Melanomacrophages of fish are commonly explored as biomarkers of water pollution and are considered to be sensitive albeit non-specific health indicators in water ecosystems. Sharks as long living marine species are good sentinel species. This study presents morphometric data for splenic and hepatic melanomacrophages (MMC), and observed histopathology in ten lesser-spotted catsharks, Scyliorhinus canicula (L.), one of the most abundant shark species in the eastern Adriatic Sea. At necropsy, we collected random tissue samples from liver, brain, gallblader, pancreas, spleen, kidney, gills, entire digestive system, thyroid gland, rectal gland, entire urogenital (male samples) and genital system (female samples). Collected tissue samples were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic Acid-Schiff, and Masson Trichrome for microscopic examinations and morphometry. There was a minimal number of histopathological lesions in the examined sharks, but morphometric values reported herein were three folds higher than in previous studies in free-ranging sharks. Studies on larger numbers of sharks are needed to elucidate the biological significance of our finding in the context of population decline of the lesser-spotted catshark.

Abstract Introduction. Present study was performed to verify red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) level in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to examine its correlation with clinical and biochemical indicators of disease activity status. Methods. In this cross-sectional analytical study, 67 patients with RA and 34 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Based on the disease activity score 28-ESR (DAS28-ESR), RA patients were divided into subgroups: low disease activity (n = 20), moderate disease activity (n = 22) and high disease activity (n = 25). Laboratory tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, platelet count (PLT), red blood cells count (RBC), red blood cells distribution width (RDW) and fibrinogen concentration. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 13 software. Statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results. There was statistically significant difference (p = 0.006) between RPR in RA patients with different stages of disease activity, with higher values in patients with low disease activity. The RPR showed statistically significant negative correlations with ESR (rho = –0.309; p = 0.012), CRP (rho = –0.421; p = 0.001), swollen joint count – SJC (rho = –0.368; p = 0.002) and tender joint count – TJC (rho = –0.355; p = 0.003), DAS28-ESR (rho = –0.409; p = 0.001), DAS28-CRP (rho = –0.422; p < 0.0005) and Visual analogue scale – VAS (rho = –0.260; p = 0.033) in RA patients. Conclusion. The present study provided evidence that the lower RPR values in RA patients are significantly associated with the disease activity indicators.

Public health strategies to contain the pandemic continue to vary markedly across the world. In Sweden, compared to most advanced economies, social restrictions have primarily relied upon voluntary adherence to a set of recommendations and strict lockdowns have not been enforced. To better understand the development of humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the Stockholm population before the start of mass vaccinations, healthy blood donors and pregnant women (n=4,100) were sampled at random between 14th March-11th December 2020. All individuals (n=200/sampling week) were screened for anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) trimer- and RBD-specific IgG responses with highly sensitive and specific ELISA assays, and the results were compared with those from historical controls (n=595). Data were modelled using a probabilistic Bayesian framework that considered individual responses to both antigens. We found that after a steep rise at the start of the pandemic, the seroprevalence trajectory increased steadily in approach to the winter second-wave of infections, approaching 15% of all individuals surveyed by 11th December. In agreement with the high transmission rate observed in the Stockholm area, seroprevalence in this cohort of active adults increased during the 9 months from the start of the outbreak, but was far from that required for herd immunity at the end of 2020.

Applying conceptual blending theory, the paper analyses the construction of the meaning of a satirical text ridiculing the language employed by politicians to frame the debate on current political and social issues. In particular, it focuses on the language used by Donald Trump in explaining his anti-immigration stances through a poem based on the fable about the farmer and the viper, and a satirical text providing a new version of the poem, which criticizes Trump’s immigration policy. The paper examines the creation of the humorous meaning of the text in conceptual blending. The humorous meaning is created in the blended space due to the unusual combination of related structures, which results in incongruity (Coulson 2002; Marín-Arrese 2003). Furthermore, as blending can be used as a rhetorical tool influencing the audience to change the reality and even act upon it (Coulson 2006; Coulson & Oakley 2006; Coulson & Pascual 2006; Oakley & Coulson 2008), the analysis of the construction of the meaning of the satirical text as a product of conceptual blending can reveal rhetorical and argumentative goals in political discourse.

Dishevelled family proteins (DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3) are cytoplasmic proteins that are involved in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway during embryonic development. The role of DVL proteins in the placental tissue remains mostly unknown. In the current study, we explored the role of Dishevelled proteins in naturally invasive tissue, trophoblast. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 15 term placentas from physiologic term pregnancies and 15 term placentas from pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restrictions (IUGR) were used for the study. Expression levels of mRNA for DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3 in placentas were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRTPCR). DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3 protein expression were semi-quantitatively analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The expression of DVL2 and DVL3 proteins was significantly higher in trophoblasts in placental villi from IUGR pregnancies compared with the control group of term placentas. In contrast, DVL3 protein expression was significantly higher in endothelial cells in placental villi from IUGR pregnancies compared with normal term placentas. The observed differences at protein levels between normal and IUGR placentas were not confirmed at the mRNA levels of DVL genes. Our data indicate the active involvement of DVL proteins in IUGR-related placentas. No significant changes were observed in DVL mRNA levels between the two groups of placentas. Further studies are required to explore the clinical relevance of these observations.

Dishevelled family proteins (DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3) are cytoplasmic proteins that are involved in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway during embryonic development. The role of DVL proteins in the placental tissue remains mostly unknown. In the current study, we explored the role of Dishevelled proteins in naturally invasive tissue, trophoblast. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 15 term placentas from physiologic term pregnancies and 15 term placentas from pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restrictions (IUGR) were used for the study. Expression levels of mRNA for DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3 in placentas were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). DVL1, DVL2, and DVL3 protein expression were semi-quantitatively analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The expression of DVL3 protein was significantly higher in trophoblasts and endothelial cells in placental villi from IUGR pregnancies compared with the control group of term placentas, while DVL2 protein expression was significantly higher in trophoblasts in placental villi from IUGR pregnancies compared with normal term placentas. The observed differences at protein levels between normal and IUGR placentas were not confirmed at the mRNA levels of DVL genes. Our data indicate the active involvement of DVL proteins in IUGR-related placentas. No significant changes were observed in DVL mRNA levels between the two groups of placentas. Further studies are required to explore the clinical relevance of these observations.

Applying conceptual blending theory, the paper analyses the construction of the meaning of a satirical text ridiculing the language employed by politicians to frame the debate on current political and social issues. In particular, it focuses on the language used by Donald Trump in explaining his anti-immigration stances through a poem based on the fable about the farmer and the viper, and a satirical text providing a new version of the poem, which criticizes Trump’s immigration policy. The paper examines the creation of the humorous meaning of the text in conceptual blending. The humorous meaning is created in the blended space due to the unusual combination of related structures, which results in incongruity (Coulson 2002; Marín-Arrese 2003). Furthermore, as blending can be used as a rhetorical tool influencing the audience to change the reality and even act upon it (Coulson 2006; Coulson & Oakley 2006; Coulson & Pascual 2006; Oakley & Coulson 2008), the analysis of the construction of the meaning of the satirical text as a product of conceptual blending can reveal rhetorical and argumentative goals in political discourse.

Glaucoma is considered to be one of the biggest health problems in the world. It is the main cause of preventable blindness due to its asymptomatic nature in the early stages on the one hand and patients’ non-adherence on the other. There are several approaches in glaucoma treatment, whereby this has to be individually designed for each patient. The first-line treatment is medication therapy. However, taking into account numerous disadvantages of conventional ophthalmic dosage forms, intensive work has been carried out on the development of novel drug delivery systems for glaucoma. This review aims to provide an overview of formulation solutions and strategies in the development of in situ gel systems, nanosystems, ocular inserts, contact lenses, collagen corneal shields, ocular implants, microneedles, and iontophoretic devices. The results of studies confirming the effectiveness of the aforementioned drug delivery systems were also briefly presented.

Introduction: Adolescence is characterised as a period of further development and maturation of higher executive functions (EF). It is well established that EF play an important role in social skills and academic competence of typically developing adolescents. Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between executive functions (EF) and academic competency and social skills in adolescents with a mild intellectual disability. In particular, we were interested to examine which EF have the greatest impact on social skills and academic competency. Methods: EF were measured with the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF), and social and academic competences were measured with the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). The sample for this study consisted of 44 adolescents with mild intellectual disability aged 15-18 years old (mean age 16.7 years, SD1.4). Results: The results of this study clearly pointed to the strong relationship between these constructs. Of all EF, planning had the strongest impact on academic success, and monitoring had the strongest impact on social skills. Conclusion: EF are susceptible to training effects, we thus propose early interventions in these domains in order to increase the social and academic competence of persons with an intellectual disability.

Aim: Undergraund Farmakology of Black Marked such as are Anabolic steroids wich are irational abused by young recreational bodybuilder are in hidden epidemic connection with fast muscle gain and increased cardiovascular risk. Many young recreational bodybuilders beisides syntetic testestorone derivats, different testosteron esters and supplements search for alternative methods to improve effectes of muscle gain. Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) with connection of abuse of stacking anabolic steroids in recreational bodybuilders still stay generally and worldwide unexplored leaving lots of unfilled gaps. Methodology: This study was conducted from beginning of May, 2018 till end of december 2018 at the Clinic of cardiovascular Surgery, department for vascular and endovascular surgery, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Special Hospital dr.Solakovic Department for Hyperbaric medicine (BIH) Head of Center for Hyperbaric medicine and chronic wound treatment Banja Luka (BIH), Private Hyperbaric and General Practice Therapy Centar Split and faculty Physical education and Sport Sarajevo included 72 subjects age 20-30 (36 of them went to hyperbaric chamber and used anabolic supplements while, 36 don’t went to hyperbaric chamber only used anabolic steroids). Potential Cardiovascular Side Effects are investigated For the testing of statistical significance of differences between the examined groups parameter tests were used. The difference at a level of p<0,05 was statistically significant. Results: In all tested subjects we investigated increasing potential damage of cardiovascular parameters age 20-30 years after two years study. Analysis shows the no statistically significant influence of recoverry and strength improvment in (HBOT) Treat dacetate group, compared to non Trenbolone acetate abuser group (p<0,005). Conclusion: Anabolic steroid stacking have generally efective potential abusing impact on skeletomuscular system it is unsignificant that oxgen therapy can provide such benefit in strength like anabolic steroids but certainly can improve recovery after hard working effort in a gym.

We address several problems of coordination and consensus on and that can be formulated as minimization problems on these Lie groups. Then, gradient descent methods for minimization of the corresponding functions provide distributed algorithms for coordination and consensus in a multi-agent system. We point out main differences in convergence of algorithms on the two groups. We discuss advantages and effects of representing 3D rotations by quaternions and applications to the coordinated motion in space. In some situations (and depending on the concrete problem and goals) it is advantageous to run algorithms on and map trajectories onto via the double cover map , instead of working directly on .

BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal levels of isoprostanes (IsoPs) have been established as biomarkers of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The value of peripheral levels in the diagnostics of these diseases is less conclusive. The aim of this study was to determine serum 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) levels in Bosnian AD and VD patients and to establish whether there is an association between 8-iso-PGF2α serum concentration and cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with dementia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Serum levels of 8-iso-PGF2α were measured by enzyme immunoassay method in AD (n=30) and VD patients (n=30) and control subjects (CG, n=30). The AD and VD group were further stratified according to the level of CI. RESULTS The serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in the AD (74.00 pg/mL) and VD groups (38.00 pg/mL) compared to the CG (17.50 pg/mL). A significant difference in serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels between patients with moderate and severe CI was not established in either AD or VD. CONCLUSION Serum 8-iso-PGF2α proved to be a good biomarker in AD and VD, however it cannot be recommended for the differentiation of moderate and severe CI.

Abstract Background The European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) via national and regional renal registries in Europe and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This article summarizes the 2018 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report, and describes the epidemiology of KRT for kidney failure in 34 countries. Methods Individual patient data on patients undergoing KRT in 2018 were provided by 34 national or regional renal registries and aggregated data by 17 registries. The incidence and prevalence of KRT, the kidney transplantation activity and the survival probabilities of these patients were calculated. Results In 2018, the ERA-EDTA Registry covered a general population of 636 million people. Overall, the incidence of KRT for kidney failure was 129 per million population (p.m.p.), 62% of patients were men, 51% were ≥65 years of age and 20% had diabetes mellitus as cause of kidney failure. Treatment modality at the onset of KRT was haemodialysis (HD) for 84%, peritoneal dialysis (PD) for 11% and pre-emptive kidney transplantation for 5% of patients. On 31 December 2018, the prevalence of KRT was 897 p.m.p., with 57% of patients on HD, 5% on PD and 38% living with a kidney transplant. The transplant rate in 2018 was 35 p.m.p.: 68% received a kidney from a deceased donor, 30% from a living donor and for 2% the donor source was unknown. For patients commencing dialysis during 2009–13, the unadjusted 5-year survival probability was 42.6%. For patients receiving a kidney transplant within this period, the unadjusted 5-year survival probability was 86.6% for recipients of deceased donor grafts and 93.9% for recipients of living donor grafts.

In a relatively short period of time new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global threat, both to human health and to the functioning of human society in general. This pandemic is certainly neither the first nor is it likely to be the last disease episode in human history. At the moment, it is still too early to make a reliable assessment of its total effect on human civilization, but it can already be stated that this disease, and its causative agent SARS-CoV-2 virus, have caused a strong scientific response all around the World. For the first time in this magnitude, it has united the resources of large scientific institutions and companies with the aim of finding solutions for fast and accurate virus detection procedures, effective and safe vaccine, reliable medical treatments, etc. It is astonishing that only a month has passed from the first officially detected case to the complete sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome and the creation of the first detection systems based on RT-PCR method. After that, numerous scientific teams and companies worked together, or independently, to improve the detection methods. Their work included further optimization of PCR and other genetic approaches, as well as the development of detection methods based on the analysis of specific antibodies and viral antigens. The aim of this paper is to review the results that were achieved in this area so far, analyze the strategies currently used in the world and the region, and to predict future steps in the process of optimizing and improving methods for SARS CoV-2 detection in individual patients and the global human population.