Mineral profile of the winter wheat grain: effects of soil tillage systems and nitrogen fertilization

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of various systems of soil tillage and nitrogen doses on the mineral composition of the grain of the common winter wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare), cv. Azra selected for the conventional intensive production. The field experiment was conducted on luvic chernozem in completely randomized blocks. Wheat was grown under three soil tillage systems: conventional tillage, mulch tillage and no -tillage, and the experiment included two doses of N fertilization (60 and 120 kg ha(-1)). Concentrations of eighteen elements (As, Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, S, Sr, P, V and Zn) in wheat grain samples were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The results indicated that concentrations of the studied elements in the wheat grain were significantly affected by the tillage systems and fertilization rates (p lt 0.001), as well as by the interaction of these two factors. A smaller dose of nitrogen fertilizer (60 kg ha(-1)) had a significantly better impact on the concentration of macro- and microelements in the wheat grain than the dose of 120 kg N ha(-1). The reduced tillage systems and lower nitrogen rates in nutrition had a better effect on the increase of the content of the studied elements in the wheat grain than the conventional cultivation which applied higher nitrogen rates

New insights into body condition score and its association with fatty liver in Holstein dairy cows

The aim of this study was to estimate the association between body condition and fatty liver in high-yielding dairy cows. One hundred dry Holstein cows were selected. Cows were scored once for body condition during the dry period, puerperium and month 2 of lactation, according to the system provided by Elanco Animal Health Buletin Al 8478. Body condition loss was determined as marked if loss was over 0.7 points between two consecutive phases of cycles and over 1.5 points between puerperium and month 2 of lactation. Liver tissue samples were taken 12 d after calving and tested for lipid content. 50% of cows had mild (3.92 +/- 3.33% fat), 33% moderate (19.28 +/- 5.18% fat), and 17% severe fatty liver (36.21 +/- 4.55% fat). The mean body condition scores were 3.79 +/- 0.55 (dry period), 3.18 +/- 0.34 (puerperium) and 2.90 +/- 0.29 (month 2 of lactation). Marked body condition loss from the dry period to puerperium had 38% of cows, 20% from dry period to month 2 of lactation and 8% from puerperium to month 2 of lactation. Body condition scores out of the physiological range had 39% dry cows, 49 % cows in puerperium and 9% cows at month 2 of lactation. After dividing cows into groups according to fatty liver degree, it was shown that only cows with severe fatty liver were obese during the dry period and that 76.47% of cows from this group had marked condition loss from the dry period to puerperium, 47.06% from dry period to month 2 of lactation and 23.53% from puerperium to month 2 of lactation. These indicate that in cows with severe fatty liver lipomobilisation is intensive and starts around calving, before milk production enhacement. Our results indicate a strong association between body condition and fatty liver in cows, which can be estimated only when body condition is analyzed in details. Besides, our results clearly indicate that body condition is not the only etiological factor that leads to fatty liver in dairy cows

Polyhydroxy surfactants for the formulation of lipid nanoparticles (SLN and NLC): Effects on size, physical stability and particle matrix structure

The two polyhydroxy surfactants polyglycerol 6-distearate (Plurol (R) Stearique WL1009 - (PS)) and caprylyl/capryl glucoside (Plantacare (R) 810 - (PL)) are a class of PEG-free stabilizers, made from renewable resources. They were investigated for stabilization of aqueous solid lipid nanoparticle (SIN) and nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) dispersions. Production was performed by high pressure homogenization, analysis by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), laser diffraction (LD), zeta potential measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Particles were made from Cutina CP as solid lipid only (SIN) and its blends with Miglyol 812 (NLC, the blends containing increasing amounts of oil from 20% to 60%). The obtained particle sizes were identical for both surfactants, about 200 nm with polydispersity indices below 0.20 (PCS), and unimodal size distribution (ID). All dispersions with both surfactants were physically stable for 3 months at room temperature, but Plantacare (PL) showing a superior stability. The melting behaviour and crystallinity of bulk lipids/lipid blends were compared to the nanoparticles. Both were lower for the nanoparticles. The crystallinity of dispersions stabilized with PS was higher, the zeta potential decreased with storage time associated with this higher crystallinity, and leading to a few, but negligible larger particles. The lower crystallinity particles stabilized with PL remained unchanged in zeta potential (about -50 mV) and in size. These data show that surfactants have a distinct influence on the particle matrix struture (and related stability and drug loading), to which too little attention was given by now. Despite being from the same surfactant class, the differences on the structure are pronounced. They are attributed to the hydrophobic-lipophilic tail structure with one-point anchoring in the interface (PL), and the loop conformation of PS with two hydrophobic anchor points, i.e. their molecular structure and its interaction with the matrix surface and matrix bulk. Analysis of the effects of the surfactants on the particle matrix structure could potentially be used to further optimization of stability, drug loading and may be drug release

Awareness of Prostate Cancer among the Sportsmen in the Republic of Serbia

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly occurring cancer in men. Regardless of statistics, screening for prostate cancer is an individual decision and most male patients come for their first examination with an already developed disease, as they are not adequately informed. The study aimed to emphasize the importance of preventive tests for urological diseases in the Republic of Serbia, raise awareness about urinary problems, and present social marketing strategies for prevention. The results confirm the generally lower awareness of respondents under the age of 30, followed by those who finished university, go to the doctor two or three times a year, and receive information other than by watching TV. Implemented research indicates the influence of the marketing principles and social marketing strategies on possible target groups of the male population over 50, which is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of prevention of urological diseases and the expected changes in the health behavior of the target population. © 2022 Tamara Panajotović et al

Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic ulcers seem to be arrested in the inflammatory/proliferative stage of the healing process, allowing infection and inflammation to preclude healing. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major cause of infections, including diabetic foot infections. It is proposed here that the modern developments of an ancient and traditional treatment for wounds, dressing them with honey, provide the solution to the problem of getting diabetic ulcers to move on from the arrested state of healing. Honeys selected to have a high level of antibacterial activity have been shown to be very effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in laboratory and clinical studies. The potent anti-inflammatory action of honey is also likely to play an important part in overcoming the impediment to healing that inflammation causes in diabetic ulcers, as is the antioxidant activity of honey. The action of honey in promotion of tissue regeneration through stimulation of angiogenesis and the growth of fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and its insulin-mimetic effect, would also be of benefit in stimulating the healing of diabetic ulcers. The availability of honey-impregnated dressings which conveniently hold honey in place on ulcers has provided a means of rapidly debriding ulcers and removing the bacterial burden so that good healing rates can be achieved with neuropathic ulcers. With ischemic ulcers, where healing cannot occur because of lack of tissue viability, these honey dressings keep the ulcers clean and prevent infection occurring

Duration of treatment and activation of alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors variably affect the level of anxiety and seizure susceptibility after diazepam withdrawal in rats

Long-term use of benzodiazepine-type drugs may lead to physical dependence, manifested by withdrawal syndrome after abrupt cessation of treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of duration of treatment, as well as the role of alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors, in development of physical dependence to diazepam, assessed through the level of anxiety and susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures, 24 h after withdrawal from protracted treatment in rats. Withdrawal of 2 mg/kg diazepam after 28, but not after 14 or 21 days of administration led to an anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Antagonism of the diazepam effects at alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors, achieved by daily administration of the neutral modulator beta CCt (5 mg/kg), did not affect the anxiety level during withdrawal. An increased susceptibility to PTZ-induced seizures was observed during diazepam withdrawal after 21 and 28 days of treatment. Daily co-administration of beta CCt further decreased the PTZ-seizure threshold after 21 days of treatment, whilst it prevented the diazepam withdrawal-elicited decrease of the PTZ threshold after 28 days of treatment. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the role of alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors in mediating the development of physical dependence may vary based on the effect being studied and duration of protracted treatment. Moreover, the present data supports previous findings that the lack of activity at alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors is not sufficient to eliminate physical dependence liability of ligands of the benzodiazepine type

Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?

Synthesis of ligands inactive or with low activity at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors has become the key concept for development of novel, more tolerable benzodiazepine (BZ)-like drugs. WYS8, a remarkably (105 times) alpha(1)-subtype selective partial positive modulator, may serve as a pharmacological tool for refining the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors in mediation of BZs' effects. Here, the effects of WYS8 on GABA-induced currents and on diazepam-induced potentiation of recombinant BZ-sensitive GABA(A) receptors were studied in more detail. In addition, the behavioral profile of WYS8 (0.2, 1, and 10 mg/kg i.p.), on its own and in combination with diazepam, was tested in the spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, grip strength, rotarod, and pentylenetetrazole tests. WYS8, applied at an in vivo attainable concentration of 100 nM, reduced the stimulation of GABA currents by 1 mu M diazepam by 57 % at alpha(1)beta(3)gamma(2), but not at alpha(2)beta(3)gamma(2), alpha(3)beta(3)gamma(2), or alpha(5)beta(3)gamma(2) GABA(A) receptors. The administration of WYS8 alone induced negligible behavioral consequences. When combined with diazepam, WYS8 caused a reduction in sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant activity, as compared with this BZ alone, whereas ataxia was preserved, and the anxiolytic effect of 2 mg/kg diazepam was unmasked. Hence, a partial instead of full activation at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors did not necessarily result in the attenuation of the effects assumed to be mediated by activation of these receptors, or in the full preservation of the effects mediated by activation of other GABA(A) receptors. Thus, the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors appears more complex than that proposed by genetic studies

Tumor-Like Stem Cells Derived from Human Keloid Are Governed by the Inflammatory Niche Driven by IL-17/IL-6 Axis

Alterations in the stem cell niche are likely to contribute to tumorigenesis; however, the concept of niche promoted benign tumor growth remains to be explored. Here we use keloid, an exuberant fibroproliferative dermal growth unique to human skin, as a model to characterize benign tumor-like stem cells and delineate the role of their "pathological" niche in the development of the benign tumor.Subclonal assay, flow cytometric and multipotent differentiation analyses demonstrate that keloid contains a new population of stem cells, named keloid derived precursor cells (KPCs), which exhibit clonogenicity, self-renewal, distinct embryonic and mesenchymal stem cell surface markers, and multipotent differentiation. KPCs display elevated telomerase activity and an inherently upregulated proliferation capability as compared to their peripheral normal skin counterparts. A robust elevation of IL-6 and IL-17 expression in keloid is confirmed by cytokine array, western blot and ELISA analyses. The altered biological functions are tightly regulated by the inflammatory niche mediated by an autocrine/paracrine cytokine IL-17/IL-6 axis. Utilizing KPCs transplanted subcutaneously in immunocompromised mice we generate for the first time a human keloid-like tumor model that is driven by the in vivo inflammatory niche and allows testing of the anti-tumor therapeutic effect of antibodies targeting distinct niche components, specifically IL-6 and IL-17.These findings support our hypothesis that the altered niche in keloids, predominantly inflammatory, contributes to the acquirement of a benign tumor-like stem cell phenotype of KPCs characterized by the uncontrolled self-renewal and increased proliferation, supporting the rationale for in vivo modification of the "pathological" stem cell niche as a novel therapy for keloid and other mesenchymal benign tumors

Common variation near CDKN1A, POLD3 and SHROOM2 influences colorectal cancer risk

We performed a meta-analysis of five genome-wide association studies to identify common variants influencing colorectal cancer (CRC) risk comprising 8,682 cases and 9,649 controls. Replication analysis was performed in case-control sets totaling 21,096 cases and 19,555 controls. We identified three new CRC risk loci at 6p21 (rs1321311, near CDKN1A; P = 1.14 × 10(-10)), 11q13.4 (rs3824999, intronic to POLD3; P = 3.65 × 10(-10)) and Xp22.2 (rs5934683, near SHROOM2; P = 7.30 × 10(-10)) This brings the number of independent loci associated with CRC risk to 20 and provides further insight into the genetic architecture of inherited susceptibility to CRC.Swedish Research Council et al.Manuscrip