Synthesis and application of silica particles for the removal of heavy metals and pesticide residues from aqueous solutions

In this study, the adsorption behavior of silica adsorbents with different morphology and porosity has been examined in order to evaluate their use for the purification of wastewaters containing toxic environmental chemicals such as heavy metals and pesticide residues. Three different types of silica particles were investigated: (i) microporous silica core particles prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), (ii) mesoporous silica particles generated by the neutralization of highly basic sodium silicate solution and (iii) silica core-shell particles composed of mesoporous silica layers around dense cores. Monodispersed spherical silica particles produced from TEOS have a microporous structure but the lowest adsorption efficiency and adsorption capacity of both heavy metals and pesticides. Polydispersed silica particles of irregular shape prepared from highly basic sodium silicate solution exhibit a mesoporous structure and high efficiency for the removal of heavy metals and pesticides from aqueous solutions. Monodispersed core-shell particles composed of a microporous core and a mesoporous shell also have high adsorption efficiencies in both combinations. Moreover, silica particles can be easily functionalized with ferrite nanoparticles, which allow the magnetic separation of silica adsorbents from aqueous solutions

Risk characterization for mercury, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and polychlorinated biphenyls associated with fish consumption in Serbia

The aim of this work was to assess the risk due to mercury (Hg), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (ndl PCBs) intake via fish consumption in Serbia. We have developed 24 scenarios using four concentration levels (mean, maximum, 50th and 95th percentile) of contaminants, determined in 521 samples of fish products available on Serbian market; two consumption levels (Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization data and recommendation of American Heart Association); and three body weights (5th, 50th and 95th percentile). All the values concerning the intake of DDT are below the corresponding health based guidance value. Calculated weekly intake of Hg using maximal concentration, intake of 340 g/week and 5th percentile of body weight exceeded the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). When maximal and 95th percentile concentration of ndl PCBs was used, weekly intakes exceeded a "guidance value" with one exception Le., when 95th percentile of concentration along with 95th percentile of body weight were used. Concerning Hg and ndl PCBs, when extreme concentrations were used, HIs exceeded the value of 1, indicating that fish and fishery products may pose a threat to consumer's health

Some characteristics of anthropological status of women in Novi Sad – Republic of Serbia

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropological status of adult females and the prevalence of females with potential health risk using the indices of obesity. The anthropological study was conducted from 2011 to 2013 in Novi Sad, (the north of Serbia). The tested group consisted of 310 women, with mean age 41.42±6.86, involved in the project "The impact of physical activity on the risk factors in the working population." Nutritional condition was determined using the body mass index (BMI kg/m2 ), while the waist circumference and WHR were used for assessing the central obesity. According to the average BMI, the younger females are predominantly with normal weight, while higher percent of older females is characterised with pre-obesity. In total, 45.85% of females are with excessive body weight, 34.62% of them being classified as overweight and 11.23% as obese. Central obesity is more frequent in older females aged up to 40. Potential health risk increases with age, and very high health risk from abdominal and overall obesity was observed in 6.25% of younger and 13,25% of older women. The data therefore point to the necessity of continuous monitoring and a combination of existing programs with other forms of organized physical activity

Quinoline-based thiazolyl-hydrazones target cancer cells through autophagy inhibition

Heterocyclic pharmacophores such as thiazole and quinoline rings have a significant role in medicinal chemistry. They are considered privileged structures since they constitute several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for cancer treatment. Herein, we report the synthesis, in silico evaluation of the ADMET profiles, and in vitro investigation of the anticancer activity of a series of novel thiazolyl-hydrazones based on the 8-quinoline (1a–c), 2-quinoline (2a–c), and 8-hydroxy-2-quinolyl moiety (3a–c). The panel of several human cancer cell lines and the nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line HEK-293 were used to evaluate the compound-mediated in vitro anticancer activities, leading to [2-(2-(quinolyl-8-ol-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-thiazole (3c) as the most promising compound. The study revealed that 3c blocks the cell-cycle progression of a human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) in the S phase and induces DNA double-strand breaks. Also, our findings demonstrate that 3c accumulates in lysosomes, ultimately leading to the cell death of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep-G2) and HCT-116 cells, by the mechanism of autophagy inhibition