Uticaj dinamike i nivoa zrelosti kortikalnih funkcija kao preduslov za razvoj govora kod dece

Introduction/Objective the development of speech is the result of interaction of different systems of the cortex, which gradually acquires the ability of phonological presentation and motor control, in the presence of a series of physical and physiological changes in the morphology of the articulation system. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of laterality and cortical responses on the development of speech in children. Methods Research is a quasi-experimental design with two groups. The sample covered 60 children from Belgrade, of both sexes, ages 5.5-7 years, divided into two groups, experimental (30) and control (30). We used the following instruments: test for assessing laterality and ascertaining evoked potentials. Results on the visual lateralization subtest there was a statistically significant difference (χ² = 7.56, p lt 0.05) between the observed groups. The visual evoked potentials on all measured parameters gave a statistically significant difference between the groups: waveform cortical responses-left (χ² = 30.00, df = 1, p lt 0.05); cortical responses-right (χ² = 6.667, df = 1 , p lt 0.05); waveform amplitude-left (χ² = 13.469, df = 1, p lt 0.05); amplitude-right (χ² = 40.00, df = 1, p lt 0.05), somatosensory potentials (χ² = 18.261, df = 1, p lt 0.05); waveform amplitude (χ² = 12.000, df = 1, p lt 0.05); waveform latency (χ² = 5.455, df = 1, p lt 0.05). Conclusion Visual laterality, as well as visual and somatosensory cortical responses to stimuli is better in children without the present articulation disorder, which could be used for timely prevention planning.Uvod/Cilj Razvoj govora od rođenja do odraslog doba je rezultat interakcije različitih sistema kore velikog mozga, pomoću kojih se postepeno stiču sposobnosti fonološke prezentacije i motorne kontrole, uz prisustvo niza fizičkih i fizioloških promena u morfologiji artikulacionog sistema. Cilj istraživanja je bio ispitati uticaj lateralizovanosti i kortikalnih odgovora na razvoj govora kod dece. Metode Istraživanje je kvazieksperimentalni dizajn sa dve grupe. Uzrokom je obuhvaćeno 60 dece (30 u eksperimentalnoj i 30 u kontrolnoj grupi) iz Beograda, oba pola, uzrasta od pet i po do sedam godina. Od instrumenata smo koristili test za procenu lateralizovanosti i nalaz evociranih potencijala. Rezultati Na suptestu vizuelna lateralizovanost postoji statistički značajna razlika (χ² = 7,56, p lt 0,05) između posmatranih grupa. Vizuelni evocirani potencijali na svim merenim parametrima su dali statistički značajnu razliku između eksperimentalne i kontrolne grupe kortikalni odgovori - levo (χ² = 30,00, df = 1, p lt 0,05); kortikalni odgovori - desno (χ² = 6,667, df = 1, p lt 0,05); amplituda - levo (χ² = 13,469, df = 1, p lt 0,05); amplituda - desno (χ² = 40,00, df = 1, p lt 0,05). Somatosenzorni potencijali su dali statistički značajnu razliku kod kortikalnih odgovora - levo (χ² = 18,261, df = 1, p lt 0,05), amplitude (χ² = 12,000, df = 1, p lt 0,05), latencija (χ² = 5,455, df = 1, p lt 0,05). Zaključak Vizuelna lateralizovanost, kao i vizuelni i somatosenzorni kortikalni odgovori na stimuluse su bolji kod dece bez prisutnog poremećaja artikulacije, što bi se moglo iskoristiti za blagovremeno planiranje prevencije

Anthropometric and lipid parameters trends in school children: One decade of YUSAD study

Introduction. Athersclerosis is a multifactorial disease that begins in childhood. There are few reports regarding influence of risk factors on the atherosclerotic processes in early period of life and adolescence. Objective. The aim of this study was to present and analyze risk factor trends in school children over a 10-year period that were included and followed-up by the Yugoslav Study of Atherosclerosis Precursors in School Children (YUSAD Study). Methods. There were three examinations of selected population from 13 centres. The first examination was performed when children were 10 years of age (first group; N=6381 participants), the second examination on the same population when they were 15 years of age (second group; N=5017) and third when children were 19/20 years of age (third group; N=1293). Evaluated parameters included: BMI, waist circumference (WaC) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride). Results. A significant elevation of values (p<0.001) of BMI, WaC and triglycerides and a significant decline (p<0.001) of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in boys over 5 and 10-year period was noticed. There was a significant elevation (p<0.001) of BMI, WaC and HDL values and a significant decline in LDL cholesterol values in girls over the 5 and 10-year period. Conclusion. Our results point out that girls between 10 and 19/20 years have a better lipid profile during growth. It should be stressed out that childhood and adolescence can be more beneficial in the observation of risk factor influences on pathological, genetic and clinical levels

Genetic and epigenomic modifiers of diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN), the most common chronic and progressive complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), strongly affects patients’ quality of life. DN could be present as peripheral, autonomous or, clinically also relevant, uremic neuropathy. The etiopathogenesis of DN is multifactorial, and genetic components play a role both in its occurrence and clinical course. A number of gene polymorphisms in candidate genes have been assessed as susceptibility factors for DN, and most of them are linked to mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species production, neurovascular impairments and modified protein glycosylation, as well as immunomodulation and inflammation. Different epigenomic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA action have been studied in DN, which also underline the importance of “metabolic memory” in DN appearance and progression. In this review, we summarize most of the relevant data in the field of genetics and epigenomics of DN, hoping they will become significant for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of DN

Lajm neuroborelioza

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystemic zoonotic disease which in humans can involve the skin, joints, heart and/or nervous system. In this study a total of 11 patients with clinical manifestations have been assessed at the Institute for Occupational Health. Evaluation of the patients was done in order to determine their working capability and further professional orientation. Patients were of different gender, age, education and profession. They fulfilled at least two of the three criteria: tick infestation data (epidemiological criteria), central and/or peripheral neurological symptoms (clinical criteria) and a positive serological finding. Diagnosis was done upon classical clinical criteria: electromyeloneurography (EMNG) analysis, neurological impairments, electroencephalography (EEG), computer tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). IgM and IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi were determined by commercial ELISA kits. IgM antibodies were recorded in the serum of 4 (44.4%) and IgG in 6 (66.7%) patients. Electro-myeloneurography findings of the upper and lower limbs were positive in 5 (83.3%), electroencephalography in 4 (66.6%) of the 6 observed patients and CT was positive in 4 (36.4%) of the 5 observed patients. The study has established that in patients with neuroborreliosis (NB) the capability to carry out intellectual tasks, as well as responsible duties is impaired due to poor memory. Patients suffering from peripheral neuropathies are not fit to withstand longterm walks, weight lifting and carrying or any other form of physical stress.Lajm borelioza je multisistemsko oboljenje, iz grupe zoonoza koje kod ljudi može zahvatiti kožu, zglobove, srce i/ili nervni sistem. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 11 bolesnika sa kliničkim manifestacijama neuroborelioze koji su ispitivani u Institutu za medicinu rada Srbije u cilju ocene radne sposobnosti i dalje profesionalne orijentacije. Ispitani su bolesnici različite starosti, pola, nivoa obrazovanja i različitih zanimanja koji su ispunili minimalno dva od tri kriterijuma i to: podatak o ubodu krpelja (epidemiološki kriterijum), ispoljavanje centralnih i/ili, perifernih neuroloških simptoma (klinički kriterijum) i pozitivan serološki nalaz. Dijagnoza neuroborelioze je postavljena na osnovu klasičnih kliničkih kriterijuma: neurološ kih ispada, analize elektro-mioneurografije (EMNG), elektroencefalografije (EEG), kompjuterske tomografije (CT) i/ili magnetne rezonance (MRI). Ispitivanje prisustva antitela IgM i IgG klase u krvnom serumu prema B. burgdorferi vršeno je komercijalnim ELISA testom. Antitela IgM klase registrovana su u serumu četiri (44,4%), dok su IgG antitela registrovana kod 6 (66,7%) ispitanih pacijenata. Nalaz elektro-mioneurografije gornjih i donjih ekstremiteta je bio pozitivan kod pet (83,3%), nalaz elektroencefalografije kod četiri (66,6%) od šest ispitanih pacijenata, dok je nalaz CT bio pozitivan kod 4 (36,4%) od pet ispitanih pacijenata. Sprovedenim ispitivanjem je utvrđeno da je kod bolesnika sa razvijenom neuroboreliozom smanjena sposobnost za bilo koju vrstu intelektualnog rada, kao i za poslove koji su povezani sa moralnom i materijalnom odgovornošću zbog problema sa pamćenjem. Kod bolesnika sa perifernim neuropatijama postoji nesposobnost za poslove koji uključuju dugotrajno stajanje i hodanje, dizanje i nošenje tereta, kao i bilo koju vrstu fizičkog rada

Correlation between coagulation and inflammation state in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to gender differences: Is there any impact of eight-week exercise training?

Background/Aim. The hypercoagulable state and inflammation state in diabetics has been widely studied by previous researchers, but there is a lack of research about a possible impact of exercise training on this relationship. The aim of this study was to assess and compare correlation between the coagulation and inflammation status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking into account the gender differences as well as an impact of the 8-week exercise training on the correlation coefficient and parameters of the inflammation and coagulation state. Methods. A total of 60 patients in stable clinical condition and well-regulated diabetic status passed through all phases of the study. The exercise training included the exercise program as interval training with estimated intensity uphill to 75% of a maximal heart rate in particular individual, 5 times a week for 8 weeks, and walking for 30 minutes with a speed of 5 km/h, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Further fibrinolytic, coagulation and inflammatory parameters were analyzed before and after the study: D-dimer, von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen, high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), leukocytes, thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and coagulation factors: FII, FV, FVII and FX. Results. Our research showed a statistically significant reduction in the mean vWF levels after intervention both at the males (p < 0.001) and females (p < 0.001). According to a correlation analysis between hs-CRP and fibrinogen, there was a positive correlation as baseline both at the males (p < 0.05, r = 0.492) and females (p < 0.01, r = 0.516) which became weaker in the males (p < 0.01, r = 0.449) and disappeared in the females (p < 0.05, r = 0.059) after intervention. The correlation which existed as baseline in the males between D-dimer and either hs-CRP (p < 0.01, r = 0.633) or fibrinogen (p < 0.01, r = 0.673) as well as the correlation between hs-CRP and FII (p < 0.01, r = 0.728), FV (p < 0.05, r = 0.366), FVII (p < 0.05, r = 0.373) coagulation as well as between D-dimer and FII (p < 0.01, r = 0.851), FVII (p < 0.05, r = 0.367)was absent in the females. Our research demonstrated a weakening correlations in the males after intervention between D-dimer and hs-CRP (p < 0.05, r = 0.378), between hs-CRP and FII (p < 0.01, r = 0.501), FV (p < 0.05, r = 0.298), FVII (p < 0.05, r = 0.351) as well as between D-dimer and FII (p < 0.01, r = 0.759), and FVII (p < 0.05, r = 0.296). The increase of the FX values (p < 0.05) in the females after intervention suggested the possible antiinflammatory effect of exercise training. Conclusion. According to previous research, the higher levels of vWF was associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vWF may be a risk factor unique to these populations. We demonstrated that the 8-week exercise training can significantly reduce the value of vWF in the males and females, suggesting a potential beneficial effect on the endothelial function parameters. Our research demonstrated a stronger correlation between the coagulation and inflammation parameters as baseline in the males than in the females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to our results, the 8-week exercise training lead to a weakening of the strength of correlation between the coagulation and inflammation parameters in the males and complete disappearance of this correlation in the females, suggesting a unique effect of exercise training that should be explored in future research

Effects of diazepam and levodopa single doses on motor cortex plasticity modulation in healthy human subjects: A TMS study

Introduction. Administration of pharmacological agents with specific actions on neurotransmitter systems is a powerful driver of functional cortical reorganization. Plastic reorganization of the motor cortex in humans studies by the use of non-invasive stimulation protocols, which mimic the Hebbian model of associative plasticity. Objective. Aiming to explore pharmacological modulation on human motor cortex plasticity, we tested healthy subjects after each dosage of diazepam, levodopa i placebo administration, using paired associative stimulation protocol (PAS) that induce fenomena similar to a long-term potentiation and depression, as defined on the synaptic level. Methods. We analyzed effects of benzodiazepines (10 mg), levodopa (200 mg) and placebo on PAS protocol in 14 healthy volunteers, using a double-blind placebo-controlled study design. PAS consisted of electrical stimuli pairs at n.medianus and magnetic pulses over the scalp (transcranial magnetic stimulation) in precisely defined intervals (ISI was 10 and 25 ms) for a total of about 15 minutes (200 pairs). MEP amplitudes before and after (0, 10, 20 and 30 minutes later) interventional protocols were compared. Results. When protocols were applied with placebo depending on ISI (10 ms - inhibitory, 25 ms - facilitatory effects), MEP amplitudes decreased or increased, while values in the postinterventional period (0, 10, 20 and 30 min) were compared with initial values before the use of SAS. The use of benzodiazepines caused the occlusion of LTP-like effect, in contrast to amplification effects recorded after the administration of levodopa. With respect to the LTD-like protocol, the reverse was true (ANOVA for repeat measurements p&lt;0.001). Conclusion. Administration of GABA-ergic agonist diazepam interferes with the induction of associative plasticity in the motor cortex of healthy individuals, as opposed to the use of levodopa, which stimulates these processes. The observed effects point at a potential role of pharmacological modulation of plasticity in humans

Analysis of remaining life assessment of three-phase gravity separator for oil rectification with the simultaneous usean RBI matrix

The paper presents a detailed description of the oil rectification process used in upstream oil and gas plants, including the significant equipment involved. One such equipment highlighted in the study is a pressure vessel utilized as a separator to separate the liquid and gas phases. This pressure vessel has been in operation for over two decades. A thorough examination of the mentioned pressure equipment was conducted during the process evaluation. It was discovered that the internal side of the vessel, particularly its back elliptical head, had suffered extensive damage due to erosion and corrosion, emerging as the most significant cause of the deterioration. The application of RBI-estimation revealed that the vessel falls under the category of highly risk equipment, and there is a significant risk of both environmental and financial consequences associated with its potential failure (leakage). Such failure is anticipated to occur promptly in the area below the wear plate of the vessel's nozzle

Significance of contemporary research of nickel alloys and their application

Legure nikla se koriste na povišenim temperaturama i pritiscima, odnosno pod najnepovoljnijim radnim uslovima, tako da je preciznost ispitivanja od posebnog značaja. Tendencija usavršavanja postojećih legura predstavlja posebno interesovanje u tehničkom i naučnom svetu. Na osnovu teorijskih postavki, analize eksperimentalnih rezultata, ustanovljeno je da na kvalitet legura nikla znatno utiču promene u strukturi koje nastaju u toku eksploatacije. Odgovarajućim termomehaničkim režimima eliminisani su defekti u materijalu nastali tokom eksploatacije, a primenom savremenih tehnika utvrđeni optimalni parametri procesa. Poseban značaj u istraživanju imaju fino strukturna ispitivanja vezana za optičku i elektronsku mikroskopiju koja su primenjena na legurama nikla i prikazana u ovom radu.Nickel alloys are used on elevated temperatures and pressures, ie under the most unfavorable working conditions, so the accuracy of the test is of particular importance. The tendency to improve existing alloys is especially interest in the technical and scientific world. Based on theoretical settings, the analyzes of experimental results, it was established that the quality of nickel alloys are significantly influenced by changes in the structure that arise during the exploitation. The corresponding thermomechanical regimes eliminated defects in the material incurred during the exploitation, and the application of modern techniques determined by optimal process parameters. Special importance in the research have fine structural tests related to optical and electron microscopy applied to nickel alloys and presented in this paper

Effects of electrotherapy in treatment of neurogenic bladder in children with occult spinal dysraphism

Introduction Neurogenic bladder can develop as a result of various degrees of neurogenic lesion in spina bifida. The degree of bladder dysfunction depends on the level and type of spina bifida. Due to results upon complete diagnostic protocols, treatment options are applied. Objective Comparison of therapy results of patients with occult spinal dysraphism with neurogenic bladder that under-went medicamentous therapy and medicamentous with electrotherapy treatment. Methods We had 49 patients with neurogenic bladder that were treated at the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade in the period 2003-2008. The first group of children received medicamentous therapy and the second group received medicamentous therapy with transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. In both groups we evaluated 4 symptoms: daily enuresis, enuresis nocturna, urgency and frequency and 4 urodynamic parameters: lower bladder capacity, unstable contractions and residual urine and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. Follow-up urodynamic evaluation was done after 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. Results Our findings pointed out a high statistical significance of improvement in all evaluated urodynamic parameters of neurogenic bladder (predominantly in bladder capacity) in the group of children with combined therapy as well in resolution of symptoms (predominantly enuresis nocturna, urgency and frequency). Conclusion Combined therapy is more efficient in treatment of children with neurogenic bladder. Electrotherapy is non-invasive, easily applicable and has had a significant place in treatment of children with dysfunctional voiding