Zastupljenost moždanog udara u Dubrovačko-neretvanskoj županiji u 2008. godini

Data on all patients admitted in 2008 to the Department of Neurology, Dubrovnik General Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. In a total of 663 patients, there were 247 (37.25%) stroke patients. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 217 (87.85%) and hemorrhagic stroke in 30 (12.15%) patients. In the cohort of stroke patients, there were 136 (55.00%) women and 111 (45.00%) men. The group of patients with ischemic stroke consisted of 124 (57.15%) women and 93 (42.85%) men, and the group of those with hemorrhagic stroke of 12 (40%) women and 18 (60%) men. The majority of patients with ischemic stroke (89.86%) and hemorrhagic stroke (76.66%) were over 60 years of age. Only 9 (4.14%) patients with ischemic stroke and 5 (16.66%) patients with hemorrhagic stroke were employed. The mortality rate was 20.24% in the overall stroke group and 19.35% in the ischemic stroke group. In the group of patients with hemorrhagic stroke, 26.66% of patients died at our Department, however, additional 20% of patients with this type of stroke were transferred to the Hospital Intensive Care Unit or to Departments of Neurosurgery in Split and Zagreb, so precise data on the disease outcome in these patients were missing. Eighteen (7.29%) patients were from other countries, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The majority of them had ischemic stroke (83.33%) and 12 (66.66%) patients were over 60 years of age.Retrospektivnom analizom obuhvaćeni su podaci o svim bolesnicima liječenim na Neurološkom odjelu Opće bolnice Dubrovnik tijekom 2008. godine. U tom razdoblju hospitalizirano je 663 bolesnika, od čega 247 (37,25%) s moždanim udarom. Ishemijski moždani udar imalo je 217 (87,85%), a hemoragijski moždani udar 30 (12,15%) bolesnika. U ukupnom broju bolesnika s moždanim udarom bilo je 136 (55,00%) žena i 111 (45,00%) muškaraca. U skupini ishemijskih moždanih udara bile su 124 (57,15%) žene i 93 (42,85%) muškarca, a u skupini s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom 12 (40%) žena i 18 (60%) muškaraca. Većina bolesnika s ishemijskim (89,6%) i hemoragijskim (76,66%) moždanim udarom bili su stariji od 60 godina. Samo 9 (4,14%) bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom i 5 (16,66%) bolesnika s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom su bili zaposleni. Stopa smrtnosti je ukupno iznosila 20,24%; 19,35% za ishemijski i 26,66% za hemoragijski moždani udar. Također, 20% bolesnika s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom premješteno je na Odjel intenzivnog liječenja naše bolnice ili na neurokirurške klinike u Splitu i Zagrebu, pa nisu bili dostupni podaci o ishodu liječenja tih bolesnika. Isto tako, 18 (7,29%) bolesnika je bilo iz drugih zemalja, najviše iz Bosne i Hercegovine. Većina ih je imala ishemijski moždani udar (83,33%), a 12 (66,66%) bolesnika je bilo starije od 60 godina

Benigna angiopatija središnjeg živčanog sustava ili reverzibilni moždani vazokonstrikcijski sindrom

Benign angiopathy of the central nervous system is a subset of primary angiitis of the central nervous system characterized by “benign” course. It means that changes of cerebral vessels are reversible after treatment with corticosteroids and calcium channel blockers, so these abnormalities are believed to reflect vasospasm rather than true vasculitis. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical presentation, brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography. We present a young man with acute onset of headache and neurologic impairment secondary to ischemic stroke with intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography showed characteristic findings of diffuse vasculitis but good response to treatment with corticosteroids and calcium channel blockers distinguish this benign angiopathy from the more aggressive form of the central nervous system vasculitis.Benigna angiopatija središnjeg živčanog sustava je podtip primarne upale krvnih žila središnjeg živčanog sustava (PACNS ) koju karakterizira „benigni“tijek. To znači da su promjene na krvnim žilama mozga reverzibilne nakon liječenja kortikosteroidima i blokatorima kalcijevih kanala pa se pretpostavlja da su promjene prije odraz vazospazma nego prave upale. Dijagnoza se postavlja na osnovi kliničke prezentacije, magnetske rezonance mozga i moždane angiografije. Prikazujemo mladića s naglo nastalom glavoboljom i neurološkim poremećajem na podlozi ishemijskog moždanog udara s intracerebralnim i subarahnoidnim krvarenjem. Cerebralna angiografija je pokazala promjene tipične za difuznu upalu krvnih žila, ali dobar odgovor na liječenje kortikosteroidima i blokatorima kalcijevih kanala razlikuje ovu benignu angiopatiju od agresivnijeg oblika vaskulitisa središnjeg živčanog sustava

Zastupljenost moždanog udara u Dubrovačko-neretvanskoj županiji u 2008. godini

Data on all patients admitted in 2008 to the Department of Neurology, Dubrovnik General Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. In a total of 663 patients, there were 247 (37.25%) stroke patients. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 217 (87.85%) and hemorrhagic stroke in 30 (12.15%) patients. In the cohort of stroke patients, there were 136 (55.00%) women and 111 (45.00%) men. The group of patients with ischemic stroke consisted of 124 (57.15%) women and 93 (42.85%) men, and the group of those with hemorrhagic stroke of 12 (40%) women and 18 (60%) men. The majority of patients with ischemic stroke (89.86%) and hemorrhagic stroke (76.66%) were over 60 years of age. Only 9 (4.14%) patients with ischemic stroke and 5 (16.66%) patients with hemorrhagic stroke were employed. The mortality rate was 20.24% in the overall stroke group and 19.35% in the ischemic stroke group. In the group of patients with hemorrhagic stroke, 26.66% of patients died at our Department, however, additional 20% of patients with this type of stroke were transferred to the Hospital Intensive Care Unit or to Departments of Neurosurgery in Split and Zagreb, so precise data on the disease outcome in these patients were missing. Eighteen (7.29%) patients were from other countries, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The majority of them had ischemic stroke (83.33%) and 12 (66.66%) patients were over 60 years of age.Retrospektivnom analizom obuhvaćeni su podaci o svim bolesnicima liječenim na Neurološkom odjelu Opće bolnice Dubrovnik tijekom 2008. godine. U tom razdoblju hospitalizirano je 663 bolesnika, od čega 247 (37,25%) s moždanim udarom. Ishemijski moždani udar imalo je 217 (87,85%), a hemoragijski moždani udar 30 (12,15%) bolesnika. U ukupnom broju bolesnika s moždanim udarom bilo je 136 (55,00%) žena i 111 (45,00%) muškaraca. U skupini ishemijskih moždanih udara bile su 124 (57,15%) žene i 93 (42,85%) muškarca, a u skupini s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom 12 (40%) žena i 18 (60%) muškaraca. Većina bolesnika s ishemijskim (89,6%) i hemoragijskim (76,66%) moždanim udarom bili su stariji od 60 godina. Samo 9 (4,14%) bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom i 5 (16,66%) bolesnika s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom su bili zaposleni. Stopa smrtnosti je ukupno iznosila 20,24%; 19,35% za ishemijski i 26,66% za hemoragijski moždani udar. Također, 20% bolesnika s hemoragijskim moždanim udarom premješteno je na Odjel intenzivnog liječenja naše bolnice ili na neurokirurške klinike u Splitu i Zagrebu, pa nisu bili dostupni podaci o ishodu liječenja tih bolesnika. Isto tako, 18 (7,29%) bolesnika je bilo iz drugih zemalja, najviše iz Bosne i Hercegovine. Većina ih je imala ishemijski moždani udar (83,33%), a 12 (66,66%) bolesnika je bilo starije od 60 godina

The comparison of resiliency levels of deaf and hard of hearing adolescents and their typically developing peers

Deaf and hard of hearing children lag in communication skills, which may consequently result in a lower level of resilience. Determining resiliency levels in deaf and hard of hearing adolescents in comparison to the typical development of their peers is for this reason set as the objective of this research. The sample included 60 sixth, seventh and eighth grade primary school pupils, aged 12 to 14. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (30 deaf and hard of hearing subjects) and Group B (30 subjects with typical development). The Resiliency Scale for Children & Adolescents (RSCA) was used in this research. The results showed that deaf and hard of hearing students perceive their resiliency the same as their typical developing peers. Under conditions where more and more deaf and hard of hearing children are educated with peers of the typical population, the social integration of these children becomes a key concern. Programmes intended to promote the development of resiliency, which are drafted in accordance with the individual characteristics of deaf and hard of hearing children may contribute to their successful inclusion in mainstream educationApproaches and Models in Special Education and Rehabilitation -Thematic Collection of International Importance, Belgrade, 202

In vitro and in silico investingation of antimicrobial activity of essential oils from two Pastinaca sativa subspecies

INTRODUCTION: Cultivated parsnip (Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa L., Apiaceae) root is a well-known vegetable, common ingredient of soups, stews, salads, casseroles etc. Besides, its leaves and young shoots can be added to soups and fruits are used as a condiment. Furthermore, young shoots of wild-growing parsnips, e.g. P. sativa subsp. urens (Req. ex Godr.) Čelak., are consumed pickled or in salads or soups and it is considered that their essential oil acts as a natural preservative. OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from the roots, leaves, stems, flowers and fruits of cultivated P. sativa subsp. sativa and wild-growing P. sativa subsp. urens collected in Serbia. Furthermore, the most active essential oil constituents (against the most susceptible microorganisms) were predicted in silico. METHOD / DESIGN: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBCs/MFCs) of the essential oils (isolated by hydrodistillation using Clevenger-type apparatus) were determined by microdilution method against three Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 11632, Bacillus cereus clinical isolate and Listeria monocytogenes NCTC 7973, three Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 13311 and Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 35030, three Candida standard strains: C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 750 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, and three Candida isolates from oral cavity: C. albicans 475/15, C. krusei H1/16 and C. glabrata 4/6/15. Pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds present in at least one oil in the quantity ≥ 1% (determined by GC-FID and GC-MS) were initially evaluated using SwissADME web tool and molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 (interactions were visualized using Discovery Studio Visualizer 2019). RESULTS: All the investigated essential oils of the two Pastinaca sativa subspecies were able to reduce the growth of different tested Candida strains (MIC range 0.25-2 mg/mL; MFC range 0.5-4 mg/mL). The most promising activity was observed for both root oils (MIC range 0.25-1 mg/mL; MFC range 0.5-2 mg/mL). Among investigated Candida strains, C. parapsilosis strain was the most sensitive to these essential oils (MIC range 0.25-1 mg/mL; MFC range 0.5-2 mg/mL). The antibacterial activity of the tested essential oils was lower compared to their anticandidal potential (MIC range 1-4 mg/mL; MBC range 2-8 mg/mL). Thirty compounds were present in at least one oil in the quantity ≥ 1%. Estimation of pharmacokinetic properties using SwissADME tool suggested that 23 of these compounds are inhibitors of some of the cytochrome P450 system isoenzymes. This fact led to assumption that they could also act against fungal sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), which is a common target of antifungal drugs (e.g., ketoconazole). Thus, the compounds (3D structures downloaded from PubChem) were docked to the active site of this enzyme (downloaded from Protein Data Bank, PDB code 5TZ1). The highest affinities were predicted for sesquiterpenes caryophyllene oxide, (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene D, α-copaene, β-bourbonene and δ-cadinene (free binding energies from -9.4 to -8.7 kcal/mol; ketoconazole -11.6 kcal/mol). These compounds were present in somewhat lower quantities in the essential oils (≤ 9.9%). For dominant compounds of the tested essential oils, e.g. myristicin, γ-palmitolactone and octyl butanoate a bit lower affinities were predicted (free binding energies from -7.3 to -5.8 kcal/mol). Tested compounds mostly docked near the heme of the enzyme and formed hydrophobic interactions with the amino acid residues of the active site. According to SwissADME tool, four of five most active compounds have low absorption from gastrointestinal tract and higher skin permeation value, while caryophyllene oxide and three dominant compounds have high absorption and lower skin permeation value (similarly to ketoconazole). CONCLUSIONS: Investigated parsnips represent sources of essential oils and compounds with anticandidal activity.The International Bioscience Conference and the 8th International PSU – UNS Bioscience Conference - IBSC2021, Novi Sad, 25th to 26th November 202

Building a Web marketing experience: the Maltese case of Where's Everybody

L’attività di web marketing, concepita fino ad oggi come esclusiva dell’impresa, sta vivendo un’evoluzione in senso sociale e partecipativo che dipende dall’evoluzione stessa del Web. Quello che in particolare si modifica non è lo scopo, che rimane sempre la soddisfazione del cliente e la sua fidelizzazione, ma l’avere a disposizione di utilizzo una “cassetta degli strumenti” più ampia e malleabile. Partendo dalla considerazione di questo fatto, la scelta dell’argomento del presente lavoro di ricerca è avvenuta in seguito a un’esperienza lavorativa di tre mesi presso il Dipartimento di Marketing & Public Relation di Where’s Everybody, una delle maggiori aziende di produzione televisiva a Malta. Questa opportunità mi è stata offerta grazie a una borsa di studio del Progetto Leonardo. Alla luce di questa prospettiva, si è cercato innanzitutto di fornire un’accurata analisi delle variabili del macro-ambiente che rendono Malta un caso particolare in Europa, sia economico, politico che sociale e culturale. In seguito si è definito il micro-ambiente, ovvero il panorama televisivo locale e la concorrenza, con particolare attenzione alla descrizione e al target dei programmi di Where’s Everybody. Il capitolo successivo è dedicato a come il Web 2.0 sta modificando gli assi portanti dell’attività di marketing, e in generale al marketing 2.0. In particolare, saranno delineate le principali caratteristiche del web marketing, non tutte ma soltanto quelle relative al lavoro svolto e all’azienda presa in considerazione. Queste sono: lo spostamento di valore dalla transazione alla relazione; il paradigma di comunicazione many-to-many e i suoi elementi fondanti (comunità virtuale, user-generated content e passaparola); l’empowerment del consumatore e il cambiamento della definizione del marketing mix. Queste considerazioni vengono applicate nella seconda parte del lavoro, in cui vengono analizzati gli strumenti e le applicazioni di web marketing utilizzati dall’azienda maltese, prima, dopo e durante il mio periodo di lavoro. Essi sono analizzati per siti Internet, social networks e servizi streaming e on-demand. In particolare, l’analisi dei punti di forza e di debolezza dell’impiego di questi strumenti serve come spunto per presentare suggerimenti di miglioramento per la strategia complessiva, in accordo con i concetti chiave del Web 2.0, ovvero collaborazione e partecipazione degli utenti. Con ciò si dimostra che Where’s Everybody ha saputo cogliere le opportunità di evoluzione del marketing in un’ottica 2.0, comprovate dai dati forniti dall’Authority delle Comunicazioni e dalle indagini di mercato svolte dalla Media Warehouse di Malta. Lo scopo finale è quindi quello di fornire, in prima istanza, una mappatura generale dello scenario di cambiamento del Web 2.0 e conseguentemente dell’attività di marketing. In seconda istanza, preso il caso pratico di una casa di produzione televisiva non italiana, il presente lavoro si propone di offrire un esempio di azienda capace di sfruttare al meglio le effettive potenzialità dei nuovi strumenti di web marketing, sottolineando le strategie adottate e l’abilità di creare valore aggiunto per i suoi clienti

Hemijska i farmakološka karakterizacija 9 taksona roda Heracleum L. (Apiaceae), autohtonih za jugoistočnu Evropu

Uvod: Predmet istraživanja je devet taksona roda Heracleum (Apiaceae): sedam iz grupe H. sphondylium (H. sphondylium, H. sibiricum, H. montanum, H. ternatum, H. pyrenaicum subsp. pollinianum, H. pyrenaicum subsp. orsinii i H. verticillatum), i H. orphanidis, svi iz (tipske) sect. Heracleum, kao i H. austriacum subsp. siifolium iz sect. Wendia. Rezultati i diskusija: Gasnom hromatografijom sa FID i MS detekcijom analiziran je sastav etarskih ulja (ukupno 59 uzoraka) izolovanih destilacijom vodenom parom iz podzemnih organa, listova, cvasti i plodova. U uljima podzemnih organa dominirali su monoterpeni i/ili fenilpropani (taksoni grupe H. sphondylium), ili (Z)-falkarinol (H. orphanidis i H. austriacum); u uljima plodova alifatični estri oktilacetat (sect. Heracleum) ili oktilheksanoat (H. austriacum), a u uljima listova i cvasti alifatični estri (H. orphanidis) ili seskviterpeni i/ili fenilpropani. Antimikrobna aktivnost 30 odabranih uzoraka etarskih ulja ispitivana je mikrodilucionom metodom na po osam sojeva bakterija i mikromiceta (u slučaju 17 uzoraka ulja MIK vrednosti su prema barem jednom mikroorganizmu bile niže ili bliske 100 µg/mL); selektivna citotoksičnost 26 uzoraka ulja MTT testom na tumorske HeLa, LS174 i A549 ćelije (u slučaju 13 uzoraka ulja IC50 vrednosti su prema barem jednoj ćelijskoj liniji bile niže ili bliske 30 µg/mL; ulja uglavnom nisu inhibirala rast normalnih MRC-5 ćelija). Ukupno 8 od ispitivanih 14 uzoraka ulja pokazalo je slab anti-DPPH potencijal. Sastav aktivnih zona u TLC-DPPH testu ispitan je gasnom hromatografijom (dominirali su oksidovani terpeni i fenilpropani). S obzirom da je u pojedinim uljima utvrđeno prisustvo furanokumarina koji mogu delovati fototoksično, definisan je bezbednosni profil ulja prema preporuci Evropske agencije za lekove (utvrđeno je da dnevni unos 1,94-15,68 mL ulja ne doprinosi značajno ukupnom riziku, koji postoji kao posledica unosa izvesnih količina furanokumarina hranom). U dihlormetanskim ekstraktima podzemnih organa i plodova svih taksona identifikovano je ukupno 12 furanokumarina (LC-MS metodom pomoću standardnih supstanci ili na osnovu UV, MS, 1H i ROESY NMR spektara), od kojih su dominantni bili pimpinelin, bergapten, biakangelikol, heraklenin i/ili imperatorin. U uljastim supernatantima dihlormetanskih ekstrakata plodova gasnom hromatografijom (GC-FID i GC-MS) analizirane su masne kiseline (dominantna je bila petroselinska), steroli (najzastupljeniji je bio β-sitosterol) i triterpeni. Hemosistematski značaj komponenti etarskih ulja (u slučaju podzemnih organa i plodova i komponenti njihovih headspace frakcija) i furanokumarina utvrđen je multivarijantnom statističkom analizom (PCA, nMDS i UPGMA). Zaključak: Sprovedena hemijska karakterizacija značajno je doprinela boljem poznavanju kompozicije sekundarnih i primarnih metabolita odabranih predstavnika sekcije Heracleum, dok su ispitivanja H. austriacum subsp. siifolium iz sekcije Wendia sprovedena po prvi put. Utvrđeno je da su ispitivani taksoni potencijalno novi biljni izvori jedinjenja značajnih za farmaceutsku, kozmetičku, prehrambenu ili hemijsku industriju. Rezultati ispitivanja farmakoloških aktivnosti etarskih ulja ukazali su na opravdanost daljih istraživanja ovih izolata kao potencijalno novih lekovitih biljnih sirovina, uz uslov poštovanja ustanovljenih maksimalnih dozvoljenih dnevnih unosa za ona etarska ulja u kojima su detektovani furanokumarini.Prikazani rezultati su sastavni deo odbranjene (19.03.2019.) doktorske disertacije prvog autora (Lj. U.), i publikovani su u okviru 8 radova u časopisima međunarodnog značaja (1 × M21, 4 × M22 i 3 × M23) i 1 rada u časopisu nacionalnog značaja (M52). Rad je dobio prvu Godišnju nagradu na konkursu Farmaceutskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu za najbolje naučno-istraživačke radove studenata poslediplomskih studija u 2019. god

Antimicrobial activity of eight Geranium L. species extracts

The antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of aerial parts of 8 Geranium L. species (G. macrorrhizum L., G. phaeum L., G. sanguineum L., G. robertianum L., G. palustre L., G. pyrenaicum Burm. f., G. columbinum L. and G. lucidum L.) was tested against 8 standard strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumaniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella abony and Candida albicans) as well as 10 clinical isolates of E. coli. Also, total phenolics and tannins were quantified using spectrophotometric Folin- Ciocalteu method. The extracts exhibited antibacterial and anticandidal activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 12.5 and 200 μg/ml. E. faecalis was most sensitive strain (MIC 12.5-50 μg/ml), especially to G. columbinum and G. phaeum extracts (MICs 12.5 μg/ml). The determined amounts of total phenolics and tannins were in the range of 170-534 and 38-386 mg GAE/g of dry extract, respectively, with the highest content in G. sanguineum extract. However, the antimicrobial activity was not related to total polyphenolics or tannin content and further investigation in regard with phenolic profile is needed

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil from Chaerophyllum aureum L. (Apiaceae)

The essential oils of the aerial parts and fruits of Chaerophyllum aureum L., collected from two Mountains in Serbia, were analyzed by GC and GUMS. Sabinene (18.5-31.6%), p-cymene (7.9-25.4%) and limonene (1.9-10.9%) were characterized as the main constituents. The oils were tested against six bacterial strains and one strain of yeast, Candida albicans. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus, while of the Gram-negative strains, Escherichia coli was the most sensitive

Edible wild plant Heracleum pyrenaicum subsp orsinii as a potential new source of bioactive essential oils

Many Heracleum L. taxa (Apiaceae) are used as food and spices, and in traditional medicine. In this work, the chemical composition of Heracleum pyrenaicum subsp. orsinii (Guss.) F. Pedrotti and Pignatti root, leaf and fruit essential oils, their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effect on malignant and normal cells were investigated for the first time. The composition of the oils was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Monoterpenes prevailed in the root oil, with beta-pinene (38.6%) being dominant, while in the leaf oil, sesquiterpenes, mostly (E)-nerolidol (20.5%) and (E)-caryophyllene (17.0%), were the most abundant constituents. The fruit oil contained the majority of aliphatic esters, mainly octyl acetate (36.8%) and octyl hexanoate (22.1%). The antimicrobial activity was determined by microdilution method against eight bacteria and eight fungi (standard strains, clinical or food isolates). The best antibacterial activity, better than the activity of ampicillin, was shown by the root oil against Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strongest antifungal activity, stronger than the activity of ketoconazole, was exhibited by the leaf and root oils against Trichoderma viride, and by the root oil against Aspergillus ochraceus. The cytotoxic effect of the oils, determined by MTT test, was prominent against malignant HeLa, LS174 and A549 cells (IC50 = 6.49-14.56 µg/mL). On the other hand, the oils did not show toxicity against normal MRC-5 cells at tested concentrations (IC50 > 200.00 µg/mL). It can be concluded that investigated H. pyrenaicum subsp. orsinii oils represent potential new raw materials for food and pharmaceutical industry