One-year molecular survey of astrovirus infection in turkeys in Poland

The presence of turkey astrovirus (TAstV) was monitored in meat-type turkey flocks in Poland in 2008. Clinical samples (10 individual faecal swabs/flock) from 77 flocks aged 1-19 weeks were collected from different regions of the country. RT-PCR experiments were performed for detection and molecular characterization of TAstV using four sets of primers within the RdRp gene (ORF1b). The prevalence of astrovirus was 34/77 (44.15%) in the flocks tested. TAstV type 2 was associated with 30 of 77 infections (38.9%), either alone or in mixed infections; TAstV type 1 was detected in 9 of 77 flocks (11.6%), either alone or in mixed infections; ANV was detected only in one flock (1.29%) by sequence analysis during this study. Phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic variability in the TAstV strains that were isolated. Some of Polish TAstV-2 strains were genetically related to the North American isolates; however, most of them formed a distinct subgroup of “European” isolates, suggesting their separate origin or evolution. Additionally, due to the high variability of the TAstV sequences, the most suitable method for TAstV typing seems to be sequencing

Evolutionary Analysis of Inter-Farm Transmission Dynamics in a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Epidemic

Phylogenetic studies have largely contributed to better understand the emergence, spread and evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza during epidemics, but sampling of genetic data has never been detailed enough to allow mapping of the spatiotemporal spread of avian influenza viruses during a single epidemic. Here, we present genetic data of H7N7 viruses produced from 72% of the poultry farms infected during the 2003 epidemic in the Netherlands. We use phylogenetic analyses to unravel the pathways of virus transmission between farms and between infected areas. In addition, we investigated the evolutionary processes shaping viral genetic diversity, and assess how they could have affected our phylogenetic analyses. Our results show that the H7N7 virus was characterized by a high level of genetic diversity driven mainly by a high neutral substitution rate, purifying selection and limited positive selection. We also identified potential reassortment in the three genes that we have tested, but they had only a limited effect on the resolution of the inter-farm transmission network. Clonal sequencing analyses performed on six farm samples showed that at least one farm sample presented very complex virus diversity and was probably at the origin of chronological anomalies in the transmission network. However, most virus sequences could be grouped within clearly defined and chronologically sound clusters of infection and some likely transmission events between farms located 0.8–13 Km apart were identified. In addition, three farms were found as most likely source of virus introduction in distantly located new areas. These long distance transmission events were likely facilitated by human-mediated transport, underlining the need for strict enforcement of biosafety measures during outbreaks. This study shows that in-depth genetic analysis of virus outbreaks at multiple scales can provide critical information on virus transmission dynamics and can be used to increase our capacity to efficiently control epidemics

Impact of renal impairment on atrial fibrillation: ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and renal impairment share a bidirectional relationship with important pathophysiological interactions. We evaluated the impact of renal impairment in a contemporary cohort of patients with AF. Methods: We utilised the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry. Outcomes were analysed according to renal function by CKD-EPI equation. The primary endpoint was a composite of thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were each of these separately including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic event, intracranial haemorrhage, cardiovascular death and hospital admission. Results: A total of 9306 patients were included. The distribution of patients with no, mild, moderate and severe renal impairment at baseline were 16.9%, 49.3%, 30% and 3.8%, respectively. AF patients with impaired renal function were older, more likely to be females, had worse cardiac imaging parameters and multiple comorbidities. Among patients with an indication for anticoagulation, prescription of these agents was reduced in those with severe renal impairment, p <.001. Over 24 months, impaired renal function was associated with significantly greater incidence of the primary composite outcome and all secondary outcomes. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between eGFR and the primary outcome (HR 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14] per 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 decrease), that was most notable in patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.23–3.99] compared to eGFR ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2). Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with AF suffer from concomitant renal impairment which impacts their overall management. Furthermore, renal impairment is an independent predictor of major adverse events including thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death in patients with AF

Clinical complexity and impact of the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway in patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF General Long-Term Registry

Background: Clinical complexity is increasingly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ‘Atrial fibrillation Better Care’ (ABC) pathway approach has been proposed to streamline a more holistic and integrated approach to AF care; however, there are limited data on its usefulness among clinically complex patients. We aim to determine the impact of ABC pathway in a contemporary cohort of clinically complex AF patients. Methods: From the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry, we analysed clinically complex AF patients, defined as the presence of frailty, multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy. A K-medoids cluster analysis was performed to identify different groups of clinical complexity. The impact of an ABC-adherent approach on major outcomes was analysed through Cox-regression analyses and delay of event (DoE) analyses. Results: Among 9966 AF patients included, 8289 (83.1%) were clinically complex. Adherence to the ABC pathway in the clinically complex group reduced the risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.72, 95%CI 0.58–0.91), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; aHR: 0.68, 95%CI 0.52–0.87) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85). Adherence to the ABC pathway was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (aHR: 0.74, 95%CI 0.56–0.98) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.76, 95%CI 0.60–0.96) also in the high-complexity cluster; similar trends were observed for MACEs. In DoE analyses, an ABC-adherent approach resulted in significant gains in event-free survival for all the outcomes investigated in clinically complex patients. Based on absolute risk reduction at 1 year of follow-up, the number needed to treat for ABC pathway adherence was 24 for all-cause death, 31 for MACEs and 20 for the composite outcome. Conclusions: An ABC-adherent approach reduces the risk of major outcomes in clinically complex AF patients. Ensuring adherence to the ABC pathway is essential to improve clinical outcomes among clinically complex AF patients

Impact of clinical phenotypes on management and outcomes in European atrial fibrillation patients: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF (EORP-AF) General Long-Term Registry

Background: Epidemiological studies in atrial fibrillation (AF) illustrate that clinical complexity increase the risk of major adverse outcomes. We aimed to describe European AF patients\u2019 clinical phenotypes and analyse the differential clinical course. Methods: We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward\u2019s Method and Squared Euclidean Distance using 22 clinical binary variables, identifying the optimal number of clusters. We investigated differences in clinical management, use of healthcare resources and outcomes in a cohort of European AF patients from a Europe-wide observational registry. Results: A total of 9363 were available for this analysis. We identified three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 3634; 38.8%) characterized by older patients and prevalent non-cardiac comorbidities; Cluster 2 (n = 2774; 29.6%) characterized by younger patients with low prevalence of comorbidities; Cluster 3 (n = 2955;31.6%) characterized by patients\u2019 prevalent cardiovascular risk factors/comorbidities. Over a mean follow-up of 22.5 months, Cluster 3 had the highest rate of cardiovascular events, all-cause death, and the composite outcome (combining the previous two) compared to Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 (all P <.001). An adjusted Cox regression showed that compared to Cluster 2, Cluster 3 (hazard ratio (HR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27\u20133.62; HR 3.42, 95%CI 2.72\u20134.31; HR 2.79, 95%CI 2.32\u20133.35), and Cluster 1 (HR 1.88, 95%CI 1.48\u20132.38; HR 2.50, 95%CI 1.98\u20133.15; HR 2.09, 95%CI 1.74\u20132.51) reported a higher risk for the three outcomes respectively. Conclusions: In European AF patients, three main clusters were identified, differentiated by differential presence of comorbidities. Both non-cardiac and cardiac comorbidities clusters were found to be associated with an increased risk of major adverse outcomes

Intracellular protein determination using droplet-based immunoassays

This paper describes the implementation of a sensitive, on-chip immunoassay for the analysis of intracellular proteins, developed using microdroplet technology. The system offers a number of analytical functionalities, enabling the lysis of low cell numbers, as well as protein detection and quantification, integrated within a single process flow. Cells were introduced into the device in suspension and were electrically lysed in situ. The cell lysate was subsequently encapsulated together with antibody-functionalized beads into stable, water-in-oil droplets, which were stored on-chip. The binding of intracellular proteins to the beads was monitored fluorescently. By analyzing many individual droplets and quantifying the data obtained against standard additions, we measured the level of two intracellular proteins, namely, HRas-mCitrine, expressed within HEK-293 cells, and actin-EGFP, expressed within MCF-7 cells. We determined the concentrations of these proteins over 5 orders of magnitude, from 50 pM to 1 μM. The results from this semiautomated method were compared to those for determinations made using Western blots, and were found not only to be faster, but required a smaller number of cells

Zarządzanie środowiskowe w polskich przedsiębiorstwach

Economic activity has an enormous influence on the environment. Enterprises contribute to the progressing degradation of existing ecosystems, cause serious threats to the biological diversity of our planet, emit hazardous pollutants and use available natural resources excessively, which can lead to their premature exhaustion. There-fore, for the world’s nations to grow and develop in a sustainable manner, there is an urgent need to minimize the adverse impact of business activities, households and whole societies on the environment. Environmental degradation cannot be restrained by the neutralization of produced pollutants alone. Today, we need efficient environment-friendly technologies and production processes. Effective efforts aimed at the reduction of our ecological footprint should be undertaken by all involved entities, including designers, engineers and managers at all stages of the product design, production and distribution processes. The concept of corporate social respon-sibility, understood as a voluntary process of taking into account a wide array of social and ecological issues in all business activities as well as contacts with stakeholders, has become very popular in Poland. Development of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development has a huge impact on the shap-ing of pro-ecological attitudes in society. From this perspective corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be rightly regarded as a concept useful to ensure sustainable development at the micro-level, i.e. at the level of enterprises. CSR is a component of sustainable eco-management. It can ensure that the principles of sustainable development are effectively implemented at the level of socio-economic systems, as well as individual actors involved in change. Lublin Voivodeship has a clean and attractive environment. This paper presents research findings of the study carried out in 2005-2010 by researchers from the Faculty of Management, Lublin University of Technology. The main purpose of the study was to analyze the environmental activities and initiatives undertaken by enterprises operating in the region, directions of pro-environmental investments, implemented environmental management systems, as well as motivations of business managers to pay more attention to environmental issues.Działalność gospodarcza ma ogromny wpływ na środowisko. Przedsiębiorstwa przyczyniają się do postępującej degradacji istniejących ekosystemów, powodując poważne zagrożenie dla różnorodności biologicznej naszej planety, emitując niebezpieczne zanieczyszczenia i nadmiernie wykorzystując dostępne zasoby naturalne. Istnie-je konieczność przeprowadzania różnorodnych działań w celu zahamowania degradacji środowiska poprzez minimalizację negatywnego wpływu podmiotów gospodarczych, gospodarstw domowych i całego społeczeń-stwa. Nie wystarczą już tylko inicjatywy, których celem jest unieszkodliwianie zanieczyszczeń wytworzonych. Niezbędne jest poszukiwanie rozwiązań prowadzenia działalności w sposób jak najmniej uciążliwy dla środowi-ska w czasie planowania produkcji, projektowania dóbr oraz na każdym etapie procesu wytwórczego. Społeczna odpowiedzialność przedsiębiorstw rozumiana jako dobrowolne uwzględnianie aspektów społecznych i ekologicznych w działaniach biznesowych oraz w kontaktach z interesariuszami, stała się pojęciem powszech-nie znanym w Polsce. Rozwój koncepcji społecznej odpowiedzialności i zrównoważonego rozwoju ma ogromny wpływ na kształtowanie właściwych postaw proekologicznych w społeczeństwie. Z tej perspektywy, CSR może być traktowana jako koncepcja zapewniająca zrównoważony rozwój na poziomie mikro, czyli na poziomie przedsiębiorstw. CSR stanowi element zrównoważonego zarządzania. Może zapewnić realizację zasad zrówno-ważonego rozwoju nie tylko na poziomie społeczno-ekonomicznych systemów, ale także indywidualnych dzia-łaczy zaangażowanych w zmiany. Województwo lubelskie jest regionem czystym i atrakcyjnym środowiskowo. W latach 2005-2010 w celu oceny działań prośrodowiskowych najczęściej podejmowanych w przedsiębiorstwach zostały przeprowadzone badania w grupie podmiotów prowadzących działalność w tym województwie. Celem artykułu jest ukazanie kierunku inicjatyw prośrodowiskowych wyznaczanych przy prowadzeniu działalności gospodarczej, najczęściej podej-mowanych inwestycjach prośrodowiskowych, wprowadzanych systemach zarządzania środowiskowego, a także czynnikach skłaniających do uwzględniania wpływu podmiotów na stan środowiska naturalnego oraz barier takiego postępowania

Evaluation of rheological properties of commercial native starches

Na podstawie badań pięciu powszechnie stosowanych skrobi naturalnych (ziemniaczanej, kukurydzianej zwykłej, kukurydzianej woskowej, pszennej i tapiokowej), podjęto próbę określenia podstawowych czynników decydujących o prawidłowości pomiaru ich właściwości reologicznych. Badania wykonano z zastosowaniem wiskografu Brabendera, wiskozymetru Brookfielda oraz reometru Haake. Wykazano, że różne metody oceny właściwości reologicznych skrobi mogą być względem siebie uzupełniające. Badanie przebiegu kleikowania skrobi za pomocą wiskografów, mimo że nie pozwala na oznaczenie bezwzględnych wielkości reologicznych, dostarcza istotnych informacji technologicznych, które znajdują odzwierciedlenie w rezultatach uzyskanych innymi metodami. Lepkość kleików skrobiowych, będących płynami nienewtonowskimi, zależy nie tylko od stężenia, temperatury, szybkości ścinania, ale również od sposobu przygotowania kleiku. Porównywanie lepkości kleików skrobiowych, zmierzonych za pomocą różnych aparatów, wymaga precyzyjnego określenia szybkości ścinania, przy której wykonano pomiar. Wyniki badań uzyskane za pomocą aparatów, w których ustawia się wyłącznie szybkość obrotów wrzeciona (np. wiskozymetru Brookfielda), nie są porównywalne z rezultatami otrzymanymi przy użyciu innych aparatów.Based on the research into five commonly used natural starches (potato, usual corn, waxy corn, wheat, and tapioca), an attempt was made to determine the basic factors appearing decisive for the correctness of measuring the rheological properties of the starches. The research was carried out using a Brabender viscograph, a Brookfield viscometer, and a HAAKE rheometer. It was shown that various methods applied to evaluate starch properties could be complementary to each other. The analysis of the course of the pasting process by the Brabender viscograph provides significant technological information, although it does not make possible to determine absolute rheological quantities; the information obtained from this analysis are reflected in the results obtained using other methods. The viscosity of starch pastes, which are nonNewtonian fluids, depends not only on the concentration, temperature, and shear rate, but, also, on the preparation method of starch paste. In order to compare the starch paste viscosity data measured using different apparatuses, it is necessary to precisely determine the share rate at which the measurement is taken. The research results, obtained using the apparatuses in which only the angular velocity of spindle is set (for example Brookfield viscometer) are not comparable with the results obtained from the measurements taken using other device