Analysis of the Industry Potential in Republic of Moldova

This article identifies several competitive sectors of the economy that have potential to lead to sustainable economic growth for Republic of Moldova. Sectors were chosen for analysis combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A pool of sectors was selected based on export and sales performance over the last eight years. The final decision of the top sectors was based on the qualitative factors such as prevalence of the SMEs in the sector, gender makeup of the workforce and the regional presence, as well as employment levels and sales growth. The results of analysis showed that following industrial sectors: wine; textiles and apparel; information and communication technology; footwear; construction materials and furniture have the most potential for contributing to transformational growth in the Republic of Moldova economy.strategic sector, competitiveness, industry sector, industry potential

The importance of early arthritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that manifests predominantly in the synovial joint, where it causes a chronic inflammatory process, leading to early osteoarticular destructions. These destructions are progressive and irreversible, generating a significant functional deficiency. During the last years, the diagnostic approach of RA has focused on early arthritis. Early arthritis can develop into established RA or another established arthropathy, like systemic lupus erythematosus or psoriatic arthritis. It can have a spontaneous resolution or may remain undifferentiated for indefinite periods of time. The management of early arthritis has changed considerably in the past few years, under the influence of new concepts of diagnosis and new effective therapies. The treatment goal of early arthritis should now be the clinical remission and prevention of joint destruction. Methotrexate is the first line of therapy, used to treat early arthralgia and to reverse or limit impending exacerbation to RA. Biological treatment is used as a second line therapy in patients with severe disease who do not respond or have a contraindication to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients with early arthritis should usually be identified and directed to rheumatologists to confirm the presence of arthritis, and to establish the correct diagnosis plus to initiate the proper treatment strategies

Analysis of nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf and petiole

Two cultivars of sweet potatoes, Pumpkin and Chestnut, were planted in the didactic field of the Faculty of Horticulture, Craiova, and biochemical determinations were carried out from the blades and petioles of the leaves. This study highlights the antioxidant properties of these species, which are not well known in Romania, to encourage consumption of the vegetative parts of the plant, as well as use of the leaves in the future to develop natural antioxidants. The chlorophyll and carotene content in the blade and petiole were determined, highlighting the large amounts of petiole, depending on the cultivar. Catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and vitamin C content, as well as total dry matter (TDM), reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity, were also measured. The petioles exhibited high antioxidant activity, with 62.186 μmol TE/g FW in Pumpkin and 95.168 μmol TE/g FW in Chestnut. The cultivars also exhibited differences at the blade level, with high values recorded for the Chestnut cultivar. Positive correlations between total polyphenols and reducing sugars (r = 0.89), antioxidant activity and reducing sugars (r = 0.48), and antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds (r = 0.53) were found. This study demonstrates that sweet potato leaves are a potential, inexpensive and beneficial source of natural antioxidants

Schwann Cell Plasticity in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration after Injury

In the normal peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SCs) are present in two different states of differentiation: myelinating SCs that surround large-caliber axons, forming myelin sheath, and non-myelinating SCs that surround more small-caliber axons forming Remak bundles. Under pathological conditions (injury or inflammation), SCs, with a remarkable plasticity, undergo phenotypic transformations, downregulating the production of myelin proteins mRNAs, upregulating neurotrophic factors and cytokines, thus promoting the axonal regeneration. Dedifferentiated SCs activate the protein degradation, participating in the demyelination process and clearance of myelin debris; attract macrophages helping wound healing; proliferate to replace lost cells; guide axonal growth; and protect against secondary axonal damage. Thus, SC functions have a critical contribution to regeneration processes that occur in peripheral nerve after injury

The importance of early arthritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that manifests predominantly in the synovial joint, where it causes a chronic inflammatory process, leading to early osteoarticular destructions. These destructions are progressive and irreversible, generating a significant functional deficiency. During the last years, the diagnostic approach of RA has focused on early arthritis. Early arthritis can develop into established RA or another established arthropathy, like systemic lupus erythematosus or psoriatic arthritis. It can have a spontaneous resolution or may remain undifferentiated for indefinite periods of time. The management of early arthritis has changed considerably in the past few years, under the influence of new concepts of diagnosis and new effective therapies. The treatment goal of early arthritis should now be the clinical remission and prevention of joint destruction. Methotrexate is the first line of therapy, used to treat early arthralgia and to reverse or limit impending exacerbation to RA. Biological treatment is used as a second line therapy in patients with severe disease who do not respond or have a contraindication to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients with early arthritis should usually be identified and directed to rheumatologists to confirm the presence of arthritis, and to establish the correct diagnosis plus to initiate the proper treatment strategies