106 research outputs found
Mini-review: The role of crop rotation, intercropping, sowing dates and increased crop density towards a sustainable crop and weed management in arable crops
No full textSaabunud / Received 17.05.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 29.05.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 30.05.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Panagiotis Kanatas e-mail: [email protected] extended and in many cases unjustified use of herbicides
has resulted in herbicide resistance development and serious environmental
concerns. Therefore, the need for implementation and wider adoption of
several agronomic and cultural practices is imperative. Ecologically-based
crop management practices like crop rotation, intercropping, delay of
sowing date and increased crop density can be also the basis for effective
and sustainable weed management. In the present review, several cases are
presented and the key points of each method are discussed. Special attention
is given to the fact that the efficacy of each practice is depended on the
specific soil and climatic conditions along with the field history of each site
and crop. Alternative methods of weed management should be further
studied and optimized to include them in both organic and conventional
production systems and ensure the sustainability of agroecosystems
Addressing cancer anorexia-cachexia in older patients: potential therapeutic strategies and molecular pathways
No full textCancer cachexia (CC) syndrome, a feature of cancer-associated muscle wasting, is particularly pronounced in older patients, and is characterised by decreased energy intake and upregulated skeletal muscle catabolic pathways. To address CC, appetite stimulants, anabolic drugs, cytokine mediators, essential amino acid supplementation, nutritional counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, and enteral nutrition have been utilised. However, pharmacological treatments that have also shown promising results, such as megestrol acetate, anamorelin, thalidomide, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, have been associated with gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications. Emerging evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in modulating gut microbiota also presents a promising adjunct to traditional therapies, potentially enhancing nutritional absorption and systemic inflammation control. Additionally, low-dose olanzapine has demonstrated improved appetite and weight management in older patients undergoing chemotherapy, offering a potential refinement to current therapeutic approaches. This review aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning CC, with a particular focus on the role of anorexia in exacerbating muscle wasting, and to propose pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to mitigate this syndrome, particularly emphasising the needs of an older demographic. Future research targeting CC should focus on refining appetite-stimulating drugs with fewer side-effects, specifically catering to the needs of older patients, and investigating nutritional factors that can either enhance appetite or minimise suppression of appetite in individuals with CC, especially within this vulnerable group
The aromatic plant Melissa officinalis and effects of its aqueous extracts on summer annual and invasive weed species
No full textSaabunud / Received 14.05.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 25.05.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 25.05.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Panagiotis Kanatas e-mail: [email protected] effects of aqueous extracts of the aromatic plant Melissa
officinalis were studied on the seed germination and early seedlings growth
of ten summer annual species in Petri dish bioassays and pot experiments.
The in vitro experiments on the aqueous extracts from M. officinalis on seed
germination shows that the extracts of 5 and 10% were the most active
inhibitors for all the studied weed species. Seed germination reduction by
the aqueous extracts was up to 54% of the untreated seed lot for each species.
On the contrary, the concentration of 1% resulted in germination reduction
ranging from 1 to 11%, while in some of the weed species (P. minor, S.
nigrum, P. angulata and C. albida) the effect was rather stimulatory. This
finding is in full agreement with “novel weapons hypothesis” and supports
that native plants compared with invasive (like C. albida and P. angulata)
are affected more due to the absence of tolerance or resistance to the
allelochemicals. The allelopathy RI of aqueous extracts of lemon balm was
negative in most cases, while in the case of 10% concentration, emergence
was reduced by 58, 54, 48, 46 and 43% for X. strumarium, C. album, S.
faberi, C. canadensis and C. bonariensis, respectively. The allelopathic
activity of M. officinalis could be exploited in future studies, to identify and
isolate the allelochemicals, as models for future herbicides for integrated
weed management
Development of a breast cancer specific patients concerns inventory (PCI)
No full textIntroduction
Treating breast cancer is based on a combination of therapies: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, as well as hormonal and biological agents. The full impact of the disease and its treatment at a human level is often underestimated, and the benefits of holistic cancer care are increasingly recognised. Furthermore, patients often face a frightening and uncertain journey that presents a variety of needs. Moreover, recovery is not necessarily the end-point of the cancer experience. The many complexities and challenges in the identification of patient issues along this journey can lead to unmet needs. This can be particularly difficult in the confines of a busy clinic, where time constraints, together with an over-reliance on verbal communication, can pose significant barriers to effective consultations.
A novel tool, known as the patient concerns inventory (PCI), has been successfully developed and introduced for use in patients with head and neck cancer. In this setting, it has helped to formulate an individualized record of patient concerns, needs, and priorities, thereby structuring outpatient consultations, and promoting and facilitating a multidisciplinary approach. This study aimed to develop and assess a PCI specific to breast cancer and to evaluate its impact on patient care; that is, to provide a “proof of concept” for a breast cancer PCI.
Methods
This was a four-phase study, as follows. (1) Item generation through a literature review, input from clinicians (n = 10), four patient focus groups (n = 24), and national breast cancer charities (n = 3). (2) A survey of breast cancer patients (n = 200) for cross-sectional validation, to compare the PCI with an established quality of life tool and to look at the relative frequency of items and any associations. (3) A pilot, before and after study, assessing the PCI in a clinical setting with breast cancer patients (n = 53). (4) Semi-structured interviews with a breast surgeon (n = 1) and specialist nurses (n = 2) who used the PCI during clinics, to identify the perceived benefits of using the PCI.
Results
In total 277 patients responded and participated in this work. The literature review identified 164 items; following input from clinicians, focus groups, and national charities, 56 items remained. The cross sectional study (phase 2; n=200, 80 % response rate) revealed that patients wanted to discuss the following: breast sensitivity or pain (46 %), fatigue (46 %), hot flushes (44 %), sleep (34 %); breast appearance (30 %), unable to control weight (28 %), mastectomy appearance (19 %), overall physical appearance (17 %); fear of recurrence (62 %), fear of cancer spreading (39 %), fear about the future (32 %), or one or more of these (72 %); ‘mood’ (15 %), ‘anxiety’ (21 %), ‘depression’ (17 %), or one or more of these (35 %); Phase 3 found that the PCI resulted in a focused consultation and no increase in consultation time. All the patients from phase 3 wanted to see a breast surgeon. Phase 4 revealed that clinicians involved with the PCI supported its use, and stated several advantages. In its final format, the breast cancer specific PCI had 57 items over several domains, with 16 referral options.
Conclusions
The PCI could identify issues that patients would like to discuss in the breast oncology clinic. The routine use of the PCI in follow-up clinics could ultimately improve care for women with breast cancer; however, the clinical environment continues to make it difficult to screen for issues related to intimacy, relationship, and sex.
Further research is essential to evaluate the breast cancer specific PCI. A larger patient cohort, a longitudinal approach, qualitative input, and a link to possible interventions, would each improve our understanding of the issues faced by breast cancer patients
Radiochemotherapy with Cisplatin and Oral Tegafur in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Long-Term Results of a Phase II Study
No full textp53 Gene Mutations in Surgical Margins and Primary Tumor Tissues of Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
No full text
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