Contribution to the Optimization of Methods for Vigor Seed Evaluation of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz

Camelina, a traditional oil-producing plant, has gained global interest due to the high-quality oil found in its seeds. It has numerous applications, including human dietary consumption, aviation biofuel, and biodiesel production. Seed quality testing is crucial for identifying suitable seed batches for market sale. Currently, vigor tests have been established for a limited selection of commercially cultivated plant species, including camelina. This study aims to assess seed vigor and contribute to the development and validation of methods/tests for reliable vigor assessment. The experiment used two camelina genotypes developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetables Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia. The findings revealed a noteworthy reduction in germination percentages for both genotypes across all the conducted tests, as compared to the conventional laboratory germination. Simultaneously, there was a notable increase in abnormal seedlings. However, no statistically significant differences in the values of growth parameters were observed among the applied tests. In summary, the reduced seed vigor values indicate potential issues with this trait, despite generally sound germination. Additionally, the preliminary findings and methodology developed for testing the camelina seed vigor highlighted the need for optimization when applying these tests to other species to ensure their reliability and applicability

Systemic AAV vectors for widespread and targeted gene delivery in rodents

We recently developed adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids to facilitate efficient and noninvasive gene transfer to the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, a detailed protocol for generating and systemically delivering novel AAV variants was not previously available. In this protocol, we describe how to produce and intravenously administer AAVs to adult mice to specifically label and/or genetically manipulate cells in the nervous system and organs, including the heart. The procedure comprises three separate stages: AAV production, intravenous delivery, and evaluation of transgene expression. The protocol spans 8 d, excluding the time required to assess gene expression, and can be readily adopted by researchers with basic molecular biology, cell culture, and animal work experience. We provide guidelines for experimental design and choice of the capsid, cargo, and viral dose appropriate for the experimental aims. The procedures outlined here are adaptable to diverse biomedical applications, from anatomical and functional mapping to gene expression, silencing, and editing

The impact of self-monitoring in chronic illness on healthcare utilisation: a systematic review of reviews

Background: Self-management interventions have been found to reduce healthcare utilisation in people with long-term conditions, but further work is needed to identify which components of these interventions are most effective. Self-monitoring is one such component and is associated with significant clinical benefits. The aim of this systematic review of reviews is to assess the impact of self-monitoring interventions on healthcare utilisation across a range of chronic illnesses. Methods: An overview of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Multiple databases were searched (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, AMED, EBM and HMIC) along with the reference lists of included reviews. A narrative synthesis was performed, accompanied by calculation of the Corrected Cover Area to understand the impact of overlapping primary research papers. Results: A total of 17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses across three chronic conditions, heart failure, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were included. Self-monitoring was associated with significant reductions in hospitalisation and re-admissions to hospital. Conclusions: Self-monitoring has the potential to reduce the pressure placed on secondary care services, but this may lead to increase in services elsewhere in the system. Further work is needed to determine how these findings affect healthcare costs

Psychological factors as predictors of early postoperative pain after open nephrectomy

Purpose: There is an increasing interest in the identification of predictors for individual responses to analgesics and surgical pain. In this study, we aimed to determine psychological factors that might contribute to this response. We hence investigated patients undergoing a standardized surgical intervention (open nephrectomy). Patients and methods: Between May 2014 and April 2015, we conducted a prospective observational cohort study. The following psychological tests were administered preoperatively: Mini-Mental State Examination, Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale. The primary outcome, postoperative pain intensity (11-point numerical rating scale, [NRS]), was assessed in the “immediate early” (first 8 hours), “early” (12 and 24 hours), and “late early” periods (48 and 72 hours). Results: A total of 196 patients were assessed, and 150 were finally included in the study. NRS scores improved from 4.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.7–5.1) in the “immediate early” to 3.1 (95% CI: 2.9–3.3) in the “early” and 2.3 (95% CI: 2.1–2.5) in the “late early” postoperative period. Most (87%) patients received intravenous opioids, while 13% received analgesics epidurally. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated better pain management with epidural analgesia in the first two postoperative periods (F=15.01, p<0.00). Postoperative pain correlated strongly with analgesic strategy and preoperative psychological assessment. Multiple linear regression analysis showed “expected pain” was the only predictor in the “immediate early” phase, and “anxiety” was most important in the “early” postoperative period. In the “late early” phase, catastrophizing was the predominant predictor, alongside “preoperative analgesic usage” and “APAIS anxiety”. Conclusion: After open nephrectomy, epidural analgesia conveys a clear advantage for pain management only within the first 24 hours. Moreover, as the psychological phenotype of patients changes distinctively in the first 72 postoperative hours, psychological variables increasingly determine pain intensity, even surpassing employed analgesic strategy as its main predictor

Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorptive Properties of Organobentonites

In this paper partial and complete substitution of cations in the interlayer region of clay with different amounts of two aliphatic ammonium cations was performed with aim of synthesis of organobentonites with multipurpose adsorption properties. Domestic clay from Bogovina was submitted according to a common procedure used for the obtention of organobentonite, which comprises the following steps: grinding, sieving, Na-exchange, cation exchange and drying. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of surfactant molecules into smectite structure lead to constant increase of d(001) basal spacing. IR absorption bands assigned to methyl and methylene vibrations increased with the increase of surfactant/bentonite ratio and length of aliphatic chain in surfactant molecules. Adsorptive properties of the obtained materials were in accordance with their organophylicity: the adsorption of organic dye increased while the rate of removal of Pb2+ by adsorption decreased

The novel Parkinson's disease linked mutation G51D attenuates in vitro aggregation and membrane binding of alpha-synuclein, and enhances its secretion and nuclear localization in cells

A novel mutation in the alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) gene "G51D" was recently identified in two familial cases exhibiting features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). In this study, we explored the impact of this novel mutation on the aggregation, cellular and biophysical properties of alpha-Syn, in an attempt to unravel how this mutant contributes to PD/MSA. Our results show that the G51D mutation significantly attenuates alpha-Syn aggregation in vitro. Moreover, it disrupts local helix formation in the presence of SDS, decreases binding to lipid vesicles C-terminal to the site of mutation and severely inhibits helical folding in the presence of acidic vesicles. When expressed in yeast, alpha-Syn(G51D) behaves similarly to alpha-Syn(A30P), as both exhibit impaired membrane association, form few inclusions and are non-toxic. In contrast, enhanced secreted and nuclear levels of the G51D mutant were observed in mammalian cells, as well as in primary neurons, where alpha-Syn(G51D) was enriched in the nuclear compartment, was hyper-phosphorylated at S129 and exacerbated alpha-Syn-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Finally, post-mortem human brain tissues of alpha-Syn(G51D) cases were examined, and revealed only partial colocalization with nuclear membrane markers, probably due to post-mortem tissue delay and fixation. These findings suggest that the PD-linked mutations may cause neurodegeneration via different mechanisms, some of which may be independent of alpha-Syn aggregation

The novel Parkinson's disease linked mutation G51D attenuates in vitro aggregation and membrane binding of alpha-synuclein, and enhances its secretion and nuclear localization in cells

A novel mutation in the alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) gene "G51D" was recently identified in two familial cases exhibiting features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). In this study, we explored the impact of this novel mutation on the aggregation, cellular and biophysical properties of alpha-Syn, in an attempt to unravel how this mutant contributes to PD/MSA. Our results show that the G51D mutation significantly attenuates alpha-Syn aggregation in vitro. Moreover, it disrupts local helix formation in the presence of SDS, decreases binding to lipid vesicles C-terminal to the site of mutation and severely inhibits helical folding in the presence of acidic vesicles. When expressed in yeast, alpha-Syn(G51D) behaves similarly to alpha-Syn(A30P), as both exhibit impaired membrane association, form few inclusions and are non-toxic. In contrast, enhanced secreted and nuclear levels of the G51D mutant were observed in mammalian cells, as well as in primary neurons, where alpha-Syn(G51D) was enriched in the nuclear compartment, was hyper-phosphorylated at S129 and exacerbated alpha-Syn-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. Finally, post-mortem human brain tissues of alpha-Syn(G51D) cases were examined, and revealed only partial colocalization with nuclear membrane markers, probably due to post-mortem tissue delay and fixation. These findings suggest that the PD-linked mutations may cause neurodegeneration via different mechanisms, some of which may be independent of alpha-Syn aggregation

A meta-review of evidence on heart failure disease management programs: the challenges of describing and synthesizing evidence on complex interventions

Background: Despite favourable results from past meta-analyses, some recent large trials have not found Heart Failure (HF) disease management programs to be beneficial. To explore reasons for this, we evaluated evidence from existing meta-analyses. Methods: Systematic review incorporating meta-review was used. We selected meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials published after 1995 in English that examined the effects of HF disease management programs on key outcomes. Databases searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), DARE, NHS EED, NHS HTA, Ageline, AMED, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL; cited references, experts and existing reviews were also searched. Results: 15 meta-analyses were identified containing a mean of 18.5 randomized trials of HF interventions +/- 10.1 (range: 6 to 36). Overall quality of the meta-analyses was very mixed (Mean AMSTAR Score = 6.4 +/- 1.9; range 2-9). Reporting inadequacies were widespread around populations, intervention components, settings and characteristics, comparison, and comparator groups. Heterogeneity (statistical, clinical, and methodological) was not taken into account sufficiently when drawing conclusions from pooled analyses. Conclusions: Meta-analyses of heart failure disease management programs have promising findings but often fail to report key characteristics of populations, interventions, and comparisons. Existing reviews are of mixed quality and do not adequately take account of program complexity and heterogeneity

Marine Tourism Development in the Arkhangelsk Region, Russian Arctic : Stakeholder’s Perspectives

Author's accepted version (postprint).This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Springer in Springer Polar Sciences on (07/03/2020).Available online: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-28404-6_17acceptedVersio