Small cisterno-lumbar gradient of phosphorylated Tau protein in geriatric patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus

Additional file 1. Dementia markers Spinal tap fraction 1 and 8

Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in children: clinical features and laboratory diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with CAP and find clinical, radiological and laboratory features helpful to diagnose Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Furthermore, we evaluated the value of serology, real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and culture for the accurate diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. METHODS: The study included 166 children aged between 1 and 15 years with radiologically confirmed pneumonia. Throat swab specimens were cultured and assessed by RT-PCR for the presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Mycoplasma pneumoniae-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were determined using ELISA in paired sera. RESULTS: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was diagnosed in 14.5% CAP cases. Cough (p=0.029), headache (p=0.001) and wheezing (p=0.036) were more frequent in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia compared to children with pneumonia caused by other pathogens. Logistic regression analysis showed that headache (odds ratio [OR] =36.077, p=0.001) and wheezing (OR=5.681, p=0.003) were significantly associated with MP pneumonia. Neither radiological findings, nor common laboratory parameters distinguished Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with CAP. Using IgG serology in paired sera as the gold standard, we found that sensitivity of IgM serology, RT-PCR and culture was equal (81.82%), while specificity values were 100%, 98.6% and 100% respectively. We observed that combination of IgM detection in acute-phase serum and RT-PCR was positive for 91.7% of cases with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. CONCLUSIONS: There are no characteristic radiological findings, or routine laboratory tests that would distinguish CAP caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae from other CAP. It was found that clinical features such as headache and wheezing are indicative for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Furthermore, it was found that during the acute phase of disease, detection of IgM antibodies in combination with RT-PCR allows for precise and reliable diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children

Retrofitting of multifamily housing: life-cycle costing aspects

This Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis deals with the feasibility of measures taken to improve thermal performance of building envelope in order to reduce energy demands for space heating. LCC analysis is carried out on one exemplary apartment in multifamily buildings with recently refurbished facades in Karaburma, a settlement in Belgrade. Results of the analysis show that by improving properties of envelope with poor thermal U value, the reduction of electricity consumed for heating in Belgrade climate is 28 %. Considering Serbian system for electricity charging, reduction of monthly costs for electricity can be doubled

Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Helianthus Tuberosus

Helianthus tuberosus L., commonly known as the Jerusalem artichoke, belongs to Helianthus genus and Asteraceae botanical family. Due to its wide range of biological activities, aim of this study was to investigate chemical profile of extracts obtained using different approaches: maceration, percolation, infusion and Soxhlet extraction. Extracts were further investigated regarding heavy metal, saccharides, total phenolics and total flavonoids contents, as well as antioxidant activity using DPPH assay. Obtained results showed presence of all investigated species, as well as significant capability of prepared extract to scavenge DPPH radicals

Molecular docking study of ruthenium-p-cymene complexes with isothiazole derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors

Since proper treatment for COVID-19 still has not been developed, exploration of novel options is required. Activities of different metal complexes, promising results gained from examining different thiazole derivatives, and research in the field of natural products like pcymene, produced an idea to test piano stool ruthenium p-cymene complexes with isothiazole derivatives as ligands. In silico methods are often used as the first step in a series of experiments during the development of new drugs, and docking simulations are a quick way to determine the feasibility of novel compounds as potential inhibitors of target enzymes. Existing compounds of ruthenium with published crystal structures were tested against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. All of the tested compounds show a potential ability to bind to the target enzyme, while the compound with phenyl and morpholinyl substituents in isothiazole ligand shows the best activity among tested compounds. Authors feel confident that further research on this topic will yield compounds with even better potential activities against the main protease of the SARSCoV-2.Publishe

Effects of Combustible Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products on Systemic Inflammatory Response in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases.

Smoke derived from combustible cigarettes (CCs) contains numerous harmful chemicals that can impair the viability, proliferation, and activation of immune cells, affecting the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases. In order to avoid the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking, many CC users have replaced CCs with heated tobacco products (HTPs). Due to different methods of tobacco processing, CC-sourced smoke and HTP-derived aerosols contain different chemical constituents. With the exception of nicotine, HTP-sourced aerosols contain significantly lower amounts of harmful constituents than CC-derived smoke. Since HTP-dependent effects on immune-cell-driven inflammation are still unknown, herein we used flow cytometry analysis, intracellular staining, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the impact of CCs and HTPs on systemic inflammatory response in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC), diabetes mellitus (DM), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both CCs and HTPs significantly modulated cytokine production in circulating immune cells, affecting the systemic inflammatory response in COPD, DM, and UC patients. Compared to CCs, HTPs had weaker capacity to induce the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, IL-17, TNF-α), but more efficiently induced the production of immunosuppressive IL-10 and IL-35. Additionally, HTPs significantly enhanced the synthesis of pro-fibrotic TGF-β. The continuous use of CCs and HTPs aggravated immune-cell-driven systemic inflammation in COPD and DM patients, but not in UC patients, suggesting that the immunomodulatory effects of CC-derived smoke and HTP-sourced aerosols are disease-specific, and need to be determined for specific immune-cell-driven inflammatory diseases

Uticaj zaoravanja žetvenih ostataka na povećanje prinosa soje

Soybean yield depends on soybean variety, fertility of soil, agro-technical measures, as well as from weather conditions in certain years. Ploughing crop residues increases the content of organic matter in the soil, which has a positive effect on the fertility of the soil. Ploughing corn residue previous crop lead to an increase in yield of soybean on average by 10.43%, that is, by some years the yield increase was from 7.039% to 15.94%. Ploughing harvest residues previous crop of maize has a positive effect on the increase in yield of soybeans and must be considered as compulsory agro technical measure in soybean cultivation.Prinos soje zavisi od sorte, plodnosti zemljišta, agrotehničkih mera, kao i od vremenskih uslova u pojedinim godinama. Zaoravanjem žetvenih ostataka preduseva povećava se sadržaj organske materije u zemljištu, što ima pozitivan uticaj na plodnost zemljišta. Zaoravanje žetvenih ostataka preduseva kukuruza dovelo je do povećanja prinosa soje u proseku za 10,43%, odnosno po pojedinim godinama povećanje prinosa je bilo od 7,039% do 15,94%. Zaoravanje žetvenih ostataka preduseva kukuruza ima pozitivan efekat na povećanje prinosa soje i mora se posmatrati kao obavezna agrotehnička meru u gajenju soje

Water quality analysis in the district of Kosovska Mitrovica

Water is extremely important for the continuation of life. Water is life. Water is an essential substance not only for humans but for all living things. The demand for water, whose usage areas are expanding with the change in living conditions, is increasing day by day. Water, soil, and air, which are the basic components of the earth, constitute the basic components that ensure the continuity of life. Using and protecting the natural composition of soil, water, and air without disturbing it is an absolute necessity for sustainable living and the natural environment. In addition, for a sustainable natural environment, economic decisions and natural environment decisions should be evaluated together and together in accordance with the purpose of sustainable development. As a matter of fact, in order to protect the natural environment and transfer this value to future generations in the same way, all the elements that make up the natural environment should be considered as an inseparable whole and the perception and awareness that the negative effects that may occur in any of them will affect the other elements in sequence. Since ensuring the sustainability of water and resources is very important for life, benefiting from water resources in various fields should be seamlessly sustainable in the future as in the past and today.Publishe