Vertebroplasty – High Viscosity Cement versus Low Viscosity Cement

The patients with intensive pain caused by the vertebra body fracture were treated by application of low viscosity cement (LVC),(Vertebroplastic, DePuy) and high viscosity cement (HVC),(Confidence, DePuy,) into the body, by means of diascopy through unilateral transpendicular approach. Application of LVC was made in 75 patients, on 109 vertebrae, and HVC was applied in 12 patients on 14 vertebrae. Application of LVC was performed on 48 thoracic and 61 lumbar vertebrae and 5 thoracic and 9 lumbar vertebrae were stabilized with HVC. 43 patients were treated for malignancy and in 38 for osteoporosis. For LVC, preoperative VAS score was 8.32 and 2.23 (p<0.00001) 24 hours after surgery, and it remained stable 3 month later. For HVC, preoperative VAS score was 7.99 and it was 2.5 (p<0.00001) 24 hours after surgery and 3 months later. In the group of patients treated with LVC, there was 1 serious complication, a paraparesis caused by the leakage of cement into the spinal canal, which was partially recovered after decompression and rehabilitation treatment and 2 superificial infections with S. epidermidis which were cured by means of antibiotics. In 32 vertebrae (32) cement leakage extra ossal, either into vein plexus or intradiscal during surgery were noticed. When HVC was applied, intradiscal leakage occurred in one case onl (8%). By means od Wilcoxon paired test a significant difference was found between the preoperative VAS, and the values immediately after surgery and 3 months later (Z=7.52, p<0.00001) when LVC was applied., and with HVC it was (Z=3.04, p<0.00001), which indicates that the fast achieved pain reduction remained stable during the 3 month follow-up. The vertebroplasty is a safe and efficient surgical method in treatment of compressive vertebrae fractures which do not react to the conventional method of treatment. This method, when HVC is applied, shows significantly less complications related to cement leakage

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Danube river in Serbia associated with the discharge of untreated wastewaters

In Serbia less than 13 % of collected municipal wastewaters is being treated before their release in the environment. This includes all municipal wastewater discharges from Belgrade (capital city of Serbia; population 1,700,000). Previous research has identified the impacts of raw wastewater discharges from Belgrade on the Danube River, and this study investigated if such discharges also provided a pathway for SARS-CoV-2 RNA material. Samples were collected during the most critical circumstances that occurred so far within the COVID-19 pandemics in Serbia. Grab and composite samples were collected in December 2020, during the peak of the third wave (in terms of reported cases) at the site which receives the wastewater loads in Belgrade. Grab samples collected upstream and downstream of Belgrade were also analyzed. RNA was quantified using RT-qPCR with primer sets targeting nucleocapsid (N1 and N2) and envelope (E) protein genes. SARS-CoV-2 RNA (5.97×103 to 1.32×104 copies/L) was detected only in samples collected at the site strongly impacted by the wastewaters where all three applied primer sets gave positive signals. Determined concentrations correspond to those reported in wastewater influents sampled at treatment plants in other countries indicating an epidemiological indicator function of used approach for rivers with high pollution loads in countries with poor wastewater treatment

Determination of the level and source of microbial pollution in the Sava River Basin

Introduction. The contamination of water bodies by sewage or manure is generally determined by fecal indicator bacteria. Specific differentiation between sources of contamination is of particular importance, since the health risk to humans is usually considered higher from human, than from animal fecal contamination. Quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based assays for analysis of human- or animal-associated genetic Bacteroidetes fecal markers have gained increased popularity in the field of microbial source tracking (MST). Aim. The aim of the present study was to assess the level and source of microbial pollution in the Sava River Basin (SRB). Materials and methods. The sampling at the SRB was performed in September 2015, at 15 locations. Additional samples were collected from 4 wastewater outlets. Quantification of total coliforms, E. coli and enterococci was performed with Colilert Quanti-Tray 2000 and MPN approach. The human-associated BacHum and HF183II, the ruminant-associated BacR and the pig-associated Pig2Bac fecal markers were enumerated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results. According to the concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria, the river samples were scattered within the classes I and II (slight to moderate pollution). According to all monitored indicators, samples collected at 3 wastewater outlets were excessively contaminated. The results of MST revealed the presence of human-associated fecal markers BacHum and HF183II at 13 locations. The ruminant-associated BacR and the pig-associated Pig-2-Bac markers were not detected. High correlation was observed between the standard fecal indicators and human associated fecal markers. Conclusions. The results reveal human origin of fecal pollution in the SRB and indicates the urgent need for effective wastewater treatment plants in water management

Seasonal variations of microbiological parameters of water quality of the Velika Morava river Serbia

In this study, we investigated the level of sanitary pollution and organic contamination of the Velika Morava River, the largest river in central Serbia. Samples of water for microbiological analysis were collected at 5 sites, monthly, from April 2010 to February 2011. Sanitary analysis, i.e. enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci, indicated moderate to critical fecal contamination, while organic load assessment (oligotroph to heterotroph ratio, index of phosphatase activity) revealed the category of moderately polluted water. We also investigated seasonal variations of these groups of bacteria and the factors that could contribute to these differences. Our results showed that the micro- biological quality of the water in the Velika Morava River during different seasons is affected by numerous factors such as unequal loading of wastewaters, solar irradiation, and relations of flow/dilution and rainfall/runoff. [Acknowledgments. This study was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia: projects No 173025, No 177045 and No 043002.

Comparison of comet assay parameters for estimation of genotoxicity by sum of ranking differences

Genotoxic potential of waters in six rivers and reservoirs from Serbia was monitored in different tissues of chub (Squalius cephalus L. 1758) with the alkaline comet assay. The comet assay, or a single cell gel electrophoresis, has a wide application as a simple and sensitive method for evaluating DNA damage in fish exposed to various xenobiotics in the aquatic environment. Three types of cells, erythrocytes, gills and liver cells were used for assessing of DNA damage. Images of randomly selected cells were analyzed with a fluorescence microscope Leica and image analysis by software (Comet Assay IV Image analysis system, PI, UK). Three parameters (tail length - l, tail intensity - i and Olive tail moment – m) were analyzed on 1750 nuclei per cell type. The procedure for sum of ranking differences (SRD) was implemented to compare different types of cells and different parameters for estimation of DNA damage. Regarding our nine different estimations of genotoxicity: tail length, intensity and moment in erythrocytes (rel, rei, rem), liver cells (rll, rli, rlm) and gill cells (rgl, rgi, rgm) SRD procedure has shown that the Olive tail moment and tail intensity are (almost) equally good parameters; the SRD value was lower for the tail moment and tail intensity than for tail length in case of all types of cells. The least reliable parameter was rel; close to the borderline case were rei, rll, and rgl (~5% probability of random ranking)

The anthropogenic impact on water quality of the river Danube in Serbia: Microbiological analysis and genotoxicity monitoring

The aim of this work was to examine the impact of urban wastewaters on the water quality of the Danube River in Serbia. Samples of water and sediments for microbiological analysis and genotoxicity monitoring were collected from 6 sites during spring and/or autumn 2010. Sanitary analysis, i.e. enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci, indicated moderate to critical fecal contamination, while organic load assessment (oligotroph to heterotroph ratio, index of phosphatase activity) revealed the category of moderately polluted water. Mercury-resistant bacteria were detected in all water samples, with high numbers at locations positioned downstream of Belgrade. There was no correlation of the microbiological parameters of the sediment and water samples. Genotoxicity monitoring, performed by the comet assay on hemocytes of mussels Sinanodonta woodiana, indicated a significant increase of DNA damage in mussels collected from the studied sites compared with the control group.Projekat ministarstva br. 173025 i br. 4300

Application of sos/umuc assay in eco/genotoxicology

Introduction. The SOS/umuC assay is used for assessment of water genotoxicity. Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 is used in this test, but the results can be extrapolated on higher eukaryotic organisms with the introduction of enzymatic S9 fraction in experimental procedure. The test is standardised for the determination of the genotoxic potential of water and wastewater (ISO/DIS 13829, 2000). Aim. Sensitivity of the assay was challenged by using parallel in situ and in vitro approach in evaluation of the genotoxic potential in the basins of significant tributaries of the Danube River: the Sava River and the Velika Morava River. Materials and methods. Within in vitro testing, native water samples were analysed by SOS/umuC test. DNA damage in situ was assessed in bleak (Alburnus alburnus) erythrocytes by the comet and micronucleus assays. The concentration of heavy metals in fish tissue and the data of the physico-chemical parameters measured in water were used as a measure of the pollution pressure at the sites. Results. Results showed that applied in vitro tests with native water samples are less sensitive in comparison with in situ tests. None of 20 investigated samples showed genotoxic potential in SOS/umuC assay while in situ analyses indicated variation of genotoxic potential among the investigated sites. Conclusions. The results of our study point towards low sensitivity of the SOS/umuC test when processing un-concentrated (native) water samples; the results of in vitro tests should be taken with precaution when making predictions on the status of the ecosystem

Determination of the level and source of microbial pollution in the Sava River Basin

Introduction. The contamination of water bodies by sewage or manure is generally determined by fecal indicator bacteria. Specific differentiation between sources of contamination is of particular importance, since the health risk to humans is usually considered higher from human, than from animal fecal contamination. Quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based assays for analysis of human- or animal-associated genetic Bacteroidetes fecal markers have gained increased popularity in the field of microbial source tracking (MST). Aim. The aim of the present study was to assess the level and source of microbial pollution in the Sava River Basin (SRB). Materials and methods. The sampling at the SRB was performed in September 2015, at 15 locations. Additional samples were collected from 4 wastewater outlets. Quantification of total coliforms, E. coli and enterococci was performed with Colilert Quanti-Tray 2000 and MPN approach. The human-associated BacHum and HF183II, the ruminant-associated BacR and the pig-associated Pig2Bac fecal markers were enumerated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results. According to the concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria, the river samples were scattered within the classes I and II (slight to moderate pollution). According to all monitored indicators, samples collected at 3 wastewater outlets were excessively contaminated. The results of MST revealed the presence of human-associated fecal markers BacHum and HF183II at 13 locations. The ruminant-associated BacR and the pig-associated Pig-2-Bac markers were not detected. High correlation was observed between the standard fecal indicators and human associated fecal markers. Conclusions. The results reveal human origin of fecal pollution in the SRB and indicates the urgent need for effective wastewater treatment plants in water management

Seasonal variations of microbiological parameters of water quality of the Velika Morava river Serbia

In this study, we investigated the level of sanitary pollution and organic contamination of the Velika Morava River, the largest river in central Serbia. Samples of water for microbiological analysis were collected at 5 sites, monthly, from April 2010 to February 2011. Sanitary analysis, i.e. enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci, indicated moderate to critical fecal contamination, while organic load assessment (oligotroph to heterotroph ratio, index of phosphatase activity) revealed the category of moderately polluted water. We also investigated seasonal variations of these groups of bacteria and the factors that could contribute to these differences. Our results showed that the micro- biological quality of the water in the Velika Morava River during different seasons is affected by numerous factors such as unequal loading of wastewaters, solar irradiation, and relations of flow/dilution and rainfall/runoff.Projekat ministarstva br. 173025, br. 177045 i br. 04300