196,079 research outputs found
Effect of biostimulants on quality of baby leaf lettuce grown under plastic tunnel
No full textApplications of biostimulants might be used for stimulating the nutrient use
efficiency and improving quality of baby leaf vegetables. The aim of this work was to
evaluate the use of biostimulant for reducing the nitrate content and improving the
commercial quality. The field trials were performed under plastic tunnel in the
North Italy vegetable production area (Bolgare, BG, Italy) during spring (April-
May) and summer (July). The application of biostimulant (Actiwave®, Valagro
S.p.a) was performed by spray using a modified fertigation machine. The
concentrations of Actiwave applied were 0, 3, 4.5 or 6 ml m-2. The effect of
treatments was evaluated by the following determinations: yield, leaf nitrate content,
total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, anthocyanins and total phenols content. In
additional the health status of leaves was determined by chlorophyll a fluorescence
measurements. Results obtained showed that the 4.5 and 6 ml m-2 Actiwave
significantly increased the yield. The leaf nitrate content ranged between 900 and
1100 mg kg-1 FW and was slightly lower in the 3 ml m-2 treatment. The highest
chlorophyll and carotenoids were found in lettuce treated with 6 ml m-2 Actiwave
concentration. The anthocyanins and total phenols were slightly higher at higher
concentration of bistimulant. Actiwave treatments did not affect the main
chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters. This result might be due to an increase of
light use efficiency in treated plants. In conclusion, the biostimulant was able to
increase the yield, but slightly effect on nitrate metabolism was observed. The low
leaf nitrate content in all treatments might be due to the optimal environment
conditions
From a spark to a flame: the evolution of diabetic foot disease in the last two decades
No full textDespite many improvements have been achieved, diabetic foot disease (DFD) remains a clinical, social, and economic burden. In the last years, DFD showed an evolution of its characteristics with an increase of the ischaemic/neuro-ischaemic foot in comparison to the pure neuropathic foot. Simultaneously, there was and increased incidence of concomitant cardiovascular co-morbidities, which influences the higher fragility of patients with DFS. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in subjects with diabetic foot seems to show a more aggressive pattern, being more distal and difficult to treat. Untreatable PAD remains the unmet need for clinicians and the main risk factor of major amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Authors aimed to describe the evolution of diabetic foot patients in the last two decades, describing also the current and future treatment which may improve outcomes in the next generations
Effects of combined low dose of the isoflavone derivative ipriflavone and estrogen replacement on bone mineral density and metabolism in postmenopausal women.
No full textOBJECTIVES:
To assess the pattern of biochemical markers of bone metabolism and vertebral bone mineral density in early postmenopausal women treated with combined ipriflavone and low dose conjugated estrogens.
METHODS:
Bone biochemical markers and vertebral bone density were evaluated in a longitudinal, comparative, 2 year study conducted in postmenopausal women treated with sole calcium supplementation (500 mg/day), or with either ipriflavone (IP) at the standard dose (600 mg/day) plus the same calcium dose, low dose conjugated estrogens (CE) (0.3 mg/day) plus calcium, or low dose IP (400 mg/day) plus low dose CE (0.3 mg/day) plus calcium. The results were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance, as appropriate.
RESULTS:
No modifications of both urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and plasma osteocalcin levels were observed in calcium and in CE-treated women, while vertebral bone density significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) in both groups. In IP or IP + CE-treated women, plasma osteocalcin did not show any modification, while urinary hydroxyproline showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease, that paralleled a significant (P < 0.05) increase in vertebral bone density.
CONCLUSION:
Postmenopausal IP administration, at the standard dose of 600 mg/day, can prevent the increase in bone turnover and the decrease in bone density that follow ovarian failure. The same effect can be obtained with the combined administration of low dose (400 mg/day) IP with low dose (0.3 mg/day) CE
Ipriflavone prevents the loss of bone mass in pharmacological menopause induced by GnRH-agonists.
No full textIn a double-blind, placebo controlled study, ipriflavone (600 mg/day, T.D.D.) or identical placebo tablets were given with 500 mg/day of calcium to patients treated with the gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonist (Gn-RH-A) leuproreline acetate, 3.75 mg every 30 days for 6 months. In placebo-treated subjects (n = 39), urinary hydroxyproline excretion and plasma osteocalcin levels showed a significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) increase, whereas spine bone density and total body bone density significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) decreased after 3 and 6 months of GnRH-A administration. Conversely, in the 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 medically induced hypogonadism
Valutazione del grado di conoscenza basale della malattia diabetica in pazienti ambulatoriali.
No full text
EUREKA study – the evaluation of real-life use of a biophotonic system in chronic wound management: an interim analysis
No full textMarco Romanelli,1 Alberto Piaggesi,2 Giovanni Scapagnini,3 Valentina Dini,1 Agata Janowska,1 Elisabetta Iacopi,2 Carlotta Scarpa,4 Stéphane Fauverghe,5 Franco Bassetto4 1Wound Healing Research Unit, Division of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 2Diabetic Foot Section, Department of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, 3Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Molise, Campobasso, 4Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Padova University-Hospital, Padova, Italy; 5KLOX Technologies Inc., Laval, QC, Canada Objective: Interest has grown regarding photobiomodulation (PBM) with low-level light therapy, which has been shown to positively affect the stages of the wound healing process. In a real-life context clinical setting, the objective of the EUREKA study was to investigate efficacy, safety, and quality of life associated with the use of a BioPhotonic gel (LumiHeal™) in the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and pressure ulcers (PUs). This BioPhotonic gel represents a new, first-in-class emission spectrum of light, including fluorescence, to induce PBM and modulate healing.Design: The multicenter, prospective, interventional, uncontrolled, open-label study enrolled 100 patients in 12 wound centers in Italy. We performed an early interim analysis based on the first 33 subjects (13 VLU, 17 DFU, 3 PU) in seven centers who completed the study.Main results: Seventeen patients (52%) achieved total wound closure (full re-epithelialization for 2 weeks) during the study period. Two patients (6%) were considered “almost closed” (decrease of the wound area of more than 90% at study end) and three others (9%) were considered “ready for skin grafting”. No related serious adverse events were observed, and the compliance was excellent. After the treatment, the average time to “pain-free” was 11.9 days in the VLU group. Quality of life was improved with overall increase of 26.4% of the total score (Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule, p=0.001).Conclusion: The study revealed a positive efficacy profile of the BioPhotonic gel in promoting wound healing and reactivating the healing process in different types of chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. The treatment was shown to be safe and well tolerated by the patients, and a reduction of pain perception was also detected during the treatment period. The improvement of the quality of life was accompanied by a high level of clinician satisfaction. Keywords: photobiomodulation, fluorescence biomodulation, biophotonics, phototherapy, light, venous leg ulcers, VLUs, pressure ulcers, PUs, diabetic foot ulcers, DFUs, hard-to-heal wounds 
Bifurcated bypass in severe chronic limb threatening ischaemia
No full textObjectives: Revascularization according to the angiosome concept is of proven importance for limb salvage in chronic limb threatening ischaemia but it is not always practicable. Bifurcated bypasses could be considered as an option when an endovascular approach is not feasible or has already failed and a single bypass would not allow direct revascularization of the ischaemic area. Bifurcated bypasses are characterized by landing on two different arteries, the main artery (in direct continuity with the foot vessels) and the secondary one (perfusing the angiosome district). The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bifurcated bypass in chronic limb threatening ischaemia. Methods: Thirty-five patients were consecutively treated with a bifurcated bypass for chronic limb threatening ischaemia from January 2014 to December 2019 in a single vascular surgery centre. Data from clinical records and operative registers were collected prospectively in an electronic database and retrospectively analysed. Primary and primary assisted bypass patency, amputation-free survival, morbidity and mortality rates at 12 and 24 months were analysed. Results: Mean follow-up period was 25.1 months (range 2–72 months). Thirty-six bifurcated bypasses were performed on 35 patients (age 75.3 ± 7.2 years; 69.4% were male). According to Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection classification 22.2% belonged to stage 3 and 77.8% to stage 4 and the mean Rutherford’s class was 5.1 ± 0.7. Immediate technical success was 100%. Early mortality and morbidity rates were respectively 5.5%, and 33.3%; foot surgery was performed in 50% of cases with wound healing in all patients. Primary patency and primary assisted bypass patency were 96.7% and 100% at 6 months; 85.2% and 92% at 12 months, 59.9% and 73.4% at 24 months, respectively. Amputation-free survival at 12 and 24 months was, respectively, 95.6% and 78.8%. Overall survival rates at 12 and 24 months were respectively 94.4% and 91.6%. Conclusions: Bifurcates bypass can provide good results in patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia without endovascular option, especially in diabetic ones. Bifurcated bypass is a complex surgical solution, both to be planned and performed, and it is quite invasive for frail patients that should be accurately selected
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