Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 in Sepsis after Major Abdominal Surgery

Background. The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in sepsis after major abdominal surgery and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction is unexplored. Materials and Methods. Fifty-three patients with sepsis after major abdominal surgery were compared to 50 operated and 50 nonoperated controls. MMP-9, TIMP-1, biomarkers of inflammation, kidney and liver injury, coagulation, and metabolic disorders were measured daily during 96 h following diagnosis of sepsis and once in controls. MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios and disease severity scores were calculated. Use of vasopressors/inotropes, mechanical ventilation, and survival were recorded. Results. Septic patients had lower MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios but higher TIMP-1 levels compared to controls. AUC-ROC for diagnosis of sepsis was 0.940 and 0.854 for TIMP-1 and 0.924 and 0.788 for MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio (sepsis versus nonoperated and sepsis versus operated controls, resp.). Lower MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio and higher TIMP-1 levels were associated with shorter survival. MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio correlated with biomarkers of inflammation, kidney and liver injury, coagulation, metabolic disorders, and disease severity scores. Use of vasopressors/inotropes was associated with higher TIMP-1 levels. Conclusions. MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP-9/TIMP ratio were good diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers of sepsis after major abdominal surgery and were linked to sepsis-associated organ dysfunction

Serum lactate as reliable biomarker of acute kidney injury in low-risk cardiac surgery patients

Background: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) frequently occurs in patients assessed as low-risk for developing CSA-AKI. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and lactate are promising biomarkers of CSA-AKI but have not yet been explored in low-risk patients. Aim: To evaluate urinary NGAL (uNGAL), KIM-1 and lactate as biomarkers of CSA-AKI in patients with low-risk for developing CSA-AKI. Methods: This prospective, observational study included 100 adult elective cardiac surgery patients assessed as low-risk for developing CSA-AKI. UNGAL, KIM-1 and lactate were measured preoperatively, at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 3, 12, 24 and 48 h later. Results: Fifteen patients developed CSA-AKI. Patients with CSA-AKI had significantly higher lactate but similar uNGAL and KIM-1 levels compared to patients without CSA-AKI. Unlike uNGAL and KIM-1, postoperative lactate was good biomarker of CSA-AKI with the highest odds ratio (OR) 2.7 [1.4-4.9] 24 h after CPB. Peak lactate concentration >= 4 mmol/L carried dramatically higher risk for developing CSA-AKI (OR 6.3 [1.9-20.5]). Conclusions: Unlike uNGAL and KIM-1, postoperative lactate was significant independent predictor of CSA-AKI with the highest odds ratio 24 h after CPB

Tissue Kidney Injury Molecule-1 Expression in the Prediction of Renal Function for Several Years after Kidney Biopsy

Objectives. Retrospective study was designed to examine the importance of tissue kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) expression in predicting kidney function in sixty patients (27 males) aged 34.15 +/- 12.23 years with different kidney diseases over three years after kidney biopsy. Materials and Methods. Tissue KIM-1 expression was determined immunohistochemically and KIM-1 staining was scored semiquantitatively, as well as tubulointerstitialis (TIN), inflammation, atrophy, and fibrosis. Kidney function (MDRD formula) and proteinuria/day were evaluated at the time of biopsy (GFR0) and 6, 12, 24, and 36 months later Results. Significantly positive correlations between tissue KIM-1 expression and age (r = 0.313), TIN inflammation (r = 0.456), fibrosis (r = 0.317), and proteinuria at 6 months (r = 0.394) as well as negative correlations with GFR0 (r = -0.572), GFR6 (r = -0.442), GFR24 (r = -0.398), and GFR36 (r = -0.412) were found. Meanwhile, TIN inflammation was the best predictor of all measured kidney functions during three years, while tissue KIM-1 expression (p = 0.016) was a predictor only at 6 months after biopsy. Conclusion. Tissue KIM-1 expression significantly predicts kidney function solely at 6 months after biopsy, when the effects of immune and nonimmune treatments are the strongest

Contemporary problems of transmission and interaction of quantum generators with material

Savremena problematika vezana za kvantne generatore u optičkom i RF delu spektra traži kao eksperimentalnu podršku vrlo kompleksne i skupe sisteme i komponente. Zbog toga su računarske simulacije neizbežne u osnovi razvoja mnogih sistema. U radu se autori bave problematikom dizajna optičkih vlakana i drugih komponenata u svrhe modulacija i simulacija u makroskopskim komponentama optičkih sistema. U drugom delu rada se primenom softverskih aplikacija ocenjuju eksperimentalni rezultati interakcije sa kvantnim generatorima na odabranoj vrsti materijala.Contemporary issues related to the quantum generators in the optical and RF spectral ranges required as part of the experimental support very complex and expensive systems and components. Therefore, the simulation is basically inevitable development of many systems. The authors deal with the problem of design of optical fiber and other components for the purpose of modulation and simulation of optical components in macroscopic systems in this paper. In the second part of it the application of other software types applications evaluated experimental results of interaction for selected type of material with the quantum generators

Low Paraoxonase 1 Activity Predicts Mortality in Surgical Patients with Sepsis

Introduction. State of severe oxidative stress is encountered in sepsis. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) protects against oxidative stress but also undergoes inactivation upon that condition. We investigated PON1 activity in surgical patients with sepsis in relation to oxidative stress status, inflammation, disease severity, and survival. Methods. Prospective observational study. Sixty-nine surgical patients with sepsis were compared to 69 age/sex matched healthy controls. PON1 paraoxonase and diazoxonase activities, selected biochemical, hematological and oxidative stress parameters were measured on admission to ICU and 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours later. Disease severity scores were calculated daily. Results. Septic patients had significantly lower PON1 activities compared to control group at all time points. PON1 activities had good capacity to differentiate septic patients from healthy controls. Low PON1 activities were associated with higher disease severity scores and higher risk of death. Correlation between PON1 activity and markers of inflammation failed to reach significance. Decrease in PON1 activity was correlated with an increase in reducing components in plasma. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated lower PON1 activity in surgical patients with sepsis compared to healthy controls. PON1 activity also reflected severity of the disease. Low PON1 activity was associated with higher mortality of surgical patients with sepsis

Distribution of major and trace elements in the Kovin lignite (Serbia)

A geochemical and mineralogical study was performed on lignite samples from the Upper Miocene Kovin deposit, hosting three coal seams. The Kovin lignite is characterized by high moisture content, medium to high ash yield, medium to high sulphur content and a relatively low gross and net calorific value. The mineralogical composition, and major and trace element contents were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The most abundant minerals in all lignite samples from the three coal seams are clays (illite/smectite), silicates (quartz, plagioclase), sulphates (gypsum/anhydrite) and carbonate (calcite). The other iron-rich minerals are sulphides, oxides and hydroxides (pyrite, mag-netite, haematite, and limonite). In general, mineral matter in the matrix coal consists of illite/ smectite and quartz, while xylite-rich coals, apart from illite/smectite, have a higher content of sulphates and Fe-oxide/hydroxide minerals. The lignite from the Kovin deposit is enriched in As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Gd, Tb, Er and Lu in comparison with the Clarke values for brown coals. The statistical analysis of bulk compositional data shows inorganic affinity for the majority of the major and trace elements and possible association with pyrite, illite/ smectite and calcite

Frames and translation invariant spaces

U disertaciji se daje pregled osnovnih pojmova i poznatih rezultata teorije okvira. Prou·cavani su translaciono inavarijantni prostori sa te·zinama i dati uslovi pod kojima kolekcija funkcija ·cini okvir u tom prostoru. Takod¹e, konstruisan je niz takvih prostora i prikazani uslovi pod kojima ¶ce odgovaraju¶ce funkcije koje generi·su taj prostor predstavljati ili Banach-ov okvir ili Riesz-ovu bazu, i samim tim ustanoviti zatvorenost takvog prostora.The basic notions and known results from the theory of frames are given in thesis. We study translation-invariant weighted spaces and give the conditions for a collection of functions to form a frame. Further, we construct a sequence of such spaces and show when the appropriate chosen functions form a p-frame or Riesz basis, and according to that explain the closedness of the space generated with these functions

Frames and translation invariant spaces

U disertaciji se daje pregled osnovnih pojmova i poznatih rezultata teorije okvira. Prou·cavani su translaciono inavarijantni prostori sa te·zinama i dati uslovi pod kojima kolekcija funkcija ·cini okvir u tom prostoru. Takod¹e, konstruisan je niz takvih prostora i prikazani uslovi pod kojima ¶ce odgovaraju¶ce funkcije koje generi·su taj prostor predstavljati ili Banach-ov okvir ili Riesz-ovu bazu, i samim tim ustanoviti zatvorenost takvog prostora.The basic notions and known results from the theory of frames are given in thesis. We study translation-invariant weighted spaces and give the conditions for a collection of functions to form a frame. Further, we construct a sequence of such spaces and show when the appropriate chosen functions form a p-frame or Riesz basis, and according to that explain the closedness of the space generated with these functions