30 research outputs found

    Adherence to Medication among Parkinson's Disease Patients Using the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale

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    Objectives: Adherence to medication is an important factor that can influence Parkinson's disease (PD) control. We aimed to explore patients' adherence to antiparkinsonian medication and determine factors that might affect adherence to medications among PD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional, exploratory survey of PD patients treated with at least one antiparkinsonian drug and with a total score of MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) ā‰„26 was conducted. The final sample included 112 PD patients. A patient's adherence was assessed through ARMS (Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale). ARMS scores higher than 12 were assumed lower adherence. In addition, each patient underwent neurological examination, assessment of depression, anxiety, and evaluation of the presence of PD nonmotor symptoms. Results: The mean ARDS value in our cohort was 14.9ā€‰Ā±ā€‰2.5. Most PD patients (74.1%) reported lower adherence to their medication. Participants in the lower adherence group were younger at PD onset, had significantly higher UPDRS (Unified PD Rating Scale) scores, as well as UPDRS III and UPDRS IV subscores, HARS (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale), and NMSQuest (Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire for PD) scores compared to the fully adherent group (p=0.013, p=0.017, p=0.041, p=0.043, and p=0.023, respectively). Among nonmotor PD symptoms, the presence of cardiovascular, apathy/attention-deficit/memory disorders, hallucinations/delusions, and problems regarding changes in weight, diplopia, or sweating were associated with lower adherence. Multivariate regression analysis revealed depression as the strongest independent predictor of lower adherence. Conclusion: Depressed PD patients compared to PD patients without clinical depression had a three times higher risk for lower adherence to pharmacotherapy. Recognition and adequate treatment of depression might result in improved adherence

    Cuticular chemoprofile of the fruit fly Drosophila Subobscura (Diptera, drosophilidae)

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    In insects, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile is involved in many important biological functions and may vary in different conditions. Among fruit fly species, Drosophila subobscura is one of the most frequently used in genetic, ecological and evolutionary research, because of its rich chromosomal polymorphism, specific behavioral repertoires and habitat preferences. In this work, we identified and quantified cuticular chemoprofile of D. subobscura. Using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 25 chemical compounds were found in males and 23 compounds were found in females. Further, ANOVA confirmed significant sexual dimorphism in cuticular chemoprofile amounts. Knowledge of cuticular chemistry could contribute to further research in D. subobscura, starting from behavioral, up to ecological, since this species is recognized as an important model system for the study and monitoring of global climate changes. Ā© 2018, Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum. All rights reserved

    Chemical Ecology of Cave-Dwelling Millipedes: Defensive Secretions of the Typhloiulini (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae)

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    Cave animals live under highly constant ecological conditions and in permanent darkness, and many evolutionary adaptations of cave-dwellers have been triggered by their specific environment. A similar "cave effect" leading to pronounced chemical interactions under such conditions may be assumed, but the chemoecology of troglobionts is mostly unknown. We investigated the defensive chemistry of a largely cave-dwelling julid group, the controversial tribe "Typhloiulini", and we included some cave-dwelling and some endogean representatives. While chemical defense in juliform diplopods is known to be highly uniform, and mainly based on methyl- and methoxy-substituted benzoquinones, the defensive secretions of typhloiulines contained ethyl-benzoquinones and related compounds. Interestingly, ethyl-benzoquinones were found in some, but not all cave-dwelling typhloiulines, and some non-cave dwellers also contained these compounds. On the other hand, ethyl-benzoquinones were not detected in troglobiont nor in endogean typhloiuline outgroups. In order to explain the taxonomic pattern of ethyl-benzoquinone occurrence, and to unravel whether a cave-effect triggered ethyl-benzoquinone evolution, we classed the "Typhloiulini" investigated here within a phylogenetic framework of julid taxa, and traced the evolutionary history of ethyl-benzoquinones in typhloiulines in relation to cave-dwelling. The results indicated a cave-independent evolution of ethyl-substituted benzoquinones, indicating the absence of a "cave effect" on the secretions of troglobiont Typhloiulini. Ethyl-benzoquinones probably evolved early in an epi- or endogean ancestor of a clade including several, but not all Typhloiulus (basically comprising a taxonomic entity known as "Typhloiulus sensu stricto") and Serboiulus. Ethyl-benzoquinones are proposed as novel and valuable chemical characters for julid systematics.Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3085

    Quinones and non-quinones from the defensive secretion of unciger transsilvanicus (Verhoeff, 1899) (diplopoda, julida, julidae), from Serbia

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    A complex mixture of compounds was identified from the secretion of specimens of Unciger transsilvanicus. Phenol and p-cresol were detected for the first time in the family Julidae, and for the second time in the order Julida. Thirteen quinones were identified, with a great relative abundance of toloquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl- 1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinone was detected for the first time in the order Julida. Besides these compounds, isopentyl hexacosatetraenoate and isopentyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths from C-14 to C(20)were identified. The most abundant non-quinone compound was isopentyl eicosenoate. The relative abundance of quinone and non-quinone in the defensive fluid of U transsilvanicus was 77% and 23%, respectively. The phylogenetic importance of the registered compounds is briefly discussed

    Cuticular chemoprofile of the fruit fly Drosophila Subobscura (Diptera, drosophilidae)

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    In insects, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile is involved in many important biological functions and may vary in different conditions. Among fruit fly species, Drosophila subobscura is one of the most frequently used in genetic, ecological and evolutionary research, because of its rich chromosomal polymorphism, specific behavioral repertoires and habitat preferences. In this work, we identified and quantified cuticular chemoprofile of D. subobscura. Using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 25 chemical compounds were found in males and 23 compounds were found in females. Further, ANOVA confirmed significant sexual dimorphism in cuticular chemoprofile amounts. Knowledge of cuticular chemistry could contribute to further research in D. subobscura, starting from behavioral, up to ecological, since this species is recognized as an important model system for the study and monitoring of global climate changes. Ā© 2018, Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum. All rights reserved

    CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUND BEETLE FAUNA FROM SERBIA (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE)

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    During a two-year period of research on the ground beetle fauna in agroecosystems in northern Serbia 19,003 carabid specimens were collected. A total of 67 species from 29 genera were identified. Harpalus distinguendus (Duftschmid, 1812), Amara aenea (De Geer, 1774), Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Amara similata (Goeze, 1777) were the dominant species in the winter oilseed rape and winter wheat. The ground beetle genera richest in species were Harpalus, Amara, Calathus, Poecilus and Brachinus. Seven species were new for the ground beetle fauna of Serbia: Calathus cinctus Motschulsky, 1850, Laemostenus complanatus (Dejean, 1828), Brachinus nigricornis Gebler, 1829, Cychrus attenuatus (Fabricius, 1792), Patrobus septentrionis Dejean, 1828, Anchomenus cyaneus Dejean, 1828 and Pterostichus leonisi Apfelbeck, 1904. Three species were recorded for the first time for Vojvodina Province in Serbia: Harpalus signaticornis (Duftschmid, 1812), Harpalus taciturnus Dejean, 1829 and Patrobus atrorufus (Strƶm, 1768). Newly recorded species were collected in epigeic pitfall traps. Six of them were found in oilseed rape while one was found in winter wheat

    Chemical Defence in a Millipede: Evaluation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Activity of the Defensive Secretion from Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae)

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    The chemical defence of the millipede Pachyiulus hungaricus is reported in the present paper, in which a chemical characterization is given and antimicrobial activity is determined. In total, independently of sex, 44 compounds were identified. All compounds belong to two groups: quinones and pentyl and hexyl esters of long-chain fatty acids. The relative abundances of quinones and non-quinones were 94.7% vs. 5.3% (males) and 87.3% vs. 12.7% (females), respectively. The two dominant quinones in both sexes were 2-methyl-1,4,-benzoquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the defensive secretion was evaluated in vitro against seven bacterial strains and eight fungal species. With the aid of a dilution technique, the antimicrobial potential of the secretion and high sensitivity of all tested strains were confirmed. The lowest minimum concentrations of these compounds (0.20-0.25 mg/mL) were sufficient for inhibition of Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The growth of eight tested fungal species was inhibited by slightly lower concentrations of the secretion, with Fusarium equisetias the most sensitive fungus and Aspergillus flavus as the most resistant. Values of MIC and MFC in the employed microdilution assay ranged from 0.10 to above 0.35 mg/m L. The given extract contains antimicrobial components potentially useful as therapeutic agents in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries

    Contribution to the knowledge of longicorn beetles (Cerambycidae, Coleoptera) from Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia and Greece

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    Altogether 63 species and 6 subspecies (classified into 43 genera) of longicorn beetles have been collected: 35 genera, 49 species and 5 subspecies have been recorded from Serbia, 11 genera and 13 species - from Montenegro, 5 genera, 5 species and 2 subspecies - from the Republic of Macedonia, and 3 genera and 3 species - from Greece. Of these taxa, there are no endemics to the area investigated. Additionally, one species of cerambycid beetles - Leiopus femoratus Fairmaire is registered for the first time for the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Further, four species of the longicorn beetles are new to the coleopteran fauna of Montenegro, two species - for Serbia and one species - for the Republic of Macedonia

    Macrochaetosoma Absolon & Lang 1933

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    <i>Macrochaetosoma</i> Absolon & Lang, 1933 <p>Figs 52–84, 86</p> <p> (syn. <i>Antroremya</i> Verhoeff, 1942, unavailable) <b>Diagnosis.</b> See diagnosis for subfamily.</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Macrochaetosoma troglomontanum</i> Absolon & Lang, 1933 (syns. <i>Antroremya aristofer</i> Verhoeff, 1942; <i>A. fritzii</i> Verhoeff, 1942; <i>A. gracilipes</i> Verhoeff, 1942; <i>Macrochaetosoma troglomontanum deelemanorum</i> Gulička, 1964; <i>Macrochaetosoma troglomontanum biokovense</i> Mršić, 1987; <i>Macrochaetosoma bifurcatum</i> Ćurčić & Makarov, 2001 <b>syn. n.</b>), by original designation.</p> <p> <b>Further included species:</b> <i>Macrochaetosoma drinae</i> Strasser, 1962</p>Published as part of <i>Antić, Dragan, Dražina, Tvrtko, RaĆ°a, Tonći, Tomić, Vladimir T. & Makarov, Slobodan E., 2015, Review of the family Anthogonidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida), with descriptions of three new species from the Balkan Peninsula, pp. 151-181 in Zootaxa 3948 (2)</i> on pages 165-166, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3948.2.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/240293">http://zenodo.org/record/240293</a&gt
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