THE IMPACT OF DISPLACEMENT ON THE EXPRESSION OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING AMONG THE WAR REFUGEES

Our research objective was to estimate the characteristics of major depressive disorder and social adaptation of women displaced during the war in Croatia in the early 1990s. We aimed to establish the relationship between major depressive disorder and displacement and study its impact on the outcome of depression in order to improve treatment and avoid possible complications. A group of 20 women, 35 to 55 years of age, displaced some time during the 199l.-1995. war in Croatia were compared to 27 women of the same age but with no experience of exile. All the patients suffered from major depressive disorder based upon DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale and the Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale were used. The objective intensity of depression of the displaced significantly decreased over time but not their personal experience of depression. All depressed patients manifested poor social adaptation. Many aspects of social functioning remained poor even after the improvement of depressive disorder. Displacement characteristics were: the length of time spent in exile, the place, and the circumstances of displacement regarding the members of the family accompanying the displaced women. These characteristics significantly influenced the expression of their major depressive disorder as well as social functioning. Displaced persons/refugees are at high risk of developing depressive disorder. Recognition of all risk factors and early diagnosis of depressive disorder followed by appropriate treatment could decrease the risk of chronic and complicated depression as well as the risk of poor social adaptation

THE IMPACT OF DISPLACEMENT ON THE EXPRESSION OF DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING AMONG THE WAR REFUGEES

Our research objective was to estimate the characteristics of major depressive disorder and social adaptation of women displaced during the war in Croatia in the early 1990s. We aimed to establish the relationship between major depressive disorder and displacement and study its impact on the outcome of depression in order to improve treatment and avoid possible complications. A group of 20 women, 35 to 55 years of age, displaced some time during the 199l.-1995. war in Croatia were compared to 27 women of the same age but with no experience of exile. All the patients suffered from major depressive disorder based upon DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale and the Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale were used. The objective intensity of depression of the displaced significantly decreased over time but not their personal experience of depression. All depressed patients manifested poor social adaptation. Many aspects of social functioning remained poor even after the improvement of depressive disorder. Displacement characteristics were: the length of time spent in exile, the place, and the circumstances of displacement regarding the members of the family accompanying the displaced women. These characteristics significantly influenced the expression of their major depressive disorder as well as social functioning. Displaced persons/refugees are at high risk of developing depressive disorder. Recognition of all risk factors and early diagnosis of depressive disorder followed by appropriate treatment could decrease the risk of chronic and complicated depression as well as the risk of poor social adaptation

Hplc analysis of phenolic acids in mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L) extracts

The methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol and water extracts were obtained by extraction of mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L). The total phenolic content in extracts was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The 1-butanol extract had the highest phenolic content (296.00 mg/g). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to define qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic acids in mountain germander extracts. The largest number of phenolic acids were determined in ethyl acetate and 1-butanol extracts, while these acids were not present in petroleum ether extract. The highest content of phenolic acids (28.619 mg/g) had ethyl acetate extract and gentisic acid (14.432 mg/g) was its major component. Despite of a large number of phenolic acids in 1-butanol extract their content was only 3.740 mg/g

Physicochemical Changes of the Gluten-Free Rice-Buckwheat Cookies during Storage – Artificial Neural Network Model

The influence of storage time, temperature, and packaging on some physicochemical characteristics of gluten-free rice-buckwheat cookies was studied. Shelf life markers, such as water activity (aw), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), firmness, and color parameters were modelled in relation to different storage conditions. Principal component analysis was applied to study the similarity among samples according to the observed parameters. The mathematical model in the form of an artificial neural network was developed to predict the physicochemical parameters of cookies during 6-month storage. The most evident differentiation among samples was observed for color coordinate a*, aw , and HMF. Regarding the methods for determination of the parameters, priority should be given to the instrumental determination of color as the most convenient method. The processing of experimental data allowed the creation of useful mathematical model to be used in predicting the behavior of physicochemical changes of cookies by different factor combinations during storage

Elisa and HPLC analyses of deoxynivalenol in maize and wheat

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a part of the family of mycotoxins called trichothecenes which are produced by a number of different Fusarium mold species. The presence of DON in 25 wheat and 25 maize samples was examined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. The presence of DON was detected and determined in 5 (20%) maize and 6 (25%) wheat samples by both of the methods. Correlation between ELISA and HPLC results was established, with the correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9691 and 0.9735 for wheat and maize samples, respectively. The results obtained by ELISA method were significantly higher than those obtained by HPLC method. This fact can be explained by the presence of conjugated or masked mycotoxins in the samples, especially DON-3-glucoside (DON-3-Glc), which could not be determined by HPLC method due to the lack of external standards. Contrary to this, being insufficiently selective towards masked DON, ELISA method measures total DON content of a sample. According to the obtained results, ELISA can be used as a reliable screening method, but the confirmation of positive results must be done by HPLC method

Screening of mycotoxins in animal feed from the region of Vojvodina

This paper shows the results of screening of mycotoxins in animal feed originating from the region of Vojvodina. Permanent screening is needed on all levels of production and storage, as well as the use of known methods to reduce mould contamination or toxin content in feedstuffs and feed. A total of 56 representative samples were collected from feed companies from the region of Vojvodina. Samples were collected during February 2009. The collected samples included 41 samples of feedstuffs (soybean, soybean meal, soybean grits, soybean cake, maize, sunflower meal, barley, wheat feed flour, rapeseed meal, dehydrated sugar beet pulps, alfalfa meal, yeast, dried whey, fish meal, meat-bone meal) and 15 samples of complete feedingstuffs. The amounts of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, fumonisin and deoxynivalenol were determined. Screening method for the analysis was done using Neogen Veratox® testing kits. The test itself is a competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CD-ELISA). Mycotoxins were present in 71.4% of the samples, but the values determined were below the maximum allowed limits for both Serbian and EC reference values. Zearalenone was found with the highest incidence (57.1% of samples), followed by ochratoxin A (37.5%), fumonisin (33.9%), deoxynivalenol (14.3%) and aflatoxins (3.6%)

Potential health benefits of blueberry and raspberry pomace as functional food ingredients: Dietetic intervention study on healthy women volunteers

The fruit juice industry generates pomace as a valuable by-product especially rich in polyphenols, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. In the cookies used in this study, 30% of the gluten-free flour was replaced with dried and ground blueberry and raspberry pomace, rich source of polyphenols, dietary fibers, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. In order to examine whether the addition of blueberry and raspberry pomace in cookie formulation can have beneficial effects on certain blood parameters and anthropometric measurements, the designed cookies were tested in 20 healthy, normally fed female subjects, aged 30–50 years (41.35 ± 8.58 years) over four-week dietetic intervention study. Significant changes in the composition of fatty acids serum phospholipids, decrease in LDL-cholesterol level (20.16%), increase in adiponectin level (25.52%) and decrease in ALT and AST values were observed, thus indicating that inclusion of cookies containing blueberry and raspberry dried and ground pomace to usual diet might have positive effects on certain cardiovascular risk factors and liver function indicators

Uticaj različitih hemijskih sredstava i uslova skladištenja na mikrobiološki profil semena industrijske konoplje (Cannabis sativa L.)

This study aimed to test different chemical agents to obtain microbiologically safe industrial hemp seeds that could be used for further food processing (with the reduced total number of microorganisms, total number of moulds and yeasts, and total number of Enterobacteriaceae). In order to obtain seeds applicable for food consumption, optimal storage temperature conditions (room temperature, refrigerator, freezer), method of seed packaging (vacuum/without vacuum), and the application of various chemical treatments (ethanol, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hypochlorite) were tested on the certified industrial hemp seeds, produced in two consecutive years. Optimal storage conditions differed for different microorganisms, and the most optimal storage was at room temperature, for seeds produced in 2018, in the treatment to reduce the total number of Enterobacteriaceae and the total number of microorganisms. When storing seeds from 2018 in order to reduce the number of yeasts and moulds, a slightly lower number was spotted when seeds were stored in a vacuum-sealed bag, at the refrigerator/freezer temperature. For hemp seeds produced in 2019, the most optimal storage conditions were at the refrigerator (for reduction of the total number of Enterobacteriaceae) and freezer temperature (for reduction of the total number of microorganisms). For the reduction of the total number of moulds and yeasts, optimal conditions were at room temperature. Ethanol (75%, v/v) was the most effective disinfectant among the tested chemicals regardless of the initial number of microorganisms, with log reduction of 3.2 (for the total number of Enterobacteriaceae), 2.9 log (for the total number of microorganisms), and total reduction of the total number of yeasts and moulds after 10 minutes, for the seeds harvested in 2019, which were far more contaminated than the seeds harvested in 2018. Considering the price of the disinfection method with ethanol, sodium hypochlorite may be a better solution for the reduction of the number of microbiota on the seeds.Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitivanje različitih hemijskih sredstava za dobijanje mikrobiološki bezbednog semena industrijske konoplje, koje bi se moglo koristiti za dalju preradu u hranu (sa smanjenim ukupnim brojem mikroorganizama, ukupnim brojem kvasaca i plesni, i ukupnim brojem enterobakterija). Da bi se dobilo seme primenljivo za ishranu, optimalni temperaturni uslovi skladištenja (sobna temperatura, frižider, zamrzivač), način pakovanja semena (vakuum/bez vakuuma) i primena različitih hemijskih tretmana (etanol, natrijum hidrogen karbonat, natrijum hipohlorit) su testirani na sertifikovanom semenu industrijske konoplje, proizvedenom u dve uzastopne godine. Optimalni uslovi skladištenja su se razlikovali za različite mikroorganizme, a najoptimalnije skladištenje je bilo na sobnoj temperaturi, za seme iz 2018. godine, a u cilju smanjenja broja enterobakterija i ukupnog broja mikroorganizama. Pri skladištenju semena iz 2018. godine u cilju smanjenja broja plesni i kvasaca primećen je nešto manji broj datih mikroorganizama kada je seme čuvano u vakuumski zatvorenoj vrećici, na temperaturi frižidera/zamrzivača. Za seme konoplje iz 2019. godine najoptimalniji uslovi skladištenja su bili na temperaturi frižidera (za redukciju broja enterobakterija) i u zamrzivaču (za redukciju ukupnog broja mikroorganizama). Za smanjenje ukupnog broja plesni i kvasaca, optimalni uslovi su bili na sobnoj temperaturi. Etanol (75%, v/v) je bio najefikasnije sredstvo za dezinfekciju među ispitivanim hemijskim sredstvima, bez obzira na početni broj mikroorganizama, sa log smanjenjem od 3,2 (za ukupan broj enterobakterija), 2,9 log (za ukupan broj mikroorganizama) i ukupnim smanjenjem broja kvasaca i plesni nakon 10 minuta delovanja, za seme proizvedeno 2019. godine, koje je bilo mnogo više kontaminirano u odnosu na seme iz 2018. godine. Uzimajući u obzir cenu metoda dezinfekcije etanolom, natrijum hipohlorit može biti bolje rešenje za smanjenje broja mikrobiota na semenu

Enhancement of Antioxidant and Isoflavones Concentration in Gamma Irradiated Soybean

Serbian soybean genotype Ana was gamma irradiated at doses of 1, 2, 4, and 10 kGy in order to evaluate the influence of gamma irradiation on isoflavone (genistein, daidzein, and their glycosides genistin and daidzin) contents and hydroxyl radical scavenging effect (HRSE). The increase in genistin and daidzin contents as well as antioxidant activities was observed especially at doses of 4 and 10 kGy. Results were also compared with our previous results relating to total phenol content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenger capacity (DPPH RSC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Our results indicated that doses up to 10 kGy improve the antioxidant activities of soybean and also nutritional quality with respect to isoflavone content. All results were analyzed by multivariate techniques (correlation matrix calculation and autoscaling transformation of data). Significant positive correlations were observed between genistin, daidzin, DPPH RSC, and HRSE

Samoprocjena zdravlja i funkcionalna sposobnost osoba treće životne dobi

Uvod: Osobe treće životne dobi smatraju se fizički najmanje aktivnom populacijom, često praćenom osjećajem usamljenosti i nemoći. Svrha ovoga istraživanja je prikazati samoprocjenu zdravlja i funkcionalnu sposobnost starije populacije u dobi iznad 75 godina života u odnosu na spol, bračni status i stupanj obrazovanja ispitanika. Metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 189 ispitanika, od kojih je 118 žena i 71 muškarac. Za potrebe istraživanja korišten je anketni upitnik sastavljen od odabranih čestica validiranih upitnika. Rezultati: Ispitanicima su postavljena pitanja o kvaliteti života, ograničava li ih zdravstveno stanje u njihovim svakodnevnim aktivnostima, te koliko često su fizički aktivni. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata potvrđena je povezanost između spola, bračnog statusa i stupnja obrazovanja sa subjektivnom procjenom zdravlja starije populacije i njihovom funkcionalnom sposobnošću. Zaključak: Funkcionalna sposobnost opada s godinama života, ograničenja pri obavljanju dnevnih aktivnosti manja su kod ispitanika s većim stupnjem obrazovanja, a u odnosu na spol, žene svoje zdravlje subjektivno lošije ocjenjuju od muškaraca, te navode veće poteškoće u fizičkom funkcioniranju