11 and 16 years of age. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of each group were compared. Forty-two patients with pSLE entered the study: 2 were diagnosed before the age of 2 years, 11 between 2 and 10 years and 29 between 10 and 16 years. Eleven more patients with infantile (onset <2 years) SLE (iSLE) were found by a systematic literature search on PubMed and EmBASE and added for analysis to the group A. The female preponderance was significant only in postpubertal patients (F:M = 6.3: 1) whereas the other two groups presented a similar F:M ratio (1.2: 1). In comparison with the other two groups, iSLE showed a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular and pulmonary involvement, anemia and thrombocytopenia and a shorter disease duration at time of diagnosis. The postpubertal group showed a higher frequency of musculoskeletal involvement and leukopenia. In prepubertal patients there was no female preponderance and the frequency of clinical features was intermediate between infantile and postpubertal patients. Complement fractions level, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA, anti-cardiolipin antibodies and lupus anti-coagulant autoantibodies were not significantly different in the three groups. In general, the prevalence of internal organs involvement in pSLE seems to decrease with age. In infants, SLE is more severe than in the following ages. Postpubertal patients have a strong female preponderance and more specific signs of disease at onset. Prepubertal patients have an intermediate disease severity and no gender predilection.

Brain auditory activation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in neonates.

This study presents a new measure of the hemodynamic changes to an auditory stimulus in newborns. Nineteen newborns born at 28-41 wk and aged 1 to 49 d were studied in waking and/or sleeping state, for a median time of 4 min 40 s before, 2 min 40 s during, and 3 min 5 s after an acustic stimulus (tonal sweep of frequency increasing from 2 to 4 kHz, intensity 90 dB SPL) originating 5 cm from the external auditory meatus. The emitter and detector optodes were placed over the left or right temporal region, corresponding to T3 or T4 EEG electrodes. The concentration changes in cerebral chromophores Delta[HbO2], Delta[Hb] and Deltaoxidized-reduced cytochrome aa(3) were recorded every 5 s. Changes in cerebral blood volume were calculated from the changes in total Hb x 0.89/large vessel Hb concentration. Increased oxyhemoglobin, Delta[HbO2], total Hb, Delta[Hb (sum)], and cerebral blood volume, DeltaCBV, were found in 13/19 neonates, with the exception of a neonate who only had increased in Delta[Hb], Delta[Hb (sum)] and DeltaCBV. During the stimulation phase there was a significant increase in DeltaCBV (t test, p = 0.00006) in the responsive newborns from a mean value of 0.006 (+/-0.02) mL/100 g in the pretest phase to 0.09 (+/-0.06) mL/100 g during the auditory stimulus. After the test DeltaCBV decreased to 0.04 (+/-0.07) mL/100 g (t test, p = 0.01), so did Delta[Hb (sum)] (p = 0.02). Hemodynamic responses of the subjects who showed increases in Delta[Hb (sum)] and Delta[HbO(2)] were analyzed to study the Delta[Hb]. The responder subjects could be classified into two groups according to Delta[Hb] changes: 8/13 (61.5%) showed an increase of Delta[Hb] (pattern A), while 5/13 (38.4%) showed a decrease (pattern B) (t test, p = 0.03). These two patterns did not show differences related to Delta[HbO(2)] and Delta[Hb (sum)]. The DeltaCBV changes in nonresponders presented a decrease during the test phase (t test, p = 0.04). CBV did not return to pretest values, suggesting a fronto-temporal brain pathway for storing unusual sounds. The increase in CBV followed the local increase in oxyhemoglobin and total Hb concentrations due to a greater use of oxygen in the homolateral temporal cortex of the newborns.

[Improvement of postinfarct left myocardial contractile function after administration of diltiazem]. / Ripresa contrattile di asinergie miocardiche postinfartuali indotta dalla somministrazione acuta di diltiazem.

BACKGROUND: The impairment of intracellular calcium homeostasis is an important biochemical alteration in stunned and hibernating myocardium. These different forms of viable myocardium frequently occur after myocardial infarction and their recognition may modify the therapeutic program and prognosis. Experimental studies and experiences on male subjects have demonstrated that calcium-channel blockers exert a protective action on myocardial reperfusion injury and reduce infarct size. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of i.v. diltiazem (i.e. a calcium-channel blocker with negative inotropic effect) in enhancing the contractility of viable akinetic myocardium in patients after myocardial infarction. METHODS: Sixty patients (52 males and 8 females, age 57 +/- 10 years) with the first acute myocardial infarction were evaluated with dobutamine-echocardiography 9 +/- 2 days after admission and on the following day with diltiazem-echocardiography. Diltiazem was administered i.v. using repeated boluses of 0.25 mg/kg up to the maximum dose of 1 mg/kg. Before and during the infusion, left ventricular regional function was scored and the Wall Motion Score Index (WMSI) was calculated; ECG and arterial blood pressure were also monitored. Results were compared with low-dose dobutamine-echocardiography. In a subset of 13 patients who underwent myocardial revascularization (7 coronary artery by-pass graftings and 6 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties), post-procedure echocardiograms were performed to evaluate whether regional left ventricular function had improved. RESULTS: Low-dose dobutamine and diltiazem enhanced regional left ventricular contractility in 28 and 31 patients, respectively; both tests were positive in 26 cases. Conversely, dobutamine-test was negative in 32 patients and diltiazem in 29, with concordance in 27. A good correlation was found between diltiazem and dobutamine WMSI at the basal evaluation (r = 0.91; p < 0.000) as well as during the pharmacological test (r = 0.86; p < 0.000). In patients who underwent myocardial revascularization, the same good correlation was found between diltiazem-WMSI and WMSI evaluated after the procedure (r = 0.91; p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Acute i.v. administration of diltiazem about ten days after myocardial infarction may enhance the contractility of viable akinetic ventricular wall segments, as evaluated with echocardiography. The results of this study may have some physiopathological and therapeutical implications that could lead to reconsidering the use of calcium-channel blockers, particularly diltiazem, in selected patients after myocardial infarction.

[Pindolol in the treatment of arrhythmias caused by exertion]. / Il pindololo nel trattamento delle aritmie da sforzo.

In this study the anti-arrhythmic effectiveness of pindolol has been tested on ventricular effort arrhythmias in a group of 22 cardiopathic patients. The drug, administered for a week at the dose of 5 mg three times a day, obtained positive results due to its beta-blocking action and its intrinsic sympathomimetic activity.

Effects of training and of verapamil on exercise capacity in patients recovering from myocardial infarction. A double-blind study.

Physical training causes an increase of aerobic capacity in normal and cardiac patients. The influences of training plus placebo and training plus verapamil have been studied in a double-blind randomized trial on 40 patients recovering from actue myocardial infarction. The two groups were comparable as to clinical characteristics, initial work capacity, and amount of stress tolerated during the training sessions. The training produced a significant increase of total work capacity and maximum VO2, in both groups; the difference between the means of the two groups was not significant. The variation of heart rate, rate pressure product at different work loads and cardiac volume after training were significantly lower in the verapamil group. The anginal threshold did not change in the placebo group and showed a trend to increase in patients treated with verapamil. These results suggest that carefully observed rehabilitation markedly improves the physical capacity of the patients after acute myocardial infarction. Such improvement is enhanced by treatment with verapamil.

[Rheumatoid heart: report of a case with endomyocardial injury and severe arrhythmias (author's transl)]. / Cuore reumatoide. Rilievi su un caso con impegno endomiocardico e gravi manifestazioni aritmiche.

The Authors describe the case of a 61 year old man suffering from rheumatoid arthritis; the diagnosis of "rheumatoid heart" was made on the basis of the humoral findings and of the clinico-ecgraphic picture of endocardial (mitral incompetence) and myocardial injuries. The different complications impairing the heart rhythm (FA, tachycardia S.V., and episodes of tachycardia V., torsade de pointes type) and the A-V and the I.V. conduction (RBBB phase 3, LBBB phase 4, BAV 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree) which determined the recurrence of episodes of heart block and required adequate intensive cardiological treatment, are described. In conclusion, the significance of the persistance of the L.A.D. in the course of complete LBBB and the discovery of an unusual type of escape-capture bigeminy in the course of 2nd degree BAV is discussed.