Correlation between the Quality of Attention and Cognitive Competence with Motor Action in Stroke Patients

It is considered that cognitive function and attention could affect walking, motion control, and proper conduct during the walk. To determine whether there is a difference in the quality of attention and cognitive ability in stroke patients and patients without neurological damage of similar age and education and to determine whether the connection of attention and cognition affects motor skills, the sample consisted of 50 stroke patients tested with hemiparesis, involved in the process of rehabilitation, and 50 persons, randomly chosen, without neurological damage. The survey used the following tests: Trail Making (TMT A B) test for assessing the flexibility of attention; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive status; Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) test to assess the functional status and parameters of walk: speed, frequency, and length of stride; STEP test for assessing the precision of movement and balance. With stroke patients, relationship between age and performance on the MMSE test was marginally significant. The ratio of performance to TMT A B test and years does not indicate statistical significance, while statistical significance between the MMSE test performance and education exists. In stroke patients, performance on MMSE test is correlated with the frequency and length of stride walk. The quality of cognitive function and attention is associated with motor skills but differs in stroke patients and people without neurological damage of similar age. The significance of this correlation can supplement research in neurorehabilitation, improve the quality of medical rehabilitation, and contribute to efficient recovery of these patients

Analysis of welding of the rear bridge semi-housing assembly of a firefighter truck by the semi-automatic procedure in gas protection

The problem considered in this paper is the welding technology of the steel assembly of a firefighter truck rear bridge semi-housing. Since in this procedure the welding is done of the two dissimilar steels, it is necessary to analyze effects of welding on mechanical properties and microstructure of individual joint's zones. The weldability of the base metal was considered first (semi-housing tube and flange), then the welding method and the filler metal were selected and, finally, the technological parameters of welding were calculated. The computational and experimental methods were used for the base metal weldability estimate, based on the hardness measurements in the joint's critical zones and analysis of their structures. Experimental investigations performed were aimed for verification and/or eventual correction of the proposed welding technology

Analysis of welding of the rear bridge semi-housing assembly of a firefighter truck by the semi-automatic procedure in gas protection

The problem considered in this paper is the welding technology of the steel assembly of a firefighter truck rear bridge semi-housing. Since in this procedure the welding is done of the two dissimilar steels, it is necessary to analyze effects of welding on mechanical properties and microstructure of individual joint's zones. The weldability of the base metal was considered first (semi-housing tube and flange), then the welding method and the filler metal were selected and, finally, the technological parameters of welding were calculated. The computational and experimental methods were used for the base metal weldability estimate, based on the hardness measurements in the joint's critical zones and analysis of their structures. Experimental investigations performed were aimed for verification and/or eventual correction of the proposed welding technology

Cost-effective Ultrasonic Extraction of Bioactive Polyphenols from Vine and Wine Waste in Serbia

By using cost-effective ultrasonic extraction techniques, bioactive phenolic extracts were obtained from Merlot and Vranac (Vitis vinifera L.) vine and wine waste produced in Serbian wineries. These wastes include vine leaves, grape pomace, seeds, skins and stems, which can find further use in the food and pharmacology industries as preservatives against microbes. The extracts showed strong scavenging free radical activity (EC50 from 0.37 to 2.02 mg/L), which was in very good correlation with the total polyphenol content.  Strong antimicrobial activity was found against six Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacterial strains, and against the yeast Candida albicans. The principal component and agglomerative hierarchical clustering analyses performed were shown to be good for grouping and distinguishing the results from thevine and wine by-products (leaves and seeds) from both investigated grape varieties based on the content of various polyphenolic classes, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The valorisation of the grape by-products is consistent with the concept of a sustainable and environmentally oriented wine industry and provides an important economic advantage

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Supplementation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Human Studies

Being characterized by progressive and severe damage in neuronal cells, neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are the major cause of disability and morbidity in the elderly, imposing a significant economic and social burden. As major components of the central nervous system, lipids play important roles in neural health and pathology. Disturbed lipid metabolism, particularly lipid peroxidation (LPO), is associated with the development of many NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), all of which show elevated levels of LPO products and LPO-modified proteins. Thus, the inhibition of neuronal oxidation might slow the progression and reduce the severity of NDD; natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins, seem to be the most promising agents. Here, we summarize current literature data that were derived from human studies on the effect of natural polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E supplementation in patients with AD, PD, and ALS. Although these compounds may reduce the severity and slow the progression of NDD, research gaps remain in antioxidants supplementation in AD, PD, and ALS patients, which indicates that further human studies applying antioxidant supplementation in different forms of NDDs are urgently needed

Efekat dugotrajnog napornog vežbanja na masnokiselinski profil fosfolipida plazme kod rukometaša

Background/Aim. Consensus on the exercise effect on the fatty acid metabolism has not been reached, and probably depends on the type of sports (aerobic, anaerobic or mixed). The aim of this study was to investigate effect of long-term handball training on the body composition, lipid profile and the plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition in female and male younger players. Methods. Seventeen female and 15 male active handball players, aged 16-20 years, who competed at the national/international level, were enrolled in the study. A control group was established from healthy, sedentary individuals (13 females and 19 males, aged 17-21 years), comparable to the athletes in terms of age, sex and body mass index. Results. In both groups of handball players a higher percentage of palmitoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid (18:3, n-3), were found and lower percentage of oleic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3), when compared with corresponding control group. On the other hand, the lower level of stearic acid and estimated activity of plasma elongase was detected in female players than in sedentary women. Furthermore, higher proportion of linoleic acid (18:2, n-6), n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and total PUFA was found only in female players in comparison to the control group. Conclusion. The observed differences between handball players and sedentary individuals showed that handball training influenced lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Follow-up of these changes could indicate potential need for supplementation or nutritional intervention in young handball players.Uvod/Cilj. Konsenzus o uticaju treniranja na metabolizam masnih kiselina nije postignut, a taj uticaj verovatno zavisi od tipa sporta - aerobno, anaerobno ili mešovito vežbanje. Cilj ove studije bio je da se ispita efekat dugotrajnog, aktivnog treniranja rukometa na telesnu kompoziciju, profil lipida i masnih kiselina fosfolipida plazme kod mlađih kategorija rukometaša oba pola. Metode. U studiju je bilo uključeno 17 devojaka i 15 mladića, starosne dobi od 16 do 20 godina koji treniraju rukomet i takmiče se na nacionalnom i internacionalnom nivou. Kontrolnu grupu činilo je 13 devojaka i 19 mladića starosti od 17 do 21 godine, koji su bili uporedivi sa sportistima po godinama, polu i indeksu telesne mase. Rezultati. Procenat palmitoleinske i alfa-linolenske kiseline (18:3, n-3) bio značajno viši, dok je procenat oleinske i dokozaheksaenske kiseline (22:6, n-3) bio značajno niži u fosfolipidima plazme kod obe grupe sportista u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Sa druge strane, niži nivo stearinske kiseline i procenjene aktivnosti elongaze, ali i visok nivo linolne kiseline (18:2, n-6), ukupnih n-6 masnih kiselina, kao i ukupnih polinezasićenih masnih kiselina, utvrđen je kod rukometašica u odnosu na ispitanice iz kontrolne grupe, dok u grupi muškaraca nisu utvrđene takve razlike. Zaključak. Utvrđene razlike između rukometaša i rukometašica, sa jedne strane, i kontrolne grupe, sa druge strane, ukazale su na to da treniranje rukometa utiče na metabolizam lipida i masnih kiselina. Praćenje tih promena moglo bi ukazati na moguću potrebu za suplementacijom kod mladih rukometaša i rukometašica

Antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and weight-lowering effects of "Vitalplant"

BACKGROUND: "VITALPLANT" medicinal plant mixture, aimed at body weight regulation and metabolism enhancement was formulated in order to be incorporated as an ingredient in functional food formulations on the basis of known biological activity of the alder buckthorn bark, peppermint, caraway and parsley. METHODOLOGY: The body weight-lowering potential, hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of "Vitalplant" mixture were examined on five groups of male Wistar rats on different food regimes for 14 weeks. RESULTS: "Vitalplant" mixture supplementation caused an increase in food intake, but induced a decrease in body weight gain. The lipid status and atherogenic index (AI) were significantly improved in "Vitalplant" mixture supplemented hyperlipidemic (HF) groups in comparison to HF group. "Vitalplant" mixture was able to influence the activity of antioxidant enzymes and to protect erythrocytes of the rats fed the HF diet from oxidative damage, which was indicated by significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in "Vitalplant"- HF groups in comparison to the HF group. CONCLUSION: "Vitalplant" mixture seemed to be beneficial for the reduction of body weight and improvement of antioxidant status of the erythrocytes, and its antihyperlipidemic property was highly active for enhancing the profile of plasma lipids in rats

Effect of Sex Hormones on Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition in Intact Rats and Rats With Bilaterally Occluded Carotid Arteries

The effects of 8-days treatment with 17 alpha-estradiol (33.3 mu g/kg) and progesterone (1.7 mg/kg) on plasma lipids and fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids were examined in intact (INT) and bilaterally common carotid arteries occluded (BCO) male Wistar rats. Significant decrease of triglyceride level was found in BCO rats after the estradiol treatment. Both hormones elevated proportion of 18:1n-7 fatty acid in INT, but they failed to have such an effect in BCO. Estradiol increased 22:5n-3 and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in intact, and decreased 18:2n-6 in BCO rats. Significantly lower level of total n-3 was found in progesterone-treated than in estradiol-treated BCO rats. Given that n-3 PUFA have many beneficial effects on cell and tissue function, while n-6 PUFA have mostly the opposite effects, estradiol, rather than progesterone, was seen to improve plasma lipids and phospholipids FA profiles in INT and BCO animals. Estradiol significantly elevated the estimated activity of Delta 9-desaturases and progesterone of Delta 5-desaturase in BCO group, with no effects in INT rats

Prva apoteka u Vranju sa diplomiranim farmaceutom i njen dalji razvoj

nema</jats:p

Mleko u ljudskoj ishrani - poređenje profila masnih kiselina

Milk and milk products are very important in human nutrition. Fatty acids (FA), which are the major component of milk lipids, have different effects on human health. The aim of this study was to determine and compare fatty acid composition of human milk, infant formula and cow's milk most often consumed in Serbian population. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Our results showed that saturated FA were predominant in all types of milk, particularly in cow's milk with more than 70%. Monounsaturated oleic acid was significantly higher in human milk (36%) than in infants formula (30%) and cow's milk (26%). Although polyunsaturated FA content of cow's milk was very low (3.6%) compared with infant formula (15%) and human milk (19%), cow's milk had the most desirable n6/n3 ratio, and content of n-3 precursor α-linolenic acid. Low content of n-3 FA may be due to a relatively low consumption of marine foods in Serbian population. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are important in infant development and maintenance of overall human health, were detected only in human milk. These results suggest that human milk is the most desirable food in infants' nutrition, but low content of n-3 FA indicates that supplementation of lactating women with n-3 FA is highly recommendable.Mleko i mlečni proizvodi su od velikog značaja za ljudsku ishranu. Masne kiseline (MK), koje su glavna komponenta lipida mleka, imaju različite efekte na zdravlje. Iz tog razloga, cilj ove studije je bio da se odredi i uporedi sastav masnih kiselina u humanom mleku, formuli za ishranu novorođenčadi i kravljem mleku, koji se uobičajeno konzumiraju u Srbiji. Uzorci su analizirani gasnom hromatografijom. Naši rezultati su ukazali da su zasićene MK najzastupljenije u svim tipovima mleka, posebno u kravljem, gde čine više od 70% ukupnih MK. Mononezasićena oleinska kiselina bila je značajno zastupljenija u humanom mleku (36%) nego u formuli (30%) i kravljem mleku (26%). Mada su polinezasićene MK u kravljem mleku zastupljene u vrlo niskom procentu (3.6%) u poređenju sa formulom (15%) i humanim mlekom (19%), kravlje mleko je imalo najpoželjniji odnos n6/n3 MK, i sadržaj n-3 prekursora α-linoleinske kiseline. Nizak sadržaj n-3 MK u humanom mleku je posledica slabe zastupljenosti morskih plodova u ishrani u Srbiji. Dugolančane polinezasićene MK, koje su od izuzetnog značaja za razvoj novorođenčadi i očuvanje zdravlja uopšte, detektovane su samo u humanom mleku. Ovi rezultati ukazuju da je humano mleko najpoželjnija hrana za novorođenčad, ali nizak sadržaj n-3 MK ukazuje da je suplementacija dojilja preparatima n-3 MK veoma preporučljiva