Content adaptive wavelet based method for joint denoising of depth and luminance images

In this paper we present a new method for joint denoising of depth and luminance images produced by time-of-flight camera. Here we assume that the sequence does not contain outlier points which can be present in the depth images. Our method first performs estimation of noise and signal covariance matrices and then performs vector denoising. Luminance image is segmented into similar contexts usina k-means algorithm, which are used for calculation of covariance matrices. Denoising results are compared with the ground truth images obtained by averaging of the multiple frames of the still scene

Platelets in Ulcerative Colitis: From Pathophysiology to Therapy

Based on the role of platelets in inflammation and hemostasis it has been assumed that antiplatelet therapy could be beneficial for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. Platelets present a link between inflammation and coagulation. They have more than 300 active mediators stored in their granules. Upon activation, platelet degranulate and release a lot of microparticles and mediators and interact with other immune and non-immune cells thereby amplifying inflammation. The most important parameters of platelet activation are P-selectin and CD40 ligand expressed on their surface upon activation, and their soluble forms presented in blood. Today, we have potent anti-platelet drugs that can inhibit platelet activation and degranulation, and thereby reduce inflammation. The most important drugs are P2Y12 receptor antagonists such as ticagrelor and clopidogrel and glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors. Ticagrelor is an active drug and besides antiplatelet activity, it has bactericidal activity against Gram-positive strains and Clostridium difficile. Clopidogrel is a prodrug with less anti-inflammatory effect than ticagrelor and no proven bactericidal activity. Glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors are very potent in reducing platelet aggregation but have lower anti-inflammatory potential than ticagrelor and clopidogrel

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha as differential diagnostic marker for patients with fever of unknown origin

© 2019, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Febrile conditions of unidentified origin are still unknown in modern medicine despite the development of diagnostic procedures. There are various agents of long-term temperature encompassing numerous infectious or non-infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the values of proinfl ammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNFa, IL-6) in patients who meet the criteria for febrile conditions of unidentified origin, between the group of infectious, malignant, rheumatic, “other” diseases and undiagnosed patients. The study was conducted in the Immunology laboratory of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cells Research of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Kragujevac. Blood samples were taken from patients tested at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, of the Clinical Center of Kragujevac, in the period from 2014 to 2016. The study included 70 patients. The measured values of the level of TNFa showed significantly higher values in a group of malignant diseases than in the group of infectious diseases, while the values of IL-1 and IL-6 did not show statistical significance. TNFa can improve diagnosing in case of patients with an unknown febrile condition, which can shorten the length of the hospital stay and reduce the volume of performance of diagnostic procedures

IL-33 Prevents MLD-STZ Induction of Diabetes and Attenuate Insulitis in Prediabetic NOD Mice

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by the immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Prevention of type 1 diabetes requires early intervention in the autoimmune process against beta-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, which is believed to result from disordered immunoregulation. CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) participate as one of the most important cell types in limiting the autoimmune process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exogenous IL-33 in multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) induced diabetes and to delineate its role in the induction of protective Tregs in an autoimmune attack. C57BL/6 mice were treated i. p. with five doses of 40 mg/kg STZ and 0.4 μg rIL-33 four times, starting from day 0, 6, or 12 every second day from the day of disease induction. 16 weeks old NOD mice were treated with 6 injections of 0.4 μg/mouse IL-33 (every second day). Glycemia and glycosuria were measured and histological parameters in pancreatic islets were evaluated at the end of experiments. Cellular make up of the pancreatic lymph nodes and islets were evaluated by flow cytometry. IL-33 given simultaneously with the application of STZ completely prevented the development of hyperglycemia, glycosuria and profoundly attenuated mononuclear cell infiltration. IL-33 treatment was accompanied by higher number of IL-13 and IL-5 producing CD4+ T cells and increased presence of ST2+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in pancreatic lymph nodes and islets. Elimination of Tregs abrogated protective effect of IL-33. We provide evidence that exogenous IL-33 completely prevents the development of T cell mediated inflammation in pancreatic islets and consecutive development of diabetes in C57BL/6 mice by facilitating the induction Treg cells. To extend this finding for possible relevance in spontaneous diabetes, we showed that IL-33 attenuate insulitis in prediabetic NOD mice

Protosan in flocks of small ruminants in Belgrade area during 2020

During our research we examined flocks of small ruminant originated from 23 villages from city districts Mladenovac, Lazarevac, Obrenovac, Grocka, Zemun, Surčin, Palilula, Vozdovac and Zvezdara. In more than 80 percent of the herds, sheep and goats were breed together at same pasture. Using standard coprological methods we examined 273 faecal samples from 41 herds. Determination of parasites we performed by morphological characteristics. Molecular detection of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. we not performed. Coccidiosis was found at 27 herds. We usally occured mixed infection with 2-3 coccidia species. At sheep most abundant coccidia were E faurei, followed by E.ovinoidalis, E. pallida and E.ahsata. At goats most abundant species were E.arlongy, folwed by E.nina-kohl-yakimovae, E. hirci and E. caprina. Clinical signs of disease were present only at young animals but oocysts were found at both, adult ant young animals. Cryptosporidium spp. was found at 19 herds Clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis were established only at young animals. They had moderate morbidity and mortality rate. Infection with Giardia duodenalis was found only at 2 herds. Giardia-infected animals generally had no clinical symptoms

Goats and climate resilience

Climate change poses a major global concern and is therefore an ongoing topic. World’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050 and 10.4 billion by 2100, which means that the food resources will become crucial. In that respect, animal protein is considered a vital nutrient for growing human population. However, in the light of ever-changing climate events food and water sources for both animals and humans can become scarce in certain areas. The impacts of higher temperatures, changes in precipitation and extreme weather events pose the most risk on agricultural systems such as livestock. Direct and indirect influence of heat and drought caused by global warming is harmful to livestock. Small ruminants and particularly goats are considered more resilient and better adapted to hot and dry environments compared to other livestock. These animals require less in terms of feed, water and labor than large ruminants and are also more thermo-tolerant. They have certain physiological, behavioral and anatomical advantages aiding their survival during heat and drought. Goats are less of a competition to humans in terms of available food as they can thrive on plants unusable for human nutrition. The review discusses advantages of goats as species in terms of adaptation to changing climate