Heavy Metal Contents in Spices from Markets in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

U radu je praćen sadržaj teških metala Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb i Zn u začinskom bilju (papar, bosiljak, origano, mljevena crvena paprika, peršin, ružmarin) različitih proizvođača, slučajnim odabirom u trgovačkim centrima Sarajeva. Koncentracije metala određene su plamenom atomskom apsorpcijskom spektrometrijom. Sadržaj kroma i nikla u svim ispitivanim uzorcima bio je ispod 5 mg kg−1. Koncentracije bakra varirale su od 2,36 do 19,47 mg kg−1, željeza od 6,80 do 785,56 mg kg−1, mangana od 6,14 do 59,36 mg kg−1, olova od 0,74 do 20,35 i cinka od 6,93 do 85,44 mg kg−1. Dobiveni rezultati u skladu su s literaturnim podatcima, osim za olovo, za koje su nađene nešto više vrijednosti. Preračunat je dnevni unos metala i uspoređen s vrijednostima MRL-a koje su dane od strane ATSDR-a (2013.). Sadržaj olova u većini uzoraka bio je iznad maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija koje preporučuje WHO i propisuje Pravilnik o najvećim dopuštenim količinama određenih kontaminanata u hrani Agencije za sigurnost hrane Bosne i Hercegovine.Spices are some of the most common foods in the human diet around the world. Spices are dried parts of plants used often as diet components to improve aroma and acceptability of food. The aim of this work was to determine the contents of seven heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in spices available at local markets in Sarajevo. Metal concentrations in six spice samples (black pepper (Piper nigrum), basil (Ocimum basilicum), oregano (Oreganum vulgaris), paprika (Capsicum annuum), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The content of chromium and nickel in all samples was below 5 mg kg-1 . Copper levels were in the range of 2.36-19.47 mg kg-1 , iron 6.80-785.56 mg kg-1 , manganese 6.14-59.36 mg kg-1, lead 0.74-20.35 and zinc 6.93-85.44 mg kg-1. These results were in agreement with other published data except in the case of Pb which content was slightly higher. Daily intake of different metals was calculated and compared with the MRL values given by ATSDR (2013). The content of lead in most of the samples was above the maximum permitted concentrations recommended by WHO and national regulations of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fish and Shellfish Intake and Diabetes in a Costal Population of the Adriatic

Objective: To examine the association between fish and shellfish intake and diabetes in an island population. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Two independent population-based field surveys conducted in Hvar Island of the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia in May 2007 and May 2008. Subjects: A total of 1,379 adults participated. Results: In multivariable logistic regression models, total fish intake was positively associated with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.01-2.66; p-trend = 0.09). Oily fish intake also exhibited a positive association with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.35-3.64; p-trend = 0.01) and in analyses stratified by body mass index, males and those with a high waist circumference. Conclusions: The study suggests an association between oily fish intake and diabetes in the population of the Hvar Island in Croatia. Longitudinal studies incorporating measures of persistent organic pollutants and local cooking practices are warranted to identify factors in fatty fish that may influence the development or persistence of diabetes

Fish and Shellfish Intake and Diabetes in a Costal Population of the Adriatic

Objective: To examine the association between fish and shellfish intake and diabetes in an island population. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Two independent population-based field surveys conducted in Hvar Island of the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia in May 2007 and May 2008. Subjects: A total of 1,379 adults participated. Results: In multivariable logistic regression models, total fish intake was positively associated with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.01-2.66; p-trend = 0.09). Oily fish intake also exhibited a positive association with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.35-3.64; p-trend = 0.01) and in analyses stratified by body mass index, males and those with a high waist circumference. Conclusions: The study suggests an association between oily fish intake and diabetes in the population of the Hvar Island in Croatia. Longitudinal studies incorporating measures of persistent organic pollutants and local cooking practices are warranted to identify factors in fatty fish that may influence the development or persistence of diabetes

Health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina before, during, and after 1992–1995 war: a personal testimony

Market-based health care reform during democratic transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina was complicated by the 1992–1995 war, that devastated the country and greater part of its health care infrastructure. The course of the transition and consequences of war for the health system and health professionals are presented here from the perspective of the author. The description of real-life situations and their context is used to illustrate the problems physicians, as well as international community, were faced with and how they tried to cope with them during and after the war. Speaking openly about the mistakes that were made in those times is the first step in preventing them from happening again and an invitation for exchange of opinions and open academic discussion

Origin and spread of human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U7

Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U is among the initial maternal founders in Southwest Asia and Europe and one that best indicates matrilineal genetic continuity between late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer groups and present-day populations of Europe. While most haplogroup U subclades are older than 30 thousand years, the comparatively recent coalescence time of the extant variation of haplogroup U7 (~16–19 thousand years ago) suggests that its current distribution is the consequence of more recent dispersal events, despite its wide geographical range across Europe, the Near East and South Asia. Here we report 267 new U7 mitogenomes that – analysed alongside 100 published ones – enable us to discern at least two distinct temporal phases of dispersal, both of which most likely emanated from the Near East. The earlier one began prior to the Holocene (~11.5 thousand years ago) towards South Asia, while the later dispersal took place more recently towards Mediterranean Europe during the Neolithic (~8 thousand years ago). These findings imply that the carriers of haplogroup U7 spread to South Asia and Europe before the suggested Bronze Age expansion of Indo-European languages from the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region

The politics of performance: transnationalism and its limits in former Yugoslav popular music, 1999–2004

This paper examines transnational relations between the Yugoslav successor states from the point of view of popular music, and demonstrates how transnational musical figures (such as Djordje Balaševi?, Mom?ilo Bajagi?-Bajaga and Ceca Ražnatovi?) are interpreted as symbolic reference points in national ethnopolitical discourse in the process of identity construction. Another symbolic function is served by Serbian turbofolk artists, who in Croatia serve as a cultural resource to distance oneself from a musical genre associated by many urban Croats with the ruralization (and Herzegovinization) of Croatian city space. In addition, value judgements associated with both Serbian and Croatian newly composed folk music provide an insight into the transnational negotiation of conflicting identities in the ex-Yugoslav context. Ultimately the paper shows how the ethnonational boundaries established by nationalizing ideologies created separate cultural spaces which themselves have been transnationalized after Yugoslavia's disintegration

Recultivaction of opencast mine of clay "Garajevac Istok", near Novi Bečej

The surface exploitation of mineral raw materials is realized in the natural environment, causing the degradation of the narrower and wider space: the change of the physical appearance of the terrain and the degradation of the soil and autochthonous vegetation cover. The recultivation of the surface mine area, after the exploitation of mineral raw materials, is an important and mandatory measure in the function of environmental protection. In a biologically empty space, with damaged or destroyed natural content, in parallel with the slow and long-lasting process of spontaneous self-revitalization, technical and biological reclamation measures and procedures are applied to control and accelerate the revitalization process.The subject of this work is the design of reclamation on the surfaces affected by the exploitation of clay, on the example of the Garajevac Istok surface mine near Novi Bečej, with the aim of creating habitats for plant and animal life. The planned goals of the reclamation of the post-exploitation area of the Garajevac Istok surface mine will be realized by applying a combination of afforestation measures and spontaneous self-reclamation

Management performance warehousing in PE 'Post Serbia'

The paper presents a general model for the strategic management of postal infrastructure and resources, focused on development of warehousing service. The model was developed according to the characteristics of the public enterprise 'Pošte Srbije'. A set of indicators is developed for the purpose of analysis of external and internal environment of PE 'Post Serbia'. For positioning the focal postal enterprise among other, selected European posts, the benchmarking method is used, whereby indicators are determined by using eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Analysis of internal environment additionally includes survey and Delphi method to obtain the values of coefficients in the model. With small modifications, the model could be applicable to all postal operators and logistics companies which consider to develop warehouse service in logistics market

Aronia juice consumption prior to half-marathon race can acutely affect platelet activation in recreational runners

Long-distance running, especially in non-professional runners, can increase cardiac arrest risk by enhancing platelet activation and aggregation. Polyphenols can exert cardioprotective effects by positively influencing platelet function. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of polyphenol-rich aronia juice consumption, before simulation of a half-marathon race, on platelet activation and aggregation with leukocytes in recreational runners. In this acute crossover study,10 healthy male runners (age 30.8 +/- 2.3 years) consumed breakfast with 200 mL, of aronia juice or 200 mL of placebo. They warmed-up and ran a simulated half-marathon race (21.1 km). Blood was collected at baseline, and at 15 min, 1 h, and 24 h after the run. All variables were analyzed with 4 (time) x 2 (group)ANOVA with repeated measures on both factors. Results revealed a significant effect of group on platelet activation parameters: P-selectin and CPIIb-IIIa expressions significantly decreased in the aronia group compared with the placebo group (F-[1.(9]) = 10.282, p = 0.011 and F-[1.9] = 7.860, p = 0.021, respectively). The effect of rime was significant on both platelet aggregation markers: platelet-monocyte and platelet-neutrophil aggregates were significantly lower after the race (F-[(3).7] = 4.227, p = 0.014 and F-[3.7] = 70.065, p = 0.000, respectively), with changes more pronounced in the later. All effects remained when platelets were exposed to an agonist. These results suggest that aronia consumption could counteract the half-marathon race-induced changes in platelet function. Novelty Aronia juice consumption significantly decreased the expression of platelet activation markers but did not affect platelet aggregation. The race itself did significantly reduce platelet-neutrophil aggregation. Aronia juice may serve as a supplement beverage for recreational runners to alleviate enhanced platelet reactivity caused by prolonged running.Peer-reviewed manuscript: [http://rimi.imi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1127