Graft-take Success in Walnut Under Controlled Conditions and Plant Development in the Nursery

The production of walnut nursery plants is a complex process, being dependent upon a range of factors that affect graft-take success and behaviour of walnut plants in the nursery. The experiment included two parts. Three different treatments were used in the heated room under controlled air temperature and humidity conditions: Treatment 1-grafting without paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with sawdust up to the top of the scion; Treatment 2-grafting involving paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with sawdust up to the top of the scion; and Treatment 3-grafting involving paraffin treatment of the scion and graft union, coupled with covering the graft with both sawdust up to the top of the scion and polyethylene foil. The treatments were evaluated for their effect on graft-take success. Graft planting in the nursery was followed by two treatments: treatment without foliar fertilisation and treatment with foliar fertilisation. Under controlled conditions, treatment 3 induced a higher graft-take success as compared to the other two treatments, whereas foliar fertilisation in the nursery had a positive effect on the survival, production of class 1 plants and vegetative growth of walnut plants

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL IN FRUIT GROWING AREA TOPOLA (SERBIA)

The aim of the investigation was to assess the level of soil fertility and repair measures in order to enhance the productivity of fruit production in a traditional fruit growing area. (Municipality of Topola, Serbia). The following tests were performed: mechanical composition, physical and chemical properties of soil, total adsorbed base cation, capacity of adsorbed base cation, degree of base saturation, different types of soil acidity, contents of carbon, humus, total nitrogen, easily accessible forms of P2O5 and K2O. Results obtained have shown that soils from all studied sites are of “heavy” mechanical texture with 75,40-84,90% of physical clay. High capacity of cation adsorption, low to medium hydrolytic acidity and high to almost complete saturation of adsorbed bases, has been measured. In compliance with previous analyses, it has been assessed that soils are neutral and of low acid chemical reaction, with low carbon and medium humus content and total nitrogen. Easily accessible content of P2O5 and K2O varies depending on the food quantity on individual parcels with low to medium accessibility to parcels with no fruit plantations. Based on the parameters analysed, the tested soils demand repair of mechanical properties, which will facilitate greater nutrient uptake

Low VHL mRNA Expression is Associated with More Aggressive Tumor Features of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Alterations of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene can cause different hereditary tumors associated with VHL syndrome, but the potential role of the VHL gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been characterized. This study set out to investigate the relationship of VHL expression level with clinicopathological features of PTC in an ethnically and geographically homogenous group of 264 patients from Serbia, for the first time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a strong correlation between low level of VHL expression and advanced clinical stage (OR55.78, 95% CI 3.17-10.53, P<0.0001), classical papillary morphology of the tumor (OR52.92, 95% CI 1.33-6.44, P=50.008) and multifocality (OR51.96, 95% CI 1.06-3.62, P=50.031). In disease-free survival analysis, low VHL expression had marginal significance (P=50.0502 by the log-rank test) but did not appear to be an independent predictor of the risk for chance of faster recurrence in a proportion hazards model. No somatic mutations or evidence of VHL downregulation via promoter hypermethylation in PTC were found. The results indicate that the decrease of VHL expression associates with tumor progression but the mechanism of downregulation remains to be elucidated

The influence of intravitreally applied triamcinolone acetonide on vitreal hemorrhage resorption and visual acuity in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

© 2018, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved. Introduction/Objective Vitreal hemorrhage is one of the possible complications of diabetic retinopathy, followed by intensive decrease of visual acuity. Corticosteroids are commonly used in treatment of different retinal diseases, due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenetic effect. Triamcinolone acetonide applied intravitreally remains in the eye for several months, releases its crystals, and decreases the density of vitreal hemorrhage. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 20 mg intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for the management of long-lasting vitreal hemorrhage, occurred as a complication of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in non-vitrectomized eyes. Methods In a prospective study performed between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016, 24 patients with vitreal hemorrhage who received intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide were compared to 21 patients from the control group. The control group consisted of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and similar degree of vitreal hemorrhage. All the patients underwent an ophthalmological examination at the beginning of the study, seven days, one, three, six, nine, and 12 months after intravitreal administration of 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. In addition to vitreal hemorrhage and visual acuity, intraocular pressure and cataract development were also analyzed. Results Statistically significant difference in the density of vitreal hemorrhage and visual acuity was recorded during the first and the third month after administering triamcinolone. Twenty-nine percent of the patients had a temporary rise in intraocular pressure after intravitreal triamcinolone application, and 4.1% of the patients finished the study with a developed cataract. Conclusion Intravitreally applied triamcinolone acetonide has a moderate and temporary influence on the velocity of vitreal hemorrhage reabsorption, probably by the mechanism of sedimentation of triamcinolone’s crystals with blood elements. It can be a useful treatment option when vitrectomy in not possible

Tear film stability in patients with pseudexfoliation

© 2018, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is an age related disorder, characterized by abnormal fibrous fiber production and accumulation in different visceral organs as well as in the eye and periocular tissues. Hystological examination recorded the presence of the pseudoexfoliation in the conjunctiva, and they can disturb the accessory lacrimal gland and goblet cell function. This can explain tear film instability in patients with pseudoexfoliations. In our study, we examined the tear film stability in patients with and without pseudoexfoliation, using Schirmer test and tear break up time test. Our results indicated that patients with pseudoexfoliation had lower values of Schirmer and tear break up time tests than patients without it. Pseudoexfoliation is the main reason for the instability of the tear film, because of its negative impact on the conjucnti-val goblet cells. In conclusion, ophthalmologists must have these data on their mind in the process of the pseudoexfoliation glaucoma treatment and controlling