The effects of gut indigenous microbiota on intensity of oxidative stress and the cytokine immunity in women with recurrent pyelonephritis.

The aim of our study was to investigate the oxidative stress (OS) intensity and concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) depending on the content of Lactobacillus spp. in the colon of patients with recurrent pyelonephritis. Materials and methods. The observational study involved 64 women with recurrent pyelonephritis, aged 39.5±3.2 years. According to the quantitative content of Lactobacillus spp. in the patients’ intestine, the women were divided into two groups: the first group of the patients (n=38) had a deficit of Lactobacillus spp. in the intestine, and the second one (n=26) didn’t have any disorders. The intensity of OS was estimated by determining the OS index (OSI) as the ratio of total changes in the activity of oxidative processes to the total antioxidant capacity of blood. The blood concentration of TNF-α and interleukin 10 was determined. The local inflammation was characterized by the determination of the content of C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) and β-galactosidase (β-gal) in urine. Results. The blood levels of OSI, MDA and TNF-α in the women with the deficit of Lactobacillus spp. in the gut were significantly higher compared with the deficit-free patients (р=0.03, р=0.01and р=0.007, respectively). Moreover, in the patients with the deficit of intestine lactobacillus spp., we observed high levels of CRP (р=0.045), HEX and β-gal (р=0.045) in the urine. In addition, a significant regression was found between IL-10 inthe blood and HEX in the urine (p=0.003), as well as MDA and TNF-α in the blood (p=0.02). Conclusions. Thus, the results of our work confirm the experimental studies data which demonstrate the leading role of gut indigenous microbiota in the development of the OS and inflammatory process

Authenticity and drug resistance in a panel of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell lines

Cell lines are important models for drug resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), but are often criticised as being unrepresentative of primary disease. There are also doubts regarding the authenticity of many lines. We have characterised a panel of ALL cell lines for growth and drug resistance and compared data with that published for primary patient specimens. In contrast to the convention that cell lines are highly proliferative, those established in our laboratory grow at rates similar to estimates of leukaemic cells in vivo (doubling time 53–442 h). Authenticity was confirmed by genetic fingerprinting, which also demonstrated the potential stability of long-term cultures. In vitro glucocorticoid resistance correlated well with that measured ex vivo, but all lines were significantly more sensitive to vincristine than primary specimens. Sensitivity to methotrexate was inversely correlated to that of glucocorticoids and L-asparaginase, indicating possible reciprocity in resistance mechanisms. A cell line identified as highly methotrexate resistant (IC50 >8000-fold higher than other lines) was derived from a patient receiving escalating doses of the drug, indicating in vivo selection of resistance as a cause of relapse. Many of these lines are suitable as models to study naturally occurring resistance phenotypes in paediatric ALL

Ambulance diversions following public hospital emergency department closures

ObjectiveTo examine whether hospitals are more likely to temporarily close their emergency departments (EDs) to ambulances (through ambulance diversions) if neighboring diverting hospitals are public vs private.Data sources/study settingAmbulance diversion logs for California hospitals, discharge data, and hospital characteristics data from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the American Hospital Association (2007).Study designWe match public and private (nonprofit or for-profit) hospitals by distance and size. We use random-effects models examining diversion probability and timing of private hospitals following diversions by neighboring public vs matched private hospitals.Data collection/extraction methodsN/A.Principal findingsHospitals are 3.6 percent more likely to declare diversions if neighboring diverting hospitals are public vs private (P < 0.001). Hospitals declaring diversions have lower ED occupancy (P < 0.001) after neighboring public (vs private) hospitals divert. Hospitals have 4.2 percent shorter diversions if neighboring diverting hospitals are public vs private (P < 0.001). When the neighboring hospital ends its diversion first, hospitals terminate diversions 4.2 percent sooner if the neighboring hospital is public vs private (P = 0.022).ConclusionsSample hospitals respond differently to diversions by neighboring public (vs private) hospitals, suggesting that these hospitals might be strategically declaring ambulance diversions to avoid treating low-paying patients served by public hospitals

Nacionalni program biotehnologija i agroindustrija - program unapređenja stočarstva i proizvoda animalnog porekla, studija projekta: Proizvodnja kvalitetnih svinjskih polutki

The object of this research-developmental project is the production of quality pig halves. By the application of various methods of selection and breeding along with optimal conditions of nutrition, care and keeping carcass quality of breeding animals and fatteners shall be improved. Another aim of the project is the improvement of health state and performance of pigs by securing optimal microclimate factors, keeping conditions and housing system. The economical valorization of quality pig halves shall also be established. The research has been carried out in three breeding stocks (Breeding stock 1 - PKB "IMES" AD, Padinska Skela; Breeding stock 2 - DP "Stari Tamiš", Pančevo; Breeding stock 3 - Institute for Animal Husbandry also one of parties who realize the project) who are all the users of the research results. In the second year of research we worked on the improvement of reproductive traits of breeding pigs as well as fattening and slaughter traits of three-race and four-race crossing breeds, optimal nutrition, possible use of probiotics in the nutrition of piglets and fatteners, preventing of digestive disorders by use of various probiotic populations, establishing microclimate factors and economical indicators in pig production. In the first two research years the results were published in leading scientific journals of national importance, and reported at the international and national scientific meetings. The study displays the published results of the project in question