The correlation between body weight, body weight gain and blood parameters in pigs at birth and weaning

ABSTRACT The aim of study was to determine the relationship between metabolic parameters, body weight and body growth of piglets at birth and weaning. The experiment included 80 piglets obtained from F1 generation sows. Body weight was measured at birth (BW0), 24h (BW1) after birth and on day 25 (at weaning, BW2). Blood sampling was performed at the beginning of life (3rd day after birth) and at weaning (21st day after birth). BW0 and BW1 positively correlated with cholesterol and negatively with urea values at the beginning of life and RBC values at weaning. BW2 positively correlates with albumin and cortisol values at the beginning of life, total proteins, and globulins at weaning, and negatively correlates with erythrocyte values at weaning. Piglet growth from birth to weaning (BWG2-0) correlates positively with total proteins, albumin, and cortisol at the beginning of life and total proteins at weaning. ROC analysis shows that MCHC, TPROT, GLOB, CHOL and AST at the beginning of life can distinguish fast-growing from slow-growing piglets from birth to weaning period. The use of blood parameters enables early recognition of growth rate in piglets, which can help to optimize all further steps to achieve the best possible growth

Clinical pharmacy activities in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease patients: a systematic literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) represent worldwide health problems with an epidemic extent. Therefore, attention must be given to the optimisation of patient care, as gaps in the care of CKD and ESRD patients are well documented. As part of a multidisciplinary patient care strategy, clinical pharmacy services have led to improvements in patient care. The purpose of this study was to summarise the available evidence regarding the role and impact of clinical pharmacy services for these patient populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A literature search was conducted using the <it>Medline</it>, <it>Embase </it>and <it>International Pharmaceutical Abstracts </it>databases to identify relevant studies on the impact of clinical pharmacists on CKD and ESRD patients, regarding disease-oriented and patient-oriented outcomes, and clinical pharmacist interventions on drug-related problems.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among a total of 21 studies, only four (19%) were controlled trials. The majority of studies were descriptive (67%) and before-after studies (14%). Interventions comprised general clinical pharmacy services with a focus on detecting, resolving and preventing drug-related problems, clinical pharmacy services with a focus on disease management, or clinical pharmacy services with a focus on patient education in order to increase medication knowledge. Anaemia was the most common comorbidity managed by clinical pharmacists, and their involvement led to significant improvement in investigated disease-oriented outcomes, for example, haemoglobin levels. Only four of the studies (including three controlled trials) presented data on patient-oriented outcomes, for example, quality of life and length of hospitalisation. Studies investigating the number and type of clinical pharmacist interventions and physician acceptance rates reported a mean acceptance rate of 79%. The most common reported drug-related problems were incorrect dosing, the need for additional pharmacotherapy, and medical record discrepancies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Few high-quality trials addressing the benefit and impact of clinical pharmacy services in CKD and ESRD patients have been published. However, all available studies reported some positive impact resulting from clinical pharmacist involvement, including various investigated outcome measures that could be improved. Additional randomised controlled trials investigating patient-oriented outcomes are needed to further determine the role of clinical pharmacists and the benefits of clinical pharmacy services to CKD and ESRD patients.</p

Genetic data: The new challenge of personalized medicine, insights for rheumatoid arthritis patients

Rapid advances in genotyping technology, analytical methods, and the establishment of large cohorts for population genetic studies have resulted in a large new body of information about the genetic basis of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Improved understanding of the root pathogenesis of the disease holds the promise of improved diagnostic and prognostic tools based upon this information. In this review, we summarize the nature of new genetic findings in human RA, including susceptibility loci and gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, as well as genetic loci associated with sub-groups of patients and those associated with response to therapy. Possible uses of these data are discussed, such as prediction of disease risk as well as personalized therapy and prediction of therapeutic response and risk of adverse events. While these applications are largely not refined to the point of clinical utility in RA, it seems likely that multi-parameter datasets including genetic, clinical, and biomarker data will be employed in the future care of RA patients

Contribution of various factors in establishing connections between the pupils' habits, learning techniques and their school achievement

Istraživanje je sprovedeno sa ciljem da se utvrde veze navika i tehnika učenja sa školskim postignućem učenika. Instrumentima sastavljenim posebno za potrebe ovog istraživanja - Inventarom navika i tehnika učenja i testovima znanja iz biologije i matematike, koji mere reprodukciju, razumevanje i primenu stečenih znanja U ispitano je 399 učenika (207 dečaka i 192 devojčice) VIII razreda beogradskih osnovnih škola. U analizu su uključeni i podaci o opštim intelektualnim sposobnostima, polu i školskom uspehu učenika, kao i zanimanju roditelja. Kanonička analiza kovarijanse pokazala je da postoje relativno jake veze između ispitivanih skupova varijabli, koje se ostvaruju putem dva para kvazikanoničkih faktora, jednog globalnog (Kompetentnost U Faktor generalnog školskog postignuća); i jednog specifičnog (Stavovi prema biologiji - Uspeh u biologiji). Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata zaključeno je da su stavovi prema ispitivanim nastavnim predmetima i opšte intelektualne sposobnosti od primarnog značaja za školsko postignuće. Slede samostalnost u učenju i osećanje kompetentnosti za učenje, a zatim pozitivan odnos prema školi i praćenje nastave.The aim of the research was to establish the connection between the pupils' learning habits and techniques and their school achievement. 399 pupils (207 boys and 192 girls) attending 8th grade of Belgrade primary schools were tested by instruments prepared especially for the research: Inventory of Learning Habits and Techniques and Biology and Mathematics Knowledge Tests measuring reproduction, comprehension and usage of the acquired knowledge. The analysis included data on pupils' general intellectual capabilities, sex, school accomplishment and their parents' occupation. Canonic covariance analysis showed relatively strong connection between the tested groups of variables obtained by two pairs of quasicanonic factors, one global factor (Competence - General School Achievement Factor) and one specific factor (Attitudes toward Biology - Accomplishment in Biology). On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that the attitudes toward the tested educational subjects and the general intellectual capability are of principal significance for school achievement. They are followed by the independence in learning and the feeling of competence for learning and then by positive attitude toward school, regular attendance to and the attention at the classes

Epigenetic lessons from transgenic plants In: Floricultural, ornamental and plant biotechnology: advances and topical issues

Transgenic plant studies have lead to the breakthrough discovery of RNA silencing as a conserved mechanism for gene regulation across kingdoms. Recent molecular genetic studies have revealed a major role for RNA silencing in the formation of silent chromatin, characterized by histone modifications and dense DNA methylation. These epigenetic marks ensure stable, yet potentially reversible, transmission of the silent state of genetic elements such as transgenes and transposable elements through multiple cell divisions, and in some cases, through successive generations. It is now recognized that epigenetic control mechanisms play a fundamental role in preserving the integrity of the genome against invasive parasitic nucleic acid elements such as viruses and transposons. It is also becoming clear that epigenetic processes are of major evolutionary significance in plants by providing plasticity to the genome to adjust to environmental changes and by stabilizing the genome after polyploidization events. RNA silencing has become a powerful research tool to elucidate gene function in reverse genetics studies and has been applied in the production of virus resistant crops. An enhanced understanding of epigenetic processes is therefore not only of academic interest but will also provide new tools and techniques for plant scientists involved in conventional and biotechnology-based horticultural and agricultural crop improvement

Analysis of the possibility of applying radio frequency identification in the flexible production process

Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) as a complex and stochastic environments require the development of innovative, intelligent control architectures in order to improve flexibility, agility and reconfiguration. Distribution management system addresses this challenge by introducing the optimal process management which is supported by the autonomous control units that cooperate with each other. Most of the existing transport management system, has a lack of flexibility and agility, especially in cases where a large variety of products, a small representation of parts of smaller dimensions. In such cases, the system is insensitive to random ‘ad-hoc’ events. Phase transport parts through flexible manufacturing system can be potentially used to obtain information about the product in order to process management. Radio frequency identification (RFID) has been introduced as new technology allows monitoring, identifying and categorizing parts. This paper gives grounds on the flexible cell architecture (FMC) and the deployment of RFID devices with the aim of the distribution and tracking of parts. The paper gives an example of setting agent base control architecture FMC

Potential urban–rural differences in cardiorespiratory fitness and BMI in Serbian schoolchildren

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) represents an essential health-related physical fitness component most frequently assessed by Shuttle-run test (SRT). The aim of this study was to investigate potential differences in CRF between schoolchildren from urban and rural areas, with respect to their age and gender. Data for this part of study were derived from a broad national cross-sectional school-based study aimed to evaluate physical fitness and overweight/obesity prevalence. The study consisted of two parts: the pilot study that was conducted in national capital and vicinity and the national study that included schoolchildren from territory of Republic of Serbia. For the purpose of the pilot study, 2230 schoolchildren (boys n = 1163, girls n =1067, age 9 to 14 years) from urban (3) and rural primary schools (4) were included in the study. Afterwards, the study was expanded on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. For that purpose, 11607 primary schoolchildren (boys n = 5913 and girls n = 5694, age 9 to 14 years) from urban (n = 44) and rural schools (n = 54) were included in the study. All measurements were conducted during regular physical education classes. In addition to time in SRT, basic anthropometric measures were taken (body height (BH), body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI)). Age, gender and school location interaction associated differences in SRT were examined. Schoolchildren living in the urban area of the national capital had significantly higher BH and BW than their rural peers (there was no difference in BMI between these groups). Regarding the SRT, it was gender- and age-dependent (p &lt; 0.001). Rural schoolchildren had longer time on SRT than urban only in 3rd and 4th- grade (p &lt; 0.001), while in higher grades no difference was observed. The results from the national study showed that urban schoolchildren from Republic of Serbia had higher BH, BW and BMI than their rural peers. Boys had better results in SRT which increased with age (p &lt; 0.001). SRT data revealed that 3rd- grade schoolchildren (regardless of gender) from rural schools achieved better results than their urban peers, contrary to the results from 6th- and 7th- graders. Urban-rural differences in BMI were observed only for schoolchildren participating in the national study. Schoolchildren from rural area of the national capital generally had better cardiorespiratory fitness than their peers from urban area of the national capital, but those differences were mostly age and gender associated. The national study yielded results that were only partly similar to the results from the pilot study. CRF was strongly influenced by age and gender, while area of residence had small impact on CRF. Rural schoolchildren had better CRF in lower grades however due to potential influence of factors other than the area of residence (participation in organized physical activity, lifestyle, eating habits) urban schoolchildren had better levels of CRF in higher grades. © 2016 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved

Intestinal helminths infection of rats (

Gastrointestinal helminths of Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) from the Belgrade area were studied as a part of a wider ecological research of rats in Serbia (data on the distribution, population ecology, economic and epizoothiological-epidemiological importance, and density control). Rats were captured from May 2005 to July 2009 at both urban and suburban-rural sites. Of a total of 302 trapped rats 48% were males and 52% females, with 36.5% and 38.8% of juvenile-subadult individuals, per sex respectively. Intestinal helminth infection was noted in 68.5% of rats, with a higher prevalence in male hosts and in adult individuals. Higher numbers of infected juveniles-subadults were noted in suburban-rural habitats, while an opposite tendency was noted in adult rats. Seven helminth species were recovered, of which five were nematode (Heterakis spumosa, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Capillaria sp., Trichuris muris and Syphacia muris) and two cestode species (Hymenolepis diminuta and Rodentolepis fraterna). The most prevalent parasites were Heterakis spumosa (36.7%) and Hymenolepis diminuta (30.5%). Sex and habitat-related differences were noted in the prevalence of infection with Capillaria sp. and Trichuris muris, while there were no age-related differences in the prevalence of infection with any individual helminth species. Significantly higher prevalence of infection was noted in summer as compared to spring or winter, with a tendency to be higher in autumn as compared to spring. The only significant difference in the prevalence of infection between habitat-related was noted during spring. H. spumosa was most prevalent in summer, while H. diminuta and N. brasiliensis in autumn. The mean intensity of infection with H. spumosa, R. fraterna, S. muris and T. muris was higher in autumn than in the other seasons, while N. brasiliensis and Capillaria sp. occured in winter. No more than four helminth species were found in one host