Chloroplast pigments in post-fire-grown cryptophytes on Vidlič Mountain (Southeastern Serbia)

In this study the content of chloroplast pigments (chlorophyll a, b, a+b, and carotenoids) in the leaves of Geranium macrorrhizum L., Doronicum columnae Ten., Aegopodium podagraria L. and Tussilago farfara L. from a beech forest that had undergone fire on Vidlič Mountain was determined. The same species of plants from a place that had not been exposed to fire were taken as controls. Chloroplast pigments were determined from acetone extracts of these plants spectrophotometrically. In the first year after the fire the content of chlorophyll a, b and a+b in Geranium macrorrhizum L. and Doronicum columnae Ten. was greater than in the plants not exposed to fire. The results were the opposite for Aegopodium podagraria L. and Tussilago farfara L. These differences can be attributed to the different physiology of the plants and consequently their different adaptation patterns. The carotenoid content was higher in the plant species at the fire site than in the area not exposed to fire

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic impact in asthmatic exacerbations emergency visits in Spain

SARS-CoV-2; Exacerbaciones asmáticasSARS-CoV-2; Exacerbacions asmàtiquesSARS-CoV-2; Asthmatic exacerbation

Curcumin and diclofenac therapeutic efficacy enhancement applying transdermal hydrogel polymer films, based on carrageenan, alginate and poloxamer

Films based on carrageenan, alginate and poloxamer 407 have been formulated with the main aim to apply prepared formulations in wound healing process. The formulated films were loaded with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, as well as diclofenac and curcumin, as multipurpose drug, in order to enhance encapsulation and achieve controlled release of these low bioavailable compounds. The obtained data demonstrated improved drugs bioavailability (encapsulation efficiency higher than 90%), with achieved high, cumulative in vitro release percentages (90.10% for diclofenac; 89.85% for curcumin and 95.61% for diclofenac in mixture-incorporated films).. The results obtained using theoretical models suggested that curcumin establish stronger, primarily dispersion interactions with carrier, in comparison with diclofenac. Curcumin and diclofenac-loaded films showed a great antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, inhibition zone 16.67 mm and 13.67 mm, respectively), and in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that curcumin- and diclofenac-incorporated polymer films have a great tendency, as a new transdermal dressing, to heal wounds, because diclofenac can target the inflammatory phase and reduce pain, whereas curcumin can enhance and promote wound healing process

Regional differences among female patients with heart failure from the Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study in ELDerly (CIBIS-ELD)

Background: The aim of our study was to examine regional differences in the demographics, etiology, risk factors, comorbidities and treatment of female patients with heart failure (HF) in the Cardiac Insufficiency BI soprolol Study in ELDerly (CIBIS-ELD) clinical trial.Methods and results: One hundred and fifty-nine female patients from Germany and 169 from Southeastern (SE) Europe (Serbia, Slovenia and Montenegro) were included in this subanalysis of the CIBIS-ELD trial. Women comprised 54% of the study population in Germany and 29% in SE Europe. German patients were significantly older. The leading cause of HF was arterial hypertension in German patients, 71.7% of whom had a preserved ejection fraction. The leading etiology in SE Europe was the coronary artery disease; 67.6% of these patients had a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (34.64 ± 7.75%). No significant differences were found in the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors between the two regions (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and family history of myocardial infarction). Depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignancies were the comorbidities that were noted more frequently in the German patients, while the patients from SE Europe had a lower glomerular filtration rate. Compared with the German HF patients, the females in SE Europe received significantly more angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, loop diuretics and less frequently angiotensin receptor blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.Conclusions: Significant regional differences were noted in the etiology, comorbidities and treatment of female patients with HF despite similar risk factors. Such differences should be considered in the design and implementation of future clinical trials, especially as women remain underrepresented in large trial populations.

ONE-YEAR CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOME IN PATIENTS ON CLOPIDOGREL ANTI-PLATELET THERAPY AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors in patients on clopidogrel anti-platelet therapy after acute myocardial infarction, for cardiovascular mortality, re-hospitalization and admission to emergency care unit. We followed 175 patients on dual antiplatelet therapy, with clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid, for 1 year after acute myocardial infarction, both STEMI and NSTEMI. Beside demographic and clinical characteristics, genetic ABCB1, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 profile was analyzed using Cox-regression analysis. End-points used were: mortality, re-hospitalization and emergency care visits, all related to cardiovascular system. During the accrual and follow-up period, 8 patients (4.6%) died, mostly as a direct consequence of an acute myocardial infarction. Re-hospitalization was needed in 27 patients (15.4%), in nine patients (33.3%) with the diagnosis of re-infarction. Thirty-two patients (18.3%) were admitted to emergency care unit due to cardiovascular causes, up to 15 times during the follow-up. NSTEMI was an independent predictor of all three events registered (mortality OR=7.4, p<0.05; re-hospitalization OR=2.8, p<0.05); emergency care visit OR=2.4, p<0.05). Other significant predictors were related to kidney function (urea and creatinine level, creatinine clearance), co-morbidities such as arterial hypertension and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, as well as clopidogrel dosing regimen. As a conclusion, it may be suggested that one of the most significant predictors of cardiovascular events (mortality, re-hospitalization and emergency care visits) is NSTEMI. Besides, clopidogrel administration according to up-to-date guidelines, with high loading doses and initial doubled maintenance doses, improves 1-year prognosis in patients with AMI

Stability and Release Kinetics of an Advanced Gliclazide-Cholic Acid Formulation: The Use of Artificial-Cell Microencapsulation in Slow Release Targeted Oral Delivery of Antidiabetics

Introduction: In previous studies carried out in our laboratory, a bile acid (BA) formulation exerted a hypoglycaemic effect in a rat model of type-1 diabetes (T1D). When the antidiabetic drug gliclazide (G) was added to the bile acid, it augmented the hypoglycaemic effect. In a recent study, we designed a new formulation of gliclazide-cholic acid (G-CA), with good structural properties, excipient compatibility and exhibits pseudoplastic-thixotropic characteristics. The aim of this study is to test the slow release and pH-controlled properties of this new formulation. The aim is also to examine the effect of CA on G release kinetics at various pH values and different temperatures. Method: Microencapsulation was carried out using our Buchi-based microencapsulating system developed in our laboratory. Using sodium alginate (SA) polymer, both formulations were prepared: G-SA (control) and G-CA-SA (test) at a constant ratio (1:3:30), respectively. Microcapsules were examined for efficiency, size, release kinetics, stability and swelling studies at pH 1.5, pH 3, pH 7.4 and pH 7.8 and temperatures of 20 and 30 °C. Results: The new formulation is further optimised by the addition of CA. CA reduced microcapsule swelling of the microcapsules at pH 7.8 and pH 3 at 30 °C and pH 3 at 20 °C, and, even though microcapsule size remains similar after CA addition, percent G release was enhanced at high pH values (pH 7.4 and pH 7.8, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The new formulation exhibits colon-targeted delivery and the addition of CA prolonged G release suggesting its suitability for the sustained and targeted delivery of G and CA to the lower intestine

Costs of Treatment of Severe COPD Exacerbation in Serbia

The main objective of this investigation was to determine and summarize the economic burden of severe COPD exacerbations that required hospitalization and the difference in the costs of treatment between patients with frequent (at least two exacerbations in one year) and infrequent exacerbation

Modulatory effect of curcumin on ketamine-induced toxicity in rat thymocytes: Involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway

Ketamine is a widely used anesthetic in pediatric clinical practice. Previous studies have demonstrated that ketamine induces neurotoxicity and has a modulatory effect on the cells of the immune system. Here, we evaluated the potential protective effect and underlying mechanisms of natural phenolic compound curcumin against ketamine-induced toxicity in rat thymocytes. Rat thymocytes were exposed to 100 µM ketamine alone or combined with increasing concentrations of curcumin (0.3, 1, and 3 μM) for 24 hours. Cell viability was analyzed with CCK-8 assay kit. Apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry and propidium iodide as well as Z-VAD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK inhibitors. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential [MMP] were measured by flow cytometry. Colorimetric assay with DEVD-pNA substrate was used for assessing caspase-3 activity. Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway was tested with Wortmannin inhibitor. Ketamine induced toxicity in cells, increased the number of hypodiploid cells, caspase-3 activity and ROS production, and inhibited the MMP. Co-incubation of higher concentrations of curcumin (1 and 3 μM) with ketamine markedly decreased cytotoxicity, apoptosis rate, caspase-3 activity, and ROS production in rat thymocytes, and increased the MMP. Application of Z-VAD-FMK (a pan caspase inhibitor) or Z-LEHD-FMK (caspase-9 inhibitor) with ketamine effectively attenuated the ketamine-induced apoptosis in rat thymocytes. Administration of Wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor) with curcumin and ketamine significantly decreased the protective effect of curcumin on rat thymocytes. Our results indicate that ketamine-induced toxicity in rat thymocytes mainly occurs through the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway and that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is involved in the anti-apoptotic effect of curcumin

The microstructure and properties of as-cast Sn-Zn-Bi solder alloys

U radu su prikazani rezultati ispitivanja strukturnih i mehaničkih karakteristika bezolovnih lemnih legura u sistemu kalaj-cink-bizmut. Nakon dobijanja legura u indukcionoj peći sa zaštitnom atmosferom, trostrukim pretapanjem odmerene količine čistih metala, izvršena su ispitivanja strukture tako dobijenih uzoraka legura optičkom i skenirajućom electronskom mikroskopijom (SEM). Energetskom disperzivnom spektroskopijom (EDS) određen je hemijski sastav faza prisutnih u strukturi legura. Izvršena su merenja tvrdoće, i zatezne čvrstoće ispitivanih legura. Sva istraživanja su sprovedena sa ciljem boljeg upoznavanja osobina legura u sistemu Sn-Zn-Bi, koji se smatra odgovarajućom zamenom olovnih lemnih legura.Research on the lead-free solders has attracted wide attention, mostly as the result of the implementation of the Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The Sn-Zn solder alloys have been considered to be one of the most attractive lead-free solders due to its ability to easily replace Sn-Pb eutectic alloy without increasing the soldering temperature. Furthermore, the mechanical properties are comparable or even superior to those of Sn-Pb solder. However, other problems still persist. The solution to overcoming these drawbacks is to add a small amount of alloying elements (Bi, Ag, Cr, Cu and Sb) to the Sn-Zn alloys. Microstructure, tensile strength, and hardness of the selected Sn-Zn-Bi ternary alloys have been investigated in this study. The SEM-EDS was used for the identification of co-existing phases in the samples. The specimens' microstructures are composed of three phases: Sn-rich solid solution as the matrix, Bi-phase and Zn-rich phase. The Bi precipitates are formed around the Sn-dendrit grains as well as around the Zn-rich phase. The amount of Bi segregation increases with the increase of Bi content. The Sn-Zn-Bi alloys exhibit the high tensile strength and hardness, but the values of these mechanical properties decrease with the increase of Bi content, as well as the reduction of Zn content. The results presented in this paper may offer further knowledge of the effects various parameters have on the properties of lead-free Sn-Zn-Bi solders