Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort

Tick population in goats and sheep in Šabac

TICK POPULATION IN GOATS AND SHEEP IN ŠABAC ABSTRACT During our examination performed in the period from 2010 to 2012, we collected ticks from 52 flocks of sheep and 38 goat flocks. Ticks infestation occured in 15.97% (214/1340) of sheep and 16.93% (107/632) of goats. The result showed the presence of Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. bursa, Dermacentor marginatus, D. pictus, Haemaphysalis punctate and Ha. inermis. Additional to determination of tick species during the research, the sex ratio and the monthly influence of microclimate conditions (temperature, relative humidity and precipitation quantity) on the dynamics of populations of ticks were followed. Obtained results indicate the importance of the impact of climatic factors on the population dynamics of some species of ticks as well as the dynamics and abundance of different sexes within established species of ticks. Key words: ecological factors, goat, sheep, tick

Prevalence, Intensity and Risks Involved in Helminth Infections in Domestic Mountain Pony and Balkan Donkey in Na-ture Park Stara Planina, Serbia

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity and risk factors (age and gender) promoting the intestinal helminthic infections of the Domestic mountain ponies and Balkan donkeys in Serbia. Methods: Prevalence, intensity and risk factors influencing helminth infection in horses (n=39) and donkeys (n=18) at the site of Nature Park Stara Planina, were studied from May to Sep 2015. The presence of one or several gastrointestinal helminth species was confirmed by faecal flotation in 97.43% of horses and 88.88% of donkeys included in the monitoring. The identified helminth species were Trichostrongylus axei, Strongylus edentatus, S. vulgaris, Parascaris equorum, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi and Anoplocephala magna in 84.61%, 46.15%, 5.13%, 58.97%, 94.87% and 38.46% of horses, respectively. The significant association of infection with P. equorum and sex of horses was established. (χ2=13.33, P<0.01). Results: The prevalence of parasitic helminths identified in donkeys was the following: D. arnfieldi, T. axei, Pa. equorum, S. vulgaris, A. margna and Strongyloides westeri in 55.55%, 38.89%, 27.78%, 22.22% and 22.22% of donkeys, respectively. Moreover, the mean faecal egg count was higher in donkeys (369.9 EPG - egg per gram) than in horses (250.2 EPG). The association between the age and the mean EPG was significant (P<0.05) in both equine species. Conclusion: The results of the investigation provided basic information that can be helpful for planning strategic control of nematode infection in equine population in Nature Reserves in Serbia

Essential oils of two Nepeta species inhibit growth and induce oxidative stress in ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) shoots in vitro

In vitro shoot cultures of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), an important weed and allergen species, were established and utilized to explore the phytotoxic effect of essential oils of Nepeta rtanjensis Diklic and Milojevic, and N. cataria L. Ragweed shoots were exposed to the atmosphere enriched with volatile compounds emitted from essential oils which differ in their qualitative and quantitative nepetalactone content. Essential oil of N. rtanjensis, an endemic and critically endangered perennial in Serbia, was characterized by high amounts of 4a alpha, 7 alpha, 7a beta-nepetalactone (trans, cis-nepetalactone), while essential oil of N. cataria, possessed high amounts of 4a alpha, 7 alpha, 7a alpha-nepetalactone (cis, trans-nepetalactone). After 2 weeks of exposure to Nepeta essential oil (2 and 4 \%, final nepetalactone concentrations), in vitro morphogenesis of ragweed shoots was significantly altered. Reduction in fresh weight of shoots and roots and rooting inhibition was observed together with prominent discoloration of shoots. Alterations in antioxidative defense system of ragweed shoots as a response to essential oils treatments were characterized by increased peroxidase activity and decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity. Generally, essential oil of N. cataria, which possesses cis, trans-stereoisomer of nepetalactone, had stronger inhibitory effect on shoot growth, catalase activity, and was more efficient in stimulating peroxidase activity. N. rtanjensis essential oil, and thus trans, cis-nepetalactone, was more efficient in inhibiting rooting and root growth, and in suppressing superoxide dismutase activity. Therefore, essential oils of N. rtanjensis and N. cataria might find another application as potential bioherbicides against highly invasive species such as ragweed.Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological development {[}OI173024, III 41011