Application of the RICEWQ-VADOFT model for simulating the environmental fate of pretilachlor in rice paddies

No validated models in Europe are capable of simulating the environmental fate of pesticides under the specific conditions of rice fields. Rice water quality--vadose zone flow and transport (RICEWQ-VADOFT) is a model developed from the coupling of a surface runoff model (RICEWQ) and a vadose zone flow and transport model (VADOFT) for determining predicted environmental concentrations in paddy water and sediment, runoff, and groundwater. This study is intended to evaluate the capability of this model to simulate effectively the environmental fate of the herbicide pretilachlor in the paddy environment. A two-year field study conducted in a representative rice-cultivated area of northern Italy provided measured concentrations of pretilachlor in paddy water and sediment and also a limited number of observations on runoff losses. The model successfully predicted the water balance in the paddy field in both years. After limited calibration, the model predicted the fate of pretilachlor in paddy water and sediment with high accuracy. Agreement between predicted and measured concentrations of pretilachlor in both years was assessed statistically using several statistical indicators. For example, modeling efficiency (EF) values of 0.867 to 0.935 and 0.702 to 0.718 in paddy water and sediment, respectively, document the strong agreement between predicted and measured pesticide concentrations. The model predictions showed high agreement with the limited amount of measured runoff data in 2002. The model predicted that no significant amounts of pretilachlor would leach below the top 25 cm of the soil, although no measured data were available to evaluate the predicted results. A sensitivity analysis of the model to variables controlling pesticide partitioning to paddy sediment (VBIND, depth for direct partitioning of pesticide to bed sediment; VMIX, mixing velocity by molecular diffusion) revealed that the predictions of pesticide leaching were influenced strongly by those variables. Generally the RICEWQ-VADOFT model is a useful modeling tool for pesticide risk assessment in rice paddies.     

Homocysteinemia is inversely correlated with platelet count and directly correlated with sE- and sP-selectin levels in females homozygous for C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

Plasma homocysteine levels depend in part on the molecular nature of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and on blood folate intake. Little has been reported on platelet counts in the presence of hyperhomocysteinemia and MTHFR polymorphisms, with the exception of delayed platelet recovery in homozygous MTHFR C677T subjects after treatment with methotrexate for ovarian cancer. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the possibility of a link between the platelet count and plasma homocysteine levels in different MTHFR variants in 165 female patients. Determinations of plasma homocysteine levels were by ELISA and of MTHFR polymorphisms (A1298C and C677T) were by inverse hybridization. Serum P- and E-selectin concentrations were obtained by ELISA. An inverse correlation (R=-0.88, P<0.001) was observed between blood platelet counts and plasma homocysteine levels in the women homozygous for MTHFR C677T. This correlation did not depend on pregnancy or other variables reported. Serum concentrations of sE- and sP-selectin, markers of endothelial and platelet activation, were significantly and positively correlated with homocysteine levels. These findings suggest that homocysteine affects platelet numbers in women with MTHFR C677T possibly consequent to endothelial and platelet activation.     

Accumulation of dolichol in older tissues satisfies the proposed criteria to be qualified a biomarker of aging

Criteria for defining biomarkers have been suggested. Accumulation of dolichol in tissues of older animals meets the following criteria: (a) levels of dolichol exhibit a quantitative correlation with age in all tissues and are not altered by several age-dependent diseases in the same direction as that of aging; (b) accumulation is not secondary to metabolic changes of aging and is altered appropriately by factors that modulate the aging rate like caloric restriction and physical exercise; (c) biomarker is applicable to different tissues across mammalian species, including humans, and to trisomy 21 and its hypothalamic digoxin-mediated model. Reliable changes in tissue dolichol levels are seen in relatively short intervals of time compared to over a life span, and levels can be tested on a small amount of tissue without causing death of the animal. In this article, we show applications to the study of host-graft interaction and detection of gender-related differences in biological age, and we discuss mechanism(s) of accumulation.     

Subclinical hypothyroidism in a patient affected by advanced AIDS and visceral leishmaniasis

Hypothyroidism has been shown to occur in HIV disease. Thyroid function of patients affected by AIDS and leishmaniasis is unknown. Here we report the case of an AIDS advanced patient developing hypothyroidism during leishmaniasis. The thyroid disorder might have been caused by infiltration of the gland by Leishmania. An additive impact of HIV in thyroid function impairment is suggested.     

Inter-rater reliability of the EEG reading in patients with childhood idiopathic epilepsy

The level of agreement in the interpretation of EEG records by different experienced readers working in three child neurology tertiary centers has been evaluated. EEG recordings randomly chosen from patients with idiopathic epilepsy were included. Optimal or suboptimal agreement was found for presence of ictal and interictal discharges. Contrary to ictal discharges, the distribution and location of interictal discharges was not unanimously interpreted and agreement was unsatisfactory when assessing the background activity.     

Blood pressure control and risk of stroke in untreated and treated hypertensive patients screened from clinical practice: results of the ForLife study

OBJECTIVES: Stroke has a high prevalence in Italy, and is the third cause of death worldwide. Hypertension is the most important risk factor contributing to the risk of stroke. The aims of this study were to assess the risk of stroke in a large cohort of hypertensive patients, and to determine the percentage with controlled blood pressure, to establish the contribution of this factor to the risk of stroke. METHODS: The study involved general practitioners to make it representative of clinical practice. They were asked to recruit 10 consecutive hypertensive patients, treated and untreated. Data collection included a full medical history and a physical examination. The 10-year absolute risk of stroke was calculated by an algorithm derived, with some modification, from the Framingham study. RESULTS: Most untreated hypertensive patients were grade 1 or 2. In treated hypertensive patients, controlled blood pressure values occurred in 18.4%, the percentage being less in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and diabetes. In diabetic hypertensive patients the more stringent blood pressure control recommended by the guidelines was achieved in only 3.0% of cases. The average 10-year stroke risk was 17%, a greater risk being more common in elderly patients, diabetic individuals and in those with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: Current antihypertensive treatment achieved blood pressure control in a limited fraction of hypertensive patients seen by general practitioners. The risk of stroke in hypertensive patients is by no means negligible, which emphasizes the need for more attention to be paid to the prevention of this disease.     

Intermittent low-dose finasteride is as effective as daily administration for the treatment of hirsute women

In a prospective randomized study 38 women with idiopathic hirsutism or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) received 2.5 mg of finasteride every day or every 3 days. Intermittent low-dose administration of finasteride was as effective as continuous administration in reducing hirsutism score and was accompanied by a lower incidence of side effects.     

CDX-2 homeobox gene product expression in neuroendocrine tumors: its role as a marker of intestinal neuroendocrine tumors

CDX-2 is a homeobox gene product essential for intestinal development and differentiation. It can be used as a specific marker of colorectal adenocarcinomas and other tumors with intestinal differentiation, but little is known about its expression in endocrine and neuroendocrine (NE) cells and NE primary and metastatic tumors. Using the Cdx-2-88 monoclonal antibody, we evaluated CDX-2 expression in routine samples of 20 normal endocrine/NE tissues and of 299 samples of well-differentiated NE tumors (WDNET) and high-grade NE carcinomas (NEC) from different sites. For 17 cases, we examined primary and corresponding metastatic lesions. We also examined 8 cytologic samples of liver metastases derived from 4 ileal WDNETs, 1 lung WDNET, and 3 pancreatic endocrine tumors. CDX-2 mRNA expression with RT-PCR technique on frozen material was evaluated in 5 WDNETs. CDX-2 was expressed in normal NE cells of the intestine and gastric fundus. High CDX-2 expression was seen in all ileal and appendiceal WDNET, while low levels were seen in WDNETs from stomach, duodenum, and rectum; no reactivity was seen in other WDNETs. Low levels of CDX-2 expression were seen in one third of nonfunctioning pancreatic WDNET where it was more frequently observed in cases with metastatic disease (P = 0.002). CDX-2 was identified in all cytologic specimens of metastatic ileal WDNETs. CDX-2 mRNA analysis confirmed immunohistochemical results. CDX-2 was expressed at high levels in 81% of intestinal NEC. Unexpectedly, variable levels of expression of CDX-2 were seen also in 39% of NEC of other sites, without any relation with the site of origin. This reactivity frequently overlapped TTF-1 expression, suggesting deregulated expression of homeobox genes in NEC. The restricted pattern of CDX-2 expression may have diagnostic value in the identification of the primary site of a metastatic WDNET. Conversely, a limited diagnostic role is suggested for CDX-2 in NEC because of its frequent expression in nongastrointestinal tumors.     

Males with subnormal hypo-osmotic swelling test scores have lower pregnancy rates than those with normal scores when ovulation induction and timed intercourse is used as a treatment for mild problems with sperm count, motility, or morphology

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of the hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test in predicting successful conception in couples in which men with mild male-factor infertility criteria were undergoing a timed vaginal inter-course protocol. One hundred couples, in which mild male infertility was the only abnormality, were included in the study. Semen was analyzed according to standard World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and subjected to the HOS test. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=39) with normal HOS test and group 2 (n=61) with abnormal HOS test. All women underwent three consecutive cycles of follicular growth ultrasound monitoring and timed intercourse. Ten couples were exclude from the study. Ten clinical pregnancies were achieved in group 1 with a pregnancy rate per patient and per cycle of 28.5% and 9.5%, respectively. In group 2, 6 pregnancies were achieved, with a pregnancy rate per patient and per cycle of 10.9% and 3.6%, respectively. Both pregnancy rates per patients and per cycle was significantly higher (P <.05) in group 1 than in group 2. The HOS test may be considered an easy and reliable test in identifying among subfertile men those who have a greater possibility of causing pregnancy.