Causes for Deficient Coverage of MMR Vaccine in the Balkan States and the Way Forward

Objectives: To evaluate the causes for low MMR vaccination coverage in the 9 Balkan States, and provide solutions for this public health concern. Methods: Credible articles published 5 years ago, from 2012 up to date were sought for, to ascertain and analyze information on the cause for low MMR vaccine coverage in the Balkan States, and also to provide strategies for mitigation. These journals were sought for in the following reference libraries available online: PubMed, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, the World Health Organization, the Cochrane Library, Popline, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Centre for Disease and Control, and Google/Google Scholar. Results: This study evaluated MMR vaccinations in nine Balkan States (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia and Romania) from 2012 to 2016. While Albania ranked highest in maintaining the WHO recommended 95% vaccination coverage, other states fluctuated in their percentage of coverage with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Romania having the lowest coverage respectively. Conclusion: Socio-economic and Administrative factors have been the major challenge affecting MMR vaccination coverage in the Balkan States. Anti-vaccination movements recently increased their influence by encouraging the rejection of vaccination by parents. To curb these challenges, research institutes and governmental agencies should sensitize the society about the benefits of vaccination in children and further publicize clinical trials of vaccines in order to prove their safety and efficacy to the public. Keywords: MMR vaccination, vaccine coverage, measles, public health

YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS ON SOME WHEAT VARIETIES GROWN IN ALEKSINAC REGION

Yield and yield components of 5 wheat varieties (Kruna, Toplica, Zvezdana, Etida, Angelina) in Aleksinac region (Serbia) were analysed. The experiment was performed in randomized block design in 3 replications on the experimental field in area of Aleksinac city. The results showed relatively high yields in all varieties. The general average yield was 6140 kg ha-1. The highest average yield varied from 6858 kg ha-1 in cultivar Zvezdana to 5050 kg ha-1 in Toplica. The cultivar Kruna showed lowest number of productive stems per square meter – 572, and largest number in Zvezdana and Angelina, with an average of 658 and 641, respectively. Average longest spike was found in variety Angelina 12.4 cm, and shortest in Toplica (9.8 cm). The average number of spikelets per spike for all cultivars was 19.4. Cultivar Angelina showed biggest number (21.1), and Kruna smallest number (17.9). The biggest number of grains per spike was obtained in cultivar Etida (54.8), and lowest in Zvezdana (51.4). During the examination, the highest average value for hectoliter weight is obtained in variety Zvezdana (78.3 kg hl-1), and lowest in Toplica (75.4 kg hl-1). From the data on yield and yield components, it can be concluded that all tested varieties can be grown in the region of Aleksinac, with preference to varieties Zvezdana and Etida

HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF PRESERVATIVES IN BEVERAGES

Benzoic and sorbic acids, and their sodium, potassium and calcium salts are widely used as preservatives in acidic foods and beverages. They inhibit the growth of molds and yeasts, and are also effective against wide range of bacteria which explains the benefit of their usage. The health effects have led to limitation on the concentrations that can be used in food and beverages. Because of that, the analytical determination of these preservatives is important for consumer interest and protection. Therefore, a new reversed-phased HPLC method for a fast, simple, accurate and precise determination of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate in different beverages is developed. In this purpose, a HPLC system equipped with UV diode array detection is employed. Separation and determination of investigated preservatives are performed using Purospher® STAR RP-18 (30 mm x 4 mm; 3 μm) analytical column. Methanol/phosphate buffer (pH = 3.70) (20/80, V/V) is used as a mobile phase, with flow rate of 1 mL/min, constant column temperature of 25°C and UV detection at 225 nm and 255 nm. Successful separation conditions are obtained using an isocratic elution within 6 min. Accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and linearity range are evaluated. The separation factor value of 1.128 showed that this method can be successfully used for simultaneousdetermination of benzoates and sorbates. The obtained data indicated that the concentration of investigated preservatives found in the analyzed beverages available on the local Macedonian markets is in accordance with Macedonian maximum levels for food safety

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SPEED RRLC METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN APPLE JUICE

Possibilities of normal-phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography methods for determination of methomyl, methidathion and propiconazole residues in apple juice were studied. The investigations were carried out on various analytical columns using RRLC (Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography) system coupled with UV-Vis diode array detector. The best conditions for separation and quantitative determination of tested pesticides were obtained using reversed-phase mode and Purospher® Star RP-18 endcapped (30 mm × 4 mm; 3 μm) column. Fast and simple method for direct determination of methidathion and propiconazole in different apple juice matrix was developed. In accordance to European Commission regulation the tested parameters for method validation (selectivity, linearity, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification and accuracy) were satisfied

SPE-RRLC DETERMINATION OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN APPLE JUICE

This paper presents the development of RRLC (Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography) method for simultaneous determination of pesticides methomyl, methidathion and propiconazole in different clear apple juice samples. The experiments are performed using rapid resolution liquid chromatography system coupled with UV-VIS diode array detector. The developed high speed reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography method is carried out on the Purospher® Star RP-18 endcapped (30 mm × 4 mm; 3 μm) column, mobile phase consists of acetonitrille and water (50/50, V/V), flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature at 25 ºC and UV detection at 220 nm and 235 nm. Prior to RRLC analysis, the samples are cleaned up and concentrated using a solid-phase extraction (SPE). To assess the validity of the developed method, the following parameters are examined: selectivity, linearity, repeatability (precision), limit of detection, limit of quantification and accuracy

QSAR Modeling of Antimicrobial Activity of some <em>p-substituted</em> Aromatic Hydrazones

550-555QSAR analysis of a series of previously synthesized p-substituted aromatic hydrazones tested for growth inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis, was performed using several physicochemical descriptors: Surface tension (ST), Molar Refraction (MR), Molar Volume (MV), Parachor (Pc), Index of Refractivity (η); Density (D) and Polarizability (α). Two-parameter models were obtained and validated by using several statistical parameters: R; R2adj; F-test; Sd; Rped; PRESS/SSY; Q2; SPRESS; PSE and Q. Both the parameters (D and α) contributing to statistically best model (model 16) have positive input to the modeling of biological activity of selected hydrazones