Plant growth shapes the effects of elevation on the content and variability of flavonoids in subalpine bilberry stands

The study of morphological and physiological responses of shrubs to climate is crucial for the understanding of future scenarios regarding climate change. In this light, studying shrub growth and physiological acclimation along an elevation gradient might be insightful. The phenolic metabolic pathway represents a powerful tool to interpret such processes. In the South-Eastern Alps, we investigated the relationships between elevation, plant traits (i.e. age, xylem ring width, annual shoot length), plant-plant interaction (i.e. shrub cover) and flavonoids in Vaccinium myrtillus L. (leaves, berries) in stands above the treeline. The relationships were parsed within causal networks using a confirmatory path analysis. Elevation was the main driver of V. myrtillus growth, having both direct and indirect effects on the leaf flavonoid content, but this was less evident for berries. In particular, the content of foliar flavonoids showed a peak at mid-elevation and where the growth of xylem rings was intermediate, while it decreased in stands with higher shoot length. Flavonoid content variability of both leaves and berries was affected by elevation and shoot length. In berries, flavonoid variability was further related to all growth traits and shrub cover. These findings evidence that flavonoid content is influenced by both elevation and growth traits of V. myrtillus, often showing non-linear relationships. These results suggest a trait-mediated response of this plant to climate conditions as a result of trade-offs between plant growth, plant defence, environmental stress and nutrient/resource availability.

First measurement of the transverse spin asymmetries of the deuteron in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering

First measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized 6LiD target are presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the muon beam of the CERN SPS at 160 GeV/c. The Collins asymmetry turns out to be compatible with zero, as does the measured Sivers asymmetry within the present statistical errors.

Multicenter phase II-III study of oxaliplatin plus cyclophosphamide vs. cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide in chemonaive advanced ovarian cancer patients

PURPOSE

A phase II-III randomised study to compare safety and efficacy of an oxaliplatin/cyclophosphamide (OXAC) combination, vs. the reference combination of cisplatin/cyclophosphamide (CPC), in untreated advanced ovarian cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

182 patients were enrolled, of whom 177 were treated: 86 with OXAC (130 mg/m2 oxaliplatin two-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion, 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion), and 91 with CPC (100 mg/m2 cisplatin one-hour i.v. infusion. 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion). Treatment cycles were repeated every three weeks (maximum of six cycles).

RESULTS

The main toxicities, which were significantly less severe in the OXAC arm, were myelosuppression and vomiting, including (OXAC vs CPC, % patients): grade 3-4 leukopenia (37% vs. 56%), and anaemia (7% vs. 32%), with blood transfusions in 8% vs. 21%. In the OXAC arm, 64% of surgically assessable patients and 33% of clinically assessable patients achieved an objective response. In the CPC arm, 67% patients achieved a surgical response and 42% achieved an objective clinical response. In the OXAC and CPC arms, median progression free-survival was 13.0 and 13.3 months, and overall survival was 36.0 and 25.1 months respectively, without statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

The activity and time-related parameters of the OXAC and CPC combinations in advanced ovarian cancer patients, are comparable. Combined with the better safety profile of the oxaliplatin-containing regimen, this confirms the interest of oxaliplatin combined with active new agents in this indication.

Quality-of-life assessment in the old using the WHOQOL 100: differences between patients with senile dementia and patients with cancer

INTRODUCTION

The measurement of quality of life is an increasingly important issue, particularly in regard to treatment of severe and chronic diseases. The aim of this pilot study was to assess potentially divergent profiles of quality of life in persons with two different pathologies: moderate dementia and cancer.

METHOD

This pilot study was carried out in the neurology and cancer services of the medical school in Montpellier, France (Hôpital Gui de Chaulliac and CRLC Val d'Aurelle). The cumulative self-reporting test WHOQOL 100 (World Health Organization Quality of Life with 100 questions) was administered in 57 patients with either moderate senile dementia (27 cases with a Mini-Mental State Examination score >15; mean age of 73) or cancer (30 cases, mainly women with breast cancer; mean age of 53). The stability of responses was tested in a 2-week period.

RESULTS

Results of the study showed clear and significant differences between the two groups in the domains of mobility and psychology. Further, eight questions and six facets with a significant difference in responses were found. Responses seemed more stable in the domains of autonomy, social relationship, and religion for the cancer group, and in autonomy and psychology for the dementia group. The age difference may be an important factor in the different quality of life measured but did not significantly influence responses to the test questions.

CONCLUSION

The WHOQOL 100 seems a powerful instrument to assess quality of life in diseases such as cancer and moderate dementia. In this study, interesting differences in responses to the test questions between the two pathologic conditions were identified. Items that were unreliable on retesting are singled out. These results will be applied and reevaluated in the development of future, illness-specific and shorter versions of the WHOQOL 100.