Characterization and evaluation of Greek tomato landraces for productivity and fruit quality traits related to sustainable low-input farming systems

Tomato is one of the most important horticultural species all over the world, having high level of consumption and employing many people, both in the primary sector (farmers) and in the secondary sector (traders, seed companies and processors). Nowadays, the use of commercial tomato F1 hybrids tends to prevail because of high yield potential and homogeneity of fruits which are often characterized by lack of quality and sensory characteristics. In contrast, tomato landraces have outstanding quality traits, such as high concentration of antioxidants and organoleptic compounds, as well as often include desirable genes in their genome for adaptability, plasticity, response to low-input conditions, and high fruit nutritional value. Thus, they are appropriate material in the use of sustainable agricultural management systems or as gene donors for the development of new type of tomato cultivars suitable for low-input farming systems. The present experimental study refers to 22 Greek tomato landraces and two commercial cultivars (cv. Macedonia and the F1 hybrid Formula) used as controls, which were characterized by phenotypical markers and evaluated under low-input sustainable farming conditions. Specifically, during this research, measurements were taken regarding yield potential (early production, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, total yield) and fruit quality traits, such as physicochemical characteristics (pH, acidity, and soluble solid components - Brix^ο) also according to nutritional value (content of ascorbic acid, lycopene, total carotenoids, and total phenolics) of tomato fruits. In the most promising landraces (cv. Milo Chalkidiki, cv. Eratiras, cv. Lotos, cv. Aspros lotos, cv. Pantaroza, cv. Karabola and cv. Kardia Vodiou), having comparable yield and fruit quality traits with commercial cultivars, intrapopulation "Pure line selection" method, under low-input farming conditions was applied for two years. Following this approach, we succeed to determine the level of yield potential and provide information for the nutritive value and utilization of typical tomato landraces, improving their yield and fruit quality traits, following a mild intrapopulation selection under low-input farming conditions. This data pipeline is expected to be of interest for organic farmers and processors of high nutritive tomato products, with low carbon footprint for the environment.

The Economics of Shadow Economy in Health: The Case of Greek Physicians Sector

The article attempts to measure and report the extent and magnitude of shadow economy in Greek physicians’ sector. Tax evasion of self-employed doctors as well as informal payments to doctors in public health structures are identified as the two main parameters of shadow economy in this sector. This research attempts to create a standard multidimensional methodological model of approach and analysis of the shadow economy in physicians’ sector. This multidimensional model applied in Greece includes two phases of development of the research tools used. In the first phase, the level of tax evasion of self-employed doctors was assessed with a specific innovative methodology based on the following. Household expenditures for services of private doctors for the period 2011–2017 were analysed using data from the annual ‘Household Budget Survey-(HBS)’ of the Greek Statistical Authority and were compared with the financial data of the ‘Statistical Business Register-(SBR)’, which is updated with data from the Hellenic Tax Authority. In the second phase, the amount of ‘informal payments’ to doctors of the public sector was determined for the period 2011–2017. The survey made use of the HBS data on household expenditure for public care, which were compared with the revenue of public hospitals from private patients.

Beliefs and behaviours of radiographers and other health professionals concerning radiation protection safety in a high-volume Greek public hospital. Development of a new measuring instrument

INTRODUCTION

The use of fluoroscopy-assisted surgical procedures has been increasing recently. The extensive use of fluoroscopy, combined with the lack of knowledge about radiation risks among operating room (OR) personnel (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and radiographers), may lead to misconceptions. The perceptions and beliefs of any health professional concerning radiation protection safety (RPS) may affect their behaviour during surgery, leading to negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to construct a new, original, reliable, and valid instrument to record the beliefs, perceptions, and behaviours of health professionals during surgery, which reflects the established culture of RPS.

METHODS

A questionnaire was designed, consisting of 95 questions grouped into six coherent sections. The study was performed at a Greek public hospital with a high workload in terms of fluoroscopically guided surgical operations.

RESULTS

It was distributed among 136 people, and 132 completed questionnaires were collected (response rate 97%). Exploratory factor analysis was performed separately for each scale studied and Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis was also performed. The reliability of the greater part of the new measurement tool ranged from very good to acceptable.

CONCLUSION

The questionnaire developed in this study is a valid and reliable option for recording health professionals' perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours concerning the RPS culture.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study helps clinical radiographers to understand a possible knowledge gap about RPS and locates the specific fields that the OR personnel misunderstand. It also can support and establish local learning organisations with regular targeted staff training for health professionals, thereby leading to a generally improved RPS culture.

Glucose metabolism, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in juvenile hemochromatosis. A case report and review of the literature

Among specific diabetes subtypes secondary to pancreatopathies, hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder of iron metabolism resulting in excessive iron overload and tissue damage in various organs. We here report the case of a man with the young-onset form of the disease and describe his glycaemic status before and during venesection therapy. A 25-year old man visited our clinic in Athens, Greece, with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to hereditary hemochromatosis. Genetic analysis revealed that he was suffering from the juvenile aggressive form and treatment was initiated with frequent phlebotomies in conjunction with androgen substitution. Within 18 months of therapy ferritin level was normalized and hypogonadism was fully restored. Despite severe iron overload, glucose tolerance remained normal during the various stages of the disease, although alterations in both insulin secretion and sensitivity were detected. Present data indicate that in juvenile hemochromatosis, the efficacy of the chelation therapy and probably the chronic interval required to restore normal iron concentration both play important roles in the formation of glucose metabolism characteristics.

Sporadic Hypoparathyroidism Treated with Teriparatide: A Case Report and Literature Review

Herein we describe the case of a 64-year-old woman with hypoparathyroidism diagnosed at the age of 40, after an acute episode of tetany and seizures due to severe hypocalcemia. She was treated for more than 20 years with calcitriol and calcium supplementation but she presented with marked hypercalciuria and recently nephrolithiasis, although serum calcium was maintained at levels below normal range. Provided that any attempt to increase the recommended dose of calcitriol was leading to an exacerbation of hypercalciuria, we decided to enroll an alternative tool in the treatment strategy. In order to avoid further deterioration of renal function she was administered once-daily a subcutaneous (sc) injection of synthetic human parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-34) while doses of calcium and calcitriol were gradually decreased depending on the response of calcium metabolism in serum and urine samples taken periodically. Within two months of administration, PTH (1-34) significantly reduced the level of urine calcium excretion compared with calcitriol therapy and maintained serum calcium in the normal range. The relevant literature is reviewed in light of this alternative therapeutic approach in long-standing hypoparathyroidism, illustrating the potential benefits and the unresolved issues in parathyroid hormone replacement.

Effect of age on pupillary light reflex: evaluation of pupil mobility for clinical practice and research

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to provide a data base for the measurement of various parameters of the pupil light reflex in normal subjects using a fast video pupillometry device (262 frames/sec).

METHOD

One hundred healthy subjects took part in the study aged 44.31+/-18.11 years. Subjects were divided in two (2) groups according to age: 18-50 years of age (group 1) and 51-81 years of age (group 2). All subjects were examined between 09.00 and 15.00 and the re-test examination was repeated exactly 24 hours later. All variables showed satisfactory test-retest reliability (Pearson test-retest showed values over 0. 70 for all parameters besides Time for Maximum Constriction (T3. 0.62) and Recovery (R%: 0.57)).

RESULTS

The Latency of pupil reaction to light (Ti) was not affected by Age. Baseline Pupil Radius (RI) after 2 min of dark adaptation was statistically smaller in the elderly group p < 0.001; Maximum Constriction Velocity (VCmax), Maximum Constriction Acceleration (ACmax) and Amplitude (AMP) were significantly smaller in the elderly group (p < 0.001) when compared to group 1. When all parameters were studied their correlation showed a statistical significant difference for R1, R2, VCmax, ACmax and AMP when related to Age. However when Age was taken into account through the use of partial correlation, the relation between R1, R2 and AMP remained unaltered, but the relations between R1 and VCmax and ACmax were dramatically reduced from -0.39 to -0.21 and from -0.45 to -0.09 respectively indicating that the relation observed between Ri and VCmax and ACmax was due mainly to the Age of the subjects.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that age influences Baseline Pupil Size, Maximum Constriction Velocity (VCmax) and Acceleration (ACmax), while the Latency of the light reflex remains unaltered.

Reduced insulin secretion in normoglycaemic patients with beta-thalassaemia major

AIMS

To assess insulin sensitivity and secretion in the fasting state in regularly transfused patients with beta-thalassaemia major with normal glucose response during an oral glucose tolerance test and to estimate its possible relation to iron overload.

METHODS

We measured fasting glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels in 24 patients with beta-thalassaemia major and 18 control subjects matched for age and body mass index. Insulin sensitivity and insulin release index were calculated according to the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Correlations with age, body mass index and serum ferritin were also calculated.

RESULTS

Fasting glucose levels in patients were increased compared with control subjects (5.5 +/- 0.12 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.13 mmol/l, mean +/- SEM, P < 0.001). Pancreatic B-cell insulin secretion in the fasting state (estimated by SC(HOMA)) was lower in thalassaemic patients (SC(HOMA) 88.5 +/- 11.11 vs. 184.3 +/- 23.72 in control subjects, P < 0.001). Patients were then divided into those with impaired (IFG) and normal (NFG) fasting glucose. SC(HOMA) was higher in the patients with NFG compared with those with IFG patients (110.6 +/- 17.63 vs. 66.3 +/- 10.88, respectively, P < 0.05) but estimated insulin sensitivity (ISI(HOMA)) was similar. Plasma values of C-peptide correlated positively with ferritin (r = 0.42, P = 0.04) and SC(HOMA) (r = 0.45, P = 0.02) and negatively with ISI(HOMA) (r = -0.43, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the concept that impaired B-cell function, as reflected by a reduction in the insulin secretion index, is present in beta-thalassaemic patients with normoglycaemia before changes in oral glucose tolerance tests are apparent.

The role of luteinizing hormone activity in controlled ovarian stimulation

The role of LH in the natural menstrual cycle is undisputed. The active participation of LH in both steroidogenesis and ovulation is well established, but its potential effect on oocyte maturation in the issue of assisted reproduction protocols remains a topic of debate. Although several studies have added to our understanding of the specific actions of androgens in human follicular development, some discrepancies persist regarding their role in oocyte atresia. Clinical situations, where LH is either decreased or absent (e.g. in women with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism or LH-receptor gene mutations), provide important data supporting the necessity for a minimal amount of LH to evoke ovulation. Recent use of GnRH antagonists, which results in profound suppression of LH concentration, in combination with the pharmacological production of recombinant gonadotrophins, has attracted the attention of investigators. Identification of sub-fertilized women, in whom LH administration could be beneficial and should be indicated, is arousing ever more interest. Based on the available data in the literature, the aims of this review are to assess the role of both endogenous and exogenous LH activity in stimulated cycles, and to evaluate the effects of recombinant human LH supplementation on the ovarian hormonal milieu and on the main outcomes of controlled stimulated cycles.