Faktori rizika za pojavu intraoperativnih varijacija vrednosti krvnog pritiska i srčanih disritmija tokom tireoidne hirurgije

Introduction/Objective Intraoperative variations in blood pressure and/or cardiac dysrhythmias (IOVBP/CD) represent one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for IOVBP/CD in thyroid surgery patients with comorbidities. Methods The study included 1,252 euthyroid patients with ASA 2 and ASA 3 status (American Society of Anesthesiologists - physical status classification) who underwent thyroid surgery. The following risk factors were examined: sex, age, body mass index (BMI), ASA status, admission diagnoses, type of operation, duration of surgery, time under general anesthesia, difficult intubation of trachea, and coexisting diseases - hypertension, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease. The following intraoperative events were recorded: hypertension, severe hypertension, hypotension, and cardiac arrhythmias. We used Pearson χ2 square test, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression for statistical analysis. Results The majority of patients were female (86.3%). In 903 (72.1%) patients IOVBP/CD were detected. The most common problem was intraoperative hypertension (61.4%). Eight risk factors for IOVBP/CD were registered by univariate analysis: advanced age, ASA 3 status, BMI > 25 kg/m2, duration of surgery, time under general anesthesia, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy as a coexisting disease. The multivariate regression model identified three independent predictors for IOVBP/CD: age, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy. Conclusion IOVBP/CD are common in thyroid surgery. The most common is intraoperative hypertension. Older age, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy as a coexisting disease are independent risk factors for IOVBP/CD.Uvod/Cilj Intraoperativne varijacije krvnog pritiska i/ ili srčane disritmije (IVKP/SD) jedan su od najčešćih uzročnika morbiditeta i mortaliteta hirurških bolesnika. Cilj studije je bio da ispita učestalost i faktore rizika za pojavu IVKP/SD u tireoidnoj hirurgiji kod bolesnika sa komorbiditetima. Metode Ispitivanje je obuhvatilo 1252 eutireoidna bolesnika ASA 2 i ASA 3 statusa podvrgnutih tireoidnoj hirurgiji. Ispitivan je uticaj sledećih faktora rizika: pol, starost, indeks telesne mase (ITM), ASA status, prijemna dijagnoza, tip operacije, trajanje operacije, trajanje anestezije, otežana intubacija traheje, kao i komorbiditeti: hipertenzija, kardiomiopatija, srčane aritmije, angina pektoris, dijabetes melitus, bolesti bubrega. Registrovani su intraoperativno: hipertenzija, hipertenzivna kriza, hipotenzija i srčane aritmije. Korišćen je Pirsonov χ2-test, univarijantna i multivarijantna regresiona analiza za statističku obradu podataka. Rezultati Većinu bolesnika su činile žene (86,3%). IVKP/ SD su registrovani kod 903 (72,1%) bolesnika. Najčešći poremećaj je bila intraoperativna hipertenzija - 61,4%. Univarijantnom analizom je registrovano sedam faktora rizika za pojavu IVKP/SD: godine života, ASA 3 status, ITM > 25 kg/m2, trajanje hirurgije, trajanje anestezije, hipertenzija i kardiomiopatija kao komorbiditet. Multivarijantnom regresionom analizom izdvojila su se tri nezavisna prediktora pojave IVKP/SD: godine starosti, hipertenzija i kardiomiopatija. Zaključak IVKP/SD su česte u tireoidnoj hirurgiji. Najčešća je intraoperativna hipertenzija. Starije životno doba, hipertenzija i kardiomiopatija kao koegzistirajuće bolesti su nezavisni faktori rizika za pojavu IVKP/SD

Petrographical and organic geochemical study of the lignite from the Smederevsko Pomoravlje field (Kostolac Basin, Serbia)

Three Upper Miocene (Pontian) lignite seams are present in the Smederevsko Pomoravlje field (Kostolac Basin, Serbia). The origin of their organic matter (OM), the characteristics of the depositional environment and certain utilisation properties have been evaluated based on petrographic data, bulk organic geochemical parameters, biomarker patterns and their isotope signatures. Moreover, results of isotopic analysis were used for the investigation of the influence of diagenetic aromatisation on delta C-13 signatures of biomarkers. The studied lignites are typical humic coals. The OM of lignites is derived from woody vegetation and herbaceous peat-forming plants, with a strong prevalence of the former. The peat-forming vegetation is dominated by decay resistant conifers, including gymnosperm families Cupressaceae, Taxodiaceae, and Pinaceae. Angiosperms occurred in lower amounts. Minor contribution of ferns, fungi and emergent aquatic macrophyta to the biomass is also evident. Chemoautotrophic- and heterotrophic bacteria played an import role during diagenesis. Diagenetic alterations, associated with change in the number of carbon atoms, influence delta C-13 ratios. Diagenetic aromatisation of di- and non-hopanoid triterpenoids is accompanied with C-13 depletion, whereas aromatisation of hopanoids displays the opposite trend. Peatification proceeded in a fresh water environment under variable, anoxic to slightly oxic redox conditions. The lowermost coal seam III accumulated in a topogenous fresh water peat mire with open water areas, which changed occasionally into a wet forest swamp. This resulted in the deposition of mineral-rich coal. The characteristics of lignite in coal seam II are similar to those of coal seam III. This is supported also by generally similar delta C-13 values of individual biomarkers. Coal seam I is dominated by xylite-rich coal, formed under mesotrophic to ombrotrophic conditions. Rapid flooding of the bogs stopped peat growth in all three coal seams. The ratios of ring-A-degraded and non-degraded aromatic diterpenoids and non-hopanoid triterpenoids, proposed in this study, as well as degree of aromatisation of these biomarkers, reflect changes in the water table. Calorific values of the samples indicate that they meet basic requirements for utilisation in the thermal power plants. None of the lignite samples is suitable for coal briquetting, whereas, based on petrographic data, lignite from coal seam I possesses certain potential for fluidized bed gasification

CANNED MEAT PRODUCTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SERBIAN ARMED FORCES: Na, K, Ca, AND Mg CONTENT AND HEALTH RISKS/BENEFITS

Macroelements such as Na, K, Ca, and Mg play a significant physiological role, and their inadequate intake has been linked to severe diseases, such as high blood pressure. Data on risk assessment for human health in Serbia, from the intake of these macroelements through the consumption of canned food, are minimal. Therefore, the content of Na, K, Ca, and Mg in five types of canned meat that members of the Serbian Armed Forces regularly use was examined. Macroelements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in cans of beef goulash, pork ragout, spam, liver pate, and meatballs in tomato sauce, which were stored from one month to six years. The sodium content was significantly higher than the potassium content in all types of food, so the Na/K ratio below 1, desirable for good health, was not found in any of the analyzed products. Also, a significant number of samples had an unfavorable Ca/Mg ratio above 1. However, due to the low consumption of canned food by members of the Serbian Armed Forces, its contribution to the average daily intake of macroelements is almost negligible. The concentration of macroelements decreased with the shelf life, while a significant source of Ka and Mg, among analyzed ingredients, was ground red pepper. © 2022 University of Belgrade - Faculty of Agriculture. All Rights Reserved

Sindrom izgaranja defektologa zaposlenih u školama za decu sa smetnjama u razvoju

Introduction. Numerous global studies as well as the studies from Serbia have indicateds the individuals professionally engaged in providing assistance to other people and who belong to the so-called "helping professions" (health workers, psychologists, pedagogists, social workers, teachers, etc.) as the professionals at a high risk for developing various psychophysical stress reactions and symptoms of a burnout syndrome. The burnout syndrome is viewed nowadays both as a social and a professional problem, and not only as a manifestation of the psychological state of an individual. Objective. The aim of this paper is to determine levels of the burnout syndrome in special education teachers working in schools for children with developmental disorders, as well as to determine a correlation between that phenomenon and socio-demographic aspects. Method. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the school year 2017/18. on a suitable sample and included 225 special education teachers from the Republic of Serbia. As research instruments, the Work-related Stress Inventory and a Questionnaire for collecting socio-demographic data were used. Results. A cross-sectional analysis of the socio-demographic aspects and the burnout syndrome has pointed to a statistically significant difference between the type of the students`disability (χ2 = 57.916; p lt 0.01) and the total length of the teachers`service (F (4) = 3.067, p = .017). Approximatelly one half of the respondents who work with students with motor skill disorders, and nearly one third of the respondents working with hearing impaired children possess the highest levels of burnout, while a logistic regression analysis has shown that professionals working in these fields have a 3.56-fold higher likelihood of manifesting high levels of burnout . Conclusion. Burnout syndrome is more pronounced in special education teachers who have been burning out due to their lengthy work engagement. And among them, at greater risk are those who work with children with motor skill disorders and hearing impairments. One should not forget one`s personal life that may affect the burnout. Living conditions, and above all an unsolved housing status therefore, show a closer relation with burning out.Uvod. Brojna istraživanja u svetu i kod nas su pokazala da su osobe koje se profesionalno bave pružanjem pomoći drugim ljudima i koje pripadaju tzv. "pomagačkim profesijama" (zdravstveni radnici, psiholozi, pedagozi, socijalni radnici, nastavnici itd.) pod visokim rizikom za razvijanje različitih psihofizičkih stresnih reakcija i simptoma sindroma izgaranja. Sindrom izgaranja se danas posmatra kao društveni i profesionalni problem, a ne samo kao odraz psihološkog stanja pojedinca. Cilj rada. Cilj rada je utvrđivanje izraženosti nivoa sindroma izgaranja kod defektologa zaposlenih u školama za decu sa smetnjama u razvoju, kao i utvrđivanje povezanosti ove pojave sa sociodemografskim karakteristikama. Metod. Ova studija preseka sprovedena je tokom školske 2017/18. godine, na prigodnom uzorku i obuhvatila je 225 defektologa sa teritorije Republike Srbije. Kao instrumenti istraživanja korišćeni su Inventar izgaranja na radu i lista za prikupljanje sociodemografskih podataka. Rezultati. Analiza ukrštanja sociodemografskih obeležja i sindroma izgaranja pokazala je da postoji statistički značajna razlika u odnosu na tip smetnji učenika kojima defektolozi realizuju nastavu (χ2 = 57.916; p lt 0.01) i ukupan radni staž (F(4) = 3.067, p = .017). Oko polovine ispitanika koji realizuju nastavu deci sa motoričkim smetnjama i skoro trećina ispitanika koji rade sa decom sa slušnim smetnjama imaju najviše nivoe izgaranja, dok je regresiona analiza pokazala da osobe koje rade u ovim oblastima imaju 3,56 puta veću verovatnoću da manifestuju viši nivo izgaranja. Zaključak. Sindrom izgaranja je izraženiji kod defektologa kod kojih je usled dugotrajnog rada došlo do sagorevanja, a među njima su pod većim rizikom oni koji rade sa decom sa motoričkim i slušnim smetnjama. Ne treba zanemariti ni privatnu sferu života, koja utiče na izgaranje, pa tako uslovi života, pre svega nerešeni stambeni problem pokazuju veću povezanost sa izgaranjem

Morphometric Analysis of Nonsclerosed Glomeruli Size and Connective Tissue Content during the Aging Process

Number of sclerotic glomeruli increases during the aging process. Consequently, majority of remained nonsclerosed glomeruli become hypertrophic and some of them sclerotic, too. The aim of this study was to quantify the size and connective tissue content of nonsclerosed glomeruli and to evaluate the percentage of hypertrophic ones in examined human cases during the aging. Material was right kidney's tissue of 30 cadavers obtained during routine autopsies. Cadavers were without previously diagnosed kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, or any other systemic disease. Tissue specimens were routinely prepared for histological and morphometric analysis. Images of the histological slices were analyzed and captured under 400x magnification with digital camera. Further they were morphometrically and statistically analyzed with ImageJ and NCSS-PASS software. Multiple and linear regression of obtained morphometric parameters showed significant increase of glomerular connective tissue area and percentage. Cluster analysis showed the presence of two types of glomeruli. Second type was characterized with significantly larger size, connective tissue content, and significantly lower cellularity, in relation to the first type. Such glomeruli might be considered as hypertrophic. First type of glomeruli was predominant in younger cases, while second type of glomeruli was predominant in cases older than 55 years

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oil prevents L-arginine-induced rat ileum villi damage

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) is used for centuries as a culinary spice due to its food flavor enhancing properties and its specific aroma. Essential oil isolated from oregano is known to affect the function of the gastrointestinal system by causing stomach and throat smooth muscle relaxation. The present work aims to evaluate the potential protective effects of oregano essential oil in rat ileum intestinal mucosa injury, induced with high doses of L-arginine, by tracking pathological changes in ileum mucosa. Male Wistar rats, divided into four groups (n=6), were treated with 50 mg/kg of oregano essential oil or 200 mg/kg of allopurinol (xanthinoxidase inhibitor) 1 h before a single dose of L-arginine (3.5 g/kg). Two groups served as the controls – one treated with a single dose of L-arginine, while the second group of animals remained untreated. One day after the treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the segments of distal ileum were dissected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution. Afterward, the tissue was processed routinely in order to obtain paraffin molds which were further cut into 4-5 µm thin sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic analysis of the control group ileum revealed short and cylindrical villi, with great resemblance to fingers, with no pathological substrate present. Ileum villi from the group of animals treated only with L-arginine appeared swollen, with the villi tip significantly dilated. Also, in the lamina propria, a large number of leucocytes were visible. The application of both allopurinol and oregano essential oil was able to prevent such significant alterations in the intestinal villi appearance (both in its intensity and frequency) and to reduce the number of leucocytes that migrated to the lamina propria. The detected activity can possibly be attributed to numerous oil constituents found in this essential oil, but predominantly to its major constituents thymol and carvacrol

SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid-based diagnostic tests and serological response in allergic children

RT-PCR remains the primary method of diagnosing SARS-CoV-2. Serological diagnosis of COVID-19 is simple and does not require complex techniques and equipment, rendering it suitable for rapid detection and massive screening. However, serological tests cannot confirm SARS-CoV-2, and results will be false negative when antibody concentrations fall below detection limit. Serological testing is important method for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection. Antigen-based tests show high specificity, but sensitivity is relatively low. For development and further improvement of both serological and antigen-based tests, availability of recombinantly producted SARS CoV-2 antigens is needed and during the periods of high demend in the pandemic, it was a limited factor both for research and diagnostic tests production by national producers of tests. Nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most abundant virus derived protein and strong immunogen. We aimed to find its efficient, low-cost production. SARS-CoV-2 recombinant fragment of nucleocapsid protein (rfNP; 58-419 aa) was expressed in E. coli in soluble form, purified and characterized biochemically and immunologically. Purified rfNP has secondary structure of full-length recombinant N protein, with high percentage of disordered structure (34.2%) and of beta-sheet (40.7%). rfNP was tested in immunoblot using sera of COVID-19 convalescent patients. Cost-effective approach for soluble recombinant N protein fragment production was developed, with reliable IgG and IgM antibodies detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ELISA was optimized with sera of RT-PCR confirmed positive symptomatic patients and healthy individuals. IgG detection sensitivity was 96% (47/50) and specificity 97% (67/68), while IgM detection was slightly lower (94% and 96.5%, respectively). Application of serological ELISA for seropositivity detection in 200 allergic children in comparison to non-allergic did not show a bias towards any of the tested groups. Furthermore, we have optimized production of rfNP at a large scale to raise specific antibodies to N-protein in rabbit and mice and develop an in house ELISA for quantification of N protein in biological fluids. Test was clinically validated in 200 PCR positive patients and showed a sensitivity of around 50%

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL AND SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF MENTHA PULEGIUM L.

We report the total phenolic (TPC; expressed as gallic acid equivalents, GAE, per milligram of dry extract weight) and the total flavonoid contents (TFC; expressed as quercetin equivalents, QE, per milligram of dry extract weight) and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) collected in Serbia. The total phenolic content was in the range of 129.43-388.29 μg GAE/mg, while TFC ranged from 57.81 to 160.94 QE/mg; the highest TPC and TFC were found in the methanol extract. The antimicrobial activity (against five bacteria and two fungi species) of the essential oil and solvent extracts was assessed using disc-diffusion method. However, the studied samples demonstrated a poor antimicrobial potential. The antioxidant activity was screened using five different tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS), total reducing power (TRP), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assay (CUPRAC); the methanol extract showed the strongest antioxidant potential. The results of the different antioxidant assays were correlated mutually and with the total flavonoid and total phenolic contents (regression analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering). ANTIOKSIDANTNA I ANTIMIKROBNA AKTIVNOST ETARSKOG ULJA I EKSTRAKATA BILJNE VRSTE MENTHA PULEGIUM L.U ovom radu je određen sadržaj ukupnih fenola (TPC; izražen u ekvivalentima galne kiseline, GAE, po miligramu suvog biljnog ekstrakta) i ukupnih flavonoida (TPC; izražen u ekvivalentima kvarcetina, QE, po miligramu suvog biljnog ekstrakta), kao i antimikrobna i antioksidantna aktivnost etarskog ulja i heksanskog, dietil-etarskog, etil-acetatnog i metanolnog ekstrakta biljne vrste Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae; populacija iz Srbije). Sadržaj ukupnih fenola analiziranih uzoraka se kretao u opsegu od 129,43 do 388,29 μg GAE/mg, dok je TFC bio u interval od 57,81 do 160,94 QE/mg; najviše vrednosti za TPC i TFC nađene su za metanolni ekstrakt. Antimikrobna aktivnost (prema pet bakterijskih i dva soja gljivica) etarskog ulja i ekstrakata je određena disk-difuzionom metodom. Proučavani uzorci su imali slabu antimikrobnu aktivnost. Antioksidantna aktivnost je ispitivana pomoću DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil radikal), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-etilbenzotijazolin-6-sulfonska kiselina radikal katjon), TRP (ukupna redukciona sposobnost), FRAP (sposobnost redukcije feri-jona) i CUPRAC (sposobnost redukcije Cu(II)-jona) metodama; najviši antioksidantni potencijal je imao metanolni ekstrakt. Rezultati različitih metoda za određivanje antioksidantnog potencijala su korelisani međusobno, kao i sa sadržajem ukupnih fenola i flavonoida (regresiona analiza i aglomerativna hijerarhijska klaster analiza). HIGHLIGHTSThe essential oil and hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Mentha pulegium L. collected in Serbia were studied.Their total phenolic content was in the range of 129.43-388.29 μg GAE/mg, while total flavonoid content ranged from 57.81 to 160.94 QE/mg.Solvent extracts (SE) and essential oil of the studied M. pulegium population were poor antimicrobials.Antioxidant activities of SE were studied using five different methods.Differences between the previous and the present results suggest M. pulegium metabolic profile might be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors

Anion-pi interactions in active centers of superoxide dismutases

We investigated 1060 possible anion-pi interactions in a data set of 41 superoxide dismutase active centers. Our observations indicate that majority of the aromatic residues are capable to form anion-pi interactions, mainly by long-range contacts, and that there is preference of Trp over other aromatic residues in these interactions. Furthermore, 68% of total predicted interactions in the dataset are multiple anion-pi interactions. Anion-pi interactions are distance and orientation dependent. We analyzed the energy contribution resulting from anion-pi interactions using ab initio calculations. The results showed that, while most of their interaction energies lay in the range from -0 to -4 kcal mol(-1), those energies can be up to -9 kcal mol(-1) and about 34% of interactions were found to be repulsive. Majority of the suggested anion-pi interacting residues in ternary complexes are metal-assisted. Stabilization centers for these proteins showed that all the six residues found in predicted anion-pi interactions are important in locating one or more of such centers. The anion-pi interacting residues in these proteins were found to be highly conserved. We hope that these studies might contribute useful information regarding structural stability and its interaction in future designs of novel metalloproteins. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer-reviewed manuscript: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3151]Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3152

Regioselective synthesis of a stereodefined heterocyclic push-pull alkene - H-1 NMR studies and two-dimensional TLC illustrating Z/E isomerization

Introducing students to the regioselective synthesis of a stereodefined push-pull alkene from inexpensive chemicals can be facilicated through experiment. In the experiment, preparation of the precursor, such as diethyl mercaptosuccinate from mercaptosuccinic acid and ethanol in toluene as a cosolvent, demonstrates the educational significance of binary and tertiary azeotropes in practical organic synthesis. The utility of 1H NMR spectroscopy is illustrated as a tool to identify the configurational isomers and to study the stereodynamic behavior of the isolated heterocyclic product