Inhalacijsko trovanje palitoksinom iz akvarijskoga koralja – kratki pregled slučaja i sigurnosni savjeti

Palythoa spp. corals and some other marine organisms contain one of the most poisonous substances ever known – palytoxin (PTX). Due to their modest life requirements and ease of breeding, these corals are popular in home aquariums. Here we refer to a case of PTX poisoning of a middle-aged woman who inhaled poisonous vapours while brushing the corals from live rock and compare it with the available literature. As the case revealed that the symptoms of PTX poisoning are not specific and neither is treatment, our aim was to give a brief tabulated review of the symptoms that may indicate such poisoning. Cases of palytoxin poisoning have been reported worldwide, and severe ones (mostly due to ingestion of contaminated sea food) can end in death. As it appears, most (if not all) poisonings result from unawareness of the risk and reckless handling by aquarists. This is one of the first articles which provides some practical advice about the use of personal protection equipment, including gloves, masks, eyewear, and other clothing during any coral manipulation to minimise the risk. We also draw attention to the lack of marketing/trading regulations for dangerous coral species and/or regulations or instructions dealing with their removal and health protection.Koralji roda Palythoa spp. i neki drugi morski organizmi mogu sadržavati i jedan od najjačih otrova u prirodi – palitoksin (PTX). Budući da ti koralji nisu zahtjevni u pogledu održavanja i lako se razmnožavaju, postali su veoma popularni među vlasnicima kućnih akvarija. Ovdje kratko opisujemo jedan slučaj trovanja palitoksinom u sredovječne žene koja je udahnula otrovne pare četkajući koralj s kamena te ga uspoređujemo sa slučajevima iz literature. Ustanovili smo da trovanje palitoksinom nema specifične simptome, a ni liječenje nije specifično. Stoga donosimo tablični pregled simptoma koji mogu upozoravati na takvo trovanje. Slučajevi trovanja zabilježeni su diljem svijeta, a oni teški (uglavnom zbog konzumacije otrovane morske hrane) mogu biti smrtonosni. Većina (ako ne i svi) slučajeva trovanja posljedica je nepoznavanja rizika i nepažljiva rukovanja akvarijem. Ovo je jedan od prvih članaka u kojemu su dani i neki praktični savjeti za smanjenje rizika: od uporabe zaštitne opreme (rukavica, maski i naočala) do drugih zaštitnih mjera tijekom rukovanja koraljima. Njime također želimo upozoriti na nedostatak zakonske regulative kojom bi se definirala ili zabranila trgovina opasnim vrstama koralja odnosno njihovo uklanjanje i zaštita zdravlja

Broadband dielectric studies in linseed oil: Supercriticality and the New Insight into Melting/Freezing Discontinuous Transition

The long-range supercritical changes of dielectric constant, resembling ones observed in the isotropic phase of rod-like liquid crystalline compounds, are evidenced on approaching liquid-solid discontinuous phase transition. The 'supercriticality' can be an additional factor for supporting the unique pro-health properties of linseed oil. It can also be significant for numerous technological applications. The report also reveals properties significant for melting/freezing discontinuous phase transition cognitive puzzle. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy studies revealed long-range premelting (heating from the solid phase) and post-freezing (cooling from the liquid phase) effects with critical-like parametrizations. They can be correlated with the 'grain model' for premelting and its development by the Lipovsky model. The evidence for the post-freezing effect, with the critical-like portrayal, may indicate a specific granular solidification associated with pretransitional fluctuations. Numerous hallmarks of liquid-liquid and solid-solid phase transitions have also been found. Notably, the melting temperature surrounding is related to the minimum and the freezing temperature to the maximum of dielectric loss factor D=tan(delta). Regarding dynamics, three primary relaxation processes have been found. Their changes in subsequent temperature intervals, related to the apparent activation enthalpy, follow critical-like patterns with the same singular temperature. For relaxation times evolution, it leads to optimal parameterizations via the 'critical and activated' equation, recently proposed.Comment: 14 Figures , 15 equation

Guidelines for oncologic surveillance in a patient with established cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a chronic, diffuse disease process characterized by fibrosis and remodeling of the organ's normal architectonics into regenerative nodules.  It is also one of the risk factors for cancers of the organ. One of the most common is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The etiologic agent of HCC, which usually also causes cirrhosis, can be determined in more than 90% of patients. The annual risk of developing HCC ranges from 1% to 8%. It is estimated that about 1/3 of cirrhotic patients will develop HCC. By preventing cirrhosis and controlling its course, we reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [1].

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in pregnancy – a multidisciplinary approach to family planning and adverse outcomes prevention

Introduction and purpose Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic multisystemic autoimmune disease with periods of remissions and flares [1,5,25]. Because of its possible consequences and unpredictability, it is undoubtedly an issue for such patients to decide about pregnancy [3].  The main aim of this review is to present the possible risks of SLE in pregnancy, its general management and current recommendations regarding pregnancy planning and pre-/postnatal care.  Review Methods   For the review we conducted research of scientific literature from PubMed and books, applying the keywords (below). Consequently, we included in our references above 20 selected articles published between 2017-2024 and 3 chapters of different medical books. All of these were analyzed in terms of their currency and relevance.   A brief description of the State of Knowledge   SLE mostly affects women at the reproductive age [2, 3,5]. It often requires long-term therapy that aims to achieve and maintain an inactive stage by means of numerous aggressive drugs. Its proper management in gestation is even more challenging than usually, owing to the increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) and higher maternal mortality [1,2,4,5,7]. Therefore, to achieve successful pregnancy, risk stratification, therapy modification and individually adjusted plan of follow-up visits are the most crucial conditions to be met [1,6,7,13].    Summary   Considering all the potential complications that may occur in general, the issue of family planning should be raised with every female patient [5,6]. The key to the best outcomes is proper implementation of current strategies and empowering the patient to be an active and aware participant in the decision-making process [1,3,4,6,11]

Continuous Isotropic-Nematic transition in compressed rod-like based nanocolloid

Landau - de Gennes mean field model predicts the discontinuous transition for the Isotropic - Nematic transition, associated with uniaxial and quadrupolar order parameter in three dimensions. This report shows pressure-related dielectric studies for rod-like nematogenic pentylcyanobiphenyl (5CB) and its nanocolloids with BaTiO3 nanoparticles. The scan of dielectric constant revealed the continuous I-N transition in a compressed nanocolloid with a tiny amount of nanoparticles (x=0.1%). For the nematic phase in 5CB and its x=1% nanocolloid the enormous values of dielectric constant and the bending-type long-range pretransitional behavior were detected. The 'shaping' influence of pretransitional fluctuations was also detected for the ionic-related contribution to dielectric permittivity in the isotropic phase. For the high-frequency relaxation domain, this impact was tested for the primary relaxation time and the translational-orientaional decoupling.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure

A role for accessory genes rI.-1 and rI.1 in the regulation of lysis inhibition by bacteriophage T4

Lysis inhibition (LIN) is a known feature of the T-even family of bacteriophages. Despite its historical role in the development of modern molecular genetics, many aspects of this phenomenon remain mostly unexplained. The key element of LIN is an interaction between two phage-encoded proteins, the T holin and the RI antiholin. This interaction is stabilized by RIII. In this report, we demonstrate the results of genetic experiments which suggest a synergistic action of two accessory proteins of bacteriophage T4, RI.-1, and RI.1 with RIII in the regulation of LIN

Persistence of bacteriophage T4 in a starved Escherichia coli culture: evidence for the presence of phage subpopulations.

Bacteriophage T4 is able to adjust its development to the growth parameters of the host cell. Here, we present evidence for the production of two different subpopulations of phage particles, which differ in their ability to infect starved Escherichia coli cells. The ability of phage T4 to produce a fraction of virions unable to infect starved cells is linked to the functions of genes rI and rIII, as well as rIIA. This may represent the adaptation of phage T4 in order to persist in unfavourable environmental conditions

Fast and Cost-Effective Biochemical Spectrophotometric Analysis of Solution of Insect “Blood” and Body Surface Elution

Using insect hemolymph (“blood”) and insect body surface elutions, researchers can perform rapid and cheap biochemical analyses to determine the insect’s immunology status. The authors of this publication describe a detailed methodology for a quick marking of the concentration of total proteins and evaluation of the proteolytic system activity (acid, neutral, and alkaline proteases and protease inhibitors), as well as a methodology for quick “liver” tests in insects: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and urea and glucose concentration analyses. The meaning and examples of an interpretation of the results of the presented methodology for biochemical parameter determination are described for the example of honey bees

Inhalation poisoning with palytoxin from aquarium coral: case description and safety advice

Palythoa spp. corals and some other marine organisms contain one of the most poisonous substances ever known – palytoxin (PTX). Due to their modest life requirements and ease of breeding, these corals are popular in home aquariums. Here we refer to a case of PTX poisoning of a middle-aged woman who inhaled poisonous vapours while brushing the corals from live rock and compare it with the available literature. As the case revealed that the symptoms of PTX poisoning are not specific and neither is treatment, our aim was to give a brief tabulated review of the symptoms that may indicate such poisoning. Cases of palytoxin poisoning have been reported worldwide, and severe ones (mostly due to ingestion of contaminated sea food) can end in death. As it appears, most (if not all) poisonings result from unawareness of the risk and reckless handling by aquarists. This is one of the first articles which provides some practical advice about the use of personal protection equipment, including gloves, masks, eyewear, and other clothing during any coral manipulation to minimise the risk. We also draw attention to the lack of marketing/trading regulations for dangerous coral species and/or regulations or instructions dealing with their removal and health protection.Koralji roda Palythoa spp. i neki drugi morski organizmi mogu sadržavati i jedan od najjačih otrova u prirodi – palitoksin (PTX). Budući da ti koralji nisu zahtjevni u pogledu održavanja i lako se razmnožavaju, postali su veoma popularni među vlasnicima kućnih akvarija. Ovdje kratko opisujemo jedan slučaj trovanja palitoksinom u sredovječne žene koja je udahnula otrovne pare četkajući koralj s kamena te ga uspoređujemo sa slučajevima iz literature. Ustanovili smo da trovanje palitoksinom nema specifične simptome, a ni liječenje nije specifično. Stoga donosimo tablični pregled simptoma koji mogu upozoravati na takvo trovanje. Slučajevi trovanja zabilježeni su diljem svijeta, a oni teški (uglavnom zbog konzumacije otrovane morske hrane) mogu biti smrtonosni. Većina (ako ne i svi) slučajeva trovanja posljedica je nepoznavanja rizika i nepažljiva rukovanja akvarijem. Ovo je jedan od prvih članaka u kojemu su dani i neki praktični savjeti za smanjenje rizika: od uporabe zaštitne opreme (rukavica, maski i naočala) do drugih zaštitnih mjera tijekom rukovanja koraljima. Njime također želimo upozoriti na nedostatak zakonske regulative kojom bi se definirala ili zabranila trgovina opasnim vrstama koralja odnosno njihovo uklanjanje i zaštita zdravlja