169,877 research outputs found
Short-term crop and soil response to C-friendly strategies in two contrasting environments
No full textIn southern Europe (Italy), a two-site field experiment with contrasting soil conditions (high clay???SOC-protecting soil near Napoli versus low clay???non-SOC-protecting soil) near Torino was conducted to evaluate the short-term potential of a carbon (C) friendly management to sustain and possibly increase both crop yields and soil organic C (SOC). Compost distribution (COM1, COM2) and minimum tillage (MT) were compared to conventional management (CONV) in a maize-based cropping system. COM1, MT, and CONV each received 130 kg N ha-1 in compost or urea form. A double dose was applied to COM2 while the plowed control plots (0N) were not fertilized. Fertilizers were applied for three years (from 2006 to 2008); residual soil fertility was assessed during the fourth year (2009).
Results suggested that only the SOC protection strategy via MT could be agronomically sustainable in the high clay content soil near Napoli. There, a short-term SOC increase was recorded with either compost or MT application. In fact, in the same soil, compost use depressed both yield and N availability for maize, which we attribute to the reduction of SOM mineralization due to hydrophobic protection by added humified organic matter (OM) coupled with soil physical protection. Compost addition increased SOC (55.1 % of added C) in the soil near Torino, where high native N availability buffered its low mineralization and allowed high yields. Alternatively, MT showed no effect on short-term C dynamics, probably because the low organic matter protection favored oxidation and mineralization of root-derived C
Allodynia in migraine: frequent random association or unavoidable consequence?
No full textAllodynia, the perception of pain induced by a non-painful stimulus, is frequently associated with migraine, especially when chronic, and mainly in the aura subtype. Among migraineurs, allodynia is thought to be caused by the headache and the activation of nociceptors with the development of central sensitization in subjects with an altered regulation of the central nociceptive pathway. The persistence of pain sensation seems to be able to induce central sensitization in the caudal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve by lowering the neuronal pain threshold. Different pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved and genetic, environmental and psychological elements should be considered. The complaint of allodynia is more frequent during the headache attack (acute allodynia) than in-between attacks (interictal allodynia). Acute allodynia is generally referred to the painful region but may diffuse to other areas, cephalic or even extracephalic. Extracephalic allodynia could not be mediated by nucleus caudalis as its neurons do not express whole-body receptive fields. The likely mechanism is thalamic sensitization. This symptom must be carefully assessed because it may be as annoying and limiting in daily activities as pain itself, and because its presence seems to reduce the efficacy of drugs used for migraine attacks. Instrumental measures may be applied, and clinical questionnaires to assess the presence of allodynic symptoms have also been developed and validated
Fluctuating position-related cognitive disturbances and recurrent cerebral ischemic attacks as presenting symptoms in a patient with platypnea-orthodeoxya syndrome
No full textPlatypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a condition of dyspnea and hypoxia whilst in the upright position, which improves in the recumbent position. We present a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia due to a fenestrated atrial septal aneurysm that induced recurrent strokes and a recent condition of fluctuating confusion and cognitive impairment, modified by position, associated with rapid variations of O2 saturation position related. The suspect of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome may be hypothesized in case of patients with recurrent cerebral ischemia and fluctuating cognitive disturbances induced by change of position. In those cases a careful echocardiographic evaluation and O2 saturation determination in up and downright position are required
Sleep and headache : a bidirectional relationship
No full textSleep and pain perception are two phylogenetically well-conserved functions, strictly influenced by environmental and psychological factors, and are able to interact reciprocally both in physiological and pathological situations. Sleep and head-pain perception share the involvement of several structures, such as the thalamus, the hypothalamus and brainstem nuclei, including the locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei. There ais clinical evidence indicating that sleep disorders can precede the appearance of certain headaches and that head pain, especially when frequent, can, in turn, affect sleep quality. In the present work the anatomy, physiology and pathology of sleep and head-pain perception will be reviewed with the aim of highlighting the points of contact and possible unifying treatment strategies
Brain natriuretic peptide as a marker of cardiac toxicity in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with mitoxantrone
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Ischemic stroke caused by giant cell arteritis associated with pulmonary adenocarcinoma
No full textGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in patients older than 50 years, and it is occasionally a cause of ischemic stroke. GCA as a paraneoplastic manifestation has been rarely described. We describe a 77-year-old man with a sudden onset of dizziness, vomiting, and gait disturbances. Following imaging studies, a diagnosis of bulbar ischemic stroke with left vertebral artery stenosis was made. Based on a history of polymyalgia rheumatica, on laboratory tests, and brain digital subtraction angiography, a diagnosis of GCA was advanced and the patient underwent high-dose steroidal therapy. After a total body 18-FGD PET imaging, a pulmonary adenocarcinoma was found. Vertebral artery involvement is a rare but important occurrence in GCA as it carries a high mortality rate, and may require a vigorous therapeutic approach. The association of lung cancer and GCA is infrequent, and the relationship between malignancy and GCA remains unclear. Whereas the search for a malignancy in the setting of a GCA is not routinely performed, the use of total body PET when a large vessel vasculitis is suspected may provide useful information on disease and help recognize occult neoplasms
Global warming potential of a Mediterranean irrigated forage system: Implications for designing the fertilization strategy
No full textUnder Mediterranean conditions, the impacts of both organic and mineral N fertilization on soil Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission can be controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the soil GHG emissions and the net Global Warming Potential (GWP) in a Mediterranean irrigated forage system under different fertilization treatments. Three N fertilization options were compared for two years in a double-crop rotation of silage maize and Italian ryegrass for hay: cattle slurry (SL), solid fraction of slurry (SO) and mineral fertilizer with a nitrification inhibitor (MI). The soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes were highly influenced by the interaction between treatment and date. The maximum values of GHG emissions were observed after fertilizations, to a different extent depending on the fertilizer. In the net GWP reference year, soil respiration (SR) was higher in SO (46.26 ± 3.26 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of CO2) than SL (30.03 ± 0.40 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and MI (23.71 ± 0.57 Mg ha−1 yr−1). However, the C sequestration was higher in SO than in the other treatments. The N2O fluxes were higher in SL (11.5 ± 5.2 kg ha−1 yr−1 of N2O) than in SO (3.4 ± 1.8 kg ha−1 yr−1), while the MI had intermediate values (6.5 ± 1.4 kg ha−1 yr−1). No differences were observed in cumulative CH4 emissions. The SO resulted as a net GWP sink (-9.86 ± 3.05 Mg yr−1 of CO2eq based on SR), while the SL and MI (9.79 ± 1.41 and 1.34 ± 1.87 Mg yr−1, respectively, based on SR) resulted as a source. The SO seemed to have a higher potential in terms of reducing GHG emissions by maintaining adequate levels of agronomic efficiency. This study put in evidence how different organic fertilizers can have contrasting impacts on GHG emissions providing some insights on their different potential mitigation roles under Mediterranean conditions
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