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The purpose of this research is to evaluate the values of alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and β2-Microglobulin in urine (β2-M), in untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to define the effect of untreated rheumatoid arthritis on the tubular function and brush border region. We used a kinetic assay for AAP, standard methods by the IFCC for γ-glutamyl transferase and MEIA for the determination of β2-Microglobulin in urine in 70 participants (35 untreated RA patients, 35 healthy individuals). From the total of 35 RA patients, 24 patients had AAP (sensitivity of the test 68.57%), 16 patients had γ-GT enzymuria (sensitivity of the test 45.71%), while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was found in a very low percentage. Out of 18 RF negative patients, 14 patients are AAP positive, 10 patients were γ-GT positive, while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was not detected. Among 17 RF positive RA patients, the presence of AAP was noticed in 10, the presence of γ-GT in 6 patients, while the presence of β2-Microglobulin in urine was not detected. AAP has higher sensitivity than γ-GT and β2-Microglobulin in the detection of asymptomatic renal lesions in untreated RA.

The purpose of this research was to compare the diagnostic values of laboratory variables, to present quantitative evaluations of the diagnostic test with reference to sensitivity, and specificity, the predictive value of the positive and negative test and precision of the test for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP 2) antibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), DAS 28 index, in early diagnosis of untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using the ELISA technology of DIA-STATTM Anti-CCP (Axis-Shield Diagnostics), the serum has been examined in 70 participants (35 RA who were not treated, 35 healthy controls). RF was defined with the test for agglutination (Latex RF test) in the same participants. In 23 of the 35 examined patients with RA, we found presence of anti-CCP 2 antibodies (sensitivity of the test 65.71%), while RF appeared in 17 patients (sensitivity of the test 48.57%). Twelve patients were anti-CCP 2 and RF positive, 11 were anti-CCP 2 positive but RF negative. Five patients were anti-CCP 2 negative and RF positive. Out of 18 RF negative patients, 11 were anti-CCP 2 positive. In 17 RF positive patients, anti-CCP 2 antibodies were positive in 12 patients. In the healthy control group, 1 patient was anti-CCP 2 positive, while 2 patients were RF positive. Anti- CCP 2 antibodies have higher sensitivity and specificity than RF in RA.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by hand radiography (Sharp's radiographic index), and assessment of acute phase reactants - erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF), and to determine their value as prognostic markers for disease outcome in patients with early RA treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)-Methotrexate (MTH); to register and quantify clinical, radiographic and laboratorial differences in certain time intervals in a group of patients treated with immunomodulation therapy with MTH; to determine which of the acute phase reactants would be the most useful marker for evaluation of disease activity in long-term follow-up in RA patients; to select high-risk groups with aggressive course of disease, in order to emphasize the necessity of early and aggressive treatment. Thirty patients with early RA (disease evolution up to 1 year) were evaluated in several time intervals. The score of the Sharp's index showed greater radiographic progression of the joint damage of hands in time intervals between 0-time and 12 months (p=0.0167) and between 0-time and 18 months (p=0.0089). Statistical analysis showed differences in values of CRP in four time intervals (p=0.00002). Considering CRP, there were statistically significant differences among mean values in four time intervals (p=0.0428) (standard deviations showed greater variations). There were no statistically significant differences among mean values of RF in four time intervals (p=0.573). At 0-time in 3 (10%) patients progression of the Sharp's index was found, after 6 months in 13 (39%) patients, while after 12 and 18 months progression of the Sharp's index was found in an identical number of patients, 15 (50%). In most patients high values of CRP and RF were found. Progression of the radiographic damage is especially expressed in patients with high values of ESR, CRP, RF and existence of previous erosions of hands, which are predictors for aggressive course of disease. CRP is the most useful marker for the evaluation of RA activity in the long-term follow-up of RA patients.

The purpose of this research was to compare the diagnostic values of laboratory variables, to present quantitative evaluations of the diagnostic sifted test with reference to sensitivity and specificity, the predictive value of the positive and negative test and precision of the test for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), microalbumin, rheumatoid factor (RF), Creactive protein (CRP), DAS 28 index, in early diagnosis of untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to define the effect of untreated rheumatoid arthritis on glomerular and tubular function. Using a colorimetric assay for the determination of Nacetyl- β -D-glucosaminidase and an immunoturbidimetric assay for the determination of urinary albumin, the samples of serum and urine have been examined in 70 participants (35 RA who were not treated, 35 healthy controls). RF was defined with the test for agglutination (Latex RF test) in the same participants. Out of 35 examined patients with RA, in 13 we found the presence of NAG enzymuria (sensitivity of the test 37.14%), while microalbuminuria appeared in 4 patients (sensitivity of the test 11.42%). RF appeared in 17 patients (sensitivity of the test 48.57%). Four patients were NAG and RF positive, while 3 patients were microalbuminuria and RF positive. Among 18 RF negative patients, 9 patients were NAG positive, and 1 patient presented with microalbuminuria. Among 17 RF positive RA, the presence of NAG was found in 4 patients, and the presence of microalbuminuria in 3 patients. Among 18 RF negative RA, NAG enzymuria appeared in 9 patients. Microalbuminuria was present in 1 patient. In the healthy control group, 8 patients were NAG positive, 2 patients were positive for microalbuminuria. RF appeared in 2 patients. NAG has higher sensitivity than microalbuminuria in the detection of asymptomatic renal lesions in untreated RA.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effects of substituting traditional forage fiber sources with cottonseed cake in the diet on both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and meat in Nelore young bulls. Twenty-four Nelore steers starting with an average weight of 377.8 ± 43.5 kg, were individually housed in stalls and provided with individualized feeding over a 112-day confinement period. The study followed a completely randomized design with two treatments and 12 replications. The diets incorporated either whole plant corn silage (WPCS) and, cottonseed cake (CSC) as fiber sources, at a rate of 300 g/kg of dry matter. The CSC diet promoted higher carcass weight. Aging animal meat for seven days significantly decreased the shear force from 83.4 to 71.6 N. Although diets did not influence meat composition, WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:3n3, and C22:2 acid, and CSC diet higher concentrations of C15:0, C18:1n9t, C18:2n6c, and 20:3n3. The WPCS diet provided higher concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids and ω9, and the CSC diet had higher concentrations of ω6 and ω6:ω3 ratio in meat. Cottonseed cake used as a fiber source increases the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids and ω6 fatty acids in the meat of young bulls finished in feedlot.

The contemporary geopolitical environment and strategic uncertainty shaped by asymmetric and hybrid threats urge the future development of hands-on training in realistic environments. Training in immersive, virtual environments is a promising approach. Immersive training can support training for contexts that are otherwise hard to access, dangerous, or have high costs. This paper discusses the challenges for virtual reality training in the CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear) domain. Based on initial considerations and a literature review, we conducted a survey and three workshops to gather requirements for CBRN training in virtual environments. We structured the gathered insights into four overarching themes—the future of CBRN training, ethical and safety requirements, evaluation and feedback, and tangible objects and tools. We provide insights on these four themes and discuss recommendations.

Fusarium verticillioides is a mycotoxigenic fungus that is a threat to food and feed safety due to its common infection of maize, a global staple crop. A proposed strategy to combat this threat is the use of biological control bacteria that can inhibit the fungus and reduce mycotoxin contamination. In this study, the effect of multiple environmental isolates of Streptomyces on F. verticillioides was examined via transcriptome analysis. The Streptomyces strains ranged from inducing no visible response to dramatic growth inhibition. Transcriptionally, F. verticillioides responded proportionally to strain inhibition with either little to no transcript changes to thousands of genes being differentially expressed. Expression changes in multiple F. verticillioides putative secondary metabolite gene clusters was observed. Interestingly, genes involved in the fusaric acid gene cluster were suppressed by inhibitory strains of Streptomyces. A F. verticillioides beta-lactamase encoding gene (FVEG_13172) was found to be highly induced by specific inhibitory Streptomyces strains and its deletion increased visible response to those strains. This study demonstrates that F. verticillioides does not have an all or nothing response to bacteria it encounters but rather a measured response that is strain specific and proportional to the strength of inhibition.

The corn smut pathogen, Ustilago maydis (U. maydis) (DC.) Corda, is a semi-obligate plant pathogenic fungus in the phylum Basidiomycota (Alexopoulos et al., 1996). The fungus can be easily cultured in its haploid yeast phase on common laboratory media. However, to complete its sexual cycle U. maydis strictly requires its specific plant host, maize (Zea mays). The fungus is an interesting and important model organism for the study of the interactions of fungal biotrophic pathogens with plants. In this protocol, we describe the process of plant inoculation, teliospore recovery, germination, progeny isolation and initial mating type analysis. The primary purpose of this protocol is to identify individual progeny strains of U. maydis that can be used for downstream genetic analyses. Generation of targeted mutants to study various processes is a common approach with this and many plant pathogenic fungi. The ability to generate combinations of mutations is facilitated by sexual crossing without the need for additional selectable markers.