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This work provides the first morphological analysis (both at gross and fine level) of the antennal structures in the genusElater(Coleoptera, Elateridae). The typology, number and distribution patterns of the antennal sensilla in the rare saproxylicElater ferrugineus(both male and female) were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The serrate antennae ofE. ferrugineusconsisted of a scape, a pedicel, and nine flattened flagellomeres. Overall, 10 types of sensilla were identified according to their morphological features: one type of sensilla chaetica (Ch), one type of Böhm sensilla (Bo), three types of sensilla trichodea (Tr.1–3), two types of sensilla basiconica (Ba.1–2), one type of sensilla styloconica (St), one type of grooved peg sensilla (Gp) and one type of sensilla campaniformia (Ca). A marked sexual dimorphism was found at both gross and fine scale. The male antenna was bigger (8.6 mm) than the female one (7.0 mm) and carried one type of sensilla trichodea (Tr.2) absent in female antennae possibly responsible for reception of the female-emitted sex pheromone. The female antenna carried a higher number of sensilla (~ 9800) than the male one did (~7,000), with more abundant sensilla chaetica (Ch) and basiconica (Ba.1 and Ba.2). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim To study the effects of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) on health-related quality of life in women after breast cancer. Patients and methods In the Stockholm trial, breast cancer survivors were randomized to HT (estradiol and progestogen) or to a control group (no treatment). A subgroup of 75 women was studied (38 with HT, 37 controls). Fifty patients were on concomitant tamoxifen. Patients completed three questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C-30, EORTC QLQ-BR 23 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)) during 1 year of treatment. Results A significant group-by-time interaction was found for improvement of insomnia in the HT group ( p < 0.001). Within the HT group, but not in the control group, there was significant improvement for HADS anxiety, HADS depression, emotional, cognitive, and social functions and global quality of life. When HT was added to tamoxifen, the increase in global quality of life was significant ( p < 0.01). Conclusion The effects of HT on quality of life in breast cancer survivors have not previously been reported. The present data suggest that this controversial treatment may improve quality of life after breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from hemp experiments in European countries indicate that long day conditions may be beneficial for the fibre content and quality of hemp. The long day conditions during summer in Sweden are therefore of interest. This paper presents results from the first fibre hemp experiments carried out in Sweden since the 1960s. Field trials were performed in southern Sweden, during the years 1999-2001, testing three monoecious varieties (Felina, Fedora and Futura) at seed rates of 30 and 60 kg/ha. Total biomass yield in autumn varied from 7.8 to 14.5 ton DM/ha and fibre yield from 1.9 to 3.3 ton DM/ha. The highest fibre yields per hectare were produced by the variety Futura, the lowest by Fedora. The seed rates 30 and 60 kg/ha gave similar biomass and fibre yields, but the plant density was lower and the stem diameter was larger at 30 kg/ha. Results of chemical analyses of stem and leaves are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Resource conservation with respect to nitrogen (N) was compared in organic and conventional cultivation of winter and spring wheat. Sustainability was measured in the nitrogen use efficiency of plant-available N. The amounts of N entering each system and the amounts removed in the harvested crop and remaining as unused mineral nitrogen in the soil at harvest were determined. Net surpluses and losses during the growing season were also monitored, and the environmental variables influencing N harvest in the different cultivation systems were identified. The study was carried out in three different cultivation systems: conventional animal production (CONV), organic animal production (ORG1), and organic cereal production (ORG2). On average for all years and sampling occasions in winter wheat, there were approximately 60 kg more mineral nitrogen left in the soil during the growing season in CONV than in ORG1, and coefficients of variation were higher in CONV. The maximum values were considerably higher in CONV than in ORG1 ( p =0.06–0.09), which increased the risk of leaching in the former, particularly in winter wheat cultivation. Nitrogen use efficiency in winter and spring wheat cultivation was 74% in whole crop conventional winter wheat and 81% in organic. Nitrogen use efficiency in harvested winter wheat grain was 44% for CONV and 49% for ORG1. ORG1 spring wheat was as efficient as ORG1 winter wheat, whereas ORG2 spring wheat used 73% of N in the whole crop and 39% in grain. Multivariate regression analysis showed that climate affected CONV and ORG1 winter wheat differently. High temperature in May increased grain yields in ORG1, but the converse was true for CONV. Large unused mineral N reserves at harvest coincided with large N harvest in CONV winter wheat. Residual fertility effects from the preceding crop produced high yields in ORG1 winter and spring wheat but had no effect in CONV. Generally, an increase in N reserves between plant development stages 13 and 31 was positive for both CONV and ORG1 winter wheat. Both winter and spring wheat require most N during this period, so the potential for improvement seems to lie in increasing mineralization (e.g., by intensified weed harrowing early in stage 13 in winter wheat and between stages 13 and 31 in spring wheat). Cultivation of winter wheat in ORG1 was a more efficient use of nitrogen resources than CONV. CONV efficiency could be improved by precision fertilization on each individual field with the help of N analysis before spring tillage and sensor-controlled fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stormwater pond sediments were collected from four stormwater ponds in Sweden and analysed for heavy metal, water and organic material content. The sediment characteristics were evaluated, and differences between and within the ponds are presented and discussed. An assessment of the water and sediment quality was also carried out. The results show that the metal content does not vary much between or within the ponds. The copper content is significantly higher than reported in earlier studies and copper is the critical metal for the ecological status of the ponds. The quality of pond sediment is comparable with sewage sludge or urban stream sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring wheat from a conventional (CONV) and an organic (ORG1) cropping system, both with animals, and from an organic system without animals (ORG2) was evaluated with respect to baking quality for the years 1995-2002. Amino acid (AA) composition was studied in both spring and winter wheat in 1993 and 2000-2002. The data were combined in multivariate analysis for exploration of the main factors responsible for the variation in quality. The most important factor for baking quality was weather conditions. High rainfall in May favoured baking quality in both cropping systems with animals, as did high temperature in May and high rainfall in July in the ORG1 system, and low rainfall in August in the CONV system. The only significant difference between the cropping systems was falling number, which was higher in ORG1 (252 s) than in CONV (205 s), probably due to a heavier CONV crop stand causing more difficult drying conditions. AA composition differed more between years than between cropping systems for both winter and spring wheat. The content of essential amino acids was high under the weather conditions associated with poor baking quality. The contents of threonine and leucine in spring wheat were significantly higher in ORG1, 1.76 and 8.11 g/100 g crude protein than in CONV, 1.63 and 7.72, respectively. In the interaction between AA and baking quality in spring wheat, it was possible to determine a correlation between phenylalanine, histidine, lysine and good baking properties. The primary effect was associated with weather conditions, but there was also an effect of differences between the cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes patient tolerance and toxicity of a transrectal ultrasound hyperthermia system used with external beam radiation therapy in treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer. Nine patients with clinical T2B-T3B (4th edition AJCC criteria) disease received external beam radiation therapy, with two hyperthermia treatments scheduled at least 1 week apart during the first 4 weeks of radiation. Five patients also received hormonal therapy. Interstitial and anterior rectal wall thermometry were performed. Median temperature for each treatment (T[sub 50]) was 40.8°C and mean CEM T[sub 90]=43%deg;C was 3.4min. Rectal wall temperature was maintained at 40°C. Treatment duration was limited in three of 17 sessions due to positional discomfort which was alleviated with light IV sedation and use of a 'New Life' mattress (Comfortex, Inc. Winoba, MN, USA). Acute toxicity was limited to NCI common toxicity criteria grade 1 and no excess toxicity was noted with full course radiation therapy ± hormonal therapy. These findings are consistent with those reported in a previous phase I trial assessing this device. Given the favourable toxicity profile demonstrated to date, modification of treatment parameters for this ongoing phase II study have been instituted that should further the efficacy of transrectal ultrasound hyperthermia for treatment of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that abnormalities of myocardial substrate metabolism during blood cardioplegic aortic cross-clamping and early reperfusion are attenuated further by insulin(GIK) than by alpha-ketoglutarate enrichment of blood cardioplegia alone. Twenty-eight males (47 to 78 years) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) participated in a prospective, controlled, randomized study. All patients had alpha-ketoglutarate-enriched blood cardioplegia. Insulin(GIK) was infused in 13 patients during aortic cross-clamping. Insulin(GIK) prevented lactate release during cardioplegia (1.5+/-15 vs -44+/-14 micromol/min, p = 0.04), and a significant extraction of lactate was induced shortly after declamping the aorta (15+/-3 vs 2+/-1%, p = 0.001). Free fatty acid uptake was reduced after cardioplegic cross-clamping (5.7+/-1.6 vs 16.0+/-3.8 micromol/min, p = 0.02). More positive/less negative levels of alanine, aspartate, glutamine, glycine, ornithine, taurine and tyrosine were found in all the insulin-treated patients. We conclude that insulin(GIK) attenuates abnormalities of myocardial substrate metabolism during blood cardioplegic aortic cross-clamping and early reperfusion further than is obtained with alpha-ketoglutarate enrichment of blood cardioplegia alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]