Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Content of macroelements in tubers of several potato varieties depending on the foliar fertilization applied

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foliar fertilizers containing macro- and microelements, and used in the form of chelates, on the content of macroelements in tubers of several potato varieties. The study was based on a 3-year (2013-2015) field experiment conducted in Haczow (49°39′40″N, 21°53′49″E), on brown, slightly acidic soil. The experiment was established using the method of random subblocks, where the first order factors were foliar fertilization treatments with the following fertilizers: Fortis Duotop Zn Mn + Fortis Aminotop (A), Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro (B), Fortis Zn Mn + Fortis B Mo (C) and the control object, without foliar fertilization. The second order factors were 4 potato varieties belonging to different classes of earliness (Agnes, Jelly, Viviana, Vineta). Foliar application of all fertilizer combinations contributed to an increase in the magnesium content, while the application of Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro fertilizers increased the nitrogen and potassium content. Genetic traits differentiated the content of macroelements. Tubers of the cultivar Jelly were characterized by the largest accumulation of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium, while the Viviana cultivar had the smallest amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium. The meteorological conditions in the years of the experiment modified the content of macroelements. Under the dry summer conditions but very wet September in 2013, the tubers accumulated most magnesium and calcium, but contained the least nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. With excess precipitation in 2014, the tubers were found to contain the most phosphorus, potassium and calcium, while in the dry 2015 year, with a significant shortage of precipitation during the potato growing season and air temperature higher than the long-term average, the tubers accumulated the highest nitrogen but the lowest calcium amounts

A New Hampshire Station for Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) Macm

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Wpływ technologii uprawy na barwę miąższu surowych bulw ziemniaka

Results of the research were based on a field experiment carried out in 2014‒2016 at the Experimental Station of Cultivar Assessment in Uhnin (51°34'N, 23°02'E), on podzolic slightly acidic soil. The experiment was carried out using random sub-blocks, in a dependent split-plot system, in triplicate. The first-order factor was potato cultivars (‘Vineta’ and ‘Satina’), and the second-order factor consisted of six cultivation technologies: A − using fungicides to control potato blight, technologies: B, C, D, E − with the application of effective microorganisms, and technology F − without the use of fungicides and effective microorganisms as a control object. The scope of the research included assessing the color of the raw tubers pulp. To determine the color of raw potato, the method of trichromatic colorimetry was used applying the Konica Minolta CM-5 spectrophotometer. The color measurement of raw tubers was carried out in the CIEL*a*b* system. Cultivation technology with fungicide application significantly contributed to the brightness change of the raw tuber flesh compared to the technology (D), where for the treatment, as in the growing season, effective microorganisms were used. Genetic properties of cultivars determined the color brightness, as well as its trichromatic coordinates

Wpływ ekstraktu z alg Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak SL) na plonowanie pszenicy zwyczajnej, pszenicy twardej i pszenicy orkisz

The 3-year experiment was concerned with the response of spring forms of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta L. em. Thell.) to the foliar application of a plant growth stimulant (extract from marine algae Ecklonia maxima), with the commercial name of Kelpak SL (GS), as compared to control treatment (C). The following parameters were analysed: yield of grain, yield components (number of ears, weight of 1000 kernels, number and weight of kernels per ear) and physical indicators of grain quality (test weight, uniformity and vitreosity of grain). The study showed that the level of yielding and the yield components were related primarily with the wheat genotype, but they depended also on the agro-climatic conditions and on the algae extract and control experimental treatments. The application of algae extract, compared to the control, caused a significant increase in the yields of the spring wheat species under study, on average by 7.0%. Canopy spraying with algae extract had a favourable effect on the number of ears, on he number and weight of kernels per ear, but it had no effect on the weight of 1000 kernels. The grain quality of durum wheat, spelt wheat and common wheat was affected more strongly by the weather conditions in the successive years of the study and by the genotype than by the foliar application of algae extract. The spelt genotypes were characterised by lower yields and lower grain quality than common wheat and the durum wheat genotypes

Nutraceutyki w żywności i farmacji. Praca przeglądowa

The increase in consumer awareness about food and health has led to an increase in the demand for food containing biologically active compounds, especially antioxidants, which can help the human body fight the oxidative stress. Many unconventional or new sources of antioxidants have been discovered, which is a priority not only for food, but also for the pharmaceutical industry. It has been shown that not only raw materials, but also waste from fruit and vegetable processing contains valuable molecules, such as: proteins, essential amino acids, antioxidants, dietary fibers, natural pigments, or aromatic compounds, that can be extracted, purified and modernized in food products or pharmaceuticals with added value. This is the basis of huge potential of not only plant and biotechnology raw materials, but also food waste for the use as a source of antioxidants.