0000000000007464
AUTHOR
Giuseppe Di Miceli
Episodes of second-degree ventriculo-atrial block during ventricular tachycardia
Nitrogen efficiency in wheat as affected by crop rotation, tillage and N fertilization.
Milk production and gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in ewes grazing either annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) or sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L) at different daily timing
Faba bean grain yield, N2 fixation, and weed infestation in a long-term tillage experiment under rainfed Mediterranean conditions
Background and Aims Long-term experiments could provide valuable information to determine the effects of an agronomic practice on agro-ecosystem productivity and stability. This study evaluated the long-term (18-year) impact of different tillage systems on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) productivity, including weed and broomrape incidence, and N2 fixation. Methods The experiment was carried out on a Vertisol under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. It was set up as a strip plot design. The tillage systems were: conventional tillage (CT) with moldboard plow, reduced tillage (RT) with chisel plow, and no tillage (NT). Nitrogen fixation was estimated over 2 years in the final phase of the experiment…
Effect of legume grains as dietary protein source on the quality of organic lamb meat
Influenza della specie foraggera pascolata sulla produzione di latte ovino
Caratterizzazione fitopastorale e produttività di pascoli naturali ricadenti nel territorio del Parco dei Nebrodi.
Effect of Supplementation with Wheat Bran Aqueous Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound-Assisted Technologies on the Sensory Properties and the Antioxidant Activity of Dry Pasta
Phenolic compounds have antioxidant properties and activate endogenous detoxification defense systems able to scavenge the reactive species of oxygen. The external layers of wheat caryopsis, largely constituting by-products of the milling industry such as bran and various middlings, contain relevant amounts of phenolic compounds. The aim of the research has been to evaluate the effect of supplementation with wheat bran aqueous extracts, obtained by ultrasound-assisted technologies, on the sensory properties and antioxidant activity of dry pasta. The HPLC-DAD characterization of the extract evidenced the presence of ferulic and p-coumaric acids. The supplemented pasta showed significantly h…
Milk production and physiological traits of ewes and goats housed indoor or grazing at different daily timing in summer
During a 6 week trial in summer, 3 homogeneous groups, each consisting of 5 Comisana ewes and 5 Rossa Mediterranea goats, grazed watered forage resources during day (D) or night (N), or were housed indoor and supplied with mowed herbage (H). Maximum THI peaked at 94 at the end of July, and was almost constantly higher of 80. Milk yield was higher in N than in D and H goats, whereas N ewes produced more milk than H group, but their milk yield was higher than D ewes only in the period with the highest THI values. The lower urea in N goat milk, and the higher casein in N ewe milk, seem to indicate a better efficiency in dietary nitrogen utilization of night grazing animals. N ewes showed lower…
Azotofissazione nel cece in ambiente mediterraneo.
Use of QT intervals for a more accurate diagnose of syncope and evaluation of syncope severity.
Abstract BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the use of QT intervals, their diagnostic predictive value in patients with syncope and their relationship with syncope severity. METHODS: One hundred and forty nine patients with a diagnosis of syncope were admitted to Internal Medicine departments at the University of Palermo, Italy, between 2006 and 2012, and 140 control subjects hospitalised for other causes were enrolled. QT maximum, QT minimum, QTpeak, QT corrected, QT dispersion and Tpeak-to-Tend interval were compared between two groups. The paper medical records were used for scoring with San Francisco Syncope Rule (SFSR), Evaluation of Guidelines in SYncope Study (EGSYS) score and …
Effetti della specie foraggera e della tecnica di pascolamento sulla produzione di latte ovino.
L’obiettivo della ricerca è stato quello di valutare gli effetti del pascolamento su specie botaniche differenti, utilizzando sia il sistema continuo che quello turnato, sulla produzione di latte ovino. Le risorse foraggere utilizzate erano rappresentate dalla sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), da un erbaio in consociazione di trifoglio alessandrino (Trifolium alexandrinum) ed avena (Avena sativa) e da un prato di cicoria (Cichorium intybus). Sono state utilizzate 40 pecore in lattazione suddivise in 5 gruppi omogenei, ciascuno assegnato ad uno dei seguenti trattamenti: pascolamento continuo su sulleto; pascolamento turnato su sulleto; pascolamento continuo su consociazione; pascolamento turn…
Influenza di alcune tecniche agronomiche sulla produzione di seme di sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) allevata con metodo biologico in ambiente mediterraneo.
Effects of harvesting methods on seed yield and quality of Scorpiurs muricatus L..
Scorpiurus muricatus L. is an annual legume, widely distributed in Mediterranean pastures, that is appreciated by farmers for its productivity, forage quality, and palatability. It is characterised by long flowering and ripening periods and by pod shedding. These characteristics cause high seed losses, which could reduce its seed harvest efficiency in terms of seed yield and quality. In this study, we investigated the effects on seed yield and quality of different harvesting methods (windrowing at different times with subsequent combining was compared with direct combining). Our results show that direct combining when the pods were fully ripened reduced pod losses compared with swathing met…
Varietà locali di cipolle sul podio della qualità
Effects of Genotype and Climate on Productive Performance of High Oleic Carthamus tinctorius L. under Rainfed Conditions in a Semi-Arid Environment of Sicily (Italy)
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a promising oilseed crop for cultivation in central Southern Italy due to its high tolerance to drought and salinity stress and appreciable seed and oil yields. The genetic diversity of cultivars and climate factors can affect fatty acid composition and yield traits. This study aimed to assess the effects of genotype and climate conditions on the productive performance of eight high oleic safflower genotypes under rainfed conditions in Sicily (Italy). These genotypes were compared to the Montola 2000 cultivar, which was used as a reference. Tests were carried out during the growing seasons of 2014–2015 and 2015–2016. The experimental design…
Effetti della modalità di utilizzazione sulla produttività e sull’azotofissazione simbiotica del Trifolium squarrosum allevato in purezza o in consociazione con Avena sativa.
Effect of irrigation with treated wastewater on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) production and soil characteristics and estimation of plant nutritional input
In recent years, climate change has greatly affected rainfall and air temperature levels leading to a reduction in water resources in Southern Europe. This fact has emphasized the need to focus on the use of non-conventional water resources for agricultural irrigation. The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) can represent a sustainable solution, reducing the consumption of freshwater (FW) and the need for mineral fertilisers. The main aim of this study was to assess, in a three-year period, the effects of TWW irrigation compared to FW on the biomass production of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] plants and soil characteristics and to estimate the nutritional input provided by TWW ir…
Effect of legume grains as a source of dietary protein on the quality of organic lamb meat.
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effects on lamb growth, carcass traits and meat quality of replacing conventional soybean meal in the diet with alternative legume grains. RESULTS: Twenty-eight male lambs of Comisana breed weighing 16.9 ± 2.7 kg at weaning (66 ± 6 days old) were assigned to one of four diets. Until slaughter at 129 ± 6 days of age, each group received ad libitum pelleted alfalfa hay and concentrates differing in the source of protein: chickpea, faba bean, pea or soybean meal. Lambs fed chickpea showed higher dry matter and protein intakes from concentrate than those fed soybean. Lambs' growth, carcass weight and net dressing percentage did not vary by protein source, al…
Targeting aging with functional food: Pasta with opuntia single-arm pilot study
Interventions to extend life span represent the new perspective in aging investigation. Healthy dietary habits are important modifiable factors that can favor a healthy aging phenotype. Many studies have demonstrated benefits for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus resulting from the traditional Mediterranean foods. Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI), widespread in the Mediterranean basin, belongs to the Cactaceae family. It is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, products containing extracts from OFI fruits or cladodes have been used to control obesity and other metabolic parameters, such as glycemia and lipid profile. The aim of this study was to analy…
Semine di triticale imminenti, ecco le varietà a disposizione
Conservation tillage in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: results of 20 years of research
Conservation tillage techniques are becoming increasingly popular worldwide as they have the potential to generate environmental, agronomic, and economic benefits. In Mediterranean areas, studies performed on the effects of conservation tillage [in comparison with the conventional tillage technique (CT)] on grain yield of cereal crops have reported contradictory results as well as considerable year-to-year variation, demonstrating how the impact of different soil tillage techniques on crop productivity is strongly site-specific. The present paper summarises the main results from a set of experiments carried out in Sicily during the last 20 years in which we compared no tillage (NT) to CT in…
Metabolomics Suggests That Soil Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Decreased Free Amino Acid Content in Roots of Durum Wheat Grown under N-Limited, P-Rich Field Conditions
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a major impact on plant nutrition, defence against pathogens, a plant's reaction to stressful environments, soil fertility, and a plant's relationship with other microorganisms. Such effects imply a broad reprogramming of the plant's metabolic activity. However, little information is available regarding the role of AMF and their relation to other soil plant growth-promoting microorganisms in the plant metabolome, especially under realistic field conditions. In the present experiment, we evaluated the effects of inoculation with AMF, either alone or in combination with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), on the metabolome and changes in metabo…
Effects of continuous and rotational grazing of different forage species on ewe milk production
Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of continuous and rotational grazing of different forage species on milk production in ewes. The forage species were chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a mixture of oat (Avena sativa L.) and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), and sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.). Forty ewes were divided into 5 groups, and subjected to one of the following treatments: continuous grazing on chicory, continuous grazing on the mixture, continuous grazing on sulla, rotational grazing on the mixture, or rotational grazing on sulla. Among the species continuously grazed, chicory showed a lower biomass than the mixture, or sulla. Ewes grazing chicor…
Effects of proteic concentrates different from soja-bean on growth performances and meat quality of 130 day lambs.
Il cipresso in sicilia: distribuzione regionale e prospettive future
Individuazione del periodo critico per il controllo delle infestanti in cece e favino.
Effects of grain legume crops on yield and quality of subsequent wheat crop grown at several rates of applied nitrogen
Salvaguardia e valorizzazione di razze ovine autoctone siciliane
Mediterranean Diet in patients with acute ischemic stroke: Relationships between Mediterranean Diet score, diagnostic subtype, and stroke severity index
Abstract Background Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, as well as the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. No study has addressed the association between diagnostic subtype of stroke and its severity and adherence to a Mediterranean Diet in subjects with acute ischemic stroke. Aim To evaluate the association between Mediterranean Diet adherence, TOAST subtype, and stroke severity by means of a retrospective study. Methods The type of acute ischemic stroke was classified according to the TOAST criteria. All patients admitted to our ward with acute ischemic stroke completed a 137…
Planting Date and Different N-Fertilization Rates Differently Modulate Agronomic and Economic Traits of a Sicilian Onion Landrace and of a Commercial Variety
The onion is one of the most widespread bulb vegetables worldwide. Onion cultivation is common in Sicily, as is the use of local genotypes. Cultivation practices are of particular interest in optimizing yield, quality, and profits. The aim of this study was to assess the agronomic response of a Sicilian landrace (Bianca Calda di Comiso, coded L1) and a commercial variety (Bianca di Maggio, coded V1) to different planting dates and N fertilization rates. An economic appraisal was also performed. The two genotypes were assessed using an experimental split-split-plot design with four levels of nitrogen rates (0, 80, 160, and 220 kg N ha−1) and two different planting dates (8 October 2005…
Attitudine alla consociazione di diverse leguminose foraggere mediterranee.
Effetti della consociazione temporanea con favino sulla produttività e qualità del frumento duro in sistemi biologici.
Guida alla scelta delle varietà di triticale per il 2013-14
Microbial dynamics in durum wheat kernels during aging
In the present work the microbial dynamics in wheat kernels were evaluated over time. The main aim of this research was to study the resistance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts associated to unprocessed cereals used for bread making during long term conservation. To this purpose four Triticum durum Desf. genotypes including two modern varieties (Claudio and Simeto) and two Sicilian wheat landraces (Russello and Timilia) were analysed by a combined culture-independent and -dependent microbiological approach after one, two or three years from cultivation and threshing. DNA based MiSeq Illumina technology was applied to reveal the entire bacterial composition of all semolina samples. T…
Molecular and agronomic responses to plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in durum wheat
Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant nutrient uptake by increasing the availability of nutrients and the root adsorbing surface (Garg et al., 2006; Asghar et al. 2002). The first objective of this study was to determine the effects of these associations on plant total biomass and grain yield in durum wheat (cv. Anco Marzio). Secondly, we aimed to analyze the root transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in response to mychorrizal infections and the expression pattern of key genes involved in nutrient uptake and stress responses. Field analysis were carried out in inner Sicily, a typical Mediterranean area. Four types of biotic a…
I vantaggi della subirrigazione per produrre più turioni
Nitrogen fixation by berseem clover in pure and mixed stand in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment
Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) as Potential Feedstock for Biofuel and Protein
Although sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) has many interesting features that could support the production of biofuels (e.g., a high yield and soluble sugar content, N-fixation capacity, low input requirements for its cultivation), no study has assessed the possibility of its use for that purpose. Our objective was to evaluate the potential value for energy production of sulla cut at various stages of growth. Furthermore, the potential of sulla as a dual purpose crop (energy and feed) was investigated. The crop was grown in rainfed conditions in a typical Mediterranean environment (over two complete 2-year crop cycles) and was cut at four different phenological stages. The biomass was divided…
The effects of slaughter age and restricted feeding on growth, carcass and meat quality traits of dairy breed lambs
This experiment aimed to investigate the possibility to raise the carcass weight of lambs of dairy breed and produce low-fat meat by increasing the slaughter age and applying strategies to reduce feeding level. At 35d of age, 70 weaned lambs of Valle del Belice breed were divided into 2 groups and adapted to housing in multiple boxes and experimental diets over a 10-d period. The groups received ad libitum pelleted alfalfa hay and concentrates differing in the 20% inclusion of durum wheat bran (0WB, 20WB) used to reduce cost and energy level. After 45d of experiment, both groups were divided into 3 subgroups; 2 of them with 15 lambs were slaughtered at 90d of age (90L), whereas the other 4 …
Development of a method for the direct fermentation of semolina by selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria
Three obligately heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis PON100336, Leuconostoc citreum PON10079 and Weissella cibaria PON10030) were used in this study as a multi-species starter culture for sourdough production. The starter inoculum was prepared and propagated in sterile semolina extract (SSE) broth. Acidification kinetics, microbiological counts detected on specific media for sourdough LAB, polymorphic profile comparison and species-specific PCRs evidenced a stability of the liquid inoculum over time determining its suitability for direct addition to semolina. In order to validate this innovative method for the production of durum wheat (Trit…
Condensed tannins content in sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) as affected by environment, genotype and growth stage
Impiego di granelle di leguminose in alternativa alla soia nella produzione di carne ovina biologica
Use of legume grains in substitution of soybean meal in organic lamb meat production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal in the diet with alternative legume grains without GMO presence and at low aflatoxin risk, on the growth and carcass and meat quality traits of lambs. After weaning at 66±6 d of age, 28 male Comisana lambs were divided into 4 groups and gradually adapted to diets over a 15-d period. Until slaughter at 129±6 d of age, each group received ad libitum pelleted alfalfa hay and concentrates differing for the protein source: chickpeas (CP), faba beans (FB), peas (PE) and soybean meal (SM). Lambs growth and carcasses weight were not modified by the…
Effetti dell'inerbimento sul comportamento vegeto-produttivo di un oliveto in ambiente mediterraneo
A second-degree atrioventricular block with double escape rhythm secondary to paroxysmal vagal hypertonia.
Effetti del pascolamento della sulla e/o della loiessa per 8 o 24 ore sul comportamento alimentare e sulla produzione lattiero-casearia di pecore Comisane
This experiment aimed to examine the effects of the utilization of monocultures of ryegrass (R), sulla (S) or both of them (RS), and the prolongation of daily grazing from 8 h (8:00-16:00) to 24 h, evaluating behaviour, selectivity, intake and milk and cheese production of ewes at pasture. The experiment involved 42 Comisana ewes averaging 146±55 days in milk, divided into 6 homogeneous groups which, since 19th April for 42 days, continuously grazed under a stocking rate of 34 ewes/ha. Ewes involving in eating activity were higher in R and for 24-h grazing, in relation to lower intake rate. RS ewes reduced eating time and increased lying activity. During daytime, the eating gradually decrea…
Yield And Competitive Ability Against Weeds Of Mixtures Between Old And Modern Wheat Varieties
Durum wheat is the keystone of the agro-ecosystems in the arable land of the Mediterranean environments and an important part of its area falls within organic farms. For this crop competition exerted by weeds for the use of resources (natural and auxiliary) can determine drastic yield and quality reductions (Ruisi et al., 2015). In organic farming such critical issue is often addressed through a remodelling of several techniques such as soil tillage management, sowing time, plant density and genotype choice. With regard to the latter, there is a growing interest by organic farmers towards the old varieties as they, compared to the modern varieties, have a definitely greater competitive weed…
Preventive and Therapeutic Role of Muscle Contraction Against Chronic Diseases.
Background: Due to the continuing increase of the elderly population in the western countries, the prevalence of the main chronic diseases (obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders, arterial hypertension, vascular damage due to atherosclerotic process, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic kidney disease, immune-mediated diseases) is increasing. There is incontrovertible evidence that regular physical activity contributes to the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases and is associated with a reduced risk of premature death. Methods: In this review the most prevalent chronic pathologic conditions are discussed…
Effetto della somministrazione del seme di cardo mariano sulla produzione di latte in pecore Comisane.
Growth and development of succulent mixtures for extensive green roofs in a Mediterranean climate.
Green roof systems, aimed at reducing anthropic impact on the environment, are considered environmental mitigation technologies and adopted by many countries across the world to strengthen urban ecosystem services. This study evaluates two mixtures of succulent: one of Crassulaceae and the other of Aizoaceae, used in the creation of a continuous and homogenous plant groundcover in Mediterranean environments. To assess the species mixtures, the parameters plant height, growth index, cover percentage and flowering were observed. Hydrological observations were also carried out to evaluate the rainfall retained by the test system in any given month. All data were subjected to analysis of varian…
Triticale: quale varietà scegliere per le prossime semine
La variabilità dei risultati è dovuta principalmente ad alcune avversità, tra le quali ruggine gialla e bruna. Le varietà consigliate sono 12 per l’areale Nord, 15 per il Centro e 12 per il Sud e le Isole. Il potenziale produttivo di questi gruppi varietali risulta rispettivamente di 7,1 t/ha al Nord, 5,8 t/ha al Centro e 4,9 t/ha nel Sud e Isole.
Effetto della tecnica di pascolamento sulla produzione di latte ovino
Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum L.) as a Novel Multipurpose Crop for Agriculture in Marginal Environments: A Review
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is a versatile crop that has adapted to the broadly different soil and environmental conditions throughout all continents. To date, the fruits (“seeds”) of the plant are the only reliable source of silymarin, which, given its recognized therapeutic effects and its many present and potential uses, has led to a significant re-discovery and enhancement of the crop in recent years. Overall, although many studies have been carried out globally on the bioactivity, phytochemistry, and genetics of milk thistle, few and discontinuous research activity has been conducted on its basic agronomy as well as on the farm opportunities offered by the cultivation …
Forage yield and N2 fixation of Trifolium alexandrinum in pure stand and in mixture with Lolium multiflorum.
The efficiency of grass-legume intercrop systems is affected by various agronomic factors such as crop density, plant spacing and arrangement that may alter the competitive relationships between component crops. This study was aimed to evaluate yield, N concentration, and symbiotic N2 fixation of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) grown in pure stand or in mixture with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) either in alternating rows or in the same row. The experiment was conducted in two consecutive growing seasons in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment (Sicily, Italy). Dry matter (DM) yields were similar in the mixed stands and in the berseem pure stand; the annual ryegrass pu…
Plant arrangement effects on dry matter production and nitrogen fixation of berseem clover-annual reygrass mixture.
Autonomic dysfunction in a group of lower extremities arterial disease outpatients.
Background: The understanding of the specific role of sympathetic neural control and dysregulation in lower extremities arterial disease (LEAD) is still very limited. Aim of our study was to investigate the autonomic profile in LEAD patients and to evaluate if the eventual autonomic alterations were more severe in patients with advanced disease. Methods: We enrolled all consecutive outpatients with LEAD referred to our Departments between July 2012 and September 2014. They were compared to a group of matched outpatients without LEAD. All patients underwent Holter ECG monitoring. Time-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was evaluated. Results: Compared to controls, patients with …
Meat production from dairy breed lambs due to slaughter age and feeding plan based on wheat bran
This experiment aimed to investigate the possibility to increase the carcass weight of dairy breed lambs and produce moderate-fat meat by applying inexpensive feeding strategies based on restriction and through the use of a fibrous byproduct such as the durum wheat bran (DWB). Sixty-five 45-day-old lambs of the Valle del Belice breed, divided into 6 groups, were fed alfalfa hay supplemented with concentrate feeds including DWB at 0% or 20% (DWB0, DWB20), supplied ad libitum (L) or restricted at 75% (R), and slaughtered at 90 or 120 days of age. The groups were as follows: DWB0-90L (n = 14), DWB20-90L (n = 14), DWB0-120R (n = 10), DWB20-120R (n = 9), DWB0-120L (n = 9), DWB20-120L (n = 9). Th…
Mediterranean forage legumes grown alone or in mixture with annual ryegrass: biomass production, N2 fixation, and indices of intercrop efficiency
Aims: To evaluate the productivity and N2 fixation of a range of Mediterranean forage legume species as well as their ability to be grown in mixture with a forage grass, and to verify whether N transfer occurs from the legume to the non-legume component of the mixtures and, if so, to what extent this process is affected by legume species. Methods: Seven legume species (Hedysarum coronarium L., Medicago scutellata L., Trifolium resupinatum L., Trifolium squarrosum L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Vicia sativa L., Vicia villosa Roth) were grown alone or in mixture with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.). Biomass and N yields and biological N2 fixation (15N dilution technique) were measu…
GRAZING SULLA AND/OR RYEGRASS FORAGE FOR 8 OR 24 HOURS DAILY. 1. EFFECTS ON EWES FEEDING BEHAVIOUR
Metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of a home-based programme of aerobic physical exercise
Summary Aims Regular exercise demonstrated the ability to provide enormous benefits to many diseases, atherosclerotic-based, degenerative and neoplastic, but also to grant anti-inflammatory actions, assessed by various authors in different populations. Despite of these clear benefits, many patients are unable to attain long-term results through chronic physical activity for different causes. On this basis, the aim of our study was to assess the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of a home-based programme of fast walking in patients affected by metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods We enrolled 176 subjects with MS as stated by ATP III criteria. Patients were invited to walk for…
Tecniche conservative di gestione del suolo in ambiente mediterraneo: risultati di un ventennio di sperimentazioni.
Latte ovino e caprino in estate con il pascolamento notturno
Relationship between HRV measurements and demographic and clinical variables in a population of patients with atrial fibrillation.
Little is known about the role of HRV in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Aim of our study was to assess the relationship between HRV measurements and demographic and clinical variables in a population of 274 AF patients. We selected all consecutive patients with persistent/permanent AF among whom had performed a Holter ECG in our Department from April 2010 to April 2015. Time-domain analysis of HRV was evaluated. Demographic and clinical variables were collected for each patient. At multivariable logistic regression, a higher pNN50 was associated with ACE inhibitors/ARBs (p = 0.016) and a lower pNN50 with obesity (p = 0.037) and higher heart rate (HR) (p < 0.0005). A higher RMSSD w…
Effetti della competizione interspecifica sull’efficienza di utilizzazione dell’azoto in differenti genotipi di frumento duro al variare della disponibilità azotata.
A re-entry tachycardia triggered by the spontaneous interruption of an atrial tachycardia.
The common atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia is the most common form of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It starts frequently with a supraventricular ectopic beat that, on finding the fast pathway in refractory period, travels in the slow pathway as to appear as a prolongation of the PR interval on the ECG. In this study, we show a singular case of a common atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia triggered by the spontaneous interruption of an atrial tachycardia.
Quali varietà di triticale seminare nel 2016-2017
Significativi attacchi di ruggine gialla associati a scarse precipitazioni sulle Isole e a diffusi fenomeni di allettamento al Centro e al Nord hanno influito negativamente su tutte le medie produttive. Le rese sono pertanto state inferiori rispetto al 2015, con 6,5 t/ha al Nord, 4,6 al Centro e 3,5 al Sud e Isole
Comportamento delle specie da inerbimento in diversi contesti ambientali: ambienti prevalentemente mediterranei
Morpho-agronomic and genetic diversity among twelve sicilian agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris)
Although Sicily is relatively small (about 25000 km2), it accounts for several agro-ecotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), for many of which no data on morphological, agronomic, and organoleptic characteristics are available to date. Thus, experiments were performed to characterize 12 lentil agro-ecotypes from different areas of Sicily, including some small islands surrounding the main island, and to assess the extent of genetic diversity (by means of six inter-simple sequence repeat [ISSR] primers). A famous agro-ecotype from central Italy (Castelluccio di Norcia) and two commercial varieties from Canada (Eston and Laird) were also included in the study. The results showed a large deg…
Effects of Diets Supplemented with Medicinal Mushroom Myceliated Grains on Some Production, Health, and Oxidation Traits of Dairy Ewes
The beneficial properties of mushrooms’ bioactive compounds indicate their potential for use as performance-enhancing natural additives for livestock animals. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with mushroom myceliated grains (MMGs) fed to dairy ewes on intestinal parasite load, milk production, milk fatty acid (FA) composition, and cheese oxidative stability. During an 8-week experimental period, 21 lactating Valle del Belice ewes were divided into 3 groups named MMG20, MMG10, and MMG0. Ewes in each group were fed hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day/head of 1 of 3 concentrates with MMGs at 20% (MMG20), 10% (MMG10), or 0% (MMG0). The ewes fed MMG20 had comparable…
Ecology of yeasts associated with kernels of several durum wheat genotypes and their role in co-culture with Saccharomyces cerevisiae during dough leavening
International audience; This work was performed to investigate on the yeast ecology of durum wheat to evaluate the interaction between kernel yeasts and the commercial baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during dough leavening. Yeast populations were studied in 39 genotypes of durum wheat cultivated in Sicily. The highest level of kernel yeasts was 2.9 Log CFU/g. A total of 413 isolates was collected and subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. Twenty-three yeast species belonging to 11 genera have been identified. Filobasidium oeirense, Sporobolomyces roseus and Aureobasidium pullulans were the species most commonly found in durum wheat kernels. Doughs were co-inoculated …
Effets de sources protéiques alternatives au soja sur les performances de croissance et sur la qualité de la viande d'agneaux à 130 jours.
Seasonal response of vegetation on pollutants removal in constructed wetland system treating dairy wastewater
Constructed wetland systems provide the ideal solution for small and medium dairy farms as they can be built close to the farm and are easy to manage and use. However, their perfomance is significantly affected by vegetation activity during the year. The aims of the present study were to assess the treatment of dairy wastewater (DWW) by a horizontal subsurface flow system (HSSFs) and the effect of plants in the removal efficiency (RE) of BOD5, COD, total N (TN) and total P (TP), in Sicily (Italy). The HSSFs treated 6/7 m3 per day of wastewater produced by a small dairy farm subsequent to biological treatment. The system included two units which were separately planted with Arundo donax L. a…
Tutte le varietà di triticale per le semine 2011
In tutti gli areali sono state ottenute buone produzioni di granella con medie produttive pari a 6,2 t/ha al Nord, 6,6 t/ha al Centro e 5,3 t/ha nel Sud e Isole. solo in un campo prova si è verificato il pre-germogliamento della spiga.
Risposta di genotipi siciliani di lenticchia (Lens culinaris Medik.) in diversi ambienti collinari
Aromatic and proteomic analyses corroborate the distinction between Mediterranean landraces and modern varieties of durum wheat
AbstractIn this paper volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from durum wheat cultivars and landraces were analyzed using PTR-TOF-MS. The aim was to characterize the VOC’s profile of the wholemeal flour and of the kernel to find out if any VOCs were specific to varieties and sample matrices. The VOC data is accompanied by SDS-PAGE analyses of the storage proteins (gliadins and glutenins). Statistical analyses was carried out both on the signals obtained by MS and on the protein profiles. The difference between the VOC profile of two cultivars or two preparations of the same sample - matrices, in this case kernel vs wholemeal flour - can be very subtle; the high resolution of PTR-TOF-MS - down to…
Nitrogen Transfer Is Enhanced By AMF Fungi In A Faba Bean/Wheat Intercropping
Intercropping is an agricultural practice that can offer several benefits allowing a better native resources use efficiency and, consequently, a restraint of the auxiliary inputs and often a greater production compared to the monocultures (Brooker et al. 2015). Several authors observed that, in a legume/non-legume mixture, one of the benefits could be the N transfer (up to 80 % of the non-legume N demand; Thilakarathna et al. 2016). The transfer may occur via different pathways: legume rhizodeposition, plant tissue decomposition and direct transfer through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Bedoussac et al. 2015). The latter, can simultaneously establish symbiotic relationship with differe…
Effect of stocking rate on selective behaviour and milk production of Girgentana goats grazing a ryegrass and berseem clover mixture
The critical period of weed control in faba bean and chickpea in Mediterranean areas
Weeds are often the major biological constraint to growing legume crops successfully, and an understanding of the critical period of weed control (CPWC) is important for developing environmentally sustainable weed management practices to prevent unacceptable yield loss. Therefore, we carried out two field experiments to identify the CPWC for two grain legume crops traditionally grown in Mediterranean areas: chickpea and faba bean. The experiments were conducted at two sites both located in the Sicilian inland (Italy). In chickpea, when weeds were left to compete with the crop for the whole cycle, the grain yield reduction was on average about 85% of the weed-free yield, whereas in faba bean…
Prognostic value of two geriatric screening tools in a cohort of older patients with early stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy
Objectives: To investigatewhether assessmentwith two geriatric screening tools shows a correlationwith clinical outcomes of patients aged 65 years or more, with early-stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (es-NSCLC) treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Methods: FromMarch 2014 to June 2018we retrospectively evaluated 42 patientswith stage I and II lung tumors. Patients were assessed with Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and G8 screening tool. Median age was 74 years (range, 65–91). Stereotactic radiotherapy was performed with Helical Tomotherapy delivering 50–70 Gray (Gy) in 8–10 fractions. Toxicity was evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 criter…
Uso di estratti antiossidanti di crusca di grano duro per ottenere una nuova pasta funzionale con l’approccio di arricchimento “da grano a grano”
La crescente attenzione dei consumatori per gli alimenti funzionali ha stimolato le ricerche su nuovi tipi di pasta ottenuti con ingredienti in grado di migliorarne l’attività antiossidante, il profilo amminoacidico o il contenuto di acidi grassi polinsaturi e fibre, con risultati, però, non sempre soddisfacenti a causa di alterazioni delle proprietà tecnologiche e sensoriali della pasta (consistenza, tenuta alla cottura, odori e sapori inusuali). La crusca di grano duro contiene numerosi composti bioattivi, tra cui fenoli, carotenoidi e tococromanoli, che possono essere estratti con tecnologie green e reintegrati nell’impasto per ottenere prodotti con caratteristiche simili alla pasta trad…
La produzione lattiero-casearia ovina in funzione della durata del pascolamento giornaliero
The timing of daily grazing on annual ryegrass or sulla forage: the effects on the milk yield and composition of Comisana ewes
Forage mixture productivity and silage quality from a grass/legume intercrop in a semiarid Mediterranean environment
In semiarid environments of the Mediterranean region, intercropping is a sustainable agricultural system of long standing. In this area, the pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most commonly grown legume crops. Little information is available on the quality of silages to be obtained from forage mixtures of pea intercropped with cereals or annual grasses. In this study, two experiments were conducted over the course of two growing seasons in Sicily (Italy) with the aim to determine the biomass production of forage crop mixtures and assess, only in the second experiment, the silage quality of grass and legumes. Four cereals and one annual grass species were grown in pure stand and in mixture…
Una rete nazionale italiana per i tappeti erbosi
Early Sowing Allows To Reduce Weed Pressure In No-Till Organic Durum Wheat Production
In organic farming, the adoption of the conventional tillage (CT) technique is considered by many farmers to be necessary to control weeds. Such tillage system, in fact, permits to bury weed seeds deep in the soil by means of soil inversion with moldboard plowing and to eliminate the weed plants that gradually emerge by means of the secondary tillage operations. However, it is also true that intensive tillage progressively reduces the soil organic matter content and the stability of soil aggregates, thus increasing the risk of soil erosion (Six et al. 2000). This is in contrast with one of the basic principles of organic agriculture, which is the conservation of soil fertility. Alternativel…
New insights about the putative role of myokines in the context of cardiac rehabilitation and secondary cardiovascular prevention.
Exercise training prevents the onset and the development of many chronic diseases, acting as an effective tool both for primary and for secondary prevention. Various mechanisms that may be the effectors of these beneficial effects have been proposed during the past decades: some of these are well recognized, others less. Muscular myokines, released during and after muscular contraction, have been proposed as key mediators of the systemic effects of the exercise. Nevertheless the availability of an impressive amount of evidence regarding the systemic effects of muscle-derived factors, few studies have examined key issues: (I) if skeletal muscle cells themselves are the main source of cytokin…
Long-term effects of no tillage treatment on soil N availability, N uptake, and 15N-fertilizer recovery of durum wheat differ in relation to crop sequence
Abstract No tillage (NT) soil management has largely been promoted because of its potential to generate both economic and environmental benefits. However, it often leads to reductions in crop yield and quality, which in many cases have been attributed to the effects this technique has on the nitrogen (N) dynamics in the soil–plant system. This 2-year study, performed within a long-term experiment in which NT was continuously applied for over 15 years, aimed to verify whether and to what extent the use of NT affects soil N availability, recovery of 15 N-labeled fertilizer, and N use efficiency (NUE) and its components (N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE). Durum wheat w…
Effects of proteic concentrates different from soya-bean on growth performances and meat quality of 130 days lambs.
Long-term tillage and crop sequence effects on wheat grain yield and quality.
Much research around the world has compared the performance of cereals grown under conventional and conservation tillage systems; however, relatively few long-term experiments have been conducted in Mediterranean areas, and little attention has been given to interactions among tillage techniques and other system components across space and time. In this study, we investigated the effects of the long-term (18-yr) use of three tillage techniques (conventional tillage, CT; reduced tillage, RT; and no-till, NT) on wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grain yield and quality within three crop sequences: continuous wheat, faba bean (Vicia faba L.)–wheat, and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)–whe…
The "Neurocentric" Approach to Essential Hypertension: How Reliable is the Paradigm of Hyperkinetic Hypertension? A Focus on the Sympathetic Nervous System Dysregulation in Essential Hypertensive Patients with Elevated Resting Heart Rate.
BACKGROUND: Clinic resting heart rate (RHR), is one of the cardiovascular parameters more easily measurable. In the general population RHR has been associated with total and cardiovascular mortality and higher rate of vascular events. OBJECTIVE: The case of essential hypertension is in some ways peculiar: in the past decades has often been attributed to hypertensive subjects higher values of RHR than healthy controls as a result of the effects of the different factors leading to the development of essential hypertension itself, first of all the presence of an increased tone of the sympathetic nervous system Methods: Several excellent articles debated the issue of autonomic dysfunction in es…
Effetti di diversi tipi di inerbimento sul comportamento vegeto-produttivo dell'arboreto
Valutazione di genotipi di trifoglio sotterraneo per usi foraggeri e non convenzionali in ambiente mediterraneo
Wheat yield and grain quality as affected by tillage, sowing time and nitrogen fertilization under rainfed Mediterranean conditions
The research was carried out in 9 sites (5 in 1999-00 and 4 in 2000-01) of inner area of Sicily different for soil type, slope, exposure and preceding crop. The following treatments were studied: (i) conventional tillage and sowing at conventional time (CT); (ii) no tillage and sowing at conventional time (NTc); and (iii) no tillage and early sowing (NTe). In 2000-01 the effect of three nitrogen fertilization treatment (single application at planting, P, and split dressing at two different rates, S and S+) were also evaluated. No tillage systems (NTc and NTe) significantly increased grain yield compared to CT treatment; no differences were observed between the two sowing dates. The producti…
Triticale: le varietà per le prossime semine.
QT Indexes in Cirrhotic Patients: Relationship with Clinical Variables and Potential Diagnostic Predictive Value.
Background and Aims A wide spectrum of cardiovascular changes characterizes cirrhosis, ranging from subclinical alterations to hyperkinetic syndrome. We looked for ECG markers of ventricular repolarization in a population of patients with cirrhosis in comparison to patients without cirrhosis and we investigated the relationship between these and other clinical and laboratory variables. Methods In 149 patients with cirrhosis and 152 controls, we measured QT maximum interval (QTmax), QT corrected interval (QTc), QT minimum interval (QTmin), QT dispersion (QTdisp), QT peak and T peak-to-end (TpTe). Results In subjects with cirrhosis, in comparison with controls, we observed a higher mean QTmax…
Realizzazione e gestione degli inerbimenti nelle colture arboree
Heart rate variability in sick sinus syndrome: does it have a diagnostic role?
BACKGROUND: Hypothesis of our study was that the irregular rhythm of sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was characterized by an augmented HRV. Objective was to assess whether SSS patients had a typical HRV profile. METHODS: We screened all 1947 consecutive Holter ECGs performed in our Units of Vascular Medicine and Internal Medicine and Cardioangiology at the University of Palermo (Italy) from April 2010 to September 2014. Among these, we selected 30 patients with ECG criteria of SSS. They were compared to 30 patients without SSS matched for age, sex and comorbidities. RESULTS: The SSS group had a lower mean heart rate (HR) (P=0.003), and a longer mean NN max-min longer (P<0.0005) compared to con…
Use of green sulla forage for feeding 2. Effects on lamb carcass and meat quality
Risposta produttiva di popolazioni e varietà di avena al variare della modalità di gestione
Improvement of Oxidative Status, Milk and Cheese Production, and Food Sustainability Indexes by Addition of Durum Wheat Bran to Dairy Cows’ Diet
Durum wheat bran (DWB) is a by-product mostly used in feeding ruminants, contributing to decrease in the utilization of feeds suitable as foods for human consumption, thus improving the sustainability of livestock production. However, the potential benefits of DWB, due to its content in phenolic acids, mainly consisting of ferulic acid with antioxidant properties, have not been well clarified yet. Accordingly, in this experiment, 36 lactating cows divided into three groups received, over a period of 100 days, one of three concentrates including DWB at 0% (DWB0), 10% (DWB10), or 20% (DWB20). The concentrates were formulated to be isoproteic and isoenergetic and, to balance the higher fiber c…
Biological nitrogen fixation by pea and lentil in rainfed Mediterranean conditions
Does sympathetic overactivation feature all hypertensives? Differences of sympathovagal balance according to night/day blood pressure ratio in patients with essential hypertension
When evaluating the 'night/day BP ratio', both hypertensives and normotensives can be arbitrarily classified into four groups: extreme dippers (ratio ⩽0.8), dippers (0.8<ratio ⩽0.9), mild dippers (0.9<ratio⩽1.0) and reverse dippers (ratio ⩾1.0). Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have poorer prognoses compared with the physiological dipper profile, but the prognostic relevance of the extreme dipper profile remains uncertain. The evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV), obtained by 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, is the most frequently used noninvasive form of assessment of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have reduced HRV, indicating an o…
Different effectiveness of two pastas supplemented with either lipophilic or hydrophilic/phenolic antioxidants in affecting serum as evaluated by the novel Antioxidant/Oxidant Balance approach.
Effectiveness in improving serum antioxidant status of two functional pastas was evaluated by the novel Antioxidant/ Oxidant Balance (AOB) parameter, calculated as Antioxidant Capacity (AC)/Peroxide Level ratio, assessed here for the first time. In particular, Bran Oleoresin (BO) and Bran Water (BW) pastas, enriched respectively with either lipophilic (tocochromanols, carotenoids) or hydrophilic/phenolic antioxidants extracted from durum wheat bran, were studied. Notably, BO pasta was able to improve significantly (+65%) serum AOB during four hours after intake similarly to Lisosan G, a wheat antioxidant-rich dietary supplement. Contrarily, BW pasta had oxidative effect on serum so as conve…
Functional, textural and sensory properties of dry pasta supplemented with lyophilized tomato matrix or with durum wheat bran extracts produced by supercritical carbon dioxide or ultrasound
A study was carried out to produce functional pasta by adding bran aqueous extract (BW) and bran oleoresin (BO) obtained using ultrasound and supercritical CO2, respectively, or a powdery lyophilized tomato matrix (LT). The bioactive compounds, hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity (HAA and LAA) in vitro, were evaluated. BW supplementation did not improve antioxidant activity, whilst LT pasta showed unconventional taste and odor. BO pasta had good levels of tocochromanols (2551 μg/100 g pasta f.w.) and carotenoids (40.2 μg/100 g pasta f.w.), and the highest HAA and LAA. The oleoresin altered starch swelling and gluten network, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, therefor…
Effetti della Modalità di Gestione del Suolo e dell’Avvicendamento Colturale sulla Dinamica delle Popolazioni di Infestanti nel Frumento Duro in Ambiente Mediterraneo.
Switching from conventional tillage to no-tillage: Soil N availability, N uptake,15N fertilizer recovery, and grain yield of durum wheat
Abstract This 2-year study, performed in a typical Mediterranean environment on three soil types (two Inceptisols and one Vertisol), aimed to improve understanding of the factors that play a major role in determining crop response when soil management shifts from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT). The effects of NT on the soil nitrogen (N) availability, N uptake, 15N fertilizer recovery, and grain yield of durum wheat were evaluated in comparison to CT under five different N fertilization rates (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg N ha−1). Compared to CT, NT negatively affected grain yield in one of the two years but only in the two Inceptisols. On average, a considerable grain yield adva…
Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Nitrogen Fertilizer Recovery of Durum Wheat Genotypes as Affected by Interspecific Competition
A better understanding of the genotype response to N fertilization under weed competition is necessary to identify varieties that exhibit high N use effi ciency even when weeds compete for available N. Such varieties may be more suitable for low input or organic systems. Th is study assessed the variations in nitrogen use effi ciency (NUE) (and its components) and the recovery of 15 N-labeled fertilizer in three durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes (one landrace and two varieties that diff er in terms of plant growth, grain yield potential, and adaptability to stressful environments) grown in the presence or absence of interspecifi c competition and varying soil N availability (0 or…
Effects of soil inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth and nutrient uptake of some Mediterranean species grown under rainfed field conditions
Serum antioxidant capacity and peroxide level of seven healthy subjects after consumption of different foods
This article reports experimental data related to the research article entitled “Different effectiveness of two pastas supplemented with either lipophilic or hydrophilic/phenolic antioxidants in affecting serum as evaluated by the novel Antioxidant/Oxidant Balance approach” (M.N. Laus, M. Soccio, M. Alfarano, A. Pasqualone, M.S. Lenucci, G. Di Miceli, D. Pastore, 2016) [1]. Antioxidant status of blood serum of seven healthy subjects was evaluated during four hours after consumption of two functional pastas, supplemented with either bran oleoresin or bran water extract obtained from durum wheat. For comparison, the effect of a non-supplemented reference pasta was also evaluated, as well as t…
Le varietà di triticale per le semine 2012
Il potenziale produttivo delle varietà consigliate per i diversi areali risulta pari a 7,8 t/ha al Nord, 8 t/ha al Centro e 6,2 t/ha nel Sud e Isole.
Agro-ecological benefits of faba bean for rainfed Mediterranean cropping systems
This paper reviews the main results from a set of experiments carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean environment during the past 25 years on faba bean (<em>Vicia faba</em> L.), a crop traditionally grown in southern Italy and Sicily under rainfed conditions. These experiments focused on the residual effects of faba bean on subsequent crop(s) and assessment of the nitrogen (N) balance during the crop cycle, paying attention to both the environmental release of N (losses via volatilisation and denitrification) and estimates of N2 fixation as influenced by tillage system, intercropping, and presence/absence of mycorrhizal inoculum. Faba bean relied on N2 fixation more than other g…
Tillage effects on yield and nitrogen fixation of legumes in Mediterranean conditions
Published in Agron. J. 104:1459–1466 (2012) Posted online [DATE] doi:10.2134/agronj2012.0070 Copyright © 2012 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. I agricultural practices that involve the use of agrochemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides have greatly increased the global food supply but often with detrimental effects on the environment, such as contamination of ground…
Fibres as functional foods and the effects on gut hormones: The example of β-glucans in a single arm pilot study
Abstract Nutritional styles as Mediterranean and DASH diets are associated with lower incidences of certain chronic diseases and long life expectancy. The reason lays on their different contribution in fibers, polyphenols (from vegetables and fruit) and proteins. Barley is high fiber cereal that contains high amount of β-glucans and insoluble fibers that it was recognized having healthy benefits. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of β-glucans intake on glycaemic response, cholesterol and intestinal hormones levels. A single arm pilot study was performed with ten healthy individual which, consumed pasta enriched with 6% β-glucans for 30 days. Blood was collected at fasting and…
Forage production, N uptake, N2 fixation, and N recovery of berseem clover grown in pure stand and in mixture with annual ryegrass under different managements
In Mediterranean countries, forage grasses and legumes are commonly grown in mixture because of their ability to increase herbage yield and quality compared with monocrop systems. However, the benefits of intercropping over a monocrop system are not always realized because the efficiency of a grass–legume mixture is strongly affected by agronomic factors. The present study evaluated productivity, N2 fixation, N transfer, and N recovery of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) grown in pure stand and in mixture with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) under high or low defoliation frequencies and varying plant arrangements (sowing in the same row or in alternating rows). On average, the b…
Old and New Drugs for Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure.
Background: Advanced heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease with high mortality and limited medical therapeutic options. Long-term mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation remain goldstandard treatments for these patients; however, access to these therapies is limited by the advanced age and multiple comorbidities of affected patients, as well as by the limited number of organs available. Methods: Traditional and new drugs available for the treatment of advanced HF have been researched. Results: To date, the cornerstone for the treatment of patients with advanced HF remains water restriction, intravenous loop diuretic therapy and inotropic support. However, many patien…
Effect of defoliation management and plant arrangement on yield and N2 fixation of berseem-annual ryegrass mixture
The research was carried out in a Mediterranean semi-arid environment on berseem clover, annual ryegrass and their mixture to study the effect of defoliation management [date of first cut (FC) 85, 119, 140, 169 days after sowing] and different plant arrangements (sowing the two components in alternate rows or in the same row) on yields, N content, N2 fixation and N transfer. The experimental design was a split-plot with four replications. The 15 N isotope dilution technique was used (8 kg N ha –1 as ammonium sulphate at 10 atom% 15 N excess) to evaluate the N2 fixation. Total seasonal DM yield was, on average, significantly higher for FC119 and FC140 (approx. 12.3 t ha –1 ) than for FC85 and FC…
Productivity of an Atriplex halimus shrubbery and effects of grazing on lambs
The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the productivity and forage quality of Atriplex halimus, 2) investigate modifications to shrub structure induced by grazing, and 3) assess live weight changes in lambs grazing on A. halimus with and without a feed supplement (wheat straw ± barley grain). The results showed that A. halimus had low productivity (approximately 1000 kg DM ha–1) but high tolerance to grazing by lambs, although minor modifications in plant structure due to grazing were observed. Lambs grazing A. halimus as a sole diet lost weight (about 60 g lamb−1 d–1; P < 0.01), probably as a consequence of the high salt content of the forage reducing bot…