Novel Blood-Based Biomarkers and Disease Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease. Are We Ready for the New Era?

Recent positive trials for novel disease modifying therapies of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies represent a paradigm shift in the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease, a relentlessly progressive and debilitating disease of old age. The reported efficacy of these new agents when given early in the disease trajectory is dependent on an early and accurate disease diagnosis, which is currently based on cerebrospinal fluid tests or/and neuro-imaging studies such as positron emission tomography. These confirmatory tests provide in vivo evidence of the pathological signature of Alzheimer's disease, of increased cerebral amyloid and tau burden and neurodegeneration. The emergence of blood-based biomarkers represents another breakthrough, offering a less invasive and scalable diagnostic tool that could be applied in both primary and specialist care settings, potentially revolutionizing Alzheimer's disease clinical pathways. However, healthcare systems face challenges in the adoption of these new technologies and therapies due to diagnostic and treatment capacity constraints, as well as financial and infrastructure requirements.

Application of process-based models to forest management: experience with PROMOD, a simple plantation productivity model.

Process-based growth models are rarely used as a basis for decisions in forest management. Reasons for this are discussed and the development and application of PROMOD, a simple process-based plantation productivity model designed to meet the needs of managers, is described. In particular,PROMOD is intended for screening prospective plantation sites on the basis of readily available input data, including site latitude, soil characteristics, and long-term climate data. Originally developed for use with Eucalyptus globulus Labill., PROMOD has since been parameterized also for Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden and Pinus radiata D. Don. We discuss the adaptation of PROMOD to new environmental conditions and species; the sensitivity of the model's predictions to changes in model structure, the values of its physiological parameters and the accuracy and resolution of site survey information; and the use of the model both in assessing the profitability of plantation irrigation in semi-arid regions, and for generating broad-area productivity maps.