Spectrophotometric and thermal properties of poly(vinyl butyral) and epoxy protective coatings with nanostructures of WS2

PVB is a flexible but tough polymer of excellent optical clarity and transparence, and due to that it has a wide application in different coatings and in laminated glass industry. Epoxy resin has good mechanical resistance and it is also applied in coatings, but also as a binder in composites. In this research a possibility was examined to improve thermal resistance and spectrophotometric properties of thin film coatings of PVB and epoxy modified with addition of 10 wt.% of PVB, by addition of small concentrations of tungsten disulfide nanotubes and nanoparticles. Coatings were applied on glass plates by solvent-casting technique: PVB and epoxy/PVB were dissolved in ethanol in which previously nanostructures were deagglomerated and dispersed using ultrasonic probe. Inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles of tungsten disulphide (IF-WS2) were added in concentration 1 wt.% and nanotubes (INT-WS2) in concentration 0.3 wt.%. Dispersion of tungsten disulfide nanostructures was observed using scanning electron microscope. Thermal resistance was examined by differential scanning calorimetry. The following spectrophotometric properties were examined: diffuse reflection and transmition, using spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV 3600 with an integrating sphere and UV Probe programme package, and specular gloss, using glossmeter Elcometer 480, under angles 20°, 60° and 85°. Observed results have indicated that new composite coatings with nanostructures have enhanced thermal resistance and camouflage properties for potential military applications.Seventeenth Young Researchers' Conference Materials Sciences and Engineerin

Metodološki pristup sanaciji oštećenja parovoda u termoelektranama i toplanama

Na primeru procurivanja i ostecenja parovoda sveze pare u termoelektranama i toplanama prikazan je metodoloski pristup utvrdivanja uzroka otkaza i saniranja ostecenja. Dati pristup se moze primeniti za slicne konstrukcije, a njegova primena u preventivnom odrzavanju doprinosi produzenju radnog veka parovoda

Metabolomic Profiling of Bipolar Disorder by 1H-NMR in Serbian Patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a brain disorder that causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. It has a prevalence of 60 million people worldwide, and it is among the top 20 diseases with the highest global burden. The complexity of this disease, including diverse genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors, and diagnoses based on the subjective recognition of symptoms without any clinical test of biomarker identification create significant difficulties in understanding and diagnosing BD. A 1H-NMR-based metabolomic study applying chemometrics of serum samples of Serbian patients with BD (33) and healthy controls (39) was explored, providing the identification of 22 metabolites for this disease. A biomarker set including threonine, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, serine, and mannose was established for the first time in BD serum samples by an NMR-based metabolomics study. Six identified metabolites (3-hydroxybutyric acid, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and glycerol) are in agreement with the previously determined NMR-based sets of serum biomarkers in Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples. The same established metabolites (lactate, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and choline) in three different ethnic and geographic origins (Serbia, Brazil, and China) might have a crucial role in the realization of a universal set of NMR biomarkers for BD

The Pharmacokinetics of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Balkan Endemic Nephropathy Patients

Background: Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) hemodialysis patients require a higher dose of recombinant human erythropoietin for maintaining target hemoglobin level than patients with other kidney diseases. Objectives: Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of beta-erythropoietin given subcutaneously to hemodialysis patients with BEN or other kidney diseases (non-BEN). Methods: Recombinant human erythropoietin (75U/kg) was administered subcutaneously to 10 BEN and 14 non-BEN hemodialysis patients. The predose plasma level of erythropoietin (Epo) was subtracted from all postdose levels. The relevant pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated after noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis using Kinetica software (Thermo Scientific, ver.5.0). Results: Although basal plasma Epo concentration was similar in BEN (20.1 +/- 10.3U/L) and non-BEN (15.1 +/- 8.1U/L; p=.1964) patients, there were significant differences between the groups for elimination rate constant (0.016 +/- 0.006 vs 0.026 +/- 0.011 hr(-1); p=.020) and elimination half-life (50.24 +/- 19.12 vs 33.79 +/- 18.91 hr, p=.048). These differences remained significant after adjustment for patient characteristics (age, sex, hennodialysis duration, ferritin, PTH and ACEI use). No significant differences between groups were found in maximal Epo concentration, time to maximum Epo concentration, area under the curve from time of dosing extrapolated to infinity, clearance, mean residence time of Epo between groups both before and after adjustment. Conclusion: Pharmacokinetic analysis of beta-erythropoietin detected a significantly longer elimination half-life in BEN than in non BEN patients. This finding needs to be confirmed in a well-controlled study with a larger sample size

Buckwheat yield traits response as influenced by row spacing, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium management

Buckwheat is an economically important gluten free cereal, and it is a good source of protein, fiber, and energy. The field experiments with buckwheat variety “Novosadska” were set in two experimental years in Pancevo, Serbia. The aim of this study was to determine the most optimal technology for buckwheat production. The study aims were to investigate the effects of (1) row spacing: RS1-25 cm and RS2-50 cm; (2) nutrition variants: (N1) 0 kg ha−1 NPK; (N2) NPK 30 kg ha−1; (N3) NPK 60 kg ha−1; and (N4) NPK 90 kg ha−1; (3) environment: Y1-2018 and Y2-2019; and their interactions on the plant height (PH), number of lateral branches (NoLB), mass of seeds per plant (MSP), number of seeds per plant (NoSP), buckwheat grain yield (GY); and (4) the correlations among these traits. All tested parameters of buckwheat significantly varied across row spacing, environment, and nutrition. The average grain yield in the row spacing, RD1-25 cm, was significantly higher than in the wider spacing, RD2-50 cm, and in 2018 than 2019 as well as with the nutrition NPK applied in the amount of 90 kg ha−1 in relation with all the other nutrition variants. All the studied agronomic traits were positively and strongly correlated with GY

1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics of bipolar disorder patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental disorder that causes alteration of mood states including mania, depression, and euthymia and it is ranked as one of the leading causes of disability and premature mortality, with a prevalence of 60 million people worldwide. BD is a heterogenous illness including diverse genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors and its pathophysiology is still largely unknown. Diagnosis of BD exclusively depends on the subjective recognition of symptoms without any objective methods such as a clinical test of biomarker identification, instigating misdiagnosis, inadequate treatments and deficient clinical outcomes. 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics of Serbian patients with BD (33) and healthy controls (39) contributed to identification of 22 metabolites for this disease. Threonine, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, serine, and mannose make a unique biomarker set, and were confirmed for the first time in BD Serbian serum samples. Additional six identified metabolites (3-hydroxybutyric acid, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and glycerol) are in accordance with the previously determined NMR-based sets of serum BD biomarkers in Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples, while nine identified metabolites (lactate, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and choline) are the same established biomarkers in three different ethnic and geographic origins (Serbia, Brazil, and China). The same confirmed metabolites are an indicator of the right path in discovery of the universal set of BD biomarkers by NMR

Is Increased Susceptibility to Balkan Endemic Nephropathy in Carriers of Common GSTA1 (*A/*B) Polymorphism Linked with the Catalytic Role of GSTA1 in Ochratoxin A Biotransformation? Serbian Case Control Study and In Silico Analysis

Although recent data suggest aristolochic acid as a putative cause of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), evidence also exists in favor of ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure as risk factor for the disease. The potential role of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, such as the glutathione transferases (GSTs), in OTA biotransformation is based on OTA glutathione adducts (OTHQ-SG and OTB-SG) in blood and urine of BEN patients. We aimed to analyze the association between common GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and BEN susceptibility, and thereafter performed an in silico simulation of particular GST enzymes potentially involved in OTA transformations. GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genotypes were determined in 207 BEN patients and 138 non-BEN healthy individuals from endemic regions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular modeling in silico was performed for GSTA1 protein. Among the GST polymorphisms tested, only GSTA1 was significantly associated with a higher risk of BEN. Namely, carriers of the GSTA1*B gene variant, associated with lower transcriptional activation, were at a 1.6-fold higher BEN risk than those carrying the homozygous GSTA1*A/*A genotype (OR = 1.6; p = 0.037). In in silico modeling, we found four structures, two OTB-SG and two OTHQ-SG, bound in a GSTA1 monomer. We found that GSTA1 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of BEN, and suggested, according to the in silico simulation, that GSTA1-1 might be involved in catalyzing the formation of OTHQ-SG and OTB-SG conjugates

Poster presentation: 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics of bipolar disorder patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental disorder that causes alteration of mood states including mania, depression, and euthymia and it is ranked as one of the leading causes of disability and premature mortality, with a prevalence of 60 million people worldwide. BD is a heterogenous illness including diverse genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors and its pathophysiology is still largely unknown. Diagnosis of BD exclusively depends on the subjective recognition of symptoms without any objective methods such as a clinical test of biomarker identification, instigating misdiagnosis, inadequate treatments and deficient clinical outcomes. 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics of Serbian patients with BD (33) and healthy controls (39) contributed to identification of 22 metabolites for this disease. Threonine, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, serine, and mannose make a unique biomarker set, and were confirmed for the first time in BD Serbian serum samples. Additional six identified metabolites (3-hydroxybutyric acid, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and glycerol) are in accordance with the previously determined NMR-based sets of serum BD biomarkers in Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples, while nine identified metabolites (lactate, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and choline) are the same established biomarkers in three different ethnic and geographic origins (Serbia, Brazil, and China). The same confirmed metabolites are an indicator of the right path in discovery of the universal set of BD biomarkers by NMR.Poster presented at 10th IAPC Meeting Tenth World Conference on Physico-Chemical Methods in Drug Discovery & Sixth World Conference on ADMET and DMPK, September 4-6, 2023, Belgrade, SerbiaAbstract:[https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/7390

Poster presentation: 1H-NMR metabonomic view on schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a brain disease leading to significant functional impairments and premature death, and it affects 20 million people worldwide. Due to the complexity of this disease including different genetic and environmental factors, there is a lack in understanding pathophysiology and diagnosis of schizophrenia. In order to overcome existing gaps, the establishment of a universal set of SCZ biomarkers has a crucial role. Metabonomic study of serum samples of Serbian patients with schizophrenia (51) and healthy controls (39) by 1H-NMR analyses associated with chemometrics, provided the identification of 26 metabolites/biomarkers for this disorder. The biomarker set including aspartate/aspartic acid, lysine, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, and acylglycerols was established for the first-time in SCZ serum samples of Serbian patients by 1H-NMR experiments. The other 22 identified metabolites are in agreement with the previously confirmed NMR-based serum biomarker sets of Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples. The same 13 metabolites (lactate/lactic acid, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, asparagine, alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, choline, glucose, glycine and tyrosine) were established in all SCZ samples from three countries of different ethnicity and geographical origins (Serbia, Brazil and China). These results emphasize the crucial role in the possibility of their application as biomarkers for diagnosis of SCZ, reliable monitoring of treatment response and clinical outcomes.Poster presented at 10th IAPC Meeting Tenth World Conference on Physico-Chemical Methods in Drug Discovery & Sixth World Conference on ADMET and DMPK, September 4-6, 2023, Belgrade, SerbiaAbstract: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/7392

1H-NMR metabonomic view on schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a brain disease leading to significant functional impairments and premature death, and it affects 20 million people worldwide. Due to the complexity of this disease including different genetic and environmental factors, there is a lack in understanding pathophysiology and diagnosis of schizophrenia. In order to overcome existing gaps, the establishment of a universal set of SCZ biomarkers has a crucial role. Metabonomic study of serum samples of Serbian patients with schizophrenia (51) and healthy controls (39) by 1H-NMR analyses associated with chemometrics, provided the identification of 26 metabolites/biomarkers for this disorder. The biomarker set including aspartate/aspartic acid, lysine, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, and acylglycerols was established for the first-time in SCZ serum samples of Serbian patients by 1H-NMR experiments. The other 22 identified metabolites are in agreement with the previously confirmed NMR-based serum biomarker sets of Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples. The same 13 metabolites (lactate/lactic acid, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, asparagine, alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, choline, glucose, glycine and tyrosine) were established in all SCZ samples from three countries of different ethnicity and geographical origins (Serbia, Brazil and China). These results emphasize the crucial role in the possibility of their application as biomarkers for diagnosis of SCZ, reliable monitoring of treatment response and clinical outcomes