Socio-economic Indicators Influence in Terms of Natural Gas Supply Policy and Decision Making - Macedonian Case

Sustainable energy planning is very important in creating energy policies that underpin reliable energy systems. Macedonia has mainly coal based energy production, implying significant air pollution. Thus, natural gas is pointed out as a solid substitute. In order to analyze the combined implications of economic and social aspects when assessing six natural gas supply options vs. a set of selected relevant indicators, the Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique were applied. The purpose of this paper is to address the combined effects of economic and social indicators affecting natural gas supply policy and decision making

Rosuvastatin effects on the HDL proteome in hyperlipidemic patients

The advancements in proteomics have provided a better understanding of the functionality of apolipoproteins and lipoprotein-associated proteins, with the HDL lipoprotein fraction being the most studied. The focus of this study was to evaluate the HDL proteome in dyslipidemic subjects without an established cardiovascular disease, as well as to test whether rosuvastatin treatment alters the HDL proteome. Patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia were assigned to 20 mg/day rosuvastatin and blood samples were drawn at study entry and after 12 weeks of treatment. A label-free LC-MS/MS protein profiling was conducted, coupled with bioinformatics analysis. Sixty-nine HDL proteins were identified, belonging to four main biological function clusters: lipid transport and metabolism; platelet activation, degranulation, and aggregation, wound response and wound healing; immune response; inflammatory and acute phase response. Five HDL proteins showed statistically significant differences in the abundance (Anova ≤ 0.05), before and after rosuvastatin treatment. Platelet factor 4 variant (PF4V1), Pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein 2 (PSG2), Profilin-1 (PFN1) and Keratin type II cytoskeletal 2 epidermal (KRT2) showed decreased expressions, while Integrin alpha-IIb (ITGA2B) showed an increased expression after treatment with rosuvastatin. The ELISA validation of PFN1 segregated the subjects into responders and non-responders, as PFN1 levels after rosuvastatin were shown to mostly depend on the subjects\u27 inflammatory phenotype. Findings from this study introduce novel insights into the HDL proteome and statin pleiotropism

Exploring Changes in Diagnoses during the COVID-19 Era: Comparative Analysis

The healthcare sector is just one of several areas of society that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to analyze the changes observed in the medical profession’s approach to diagnosing diseases between the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and the pandemic year of 2020. By examining these shifts, we explore how medical professionals have adapted their treatment strategies, leading to modifications in diagnosis for various diseases. Based on our visualization, shown in Figure 1, we observed that the diagnoses of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and End stage renal disease had consistent distributions in both 2019 and 2020. Also we need to mention, the count value for Obstructive Sleep Apnea was higher in 2020, whereas in 2019, the count value was higher for End stage renal disease, showing their representation in each year. We can conclude that the pandemic has resulted in a marked increase in the occurrence of specific diagnoses compared to the previous year, some of them being acute pharyngitis-sore throat (J029), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (K219) and pure hypercholesterolemia - unspecified (E7800), as can be seen on Figure 1. A notable variation can be observed when examining the months of November and December in 2020. In these months, the diagnosis Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases transitions from the third to the second position, indicating a higher occurrence of COVID-19 in December compared to November. This shift in ranking provides valuable insights into the increased prevalence of this diagnosis during the month of December. Through this analysis, we aim to examine the transformations that have taken place as a result of the pandemic, particularly in terms of the diagnosis of a specific disease, which has undergone notable changes compared to the pre-pandemic period. We highlight several significant changes that have occurred in defining diagnoses, showcasing the variations observed over the course of a year.Book of abstract: 4th Belgrade Bioinformatics Conference, June 19-23, 202

Association of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) Genetic Polymorphisms with Occlusive Artery Disease and Deep Venous Thrombosis in Macedonians

Cilj Ispitati moguću povezanost genetičkog polimorfizma metilen-tetrahidrofolatne reduktaze (MTHFR-677, MTHFR-1298) s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i dubokom venskom trombozom u Makedonaca. Postupci Radili smo s 83 zdrave osobe, 76 bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 67 bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Od njih su prikupljeni su uzorci krvi i iz leukocita je izolirana DNA. Mutacije gena za MTHFR identificirane su testom CVD StripAssay (ViennaLab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Beč, Austrija), a za analizu je uporabljen sustav za genetičku analizu PyPop. Potom su izračunani Pearsonove P vrijednosti, grubi omjer izgleda (odds ratio, OR) i Waldovi 95% intervali pouzdanosti (confidence intervals, CI). Rezultati Frekvencija alela C lokusa za MTHFR-677 bila je 0,575 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom, 0,612 u onih a okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,645 u zdravih osoba. Frekvencija alela T lokusa za MTHFR-677 bila je niža u zdravih osoba (0,355) nego u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću (0,388) i dubokom venskom trombozom (0,425). Frekvencija alela A u lokusu MTHFR-1298 bila je 0,729 u zdravih osoba, 0,770 u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,746 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Frekvencija alela C lokusa za MTHFR-1298 bila je 0,271 u zdravih osoba, 0,230 u bolesnika s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i 0,425 u bolesnika s dubokom venskom trombozom. Nije opažena povezanost polimorfizma MTHFR-677 i MTHFR-1289 s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću ili dubokom venskom trombozom, nego se samo pokazao protektivni učinak diplotipa MTHFR/CA:CC za okluzivnu arterijsku bolest. Zaključak Osim protektivnoga učinka diplotipa MTHFR/CA:CC za okluzivnu arterijsku bolest, nismo našli značajnu povezanost polimorfizma lokusa MTHFR-677 i MTHFR-1289 s okluzivnom arterijskom bolešću i dubokom venskom trombozom.Aim To analyze the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms (MTHFR-677 and MTHFR-1298) with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians. Methods We examined 83 healthy respondents, 76 patients with occlusive artery disease, and 67 patients with deep venous thrombosis. Blood samples were collected and DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. Identification of MTHFR mutations was done with CVD StripAssay (ViennaLab, Labordiagnostika GmbH, Vienna, Austria) and the population genetics analysis package, PyPop, was used for the analysis. Pearson P values, crude odds ratio, and Wald’s 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results The frequency of C alleles of MTHFR-677 was 0.575 in patients with deep venous thrombosis, 0.612 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.645 in healthy participants. The frequency of T allele of MTHFR-677 was lower in healthy participants (0.355) than in patients with occlusive artery disease (0.388) and deep venous thrombosis (0.425). The frequency of A allele for MTHFR-1298 was 0.729 in healthy participants, 0.770 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.746 in patients with deep venous thrombosis. The frequency of C allele of MTHFR-1298 was 0.271 in healthy participants, 0.230 in patients with occlusive artery disease, and 0.425 in patients with deep venous thrombosis. No association of MTHFR-677 and MTHFR- 1289 polymorphisms with occlusive artery disease and deep venous thrombosis was found, except for the protective effect of MTHFR/CA: CC diplotype for occlusive artery disease. Conclusion We could not confirm a significant association of MTHFR- 677 and MTHFR-1289 polymorphisms with occlusive artery disease or deep venous thrombosis in Macedonians, except for the protective effect of MTHFR/CA:CC diplotype against occlusive artery disease

Smart gated magnetic silica mesoporous particles for targeted colon drug delivery: New approaches for inflammatory bowel diseases treatment

[EN] Magnetic mesoporous silica microparticles were loaded with safranin O (S1) and with hydrocortisone (S2) and the outer surface functionalized with a bulky azo derivative bearing urea moieties. Aqueous suspensions of both solids at pH 7.4 showed negligible payload release whereas a marked delivery was observed in the presence of sodium dithionite due to the rupture of the azo bonds. Besides, a moderate cargo release was observed at acidic pH due to the hydrolysis of the urea bonds that linked the azo derivative onto the external surface of the inorganic scaffolds. In vitro digestion models showed that S1 and S2 microparticles could be used for the controlled release of payload in the reducing colon environment (in which azoreductase enzymes are present). On the other hand, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that safranine O release from S1 microparticles was concentrated in colon. The performance of S2 microparticles for the treatment of colitis in rats (induced by oral administration of a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid solution) was tested. The controlled release of hydrocortisone from S2 in the colon of injured rats induced marked reduction in colon/body weight ratio and in clinical activity score. Also, histological studies showed a marked decrease in inflammation followed by intensive regeneration and almost normal mucosal structure of the individuals treated with S2. Besides, the use of a magnetic belt increased the therapeutic performances of S2 due to an enhanced retention time of the particles in the colon.We thank the Spanish Government (projects MAT2015-64139-C4-1-R and AGL2015-70235-C2-2-R (MINECO/FEDER)) and the Generalitat Valenciana (project PROMETEOII/2014/047) for support. AHT thanks to the Spanish MEC for his FPU grant. The authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Service at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for support. SCSIE (Universitat de Valencia) is also gratefully acknowledged for all the equipment employed. NMR was registered at the U26 facility of ICTS "NANBIOSIS" at the Universitat de Valencia. The authors thanks Dr. L. A. Villaescusa for his helpful discussion about the 1H NMR analysis of the composition of loaded and functionalized supports.Teruel, AH.; Pérez-Esteve, É.; Gonzalez-Alvarez, I.; Gonzalez -Alvarez, M.; Costero, AM.; Ferri, D.; Parra Álvarez, M.... (2018). Smart gated magnetic silica mesoporous particles for targeted colon drug delivery: New approaches for inflammatory bowel diseases treatment. Journal of Controlled Release. 281:58-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.05.007S586928

»Procession« (processio) and cosmos in Plotinus and Gnosticism: Parallels and Divergencies

Diplomsko delo se ukvarja s primerjavo med Plotinovo in valentinijansko filozofijo, ki sta si na videz diametralno nasprotni. Osredotoča se predvsem na prikazovanje Plotinovih in gnostičnih naukov in na primerjavo kozmološkega in antropološkega nauka enega in drugih. Dotakne se tudi etičnih vprašanj, denimo kako je treba živeti in kaj je cilj zemeljskega življenja. Hkrati pa poskuša pokazati, da kljub številnim navideznim razlikam, ki izhajajo iz različnih interpretacij enega vira (Platona), obstajajo tudi vzporednice, ki kažejo, da so tako Plotin kot tudi valentinijanci podobno dojemali samega človeka in tudi pot, ki ji mora vsakdo slediti v svojem življenju. Diplomsko delo obravnava tudi Plotinov traktat, v katerem napada gnostike, in skuša pokazati, da Plotinovi očitki niso vedno upravičeni ter da je njegova predstavitev gnostičnih naukov v določeni meri pristranska.The present undergraduate thesis deals with a comparison between the philosophies of Plotinus and the Valentinians, which ostensibly seem as if they are diametrically opposed. It focuses on presenting each teaching separately, and proceeds to comparing the cosmological and anthropological doctrines of Plotinus with those of the Gnostics. It also touches upon ethical questions, such as those relating to the way of life and the goal of earthly life. At the same time, it tries to show that, despite the numerous differences in their doctrines, which are due to different interpretations of the same source (Plato), there are many similarities which show that Plotinus and the Valentinians understood man and the path everyone has to follow during their lives in a similar manner. The thesis also deals with Plotinus’ tractate in which he attacks the Gnostics and tries to show that Plotinus’ reproaches are not always justified and that his presentation of Gnostic teachings are somewhat biased

(Benzoylamino)methyl 4-[(Benzoylamino)methoxy]benzoate

In this note, two procedures for the synthesis of (benzoylamino)methyl 4-[(benzoylamino)­methoxy]benzoate (3) are presented. The first procedure is carried out in dioxane/water using benzoylaminomethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, while the second one employs a suspension of 4-hydroxy­benzoic acid in dioxane. In both procedures, benzamidomethyl triethylammonium chloride is used for the benzamidomethylation reaction

Methyl 4-[(Benzoylamino)methoxy]benzoate

Methylparabene (2) was simply benzamidomethylated with (benzamidomethyl)­triethylammonium chloride (1) in aqueous medium to afford methyl 4-(benzamido­methoxy)benzoate (3) in high yield. The title compound was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy

The Role and Interdependence of Economic Indicators in Optimal Natural Gas Supply in Macedonia as a transitional Economy

This paper elaborates the importance of the economic set of indicators relevant for assessing natural gas supply options, as a part of the multi criteria decision making (MCDM) method. Such an approach is a useful tool for decision makers. Thus, the paper is not only dealing with economic indicators arising from investment and other types of costs, but it mostly focuses on macroeconomic environment and macroeconomic preconditions strongly related to energy infrastructure. MCDM is firstly utilized to calculate the indicator’s weighting factors, and further, regression analyses are performed in terms of identifying interdependencies among the indicators

ИМУНОЛОШКИ ПРАКТИКУМ: Привремен учебник за практична настава од имунологија

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