A hazai zöldségtermelés megújítása

Az éghajlatváltozás hatásai a minÅ‘ségi termelés követelményei, a rentábilis termelés igénye, a termeléstechnológiai elemek megújításának, korszerűsítésének szükségessége egyaránt sürgetik a fenti követelményeket szem elÅ‘tt tartó, annak megfelelni akaró módszert, a szabadföldi intenzív termelést, melynek legfontosabb elemei: az idÅ‘szakos talaj-, növény- és légtértakarás, a víztakarékos öntözési módok alkalmazása és a retardált műtrágya használata. Az idÅ‘szakos talaj-, növény- és légtértakarással a szedési idÅ‘szak meghosszabbítható, és egyúttal javítható a talaj vízgazdálkodása, valamint visszaszorítható a gyomosodás. A mikroöntözés alkalmazásával, azonos vízmennyiséggel kétszer akkora terület öntözhetÅ‘. Retardált (fékezett lebomlású) műtrágyák használatával jobb növénytápláltság érhetÅ‘ el, és az esetek többségében a fejtrágyázás is feleslegessé válik. Célszerű létrehozni mielÅ‘bb egy kiváló nyersanyagokból kiváló minÅ‘ségű, jellegzetesen magyar termékeket gyártó feldolgozóipart, amelynek kínálatában a funkcionális (pharma) termékek is megjelennek. Eközben arról sem szabad megfeledkezni, hogy jó minÅ‘ségű konzerv csak jó minÅ‘ségű nyersanyagból készíthetÅ‘! ------------------------------------------------------------ The climate is changing, and we have to adapt to it. The possible methods of compliance include temporary soil, plant and air covering, water economical irrigation, and the ap¬plication of retardable fertilizers. Temporary soil, plant and air covering with plastic sheets is a method applied most¬ly under temperate climatic conditions. Its key purpose is to enable earlier harvest and to lengthen the picking period. The use of economical irrigation methods can double the area which can be irrigated with the same amount of water. The application of retardable fertilizers can ensure harmonious plant nutrition without top dressing. The renewal of the Hungarian canning industry is an urgent task. The development of vegetable production is unthinkable without valuable canning products.zöldségtermelés, feldolgozóipar, speciális készítmények, tájtermelés, intenzív termesztés, vegetable production, territory, assortment, canning industry, special products, growing regions, intensity, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management,

A Study on the Analytical Sensitivity of 6 BSE Tests Used by the Canadian BSE Reference Laboratory

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance programs have been employed in numerous countries to monitor BSE prevalence and to protect animal and human health. Since 1999, the European Commission (EC) authorized the evaluation and approval of 20 molecular based tests for the rapid detection of the pathological prion protein (PrPsc) in BSE infection. The diagnostic sensitivity, convenience, and speed of these tests have made molecular diagnostics the preferred method for BSE surveillance. The aim of this study was to determine the analytical sensitivity of 4 commercially available BSE rapid-test kits, including the Prionics®-Check WESTERN, the Prionics® Check-PrioSTRIP™, the BioRad® TeSeE™ ELISA, and the IDEXX® HerdChek™ EIA. Performances of these tests were then compared to 2 confirmatory tests, including the BioRad® TeSeE™ Western Blot and the modified Scrapie Associated Fibrils (SAF)/OIE Immunoblot. One 50% w/v homogenate was made from experimentally generated C-type BSE brain tissues in ddH2O. Homogenates were diluted through a background of BSE-negative brainstem homogenate. Masses of both positive and negative tissues in each dilution were calculated to maintain the appropriate tissue amounts for each test platform. Specific concentrated homogenization buffer was added accordingly to maintain the correct buffer condition for each test. ELISA-based tests were evaluated using their respective software/detection platforms. Blot-protocols were evaluated by manual measurements of blot signal density. Detection limitations were determined by fitted curves intersecting the manufacturers' positive/negative criteria. The confirmatory SAF Immunoblot displayed the highest analytical sensitivity, followed by the IDEXX® HerdChek™ EIA, Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ Western Blot, the Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ ELISA, Prionics®-Check PrioSTRIP™, and Prionics®-Check WESTERN™, respectively. Although the tests performed at different levels of sensitivity, the most sensitive and least sensitive of the rapid tests were separated by 2 logs in analytical sensitivity, meeting European performance requirements. All rapid tests appear suitable for targeted BSE surveillance programs, as implemented in Canada

BBC pay: we need equality all the way down - not just for the elite

Firms like the BBC can only afford to offer 'top talent' huge financial rewards by controlling costs down below, writes Mark Bank

Molecular, Biochemical and Genetic Characteristics of BSE in Canada

The epidemiology and possibly the etiology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have recently been recognized to be heterogeneous. In particular, three types [classical (C) and two atypical (H, L)] have been identified, largely on the basis of characteristics of the proteinase K (PK)-resistant core of the misfolded prion protein associated with the disease (PrPres). The present study was conducted to characterize the 17 Canadian BSE cases which occurred prior to November 2009 based on the molecular and biochemical properties of their PrPres, including immunoreactivity, molecular weight, glycoform profile and relative PK sensitivity. Two cases exhibited molecular weight and glycoform profiles similar to those of previously reported atypical cases, one corresponding to H-type BSE (case 6) and the other to L-type BSE (case 11). All other cases were classified as C-type. PK digestion under mild and stringent conditions revealed a reduced protease resistance in both of these cases compared to the C-type cases. With Western immunoblotting, N-terminal-specific antibodies bound to PrPres from case 6 but not to that from case 11 or C-type cases. C-terminal-specific antibodies revealed a shift in the glycoform profile and detected a fourth protein fragment in case 6, indicative of two PrPres subpopulations in H-type BSE. No mutations suggesting a genetic etiology were found in any of the 17 animals by sequencing the full PrP-coding sequence in exon 3 of the PRNP gene. Thus, each of the three known BSE types have been confirmed in Canadian cattle and show molecular characteristics highly similar to those of classical and atypical BSE cases described from Europe, Japan and the USA. The occurrence of atypical cases of BSE in countries such as Canada with low BSE prevalence and transmission risk argues for the occurrence of sporadic forms of BSE worldwide

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Identifying Genetic Factors of BSE Susceptibility

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a transmissible, neurologic disease of cattle that decimated the cattle industry in many countries when it was discovered to be zoonotic. This disease is caused by a unique pathogen believed to be entirely composed of a misfolded, degradation-resistant form of a host-encoded protein. No therapies or cure currently exist for BSE, and so understanding the pathogenesis and host genes involved in this process could guide work to find ways to prevent or treat this invariably fatal disease. To identify genes playing a role in BSE susceptibility in cattle, genetic analysis was carried out on cattle that were experimentally-infected with BSE and showed variable disease outcomes. Chapter 2 explores potential genetic reasons for an abnormal outcome following oral BSE challenge. This analysis found that breed composition contributes to BSE outcomes in these experimental animals as well as in Canadian BSE field case cattle. In Chapter 3, an in-depth single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip was used to genotype more than 200 experimental BSE challenged cattle with variable disease outcomes. Several genes with the potential to impact cellular calcium levels were identified as contributing to BSE susceptibility. The results also indicated that relatedness of the animals and breed composition are playing a role in the disease status. With several genomic targets identified as important, the research in Chapter 4 explored these genomic regions with targeted next generation sequencing. This analysis flagged additional SNPs in or near genes that can potentially alter the expression of genes involved in BSE pathogenesis. Experimental BSE susceptibility appears to be polygenic, with several genes each contributing a small amount, and this seems to be linked to relatedness and breed. The genes identified are highly expressed in the central nervous system and play a role in the function, maintenance, and survival of cells critical to this tissue. Several genes are linked to intracellular calcium homeostasis, a critical process playing a role in prion and other protein misfolding, neurodegenerative diseases. Additional work to decipher the contribution of the host breed and the breed of the BSE inoculum is warranted to understand the observed breed effects

A hazai zöldségtermelés megújítása

Az éghajlatváltozás hatásai a minőségi termelés követelményei, a rentábilis termelés igénye, a termeléstechnológiai elemek megújításának, korszerűsítésének szükségessége egyaránt sürgetik a fenti követelményeket szem előtt tartó, annak megfelelni akaró módszert, a szabadföldi intenzív termelést, melynek legfontosabb elemei: az időszakos talaj-, növény- és légtértakarás, a víztakarékos öntözési módok alkalmazása és a retardált műtrágya használata. Az időszakos talaj-, növény- és légtértakarással a szedési időszak meghosszabbítható, és egyúttal javítható a talaj vízgazdálkodása, valamint visszaszorítható a gyomosodás. A mikroöntözés alkalmazásával, azonos vízmennyiséggel kétszer akkora terület öntözhető. Retardált (fékezett lebomlású) műtrágyák használatával jobb növénytápláltság érhető el, és az esetek többségében a fejtrágyázás is feleslegessé válik. Célszerű létrehozni mielőbb egy kiváló nyersanyagokból kiváló minőségű, jellegzetesen magyar termékeket gyártó feldolgozóipart, amelynek kínálatában a funkcionális (pharma) termékek is megjelennek. Eközben arról sem szabad megfeledkezni, hogy jó minőségű konzerv csak jó minőségű nyersanyagból készíthető! ------------------------------------------------------------ The climate is changing, and we have to adapt to it. The possible methods of compliance include temporary soil, plant and air covering, water economical irrigation, and the ap¬plication of retardable fertilizers. Temporary soil, plant and air covering with plastic sheets is a method applied most¬ly under temperate climatic conditions. Its key purpose is to enable earlier harvest and to lengthen the picking period. The use of economical irrigation methods can double the area which can be irrigated with the same amount of water. The application of retardable fertilizers can ensure harmonious plant nutrition without top dressing. The renewal of the Hungarian canning industry is an urgent task. The development of vegetable production is unthinkable without valuable canning products

A performance summary of both rapid and confirmatory tests.

<p>White bars represent the test's detection limitations, as established by the manufacturer. Dotted bars represent our determined theoretical limit of detection for each test, where the corresponding positive tissue dilution yielded a result no different from true negative tissue. Confirmatory tests are above the dashed line. Rapid-tests are below the dashed line.</p