Bee Colony Optimization - part II: The application survey

Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) is a meta-heuristic method based on foraging habits of honeybees. This technique was motivated by the analogy found between the natural behavior of bees searching for food and the behavior of optimization algorithms searching for an optimum in combinatorial optimization problems. BCO has been successfully applied to various hard combinatorial optimization problems, mostly in transportation, location and scheduling fields. There are some applications in the continuous optimization field that have appeared recently. The main purpose of this paper is to introduce the scientific community more closely with BCO by summarizing its existing successful applications. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI174010, OI174033, TR36002] Document type: Articl

Gender Imbalance in the Number of PhD Physicists and in Key Decision-Making Positions in the Republic of Serbia

In Serbia, one of the former republics of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, men and women have equal access to higher education and professional employment. However, in practice, this equality is not always realized. In this paper we describe the status of women in physics in Serbia, focusing on student gender ratios and on positions held. The financial contributions of the Serbian government to the scientific sector are not sufficient. Many young physicists enter the information technology sector, where they can earn higher salaries. In addition, the lack of career opportunities motivates scientists to go abroad, so each year, more and more young people leave Serbia. Today, many young Serbian physicists plan their departure during their studies and leave the country immediately after graduation. We present statis- tical data for the last several years, reviewing the percentage of women who are pursuing physics as a subject of study or a profession. We report gender ratios at various career stages. Teaching at the primary and high-school level is the main professional activity for female physicists in Serbia. Even though a large percentage (about 50%) of Serbian physicists are female, few women hold positions in which decisions about scientific and educational policy are made. When women achieve leadership positions, their educational attainments often outstrip those required for the positions. Only six women have a high-level management position

Pregled klinički značajnih interakcija u terapiji kardiovaskularnih bolesti kod pacijenata na prijemu u bolnicu

Clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are expected in patients with cardiovascular diseases due to the number of drugs in therapy. The aim of the research was to analyze DDIs during treatment which preceeded the admission to the cardiology department. In the cardiology department of the Clinical Hospital Center Zvezdara, the treatment of patients with ≥2 drugs before admission was analyzed. DDIs were identified using the Lexicomp database (Lexi-Interact). Data were analyzed descriptively and with linear regression analysis. During research, out of 132 participants 88.6% had ≥1, while 41.7% had ≥5 DDIs. The total number of DDIs was 648 (median 3, range 0-19). Men constituted 64.4% of the population, with a median age of 70 years (32-90). Patients had 4 diagnoses (1-13) and 6 medications on admission (2-15). In 3.8% of patients, contraindicated DDIs of anticholinergics were observed, 23.5% had DDIs that required caution or a change in therapy, while interactions requiring follow-up were observed in 86.4% of patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (30.4%), acetylsalicylic acid (26.6%) and loop diuretics (16.5%) were most frequently involved in DDIs, while the most common adverse events could be renal failure (21.5%), hypotension 19.7%) and bleeding (13.7%). The number of drugs in therapy was a predictor of DDIs (p <0.001). Patients with cardiovascular disease are often exposed to polypharmacy and consequently DDIs. Cardiovascular drugs were most frequently involved in DDIs, but contraindicated DDIs were present in anticholinergic drugs. In patients with cardiovascular diseases, monitoring of renal function, hypotension and bleeding is required.Klinički značajne interakcije (KZI) očekuju se kod pacijenata sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima usled većeg broja lekova u terapiji. Cilj istraživanja je bio da se identifikuju i analiziraju KZI pacijenata koje su prethodile prijemu na odeljenje kardiologije. U Kliničko- bolničkom centru Zvezdara, na odeljenju kardiologije, analizirana je terapija pacijenata sa ≥2 leka pre prijema. KZI su identifikovane upotrebom baze Lexicomp (Lexi-Interact). Podaci su analizirani deskriptivno i primenom linearne regresione analize. Od 132 učesnika u istraživanju 88,6% je imalo ≥1, dok je 41,7% imalo ≥5 KZI. Ukupan broj KZI bio je 648 (medijana 3, opseg 0-19). U populaciji je bilo 64,4% muškaraca medijane starosti 70 godina (32-90). Pacijenti su imali 4 dijagnoze (1-13) i 6 lekova na prijemu (2-15). Kod 3,8% pacijenata utvrđene su KZI antiholinergika koje se smatraju kontraindikovanim. Približno jedna četvrtina pacijenata (23,5%) je imala KZI koja zahteva oprez ili izmenu u terapiji dok su kod 86,4% pacijenata uočene interakcije koje zahtevaju praćenje ishoda. Najčešće su u KZI stupali inhibitori angiotenzin-konvertujućeg enzima (30,4%), acetilsalicilna kiselina (26,6%) i diuretici petlje (16,5%) dok su najčešći neželjeni ishodi mogli biti bubrežna insuficijencija (21,5%), hipotenzija (19,7%) i krvarenje (13,7%). Broj lekova u terapiji bio je prediktor za KZI (p<0,001). Pacijenti sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima su često izloženi polifarmaciji i posledično većem broju KZI. U KZI su najčešće stupali lekovi u terapiji kardiovaskularnih bolesti ali su kontraindikovane KZI bile zastupljene kod antiholinergičkih lekova. Kod pacijenata sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima potrebno je praćenje renalne funkcije, hipotenzije i krvarenja.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

Terapijski problemi pacijenata sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima na prijemu u bolnicu

In patients with cardiovascular diseases drug-related problems (DRPs) can be associated with hospitalization or rehospitalization. The aim of the research was to analyse DRPs in the cardiology department on admission to the hospital. All patient records on admission to the cardiology department of the Clinical Hospital Center Zvezdara during 2018., were analyzed. Demographic and treatment data of the patient before admission to the hospital were collected. DRPs associated with pre-hospital treatment were identified and classified according to the PCNE (Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe, version 9.1) classification. DRPs were also evaluated as cause of the patient's hospitalization. Data were analyzed descriptively and with linear regression analysis. During the research period, 143 patients were admitted to the cardiology department, with an average age of 69.75 ± 10.11 years, of which 65.7% were male. Patients had an average of 4.36±2.13 diagnoses and 5.24±3.39 medications on admission. We observed 1.85±1.37 DRPs per patient (range 0-5). The most common DRP (75.6%) was lack of ≥1 drugs in the therapy preceding the admission, most often statins (30.1% of patients), beta-blockers (25.9%), angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors (17.5%) and antiarrhythmics/anticoagulants (12.6%). In 96 patients (67.1%) the identified DRPs could be associated with the cause of hospitalization. Atrial fibrillation was the predictor of the number of DRPs in patients (p <0.001). In most cardiovascular patients, the cause of hospitalization could be associated with DRPs before admission. Incomplete therapy of the patient was commonly observed, the cause of which may be inadequate prescribing or lack of adherence of the patient.Pacijenti sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima susreću se sa brojnim problemima u terapiji od kojih pojedini mogu biti uzrok hospitalizacije ili rehospitalizacije. Cilj istraživanja je bio da se prikaže analiza terapijskih problema pacijenata na odeljenju kardiologije, prilikom prijema u bolnicu. Analizirani su kartoni svih pacijenata primljenih na odeljenje kardiologije, Kliničko-bolničkog centra Zvezdara tokom 2018. godine. Prikupljeni su demografski i podaci o celokupnoj terapiji pacijenta pre prijema u bolnicu. Identifikovani su problemi u vezi sa terapijom pre prijema u bolnicu i klasifikovani su prema PCNE (Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe, verzija 9.1) klasifikaciji. Takođe, procenjeno je da li problemi u vezi sa terapijom mogu biti uzrok hospitalizacije pacijenta. Podaci su analizirani deskriptivno i primenom linearne regresione analize. U periodu istraživanja 143 pacijenta je primljeno na odeljenje kardiologije, prosečne starosti 69,75±10,11 godina, od kojih je 65,7% bilo muškog pola. Pacijenti su u proseku imali 4,36±2,13 dijagnoze i 5,24±3,39 lekova na prijemu. Utvrđeno je prisustvo 1,85±1,37 terapijskih problema po pacijentu (opseg 0-5). Najčešći terapijski problem (75,6%) bio je nedostatak ≥1 leka u terapiji i to najčešće statina (30,1% pacijenata), beta-blokatora (25,9%), inhibitora angiotenzin-konvertujućeg enzima (17,5%) i antiaritmika/anitkoagulanasa (12,6%). Kod 96 pacijenata (67,1%) su identifikovani terapijski problemi dovedeni u vezu sa uzrokom hospitalizacije. Prediktivni faktor za broj terapijskih problema kod pacijenata je bilo prisustvo atrijalne fibrilacije u anamnezi (p<0,001). Uzrok hospitalizacije pacijenata sa kardiovaskularnim bolestima se često može povezati sa problemima u terapiji pre prijema. Najčešće se uočava nepotpuna terapija pacijenta čiji uzrok može biti neodgovarajuće propisivanje ili nedostatak adherence pacijenta.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

ACTIVITIES OF PROXIMAL TUBULE ENZYMES AND ALBUMIN CONCENTRATION IN URINE OF CHILDREN TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE

In order to study methotrexate nephrotoxicity, the activities of proximal tubule epithelial cell membrane enzymes: alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as of lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary albumin concentrations were determined in 12-h-urine samples of 30 patients with lymphoblastomous leukemia. The patients were i.v. receiving 4 individual methotrexate doses of 2000 mg/m2 every 15 days followed by leucovorin as a protector. Control and methotrexate-treated group, each consisting of 30 examinees, included 4–10 years old children of both sexes.Statistically significant increase of AAP and GGT activities, expressed as U/mmol creatinine was observed after the first two (p < 0.05), as well as after the remaining two therapies (p < 0.01) in relation to the control. Enzymatic activities of these two enzymes decreased to control value before the second and the third methotrexate application, but they increased again after the third application and remained elevated up to the end of experiments. Significant increase of NAG activity expressed as U/mmol creatinine (p < 0.01), as well as urinary albumin levels (mg/mmol creatinine; p < 0.01) were registered after the third methotrexate therapy and this elevation of the same statistical significance of the differences remained stable till the end of the therapy. Based on these results it can be concluded that during the time period of two first applications nephrotoxic methotrexate action is reversible and at the level of proximal tubule epithelial cell membranes. During the last two applications impairment is irreversible and at the level of cell organelles and glomerular filtration.In order to study methotrexate nephrotoxicity, the activities of proximal tubule epithelial cell membrane enzymes: alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as of lysosomal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary albumin concentrations were determined in 12-h-urine samples of 30 patients with lymphoblastomous leukemia. The patients were i.v. receiving 4 individual methotrexate doses of 2000 mg/m2 every 15 days followed by leucovorin as a protector. Control and methotrexate-treated group, each consisting of 30 examinees, included 4–10 years old children of both sexes.Statistically significant increase of AAP and GGT activities, expressed as U/mmol creatinine was observed after the first two (p < 0.05), as well as after the remaining two therapies (p < 0.01) in relation to the control. Enzymatic activities of these two enzymes decreased to control value before the second and the third methotrexate application, but they increased again after the third application and remained elevated up to the end of experiments. Significant increase of NAG activity expressed as U/mmol creatinine (p < 0.01), as well as urinary albumin levels (mg/mmol creatinine; p < 0.01) were registered after the third methotrexate therapy and this elevation of the same statistical significance of the differences remained stable till the end of the therapy. Based on these results it can be concluded that during the time period of two first applications nephrotoxic methotrexate action is reversible and at the level of proximal tubule epithelial cell membranes. During the last two applications impairment is irreversible and at the level of cell organelles and glomerular filtration

ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE ENZYME AND LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN URINE OF PATIENTS TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE

In order study methotrexate nephrotoxicity, the activities of proximal tubule epithelial cell membrane enzymes: alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in 12-h-urine samples of 30 patients with lymphoblastomous leukemia. The patients were i.v. receiving 4 individual methotrexate doses of 2000 mg/m2 every 15 days followed by leucovorin as a protector. Control and methotrexate-treated group, each consisting of 30 examinees, included 4-10 years old children of both sexes. Statistically significant increase of AP and LDH activities, expressed as unuts/mmol creatinine was observed after the second therapy (p < 0.05) in relation to the control. Based on these results it can concluded that nephrotoxic methotrexate action is ireversible during the time period after the second applications at the level of proximal tubule epithelal cell.In order study methotrexate nephrotoxicity, the activities of proximal tubule epithelial cell membrane enzymes: alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in 12-h-urine samples of 30 patients with lymphoblastomous leukemia. The patients were i.v. receiving 4 individual methotrexate doses of 2000 mg/m2 every 15 days followed by leucovorin as a protector. Control and methotrexate-treated group, each consisting of 30 examinees, included 4-10 years old children of both sexes. Statistically significant increase of AP and LDH activities, expressed as unuts/mmol creatinine was observed after the second therapy (p < 0.05) in relation to the control. Based on these results it can concluded that nephrotoxic methotrexate action is ireversible during the time period after the second applications at the level of proximal tubule epithelal cel

The impact of educational reform and categorization of scientific journals and scientists on physics in Serbia

The trend of the increasing participation and importance of female physicists in Serbia continues. Many women have taken leading position in research and faculty governance and are contributing significantly to educational reform and the improvement of physics education in the primary and secondary schools

The impact of PTEN tumor suppressor gene on acquiring resistance to tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer patients

Tamoxifen is a standard therapeutical treatment in patients with estrogen receptor positive breast carcinoma. However, less than 50% of estrogen receptor positive breast cancers do not respond to tamoxifen treatment whereas 40% of tumors that initially respond to treatment develop resistance over time. The underlying mechanisms for tamoxifen resistance are probably multifactorial but remain largely unknown. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of PTEN tumor suppressor gene on acquiring resistance to tamoxifen by analyzing loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and immunohystochemical expression of PTEN in 49 primary breast carcinomas of patients treated with tamoxifen as the only adjuvant therapy. The effect of PTEN inactivation on breast cancer progression and disease outcome was also analyzed. Reduced or completely lost PTEN expression was observed in 55.1% of samples, while 63.3% of samples displayed LOH of PTEN gene. Inactivation of PTEN immunoexpression significantly correlated with the PTEN loss of heterozygosity, suggesting LOH as the most important genetic mechanism for the reduction or complete loss of PTEN expression in primary breast carcinoma. Most importantly, LOH of PTEN and consequential reduction of its immunoexpression showed significant correlation with the recurrence of the disease. Besides, our study revealed that LOH of PTEN tumor suppressor was significantly associated with shorter disease free survival, breast cancer specific survival and overall survival. In summary, our results imply that LOH of PTEN could be used as a good prognostic characteristic for the outcome of breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen