Ekologija komaraca roda Anopheles na području Beograda u proceni vektorskog potencijala za ponovno uspostavljanje transmisije malarije

Belgrade is situated in the area that is potentially at risk from malaria outbrakes. Until eradication, the main vector of malaria in this area was Anopheles maculipennis s. s. (previous name An. typicus) and secondary vectors were An. messeae and An. atroparvus. In this study we examined the distribution and ecology of Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in Belgrade. Females of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from animal shelters in Belgrade at eight locations during 2003. Egg morphology was used to identify the specimens. A total of 3704 females deposited eggs ready for identification. Three species of An. maculipennis complex were identified: An. messeae, An. atroparvus and An. maculipennis s. s.. The most abundant species were An. messeae (64%). The relative frequency of three species varied depending on the site of collection. Seasonal fluctuations of mosquitoes' species varied. Each develops in a distinct type of water, too. The three species of the An. maculipennis complex, particularly An. messeae and An. atroparvus, are considered as potential vectors of malaria in Belgrade. With the possible reintroduction of Plasmodium species due to climatic changes and increased travel to and from the countries where malaria is endemic, a more efficient vector control is necessary.Beograd je smešten u području koje je potencijalno rizično za ponovno uspostavljanje transmisije malarije. Do eradikacije malarije, glavni vektor malarije na području Beograda bio je An. maculipennis s. s. (raniji naziv An. typicus) a sekundarni vektori bili su An. messeae i An. atroparvus. Mi smo analizirali distribuciju i ekologiju komaraca roda Anopheles (Diptera, Culicidae) na području Beograda. Ženke komaraca roda Anopheles sakupljali smo tokom 2003. godine na 8 lokaliteta šireg područja Beograda. Identifikaciju vrsta vršili smo na osnovu morfologije položenih jaja. Od ukupnog broja izlovljenih ženki komaraca roda Anopheles, njih 3704 je položilo jaja, a njihovom identifikacijom nađene su tri vrste komaraca roda Anopheles, svi pripadnici Anopheles maculipennis kompleksa: An. messeae, An. atroparvus i An. maculipennis s. s.. U ukupnoj populaciji najzastupljeniji je bio An. messeae 64%, zatim An. atroparvus 21%, a najmanje Anopheles maculipennis s. s. 8%. Postojala je razlika u procentualnoj zastupljenosti ovih vrsta u ukupnoj Anopheles populaciji prema lokalitetima, po mesecima, prema izboru vodenih staništa. Prisutne vrste Anopheles komaraca, posebno An. messeae i An. atroparvus ukazuju da je Beograd receptivan za transmisiju malarije, a klimatski uslovi tokom leta pogodni su za kompletiranje sporogoničnog razvoja pripadnika roda Plasmodium

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of Pt(II) complexes with steroidal thiosemicarbazones

In this work, Pt(II) complexes of previously synthesized steroidal thiosemicarbazones were synthesized and characterized. The ligands and their metal complexes were studied by analytical and spectroscopic data (elemental analysis, IR, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, COSY), the analysis of which enabled complete 1H and 13C assignments of each compound including E and Z isomers. All the synthesized ligands and complexes were screened for their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. The results demonstrate that the new steroidal thiosemicarbazone complexes were significantly less cytotoxic than the corresponding steroidal thiosemicarbazones. In addition, complexes showed lower antimicrobial activity than the standard drugs, similar to the activity of the starting thiosemicarbazones

The importance of psychological factors in pediatric recurrent headaches

Background: Headache is one of the most common health problems of children and adolescents. At least 10% of pediatric population suffer from recurrent headaches without underlying organic/structural etiologies. Social stressors such as conflicts in the family, parental divorce, death/illness of a family member, poor relationships with peers, as well as problems related to school have impact on the occurrence of nonorganic headaches. The aim: of this paper was to determine characteristics of recurrent headaches, psychological, cognitive and emotional factors that can provoke or aggravate somatic problems, and psychological characteristics of pediatric patients with episodic headaches. Material and methods: This retrospective study included children and adolescents with nonorganic recurrent headaches sent to psychological evaluation during the period from January 1, 2014 till December 31,2016. Results: The study cohort comprised 101 patients (40 males and 61 females) aged 12.24 ± 2.71 (range 7-18) years who experienced headaches at least once a week. One third lived in dysfunctional and broken families, 29% had poor relations with peers, and 20% had problems related to school. Difficulties in copying with stress were found in ¼ of patients. Conclusion: Psychological evaluation is important tool for determination psychosocial stressors and nonorganic comorbidities of migraine and tension-type headache, as well as for diagnosis of secondary headaches attributed to psychiatric disorders

Residual descending motor pathways influence spasticity after spinal cord injury

Spasticity is one of the most common symptoms manifested in humans with spinal cord injury (SCI). The neural mechanisms contributing to its development are not yet understood. Using neurophysiological and imaging techniques, we examined the influence of residual descending motor pathways on spasticity in humans with SCI. We measured spasticity in 33 individuals with motor complete SCI (determined by clinical examination) without preservation of voluntary motor output in the quadriceps femoris muscle. To examine residual descending motor pathways, we used magnetic and electrical stimulation over the leg motor cortex to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the quadriceps femoris muscle and structural magnetic resonance imaging to measure spinal cord atrophy. We found that 60% of participants showed symptoms of spasticity, whereas the other 40% showed no spasticity, demonstrating the presence of 2 clear subgroups of humans with motor complete SCI. MEPs were only present in individuals who had spasticity, and MEP size correlated with the severity of spasticity. Spinal cord atrophy was greater in nonspastic compared with spastic subjects. Notably, the degree of spared tissue in the lateral regions of the spinal cord was positively correlated with the severity of spasticity, indicating preservation of white matter related to motor tracts when spasticity was present. These results support the hypothesis that preservation of descending motor pathways influences spasticity in humans with motor complete SCI; this knowledge might help the rehabilitation and assessment of people with SCI. ANN NEUROL 2019

FDI in Serbia

After the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) in the early 1990s, the Republic of Serbia found itself in an unprecedented social, political, and economic situation. Facing a significant delay in the transition process in comparison with other Central and Eastern European (CEE) states, Serbian governments since 2001 have opted for a model of economic development based on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). This strategic commitment has led to complex and controversial effects on Serbia’s economy. On the one hand, FDI inflows benefited the local economy by increasing its international market competitiveness, contributing to a decrease in unemployment, and enhancing technology transfer. On the other hand, FDI is related to some negative economic trends such as expansion of labor-intensive jobs and an increasing dependency on unpredictable inflows of foreign capital. The aim of this chapter is to offer insights into the empirical literature on FDI to Serbia in the context of Serbia’s historical development and to explore the spatiality and influences of contemporary inflows with a special focus on prospects and suggestions for Serbia’s economic trajectory over the next 25 years. Conceptually, this text is based on Dunning’s eclectic approach to FDI by focusing upon the origins, location, and internalization of foreign capital in the country

A radiographic and clinical comparison of two soft-tissue procedures for paralytic subluxation of the hip in cerebral palsy

This article summarises a comparative retrospective study (1983–2001) of 42 consecutive spastic–diplegic ambulatory patients (aged 2–10 years) by examining the radiographic and clinical results of two soft-tissue procedures for paralytic hip subluxation (PSH). Group A comprised 20 patients (26 PSHs) who were treated by iliopsoas tenotomy, and group B comprised 22 patients (31 PSHs) who were treated by rectus femoris and iliopsoas tenotomy with iliac crest resection (sartorius release). All patients had bilateral adductor tenotomies. At 8.8 years mean follow-up, group A migration percentages (MP) improved from 39.8% to 24.7% with 92.3% good/average results. At a mean follow-up period of 8.3 years, group B improved from 58.0% to 25.9% with 96.8% good/average results. Long-term hip reduction was achieved in 84.6% of group A and 80.6% of group B hips. Relative MP correction was superior in group B. No patient had MP progression in either the PSH or non-PSH hip. Walking ability improved in 55% of group A and 86% of group B patients (Functional Mobility Scale). In conclusion, we recommend release of all the principle hip flexors: rectus femoris, sartorius, and iliopsoas, coupled with adductor tenotomies, in this patient group