Development of new material for the environmental-friendly energy generation processes

The aim of this study was to develop a new material which has high hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen absorption/desorption rate. This material, which is based on cobalt powder onto which palladium was chemically deposited can be used in environmentally friendly energy generation processes, thus ensuring preventive protection of human health. Hydrogen absorption was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by measuring hydrogen pressure under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions in a chamber containing either pure cobalt powder either cobalt powder onto which palladium was chemically deposited (Co-0.003 Pd). The mechanism of hydrogen absorption has been described. It was noticed that palladium catalyses hydrogen absorption by dissociating the adsorbed H2 molecules into H atoms more rapidly on its own atoms than on cobalt ones. The catalysis of dissociation of H2 molecules enabled hydrogen absorption into Co-0.003 Pd powder to occur at lower temperatures. The results of this study enable integration of technological and public health investigation in order to ensure preventive protection of human health through enviromental protection

Cultural Adaptation and Examination of Metric Characteristics Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ) On a Sample of Pharmacists in Serbia

Introduction: Due to the nature of work in pharmacies pharmacists may occur job burnout, which can affect the quality of health services. It is necessary to use validated instruments to test the burnout. One type of instrument is Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ). Objective: The primary objectives of this work are: cultural adaptation and assessment metric characteristics of SMBQ in a population of pharmacists in Serbia. Alternative objective is evaluate the degree of burnout in the pharmacist population. Methods: For comparison Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used. All licensed pharmacists have received an email by the Pharmaceutical Chamber of Serbia, with a link for accessing the questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed by 514 pharmacists. Results and Discussion: Professional translators carried out the translation using translation steps like forward translation and backward translation. Were calculated following metric characteristics: alpha - reliability coefficient Cronbach and associates; beta - the reliability of the first principal component; psi 1 - representativeness; h1 - the homogeneity (the average correlation of scale items), extent of curvature, horizontal (Skewness) and vertical (Kurtosis). Correlations between subscales are examined. Latent structure SMBQ (maximumlikelihud extraction) is examined. To select a number of factors, the method of parallel analysis was used. For calculation number of latent factors the Hull method was applied. Concurrent validity was examined by correlating the results of the questionnaire SMBQ and MBI. To confirm a one factor solution of the scale, factor analysis was used. Conclusion: All methods show that it is best to keep only one factor. SMBQ satisfies theoretical statistical criteria of reliability and validity and can be used to estimate job burnout at pharmacist population

Procena težine oštećenja sluha kod obolelih od dijabetesa melitusa tip 2

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine diabetes mellitus tip 2 influence on the incidence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss. Methods. The prospective case control study was done during 2013 among 132 patients, whose age range was 21-84 years, who were admitted to ENT department of the Health Center Kragujevac for evaluation of hearing loss. We performed detailed history, complete otorhinolaryngological examination including otoscopy, tympanometry and tonal liminal audiometry. All subjects were divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 67 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and the control group included age and gender matched subjects. We used tonal liminar audiometry for evaluation of the existence and the degree of hearing loss. The mean value obtained by tonal liminar audiometry at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, greater than 25 dB was considered as a hearing loss. Data was statistically analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods, t-test and x2-test using standard statistical software package (SPSS for Windows, version 19.0). Results. There was sensorineural hearing loss in all patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. The frequency and degree of sensorineural hearing loss were statistically significantly higher in the group with diabetes mellitus patient compared to the control group (p lt 0.05). Conclusion. The results indicate that diabetes mellitus type 2 patients often have significant hearing loss, which is very easy to establish by using tonal liminar audiometry, suggesting that these patients should be referred to the assessment of the impairment.Cilj. Cilj stidije bio je da se utvrdi uticaj dijabetesa melitusa tip 2 na ispoljavanje i težinu senzorineuralnog oštećenja sluha kod obolelih u poređenju s kontrolnom grupom, jednakom po polu i uzrastu. Metode. Opservaciona prospektivna studija slučajeva i kontrola sprovedene su tokom 2013. godine na 132 ispitanika, uzrasta 21-84 godine, koji su zbog gubitka sluha pregledani na ORL odeljenju specijalističko-konsultativne službe Doma zdravlja Kragujevac. Kod ispitanika su primenjeni: detaljna anamneza, kompletan otorinolaringološki pregled, uključujući i otoskopiju, timpanometriju i tonalnu liminalnu audiometriju. Svi ispitanicipodeljeni su u dve grupe. Prvu grupu činilo je 67 ispitanika sa dijagnostikovanim dijabetesom melitusom tip 2, dok je u drugoj grupi, adekvatnoj po starosnoj i polnoj zastupljenosti, bilo 65 ispitanika, i ona je predstavljala kontrolnu grupu. Primenom tonalne liminalne audiometrije utvrđeni su postojanje i stepen oštećenja sluha. Srednja vrednost dobijenih rezultata, na frekvencijama 500, 1.000, 2.000 i 4.000 Hz, veća od 25 dB smatrana je oštećenjem sluha. Podaci su statistički obrađeni primenom deskriptivnog metoda, t-testa i x2-testa standardnim statističkim paketom (SPSS za Windows, verzija 19.0). Rezultati. Kod svih ispitanika obolelih od dijabetesa melitusa tip 2 postoji senzorineuralno oštećenje sluha. Uočeno je da kod obolelih od dijabetesa melitusa tip 2 postoji statističtí značajno povišena učestalost i težina senzorineuralnog ostećenja sluha (p lt 0,05) u odnosu na pripadnike kontrolne grupe. Zaključak. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju na to da oboleli od dijabetesa melitusa tip 2 često imaju znatno oštećenje sluha koje je veoma jednostavno utvrditi tonalnom liminarnom audiometrijom i sugerišu da ove bolesnika treba upućivati na procenu stanja sluha

PROŠLOST, SADAŠNJOST I BUDUĆNOST STUDIJA ANGLO-AMERIČKE KULTURE NA DEPARTMANU ZA ANGLISTIKU

Following the example of the European and American universities in the last three decades, the English Department of the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš has introduced seven courses dealing with the particulars of foreign cultures - British, American, Canadian, Australian, Irish, Scottish and African American studies - all evolving over the years to encompass both the historical and the contemporary socio-political contexts necessary for educating language and literature students - future teachers - and provide them with the background knowledge indispensable for teaching language and literature in context. At the English Department, the mandatory introductory courses in cultural studies are complemented by electives that provide a deeper understanding of both the theoretical concepts and theories pertaining to cultural studies, and the specifics of individual Anglo-American nations and their cultures.U poslednjih trideset godina, Departman za anglistiku Filozofskog fakulteta u Nišu je, sledeći primer evropskih i američkih univerziteta, u svoj program uvrstio sedam predmeta koji se bave pojedinostima britanske, američke, kanadske, australijske, irske, škotske i afroameričke kulture. Ovi predmeti razvijali su se tokom godina tako da svojim sadržajem obuhvate istorijske i društveno-političke kontekste specifične za pojedinačne kulture, i pruže studentima jezika i književnosti, budućim nastavnicima, znanja koja su u nastavi jezika i drugim srodnim zanimanjima neophodna. Na Departmanu za anglistiku, obavezne predmete iz oblasti studija kulture prate i izborni predmeti koji pružaju bolji uvid u pojedinosti teorija i koncepata potrebnih za uspešno kritičko sagledavanje kultura, kao i specifičnosti pojedinačnih anglo-američkih nacija i njihovih kultura

Cardiac troponin as biochemical marker of perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic myocardial injury

Background/Aim. Myocardial cell lesion in newborns may be clinically occult. In recent years there has been shown growing interest in the use of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) in relation to perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic myocardial lesion. The aim of this study was to determine a relationship between high cTnI levels and outcome in critically ill newborns with perinatal asphyxia. Methods. In this study 78 patients were divided into three groups. The group I included 39 newborns (15 term and 24 preterm) with perinatal asphyxia, with no deaths, only full or partial (with some neurological sequels) recovery. The group II included 10 newborns (6 preterm and 4 term), with perinatal asphyxia who died, with critical cardio-respiratory problems and multiorgan dysfunction. The group III included 29 healthy term newborns. A level of cTnI in all three groups was measured within 24-48 hours after delivery. Results. A statistically significant higher value of cTnI (0.082 μg/l ± 0.166) was found in group I than in the group III (healthy newborns). In the group I, 21/39 newborns required respiratory and 16/39 required pressure support. In the group II, the largest average value of cTnI of 0.425 ± 0.307 was found. All of the newborns in the group II required respiratory and pressure support. In the group III the lowest average value of cTnI (0.0186 μg/L ± 0.0286) was found. Conclusions. High cTnI levels could be used as markers of perinatal asphyxia and even as predictors of future outcomes and/or mortality

The level of knowledge of students of medical faculty kragujevac about nosocomial infections

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in clinical and pre-clinical medical students' knowledge of nosocomial infections (NI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Questionnaires were answered and returned by 352 of 453 student (77.7 %). The results indicated that students knew the definition of NI (70.1 % correct answers) and their reservoirs (86 %). The bacteria as etiological agents was the most frequent answer (76.4 %), but 30.9 % students did not knew at least one multidrug-resistant bacteria. About one half of the students (54.4 %) knew that contact was the most frequent mode of NI transmission, but hand washing as preventive measure was cited by only 18.8 % of students. Significantly statistical differences about NI in our country, etiology NI and preventive measures, and perception of risk for transmission of hepatitis B for health-care personnel were founded by year of training, by expectation that final-year medical students as more successfully, while pre-clinical students knew more about mode of NI transmission. Pre-clinical students who had previously finished nursing school knew more about multidrug-resistant bacteria than those who had finished some other secondary school, but showed a lower knowledge about definition and most important preventive measures of NI. Clinical students who had previously finished nursing school knew more about frequency NI in our country, reservoirs and preventive measures of NI than those who had finished some other secondary school. CONCLUSION: Data support the need for additional information about nosocomial infections, especially practical work in prevention, in order to get complete knowledge about nosocomial infections

Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein - inflammation biomarker in knee osteoarthritis

Chondrocytes and synovial cells synthesize Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) when activated by proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare ultrasound parameters of joint inflammation, effusion and synovitis with the levels of COMP in the serum of patients with primary osteoarthritis. Ultrasound was done and the concentration of COMP (ng/mL was examined in 88 patients. 75% of patients had effusion (size 10.13±4.35 mm), 62.5% had effusion in lateral recessus (LR), 28.4% (size 8.53±2.27 mm) in suprapatelar (SR), and 27.3% (size 11.38±4.44 mm) in medial (MR). 67% of patients had synovitis size 4.84±3.57 mm in SR, 3.15±1.86 mm in MR; and 6.09±2.80 mm in LR. 17.0% of patients had nodular type of synovitis, 30.7% had diffusive, and 19.3% nodular – diffusive. There was a significant link between the size of synovitis and effusion in SR (r=0.966, p=0.000), MR (r=0.812, p=0.009) and LR (r=0.886, p=0.003). The median of COMP concentration was 54 (44.5-58) ng/mL in patients without effusion. In those with effusion it was 57 (48.75-64.25) ng/mL (p=0.030). Without synovitis it was 52 (45.5-58) ng/mL, with synovitis 58 (50-66) ng/mL, (p=0.006), diffusion type synovitis 60 (50-67) ng/mL, nodular 57 (50-62) ng/mL, nodular-diffusion 54 (44.5-66.5) ng/mL (p=0.014). With longer osteophytes the median of COMP was 56 (48-64) ng/mL, with shorter osteophytes 55 (46.5-59) ng/mL (p=0.000). Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein has a moderate significance in the assessment of disturbance of the metabolism of synovial and cartilage tissue in patients with knee osteoarthritis (sensitivity=59%; specificity=50%; cut off=53.5 ng/mL)

The efficacy of moxifloxacin in patients with bacterial keratitis

Background/Aim. Keratitis is a sociomedical problem of moderately developed countries. including Serbia, too. The incidence of bacterial keratitis in the world is about 20% in relation to all keratitis, but its frequency in Serbia is still not known. Bearing in mind the complications in the front segment of the eye after bacterial keratitis (ulcer, neovascularization, fibrosis) and decline in visual acuity, it was necessary to assess the efficacy of local therapy by moxifloxacin which will shorten the healing time and reduce complications. The aim of the study was to analyze the efficiency of shortening the treatment of bacterial keratitis with moxifloxacin. Methods. The study was designed as prospective, randomized, double-blind study. The study included 30 patients with diagnosed keratitis and locally applied antibiotic moxifloxacin, and 60 patients in a control group, with locally applied artificial tears. All participants were subjected to complete clinical ophthalmologic analysis (2015/16), for a period of 1–15 days after the application of therapies (healing time of corneal pathology). The following was determined in all patients: degree of hyperemia, degree of epithelial defect, level of corneal sensitivity, level of tear secretion and tear quality, degree of conjunctival secretion, degree of neovascularisation and corneal scarring, degree of visual acuity, score of subjective symptomatology and correlation of ophthalmological findings and subjective symptoms. Results. There was a statistically significant difference in times of therapeutic efficacy/clinical response between the study group patients who received moxifloxacin and the control group patients who received arteficial tears. Conclusion. Local application of moxifloxacin had therapeutic effect (total benefit) both in terms of the effective shortening of the healing time and also the reduction of the complications of bacterial keratitis, without unwanted effects

The importance of developing atherosclerosis in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Background/Aim. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XPS) is an age-related systemic disorder characterized by increased production and accumulation of elastic microfibrillar material in different tissues of the body: skin, connective tissue portions of visceral organs, periphery blood vessels and the eye, as well. The aim of our study was to determine the significance of atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries in the development of XFS and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Methods. The study included 120 patients – 40 patients per each of the three defined groups: XFS group, XFG group and age- and sex-matched control subjects (control group) without XFG. Blood samples were collected from the patients before cataract surgery. Serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein – LDL, high density lipoprotein – HDL and triglycerides were analyzed by standard laboratory techniques. Standard ultrasonography of the carotid blood vessels was performed in all the participants. Results. Lipid’s profile was disturbed in the patients with XFS and XFG with statistical significance p control group (p < 0.01). Systolic and diastolic pressure was elevated in the patients with XFS and XFG (p < 0.01). Resistance index was increased in the patients with XFG (p < 0.01). Intima-media thickness was prolonged in patients with XFG (p < 0.01). Conclusion. A disturbed lipid profile with elevated resistancy index and intima-media thickness and increased systolic and diastolic pressure were compulsory findings in patients with developed XFG. So, these factors could be considered as risk. It seems to be difficult to inhibit the process of pseudoexfolation production in the whole body, but it appears that with proper therapy (antihypertnesive, cardiotoncs, etc.) and adequate nourishing, the process of XFG development could be interrupted