Ishod vidne oštrine u bolesnika s dijabetičkim makularnim edemom liječenim implantatom deksametazona u rutinskoj kliničkoj praksi

The aim was to evaluate visual outcomes of the real-life usage of dexamethasone (DEX) implants in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients and evaluate the possible additional visual acuity (VA) gain with combined treatment. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of DME patients treated with DEX implants. The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean central retinal thickness (CRT) at baseline and one year were compared. BCVA improved from 58.4±14.9 letters at baseline to 62.4±14.5 letters at one-year evaluation (p=0.002). The mean change in BCVA was 5.2±11.1 letters. CRT decreased from 485.7±146.3 μm at baseline to 391.5±129.0 μm at one year (p<0.001). The mean change in CRT was -89.6±143.3 μm. Patients received a mean of 2.0±0.7 DEX implants. Study eyes were also divided into a group receiving DEX implant monotherapy and a group receiving DEX implant and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Changes in BCVA and CRT and the number of DEX implant injections were compared between the two groups. No difference in VA gain was found between the eyes receiving monotherapy and the eyes receiving combined treatment. In conclusion, DEX implant therapy was effective in gaining vision in DME patients. No additional VA gain was achieved with combined treatment.Cilj je bio procijeniti ishod vidne oštrine (VA) uz primjenu implantata deksametazona (DEX) u stvarnom životu kod bolesnika s dijabetičkim makularnim edemom (DME) te moguće dodatno poboljšanje VA uz kombinirano liječenje. Proveden je retrospektivni pregled medicinske dokumentacije bolesnika liječenih implantatom DEX zbog DME. Uspoređivane su srednje vrijednosti najbolje korigirane vidne oštrine (BCVA) i srednje vrijednosti centralne debljine mrežnice (CRT) na početku i nakon godinu dana. BCVA se poboljšala s 58,4±14,9 slova u početnoj procjeni na 62,4±14,5 slova pri procjeni nakon godinu dana (p=0,002). Srednja promjena BCVA iznosila je 5,2±11,1 slova. CRT se smanjio s 485,7±146,3 μm na početnoj razini na 391,5±129,0 μm nakon godinu dana (p<0,001). Srednja promjena CRT bila je -89,6±143,3 μm. Bolesnici su primili u prosjeku 2,0±0,7 implantata DEX. Oči su podijeljene u skupinu koja je primala monoterapiju implantatom DEX i skupinu koja je primala kombinaciju implantata DEX i blokatora vaskularnog endotelnog faktora rasta (anti-VEGF). Promjene u BCVA i CRT te broj injekcija implantata DEX uspoređene su između dviju skupina. Nije utvrđena razlika u poboljšanju VA između dviju skupina. Zaključeno je da je implantat DEX bio učinkovit u poboljšanju vida kod bolesnika s DME. Kombiniranim liječenjem nije postignuto dodatno poboljšanje VA

Supplementary data for the article: Vulović, B.; Marić, I.; Matović, R.; Saicíć, R. N. Synthesis of Vinyldihydropyran by Cooperative Catalysis. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 2016, 81 (12), 1335–1343. https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC161102103V

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC161102103V]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2388

ANALYSIS OF MACHIAVELLIAN BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Using the "Mach IV Scale", this paper analyses the level of Machiavellian behavior among the student population in the Republic of Serbia. The obtained results were compared with the outcome of similar studies conducted in the United States and Indonesia. Results indicated that Machiavellianism level, manifested among the student population in the Republic of Serbia, is higher than Machiavellianism level manifested among students in the United States and Indonesia. The mixed results of this study point to the conclusion that economic development of a certain country (expressed by GDP per capita) could not be a base for reliable conclusion regarding the potential expression level of Machiavellian behavior of state’s population. These results can be useful for managers, in general, and for managers in the Republic of Serbia, particularly, in the process of recruiting and selecting new candidates, and in the course of delegating tasks to existing members of the organization.Key words: machiavellianism, economic development, students, managemen

The methods for nanoceria’s coating in order to improve its solubility

CeO2 (nanoceria) is the most important rare-earth oxide and potent free radical scavenger, due to coexistence of Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions and formation of oxygen vacancies on its surface. These nanoparticles can collect reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protect healthy cells from oxidative stress, but they also show cytotoxicity. This dual behavior of nanoceria represents a great pharmacological potential, such as improving the treatment of cancers, drug delivery and catalysis. We established the method for synthesizing these nanoparticles, which was particularly challenging because of their low solubility. To facilitate nanoparticle’s entry into the cells, we further coated these nanoparticles with the addition of carbohydrate (glucose, levan or pullulan) in the reaction mixture during and after the synthesis of nanoceria. We investigated by which of two applied methods of synthesis gave more soluble ceria nanoparticles

The effects of detergent, sodium tripoly-phosphate and ethoxyled oleyl-cetyl alcohol on metabolic parameters of the fungus trichothecium roseum link

The degradation of detergents that are dispersed in water and soil partially depends on the metabolic activities of fungi. Among the fungi that have this ability, Deuteromycetes are particularly noted for their biochemical characteristics. Taking this into account, it was of interest to analyze the influence of detergent and its main compounds, ethoxyled oleylcetyl alcohol (AOC) and sodium tripoly-phosphate (TTP), on the metabolism of the fungus Trichothecium roseum. Our results revealed that both detergent and AOC had an inhibitory effect on the bioproduction of free organic acids, while TTP stimulated their production. Also, detergent inhibited the bioproduction of basic amino acids, with the exception of alanine. In addition, detergent applied at 1% concentration inhibited the bioproduction of proteins and the total biomass of the fungus, while AOC and TTP inhibited the production of proteins, but stimulatedl the production of Trichothecium

The effect of nanoceria’s coating on their suspension stability

Cerium oxide nanoparticles CeO2 (nanoceria) is interesting biomaterial due to coexistence of Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions and formation of oxygen vacancies on its surface. This dual behavior of nanoceria represents a great pharmacological potential, such as improving the treatment of cancers, drug delivery and catalysis. Nanoceria can protect healthy cells from oxidative stress because they are potent free radical scavenger, but they also show cytotoxicity after prolonged exposure of cells to higher concentrations. The main problem of their further biomedical application is their low solubility in water, which could be improved by coating of nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to develop appropriate methods for coating CeO2 nanoparticles with three different carbohydrates and testing the effect of coating on their suspension stability. For nanoparticles characterisation were used X-Ray and FTIR spectroscopy and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). The effect of nanoparticles' coating on their suspension stability were investigated by measuring turbidity

Supplementary data for the article: Vulović, B.; Marić, I.; Matović, R.; Saicíć, R. N. Synthesis of Vinyldihydropyran by Cooperative Catalysis. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 2016, 81 (12), 1335–1343. https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC161102103V

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC161102103V]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2388

Evaluation of solvent and substituent effects on absorption spectra of spirohydantoins derived from α-tetralone

A convenient and efficient approach toward the synthesis of six 3-(4-substituted benzyl)-6,7- benzo-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-diones (1‒6) by Bucherer-Bergs reaction and further alkylation at position 3 of the hydantoin ring is reported. Further, their chemical structure was confirmed by melting points, elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods. To gain an insight into interactions which the investigated spirohydantoins establish with their environment, their absorption spectra were recorded in selected solvents of different polarity and the solvent effects on the UV-Vis absorption band positions, intensity and shape, were discussed. Substiuent effects on the solvatochromism of compounds 1−6 were analyzed using the Hammett's equation. Considering the broad applications of hydantoin derivatives, as well as the fact that their relative importance may increase in the future, results obtained in this study serve as a basis for further investigations

Synthesis of vinyldihydropyran by cooperative catalysis

Delta(5)-Unsaturated aldehydes with a suitably positioned allylic halide, or phosphate, leaving group undergo doubly-catalyzed cyclization to give dihydropyran derivatives. The cyclization proceeds under the synergetic action of diazabicycloundecene and Pd(PPh3)(4). This type of transformation was also accomplished with an aryl ketone

High-density ceramics obtained by andesite basalt sintering

In the present study, andesite basalt originated from the deposit site “Donje Jarinje”, Serbia, was examined as a potential raw material for high-density ceramics production. The production of high-density ceramics included dry milling, homogenization, cold isostatic pressing and sintering in the air. To determine the optimal processing parameters the sintering was conducted at 1040, 1050, 1060, 1070 and 1080°C, and afterwards the sintering duration was varied from 30 to 240min at the optimal sintering temperature of 1060°C. Characterization of the starting and sintered materials included the estimation of particle size distribution, density, hardness and fracture toughness complemented with X-ray diffraction, optical light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis. Phase transformations did not occur during processing in the investigated temperature range from 1040 to 1080°C. The obtained research results showed that 99.5% of relative density and the highest hardness and fracture toughness values of 6.7GPa and 2.2MPa•m1/2, respectively, were achieved for the andesite basalt sintered at 1060°C for 60min in the air. The results of the present study confirmed that the sintered andesite basalt can be used as a high-density ceramic material for various industrial applications