A geographical information systems-based approach to health facilities and urban traffic system in Belgrade, Serbia

We studied the geospatial distribution of health facilities in Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia, in relation to the public transport system. Analyses in this research were based on advanced geographical information systems using numerical methods. We calculated accessibility to health centres as based on public transport properties accounting for the movement of citizens, as well as patients, through the city. Based on results, the city of Belgrade has a moderate connectivity. Public health centres and a group of other health centres in the central-east part of the city have a better connectivity. Also, in this paper we estimated that the average time necessary to reach health facilities on foot is 100 minutes and by public transport vehicles such as buses, trams and trolleys is 42 minutes

Modelling and mapping of the COVID-19 trajectory and pandemic paths at global scale: A geographer's perspective

In December 2019, the virus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus started to spread from China and dispersed over the rest of the world. In March 2020, WHO (World Health Organization) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The transmission path of the pandemic was accelerated by different types of transportation. With complete analysis of spatial data, population density, types of traffic networks, and their properties, the spatial distribution of COVID-19 was estimated. GIS (Geographical Information System), numerical methods, and software for network analysis were used in this research to model scenarios of virus distribution on a global scale. The analyzed data included air, railway, marine, and road traffic. In the pandemic research, numerous models of possible trajectory of viruses can be created. Many have a stochastic character. This study includes all countries in the world affected by the COVID-19 up to date. In this study, GIS methods such as buffer, interpolations, and numerical analysis were used in order to estimate and visualize ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. According to the availability of new data, trajectory of virus paths was estimated. On the other hand, sparsely populated areas with poorly developed and small traffic networks (and isolated island territories) tend to be less or not affected as shown by the model. This low-cost approach can be used in order to define important measures that need to be addressed and implemented in order to successfully mitigate the implications of COVID-19 not only on global, but local and regional scales as well

Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Drug–Dietary Supplement and Drug–Herbal Product Interactions

Given the widespread use of dietary supplements (DS) and herbal products (HP), healthcare professionals (HCPs) will increasingly encounter patients who use these preparations with conventional drugs and who need their services to reduce the consequences of adverse therapeutic outcomes. The aim of our survey was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of HCPs regarding the risk of potential drug–dietary supplement (DDSIs) and drug–herbal product (DHPIs) interactions. This cross-sectional survey collected data via on paper-based questionnaire among general practitioners (GPs) (n = 105), specialty doctors (n = 87) and nurses (n = 154). The HCPs were mostly familiar with the interaction of doxycycline with magnesium (83%) and were least familiar with interaction of warfarin with glucosamine (14%). The results on DDSIs and DHPIs knowledge showed that GPs scored significantly higher than nurses (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), while specialty doctors scored significantly higher than nurses only on DDSIs knowledge (p < 0.001). Only 28% of respondents reported that they often or always ask patients on drug therapy about the use of DS or HP, and 25% of respondents record such data in the medical documentation of patients. Our results showed that HCPs have sufficient knowledge about most major DDSIs and DHPIs, but insufficient knowledge about most moderate interactions. However, their overall knowledge and behavior regarding the risk of these interactions indicate the need for further continuing education and trainin

Climate changes science and the holy bible texts

In this paper, we investigated the connection between the Holy Bible texts and climate changes. Also, for the texts from Bible (Old Testament) about time, space, energy, climate and climate changes, a scientific interpretation is obtained. By the today's prognosis scientists share the opinion that the climate changes may destroy the civilization on Earth. In the texts of Bible, we try to find a connection between the Holy text and climate changes. For example, big flood in the Noah time can indicate one strong climate change's influence. Interpretation of Bible will always have an enormous importance for past, present and future science

Climate changes science and the holy bible texts

In this paper, we investigated the connection between the Holy Bible texts and climate changes. Also, for the texts from Bible (Old Testament) about time, space, energy, climate and climate changes, a scientific interpretation is obtained. By the today's prognosis scientists share the opinion that the climate changes may destroy the civilization on Earth. In the texts of Bible, we try to find a connection between the Holy text and climate changes. For example, big flood in the Noah time can indicate one strong climate change's influence. Interpretation of Bible will always have an enormous importance for past, present and future science

Effects of different doses of zinc gluconate on antioxidative activity of metformin and glibenclamide on experimentally induced diabetes in rabbits

It is well known that there is a relationship between the zinc and diabetes, and its antioxidant potential. Based on that, the aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of different doses of zinc (9,2 and 18,4 mg / day) in combination with metformin and glibenclamide, to the total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in experimentally-induced diabetic rabbits. The study was conducted on 24 New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, body weight 2,5 to 3,2 kg. In rabbits, experimental diabetes was induced i.v. injection of alloxan (80 mg / kg body weight). Three weeks after causing diabetes, the animals were divided into two groups: first group was treated oral with metformin, an appropriate dose (120 mg / kg body weight), while the second group of rabbits was treated with a suitable dose of glibenclamide (0,6 mg / kg BW). After the washout period (10 t1/2), the rabbits were treated with metformin and a first dose of zinc (9,2 mg) combination, i.e. glibenclamide and zinc (9,2 mg). After another washout period (10 t1/2) the rabbits were treated with metformin and a second dose of zinc (18,4 mg) combination, i.e. of glibenclamide and zinc (18,4 mg). Blood samples were taken in a specified time interval. The TAS value was significantly increased after administration of metformin, single and in combination with zinc, in doses of 9,2 and 18,4 mg, with respect to the value recorded before their application (p <0.05). Also, it is noted a significantly increased SOD activity after administration of metformin (i.e., glibenclamide), and zinc in combination, in a dose of 18,4 mg (p <0.05). This indicates that zinc and metformin have a significant positive effects on the parameters of antioxidative status, but with glibenclamide this effect did not occur

The effects of topiramate on cognitive functions of patients with focal epilepsy - a follow-up study in a Serbian sample

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this follow-up study was to determine the effects of topiramate therapy on cognitive functions in patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Methods. The study sample comprised of 40 topiramate naive patients. The topiramate starting dose was 25 mg, with a fortnightly titration schedule of 25 mg. A wide range of cognitive functions was evaluated through extensive neuropsychological testing at baseline and six months after reaching the target dose (200 mg/day). Results. The most common side effects following the introduction of topiramate were cognitive impairments, reported by 45% of the participants. The neuropsychological scores on attention, executive function, verbal content recall, improved cognitive flexibility, as well as visuospatial ability and speech, obtained at six-month follow-up were significantly lower than at baseline. However, statistically significant correlation between neuropsychological scores and the number of antiepileptic drugs taken alongside topiramate could not be established. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were noted between the percentage of reduced neuropsychological scores at follow-up pertaining to patients with lower and higher baseline cognitive performance. Moreover, regression analysis indicates that the percentage change in the majority of cognitive scores is unrelated to the age at the epilepsy onset, epilepsy duration, presence of brain pathology on magnetic resonance imaging and percentage change in the depression scale score. Conclusion. Despite slow introduction and administration of a relatively small dose, topiramate exhibits adverse effects on a wide range of cognitive functions, which appear unrelated to the number of additional antiepileptic drugs, baseline cognitive functioning, age at the onset of epilepsy and its duration, presence of brain pathology and the extent of depressive symptoms

Modelling and mapping of the COVID-19 trajectory and pandemic paths at global scale: A geographer’s perspective

In December 2019, the virus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus started to spread from China and dispersed over the rest of the world. In March 2020, WHO (World Health Organization) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The transmission path of the pandemic was accelerated by different types of transportation. With complete analysis of spatial data, population density, types of traffic networks, and their properties, the spatial distribution of COVID-19 was estimated. GIS (Geographical Information System), numerical methods, and software for network analysis were used in this research to model scenarios of virus distribution on a global scale. The analyzed data included air, railway, marine, and road traffic. In the pandemic research, numerous models of possible trajectory of viruses can be created. Many have a stochastic character. This study includes all countries in the world affected by the COVID-19 up to date. In this study, GIS methods such as buffer, interpolations, and numerical analysis were used in order to estimate and visualize ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. According to the availability of new data, trajectory of virus paths was estimated. On the other hand, sparsely populated areas with poorly developed and small traffic networks (and isolated island territories) tend to be less or not affected as shown by the model. This low-cost approach can be used in order to define important measures that need to be addressed and implemented in order to successfully mitigate the implications of COVID-19 not only on global, but local and regional scales as well