BIODIVERSITY OVERVIEW OF SODA PANS IN THE VOJVODINA REGION (SERBIA)

Due to their specific physical and chemical properties of water and soil soda pans of the Vojvodina region represent a unique type of habitats. Salinity is a major structuring factor which strongly affects species richness. Many halotolerant, alkalotolerant and halophilic organisms, together with numerous eurytopic elements inhabit these kinds of ecosystems. In this review we tried to compile the biodiversity information from various literature sources and give the best representation of what can be expected to be found in these shallow, temporary and intermittent aquatic environments. Only a few groups of organisms are fairly well studied, while many others are insufficiently investigated or the knowledge of them is lacking altogether. Best investigated are certain groups of algae and birds. Bacterial communities, as well as many invertebrate groups, are poorly studied or not investigated at all. Characteristic elements of flora and fauna, together with growing anthropogenic pressures make soda pans prime targets for protection

Comprehension of proverbs in persons with TBI: case reports

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leaves numerous consequences on cognitive, language, and com- munication abilities. TBI often leads to disturbances in comprehending figurative language, which can disrupt the communication process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of persons who have suffered TBI to understand proverbs in order to draw attention to figurative language/conversation abilities, which is a topic that is rarely investigated. Method: The sample consisted of 4 subjects with TBI aged 22 to 29 years, who had complet- ed 12 to 16 years of education. Subjects were tested between 4 and 9 months after the injury. Using magnetic resonance imaging, it was determined that two subjects had a diffuse brain injury, while the other two had a contusion brain injury. The control group consisted of four subjects who equally-matched to subjects with TBI in terms of gender, age, and level of edu- cation. The study focused on 10 proverbs that are used often in everyday communication. The assessment of the understanding of proverbs was carried out by two clinicians in the Serbian language. After the subject heard the proverb, he/she was asked to interpret the meaning, while two clinicians recorded the success of the understanding and categorised the subject’s answers based on the following: understands the concrete meaning, partially understands the metaphor, and fully understands the metaphor. Descriptive statistical measures were used in this study. The results show that subjects with diffuse lesions had pronounced diffi- culties in understanding proverbs, while subjects with brain contusions interpreted the prov- erbs well, but with a delayed latency. Conclusion: Our data shows that proverb comprehension disorders are more pronounced in people with a diffuse injury than those with a contusion brain injury. Due to the small num- ber of respondents, in this study, we compared only the type of brain injury, not the location. In addition, these results are limited by the size of the sample and cannot be generalised

Comprehension of proverbs in persons with TBI: case reports

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leaves numerous consequences on cognitive, language, and com- munication abilities. TBI often leads to disturbances in comprehending figurative language, which can disrupt the communication process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of persons who have suffered TBI to understand proverbs in order to draw attention to figurative language/conversation abilities, which is a topic that is rarely investigated. Method: The sample consisted of 4 subjects with TBI aged 22 to 29 years, who had complet- ed 12 to 16 years of education. Subjects were tested between 4 and 9 months after the injury. Using magnetic resonance imaging, it was determined that two subjects had a diffuse brain injury, while the other two had a contusion brain injury. The control group consisted of four subjects who equally-matched to subjects with TBI in terms of gender, age, and level of edu- cation. The study focused on 10 proverbs that are used often in everyday communication. The assessment of the understanding of proverbs was carried out by two clinicians in the Serbian language. After the subject heard the proverb, he/she was asked to interpret the meaning, while two clinicians recorded the success of the understanding and categorised the subject’s answers based on the following: understands the concrete meaning, partially understands the metaphor, and fully understands the metaphor. Descriptive statistical measures were used in this study. The results show that subjects with diffuse lesions had pronounced diffi- culties in understanding proverbs, while subjects with brain contusions interpreted the prov- erbs well, but with a delayed latency. Conclusion: Our data shows that proverb comprehension disorders are more pronounced in people with a diffuse injury than those with a contusion brain injury. Due to the small num- ber of respondents, in this study, we compared only the type of brain injury, not the location. In addition, these results are limited by the size of the sample and cannot be generalised

Tretman afazija pomoću metode virtuelni svet ’’Eva park’’

Nakon pandemije COVID-19 veći broj studija o tretmanu afazija fokusiran je na ispitivanje efekata jezičkih terapija koje se sprovode onlajn. Jedna od metoda koja je posebno privukla pažnju istraživača je onlajn metoda virtuleni svet „Eva park“. Eva Park predstavlja ostrvo u kojem su osobe sa afazijom i drugim učesnicima. Svim učesnicima u ovom programu, omogućeno je da se slobodno kreću, da izvršavaju različite zadatke, dok razgovaraju s logopedom i osobama s afazijom. Cilj ovog rada je da se prikaže značaj onlajn terapije afazija putem metode „Eva pak“. Metod rada. Na osnovu baze PubMed, pregledano je 14 radova posvećenih metodi tretmana virtuelnog sveta „Eva park“ kod osoba sa afazijom. Rezultati ukazuju na prednosti vežbanja konverzacije u različitim situacijama, koje većini osoba sa afazijom nisu dostupne u realnom svetu, takođe, istaknut je značaj druženja osoba s afazijom s drugim osobama u cilju smanjenja osećaja izolovanosti i depresije. Kao negativne strane ove metode navodi se to što metoda ima značajna ograničenja kod osoba koje imaju redukovane verbalne sposobnosti. Stoga se metoda više preporučuje za osobe sa kognitivnim deficitima bez prisustva težih jezičkih poremećaja. Zaključak. Metoda virtuelni svet za osobe sa afazijom je obećavajuća metoda za koju su nam neophodna dalja istraživanja usmerena na detekcija oblika i težine afazičnog sindroma za koju je ova metoda najpogodnija

Tretman afazija pomoću metode virtuelni svet ’’Eva park’’

Nakon pandemije COVID-19 veći broj studija o tretmanu afazija fokusiran je na ispitivanje efekata jezičkih terapija koje se sprovode onlajn. Jedna od metoda koja je posebno privukla pažnju istraživača je onlajn metoda virtuleni svet „Eva park“. Eva Park predstavlja ostrvo u kojem su osobe sa afazijom i drugim učesnicima. Svim učesnicima u ovom programu, omogućeno je da se slobodno kreću, da izvršavaju različite zadatke, dok razgovaraju s logopedom i osobama s afazijom. Cilj ovog rada je da se prikaže značaj onlajn terapije afazija putem metode „Eva pak“. Metod rada. Na osnovu baze PubMed, pregledano je 14 radova posvećenih metodi tretmana virtuelnog sveta „Eva park“ kod osoba sa afazijom. Rezultati ukazuju na prednosti vežbanja konverzacije u različitim situacijama, koje većini osoba sa afazijom nisu dostupne u realnom svetu, takođe, istaknut je značaj druženja osoba s afazijom s drugim osobama u cilju smanjenja osećaja izolovanosti i depresije. Kao negativne strane ove metode navodi se to što metoda ima značajna ograničenja kod osoba koje imaju redukovane verbalne sposobnosti. Stoga se metoda više preporučuje za osobe sa kognitivnim deficitima bez prisustva težih jezičkih poremećaja. Zaključak. Metoda virtuelni svet za osobe sa afazijom je obećavajuća metoda za koju su nam neophodna dalja istraživanja usmerena na detekcija oblika i težine afazičnog sindroma za koju je ova metoda najpogodnija

Korelacija između koncentracije receptora 2 faktora nekroze tumora u serumu i destrukcije parodoncijuma kod bolesnika sa dijabetes melitusom tip 2 - studija preseka

Introduction: The role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) is well documented in pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Considering short half-life of TNFα, tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2) is used as prosperous surrogate marker of TNFα activity. Objective The aim was to detect TNFR2 serum concentration and correlate it with periodontal destruction in patients with diagnosed T2D and nondiabetics. Methods The study included 85 patients divided into three groups: T2D + CP (group T2D, n = 34); nondiabetics + CP (Group PD, n = 27); and healthy controls (group HC, n = 24). T2D was diagnosed according to WHO criteria (2013) and periodontitis was diagnosed using International Workshop for a Classification of Periodontal Diseases and Conditions criteria (1999). TNFR2 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results There was no difference in TNFR2 level among the groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.482). Significant correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient) was observed between clinical attachment loss (CAL) and TNFR2 concentration in PD group (rp = -0.460, p = 0.016). In T2D group, correlations were observed between TNFR2 concentration and CaL (rp = 0.363, p = 0.005) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) (rp = 0.345, p = 0.046) and periodontalepithelial surface area (PESA) (rp = 0.578, p = 0.000). Conclusion Higher concentration of TNFR2 was associated with higher CAL, PESA, and PISA scores in T2D group. Contrary to that, nondiabetics with higher values of CAL exhibited lower concentration of TNFR2, presenting potential protective effect on periodontal destruction. These results imply that diabetes may alter TNFR2 secretion originated from periodontium.Uvod: Uloga faktora nekroze tumora-alfa (TNFα) dokazana je u patogenezi hronične parodontopatije (HP) i dijabetesa melitusa tipa 2 (DM tip 2). S obzirom na to da je poluživot TNFα veoma kratak, receptor 2 faktora nekroze tumora (TNFR2) koristi se kao marker aktivnosti TNFα. Cilj rada Cilj ovog rada je određivanje koncentracije TNFR2 u serumu i koreliranje sa parametrima destrukcije parodoncijuma kod zdravih i ispitanika sa dijagnostikovanim DM tip 2. Metode rada U studiju je uključeno 85 pacijenata podeljenih u tri grupe: DM tip 2 + HP (DM grupa, n = 34), zdravi ispitanici + HP (PD grupa, n = 27) i zdrave kontrole (ZK grupa, n = 24). Dijagnoza DM tip 2 postavljena je na osnovu kriterijuma SZO (2013), dok je dijagnoza HP postavljena na osnovu kriterijuma Internacionalne radionice za klasifikaciju stanja i oboljenja parodoncijuma (1999). Koncentracija TNFR2 merena je ELISA metodom. Rezultati Koncentracija serumskog TNFR2 nije se razlikovala među grupama (Kraskal-Volis, p = 0,482). Postoji značajna korelacija (Pirson) između nivoa pripojnog epitela (NPE) i koncentracije TNFR2 u PD grupi (rp = -0,460, p = 0,016). U DM tip 2 grupi, statistički značajna korelacija uočena je između koncentracije TNFR2 i NPE (rp = 0,363, p = 0,005), kao i parametara uticaja inflamacije iz parodoncijuma na sistemsko zdravlje - PISA (rp = 0,345, p = 0,046) i PESA (rp = 0,578, p = 0,000). Zaključak Kod pacijenata sa dijabetesom veće koncentracije TNFR2 odgovaraju većim vrednostima NPE, PESA i PISA. Nasuprot tome, kod sistemski zdravih ispitanika sa HP veće vrednosti NPE su povezane sa manjim koncentracijama TNFR2, što bi moglo govoriti o potencijalnoj zaštitnoj ulozi ovog citokina na destrukciju parodoncijuma. Rezultati govore da dijabetes može uticati na sekreciju TNFR2 iz parodoncijuma

The radioprotective efficacy of the rat acute-phase protein alpha2-macroglobulin on bone marrow cells

The rat acute phase protein α2-macroglobulin (α2M) plays an important role in the restoration of disrupted homeostasis by inhibiting different types of non-specific proteases and facilitating the transport of cytokines, growth factors and hormones. Previously, we observed that administration of α2M to experimental animals prior to the infliction of life- threatening trauma in the form of scalding or total-body irradiation, significantly improved their survival rates. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the radioprotective effect on blood cells of α2M that, when administered 30 min before irradiation with 6.7 Gy (LD50/30), provides 100% survival of experimental animals where in unprotected irradiated rats the said dose results in 50% lethality. We observed that rats pretreated with α2M, after an initial decline, exhibited complete recovery of the leukocyte count due to the preservation of bone marrow cells, observed as a stable mitotic index. In untreated irradiated rats the decrease of the mitotic index reflected the significant destruction of bone marrow cells that resulted in a protracted decline in the leukocyte count. We conclude that the radioprotection provided by α2M was in part mediated through cytoprotection of new blood cells produced in the bone marrow.Pacovski alfa2-makroglobulin (α2M) ima važnu ulogu u uspostavljanju narušene homeostaze inhibicijom različitih tipova nespecifičnih proteaza i olakšavajući transport citokina, hormona rasta i hormona. Naša ranija istraživanja su pokazala da administracija α2M eksperimentalnim životinjama u traumama tipa opekotine ili ozračivanja celog organizma značajno povećava njihovu stopu preživljavanja. Cilj ove studije je bio izučavanje radioprotektivne uloge α2M na ćelije kosne srži. α2M je apliciran 30 minuta pre ozračivanja pacova dozom od 6.7 Gy (LD50/30) X-zraka i omogućio je 100% preživljavanje pacova za razliku od ozračenih pacova bez tretmana kod kojih je smrtnost bila 50%. Rezultati su pokazali da tretiranje životinja sa α2M, nakon inicijalnog pada, omogućavaju potpuni oporavak broja leukocita kao posledica očuvanja ćelija kosne srži, što se uočava preko stabilnog mitotskog indeksa. Kod ozračenih pacova bez tretmana signifikantno smanjenje mitotskog indeksa, kao posledica narušavanja ćelija kosne srži, rezultuje i u prolongiranom padu broja leukocita. Na osnovu ovih rezultata može se zaključiti da se radioprotektivna uloga α2M delom odvija putem citoprotekcije novih krvnih ćelija u kosnoj srži.Projekat ministarstva br. 143002

Dynamic associations of transcription factors with the rat liver nuclear matrix are functionally related to differential alpha-2-macroglobulin gene expression

Participation of the nuclear matrix in regulation of alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M) gene transcription during rat liver development and the acute-phase (AP) response are examined. DNA affinity chromatography of fetal and adult liver internal nuclear matrix proteins under basal and AP conditions with the α2M gene promoter (-852/+12) and immunoblot analysis revealed diverse patterns of association of transcription factors with the nuclear matrix. HNF-6, C/EBPα, and STAT5b were involved in basal and C/EBPβ, STAT1, and STAT3 in AP-stimulated α2M expression. These findings support the assumption that transcription factor-nuclear matrix interactions serve to channel gene regulatory proteins to DNA sequences.Cilj rada je ispitivanje učešća jedarnog matriksa u regulaciji transkripcije gena za alfa-2-makroglobulin tokom razvića jetre pacova i akutno faznog odgovora (AFO). Nakon DNK afinitetne hromatografije proteina unutrašnje mreže jedarnog matriksa fetalne i adultne jetre, u bazalnim i AFO uslovima, sa promotorskim elementom gena za α2M (-852/+12) i imunoblot analize, identifikovane su dinamičke asocijacije transkripcionih faktora uključenih u regulaciju ekspresije gena za α2M sa jedarnim matriksom. HNF-6, C/EBPα, STAT5b su uključeni u regulaciju bazalne ekspresije gena za α2M, dok C/EBPβ, STAT1, STAT3 posreduju u regulaciji ekspresije ovog gena tokom AFO. Opisane interakcije doprinose razumevanju predloženih mehanizama kojima se transkripcioni faktori usmeravaju ka ciljnim regulatornim elementima DNK.Projekat ministarstva br. 143002

Kvalitet komunikacije i kvalitet života osoba sa afazijom i dizartrijom usled moždanog udara

Introduction. Aphasia and dysarthria are permanent conse- quences of stroke in many patients. These disorders signifi- cantly disrupt the person’s functioning in everyday life. The aim of this paper is to examine the quality of communication and quality of life in patients with aphasia and dysarthria. Material and Methods. The clinical group included 25 patients with apha- sia and 20 patients with dysarthria due to stroke. The control group included 15 post-stroke people without speech and lan- guage disorders and 15 neurologically healthy subjects. The Quality of Communication Life Scale was used to assess the quality of communication. This scale provides information about the impact of speech and language disorders on individuals’ ability to communicate and quality of life in general. The scale consists of 18 items scored from 1 to 5. Results. Patients with aphasia and dysarthria have a significantly lower quality of com- munication compared to stroke survivors with preserved speech and language functions and neurologically healthy subjects. The severity of the language and speech disorder proved to be a significant factor in determining the quality of communication. Namely, patients with more severe forms of aphasia and dysar- thria scored significantly lower on the Quality of Communica- tion Life Scale compared to the patients with milder forms. It was also shown that patients with flaccid dysarthria have the worst quality of communication compared to the patients with other types of dysarthria. Conclusion. Aphasia and dysarthria following a stroke significantly impair the quality of communi- cation and quality of life of the affected persons.Uvod. Afazija i dizartrija ostaju kao trajne posledice moždanog udara kod mnogih pacijenata. Ovi poremećaji značajno remete funkcionisanje osobe u svakodnevnom životu. Cilj ovog rada je utvrđivanje kvaliteta komunikacije i kvaliteta života kod pacijenata sa afazijom i dizartrijom. Materijal i metode. Kliničku grupu činilo je 25 ispitanika sa afazijom i 20 ispi- tanika sa dizartrijom usled moždanog udara. U kontrolnu grupu uključeno je 15 ispitanika sa moždanim udarom bez poremećaja govora i jezika i 15 neurološki zdravih govornika. Za procenu kvaliteta komunikacije primenjena je Skala kvaliteta komunikacionog života. Primenom ove skale dobijaju se infor- macije o uticaju govornih i jezičkih poremećaja na sposobnost komunikacije pojedinca i kvalitet života uopšte. Skala se sas- toji od osamnaest tvrdnji koje ispitanici vrednuju ocenom od jedan do pet. Rezultati. Ispitanici sa afazijom i dizartrijom imaju značajno niži kvalitet komunikacije u poređenju sa osobama sa moždanim udarom očuvanih govornih i jezičkih funkcija i neurološki zdravim govornicima. Težina jezičkog i govornog poremećaja se pokazala značajnim faktorom u određivanju kvaliteta komunikacije. Utvrđeno je da pacijenti sa težim formama afazije i dizartrije imaju značajno niži skor na Skali kvaliteta komunikativnog života u odnosu na pacijente sa lakšim formama. Takođe je pokazano da pacijenti sa flacid- nom dizartrijom imaju najlošiji kvalitet komunikacije u grupi ispitanika sa dizartrijom. Zaključak. Afazija i dizartrija nakon moždanog udara znatno narušavaju kvalitet komunikacije i kvalitet života pogođenih osoba

A decision support system for electrode shaping in multi-pad FES foot drop correction

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be applied as an assistive and therapeutic aid in the rehabilitation of foot drop. Transcutaneous multi-pad electrodes can increase the selectivity of stimulation; however, shaping the stimulation electrode becomes increasingly complex with an increasing number of possible stimulation sites. We described and tested a novel decision support system (DSS) to facilitate the process of multi-pad stimulation electrode shaping. The DSS is part of a system for drop foot treatment that comprises a customdesigned multi-pad electrode, an electrical stimulator, and an inertial measurement unit. Methods: The system was tested in ten stroke survivors (3-96 months post stroke) with foot drop over 20 daily sessions. The DSS output suggested stimulation pads and parameters based on muscle twitch responses to short stimulus trains. The DSS ranked combinations of pads and current amplitudes based on a novel measurement of the quality of the induced movement and classified them based on the movement direction (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion and inversion) of the paretic foot. The efficacy of the DSS in providing satisfactory pad-current amplitude choices for shaping the stimulation electrode was evaluated by trained clinicians. The range of paretic foot motion was used as a quality indicator for the chosen patterns. Results: The results suggest that the DSS output was highly effective in creating optimized FES patterns. The position and number of pads included showed pronounced inter-patient and inter-session variability; however, zones for inducing dorsiflexion and plantar flexion within the multi-pad electrode were clearly separated. The range of motion achieved with FES was significantly greater than the corresponding active range of motion (p < 0.05) during the first three weeks of therapy. Conclusions: The proposed DSS in combination with a custom multi-pad electrode design covering the branches of peroneal and tibial nerves proved to be an effective tool for producing both the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of a paretic foot. The results support the use of multi-pad electrode technology in combination with automatic electrode shaping algorithms for the rehabilitation of foot drop.The research has been supported in part by grants of the Basque Government (PI2013-10), the ERA-NET EU/MINECO project (INDIGO-DBT2-051) and by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia (Project no. 175016)