Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis reveals ancestry and genetic diversity of cultivated and wild grapevines in Croatia.

Background: Croatia is a geographically small country with a remarkable diversity of cultivated and spontaneous grapevines. Local germplasm has been characterised by microsatellite markers, but a detailed analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is still lacking. Here we characterize the genetic diversity of 149 accessions from three germplasm repositories and four natural sites using 516,101 SNPs to identify complete parent-offspring trios and their relations with spontaneous populations, offering a proof-of-concept for the use of reduced-representation genome sequencing in population genetics and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

X-ray Microanalysis of Elemental Composition of Pollen Grains.

The flowering and fruit set of grapevines are determined by many morphological, physiological, and environmental factors. Although the elemental composition of pollen grains plays a crucial role in the fruit set, there is still a considerable gap in our knowledge. To date, no study has been conducted on the elemental composition of subsp.

Biochemical Response and Gene Expression to Water Deficit of Croatian Grapevine Cultivars ( L.) and a Specimen of .

The biochemical response and gene expression in different grapevine cultivars to water deficit are still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the performance of four traditional Croatian L. cultivars ('Plavac mali crni', 'Istrian Malvasia', 'Graševina', and 'Tribidrag'), and one wild ( subsp.

Exploring Phytochemical Composition and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Grape Seed Oil from an Alternative Source after Traditional Fermentation Processes: Implications for Phytotherapy.

This study aimed to analyze the composition of grape seed oil (GSO) derived from an alternative source after traditional fermentation processes and its potential anti-inflammatory effects using an in vivo model of carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice. Gas chromatography high-resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-HR-EIMS) analysis identified eight main components in the GSO extract, including myristic acid methyl ester, palmitoleic acid methyl ester, methyl isoheptadecanoate, cis-linoleic acid, oleic acid methyl ester, linoleic acid stereoisomer, linoleic acid ethyl ester, and methyl (6, 9, 12, 15)-docose-6,9,12,15-tetraenoate. No significant differences were observed in the main fatty acids between commercially available grape seed oil and GSO extract obtained from fermented grape seeds.

Medication Adherence among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Its Related Factors-A Real-World Pilot Study in Bulgaria.

: The objective is to evaluate medication adherence level (MA) and the relevant determinants of MA among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) monitored in ambulatory settings by general practitioners. : A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM monitored in a GP practice in Sofia, Bulgaria (September-December 2022). All patients were interviewed according to a predesigned questionnaire after granting informed consent.

Adherence to Acromegaly Treatment and Analysis of the Related Factors-A Real-World Study in Bulgaria.

The purpose was to assess the level of medication adherence (MA) and related factors among individuals with acromegaly. The secondary goal was to assess the quality of life of patients and whether and how it correlates with the level of adherence. A prospective one-year study was conducted among patients with acromegaly diagnosed, treated, and monitored in the reference center for rare endocrine diseases in Bulgaria in 2021.

Newly Synthesized Creatine Derivatives as Potential Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Agents on In Vitro Models of Parkinson's Disease.

Oxidative stress is one of the key factors responsible for many diseases-neurodegenerative (Parkinson and Alzheimer) diseases, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc. Creatine, a natural amino acid derivative, is capable of exerting mild, direct antioxidant activity in cultured mammalian cells acutely injured with an array of different reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating compounds. The aim of the study was in vitro (on isolated rat brain sub-cellular fractions-synaptosomes, mitochondria and microsomes) evaluation of newly synthetized creatine derivatives for possible antioxidant and neuroprotective activity.

Budget cap and pay-back model to control spending on medicines: A case study of Bulgaria.

Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) have among the highest rates of increase in healthcare expenditure. External reference pricing, generics and biologics price capping, regressive scale for price setting, health technology assessment (HTA), and positive drug lists for reimbursed medicines are among the variety of implemented cost-containment measures aimed at reducing and controlling the rising cost for pharmaceuticals. The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of a recently introduced measure in Bulgaria-budget capping in terms of overall budget expenditure.

Microstructure of Croatian Wild Grapevine ( subsp. Gmel Hegi) Pollen Grains Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Wild grapevine ( subsp. Gmel Hegi) is dioecious with male and female plants, whereas domesticated grapevine is mostly hermaphrodite with self-fertile hermaphrodite flowers. The pollen morphology of wild grapevine has been poorly studied.

Neuroprotective effect of newly synthesized 4-aminopyridine derivatives on cuprizone-induced demyelination in mice-a behavioral and immunohistochemical study.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of newly synthesized derivatives of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on cuprizone-induced model of brain demyelination in mice. 4-AP is already approved for the treatment of walking difficulties in patients with multiple sclerosis. The model of demyelination was carried out by the administration of cuprizone to the drinking water of the experimental mice.

Disease course and treatment effects of a JAK inhibitor in a patient with CANDLE syndrome.

Background: CANDLE syndrome (an acronym for Chronic Atypical Neutrophilic Dermatosis with Lipodystrophy and Elevated Temperature) is a recently described rare autosomal recessive disorder charaterized by systemic autoinflammation. Clinical manifestations include presentation in the first year of life, episodes of fever accompanied by erythematous skin lesions, progressive lipodystrophy, violaceous periorbital swelling and failure to thrive. This syndrome is caused by loss of function mutations and malfunction of the immunoproteasome complex.

Establishing International Blood Pressure References Among Nonoverweight Children and Adolescents Aged 6 to 17 Years.

Background: Several distributions of country-specific blood pressure (BP) percentiles by sex, age, and height for children and adolescents have been established worldwide. However, there are no globally unified BP references for defining elevated BP in children and adolescents, which limits international comparisons of the prevalence of pediatric elevated BP. We aimed to establish international BP references for children and adolescents by using 7 nationally representative data sets (China, India, Iran, Korea, Poland, Tunisia, and the United States).

Use of biologics for psoriasis in Central and Eastern European countries.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of biological agents for the treatment of psoriasis and to explore country-specific differences within six Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Methods: A literature overview on the epidemiology and disease burden of psoriasis in CEE was conducted. The number of patients treated with biologics was obtained from patient registries, ministries of health, national professional societies and health insurance funds.