The New EEC Block Exemption Regulation on Franchising

This article discusses regulation of franchising within the European Community and its effect on competition policy. In part I the author gives a general presentation of the regulation, in part II the author discusses the scope of the regulation, in Part III the author discusses the substantive provisions of the regulation, and in the Conclusion the author suggests potential solutions

Poteškoće u određivanju protutijela štitnjače

Nowadays, different methods for determination of thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TGA), microsomal autoantibodies (TMA) and autoantibodies to enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO) have been developed. The specificity and sensitivity of these methods depend on the purity of autoantigen preparation itself, valid standardization and type of the methodology used, e.g., agglutination of gelatine particle carriers sensitized with antigen, radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunometric assay (IRMA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or luminometric assay (LIA). Although variable in their sensitivity and specificity, these tests are useful parameters in clinical practice, especially for patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and pregnant women. Among six different methods (A-F) that were used in this study, four methods are based on the EIA principle, and one on the LIA and agglutination methodology each. Comparison of TGA, TMA and TPO values obtained by two, three and four methods in parallel was done on 527 frozen serum samples of outpatients. The concordance of TGA results was found to be in the range from 66% to 83% for two methods and 65% for three methods. The concordance of TMA/TPO results was in the range from 42% to 100% for two methods and 48% for four methods. The results suggest that the thyroid autoantibody methods need to be standardized and we are not yet certain which one of the methods is most reliable. False negative/positive TGA and TPO autoantibodies may cause a mistake in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease patients. Only an accurate, nonbiased TGA method can provide reliable TGA values that may interfere during thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement changing its concentration in serum of differentiated thyroid cancer patients.Danas postoji više metoda određivanja tireoglobulinskih i mikrosomskih protutijela štitnjače (TGA,TMA) kao i protutijela na enzim tiroidnu peroksidazu (TPO). Osjetljivost i specifičnost tih metoda ovise o čistoći antigena i standarda te o primijenjenoj metodologiji kao što su aglutinacijska metoda, radioimunološka (RIA), imunoradiometrijska (IRMA), enzimska (EIA) ili luminometrijska (LIA). Premda su te metode različitog stupanja osjetljivosti i specifičnosti, korisne su u praćenju bolesnika s autoimunim bolestima štitnjače (ATD), diferenciranim karcinomom štitnjače (DTC) i trudnica. Od šest metoda ( 4 TGA, 3 TPO, 1 TMA) primijenjenih u ovom radu četiri su bile EIA metode i po jedna LIA i aglutinacijska metoda. Usporedili smo rezultate TGA,TMA i TPO u serumu ambulantnih ispitanika (N= 527) koji su određeni sa dvije, tri i četiri metode. Podudarnost rezultata dviju TGA metoda kretala se u rasponu od 66% do 83%, a dviju TMA/TPO metoda u rasponu od 65%do 100%. Sukladnost triju TGA metoda i četiriju TMA/TPO metoda iznosila je 65% i 48%. Idealna, 100%-tna podudarnost TMA i TPO rezultata postignuta je metodama A i E (N= 33). Ovi rezultati ukazuju na potrebitost međunarodne standardizacije TGA i TPO metoda kojima bi se postigla veća ujednačenost tj. smanjio broj lažno pozitivnih ili lažno negativnih rezultata. Smatramo da se samo TGA metodom visoke osjetljivosti i specifičnosti može pouzdano odrediti TGA protutijela koja ponekad mogu utjecati na promjenu razine tireoglobulina (TG) u serumu bolesnika s diferenciranim karcinomom štitnjače. Lažno pozitivni ili negativni TGA i TPO rezultati također mogu utjecati na nepouzdanost dijagnoze bolesnika s ATD

Poteškoće u određivanju protutijela štitnjače

Nowadays, different methods for determination of thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TGA), microsomal autoantibodies (TMA) and autoantibodies to enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO) have been developed. The specificity and sensitivity of these methods depend on the purity of autoantigen preparation itself, valid standardization and type of the methodology used, e.g., agglutination of gelatine particle carriers sensitized with antigen, radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunometric assay (IRMA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or luminometric assay (LIA). Although variable in their sensitivity and specificity, these tests are useful parameters in clinical practice, especially for patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and pregnant women. Among six different methods (A-F) that were used in this study, four methods are based on the EIA principle, and one on the LIA and agglutination methodology each. Comparison of TGA, TMA and TPO values obtained by two, three and four methods in parallel was done on 527 frozen serum samples of outpatients. The concordance of TGA results was found to be in the range from 66% to 83% for two methods and 65% for three methods. The concordance of TMA/TPO results was in the range from 42% to 100% for two methods and 48% for four methods. The results suggest that the thyroid autoantibody methods need to be standardized and we are not yet certain which one of the methods is most reliable. False negative/positive TGA and TPO autoantibodies may cause a mistake in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease patients. Only an accurate, nonbiased TGA method can provide reliable TGA values that may interfere during thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement changing its concentration in serum of differentiated thyroid cancer patients.Danas postoji više metoda određivanja tireoglobulinskih i mikrosomskih protutijela štitnjače (TGA,TMA) kao i protutijela na enzim tiroidnu peroksidazu (TPO). Osjetljivost i specifičnost tih metoda ovise o čistoći antigena i standarda te o primijenjenoj metodologiji kao što su aglutinacijska metoda, radioimunološka (RIA), imunoradiometrijska (IRMA), enzimska (EIA) ili luminometrijska (LIA). Premda su te metode različitog stupanja osjetljivosti i specifičnosti, korisne su u praćenju bolesnika s autoimunim bolestima štitnjače (ATD), diferenciranim karcinomom štitnjače (DTC) i trudnica. Od šest metoda ( 4 TGA, 3 TPO, 1 TMA) primijenjenih u ovom radu četiri su bile EIA metode i po jedna LIA i aglutinacijska metoda. Usporedili smo rezultate TGA,TMA i TPO u serumu ambulantnih ispitanika (N= 527) koji su određeni sa dvije, tri i četiri metode. Podudarnost rezultata dviju TGA metoda kretala se u rasponu od 66% do 83%, a dviju TMA/TPO metoda u rasponu od 65%do 100%. Sukladnost triju TGA metoda i četiriju TMA/TPO metoda iznosila je 65% i 48%. Idealna, 100%-tna podudarnost TMA i TPO rezultata postignuta je metodama A i E (N= 33). Ovi rezultati ukazuju na potrebitost međunarodne standardizacije TGA i TPO metoda kojima bi se postigla veća ujednačenost tj. smanjio broj lažno pozitivnih ili lažno negativnih rezultata. Smatramo da se samo TGA metodom visoke osjetljivosti i specifičnosti može pouzdano odrediti TGA protutijela koja ponekad mogu utjecati na promjenu razine tireoglobulina (TG) u serumu bolesnika s diferenciranim karcinomom štitnjače. Lažno pozitivni ili negativni TGA i TPO rezultati također mogu utjecati na nepouzdanost dijagnoze bolesnika s ATD

Dynamics of organic matter and bacterial activity in the Fram Strait during summer and autumn

The Arctic Ocean is considerably affected by the consequences of global warming, including more extreme seasonal fluctuations in the physical environment. So far, little is known about seasonality in Arctic marine ecosystems in particular microbial dynamics and cycling of organic matter. The limited characterization can be partially attributed to logistic difficulties of sampling in the Arctic Ocean beyond the summer season. Here, we investigated the distribution and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM), gel particles and heterotrophic bacterial activity in the Fram Strait during summer and autumn. Our results revealed that phytoplankton biomass influenced the concentration and composition of semi-labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which strongly decreased from summer to autumn. The seasonal decrease in bioavailability of DOM appeared to be the dominant control on bacterial abundance and activity, while no temperature effect was determined. Additionally, there were clear differences in transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and Coomassie Blue stainable particles (CSP) dynamics. The amount of TEP and CSP decreased from summer to autumn, but CSP was relatively enriched in both seasons. Our study therewith indicates clear seasonal differences in the microbial cycling of organic matter in the Fram Strait. Our data may help to establish baseline knowledge about seasonal changes in microbial ecosystem dynamics to better assess the impact of environmental change in the warming Arctic Ocean

Ultrazvučna analiza štitnjače u trudnoći

The aim of the study was to determine whether pregnancy induced ultrasonographically detectable changes of the thyroid gland. It is a very interesting clinical feature, because some parts of inland Croatia were an endemic goiter area before the implementation of the 1996 act on salt iodination. Sixty-six pregnant women with no history of thyroid disease were repeatedly examined by ultrasound during the course of pregnancy. The size and echostructure of the thyroid were estimated. The thyroid volume increased slightly during pregnancy, but mostly remained within the normal range for particular age. A significant thyroid volume enlargement was observed in third trimester as compared with either first trimester (p=0.02) or control group (p=0.01). Mild goiter of 16% was found in pregnant women in comparison to control group. Morning urine sample, thyroid hormone, TSH and thyroid antibodies were also analyzed in 89 women. Median urine iodine was 8.8 µg/dL. Sixty percent of pregnant women had an iodine concentration below 10 µg/dL. In four out of nine subjects with goiter, urinary iodine excretion was below 5 µg/dL. Elevated serum TSH concentration was recorded in three (3%) women; however, they were euthyroid at the time of the study. Results of the study supported the hypothesis that thyroid volume and thyroid function adapt to the physiologically increased iodine and energy demands. The possible goitrogenic effect of pregnancy could be prevented by an increased iodine intake by diet rich in iodine.U kontinentalnim dijelovima Hrvatske prije uvođenja novoga pravilnika o jodiranju soli 1996. godine zabilježena je endemska gušavost. Stoga je svrha ovoga istraživanja bila utvrditi postoji li i u kojoj mjeri gušavost, odnosno povećanje volumena štitnjaču trudnica sa zagrebačkog područja. Šezdeset šest zdravih trudnica u kojih prethodno nije postojala bolest štitnjače u više je navrata pregledano ultrazvukom, pri čem je određen volumen i ehostruktura štitnjače. Utvrđen je porast volumena štitnjače u sva tri trimestra trudnoće koji je, međutim, prelazio gornju granicu normalne veličine štitnjače (18 mL) i to uglavnom u trećem trimestru. Značajan porast veličine štitnjače ustanovljen je u trećem trimestru u odnosu na prvi trimestar (p=0,02) te na kontrolnu skupinu (p=0,01). Umjerena guša nađena je u 16% trudnica u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. U skupini od 89 trudnica određena je koncentracija joda u mokraći, koncentracija hormona štitnjače, TSH te tiroidna protutijela. Utvrđen je medijan koncentracije joda u mokraći od 8,8 µg/dL, a 60% trudnica imalo je koncentraciju nižu od 10 µg/dL. U četiri od devet trudnica s ustanovljenom gušom razina joda bila je ispod 5 µg/dL. Povišena razina TSH u serumu nađena je u 3% trudnica, ali uz normalne razine hormona štitnjače. Ovim smo ispitivanjem potvrdili očekivani porast volumena štitnjače u trudnoći kao posljedicu povećane potrebe za energijom i jodom. Stoga zaključujemo da se očekivani goitrogeni učinak trudnoće može spriječiti prehranom obogaćenom jodom

The Level of Awareness on the Green ICT Concept and Self Directed Learning among Malaysian Facebook Users

AbstractThe Green information and communication technology is introduced to support the implementation of the green environment. Recent initiatives of promoting green technology and green economy which include “green manufacturing hub “green infrastructure”, low carbon emission, efficient use of resources and a healthy, well- educated populace. For this study, the independent variable is the self directed learning readiness while the dependent variable is the level of awareness on Green ICT. The sample size is seventy seven student adult learners. Random sampling is the sampling method used for this study. The study is to highlight the level of awareness among Malaysian Facebook users

Tumorski biljeg CYFRA-21-1 u serumu i pleuralnom izljevu bolesnika s karcinomom pluća

Tumor marker CYFRA-21-1 may be used as an additional parameter in the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), especially those with squamous cell carcinoma. From 1994 till 2001, the concentration of CYFRA-21-1 was determined in serum and/or pleural effusions of 166 patients with NSCLC, and in serum of 28 control subjects. Serum CYFRA-21-1median in the control, benign and malignant group was 0.8 ng/mL, 2.6 ng/mL and 6.3 ng/mL, respectively (p>0.05). In pleural effusions, CYFRA-21-1 median differed significantly between the benign (8.2 ng/mL) and malignant (146 ng/mL) group (p0,05). Nasuprot tome, u pleuralnom izljevu medijani CYFRA-21-1 benigne i maligne skupine od 8,2 ng/mL i 146 ng/mL bili su značajno različiti (p<0,0000). Osjetljivost i specifičnost CYFRA-21-1 u serumu bila je 62% odnosno 76%, a u pleuralnom izljevu su oba parametra iznosila 73%. Naši dosadašnji rezultati potvrđuju da je CYFRA-21-1 koristan dodatni parametar u razlikovanju benignih od malignih pleuralnih izljeva, ali ne i benignih od malignih seruma

Bacterial Colonization and Vertical Distribution of Marine Gel Particles (TEP and CSP) in the Arctic Fram Strait

Gel particles—a class of abundant transparent organic particles—have increasingly gathered attention in marine research. Field studies on the bacterial colonization of marine gels however are still scarce. So far, most studies on respective particles have focused on the upper ocean, while little is known on their occurrence in the deep sea. Here, we report on the vertical distribution of the two most common gel particle types, which are polysaccharide-containing transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and proteinaceous Coomassie stainable particles (CSP), as well as numbers of bacteria attached to gel particles throughout the water column, from the surface ocean down to the bathypelagial (< 3,000 m). Our study was conducted in the Arctic Fram Strait during northern hemispheres' summer in 2015. Besides data on the bacterial colonization of the two gel particle types (TEP and CSP), we present bacterial densities on different gel particle size classes according to 12 different sampling depths at four sampling locations. Gel particles were frequently abundant at all sampled depths, and their concentrations decreased from the euphotic zone to the dark ocean. They were colonized by bacteria at all sampled water depths with risen importance at the deepest water layers, where fractions of bacteria attached to gel particles (%) increased within the total bacterial community. Due to the omnipresent bacterial colonization of gel particles at all sampled depths in our study, we presume that euphotic production of this type of organic matter may affect microbial species distribution within the whole water column in the Fram Strait, down to the deep sea. Our results raise the question if changes in the bacterial community composition and functioning on gel particles occur over depth, which may affect microbial respiration and remineralization rates of respective particles in different water layers

Tumorski biljeg CYFRA-21-1 u serumu i pleuralnom izljevu bolesnika s karcinomom pluća

Tumor marker CYFRA-21-1 may be used as an additional parameter in the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), especially those with squamous cell carcinoma. From 1994 till 2001, the concentration of CYFRA-21-1 was determined in serum and/or pleural effusions of 166 patients with NSCLC, and in serum of 28 control subjects. Serum CYFRA-21-1median in the control, benign and malignant group was 0.8 ng/mL, 2.6 ng/mL and 6.3 ng/mL, respectively (p>0.05). In pleural effusions, CYFRA-21-1 median differed significantly between the benign (8.2 ng/mL) and malignant (146 ng/mL) group (p0,05). Nasuprot tome, u pleuralnom izljevu medijani CYFRA-21-1 benigne i maligne skupine od 8,2 ng/mL i 146 ng/mL bili su značajno različiti (p<0,0000). Osjetljivost i specifičnost CYFRA-21-1 u serumu bila je 62% odnosno 76%, a u pleuralnom izljevu su oba parametra iznosila 73%. Naši dosadašnji rezultati potvrđuju da je CYFRA-21-1 koristan dodatni parametar u razlikovanju benignih od malignih pleuralnih izljeva, ali ne i benignih od malignih seruma

Phytoplankton surveys in the Arctic Fram Strait demonstrate the tiny eukaryotic alga Micromonas and other picoprasinophytes contribute to deep sea export

© The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Bachy, C., Sudek, L., Choi, C. J., Eckmann, C. A., Nöthig, E.-M., Metfies, K., & Worden, A. Z. Phytoplankton surveys in the Arctic Fram Strait demonstrate the tiny eukaryotic alga Micromonas and other picoprasinophytes contribute to deep sea export. Microorganisms, 10(5), (2022): 961, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050961.Critical questions exist regarding the abundance and, especially, the export of picophytoplankton (≤2 µm diameter) in the Arctic. These organisms can dominate chlorophyll concentrations in Arctic regions, which are subject to rapid change. The picoeukaryotic prasinophyte Micromonas grows in polar environments and appears to constitute a large, but variable, proportion of the phytoplankton in these waters. Here, we analyze 81 samples from the upper 100 m of the water column from the Fram Strait collected over multiple years (2009–2015). We also analyze sediment trap samples to examine picophytoplankton contributions to export, using both 18S rRNA gene qPCR and V1-V2 16S rRNA Illumina amplicon sequencing to assess the Micromonas abundance within the broader diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes based on the phylogenetic placement of plastid-derived 16S amplicons. The material sequenced from the sediment traps in July and September 2010 showed that 11.2 ± 12.4% of plastid-derived amplicons are from picoplanktonic prasinophyte algae and other green lineage (Viridiplantae) members. In the traps, Micromonas dominated (83.6 ± 21.3%) in terms of the overall relative abundance of Viridiplantae amplicons, specifically the species Micromonas polaris. Temporal variations in Micromonas abundances quantified by qPCR were also observed, with higher abundances in the late-July traps and deeper traps. In the photic zone samples, four prasinophyte classes were detected in the amplicon data, with Micromonas again being the dominant prasinophyte, based on the relative abundance (89.4 ± 8.0%), but with two species (M. polaris and M. commoda-like) present. The quantitative PCR assessments showed that the photic zone samples with higher Micromonas abundances (>1000 gene copies per mL) had significantly lower standing stocks of phosphate and nitrate, and a shallower average depth (20 m) than those with fewer Micromonas. This study shows that despite their size, prasinophyte picophytoplankton are exported to the deep sea, and that Micromonas is particularly important within this size fraction in Arctic marine ecosystems.This research was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) DEB-1639033, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Investigator Award grant 3788, and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Research at Harvard University and the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg for Marine and Climate Science, awarded to A.Z.W. Contribution to HGF POF-IV 6.1, 6.3, and 6.4