Uticaj sistema gajenja u promenljivim vremenskim uslovima na prinos bosiljka

The effect of weather conditions, precipitations and mean daily air temperatures in the vegetation period 2012-2016 on the fresh mass yield of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in the organic and conventional production systems was investigated. Trials were carried out on chernozem at the experimental fields of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops located in Bački Petrovac. The highest yield in the first harvest was obtained in 2016, in the second in 2013, while the lowest yield was recorded in both harvests in 2012. Growing system is not affect the yield of the basil fresh mass, while the changeable weather conditions in different years had a significant or highly significant effect to the yield.Analiziran je uticaj vremenskih uslova, padavina i srednjih dnevnih temperatura vazduha u vegetacionom periodu 2012-2016. godine na prinos sirove mase bosiljka (Ocimum basilicum L.) koji je gajen u sistemu organske i konvencionalne proizvodnje. Ispitivanja su vršena na zemljištu tipa černozem, na eksperimentalnim poljima Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo u Bačkom Petrovcu. Najveći prinos u prvom otkosu ostvaren je 2016, u drugom 2013. godine, dok je najmanji prinos u oba otkosa postignut 2012. Sistem gajenja nije značajnije uticao na prinos sirove mase bosiljka, dok su promenljivi vremenski uslovi, odnosno različite godine imale značajan ili veoma značajan uticaj na prinos

Uneven distribution of nucleoside transporters and intracellular enzymatic degradation prevent transport of intact [¹⁴C] adenosine across the sheep choroid plexus epithelium as a monolayer in primary culture

Abstract Background Efflux transport of adenosine across the choroid plexus (CP) epithelium might contribute to the homeostasis of this neuromodulator in the extracellular fluids of the brain. The aim of this study was to explore adenosine transport across sheep CP epithelial cell monolayers in primary culture. Methods To explore transport of adenosine across the CP epithelium, we have developed a method for primary culture of the sheep choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPEC) on plastic permeable supports and analysed [14C] adenosine transport across this cellular layer, [14C] adenosine metabolism inside the cells, and cellular uptake of [14C] adenosine from either of the chambers. The primary cell culture consisted of an enriched epithelial cell fraction from the sheep fourth ventricle CP and was grown on laminin-precoated filter inserts. Results and conclusion CPEC grew as monolayers forming typical polygonal islands, reaching optical confluence on the third day after the seeding. Transepithelial electrical resistance increased over the time after seeding up to 85 ± 9 Ω cm2 at day 8, while permeability towards [14C] sucrose, a marker of paracellular diffusion, simultaneously decreased. These cells expressed some features typical of the CPEC in situ, including three nucleoside transporters at the transcript level that normally mediate adenosine transport across cellular membranes. The estimated permeability of these monolayers towards [14C] adenosine was low and the same order of magnitude as for the markers of paracellular diffusion. However, inhibition of the intracellular enzymes, adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase, led to a significant increase in transcellular permeability, indicating that intracellular phosphorylation into nucleotides might be a reason for the low transcellular permeability. HPLC analysis with simultaneous detection of radioactivity revealed that [14C] radioactivity which appeared in the acceptor chamber after the incubation of CPEC monolayers with [14C] adenosine in the donor chamber was mostly present as [14C] hypoxanthine, a product of adenosine metabolic degradation. Therefore, it appears that CPEC in primary cultures act as an enzymatic barrier towards adenosine. Cellular uptake studies revealed that concentrative uptake of [14C] adenosine was confined only to the side of these cells facing the upper or apical chamber, indicating uneven distribution of nucleoside transporters.</p

Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Innate and adaptive immune responses exert their role in CIDP pathogenesis through cytokine production. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may alter cytokine gene expression, with a potential influence on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, cytokine gene SNPs have not been assessed in CIDP patients yet. We assessed functional SNPs in the genes encoding IL-10 (rs1800896, rs1800871, rs1800872 and rs3024505), IL-6 (rs1800795), TNF (rs1800629 and rs361525), IL-12B (rs3212227), IFN-γ (rs2430561), GM-CSF (rs25882) and IL-17F (rs11465553) in a cohort of 88 CIDP patients and 486 healthy controls (HCs) via qPCR. We found an association of SNP in the IL10 promotor and CIDP occurrence. Major homozygotes (AA) were more frequent in the HCs compared to CIDP patients (p = 0.049), but the GA genotype prevailed among the patients (p = 0.032). A lower frequency of the C allele was observed for rs1800871 and rs1800872 in CIDP patients compared to the HCs (p = 0.048). A higher proportion of A carriers at position -1082 (rs1800896) (presumed to be a low IL-10 producer) was noted in patients with milder disability (low INCAT). All mild-INCAT patients were C carriers for rs1800871 and rs1800872 in IL10 (p = 0.038). Furthermore, the IL6 rs1800795 GG genotype was more frequent in patients (p = 0.049) and the CG heterozygote in the HCs (p = 0.013). Among the CIDP patients, being a G carrier for this SNP was associated with a higher frequency of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to being a non-carrier (p = 0.032). Our data indicate a possible association of the IL10 and IL6 SNPs with CIDP, but also with disease severity and T2D occurrence. Given the paucity of CIDP patients, multicentric studies are necessary to draw definite conclusions on these associations

Aloe emodin inhibits the cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor

We demonstrate the capacity of an herbal anthraquinone aloe emodin to reduce the cytotoxicity of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) towards L929 mouse fibrosarcoma and U251 human glioma cell lines. Aloe emodin inhibited both TNF-induced cell necrosis and apoptosis, but it did not reduce cell death induced by UV radiation or hydrogen peroxide. Aloe emodin inhibited both basal and TNF-triggered activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and a selective blockade of ERK activation mimicked the cytoprotective action of the drug. On the other hand, aloe emodin did not affect TNF-induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase or generation of reactive oxygen species. The combination of aloe emodin and TNF caused an intracellular appearance of acidified autophagic vesicles, and the inhibition of autophagy with bafilomycin or 3-methyladenine efficiently blocked the cytoprotective action of aloe emodin. These data indicate that aloe emodin could prevent TNF-triggered cell death through mechanisms involving induction of autophagy and blockade of ERK activation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Incidence and Risk Factors for Clostridioides difficile Infections in Non-COVID and COVID-19 Patients: Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and the risk factors for healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) in patients with COVID-19 and without this infection. (2) Methods: A single-center, prospective observational study was conducted at the University Clinical Hospital Center in Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2019 to December 2021. The entire hospital was a COVID-dedicated hospital for 12 months during the study period. The incidence density rates and risk factors for HA-CDI in patients with and without COVID-19 are presented. (3) Results: The incidence rates of HA-CDIs were three times higher in patients with COVID-19. The HA-CDI&ndash;COVID-patients were younger (69.9 &plusmn; 12.6 vs. 72.5 &plusmn; 11.6; p = 0.017), admitted from another hospital (20.5% vs. 2.9; p &lt; 0.001), had antimicrobial therapy before CDI (99.1% vs. 91.3%, p &lt; 0.001), received two or more antibiotics (p = 0.030) during a longer period (p = 0.035), received proton pump inhibitors (95.9% vs. 50.0%, p &lt; 0.001) during a longer period (p = 0.012) and steroids (32.8% vs. 20.4%, p &lt; 0.001). During the last month before their current hospitalization, a higher percentage of patients without COVID-19 disease were hospitalized in our hospital (p &lt; 0.001). Independent predictors for HA-CDIs in patients with COVID-19 were admission from another hospital (p = 0.003), the length of antibiotic administration (0.020), and the use of steroids in therapy (p &lt; 0.001). The HA-CDI predictors in the non-COVID patients were older age (p = 0.017), advanced-stage renal failure (p = 0.005), chemotherapy (p = 0.003), and a low albumin level (0.005). (4) Conclusion: Higher incidence rates of HAI-CDIs in COVID-19 patients did not occur due to reduced infection control precautions and hygiene measures but due to antibiotic therapy and therapy with other drugs used during the pandemic

Incidence and Risk Factors for <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Non-COVID and COVID-19 Patients: Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and the risk factors for healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) in patients with COVID-19 and without this infection. (2) Methods: A single-center, prospective observational study was conducted at the University Clinical Hospital Center in Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2019 to December 2021. The entire hospital was a COVID-dedicated hospital for 12 months during the study period. The incidence density rates and risk factors for HA-CDI in patients with and without COVID-19 are presented. (3) Results: The incidence rates of HA-CDIs were three times higher in patients with COVID-19. The HA-CDI–COVID-patients were younger (69.9 ± 12.6 vs. 72.5 ± 11.6; p = 0.017), admitted from another hospital (20.5% vs. 2.9; p p p = 0.030) during a longer period (p = 0.035), received proton pump inhibitors (95.9% vs. 50.0%, p p = 0.012) and steroids (32.8% vs. 20.4%, p p p = 0.003), the length of antibiotic administration (0.020), and the use of steroids in therapy (p p = 0.017), advanced-stage renal failure (p = 0.005), chemotherapy (p = 0.003), and a low albumin level (0.005). (4) Conclusion: Higher incidence rates of HAI-CDIs in COVID-19 patients did not occur due to reduced infection control precautions and hygiene measures but due to antibiotic therapy and therapy with other drugs used during the pandemic