Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Quantification of the RNA Genome of the Hepatitis E Virus in Slaughtered Pigs in Serbia.

The goal of this study conducted in Serbia was to detect HEV in pig liver samples from slaughterhouses, retail outlets, and environmental swabs over the course of a year. All positive HEV samples were measured and expressed as HEV gene copy numbers per gram of sample, and a representative number of samples were sequenced using the Sanger approach. A total of 45 HEV-positive samples were re-amplified using nested RT-PCR employing CODEHOP primers targeting ORF2 (493 nucleotides).

RETRACTED: Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and selected meat quality traits of two strains of Pekin duck reared in intensive vs semi-intensive housing systems.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).

Finite element analysis in defining the optimal shape and safety factor of retentive clasp arms of a removable partial denture.

Background/aim: Retentive force of removable partial denture (RPD) directly depends on elastic force of stretched retentive clasp arms (RCAs). During deflection RCA must have even stress distribution. Safety factor is the concept which can be applied in estimating durability and functionality of RCAs.

Treatment of cattle hides with Shellac-in-ethanol solution to reduce bacterial transferability--a preliminary study.

A solution of natural, food-grade resin (Shellac) in ethanol was evaluated to treat samples of visually clean and dry cattle hides with the aim to reduce bacterial removability from the hides by swabbing. Hide treatment by 23% Shellac-in-ethanol solution reduced sponge-swabbing recoveries of general microflora (TVC) by a factor of 6.6 logs (>1000-fold larger than the 2.

Proficiency test of gamma spectrometry laboratories in Serbia.

This paper presents the statistical evaluation of results from the analysis of 8 radionuclides in water samples within the frame of the First Proficiency Test of gamma spectrometry Laboratories in Serbia organized in 2008. The water samples used in this proficiency test were prepared using certified radioactive solution containing gamma emitting radionuclides. This solution was diluted and used as a master solution for preparation of test samples.

The occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 in/on faeces, carcasses and fresh meats from cattle.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether Escherichia coli O157 is present in/on raw beef in Serbia. Correlated faecal and carcasses samples from 115 slaughtered cattle plus 26 uncorrelated carcass samples were examined. E.

Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 on hides of slaughtered cattle.

Aims: To obtain the first information on the occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 on hides of slaughtered cattle in Serbia.

Methods And Results: A total of 355 swabs were taken on the slaughterline from five areas of hide of each of the 71 cattle in a single commercial abattoir in Serbia. Using an ISO method incorporating enrichment and immunomagnetic separation steps, E.

Articular chondrocyte aging and endothelin-1.

Objective: To compare in cell culture endothelin-1 (ET-1) production, receptor density, and effect on macromolecular synthesis by articular chondrocytes (AC).

Methods: AC were isolated from 1-month and 18-month old rats and cultured as monolayers. They were incubated with ET-1 without or with iNOS inhibitors, nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or guanylate cyclase inhibitor, LY83583 and then [3H]thymidine, 35SO4 and [3H]proline incorporations were measured.

Basal and induced nitric oxide and cGMP productions are decreased in senescent cultured rat articular chondrocytes.

The effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the productions of nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP by cultured articular chondrocyte (AC) monolayers from 1-, 8- and 18-month old male Wistar rats were studied. It was found that basal NO and cGMP productions decrease with the age of animals. The productions were more than 2-fold greater in cells from 1-month old rats then in cells from older animals.

Mitogenic and metabolic actions of epidermal growth factor on rat articular chondrocytes: modulation by fetal calf serum, transforming growth factor-beta, and tyrphostin.

The effects of human recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF) on rat articular chondrocytes from humeral and femoral head cartilage of 21-day-old Wistar rats were analyzed. The cells were cultured under standard conditions as monolayers. Cell proliferation was studied by [3H]thymidine incorporation and determination of DNA content, proteoglycan synthesis by [35S]sulfate incorporation, and collagen synthesis by [3H]proline incorporation.