Hasil untuk "Physiology"

Wankun Xie, Min Zhao, Shu-Huai Tsai et al.

Background/Objectives: The correlation between in vivo morphological and functional changes in the degenerating retina in a large animal model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has not been characterized longitudinally. Herein, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to monitor the dynamic morphological changes in the Pro23His rhodopsin transgenic (TgP23H) pig model of RP and was correlated with electroretinography (ERG) in the rapid, early phase of photoreceptor degeneration. Methods: TgP23H and wild-type (WT) hybrid pig littermates at the ages of postnatal days 30 (P30), P60, and P90 were studied. The thickness of different retinal layers was quantified using SD-OCT and compared with histology. Retinal function was evaluated with ERG at corresponding time points. Results: In the WT pigs, retinal morphology on SD-OCT was consistent throughout the observation period. In the TgP23H pigs, the retinal thickness decreased significantly from P30 to P90. Moreover, the relative intensity of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) progressively decreased, while the intensity of the interdigitation zone–retinal pigment epithelium (IZ-RPE) progressively increased during this period. Morphological changes in SD-OCT corresponded with histology, as well as the progressively decreased amplitude of the ERG photopic a- and b-waves in the TgP23H pigs. Conclusions: Retinal degeneration can be quantified using SD-OCT by measuring retinal thickness and the intensity of the EZ and IZ-RPE bands in the TgP23H pig. The SD-OCT results correspond with the histologic and ERG assessments of retinal degeneration. These data provide a foundation for future preclinical studies investigating potential new therapeutic strategies in a large animal model of retinitis pigmentosa.

Jin Zhou, Austin Hepperla, Jeremy M. Simon et al.

Abstract Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, using clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a tumor type with frequent lung metastases, we conduct an in vivo genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen and identify HLF as a potent suppressor of lung metastasis. HLF depletion enhances ccRCC cell migration and lung metastasis, whereas HLF overexpression abrogates these effects. In ccRCC patients, HLF expression is reduced at metastatic sites and associates with epigenetic silencing mediated by the SWI/SNF ATPase subunit BRG1. HLF levels negatively correlate with migration potential in collagen. Mechanistically, HLF regulates LPXN expression, modulating the integration of collagen’s mechanical cues with the actin cytoskeleton through Paxillin, thereby suppressing cancer cell migration and lung metastasis. Overexpression of HLF or pharmacological inhibition of BRG1 reduces cell invasion across multiple cancer types. Our findings suggest that targeting the BRG1-HLF axis offers a promising therapeutic strategy for combating metastatic cancers.

W.A. Saka, O.R. Kolawole, A.A. Oladipo et al.

Background: Dichlorvos is an organophosphate pesticide that is useful in the control of pests and insects, however, it also induces toxicity in non-target cells via the initiation of inflammation and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, curcumin has been reported to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nevertheless, there is an inadequate understanding of the beneficial potential of curcumin in dichlorvos-induced cardiotoxicity. Aim: This study investigated the cardio-protective effects of curcumin in dichlorvos-induced cardiotoxicity. Materials and methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allotted into four groups; the control (1 mL of olive oil), curcumin-treated (100 mg/kg), DDVP-treated (98.54 g/m3 of dichlorvos by inhalation), and DDVP + Curcumin-treated. Results: It was observed that dichlorvos exposure led to cardiac histopathological damage such as focal vascular congestion, widened interstitial space between the cardiac myofibrils, and reduced thickness of the myofibrils. The results of the cardiac function test revealed a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase and a rise in creatinine kinase and troponin-I. These alterations were associated with elevated levels of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, IL-1β, and C-reactive protein (CRP), and reduced superoxide dismutase activity. Meanwhile, curcumin treatment in dichlorvos-exposed rats restored cardiac histoarchitecture and lipid profile and attenuated DDVP-induced rise in cardiac MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and CRP, and DDVP-induced decline in cardiac superoxide dismutase activity. Conclusion: Summarily, this study confirmed the cardiotoxicity of dichlorvos, and further demonstrated the protective effect of curcumin against dichlorvos-induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.

Changda Lu, Wei Cui, Zheng Zhu et al.

Uzakov Gulom, Chudov Ivan, Yunusov Khudaynazar et al.

Within the framework of the presented proceedings, the results of the conducted III International Conference on Current Issues of Breeding, Technology and Processing of Agricultural Crops, and Environment (CIBTA-III-2024).

Khayala Valizade, Hale Bayram, Yaprak Donmez Cakil et al.

The effect of paternal age on fertility remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to examine the impact of male age on semen parameters and the reproductive outcomes of men admitted to an infertility center over a 9-year period. A total of 8046 patients were included in the study. Men were divided into four age groups. The groups were evaluated for semen parameters and reproductive outcome. The 21–30 year group presented lower sperm concentrations in comparison to those aged 31–40 and 41–50, yet shared a similar concentration to those over 50 years of age. Moreover, grades A and B decreased significantly in men aged over 50 years. The highest progressive motility and normozoospermia were observed in the age group 31–40 years while men over 50 years of age had the highest rates of asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia. Furthermore, live birth results were reported in 5583 of the patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were found highest between 31–40 years of age. To our knowledge, this is the largest study in Turkey focusing on male age-related semen parameters and ICSI pregnancy outcomes. The study demonstrates that age is a significant factor for semen quality and live birth.

Víctor Gutiérrez-González, Gisela Gerardi, Pilar Muñiz et al.

Hyperglycemia is a significant risk factor in metabolic syndrome, contributing to the development of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia increases ROS (reactive oxygen species) production via glucose oxidation and protein glycosylation, leading to cell damage. Our previous studies have highlighted the antioxidant properties of wine pomace products (wWPPs), a co-product of winemaking, and their ability to modulate oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of wWPPs against oxidative stress in hyperglycemic Caco-2 cells. They were treated with 1.5 μg GAE/mL of wWPP bioaccessible fractions, obtained from gastrointestinal digestion (WPGI) and colonic fermentation (WPF), under normoglycemic or hyperglycemic (35 mM glucose) conditions. After 24 h of treatment, cell viability, oxidative stress biomarkers and the expression of transcription factors and enzymes involved in cellular oxidation balance were evaluated. Hyperglycemia induced a 30% reduction in cell viability, which was restored to normoglycemic levels by WPF treatment. The bioaccessible fractions were able to counteract hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in intestinal cells, as evidenced by significant decreases in carbonyl groups and MDA levels (10 and 40%, respectively). Furthermore, hyperglycemia-induced NF-κB overexpression was also significantly reduced by WPGI and WPF pre-treatment (between 15 and 53%), modulating the redox activity. In conclusion, the bioaccessible fractions of wWPP, particularly WPF, demonstrated significant potential in mitigating hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and enhancing cell viability in Caco-2 cells.

Philippe Sucosky, Varun Vinayak Kalaiarasan, Graham B. Quasebarth et al.

Abstract Long-duration spaceflight poses multiple hazards to human health, including physiological changes associated with microgravity. The hemodynamic adaptations occurring upon entry into weightlessness have been associated with retrograde stagnant flow conditions and thromboembolic events in the venous vasculature but the impact of microgravity on cerebral arterial hemodynamics and function remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of microgravity on hemodynamics and wall shear stress (WSS) characteristics in 16 carotid bifurcation geometries reconstructed from ultrasonography images using computational fluid dynamics modeling. Microgravity resulted in a significant 21% increase in flow stasis index, a 22–23% decrease in WSS magnitude and a 16–26% increase in relative residence time in all bifurcation branches, while preserving WSS unidirectionality. In two anatomies, however, microgravity not only promoted flow stasis but also subjected the convex region of the external carotid arterial wall to a moderate increase in WSS bidirectionality, which contrasted with the population average trend. This study suggests that long-term exposure to microgravity has the potential to subject the vasculature to atheroprone hemodynamics and this effect is modulated by subject-specific anatomical features. The exploration of the biological impact of those microgravity-induced WSS aberrations is needed to better define the risk posed by long spaceflights on cardiovascular health.

Wail M. Hassan, Abeer Al-Dbass, Laila Al-Ayadhi et al.

Cut Nila Thasmi, Nuzul Asmilia, Elfi Satria Suryani et al.

This study aims to analyze the effect of administering Malacca leaves (Phyllanthus emblica) extract on the sperm quality of mice. This leaf extract was administered orally using gavage method once daily for 21 days. There were four treatment groups: the control group (P0) received distilled water while the first (P1), second (P2), and third (P3) treatment groups received 300 mg, 600 mg, and 1200 mg of Malacca leaf ethanol extract/kg body weight, respectively. Each groups consisted of four mice and was evaluated for sperrm motility, viability, morphology, and concentration. The results showed that sperm motility, viability, morphology and sperm concentration tended to decrease after administration of Malacca leaf ethanol extract for all parameters, although there was no significant difference (P0.05). It was concluded that the administration of Malacca leaf ethanol extract tends to reduce the sperm quality of mice. ___________________________________________________________

Mario Crespo-Moral, Laura García-Posadas, Antonio López-García et al.

The ocular surface of the white domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) is used as a helpful model of the human ocular surface; however, a complete histological description has yet to be published. In this work, we studied porcine eyeballs with intact eyelids to describe and characterize the different structures that form the ocular surface, including the cornea and conjunctiva that covers the bulbar sclera, tarsi, and the nictitating membrane. We determined the distribution of goblet cells of different types over the conjunctiva and analyzed the conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT). Porcine eyeballs were obtained from a local slaughterhouse, fixed, processed, and embedded in paraffin blocks. Tissue sections (4 μm) were stained with hematoxylin/eosin, Alcian blue/Periodic Acid Schiff, and Giemsa. Slides were also stained with lectins from Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Helix pomatia (HPA) agglutinins and immunostained with rabbit anti-CD3. We found that the porcine cornea was composed of 6-8 epithelial cell layers, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and an endothelial monolayer. The total corneal thickness was 1131.0±87.5 μm (mean±standard error of the mean) in the center and increased to 1496.9±138.2 μm at the limbus. The goblet cell density was 71.25±12.29 cells/mm, ranging from the highest density (113.04±37.21 cells/mm) in the lower palpebral conjunctiva to the lowest density (12.69±4.29 cells/mm) in the bulbar conjunctiva. The CALT was distributed in the form of intraepithelial lymphocytes and subepithelial diffuse lymphoid tissue. Lenticular-shaped lymphoid follicles, about 8 per histological section, were also present within the conjunctival areas. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the analyzed porcine ocular structures are similar to those of humans, confirming the potential usefulness of pig eyes to study ocular surface physiology and pathophysiology.

Marcin Rapacz, Magdalena Wójcik-Jagła, Anna Fiust et al.

One hundred and nine accessions of spring barley seedlings were phenotyped under soil drought conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence induction (OJIP) parameters, leaf water content, relative turgidity, net assimilation rate (PN), and water use efficiency (WUE) of plants were measured. All the tested lines were genotyped by means of DArT sequencing (DArTseq) technology. For association mapping a 11,780 polymorphic DArTseq and 4,725 DArTseq SNP markers were used. Our results revealed dissimilar patterns of the relationships between OJIP-parameters under control and drought conditions. A high level of correlation between parameters characterizing Photosystem's II (PSII) energy trapping efficiency (Fv/Fm) and photochemical events downstream of PSII reaction center (e.g., Performance Index—PICSo) was observed only in the case of drought-treated plants. Generally, OJIP parameters were correlated with leaf water content (less in control). This correlation was weaker with WUE, and absent with PN. Under drought stress, 6,252 genotype × phenotype associations, which passed false discovery rate (FDR) verification, were found between all the studied phenotypic characteristics (23, including 19 OJIP parameters) and 2,721 markers. On the other hand, only 282 associations passed FDR test in the control. They comprised 22 phenotypic parameters and 205 markers. Probing for gene annotations of sequences was performed for markers associated with Fv/Fm for both drought and control, markers were associated with studied traits in both control and drought, as well as for markers associated with both OJIP and other physiological parameters in drought. Our work allowed us to conclude that drought treatment differentiates the studied lines through the revealing of relationships between water content and the damages to PSII reaction centers or different components of PSII energy transfer chain. Moreover, the former was not connected with net photosynthesis rate.

Alessia Pagani, Antonella Nai, Antonella Nai et al.

Hepcidin, the master regulator of systemic iron homeostasis, tightly influences erythrocyte production. High hepcidin levels block intestinal iron absorption and macrophage iron recycling, causing iron restricted erythropoiesis and anemia. Low hepcidin levels favor bone marrow iron supply for hemoglobin synthesis and red blood cells production. Expanded erythropoiesis, as after hemorrhage or erythropoietin treatment, blocks hepcidin through an acute reduction of transferrin saturation and the release of the erythroblast hormone and hepcidin inhibitor erythroferrone. Quantitatively reduced erythropoiesis, limiting iron consumption, increases transferrin saturation and stimulates hepcidin transcription. Deregulation of hepcidin synthesis is associated with anemia in three conditions: iron refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA), the common anemia of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders, and the extremely rare hepcidin-producing adenomas that may develop in the liver of children with an inborn error of glucose metabolism. Inappropriately high levels of hepcidin cause iron-restricted or even iron-deficient erythropoiesis in all these conditions. Patients with IRIDA or anemia of inflammation do not respond to oral iron supplementation and show a delayed or partial response to intravenous iron. In hepcidin-producing adenomas, anemia is reverted by surgery. Other hepcidin-related anemias are the “iron loading anemias” characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and hepcidin suppression. This group of anemias includes thalassemia syndromes, congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, congenital sideroblastic anemias, and some forms of hemolytic anemias as pyruvate kinase deficiency. The paradigm is non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia where the release of erythroferrone from the expanded pool of immature erythroid cells results in hepcidin suppression and secondary iron overload that in turn worsens ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia. In thalassemia murine models, approaches that induce iron restriction ameliorate both anemia and the iron phenotype. Manipulations of hepcidin might benefit all the above-described anemias. Compounds that antagonize hepcidin or its effect may be useful in inflammation and IRIDA, while hepcidin agonists may improve ineffective erythropoiesis. Correcting ineffective erythropoiesis in animal models ameliorates not only anemia but also iron homeostasis by reducing hepcidin inhibition. Some targeted approaches are now in clinical trials: hopefully they will result in novel treatments for a variety of anemias.

Naymã Dias, Deise Cagliari, Frederico Schmitt Kremer et al.

RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been used in the development of approaches for pest control. The presence of some essential genes, the so-called “core genes,” in the RNAi machinery is crucial for its efficiency and robust response in gene silencing. Thus, our study was designed to examine whether the RNAi machinery is functional in the South American (SA) fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) and whether the sensitivity to the uptake of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) could generate an RNAi response in this fruit fly species. To prepare a transcriptome database of the SA fruit fly, total RNA was extracted from all the life stages for later cDNA synthesis and Illumina sequencing. After the de novo transcriptome assembly and gene annotation, the transcriptome was screened for RNAi pathway genes, as well as the duplication or loss of genes and novel target genes to dsRNA delivery bioassays. The dsRNA delivery assay by soaking was performed in larvae to evaluate the gene-silencing of V-ATPase, and the upregulation of Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2 after dsRNA delivery was analyzed to verify the activation of siRNAi machinery. We tested the stability of dsRNA using dsGFP with an in vitro incubation of larvae body fluid (hemolymph). We identified 55 genes related to the RNAi machinery with duplication and loss for some genes and selected 143 different target genes related to biological processes involved in post-embryonic growth/development and reproduction of A. fraterculus. Larvae soaked in dsRNA (dsV-ATPase) solution showed a strong knockdown of V-ATPase after 48 h, and the expression of Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2 responded with an increase upon the exposure to dsRNA. Our data demonstrated the existence of a functional RNAi machinery in the SA fruit fly, and we present an easy and robust physiological bioassay with the larval stages that can further be used for screening of target genes at in vivo organisms’ level for RNAi-based control of fruit fly pests. This is the first study that provides evidence of a functional siRNA machinery in the SA fruit fly.

Carrol Gamble, Paula Williamson, William Shaw et al.

Introduction Cleft palate is among the most common birth abnormalities. The success of primary surgery in the early months of life is crucial for successful feeding, speech, hearing, dental development and facial growth. Over recent decades, age at palatal surgery in infancy has reduced. This has led to palatal closure in one-stage procedures being carried out around the age of 12 months, but in some cases as early as 6 months. The primary objective of the Timing Of Primary Surgery for Cleft Palate (TOPS)trial is to determine whether surgery for cleft palate performed at 6 or 12 months of age is most beneficial for speech outcomes.Methods and analysis Infants with a diagnosis of non-syndromic isolated cleft palate will be randomised to receive standardised primary surgery (Sommerlad technique) for closure of the cleft at either 6 months or 12 months, corrected for gestational age. The primary outcome will be perceived insufficient velopharyngeal function at 5 years of age. Secondary outcomes measured across 12 months, 3 years and 5 years will include growth, safety of the procedure, dentofacial development, speech, hearing level and middle ear function. Video and audio recordings of speech will be collected in a standardised age-appropriate manner and analysed independently by multiple speech and language therapists. The trial aims to recruit and follow-up 300 participants per arm. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle using a 5% significance level. All analyses will be prespecified within a full and detailed statistical analysis plan.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been sought in each participating country according to country-specific procedures. Trial results will be presented at conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through relevant patient support groups.Trial registration number NCT00993551; Pre-results.

Piyusha Milani Atapattu, Chemindra Biyanwila, Manamalabaduge Upul Jerard Fernando

Chest radiographs are widely available, even in most hospitals in developing countries, and can detect a variety of lung pathologies. When adults are admitted to hospital with acute asthma, chest radiographs are often obtained. Studies on the usefulness of chest radiographs in acute asthma have shown varying results. This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of chest radiographs in the management of acute asthma in adult asthmatics in a developing country. Plain chest radiographs performed within 24 hours of admission in 115 consecutive adult asthmatic patients (asthma defined by Asthma Education and Prevention programme NIH-1997) admitted to National Hospital of Sri Lanka were reviewed prospectively for one year. The relationship between radiographic findings and clinical findings and leucocyte count were evaluated. Significance was calculated using Fisher exact test. Among 115 participants there were 56 males and 59 females, with mean age of 47.77 years. Chest radiographs were abnormal in 40.9%, the abnormalities including hyperinflation (8.7%), consolidation (15.7%), segmental/greater atelectasis (5.2%), pneumomediastinum (0.9%), features of obstructive lung disease (6.1%), solitary lung nodule (0.9%), and pulmonary edema (3.5%). There was no significant association of abnormal radiographs with leucocytosis (p=0.322), elevated body temperature (p=3.109), and high pulse rate (p=0.157). The incidence of abnormalities on admission chest radiographs in patients with acute asthma was high, though immediate management was influenced in only less than half of the patients with abnormal radiographs. Chest radiographic abnormalities had no significant association with elevated blood leukocyte count, body temperature, and pulse rate.  Using clinical criteria to identify those requiring chest radiographs within the first 24 hours in adults admitted with acute asthma may improve the cost effectiveness of chest radiographs without compromising patient care.

Hua Li, Youen Zhang, Wenbin Zhang et al.

Objective: The study aimed to characterize the paracrine cytokines of cardiac telocyte (TC) populations in culture and to investigate their mechanisms in regulating cardiac homeostasis. Methods and Results: We recorded the in vitro evolution of cardiac TCs with typical morphology through live cell imaging, with emphasis on released podomers, podoms, and extracellular vesicles. Paracrine cytokines of the cardiac TCs were quantified by the Quantibody kit, with the focus being on of biological processes such as signal transduction, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and development. The findings in aggregate illustrated that cardiac TCs orchestrated the proliferation of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) through paracrine action of a panel of cytokines through activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. Conclusion: Cardiac TCs modulated cardiac essential physiology and maintained microvascular EC proliferation through paracrine activity of defined cytokines.

Andrew S French, Shannon eMeisner, Hongxia eLiu et al.

Our current understanding of insect phototransduction is based on a small number of species, but insects occupy many different visual environments. We created the retinal transcriptome of a nocturnal insect, the cockroach, Periplaneta americana to identify proteins involved in the earliest stages of compound eye phototransduction, and test the hypothesis that different visual environments are reflected in different molecular contributions to function. We assembled five novel mRNAs: two green opsins, one UV opsin, and one each TRP and TRPL ion channel homologs. One green opsin mRNA (pGO1) was 100-1000 times more abundant than the other opsins (pGO2 and pUVO), while pTRPL mRNA was 10 times more abundant than pTRP, estimated by transcriptome analysis or quantitative PCR (qPCR). Electroretinograms were used to record photoreceptor responses. Gene-specific in vivo RNA interference (RNAi) was achieved by injecting long (596-708 bp) double-stranded RNA into head hemolymph, and verified by qPCR. RNAi of the most abundant green opsin reduced both green opsins by more than 97% without affecting UV opsin, and gave a maximal reduction of 75% in ERG amplitude seven days after injection that persisted for at least 19 days. RNAi of pTRP and pTRPL genes each specifically reduced the corresponding mRNA by 90%. Electroretinogram reduction by pTRPL RNAi was slower than for opsin, reaching 75% attenuation by 21 days, without recovery at 29 days. pTRP RNAi attenuated ERG much less; only 30% after 21 days. Combined pTRP plus pTRPL RNAi gave only weak evidence of any cooperative interactions. We conclude that silencing retinal genes by in vivo RNAi using long dsRNA is effective, that visible light transduction in Periplaneta is dominated by pGO1, and that pTRPL plays a major role in cockroach phototransduction.

de la Fuente Mario, Linares Rubén, Lissarrague José Ramón

One of the main objectives in Mediterranean vineyards is the water use efficiency due to its scarcity. During the growing season, total available water is significantly lower than the evaporative demand, being this a limiting factor for quality production. Beside other factors, the choice of an adequate training system can help mitigate this negative effect in regard with soil-plant hydric consumption. The use of porous systems can help plants establish a better leaf distribution inside the clusters area, providing more space and enhancing certain physiological processes, both in leaves and berries (de la Fuente et al., 2013), and causing a better utilization of natural resources. Water consumption, dynamics and hydric relations in plants (water potential) and soil (soil water tension and capacity) have been studied on three different systems: sprawl system with 12 shoots m–1 (S1); sprawl system with 18 shoots m–1 (S2) and verti- cal positioned system or VSP with 12 shoots m–1 (VSP1). Yield, dry matter partitioning and berry and must composition have also been obtained at the maturity stage. The main objective of this study was to show the differences in consumption and water use efficiency due to different canopy managements, and to quantify these effects on yield, berry and must composition. The results showed that the vertical system (VSP1) benefited less from total available water at medium level (20; 30 and 50 cm) in the profile soil (0.5–1.5% available water vol.), in comparison with non-positioned and free systems (S1 and S2). On the other hand, S1 and S2 treatments caused more stress to the plant at midday from flowering to veraison (8–10%), but not during ripening. Sprawl system (S1) helps produce more balanced plants compared to VSP1, because it obtains higher number (and weight) of main leaves by shoot, increasing the number of secondary shoots and maximizing the canopy volume. No dif- ferences were observed in the number of clusters, berry size or yield between VSP1 and S1, but higher crop load treatment (S2) showed an evident yield increase (16%) at harvest. Berry and must composition did not change (Brix, pH and total acidity) much, while the composition of anthocyanins improved with low exposure and non-positioned systems (S1 and S2). In addition, both positive effects of sprawl treatments (crop load and training system) resulted in better yield and quality in Mediterranean semiarid conditions under the same inputs (sun, water and soil), causing higher efficiency of natural resources.

Sami F. Al-Rawas, Rajesh P. Poothrikovil, Khidir M. Abdelbasit et al.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between background amplitude and interictal abnormalities in routine electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: This retrospective audit was conducted between July 2006 and December 2009 at the Department of Clinical Physiology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman. A total of 1,718 electroencephalograms (EEGs) were reviewed. All EEGs were from patients who had been referred due to epilepsy, syncope or headaches. EEGs were divided into four groups based on their amplitude: group one ≤20 μV; group two 21–35 μV; group three 36–50 μV, and group four >50 μV. Interictal abnormalities were defined as epileptiform discharges with or without associated slow waves. Abnormalities were identified during periods of resting, hyperventilation and photic stimulation in each group. Results: The mean age ± standard deviation of the patients was 27 ± 12.5 years. Of the 1,718 EEGs, 542 (31.5%) were abnormal. Interictal abnormalities increased with amplitude in all four categories and demonstrated a significant association (P <0.05). A total of 56 EEGs (3.3%) had amplitudes that were ≤20 μV and none of these showed interictal epileptiform abnormalities. Conclusion: EEG amplitude is an important factor in determining the presence of interictal epileptiform abnormalities in routine EEGs. This should be taken into account when investigating patients for epilepsy. A strong argument is made for considering long-term EEG monitoring in order to identify unexplained seizures which may be secondary to epilepsy. It is recommended that all tertiary institutions provide EEG telemetry services.