The aim of the study was to evaluate the adequacy of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the post-exposure determination of the β-agonists clenbuterol and salbutamol in animal plasma and ...serum. Experimental guinea pigs (n = 20) were treated with two doses (0.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) of clenbuterol (n = 10) and salbutamol (n = 10) for seven days, whereas the control animal group (n = 10) was left untreated. Validation of the applied method yielded acceptable recovery (mean > 70%) and repeatability rates, showing ELISA to be applicable for the semi-quantitative determination of both analytes in both matrices, preferably in plasma. In both matrices, clenbuterol concentrations were proven to be significantly (14-fold) higher than those of salbutamol. Concentrations of both analytes were higher in plasma than in serum. The application of a 10-fold higher clenbuterol and salbutamol dose (2.5 mg/kg) resulted in concentrations 3- to 4-fold higher for clenbuterol and 2- to 3-fold higher for salbutamol, indicating a different release rate of these two β-agonists.
Middle-aged working women represent most patients attending fertility clinics for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. In this study, we aimed to identify the association of women's working status ...with clinical pregnancy and miscarriage in the first trimester after IVF treatment.BACKGROUNDMiddle-aged working women represent most patients attending fertility clinics for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. In this study, we aimed to identify the association of women's working status with clinical pregnancy and miscarriage in the first trimester after IVF treatment.In this single-centre cross-sectional study at a private clinic in Kazakhstan, we reviewed electronic medical records of all IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles from January 2018 to December 2019 (n=654). 300 cycles in patients with normal ovarian reserve and registered working status of a female partner in the medical records were selected for the analysis. The study's primary outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rates and clinical miscarriage in the first trimester.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this single-centre cross-sectional study at a private clinic in Kazakhstan, we reviewed electronic medical records of all IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles from January 2018 to December 2019 (n=654). 300 cycles in patients with normal ovarian reserve and registered working status of a female partner in the medical records were selected for the analysis. The study's primary outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rates and clinical miscarriage in the first trimester.204 women were employed, while 96 were not employed before the start of treatment. The mean age of all patients was 32.2 ± 4.8 years, ranging from 23 to 46 years. Two-thirds of working women had office-based occupations employed as doctors, school and university teachers, accountants, clerks, and managers. One-third of the study participants had manual labor jobs, including service positions and plant workers. There was no association between women's working status and clinical pregnancy rate adjusted for age, antral follicle count, history of pelvic adhesiolysis, and embryo development stage at embryo transfer. However, working women had almost five times the risk of the first trimester miscarriage compared to non-working women adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52 to 4.96 adjusted for age and number of retrieved oocytes.RESULTS204 women were employed, while 96 were not employed before the start of treatment. The mean age of all patients was 32.2 ± 4.8 years, ranging from 23 to 46 years. Two-thirds of working women had office-based occupations employed as doctors, school and university teachers, accountants, clerks, and managers. One-third of the study participants had manual labor jobs, including service positions and plant workers. There was no association between women's working status and clinical pregnancy rate adjusted for age, antral follicle count, history of pelvic adhesiolysis, and embryo development stage at embryo transfer. However, working women had almost five times the risk of the first trimester miscarriage compared to non-working women adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52 to 4.96 adjusted for age and number of retrieved oocytes.Women who work before commencing IVF treatment can be reassured of having equal chances of conception following the treatment compared to non-working women. The observed risk of first trimester miscarriage in working women necessitates further research before drawing any conclusions from medical and public health points.CONCLUSIONWomen who work before commencing IVF treatment can be reassured of having equal chances of conception following the treatment compared to non-working women. The observed risk of first trimester miscarriage in working women necessitates further research before drawing any conclusions from medical and public health points.
Introduction. The device thrombosis is one of the most serious complications of the left ventricle assist device implantation with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Case report. A 59-year-old male ...was implanted by left ventricular assist device Heart Mate II as a bridge to transplantation seventeen months before the onset of a potentially fatal complication ? the thrombosis with the complete obstruction of the device. Despite the aggressive pharmacological treatment following the initial suspicion of the pump thrombosis, the patient condition got worse with the final ?pump off? alarm that marked the discontinuance of the pump work as a result of the complete obstruction by the thrombus. An appropriate occurrence of an adequate donor resulted in a successful surgical treatment ? the heart transplantation. Conclusion. The urgent heart transplantation by the first priority rank, or the device replacement, although technically extremely demanding procedures, are successful treatment options for these patients.
Pre-breeding and elite breeding are two steps in creating high yielding sunflower hybrids that differ in well established procedures and selection methods. However, a methodology that bridge ...efficient use of introgression lines as product of pre-breeding procedures and their crossing to elite inbreed lines, is not yet very well established. Therefore, the development of cost- and time-efficient methods for the determination of best parent heterosis and the use of best inbred lines in crosses with introgression lines for obtaining high-yielding and stable hybrids is highly desirable. In this regard, sixteen Cytoplasmic Male Sterile (CMS) inbred lines (A) derived from four heterogeneous interspecific lines originating from three annual:
H. debilis silvestris
(DEB-SIL),
H. praecox runyoni
(PRA-RUN),
H. deserticola
(DES) and one perennial
H. resinosus
(RES) wild species were evaluated. Seven agronomic traits were measured over a period of 2 years and 38 DNA loci were analysed, in order to compare four different methods for the estimation of best parent heterosis (BPH). New inbred lines were characterized by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of morphological traits and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) of molecular marker data. Line × tester mating design was used to evaluate General Combining Ability (GCA), while Genetic Distance (GC) estimated by markers was evaluated as a predictor of BPH by Locally Weighted Sequential Smoothing (LOESS). Analysis of combining ability is one of the most important tools breeders use to identify superior inbred lines on the basis of their performance in hybrid combinations. Results obtained in this research show that PCA of morphological and PCoA of molecular marker data on parental lines are generally in agreement with GCA effects for examined traits. GD versus BPH relationships indicate that intermediate to high GD between parental lines was optimal for best heterotic effects of most traits. In this study, we show that the combination of the PCA of morphological data, PCoA of molecular marker data and GD between parental lines is fast and affordable, giving the most important information for parental choice of introgression and elite lines in sunflower breeding programs.
Background
Baricitinib has shown efficacy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but no placebo-controlled trials have focused specifically on severe/critical COVID, including vaccinated ...participants.
Methods
Bari-SolidAct is a phase-3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, enrolling participants from June 3, 2021 to March 7, 2022, stopped prematurely for external evidence. Patients with severe/critical COVID-19 were randomised to Baricitinib 4 mg once daily or placebo, added to standard of care. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality within 60 days. Participants were remotely followed to day 90 for safety and patient related outcome measures.
Results
Two hundred ninety-nine patients were screened, 284 randomised, and 275 received study drug or placebo and were included in the modified intent-to-treat analyses (139 receiving baricitinib and 136 placebo). Median age was 60 (IQR 49–69) years, 77% were male and 35% had received at least one dose of SARS-CoV2 vaccine. There were 21 deaths at day 60 in each group, 15.1% in the baricitinib group and 15.4% in the placebo group (adjusted absolute difference and 95% CI − 0.1% − 8·3 to 8·0). In sensitivity analysis censoring observations after drug discontinuation or rescue therapy (tocilizumab/increased steroid dose), proportions of death were 5.8% versus 8.8% (− 3.2% − 9.0 to 2.7), respectively. There were 148 serious adverse events in 46 participants (33.1%) receiving baricitinib and 155 in 51 participants (37.5%) receiving placebo. In subgroup analyses, there was a potential interaction between vaccination status and treatment allocation on 60-day mortality. In a subsequent post hoc analysis there was a significant interaction between vaccination status and treatment allocation on the occurrence of serious adverse events, with more respiratory complications and severe infections in vaccinated participants treated with baricitinib. Vaccinated participants were on average 11 years older, with more comorbidities.
Conclusion
This clinical trial was prematurely stopped for external evidence and therefore underpowered to conclude on a potential survival benefit of baricitinib in severe/critical COVID-19. We observed a possible safety signal in vaccinated participants, who were older with more comorbidities. Although based on a post-hoc analysis, these findings warrant further investigation in other trials and real-world studies.
Trial registration Bari-SolidAct is registered at NCT04891133 (registered May 18, 2021) and EUClinicalTrials.eu (2022-500385-99-00).
Backrogund/Aim. Since the beginning of competitive sports, athletes have been trying to improve their abilities by taking various substances. The problem of using prohibited substances is not ...strictly tied to elite athletes; it is also present in the general population. The aim of this study was to test the knowledge and attitudes of the students regarding the use of stimulative substances and dietary supplements in sports. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed among students at the College of Health and Professional Studies in Belgrade, Serbia. The data was collected by filling in an especially designed questionnaire. Results. Knowledge of prohibited substances and methods was characterized as ?good? with 24.2% of respondents, namely 8.09% of males and 16.1% of females; knowledge of the adverse effects of prohibited substances and methods on health was demonstrated by 17.7% (9.03% of male respondents and 8.72% of female respondents). Conclusion. Student population is not knowledgeable enough about the problems of prohibited substances use and their negative effects on one?s health. The comparative analysis of our and European researches on knowledge, attitudes and uses of prohibited substances show a rather uniform prevalence rate. Not being aware of the adverse effects shows the need to further educate students.
nema
The effect of the combined actions of milling and hydrophobization procedures applied in construction composites synthesis was investigated. The mortars were prepared with cement (CEM I 42.5) and ...calcite aggregate complying the standard 1:3 mix ratio. The limestone filler (10 wt%) was added to the mixture upon its mechano-chemical activation in an ultra-centrifugal mill. The activation variables (milling time, rotor velocity, sieve mesh size) were altered to achieve the optimal quality of the powder. The treatment was optimized via chemometric tools. The r2 values (0.955–0.998) of second order polynomial models accurately predicted the output and the Standard score analysis chose the optimal activation parameters: 4.25 min; 48.58 m/s and 80 μm sieve. The selected filler and all three aggregate fractions were coated with stearic acid via dry procedure. The mortar mixes, prepared with uncoated (M1) and coated (M2) aggregate and filler, were cured for a period of 28 days during which compressive strength and water absorption were monitored. The dimensional changes in mortars were estimated via TMA dilatometer measurements. Thermo-analytical methods (DTA/TGA) were applied in the thermal behavior analysis. Mineralogical and morphological changes in the structure of hardened composite were detected by XRD and SEM, respectively. Limestone aggregate led to lower final compressive strengths in mortar, but it produced an infinitesimally small shrinkage at 1000 °C. The hydrophobization via stearic acid initiated the decrease in water absorption and formation of needle-like micro-network that filled structural voids reducing open porosity. The assessment of the effects of limestone utilization as a filler and as an aggregate on the mortar performances confirmed that this novel water-repellent composite is applicable in structural design.
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•Novel composites with limestone as substitution for siliceous aggregate and as filler.•Innovative chemometric approach to optimization of mechno-chemical activation of filler.•Retrogression influence of water is neutralized by surface treatment with stearic acid.•10% of limestone filler changed hydration mechanism and improved performances.•Performances of developed construction composites confirm their applicability in structural design.
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