BACKGROUND:The skin is exposed to numerous particulate and gaseous air pollutants. The ones that need particular attention are the particles that adhere to the skin surface, which can later cause direct skin damage. This study aimed to characterize air pollution (AP) particles adhered to the human skin by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry (EDX). METHODS:Tape stripping was performed from six healthy volunteers exposed to urban AP to collect stratum corneum samples from the cheeks and forehead. The samples were analysed using SEM equipped with EDX system with a silicon drift detector at an accelerating voltage of 20 keV. After the preliminary examination, the particles were located and counted using 1000× magnification. Each particle was analysed, increasing magnification up to 5000× for precise dimension measurement and elemental composition analysis. At least 100 fields or a surface of approximately 1 mm2 were examined. RESULTS:Particles adhered to the skin were identified in all samples, with a particle load ranging from 729 to 4525. The average area and perimeter of all particles identified were 302 ± 260 μm2 and 51 ± 23 μm subsequently, while the equivalent circular diameter was, on average, 14 ± 6 μm. The particles were classified into ten groups based on morphology and elemental composition. Chlorides were the most numerous particle group (21.9%), followed by carbonaceous organic particles (20.3%), silicates (18%), carbonates (16.4%), metal-rich particles (14%), and a minor number of bioaerosols, quartz-like, and fly ash particles. CONCLUSION:The SEM-EDX analysis provides evidence of the contamination of exposed skin to various airborne PM of natural or anthropogenic origin. This method may provide new insights into the link between exposure to AP and AP-induced skin damage.

Seismic microzonation maps for Štip (Macedonia) and its surroundings are presented based on the uniform-hazard-spectrum (UHS) methodology. Such mapping satisfies the guidelines for performance-based design (PBD), which requires specification of two sets of spectral amplitudes—one for which the structure will remain essentially linear, and the other for which it will undergo a nonlinear response. The UHS method also enables us to include contributions from excitation by large distant earthquakes as well as the simultaneous effects of site geology and site soils. Thus, the maps we present include, in a balanced way, the effects of near and distant large earthquakes, spatial distribution of seismic activity, the site geology, and the site soil properties.

Seismic microzonation maps for Skopje (Macedonia) are presented based on the Uniform-Hazard-Spectrum (UHS) methodology. UHS satisfies the guidelines for performance-based design (PBD), which require specification of two sets of spectral amplitudes, one for which the structure will remain essentially linear, and the other for which it will undergo a nonlinear response. The UHS method also considers the contributions from large distant earthquakes and includes simultaneous effects of site geology and site soils. The maps presented include the effects of near and distant large earthquakes in a balanced way, spatial distribution of seismic activity, site geology, and site soil properties.

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeKeywords: bioinformaticsproteomicsgenomic analysismetabolomicsdata miningsoftware applications

Connectedness between the levels of any two factors could be measured with splitting the data in independent subsets, e.g. differentiation of the independent data sets. For the purpose a symmetric connectedness matrix is proposed with ordered number of levels of the factor of interest, herds or sires. Within the connected data set each level is characterized with the number of other levels it is connected with and the total number of links with the other levels. A computer strategy is presented for determining and measuring the links between classes of the factors. Several examples from the key publications in the literature are used to illustrate the approach for determination and measurement of connectedness. The results from the study are summarized in four characteristics: checking for existence of disconnected data subsets; listing of the levels of the disconnected factor for each subset; description of the distribution of the second factor between the classes of the first (main) one and description of the number of directly comparable classes and the number of ties between them. A computer programme for these evaluations is available upon request.

INTRODUCTION:The aim of the research was to determine the effectivity and the safety of the intravenous application of Esomeprazole (Nexium - Astra Zeneca) like prevention of the development of stress-ulcers of the gastric mucous with high risk patients at ICU with mechanic ventilation.PATIENTS AND METHODS:47 patients subjected to mechanic ventilation over 48 hours with availability of just one more risk factor for development of stress-ulcers of gastric musous were included in the study. Samples of gastric juice for determination of the acidity and presence of fresh erythrocytes and microbiological cultures from gastric contents, wash away of the mouth cavity and tracheal aspiration were tested on the 1st, the 3rd and the 5th day from the start of the treatment. At the end of the therapy there has been determinated the outcome - survivor or died and total quantity of the haemotransfusions.RESULTS:The acidity of the gastric juice changed in the range over pH 5 during the 24 hours by the application of esomeprazole. Fibrogastroscopic examinations were performed of patients who were found to have fresh erythrocytes in the gastric contents. No one was registered with bleeding of the gastric mucous. The isolated microorganisms of the gastric juice and wash away of mouth cavity were identical with those of tracheobronchial aspiration in about 13 %.CONCLUSIONS:In our study the application of esomeprazole i.v. was effective and safe approach for profilaxy of the stress-ulcers and the bleeding of the gastric mucous. Comparative studies with H2-blockers and sucralfat are necessary for clarifying and objectifying the significance of the microbiologic isolates of the gastric contents and wash away from mouth cavity and their relation to the development of nosocomial pneumonia.

The goal of fruit plant genomics is to understand the genetic and molecular basis of all biological processes in plants that are relevant to the species. This understanding is fundamental to allow efficient exploitation of fruit plants as biological resources in the development of new cultivars of improved quality and reduced economic and environmental costs. This knowledge is also vital for the development of new diagnostic tools. Traits considered of primary interest are, resistance to pathogens and abiotic stress, fruit quality, and yield. A genome program can now be envisioned as a highly important tool for fruit plant breeding. Identifying key genes and understanding their function will result in a quantum leap in fruit quality improvement. Additionally, the ability to examine gene expression will allow us to understand how fruit plants respond to and interact with the physical environment and management practices. This information, in conjunction with appropriate technology, may provide predictive measures of plant health and fruit quality and become part of future breeding decision management systems. Current genome programs generate a large amount of data that will require processing, storage and distribution to the international research community. The data include not only sequence information, but also information on mutations, markers, maps and functional discoveries. The key objectives for fruit plant bioinformatics include: - encouraging submission of all sequence data into the public domain, through repositories; - providing rational annotation of genes, proteins and phenotypes, and - elaborating relationships both within the data on individual fruits and between fruits and other organisms.

Today the world population is increasing at the most rapid rate ever. It is fore cast that by the year 2050, the world's population will double to nearly 12 billion people. In fact it has been esti...

Three models of a simple and inexpensive home-made gene gun apparatus was designed for genetic transformation of barley, wheat, maize and rice mature embryos. The compact and efficient design for gene transfer in plants was improved. The biological, physical parameters influencing transformation efficiency and bombardment medium suitable for gene guns apparatus were optimized. High levels of transient expression of the β-glucu-ronidase gene in the mature embryos of cereals were achieved.

Three different promoters, cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV 35S), polyubiquitin of maize (Ubi1) and actin1 of rice (Act-1) were compared in a transient assay using particle bombardment of barley mature and immature embryos. The effectiveness of different promoters was compared using a reporter gene expressing β-glucuronidase (GUS). Different levels of GUS gene activity in barley embryos were detected by histochemical analyses. The CaMV 35S promoter showed the lowest level of transient expression in barley cells. The highest activity was observed for the rice (Act-1) promoter and assumed to be a strong promoter in barley. All studied promoters induced about 1% higher number of blue spots in immature barley embryos vs. mature. This study shows that an efficient transformation system could be developed in barley through particle bombardment using constructs based on rice (Act-1) promoter.

ABSTRACTImmature and mature embryos of four Bulgarian winter and spring barley (Hordem vulgare L.) varieties were cultured in vitro to compare the levels of callus induction and plant regeneration. Immature embryos, 12–16 days after anthesis were aseptically excised and placed with the scutellum downwards on callus induction solid medium based on Murashige and Skoog (MS) mineral salts and supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Mature embryos were aseptically excised from the imbibed seeds and were placed scutellum down on callus induction medium based on MS containing 2mg/l 2,4-D. The developed calluses were maintained on MS medium containing 1mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l BAP 6-Benzylaminopurine. The regenerated plants were maintained on MS free hormones medium. Regenerated plants from both embryo cultures were vernalized and grown to maturity in soil. A strong variability was found among the genotypes in the in vitro culture response for both explants. For predominant number of the cultivars the germination ability was higher for immature embryos (Ruen, PV-101, Panagon) compared to mature. Immature and mature embryos from Ruen had excellent callus induction (72.2% and 97.8%, respectively) and the highest number of regenerated plants per embryo (9.3 and 13.3, respectively). A comparison of the responses of the two types of explants indicated that the mature embryos were more useful explants for plant regeneration, and therefore, being available throughout the year, can be used as an effective explant source in barley studies.

The trauma of the trachea and bronchi are extremely rare, in 0.6 to 3 per cent of the patients with chest trauma. Most common are the longitudinal lesions localized in the membranous part. Following are the transversal lesions localized between two cartilaginous rings and in 20 per cent of the cases total circular lesions with dislocation of the two ends are found. A review of the clinical signs, the complications, the diagnosis and the successful operative treatment of a patient with the latter particularly rare traumatic injury of the trachea is presented.

The study includes 1127 injured with thoracic trauma, 23 percent of them with polytrauma. The worse thoracic trauma were these with formed flail chest with pleural and lung complications, accompanied by severe disfunction in circulation and biomechanics of breathing. The application of minimal surgical procedures like pleural punctures and drainage of pleural cavities with aspiration achieved good results. Thoracotomy was performed on clear indications (unstoppable bleeding, large ruptures of lung parenchyma, suppurative lung haematoma, cardiac tamponade, rupture of major airways, rupture of diaphragm, rupture of oesophagus and coagulated haemothorax). The achieved mortality of 5.9 percent is an excellent index suggesting a choice of treatment.

During the last 10 years we have treated 23 patients with acute mediastinitis. The patients' age, sex, medical status, causes of the infection, bacteriology, chest X-ray and computed tomography scan findings, surgical intervention, complications, survival, and other clinical parameters were reviewed.

The quick diagnosis is decisive for the outcome of the treatment of patients with esophageal perforation because of the serious complications--mediastinitis, empyema and sepsis. These are the main causes for the high mortality of up to 60 per cent of the patients with esophageal perforation. The difficulties for the particular operative tactics rise from the late diagnosis. These are the most problematic moments of the spontaneous esophageal perforation (Boerhaave's syndrome) management. A review of the clinical signs, the complications, the diagnostics and the successful operative treatment on a patient with Boerhaave's syndrome performed on the 10th day after the incident is presented.