Italy is one of the major world cherry producers and over a third of its production takes place in the Apulian Region. This study aims to quantify and evaluate the environmental sustainability of the ...lifecycle of cherry production and transformation in the Apulia region in southern Italy. The paper presents the results of a pilot study commissioned by an Apulian consortium of cherry producers. The purpose is that of identifying the main hotspots of the implemented production practices and suggesting options for environmental improvement.
A Life Cycle Assessment approach is used for the quantification of the potential environmental impacts of cherry production. The lifecycle stages included in the study follow the cradle-to-gate approach, considering the agricultural processes, transports and the transformation system, which gives three types of intermediate products for the food manufacturing industry, namely cherries in SO2, cherries in alcohol and destoned cherries in alcohol. A comparison of the environmental profile of the different cherry products has been carried out and possible alternative scenarios evaluated.
The assessment results show that, for most impact categories, as in many other agri-food systems, the agricultural lifecycle phase is environmentally more burdening compared to the transformation phase.
As regards the finished products, the cherry in SO2 system has a better environmental profile compared to that of the cherries in alcohol. For instance, the GWP, referred to the whole life cycle (including the agricultural, transport and processing phases), amounted to 556.1 kg CO2eq t−1 cherries in alcohol, 725.7 kg CO2eq t−1 cherries destoned in alcohol, 298.9 kg CO2eq t−1 cherries in SO2. For the cherry in alcohol system, part of the hydro-alcoholic solution is reused in the transformation process. This contribution has been evaluated and compared with the scenario without recycling of alcohol.
The results of the research indicate that different environmental improvements could be achieved for this cherry production system by reducing on-orchard emissions, focusing on the key contributors of energy and fertilisers-related emissions, by implementing more efficient transportation and by the recycling some of the solutions (such as the hydro-alcoholic one) in the industrial phase.
The effectiveness and safety of specific immunotherapy (SIT) in allergic diseases such as asthma have increasingly come under question. Some authors advocate eliminating SIT as a therapeutic option ...for allergic patients, since the risks associated with this form of asthma may outweigh its positive effects. However, in a review of twenty-nine controlled studies in 2077 children and an equal number of controls, 27 (93.1%) have shown the effectiveness of SIT in pediatric age for the treatment of asthma due to inhalant allergens (p < 0.0001). The scope of this study was to ascertain whether this form of therapy is safe and effective in pediatrics. 300 children (median age 4.4 years) with asthma due to pollen or house dust mite were prospectively followed for three years. They were randomly divided into two groups: the study group and control group, being almost equal in number of children and clinical characteristics such as sex and age. No child suffered severe reactions due to SIT. Children receiving SIT had significantly greater reductions in days (p = 0.0001) and nights (p = 0.0005) without asthma and drug usage (p = 0.0003), compared with drug-treated children. In addition, the number of asthma attacks (p = 0.0001), and the quality of life were significantly improved in the study group (p = 0.0001). These findings suggest that if suitable allergen extracts are used with close observation of therapeutic indications, and children are followed by their doctors as frequently as required, SIT is effective in the treatment of pediatric asthma, with few adverse effects.
Summary
The clinical and immunologic findings of two breast‐fed babies who experienced anaphylaxis after a feeding with a partially whey hydrolysate formula (PWHF) are reported. Sensitization to this ...formula seems to have occurred in the first days of life in the Maternity Hospital where the babies were fed the same formula. These two case reports suggest that PWHF may be immunogenic in the IgE system. This data is in agreement with previous studies which showed intact fragments of cow's milk (CM) proteins in PWHF.
Essential fatty acids and their delta-6-desaturated derivatives are major components of cellular membrane phospholipids, contributing to their stability and functions. They are also precursors of ...inflammation mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and are involved in cellular immunoregulation. Recent studies have stressed the importance of essential fatty acids in various diseases. Patients with atopic dermatitis have altered essential fatty acids levels in plasma and a clinical improvement has been shown after oral administration of essential fatty acids. The aim of our study was to investigate the distribution of essential fatty acids in the membranes of cord blood mononuclear leukocytes of newborns at risk of atopy, and to correlate the levels of essential fatty acids at birth with total IgE values and with the onset of atopic disease. Newborns at risk of atopic disease have a significant reduction in arachidonic acid in the membranes of cord blood mononuclear leukocytes. Our data show a significant decrease in arachidonic acid in neonates at risk of atopy, suggesting that the abnormality of essential fatty acids is a primary phenomenon associated with atopic status.
Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) results from reactivity of donor immunocompetent cells versus host tissues. Its pathogenesis involves co-stimulatory molecules, cytokines, free radicals, and ...oxidative stress products. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that inhibits the B7-1/CD28 expression in vitro, and it may contrabalance the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress; it has been tested in eight patients with steroid-resistant acute GVHD.
NAC was given at the dose of 150 mg/kg bolus intravenously, followed by 50 mg/kg intravenous continuous infusion over 3 weeks or less up, to clinical GVHD resolution. In four patients, flow cytometric analysis of co-stimulatory molecules was performed on peripheral mononuclear cells before and after NAC therapy.
We achieved prompt response in six patients: four had complete response, two partial response. Two patients died of acute GVHD, and four of intercurrent disease. We noticed significant decrease in CD80, CD25, and CD8+ cells after NAC therapy.
NAC therapy is feasible; it may give response in steroid-resistant acute GVHD. More extensive studies are needed to confirm these data.
Asthma in children Cantani, A; Arcese, G; Lucenti, P
Rivista europea per le scienze mediche e farmacologiche,
1993 May-Aug, Letnik:
15, Številka:
3-4
Journal Article
