PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRATION THE AGRI-DRONES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTS. NEW CONCEPTS TOWARDS AGRICULTURE-5.0

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have a crucial contribution to the development of precision agriculture (PA). Agricultural drones or agri-drones make the rapid transition from the military system (UAVs) to domestic applications in the PA, in order to provide the necessary support to farmers for the surveillance of large crops and / or in carrying out operations to protect or stimulate crops. This revolutionary leap contributes to the considerable savings of the farmer, as well as to the revolution of traditional agriculture towards intelligent agriculture or PA. Managerial decisions based on the three principles presented in the paper (EVI - Enhanced Vegetation Index, ZP - Zero Pollution and ROI - Return on Investment) are easier to make through the approach driven by digital technology. The information-based management cycle lays foundations for sustainable PA of the future (agriculture-5.0)

Cold Atmospheric Plasma, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibitor: Effects Investigation on an Experimental Model on Rats

The evolution of reconstructive methods for defects of the human body cannot yet replace the use of flap surgery. Research is still preoccupied with the ideal techniques for offering the best chances of survival of the flaps. In our study, we investigated the effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injectable solutions on flap survival using an in vivo model. Twenty-four Wistar rats (four groups) had the McFarlane flap raised and CAP, L-NAME, and PRP substances tested through a single dose subcutaneous injection. The control group had only a saline solution injected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluated a CAP activated solution through injection on flaps. The flap survival rate was determined by clinical examination (photography documented), hematology, thermography, and anatomopathological tests. The image digital analysis performed on the flaps showed that the necrosis area (control—49.64%) was significantly lower for the groups with the three investigated solutions: CAP (14.47%), L-NAME (18.2%), and PRP (23.85%). Thermography exploration revealed less ischemia than the control group on the CAP, L-NAME, and PRP groups as well. Anatomopathological data noted the best degree of angiogenesis on the CAP group, with similar findings on the L-NAME and PRP treated flaps. The blood work did not indicate infection or a strong inflammatory process in any of the subjects. Overall, the study shows that the CAP activated solution has a similar (better) impact on the necrosis rate (compared with other solutions with known effects) when injected on the modified dorsal rat skin flap, and on top of that it can be obtained fast, in unlimited quantities, non-invasively, and through a standardized process

Observation of Intact and Proteolytically Cleaved Amyloid-Beta (1–40)-Oleuropein Noncovalent Complex at Neutral pH by Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry analyses carried out on mass spectrometers equipped with soft ionization sources demonstrated their utility in the assessment of the formation of noncovalent complexes and the localization of the binding sites. Direct analyses by mass spectrometry of the noncovalent complex formed in acidic and mildly acidic environments by amyloid beta (1–40) peptide and oleuropein have been previously described, and, in several studies, the absorption, metabolism, excretion, and the implications in the prevention and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease of oleuropein have been investigated. Our paper presents modifications of the method previously employed for noncovalent complex observation, namely, the amyloid beta (1–40) pretreatment, followed by an increase in the pH and replacement of the chemical environment from ammonium acetate to ammonium bicarbonate. The formation of noncovalent complexes with one or two molecules of oleuropein was detected in all chemical solutions used, and the amyloid beta (17–28) binding site was identified via proteolytic experiments using trypsin prior to and after noncovalent complex formation. Our results highlight the importance of further studies on the effect of oleuropein against amyloid beta aggregation

Cold Atmospheric Plasma, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibitor: Effects Investigation on an Experimental Model on Rats

The evolution of reconstructive methods for defects of the human body cannot yet replace the use of flap surgery. Research is still preoccupied with the ideal techniques for offering the best chances of survival of the flaps. In our study, we investigated the effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injectable solutions on flap survival using an in vivo model. Twenty-four Wistar rats (four groups) had the McFarlane flap raised and CAP, L-NAME, and PRP substances tested through a single dose subcutaneous injection. The control group had only a saline solution injected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluated a CAP activated solution through injection on flaps. The flap survival rate was determined by clinical examination (photography documented), hematology, thermography, and anatomopathological tests. The image digital analysis performed on the flaps showed that the necrosis area (control—49.64%) was significantly lower for the groups with the three investigated solutions: CAP (14.47%), L-NAME (18.2%), and PRP (23.85%). Thermography exploration revealed less ischemia than the control group on the CAP, L-NAME, and PRP groups as well. Anatomopathological data noted the best degree of angiogenesis on the CAP group, with similar findings on the L-NAME and PRP treated flaps. The blood work did not indicate infection or a strong inflammatory process in any of the subjects. Overall, the study shows that the CAP activated solution has a similar (better) impact on the necrosis rate (compared with other solutions with known effects) when injected on the modified dorsal rat skin flap, and on top of that it can be obtained fast, in unlimited quantities, non-invasively, and through a standardized process

Clinical Assessment of Acute Organophosphorus Pesticide Poisoning in Pediatric Patients Admitted to the Toxicology Emergency Department

Pesticide poisoning in pediatric patients is still an important reason for presenting to the emergency department in Romania. In this context, the present study aims to raise awareness of the toxicological impact of pesticides on human health in pediatrics. For this purpose, the demographic characteristics, clinical assessment, and outcome of pediatric patients with acute pesticide poisoning admitted to the toxicology department of “Saint Mary” Emergency Children’s Hospital from Iasi, were analyzed. This retrospective study focused on the clinical and laboratory data of patients aged under 18 years diagnosed with acute pesticide poisoning between 2010–2020. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10 package. A total of 49 patients presented with manifestations of acute pesticide poisoning, and the most common pesticide involved was diazinon. The most frequent exposure route was accidentally ingesting pesticide products (95%). The primary clinical manifestations were toxic encephalopathy, coma, depressive disorder, gastric disorders, and respiratory failure. Changes in the glycemic status, liver, and kidney damage were also present. Treatment included decontamination, administration of antidote, supportive care, and recommendations to be closely monitored to avoid a new incident. These results highlight the toxic potential of pesticides on human health and their biological consequences, which require an increase in consciousness of the precautions imposed on their use, especially when children are nearby

Contributions of Mass Spectrometry to the Identification of Low Molecular Weight Molecules Able to Reduce the Toxicity of Amyloid-β Peptide to Cell Cultures and Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease affects approximately 33 million people worldwide and is characterized by progressive loss of memory at the cognitive level. The formation of toxic amyloid oligomers, extracellular amyloid plaques and amyloid angiopathy in brain by amyloid beta peptides are considered a part of the identified mechanism involved in disease pathogenesis. The optimal treatment approach leads toward finding a chemical compound able to form a noncovalent complex with the amyloid peptide thus blocking the process of amyloid aggregation. This direction gained an increasing interest lately, many studies demonstrating that mass spectrometry is a valuable method useful for the identification and characterization of such molecules able to interact with amyloid peptides. In the present review we aim to identify in the scientific literature low molecular weight chemical compounds for which there is mass spectrometric evidence of noncovalent complex formation with amyloid peptides and also there are toxicity reduction results which verify the effects of these compounds on amyloid beta toxicity towards cell cultures and transgenic mouse models developing Alzheimer’s Disease

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania)

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2—Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC–30AD pump and an SIL–30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions

Speaking of the “Devil”: Diagnostic Errors in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung diseases are respiratory diseases, which affect the normal lung parenchyma and can lead to significant pulmonary fibrosis, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ultimately death. Reuniting more than 200 entities, interstitial lung diseases pose a significant challenge to the clinician, as they represent rare diseases with vague and insidious respiratory symptoms. As such, there are many diagnostic errors that can appear along the journey of the patient with ILD, which leads to significant delays with implications for the prognosis and the quality of life of the patient

Novel Mutation in APC Gene Associated with Multiple Osteomas in a Family and Review of Genotype-Phenotype Correlations of Extracolonic Manifestations in Gardner Syndrome

Gardner syndrome is a neoplasic disease that associates intestinal polyposis and colorectal adenocarcinoma with osteomas and soft tissue tumors determined by germline mutations in the APC gene. The early diagnosis and identification of high-risk individuals are important because patients have a 100% risk of colon cancer. We present the case of a family with Gardner syndrome. Cephalometric, panoramic X-rays and CBCT of the proband and her brother showed multiple osteomas affecting the skull bones, mandible and paranasal sinuses. The detailed family history showed an autosomal dominant transmission with the presence of the disease in the mother and maternal grandfather of the proband. Both had the typical signs of disease and died in the fourth decade of life. Based on these aspects the clinical diagnosis was Gardner syndrome. By gene sequencing, a novel pathogenic variant c.4609dup (p.Thr1537Asnfs*7) in heterozygous status was identified in the APC gene in both siblings. We reviewed literature data concerning the correlation between the localization of mutations in the APC gene and the extracolonic manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposis as well as their importance in early diagnosis and adequate oncological survey of patients and families based on abnormal genomic variants