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[Symptoms in asthmatics living in cold districts during winter].

Exposure to cold is known as a potential exacerbating factor in asthmatics. However, few studies have investigated severity of symptoms during daily life in winter for asthmatics living in northern Hokkaido, the coldest region in Japan. We sent questionnaires to 126 asthmatics living in northern Hokkaido, and obtained answers from 116 patients (52 males, 64 females). Breathing difficulties during cold-air exposure were reported by 62.1% of patients. Furthermore, 19.6% of patients had experienced the need for bronchodilators following cold-air-induced attacks. Limitations to daily life in winter caused by exacerbated asthmatic symptoms were recognized by 48.3% of patients. Asthmatic exacerbation was experienced by 30% of patients in summer (May to August), compared to >35% in winter (September to April). No significant differences in results were noted between atopic and non-atopic patients. Improvements in respiratory symptoms during winter are thus necessary for better quality of life in asthmatics living in cold districts.

Adult↗

An attempt to protect winter wheat against Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici by the use of rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus mycoides.

Pseudomonas fluorescens strains III107 and II21 and Bacillus mycoides strains JC192 and K184, stimulating growth of winter wheat, were chosen for the studies. The bacterial strains inhibited on agar nutrient medium the growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt)--the pathogenic fungus causing take-all on wheat. Both strains of pseudomonads synthesized relatively high amounts of Fe3+ chelators. The strains of bacilli were characterized by the very fast spreading on agar media. Furthermore, strain II21 was highly cyanogenic, and strain JC192 highly chitinolytic. Bacterization of winter wheat seeds (especially with strains III107 and JC192) significantly reduced the percentage of the plants infested with the pathogen in the 28 day glasshouse pot experiment. In the plot experiment, the winter wheat seeds were inoculated with a mixture of strains III107, II21 and JC192. Due to the bacterization the yield of wheat grain and straw was higher in comparison to the series with Ggt alone by 122% and 75%, respectively, but it amounted only to 45% and 43% of the control series not contaminated with Ggt. The decrease of percentage of wheat ears with weight less than 500 mg from 61% in Ggt-series to 25% in Ggt-bacterized-series, and especially the decrease of percentage of wheat ears with weight less than 200 mg from 43% to 14% additionally indicate the partial protection of the winter wheat against Ggt by the rhizobacteria. In the experimental series not contaminated with Ggt the percentage of these wheat ears fractions did not exceed 3% and 0.5%, respectively.

Ascomycota↗

[Impact on the potential epidemic of dengue fever under warming winter in Hainan province].

OBJECTIVE: Impact of climate warming in winter on the potential epidemics of dengue fever in Hainan was assessed. METHODS: Based on historic data of mean monthly temperature in January from 8 weather observation stations, tendency and amplitude of variation were analyzed. Using 21 degrees C as lowest limit of temperature suitable for dengue fever transmission, impact caused by climate warming on dengue fever epidemic was estimated by means of geography information system (GIS), insect vector and epidemiological features. RESULTS: Temperature in winter in Hainan province had shown an obvious increase. The maximum amplitude of increase appeared in Dongfang which was 1.4 degrees C and the minimum 0.5 degrees C in Shanhudao, but the increase amplitude in the other stations was varied from 0.7 to 1.3 degrees C. By the year of 2050, 21 degrees C contour will have moved 190 km or so northward, nearly spanned 6/7 of distance from south to north in Hainan province and under the condition of daily fraction surviving of Aedes aegypti as P = 0.89, Qionghai city which stands north in Hainan province will probably have become epidemic area of dengue fever all year round. CONCLUSION: Climate warming in winter will probably make half or more of the areas in Hainan province with temperature that permitting transmission of dengue fever by 2050. Monitoring and prevention of dengue fever in winter should be emphasized.

Aedes↗

Seasonal variation of lupus nephritis: high prevalence of class V lupus nephritis during the winter and spring.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem disease with many clinical variations, including renal involvement. Our aim was to determine whether lupus nephritis (LN) has a specific seasonality. METHODS: Reports of renal biopsies performed from 1990 to 2002 were reviewed. Three hundred and seventy-three patients with class II, III, IV, and V LN were identified. Using the modified WHO classification of LN, diagnoses were tabulated and the seasonality (season of diagnosis) of LN was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Class IV LN was detected in 179 patients (48%), class II in 63 patients (16.9%), class III in 73 patients (19.57%), and class V in 74 patients (19.9%). No difference could be detected in the number of patients diagnosed in each season when all 373 patients were analyzed as one group. The number of patients with class IV LN was higher during summer and fall than during the winter and spring. In contrast, a higher number of patients with class V LN were observed during the winter and spring seasons than during the summer and fall seasons. The percentage of patients with class V LN was significantly higher during winter and spring than during summer and fall. A similar, though non-significant, trend was seen for class III LN. A striking parallelism was found between the month of occurrence of class III and class V LN. The monthly distribution of the percentage of patients in each month with class III and V LN showed a significant correlation. The monthly distribution of patients with class IV LN was different from those with either class III or V LN. CONCLUSION: We found that the prevalence of class V LN was significantly higher and that of class III LN non-significantly higher in winter and spring. Parallelism between the monthly occurrences of class III and class V may suggest a common trigger. Analysis of the seasonality of LN may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of LN, which may be multifactorial, as the different classes of LN represent different types of glomerular injury. Further studies are needed to clarify this potentially important observation.

Adolescent↗

[Geographic distribution of winter wheat yield loss risk and its classification in North China].

Based on the theory of risk analysis and the nearest 50 years practical unit yield and meteorological data of North China winter wheat region, this paper discussed the assessment of winter wheat yield loss risk and its classification. The mean yield reduction rate of past years, variation coefficient of yield reduction rate in disaster years, different yield reduction rate and its occurrence probability, and disasters-resistance index were selected as the risk assessment indices, and the assessment showed that the distribution of these indices in the region had evident regional differentiation and certain continuity. The model of integrated risk index of North China winter wheat yield loss was established on the basis of the assessment, and the classification index of the risk was put forward. According to the classification result, North China winter wheat region was divided into three risk types, i.e., high risk type mainly including the Loess Plateau areas of Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces and the parts of North China Plain, medium risk type including the northeastern part of North China Plain, south Henan Province and Taihang Moutain region, and low risk type including most parts of North China Plain and the central Shanxi plain.

Biomass↗

Effects of molybdenum on antioxidative defense system and membrane lipid peroxidation in winter wheat under low temperature stress.

Effects of molybdenum (Mo) on antioxidative defense system and membrane lipid peroxidation in leaves of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum H. var. Huamai 8) were investigated under low temperature stress. Results of experiments indicate that Mo application in winter wheat induced a dramatic decrease in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content under low temperature stress. The activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) were increased by Mo application and the extents of increase at low temperature were higher than those at normal temperature. Mo application also caused a significant increase in the ascorbic acid (AsA) and proline contents both at normal and low temperature and following the low temperature stress the increases in ascorbic acid and proline contents in Mo-treated winter wheat were higher. There was no significant difference in carotenoid (CAR) content between with and without Mo treatment under normal temperature, while there was a significant increase in Mo treatment under low temperature stress. It could be speculated that Mo application enhanced cold resistance by increasing the capacity to scavenge active oxygen species and alleviating membrane damage in winter wheat under low temperature stress.

Ascorbic Acid↗

[Cold tolerance and wintering cultivation effect of different Welsh onion varieties].

With Welsh onion Zhangqiu as the contrast, this paper measured the physiological indices including electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, protective enzyme activity, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and root vitality of two introduced Welsh onion varieties Chunwei and Changhao, and identified their cold tolerance and wintering cultivation effect. The results showed that during wintering cultivation, all test Welsh onion varieties suffered low temperature stress, which led the electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content arrived at the maximum, while the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate dropped to the bottom at 15 January. At this time, the function data of physiological indices were 0. 452, 0. 364, and 0. 226 for Chuowei, Changbao and Zhangqiu, respectively, suggesting that Chunwei had stronger cold tolerance, followed by Changbao, and Zhangqiu. The bolting rate of Chunwei, Changbao and Zhangqiu when harvested was 0, 35.2% and 81.0% , respectively. Although the biological yield of Changbao was 25.67% and 52. 94% higher than that of Chunwei and Zhangqiu, respectively, the economic yield of Chunwei was the highest (5.49 kg m2) , with an increment of 18. 57% than Changbao, and that of Zhangqiu was only 0. 86 kg x m(-2) It could be concluded that Chonwei was fit to cultivate in low tunnel in winter, while Zhangqiu was weaker in cold tolerance and not fit to wintering cultivation.

Allium↗

Winter depression responds to an open trial of tranylcypromine.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a disturbance of mood bearing a fixed relationship to season. Winter depression is characterized by the onset of a depressive syndrome in the fall or winter and spontaneous remission in the spring, this condition responds to full-spectrum, bright artificial light. In the first study assessing responsiveness of winter depression to a standard pharmacologic treatment for depression, the authors found that 14 patients meeting National Institute of Mental Health criteria for winter depression responded to treatment with tranylcypromine.

Adult↗

The naturally occurring rhythm of blues: winter depression.

Winter depression, a form of seasonal affective disorder, is a common condition that increases in prevalence in northern areas and in regions with a high proportion of overcast fall and winter days. Parts of Ohio are high-risk areas given the high percentage of overcast days. Winter depression is marked by the onset of recurrent episodes of major depression each fall or winter which spontaneously remit in the spring. The depressive syndrome is often characterized by sadness, anxiety, decreased involvement in work and social activities, increased appetite, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, hypersomnia and psychomotor retardation. This syndrome often responds to treatment with two to six hours per day of full-spectrum bright artificial light. The efficacy of drugs in the treatment of this condition is now being studied at The Ohio State University. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor is effective.

Adolescent↗

The presence of gastric parasites in winter-slaughtered reindeer.

The presence of gastric parasites in winter-slaughtered calves and adult animals, was investigated. The number of parasites found was low in case of the calves indicating that gastric worms are of low significance concerning the winter losses. In case of adult animals was found a higher infestation indicating that gastric nematodes maybe of importance concerning the winter losses of 1,5 years old animals, Ostertagia leptospicularis was the only found species except for one animal in which was also present a few spiculopteragia alcis. The total dominance of Ostertagia leptospicularis means a marked difference from the findings of autumn-slaughtered reindeer bulls where Ostertagia leptospicularis was not found to be such a frequent finding but in addition several other species were found. In view of that is discussed a seasonal varation, winter ostertagiosis seems not to be a problem in reindeer calves.

Abattoirs↗

[Effect of plant residues on the parasitic activity of soilborne pathogens and the saprophytic microflora of the soil. III. Influence of rye and rape grown as winter catch crop on the incidence of Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fron (author's transl)].

In a five-years field trial, the influence of two winter catchcrops, rye and rape, upon the incidence of Cercosporella herpotrichoides has been studied. The winter catch-crops had been repeated three times, followed either by stubble-crop or without in fall of the fourth year. The variants (blocks) had been completed by two variants without catch-crop, either carefully cultivated or overgrown with weeds. Each of the four blocks had been divided three times to be grown with three different crop sequences containing 80%, 60% (with the insusceptible corn), or 40% haulm fruit, respectively. Each of the 12 variants had been divided into two parts by continuous fallow stripe, one part being artificially infested with the pathogen in the beginning (1st winter wheat). In the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year, only spring crops were grown, followed by winter wheat in the 5th year. The final exploration resulted in a medium to heavy degree of infection, being significantly higher in the 80% cereal crop sequence than in the 60% and 40% sequences. Concerning the catch-crops, infection in the rye variants was equal or significantly lower than in the carefully cultivated variants without catch-crop. On the other hand, infection of the rape variants had become significantly higher than that of the catch-crop-free ones, about as heavily as in the weed-infested variants. From fall 1966 to summer 1969, the development of the saprophytic soil microflora and several other edaphic parameters had been investigated. Remarkable differences in intensity of disintegration have been observed under the influence of the main crops, cereals or potatoes, respectively, but no differences could be stated resulting from the matter of disintegration--residues of rye or rape--, which might interpret the contrasting effects on the pathogen. Too, no indication for antagonistic activity of bacteria or actinomycetes has been noted. The results are compared with known facts of Cercosporella and of other soil borne pathogens. The difference in biology of Cercosporella on the one hand, and of root infecting fungi on the other hand seems to be most important to explain the results obtained.

Actinomycetales↗

Effect of winter oral vitamin D3 supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in elderly adults.

OBJECTIVE: A possible role for vitamin D deficiency in contributing to the winter increase in cardiovascular disease mortality was investigated by testing the effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors during winter. DESIGN: Randomised double-blind trial of vitamin D supplementation in winter. SUBJECTS: Men and women, mean age 70 years (range 63-76) recruited from general practitioner age-sex registers in Cambridge (UK). INTERVENTION: 95 people received a single oral dose of 2.5 mg cholecalciferol and 94 received the placebo at baseline interviews during December 1991. Follow-up assessment was 5 weeks later during January 1992. RESULTS: Comparing follow-up with baseline assessment, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased in the treated group and decreased slightly in the placebo group [mean (s.d.) change: 7.2 (+/- 3.8) vs -1.4 (+/- 1.1) ng/ml, P = 0.0001]; while parathyroid hormone decreased in the treated, and increased in the placebo, group [-0.27 (+/- 0.78) vs 0.13 (+/- 0.75) pmol/l, P = 0.0004]. However, the mean change in blood pressure was similar in both groups: systolic -5 (+/- 13) vs -5 (+/- 16) mmHg, P = 0.81; diastolic -1 (+/- 9) vs -1 (+/- 9), P = 0.92; as was the mean change in serum cholesterol [-0.07 (+/- 0.52) vs -0.05 (+/- 0.60) mmol/l, P = 0.81]. In contrast, the mean change in radial pulse was significantly decreased in the treated group compared with placebo [-2 (+/- 9) vs 1 (+/- 7) beats per min, P = 0.030]. CONCLUSIONS: The failure of vitamin D supplementation to change blood pressure or serum cholesterol suggests that the winter increase in these factors is not caused by decreased vitamin D levels.

Aged↗

[Winter depression and light therapy].

This paper is a review of the literature on winter depression--a from of seasonal affective disorder encountered most often. Winter depression was diagnosed first in the early eighties in the USA and since then it has been the subject of extensive research. The results of many studies confirmed the efficacy of light in the treatment of winter depression and at present phototherapy is considered the treatment of choice of this disorder. However, mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of winter depression and therapeutic response to light evoke great controversy and hypotheses are still evolving.

Humans↗

Arctic cognition: a study of cognitive performance in summer and winter at 69 degrees N.

Evidence has accumulated over the past 15 years that affect in humans is cyclical. In winter there is a tendency to depression, with remission in summer, and this effect is stronger at higher latitudes. In order to determine whether human cognition is similarly rhythmical, this study investigated the cognitive processes of 100 participants living at 69 degrees N. Participants were tested in summer and winter on a range of cognitive tasks, including verbal memory, attention and simple reaction time tasks. The seasonally counterbalanced design and the very northerly latitude of this study provide optimal conditions for detecting impaired cognitive performance in winter, and the conclusion is negative: of five tasks with seasonal effects, four had disadvantages in summer. Like the menstrual cycle, the circannual cycle appears to influence mood but not cognition.

Adolescent↗

Effects of insulin on the fine structure of hepatocytes from winter-acclimatized carps: studies on protein synthesis.

Male and female winter-acclimatized carps were injected with insulin. This treatment resulted in a sharp decrease in the liver glycogen content. Although an increase in the ribosomal RNA level was also observed, a cell-free system obtained from the hormone-treated fish exhibited less amino acid incorporation activity as compared to the control fish. However, polysomes from insulin-treated fish exhibited a higher amino acid incorporating activity when a soluble fraction of untreated winter carps was used. Insulin induced a profound change in the cytoarchitecture of the winter carp hepatocyte. The cytoplasm and nuclei showed all the features of the summer carp liver cell. The nucleolar components were totally intermingled suggesting a high rate of gene expression as in the case of the summer-acclimatized fish.

Acclimatization↗

Sex differences in hepatic monooxygenases in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and scup (Stenotomus chrysops) and regulation of P450 forms by estradiol.

Details concerning the endogenous regulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in teleosts, and the features of this regulation common among fish species, are poorly known. Gonadally mature female winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) have been reported to have severalfold lower levels of microsomal cytochromes P450 and b5 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase than do males (Stegeman and Woodin ('84) Mar. Environ. Res., 14:422-425). These strong sex differences prompted more detailed study of P450 regulation in winter flounder liver, and a comparison with sex differences in another marine teleost, scup (Stenotomus chrysops). Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity/nmol P450 was less in gonadally mature females than in males of both species. Immunoblot analysis with MAb 1-12-3 to P450E (the EROD catalyst) showed that the content of P450E counterpart was also much less in females of both species. Aminopyrine N-demethylase (APND) and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase (6 beta-OHase) activities per nmol P450 were higher in gonadally mature female than in mature male flounder, differences not seen in scup. Polyclonal antibodies to scup P450A were shown to detect proteins in a number of teleosts. The levels of anti-P450A cross-reacting protein were greater in mature female than in male flounder, but as with 6 beta-OHase activity, the content of this protein was not sexually differentiated in scup. Estradiol treatment of winter flounder depressed the rates of EROD, APND, 6 beta-OHase, and estradiol 2-OHase activities per mg protein, but APND and 6 beta-OHase activities per nmol P450 were unchanged. Thus, E2 promotes general decreases in some hepatic P450-catalyzed activities, but in achieving sex differences there is also specific regulation of the P450E counterpart, and possibly of the 6 beta-OHase (P450A?). Other factors, temporal or hormonal, can modify the effect of E2 treatment, and may contribute to the specific regulation of P450 forms in naturally maturing fish, and to species differences in this regulation.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗

Prolactin receptor concentrations in the skin of mink during the winter fur growth cycle.

The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) if the skin of mink might be a target organ for prolactin (PRL) by establishing if PRL binding sites (receptors) exist in the cell membranes of skin, and 2) if PRL receptor concentrations change during the onset and progression of the winter fur growth cycle. Skin was collected on October 6, 1992 for characterization of PRL receptors and from July through December 1992 (N = 3 mink/month) to evaluate possible changes in PRL receptor concentrations during the fur growth cycle. PRL receptors were quantified using 125I-oPRL in a validated radioreceptor assay. Scatchard analysis of saturation data revealed a single class of high-affinity (Kd = 5.21 x 10(-11) +/- .84 M), low capacity (Bmax = 27.03 +/- 3.37 fmoles/mg) binding sites. Only oPRL (40% displacement) and to a lesser extent oGH (3% displacement) inhibited the binding of 125I-oPRL to mink skin cell membranes. No inhibition of 125I-oPRL binding to membranes occurred in the presence of a 500-fold excess of bTSH or oLH, indicating that the receptors were hormone specific. Concentrations of 125I-oPRL receptors during the onset and development of winter fur growth (July through November) exhibited no significant change. However, following completion of the winter fur growth cycle (December 1) PRL receptor concentration was significantly higher than all preceding months. The greater binding observed at that time may reflect a change in tissue sensitivity, in preparation for growth of the summer pelage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The use of an alternative food source (red clover) as a means of reducing slug pest damage to winter wheat: towards field implementation.

Slugs are major pests of many crops in the UK, including winter wheat, yet current methods of control are often unreliable. The aim of this study was to investigate three issues key to the successful field implementation of a control strategy that uses red clover as an alternative food source to reduce the amount of damage caused to winter wheat by the field slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller). A series of three experiments was designed to assess this aim. Firstly, under laboratory conditions, red clover was consumed in greater quantities than wheat, even when wheat was presented as a novel food. Secondly, red clover had no significant effects on the emergence and early growth of wheat in a polytunnel experiment. Both these results are crucial to the successful implementation of a strategy that uses red clover as an alternative food source. Lastly, the results of a field experiment were consistent with the results of the polytunnel experiment, in that red clover did not significantly affect wheat emergence. However, plots in which red clover was left to grow until the time of wheat harvest resulted in significantly lower (43%) wheat yields than plots without red clover. These results suggest that red clover must be removed from the field after the wheat has passed its vulnerable seedling stage. Recommendations for the potential use of red clover as an alternative food source for reducing damage to winter wheat in field conditions are discussed and opportunities for further work are suggested.

Agriculture↗