The reasons for development of complications in soft contact lenses wearers: A qualitative study

© 2020, Serbian Medical Society. All rights reserved. Objective. To determine reasons and their actual role in occurrence of complications in users of soft contact lenses. Methods. This was a qualitative study in which a constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze obtained data. The study population consisted of two groups of subjects: 10 students who were identified as users of soft contact lenses and 4 ophthalmologists. Each of the respondents participated ina single interview. Based on audio recordings of these interviews appropriate transcripts of conversations were made and analyzed. After elimination of waste words 11 key categories were crystallized. Results. Recommendations of the ophthalmologists perhaps have the decisive role in the formation of attitude that users will have regarding the adequate hygiene of soft contact lenses: hand hygiene, proper cleanliness of storage for soft contact lenses and using the solution in the allotted time are imperative for users of soft contact lenses. Sleeping with soft contact lenses for a long period and more frequently than it was specified in the recommendation of an ophthalmologist is one of the greatest reasons for development of dry eye symptoms, while swimming with soft contact lenses increases the risk for occurrence of eye infections. Conclusion. The main reasons for the occurrence of complications in soft contact lenses users are inadequate hygiene and weakening of compliance of soft contact lenses users over time

RISK FACTORS AND INDICATORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR ILLNESSES IN LATE ADOLESCENT PERIOD

Epidemiological studies of previous decades indicate that cardiovascular illnesses present a dominant part of the structure of mortality in the majority of developed countries in the world. The goal of this research was to establish the most common risk factors of this group of illnesses, as well as statistically significant differences and correlations between risk factors and cardiovascular illnesses in the late adolescent period. A cross-study was performed in three high school graduate classes in Serbia (Valjevo), in April 2015, on an incidental sample of 240 subjects of both genders, aged (19 ± 0.5 years). A statistically significant difference in the frequency of hypertension in male adolescents (2.54%) and female adolescents (0.0%) was not established. Obesity was significantly more manifested in male graduates (6.93%), with a significant level, than in female graduates (1.10%). Abdominal obesity is, with a confidence interval – range (99% CI), much more common in male graduates (10.01%), than in female graduates (1.26%). Among smokers, a significant gender difference was not established Alcohol was, with a probability level (p ≤0.01) consumed much more by male graduates (19.93%) than female graduates (8.01%). A statistically significant linear correlation between variables of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference was observed. Risk factors in late adolescents are significantly different when it comes to gender. With a goal of prevention of cardiovascular diseases in high school graduate students, it is imperative to reduce obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as implementation of regular physical activity.Key words: High school graduates, risk factors, hypertension, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MOTOR ABILITIES IN BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 10 AND 9

The aim of this research is to confirm differences in the anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of schoolchildren aged 9 and 10 compared by sex and age. The sample comprised 341 schoolchildren, divided into two subgroups of third (172) and fourth (169) graders. The research is of a transversal character and includes the measurement of anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities by applying the Eurofit fitness testing battery. The results show a significant difference based on sex in terms of body mass (t = 2.148), and as for motor abilities, there is a difference in the Shuttle run test (t = -3.709). A statistically significant difference considering the age of the tested population was observed in height (t = -10.327) and body mass (Z = -5,991), while in terms of motor abilities there was a statistically significant difference in the values of all the tests: Hand tapping (t = 4.735), the Standing long jump (Z = -3,575), Shuttle run (t = 12,248), the Flexed arm hang (Z = -2,167), Sit and reach (Z = -2,406), Sit-ups in 30 seconds (t = -9069). The research shows a higher statistically significant difference observed in body composition, but also in the motor area of the studied group in terms of age, and in relation to the statistically significant difference that was revealed by gender

Degradation of the Insulating System of Power Transformers by Copper Sulfide Deposition: Influence of Oil Oxidation and Presence of Metal Passivator

Deposition of conductive copper sulfide on paper insulation of power transformers was recognized as a serious risk that can result in equipment failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mineral insulating oil oxidation and the presence of metal passivator on copper sulfide (Cu2S) deposition. Oil oxidation was found to increase deposition of Cu2S on the insulating paper, as confirmed by IEC 61125 B and IEC 62535 tests. The presence of oxygen resulted in an increase of copper dissolution in the oil and facilitated progressive copper sulfide deposition on the insulating paper, as confirmed by ICP, AAS, and EDX measurements. The effectiveness of aminomethyl substituted toluylbenzotriazole (TEA) metal passivator in suppressing copper sulfide formation and deposition was studied using modified IEC 62535 test. The protective role of TTA bonded to the copper plate surface and absorbed in the insulating paper was observed in tests at 140 and 150 degrees C, even for highly oxidized oils

Antimicrobial treatment of corynebacterium striatum invasive infections: A systematic review

The aim of this study was to establish an evidence-based guideline for the antibiotic treatment of Corynebacterium striatum infections. Several electronic databases were systematically searched for clinical trials, observational studies or individual cases on patients of any age and gender with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, harboring C. striatum isolated from body fluids or tissues in which it is not normally present. C. striatum had to be identified as the only causative agent of the invasive infection, and its isolation from blood, body fluids or tissues had to be confirmed by one of the more advanced diagnostic methods (biochemical methods, mass spectrometry and/or gene sequencing). This systematic review included 42 studies that analyzed 85 individual cases with various invasive infections caused by C. striatum. More than one isolate of C. striatum exhibited 100% susceptibility to vancomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, piperacillin-tazobactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate and cefuroxime. On the other hand, some strains of this bacterium showed a high degree of resistance to fluoroquinolones, to the majority majority of β-lactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, lincosamides and cotrimoxazole. Despite the antibiotic treatment, fatal outcomes were reported in almost 20% of the patients included in this study. Gene sequencing methods should be the gold standard for the identification of C. striatum, while MALDI-TOF and the Vitek system can be used as alternative methods. Vancomycin should be used as the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of C. striatum infections, in monotherapy or in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam. Alternatively, linezolid, teicoplanin or daptomycin may be used in severe infections, while amoxicillin-clavulanate may be used to treat mild infections caused by C. striatum

Effects of Ion Beam Irradiation on Nanoscale InOx Cooper-Pair Insulators

This paper examines the effects of irradiating indium oxide films of nanoscale thickness by ion beams, when these films are in the Cooper-pair insulator state. Radiation effects are predicted on the basis of Monte Carlo simulations of ion transport. Results of numerical experiments are interpreted within the theoretical model of a Cooper-pair insulator. The study suggests that radiation-induced changes in InOx films exposed to ion beams could significantly alter their current-voltage characteristics and that a transition to a metallic state is possible, due to radiation-induced perturbation of the fine-tuned granular structure. Furthermore, incident and displaced ions can break up enough Cooper pairs in InOx films to cause dissolution of this specific insulating state