Modification of heat-related effects on mortality by air pollution concentration, at small-area level, in the Attica prefecture, Greece.

Background: The independent effects of short-term exposure to increased air temperature and air pollution on mortality are well-documented. There is some evidence indicating that elevated concentrations of air pollutants may lead to increased heat-related mortality, but this evidence is not consistent. Most of these effects have been documented through time-series studies using city-wide data, rather than at a finer spatial level.

Phylogenetic analysis of Nostocales (Cyanobacteria) based on two novel molecular markers, implicated in the nitrogenase biosynthesis.

The characterization of cyanobacteria communities remains challenging, as taxonomy of several cyanobacterial genera is still unresolved, especially within Nostocales taxa. Nostocales cyanobacteria are capable of nitrogen fixation; nitrogenase genes are grouped into operons and are located in the same genetic locus. Structural nitrogenase genes (nifH, nifK and nifD) as well as 16S rRNA have been shown to be adequate genetic markers for distinguishing cyanobacterial genera.

Climate change impacts on thermal stress in four climatically diverse European cities.

The thermal conditions that prevail in cities pose a number of challenges to urban residents and policy makers related to quality of life, health and welfare as well as to sustainable urban development. However, the changes in thermal stress due to climate change are probably not uniform among cities with different background climates. In this work, a comparative analysis of observed and projected thermal stress (cold stress, heat stress, no thermal stress) across four European cities (Helsinki, Rotterdam, Vienna, and Athens), which are representative of different geographical and climatic regions of the continent, for a recent period (1975 - 2004) and two future periods (2029 - 2058, 2069 - 2098) has been conducted.

Global warming is shifting the relationships between fire weather and realized fire-induced CO emissions in Europe.

Fire activity has significantly changed in Europe over the last decades (1980-2020s), with the emergence of summers attaining unprecedented fire prone weather conditions. Here we report a significant shift in the non-stationary relationship linking fire weather conditions and fire intensity measured in terms of CO emissions released during biomass burning across a latitudinal gradient of European IPCC regions. The reported trends indicate that global warming is possibly inducing an incipient change on regional fire dynamics towards increased fire impacts in Europe, suggesting that emerging risks posed by exceptional fire-weather danger conditions may progressively exceed current wildfire suppression capabilities in the next decades and impact forest carbon sinks.

Does climatic zone of birth modify the temperature-mortality association of London inhabitants during the warm season? A time-series analysis for 2004-2013.

Background: It is known that on days with high temperatures higher mortality is observed and there is a minimum mortality temperature (MMT) point which is higher in places with warmer climate. This indicates some population adaptation to local climate but information on how quickly this adaptation will occur under climate change is lacking.

Methods: To investigate this, we associated daily mortality data with temperature during the warm period in 2004-2013 for London inhabitants born in five climatic zones (UK, Tropical, Sub-tropical, Boreal and Mixed).

Spatial Variability in the Effect of High Ambient Temperature on Mortality: An Analysis at Municipality Level within the Greater Athens Area.

Spatial variability in temperature exists within metropolitan areas but very few studies have investigated intra-urban differentiation in the temperature-mortality effects. We investigated whether local characteristics of 42 Municipalities within the Greater Athens Area lead to modified temperature effects on mortality and if effect modifiers can be identified. Generalized Estimating Equations models were used to assess the effect of high ambient temperature on the total and cause-specific daily number of deaths and meta-regression to investigate effect modification.

Climate change and impacts in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East (EMME) are likely to be greatly affected by climate change, associated with increases in the frequency and intensity of droughts and hot weather conditions. Since the region is diverse and extreme climate conditions already common, the impacts will be disproportional. We have analyzed long-term meteorological datasets along with regional climate model projections for the 21st century, based on the intermediate IPCC SRES scenario A1B.

Effects of essential oils on milk production, milk composition, and rumen microbiota in Chios dairy ewes.

The effect of the addition of an essential oil (EO) preparation (containing a mixture of natural and nature-identical EO) on the performance of dairy ewes of the Chios breed was investigated. Eighty lactating ewes were allocated into 4 equal groups in a randomized block design, each with 4 replicates of 5 ewes housed in the same pen. The 4 groups were fed the same total mixed ration allowance, the roughage being a mixture of corn silage, lucerne hay, and wheat straw, and the concentrate based on cereals and oil cakes.

Aggressive angiomyxoma: case report and review of the literature.

Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm, found mainly in the female pelvis and perineum. Approximately 160 cases have been reported in the literature to date. The tumor is usually misdiagnosed at presentation.

Bone metastasis as a presenting feature of endometrial adenocarcinoma: case report and literature review.

A rare case of endometrial adenocarcinoma that presented with symptoms of bone metastasis in the right ischium is described. The patient had no signs or symptoms of gynecological malignancy and the diagnostic work up did not reveal the primary disease. The bone metastasis was treated successfully by radiotherapy, but three years later the patient noted vaginal bleeding, which led to the diagnosis and treatment of the primary endometrial cancer.

Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis associated with secondary ovarian carcinoma. Case report.

Palmar fasciitis and a polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS) is an uncommon paraneoplastic syndrome often associated with occult neoplasms, including ovarian and pancreatic carcinomas. A 67-year-old patient with presenting symptoms of PFPAS is reported. Twelve months after onset of the symptoms an ovarian and pancreatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed synchronously.

The effect of salinomycin on certain blood parameters and milk quality of lactating sows.

Twenty-five gilts and sows, after pregnancy confirmation using the ultrasonic method, were randomly divided and allocated to the following five experimental groups: SAL0 = negative controls, SAL20 = 20 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL40 = 40 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL60 = 60 mg salinomycin per kg of feed and SAL80 = 80 mg salinomycin per kg of feed. All animals remained under treatment for two consecutive breeding cycles. The sows were fed a home-mixed balanced feed during gestations and lactations.

The effect of salinomycin on health status and performance of sows and their litters: a dose titration study.

Two hundred and fifty gilts and sows (Dalland parent stock) were divided randomly and allocated into the following five experimental groups: SAL0 = negative controls, SAL20 = 20 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL40 = 40 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL60 = 60 mg salinomycin per kg of feed and SAL80 = 80 mg salinomycin per kg of feed. Each gilt and sow was allocated to one of the five groups after the confirmation of the pregnancy using the ultrasonic method and remained under treatment for two consecutive breeding cycles. Throughout the experimental period several parameters related to sow health status, performance and fertility, as well as to health status and performance of their litters were recorded and calculated.

Effect of salinomycin in the control of Clostridium perfringens type C infections in sucklings pigs.

The ability of salinomycin to control Clostridium perfringens type C infection in sows and their offspring was examined under field conditions. Two groups of sows and their offspring were offered feed either medicated with 60 ppm salinomycin or free of antibiotics, and their performance was compared. The number of piglets with diarrhoea, the duration of the diarrhoea, and the mortality of the piglets during the lactation period were markedly lower in the group given salinomycin.

Low beta-hCG is associated with poor prognosis in association with an embryo with positive cardiac activity.

Seven pregnancies with positive fetal heart activity and low or very low serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels were investigated. The gestational age by dates was between 6 weeks 3 days and 8 weeks 4 days at the time of the first ultrasound scan and beta-hCG ranged between 282 and 10,000 mIU/ml of the Second International Standard. The crown-rump lengths ranged between 6 and 13 mm and heart activity was always detected.