Summary
Background Psoriasis may, in some patients, be triggered and/or exacerbated by stress.
Objectives As activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is critical to a successful ...stress response we investigated this in patients with psoriasis.
Methods Forty patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 40 age‐matched normal controls experienced three randomly presented acute psychological stressors (cognitive, emotional and social). Serial serum cortisol, pulse rate and blood pressure assessments were undertaken at baseline and following each of the stressors. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at 09·00 h on the day of testing.
Results In control subjects there was a significant (r = 0·38; P < 0·05) correlation between pulse rate and serum cortisol level following the social performance stressor; this was not evident in the psoriasis group (r = 0·07; not significant). Patients who believed that their psoriasis was highly stress responsive had significantly lower salivary cortisol levels at baseline (P < 0·01) and lower serum cortisol levels following the social performance stressor (P = 0·016) than patients with nonstress‐responsive disease who believed that stress had no impact. In contrast, there was no difference between the groups for change in pulse rate poststressor.
Conclusions This study shows that patients with psoriasis, and in particular those whose disease appears to be stress responsive, exhibit an altered HPA response to acute social stress. The implication is that such patients may perhaps be primed to flares of their psoriasis. Whether this is genetically predetermined and/or a consequence of the distress of living with psoriasis remains to be determined.
It is now more than 100 years since the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB:
L.) was first detected in the Pacific Island state of Samoa. The exotic pest from Asia became the principal pest of coconut ...palms in Samoa and, from this first point of invasion, spread to several surrounding countries in the South-West Pacific Ocean. An intensive control operation was initiated, but the beetle could not be eliminated. Various pest management strategies were attempted but had limited success until the introduction of a biological control agent (BCA), Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV), during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The biocontrol release was very successful and became the prime example of "classical biological control" of an insect pest by a virus. Changing economic and social conditions in Samoa and other islands of the Pacific require a re-evaluation of the threat of CRB to coconut production to suggest how the IPM system may be modified to meet future needs. Therefore, it is timely to review the history of CRB in Samoa and summarize experiences in development of an integrated pest management (IPM) system limiting the impact of the pest. We also present results from a recent study conducted in 2020 on the island of Upolu to define the current status of the CRB population and its BCA, OrNV. The lessons from Samoa, with its long history of containment and management of CRB, are applicable to more recent invasion sites. Recommendations are provided to modify the IPM programme to enhance the sustainable control of CRB and support the ongoing coconut replantation program promoted by the Samoan government.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
► Poor establishment from short coleoptiles is associated with reduced wheat yields. ►
Rht8 and
Rht13 dwarfing alleles allow selection for greater coleoptile growth. ►
Rht13 was associated with a ...unique reduction in peduncle size to reduce plant height. ►
Rht13 contributed to both greater biomass and harvest index to increase yields GA-sensitive dwarfing genes have much potential for improving wheat performance.
The green-revolution
Rht-B1b and
Rht-D1b dwarfing alleles are usually associated with increased wheat yields but are linked to reduced early growth and poor emergence if sowing conditions are unfavourable. Other dwarfing genes are available but not used in commercial breeding. The
Rht13 bread wheat donor, Magnif M1, produces uniquely short peduncle and penultimate internodes to reduce plant height. A set of near-isogenic (NILs) and recombinant inbred (RILs) lines varying for height were developed from the cross of Magnif M1 and the
Rht8c-containing Chuan-mai 18, and evaluated for a range of agronomic characteristics across favourable environments. Reductions in plant height were associated with increased grain number (
r
2
=
0.35**) and harvest index (
r
2
=
0.62**) in the NILs. Reduced-height RILs containing the
Rht13-linked,
Xgwm577
M
microsatellite marker were significantly shorter, produced greater biomass, yield and harvest index, and increased spike and grain number than lines without the marker. Approximately 74 and 7% of the total phenotypic variance in plant height was accounted for by allelic differences in
Xgwm577 and
Rht8 loci, respectively. The peduncle and penultimate peduncle internodes of
Rht13-containing lines were proportionately shorter than
Rht8c-containing sibs and lines containing the
Rht-B1b dwarfing allele. The unique height-reducing phenotype, increased grain number and yield associated with
Rht13 indicate considerable potential for use of this dwarfing allele for improving wheat performance.
Summary
Background Researchers have indicated that 30–40% of patients with psoriasis suffer significant psychological distress. For the appropriate clinical management of the patient with psoriasis ...it is important that dermatologists are able to recognize this distress.
Objectives To examine the level of agreement between dermatologists and patients with psoriasis as to the presence of clinically significant psychological distress.
Methods Forty‐three consultations between dermatologists and patients with psoriasis were assessed. Following the consultation two assessments were undertaken: the patients completed measures of anxiety and depression, and the consulting dermatologists recorded whether they believed the patient to be psychologically distressed and, if so, their subsequent action. At the end of the study, all dermatologists who participated completed the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy.
Results Self‐report questionnaires indicated that 37% and 12% of patients were identified as probable clinical cases for anxiety and depression, respectively. In general, the level of agreement between patient rating and dermatologist rating as to the presence of anxiety or depression was low (kappa statistic 0·24 and 0·26, respectively). Dermatologist empathy level did not appear to influence identification of distress. In only 39% of cases were the psychological difficulties of significantly distressed patients raised by dermatologists during the consultation.
Conclusions Agreement between dermatologists and patients with psoriasis regarding the presence of clinically significant psychological distress was low. When dermatologists did identify patients as being anxious and/or depressed, in the majority of cases no further action was taken following the consultation. This study highlights a number of areas for improvement in the psychological management of patients with psoriasis.
Greater yield per unit rainfall is one of the most important challenges in dryland agriculture. Improving intrinsic water‐use efficiency (WT), the ratio of CO2 assimilation rate to transpiration rate ...at the stomata, may be one means of achieving this goal. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) is recognized as a reliable surrogate for WT and there have now been numerous studies which have examined the relationship between crop yield and WT (measured as Δ13C). These studies have shown the relationship between yield and WT to be highly variable. The impact on crop yield of genotypic variation in WT will depend on three factors: (i) the impact of variation in WT on crop growth rate, (ii) the impact of variation in WT on the rate of crop water use, and (iii) how growth and water use interact over the crop's duration to produce grain yield. The relative importance of these three factors will differ depending on the crop species being grown and the nature of the cropping environment. Here we consider these interactions using (i) the results of field trials with bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), durum wheat (T. turgidum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) that have examined the association between yield and Δ13C and (ii) computer simulations with the SIMTAG wheat crop growth model. We present details of progress in breeding to improve WT and yield of wheat for Australian environments where crop growth is strongly dependent on subsoil moisture stored from out‐of‐season rains and assess other opportunities to improve crop yield using WT
Background
Despite the psychosocial challenges of living with psoriasis many patients may not be able to access appropriate services to manage these challenges. Mobile health interventions may be ...helpful as a means to support patients in managing the impact of their condition.
Objective
To conduct a preliminary examination of the feasibility and acceptability of a bespoke psoriasis‐specific digital therapeutic solution (hereafter termed Allay), and to provide initial data on psychological changes pre‐post.
Methods
Phase one proof of concept pre‐post study. Eligible patients were provided with Allay on their smartphone and assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks on a range of indices of well‐being. Participants experiences on usability were collected by telephone interview at 4 weeks, 8 and 12 weeks.
Results
Out of 66 participants recruited, 59 persisted in using Allay after the familiarisation phase, and 34 participants completed the 12 weeks programme. Participants showed a statistically significant improvement between induction and the end of the 12 weeks programme on Quality of life, Resilience, Perceptions of ‘Overall impact’ of psoriasis, and ‘Emotional impact’. There was a significant change over the course of using Allay for symptoms of depression but not anxiety. While there was an interaction effect of changes in severity of psoriasis symptoms over the course of the study for dermatology‐specific measures, there was no interaction between such changes in psoriasis symptoms and changes in depression, resilience or beliefs in emotional impact.
Conclusions
Study results suggest that the use of Allay as an adjunct to medical management of psoriasis may help patients improve resilience, mood, beliefs about their condition and enhance their quality of life. Given that this is a phase one proof of concept study, and our rates of attrition further research is necessary to examine comparative effectiveness and stability of these findings.
Adherence to treatment in patients with psoriasis Richards, HL; Fortune, DG; Griffiths, CEM
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,
04/2006, Letnik:
20, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Non‐adherence to medication is a chronic problem that impacts on healthcare professionals and patients alike. In psoriasis, a condition that presents patients with frequent and disabling physical, ...psychological and social effects, studies consistently suggest that up to 40% of patients do not use their medication as directed. Thus it is probable that poor adherence contaminates the clinical picture of response effectiveness in everyday practice. This educational paper reviews research that investigates adherence to medication in patients with psoriasis. It provides an overview of contributing factors and mediating variables. It is proposed that three specific facets appear to optimize patient adherence: an effective doctor–patient relationship; optimism with the treatment prescribed; and a limited ‘nuisance’ value of treatment in terms of side‐effects and hassle of use. Various strategies to address adherence are suggested and it is argued that in order to enhance our understanding of adherence in patients with psoriasis, there needs to be an increasing focus on patients’ beliefs about their condition and its management.
Using synchrotron X-ray diffraction the residual stress distribution has been measured in a series of AA7449-W51 aluminium friction stir welds that had been tensioned to different loads during ...welding. By modifying the stress accumulation path, the application of a tensioning stress has reduced the tensile magnitude of the final residual weld stresses. In the present case the residual stresses were minimised when the applied load is ∼35% of the room temperature yield stress of the parent material. Subsequent sectioning of the weld into shorter test lengths, as might be necessary for weld testing, resulted in a progressive and significant relaxation of the residual stress field. The effect of tensioning on the weld component distortion also has been investigated.
PDF
