Spraying ozonated water on Bobal grapevines: Effect on grape quality

Ozone is a powerful oxidant that is increasingly used as sanitizing agent in the wine industry and even in the vineyard to control grapevine diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effect on grape enological quality of ozonated water spraying treatments carried out in Bobal grapevines during two consecutive harvest seasons. In the first season, ozonated water was applied once during the ripening period on grapevines trained on the traditional gobelet system (S₁). In the second season, ozonated water was applied three times between the fruit set and harvest on grapevines grown on a vertical trellis system (S₂). Grape quality on harvest day was evaluated through several enological and chromatic parameters, the phenolic maturity, the Varietal Aroma Potential Index (IPAv) and the phenolic and volatile composition. The S₁ treatment had a positive effect on the technological maturity, the chromatic parameters, the seed maturity and the content of glycosylated aroma precursors, phenolic compounds and free terpenoids of grapes. The S₂ treatment also improved the technological maturity and the content of total anthocyanins (pH 1.0) and free terpenoids, but had a negative impact on the chromatic parameters, the anthocyanin extractability and the content of glycosylated aroma precursors and phenolic compounds. Therefore, ozonated water sprayed on Bobal grapevines affected the quality of grapes, but the effect seemed to depend on the number of applications.

Degree of cognitive impairment and mortality: a 17-year follow-up in a community study

BACKGROUND

To test the hypothesis that cognitive impairment in older adults is associated with all-cause mortality risk and the risk increases when the degree of cognitive impairment augments; and then, if this association is confirmed, to report the population-attributable fraction (PAF) of mortality due to cognitive impairment.

METHOD

A representative random community sample of individuals aged over 55 was interviewed, and 4557 subjects remaining alive at the end of the first year of follow-up were included in the analysis. Instruments used in the assessment included the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the History and Aetiology Schedule (HAS) and the Geriatric Mental State (GMS)-AGECAT. For the standardised degree of cognitive impairment Perneczky et al's MMSE criteria were applied. Mortality information was obtained from the official population registry. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to test the association between MMSE degrees of cognitive impairment and mortality risk. We also estimated the PAF of mortality due to specific MMSE stages.

RESULTS

Cognitive impairment was associated with mortality risk, the risk increasing in parallel with the degree of cognitive impairment (Hazard ratio, HR: 1.18 in the 'mild' degree of impairment; HR: 1.29 in the 'moderate' degree; and HR: 2.08 in the 'severe' degree). The PAF of mortality due to severe cognitive impairment was 3.49%.

CONCLUSIONS

A gradient of increased mortality-risk associated with severity of cognitive impairment was observed. The results support the claim that routine assessment of cognitive function in older adults should be considered in clinical practice.

[Severe self-limiting hypersensitivity reaction after immunotherapy with intravesical BCG]

We present the case of a 67-years-old patient diagnosed of superficial vesical transitional carcinoma which, under immunotherapy with intravesical BCG, developed a severe hypersensitivity reaction with spontaneous resolution. We describe several adverse reactions after the administration of intravesical BCG, as well as its diagnostic and therapeutic problems, especially in the cases of hypersensitivity.

[Porphyria cutanea tarda and human immunodeficiency virus infection]

Recently, cases of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) have been reported associated with infection due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We presented the cases of three males, former ethanol users, and which have had previously a contact with the Hepatitis B virus. In one of the patients symptomatology appeared after treatment with zidovudine was begun. We suggest that HIV infection associated with other toxic or viral factors could contribute to the early development of a PCT latent until that moment.