Growth and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) near a high voltage transmission line

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of an electromagnetic field from a high voltage transmission line on the yield of agricultural crops cultivated underneath and near the transmission line. For 5 years, experiments with winter wheat and corn were carried out near the 380 kV transmission line Dürnrohr (Austria)-Slavetice (Czech Republic). Different field strengths were tested by planting the crops at different distances from the transmission line. The plants were grown in experimental plots (1.77 m2), aligned to equal electric field strengths, and were cultivated according to standard agricultural practice. The soil for all plots was homogenized layer-specifically to a depth of 0.5 m to guarantee uniform soil conditions in the plant root environment. The soil was sampled annually for determinations of carbon content and the behavior of microbial biomass. During development of the vegetation, samples were collected at regular intervals for growth rate analyses. At physiological maturity, the plots (n = 8) were harvested for grain and straw yield determinations. The average electric and magnetic field strengths at four distances from the transmission line (nominal distances: 40, 14, 8, and 2 m) were between 0.2 and 4.0 kV/m and between 0.4 and 4.5 micro T, respectively. No effect of the field exposures on soil microbial biomass could be detected. The wheat grain yields were 7% higher (average of 5 years) in the plots with the lowest field exposure than in the plots nearer to the transmission line (P <.10). The responses of the plants were more pronounced in years with drought episodes during grain filling than in humid years. No significant yield differences were found for corn yields. The extent of the yield variations attributed to the distance from the transmission line was small compared to the observed annual variations in climatic or soil specific site characteristics.

[Treatment of chronic cardiac insufficiency with coenzyme Q10, results of meta-analysis in controlled clinical trials]

Meta-analysis applied to eight controlled clinical trials of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)-treatment of congestive heart failure revealed a significant improvement a several important cardiac parameters such as ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI) and end diastolic volume index (EDVI). Concerning the improvement in SV and CO the average patient in the CoQ10 group had a higher score than respectively 76% and 73% of the patients in the placebo group. The improvement in CO and SV was also significant when considering of homogeneity. Additional controlled clinical trials seem justified which may strengthen the power of the meta-analyses. However, based on available results, it can not be excluded that CoQ10 may have a future role a adjunctive therapy in a dosage of 100-200 mg/day in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure.

Treatment of congestive heart failure with coenzyme Q10 illuminated by meta-analyses of clinical trials

The purpose of this was to investigate the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) by measuring the possible improvement of certain relevant hemodynamic heart parameters. A statistic aggregation method know as a meta-analysis was used to measure the changes in the cardiac parameters. To begin with we collected the total number of randomized controlled trials and from a total of 14 studies published in the period of 1984-1994, eight studies met our inclusion criteria. The rest were excluded because of a lack of data which made a meta-analysis impossible. The relevant effect parameters investigated were stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), ejection fraction (EF), cardiac index (CI), end diastolic volume index (EDVI), systolic time intervals (PEP/LVET) and total work capacity (Wmax). Seven meta-analyses were performed, one for each of the parameters, and the calculated effect sizes were all positive. Statistical significance could be demonstrated for all of the parameters except the PEP/LVET and Wmax thereby indicating an improvement of greater or lesser magnitude in the CoQ10 group as opposed to the placebo group. Accordingly, the average patient in the CoQ10 group had a better score with regard to SV and CO than 76 and 73% respectively of the patients in the placebo group. In conclusion, supplemental treatment of CHF with CoQ10 is consistent with an improvement of SV, EF, CO, CI and EDVI. Homogeneity could be established for SV and CO. Additional clinical trials of the effect of CoQ10 on CHF are necessary, but, on the basis of the evidence currently available, the possibility remains that CoQ10 will receive a well-documented role as an adjunctive treatment of CHF.