Supplemental Selenium Reduces the Levels of Biomarkers of Oxidative and General Stress in Peripartum Dairy Cows

The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of oxidative stress upon general stress in dairy cows on parturition and whether the indicators of stress can be reduced by selenium (Se) supplementation. A total of 36 animals were divided into 3 groups 21 days prepartum and treated with a single-term intra muscular supplement of sodium selenite: Control group - 0 mg; group Se10 - 10 mg; group Se20 - 20 mg. Se supplementation significantly raised blood Se content and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in groups Se10 and Se20, compared to Control, although there was no marked difference between supplemented groups. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and cortisol concentrations were significantly reduced in supplemented groups Se10 and Se20, compared to Control. A negative correlation was detected between blood GPx activity and plasma MDA, while a positive correlation was determined between plasma MDA and cortisol concentrations. These results indicate that prepartum Se supplementation can be utilized for a partial relief of stress in cows during labor by augmenting the antioxidative action of GPx

Close relatives of Mediterranean endemorelict hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) in South Africa : Morphological and molecular evidence in the Merodon melanocerus subgroup

An ongoing study of the genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) has revealed the existence of new species related to M. melanocerus Bezzi, 1915. The M. melanocerus subgroup belongs to the Afrotropical lineage of the M. desuturinus group. Revision of all available material from museums and detailed analyses of newly -collected specimens from our own expeditions to RSA resulted in delimitation of five species: M. capensis Hurkmans sp. n., M. commutabilis Radenkovic et Vujic sp. n., M. drakonis Vujic et Radenkovic sp. n., M. flavocerus Hurkmans sp. n. and M. melanocerus. In addition to classical morphological characters, sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene are provided for four related taxa. Results of molecular phylogenetic analyses supports monophyly of the M. desuturinus group and confirmed delimitation between species. Links between Palaearctic and Afrotropical faunas of this group, as well as possible evolutionary paths, are discussed. Based on phylogenetic analyses, four lineages (putative subgenera) have been recognized within the genus Merodon; besides the three previously established ones, albifrons+desuturinus, aureus (sensu lato) and avidus-nigritarsis, one new lineage named natans is distinguished.Peer reviewe

Sastav bezglutenskog brašna sa posebnim osvrtom na mineralne materije

The aim of this paper is to investigate the composition of gluten free flours, with particular reference to the minerals content (As, Ag, B, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Tl, Zn, Si, and P). The following types of gluten-free flours were analyzed: palenta, gluten-free mix fluor, gluten-free palenta, flax flour, white buckwheat flour, corn white flour, as well as gluten flours with the purpose of comparison: flour for integral bread and wheat flour type 400. The samples were prepared by wet digestion process and then subjected to an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry) analysis. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the mineral composition of gluten and gluten free flours is different. In terms of nutritive value, the flour which proved to be the richest in term of higher content of macro (K - 7373,215 μg g-1, Na - 1978,009 μg g-1 and Mg - 1818,141 μg g-1) and micro essential elements (Zn - 46,001 μg g-1 and Cu-4,110 μg g-1) is a flax non-gluten-free flour. The lead content detected in white buckwheat (0.518 μg g-1) and white corn flour (0.534 μg g-1) is beyond the permitted amount, which limits their use in daily human diet.U ovom radu ispitivan je sastav bezglutenskog brašna u cilju određivanja sadržaja mineralnih materija (As, Ag, B, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Tl, Zn, Si i P). Analizirane su sledeće vrste brašna: palenta, bezglutenski mix, gluten-free palenta, laneno, belo heljdino brašno, projino kukuruzno belo brašno kao i glutenska brašna u cilju komparacije: brašno za integralni hleb i pšenično brašno-tip 400. Uzorci su najpre pripremljeni postupkom mokre digestije a potom podvrgavani ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry) analizi. Na osnovu prikazanih rezultata može se zaključiti da se mineralni sastav bezglutenskih i glutenskih brašana razlikuje. U pogledu nutritivne vrednosti, brašno koje se pokazalo najbogatije u smislu većeg sadržaja makro (K - 7373,215 μg g-1, Na - 1978,009 μg g-1 i Mg - 1818,141 μg g-1) i mikro esencijalnih elemenata (Zn - 46,001 μg/g i Cu-4,110 μg g-1) je laneno bezglutensko brašno. Sadržaj olova detektovan kod belog heljdinog (0,518 μg g-1) i belog kukuruznog brašna (0,534 μg g-1) je izvan granica dozvoljene količine olova u brašnima, što ograničava njihovu upotrebu u ishrani

The Mechanical Properties of a Poly(methyl methacrylate) Denture Base Material Modified with Dimethyl Itaconate and Di-n-butyl Itaconate

This study investigates a wide range of clinically relevant mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base materials modified with di-methyl itaconate (DMI) and di-n-butyl itaconate (DBI) in order to compare them to a commercial PMMA denture base material. The commercial denture base formulation was modified with DMI and DBI by replacing up to 10 wt% of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer. The specimens were prepared by standard bath curing process. The influence of the itaconate content on hardness, impact strength, tensile, and thermal and dynamic mechanical properties was investigated. It is found that the addition of di-n-alkyl itaconates gives homogenous blends that show decreased glass transition temperature, as well as decrease in storage modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and impact fracture resistance with increase in the itaconate content. The mean values of surface hardness show no significant change with the addition of itaconates. The magnitude of the measured values indicates that the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) denture base material modified with itaconates could be developed into a less toxic, more environmentally and patient friendly product than commercial pure PMMA denture base material

Indicators of stress hematopoiesis in the blood predict COVID-19 progression in patients over 65 years old

ABSTRACTObjectives Advanced age is a well-established risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Exacerbated inflammation affects multiple organs, among which hematopoiesis responds by increased output of various cells. We aimed to determine the association between COVID-19 progression and large immature cell (LIC) counts, changes in erythrocyte and platelet distribution widths (RDW, PDW) with reference to patients’ age.Methods A total of 755 patients with complete blood cell (CBC) analysis in the first 24 h of hospitalization were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: under and above 65 years of age.Results The LIC counts were different in both groups (p < 0.003). However, only the senior patients had markedly different values of RDW and PDW (p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis provided increased LIC (AUC = 0.600), RDW (AUC = 0.609), PDW (AUC = 0.556), and platelet to LIC ratio (AUC = 0.634) as significant in discriminating outcome in the older group. Importantly, these results were not repeated in the younger patients. In the elderly, the progression was predicted with LIC cut-off at ≥ 0.305 × 109/L (OR = 3.166) and RDW over 12.15% (OR = 2.081).Discussion Aging is characterized by a decline in immunological competence with a compromised control of inflammation leading to a proinflammatory state. This background together with the actions of pathogens may lead to emergency myelopoiesis.Conclusion Our results point to the important differences between age groups regarding CBC-related parameters of stress hematopoiesis during severe infection. Higher LIC, RDW and PDW levels were reliable in the early identification of COVID-19 progression only in the elderly

Immunosuppressive regimens following kidney transplantation in five European countries: The observational RECORD study

Objective: To examine current immunosuppressive regimens administered to kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in South-eastern Europe. Methods: This was a 12-month, multicenter, non- interventional, prospective, observational study of immunosuppressive regimens in adult de novo and maintenance KTRs. The primary endpoint was to identify the number, type, dosage and trough concentrations (C0) of immunosuppressive medications. Results: Data were available for 1774 KTRs from five countries (Bulgaria [n = 109], Croatia [n = 339], Romania [n = 647], Serbia [n = 434] and Slovenia [n = 245]). The most common immunosuppressive regimen in all countries was a triple therapy regimen (de novo KTRs, 67.9 – 100% at baseline and 67.3 – 100% at end of study ; maintenance KTRs, 48.8 – 90.7% and 43.2 – 90.1%, respectively). The most frequent regimen in de novo KTRs comprised tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or mycophenolate sodium (MPS), and corticosteroids. In maintenance KTRs, the most frequent regimen was tacrolimus or cyclosporine, and MMF or MPS, with or without corticosteroids. A C0 of <5 ng/mL was recorded in 40.2% of immediate-release and 48.7% of prolonged-release tacrolimus patients ; 79.5% of patients taking cyclosporine had a C0 of <75 ng/mL. Infections were the most common adverse event (358/597, 60.0%), mainly urinary tract infections (208/358, 58.1%). Conclusions: Triple therapy—comprising a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI ; tacrolimus or cyclosporine), antiproliferative drugs (MMF or MPS) and corticosteroids—was the most common immunosuppressive regimen used in KTRs in South- eastern Europe. Individual CNI C0 were below the target range in a substantial proportion of KTRs, highlighting the need to maintain therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressive therapy in this patient population