Biosensors for Determination of Heavy Metals in Waters

Biosensors are nowadays a powerful alternative to conventional analytical techniques for controlling the quality of not only natural water but also process water used by the food industry during the production process, as well as wastewater prior to release into natural watercourses. The goal is to provide the required quality and safety of water from the standpoint of heavy metal contamination. The basic and most important characteristics of biosensors are high sensitivity, short response time, specificity, and relatively low production cost. Biosensors can detect the presence and measure the content of various toxic substances (pesticides, heavy metals, etc.) not only in water but also in food. Detection of contaminants, primarily heavy metals in water used in food production processes, is a potential area of biosensor application in the food industry. Biosensors can be adapted for direct and continuous (online) monitoring by measuring certain analytes that can affect the quality and safety of water. This chapter will give an overview of the development and application of biosensors in order to control the quality and safety of water from the standpoint of the presence of heavy metals

Effect of extraction technique on the content of bioactive components and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of fresh and dried nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

The samples of stinging nettle were collected during June in the Tuzla region. Aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh and dried leaves in order to determinate and compare content of bioactive components and antioxidant potential. Conventional soxhlet, ultrasound assisted extraction and traditional maceration extraction were used as extraction methods. Quantitative determination of phenols and flavonoids was carried out using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity of nettle aqueous extracts was determined using ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Extracts obtained by Soxhlet extraction showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content and expected the highest antioxidant campacity, while extracts obtained by maceration gave the lowest results

Investigation of the influence of MgO and CaO content on the quality of technical ceramics

In this paper, the influence of MgO and CaO content on the quality of technical ceramics (which originally represents the  Al2O3 - SiO2 - CaO - MgO system) has been investigated. Therefore, quality tests were performed on samples where the contents of CaO and MgO were taken as variable values. Based on the obtained test results and their analysis, certain characteristics of ceramics are defined with the different percentages of individual oxides content in 98.2 - 99% Al2O3

Removal of lead and zinc ions from their monocomponent and two-component aqueous solutions using sodium hydroxide

The hydroxide precipitation method, using NaOH as a precipitant agent, was conducted to treat synthetic monocomponent and two-component water solutions of Pb2+ and Zn2+ with initial concentrations of 50 and 500 mg/l of each metal. The effect of pH and initial concentration of lead and zinc ions on their removal were investigated. The precipitation experiments were carried out by batch method that involves the mixing of NaOH with solutions containing metal ions to occur nucleation, solid growth and subsequent separation of precipitates from solution by filtration. The results showed that the removal efficiency was increased by increasing of pH and initial concentration of metal ions in their water solutions. Hydroxide precipitation method using NaOH is an ef-ficient technique for the removal of lead and zinc ions from their monocomponent and two-component water so-lutions of different concentrations, with maximum removal efficiency in the pH range of 10.32 to 11.39

Ru(III) kompleksi i njihovi ligandi izvedeni iz salicilaldehida i halogeniranih anilina: sinteza, karakterizacija i antioksidativno djelovanje

This work aimed to describe the synthesis and characterisation of two anionic Ru(III) complexes of the general formula Na[RuCl2(N-4-Cl-Ph-salim)2] and Na[RuCl2(N-3-Br-Ph-salim)2, their associated ligands, and determine their antioxidant activity. The ligands N-4-Cl-phenylsalicylidenimine (N-4-Cl-Ph-salimH, HLa) and N-3-Br-phenylsalicylidenimine (N-3-Br-Ph-salimH, HLb), Schiff bases, were synthesised from salicylaldehyde and chloroaniline or bromoaniline. The compounds were characterised using IR spectroscopy and ESI ToF mass spectrometry. The following was confirmed: coordination of ligands on the Ru(III) centre, the molecular formulas, and the corresponding M– ions: [C26H18N2O2Cl4Ru]–– ion, (m/z: 719.8283). The antioxidant activity was determined by the ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays. In contrast to the ligands, both complexes proved to be strong scavengers of the ABTS and DPPH radicals with IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) values comparable to those of Trolox. As such, they present valuable candidates for further research related to their biological properties.Ovaj rad je imao cilj opisati sintezu i karakterizaciju dvaju anionskih Ru(III) kompleksa općenite formule Na[RuCl2(N-4-Cl-Ph-salim)2] i Na[RuCl2(N-3-Br-Ph-salim)2, njihove pridružene ligande i odrediti njihovu antioksidacijsku aktivnost. Ligandi N-4-Cl-fenilsalicilidenimin (N-4-Cl-Ph-salimH, HLa) i N-3-Br-fenilsalicilidenimin (N-3-Br-Ph-salimH, HLb), Schiffove baze, sintetizirani su iz salicilaldehida i kloranilina ili bromoanilina. Spojevi su karakterizirani primjenom IR spektroskopije i ESI ToF spektrometrije masa. Potvrđena je koordinacija liganada na Ru(III) centru, molekulske formule i odgovarajući M– ioni: [C26H18N2O2Cl4Ru]–– ion (m/z: 719.8283). Antioksidacijska aktivnost određena je metodama ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-etilbenzotiazolin-6-sulfonska kiselina) i DPPH (1,1-difenil-2-pikrilhidrazil). Za razliku od liganda, oba kompleksa pokazala su se jakim hvatačima ABTS i DPPH radikala s IC50 vrijednostima (koncentracija koja postiže 50 % inhibicije) usporedivim s onima od Troloxa. Kao takvi, vrijedni su kandidati za daljnja istraživanja vezana uz njihova biološka svojstva

Biochemical predictors of death before discharge in cooled newborns following perinatal asphyxia

Aim To analyse biochemical markers as possible predictors of death before discharge in cooled newborns following perinatal asphyxia. Methods A total of 91 infants that underwent therapeutic hypothermia after perinatal asphyxia were included. Inclusion criteria for therapeutic hypothermia were Sarnat stage 2 or 3. Data were collected from medical histories regarding gender, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar and Sarnat score; additionally, gas analyses, liver and cardiac enzymes before, and in the first 12 hours after starting therapeutic hypothermia, were evaluated. The patients’ characteristics were compared between two groups, survivors and non-survivors. Results Statistical difference was not found between groups regarding gender, gestational age, birth weight, delivery type, 1st and 5th minute Apgar score, seizures, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), troponin and fibrinogen level. Groups were significantly different regarding acid-base balance (p=0.012), base excess (BE) (p=0.025), lactate (p=0.002), aspartate aminotransferaze (AST), (p=0.011), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.006), activated partial thromboplastin clotting time (aPTT) (p=0.001) and international normalized ratio (INR) (p=0.001). Conclusion Acid-base balance, BE, lactate, AST, LDH, aPTT and INR were significantly higher in the group of cooled newborns after perinatal asphyxia (non-survivors), and can serve as predictors of death before discharge. Combining diagnostic modalities raises a chance for accurate prediction of outcomes of asphyxiated infants

The patient as a factor in assessing the quality of health services in private practice institutions

Introduction The concept of the quality of healthcare services is constantly evolving and transforming depending on the interest in it and the level of involvement of medical staff and patients. Aim To as- sess patient satisfaction with the quality of health services in private practice condition. Methods 105 (n=105) subjects participated in the study, and it was conducted by an anonymous survey of the clinic which offers medical services, tests, and diagnostic procedures in the fields of gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, radiology, urology, and neurology. The research was conducted among patients who used the health services of a private practice institution from January to September 2022. The patient questionnaire consisted of 14 questions. Five questions related to identifying the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, and 9 questions were research questions of the Lickert type. For this purpose, the standardized Laschinger HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provid- ers and Systems) questionnaire on patient satisfaction with the quality of healthcare services was used. Differences in numerical variables were tested by Student’s t-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA). All P values are two-sided (p<0.05). The statistical program MedCalc Statistical Software version 18.2.1 was used for statistical analysis. Results The research was conducted on 105 patients, 28% of whom were male and 72% female. Most patients were in the age group of 61 to 70 years (30%). Patients are satisfied with the quality of healthcare services. The highest average score for reception and waiting time (4.9), the lowest score for being informed about upcoming interventions and treatments and professional approach (4.68). Conclusion Patients show a high degree of satisfaction with the general services provided

Effect of solvent and extraction conditions on antioxidative activity of sage (salvia officinalis l.) extracts obtained by maceration

In this paper, the extraction of phenolics from sage (Salvia Officinalis L.) which was grown in the plantations of MP Ljekobilje Trebinje, was carried out by maceration at different extraction time periods (30, 60, 90 , 120, 150 and 180 min), using different organic solvents (40%, 50% and 60% ethanol, 40%, 50% and 60% methanol) and water. The influence of each solvent on the extraction of total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidative activity of obtained extracts was evaluated. The effect of solid-to-solvent ratio (1:7, 1:10 and 1:15) on the extraction yield of total phenolics was investigated. The influence of different extraction temperatures (room temperature, 30, 40, 50 and 60 ºC) on the content of total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidative activity of the extract was also investigated. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids in the obtained sage extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The radical scavenging capacity was determined by the DPPH method, wherein the extract concentration required to neutralize 50% of the initial DPPH radical concentration was also determined. The aqueous solutions of ethanol gave the highest yield of the extract, ie. the highest content of total phenolics and flavonoids in extracts obtained at room temperature and optimal extraction time of 60 minutes. Increasing the time of extraction has increased the content of the total phenolics and flavonoids in extracts, while the excessive time and temperature of the extraction had a negative effect on total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidative activity of sage extracts

Antimicrobial and genotoxic activity of novel ruthenium(III) complex with n-phenyl-5-nitrosalicylideneimine

In this study, novel hexa coordinated ruthenium(III) complex of the type Na[RuCl2L2)] (where L = monobasic bidentate Schiff base derived from the condensation of 5-nitrosalicyladehyde with aniline) has been synthesized and characterized by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry. Schiff base N-phenyl-5-nitrosalicylideneimine is coordinated to the ruthenium via imine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen. Mass spectra showed molecular ion (M-) at m/z 653.9641 which corresponds to [C26H18Cl2N4O6Ru]-. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of the Schiff base and the complex were tested by micro-dilution technique and agar plate assay for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The compounds showed a higher antibacterial activity against tested Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 and ATCC 29213), whereas against the Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603) were ineffective. The genotoxic effects of Ru(III) complex were investigated using the Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay in human lymphocytes cultures. The cell culture treated with the complex at a concentration of 3.7 µg/mL exhibit the most prominent effect of decreasing the frequency of micronucleus for 44%, while at the concentrations of 1.5 and 7.4 µg/mL effect is slightly lower (40%), compared to the control cell culture