Anatomic and MRI bases for pontine infarctions with patients presentation

Objectives: There are scarce data regarding pontine arteries anatomy, which is the basis for ischemic lesions following their occlusion. The aim of this study was to examine pontine vasculature and its relationships with the radiologic and neuro-logic features of pontine infarctions. Materials and methods: Branches of eight basilar arteries and their twigs, including the larger intrapontine branches, were microdis-sected following an injection of a 10% mixture of India ink and gelatin. Two addi-tional brain stems were prepared for microscopic examination after being stained with luxol fast blue and cresyl violet. Finally, 30 patients with pontine infarctions underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to determine the position and size of the infarctions. Results: The perforating arteries, which averaged 5.8 in number and 0.39 mm in diameter, gave rise to paramedian and anteromedial branches, and also to anterolateral twigs (62.5%). The longer leptomeningeal and cere-bellar arteries occasionally gave off perforating and anterolateral twigs, and either the lateral or posterior branches. Occlusion of some of these vessels resulted in the para-median (30%), anterolateral (26.7%), lateral (20%), and combined infarctions (23.3%), which were most often isolated and unilateral, and rarely bilateral (10%). They were located in the lower pons (23.3%), middle (10%) or rostral (26.7%), or in two or three portions (40%). Each type of infarction usually produced characteristic neurologic signs. The clinical significance of the anatomic findings was discussed. Conclusions: There was a good correlation between the intrapontine vascular territories, the position, size and shape of the infarctions, and the type of neurologic manifestations. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)Peer reviewe

Anatomic and MRI bases for medullary infarctions with patients' presentation

Objective: There is a low incidence of the medullary infarctions and sparse data about the vascular territories, as well as a correlation among the anatomic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic signs. Materials and methods: Arteries of the 10 right and left sides of the brain stem were injected with India ink, fixed in formalin and microdissected. The enrolled 34 patients with medullary infarctions underwent a neurologic, MRI and Doppler examination. Results: Four types of the infarctions were distinguished according to the involved vascular territories. The isolated medial medullary infarctions (MMIs) were present in 14.7%. The complete MMIs comprised one bilateral infarction (2.9%), whilst the incomplete and partial MMIs were observed in 5.9% and 8.9%, respectively. The anterolateral infarctions (ALMIs) were very rare (2.9%). The complete and incomplete lateral infarctions (LMIs), noted in 35.3%, comprised 11.8% and 23.6%, respectively, that is, the anterior (5.9%), posterior (8.9%), deep (2.9%), and peripheral (5.9%). Dorsal ischemic lesions (DMIs) occurred in 11.8%, either as a complete (2.9%), or isolated lateral (5.9%) or medial infarctions (2.9%). The remaining ischemic regions belonged to various combined infarctions of the MMI, ALMI, LMI and DMI (35.3%). The infarctions most often affected the upper medulla (47.1%), middle (11.8%), or both (29.5%). Several motor and sensory signs were manifested following infarctions, including vestibular, cerebellar, ocular, sympathetic, respiratory and auditory symptoms. Conclusions: There was a good correlation among the vascular territories, MRI ischemia features, and neurologic findings regarding the medullary infarctions.Peer reviewe

Serbia within the European context: An analysis of premature mortality

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on the global predictions majority of deaths will be collectively caused by cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and traffic accidents over the coming 25 years. In planning future national health policy actions, inter – regional assessments play an important role. The purpose of the study was to analyze similarities and differences in premature mortality between Serbia, EURO A, EURO B, and EURO C regions in 2000.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mortality and premature mortality patterns were analysed according to cause of death, by gender and seven age intervals. The study results are presented in relative (%) and absolute terms (age-specific and age-standardized death rates per 100,000 population, and age-standardized rates of years of life lost – YLL per 1,000). Direct standardization of rates was undertaken using the standard population of Europe. The inter-regional comparison was based on a calculation of differences in YLL structures and with a ratio of age-standardized YLL rates per 1,000. A multivariate generalized linear model was used to explore mortality of Serbia and Europe sub-regions with <it>ln </it>age-specific death rates. The dissimilarity was achieved with a p ≤ 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>According to the mortality pattern, Serbia was similar to EURO B, but with a lower average YLL per death case. YLL patterns indicated similarities between Serbia and EURO A, while SRR YLL had similarities between Serbia and EURO B. Compared to all Europe sub-regions, Serbia had a major excess of premature mortality in neoplasms and diabetes mellitus. Serbia had lost more years of life than EURO A due to cardiovascular, genitourinary diseases, and intentional injuries. Yet, Serbia was not as burdened with communicable diseases and injuries as were EURO B and EURO C.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>With a premature mortality pattern, Serbia is placed in the middle position of the Europe triangle. The main excess of YLL in Serbia was due to cardiovascular, malignant diseases, and diabetes mellitus. The results may be used for assessment of unacceptable social risks resulting from health inequalities. Within intentions to reduce an unfavourable premature mortality gap, it is necessary to reconsider certain local polices and practices as well as financial and human resources incorporated in the prevention of disease and injury burden.</p

Immobilized lipases as practical catalysts

Attractive features of lipase systems include versatility, substrate selectivity, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity and catalysis at ambient temperatures and pressures. To fully exploit the technical and economical advantages of lipases, it is recommended to use them in an immobilized form to reduce the cost and the poor stability of the free lipase. This paper summarizes various methods of lipases immobilization including covalent attachment to or adsorption on solid supports, encapsulation and entrapment within the membrane and in polymeric matrices. The effects of immobilization conditions on lipase properties and stability of biocatalysts are considered. Applications of immobilized lipases in the feasible reaction system as well as probable future trends in lipase catalyzed process are discussed.Lipaze su enzimi od velikog potencijalnog praktičnog značaja zbog osobine da selektivno katalizuju veliki broj reakcija pod blagim uslovima i bez primene kofaktora. Savremeni pristup primeni ovih enzima u industrijskim uslovima predstavqa primena imobilisanih enzima, čime se povećava njihova stabilnost i omogućuje primena u kontinualnim sistemima. U radu je dat pregled različitih metoda i nosača za imobilizaciju lipaza uključujući kovalentnu imobilizaciju adsorpciju, mikroinkapsulaciju i zarobljavanje enzima unutar polimerne matrice i u pore membrane, pri čemu je ukazano na prednosti i nedostatke svakog od imobilisanih sistema. Diskutovani su uticaji uslova imobilizacije i prirode nosača na osobine i stabilnost biokatalizatora. Takođe su razmatrane mogućnosti primene imobilisanih lipaza u reakcijama od praktičnog značaja kao i razvoj novih imobilisanih sistema

Research on long-term colonization of goosander (Mergus merganser Linneaus, 1758) with reference to habitat availability

This article presents data on long-term colonization of goosander in Western Serbia and Eastern Republic of Srpska (on five oligotrophic reservoirs formed by the Drina River) based on continuous counting since the first observation of nesting in 1987. The total number of breeding pairs and their distribution in neighboring habitats continuously increased from year to year, suggesting that expansion of the population is still below the limit of the habitat. The decrease in population which occurred in certain years was due to environmental or anthropogenic influence

Alumina/silica aerogel with zinc chloride as an alkylation catalyst

The alumina/silica with zinc chloride aerogel alkylation catalyst was obtained using a one step sol-gel synthesis, and subsequent drying with supercritical carbon dioxide. The aerogel catalyst activity was found to be higher compared to the corresponding xerogel catalyst, as a result of the higher aerogel surface area, total pore volume and favourable pore size distribution. Mixed AlOSi bonds were present in both gel catalyst types. Activation by thermal treatment in air was needed prior to catalytic alkylation, due to the presence of residual organic groups on the aerogel surface. The optimal activation temperature was found to be in the range 185225°C, while higher temperatures resulted in the removal of zinc chloride from the surface of the aerogel catalyst with a consequential decrease in the catalytic activity. On varying the zinc chloride content, the catalytic activity of the aerogel catalyst exhibited a maximum. High zinc chloride contents decreased the catalytic activity of the aerogel catalyst as the result of the pores of the catalyst being plugged with this compound, and the separation of the alumina/silica support into Al-rich and Si-rich phases. The surface area, total pore volume, pore size distribution and zinc chloride content had a similar influence on the activity of the aerogel catalyst as was the case of xerogel catalyst and supported zinc chloride catalysts

Studies on the specificity of Candida rugosa lipase catalyzed esterification reactions in organic media

In this study, the feasibility of the synthesis of various flavor esters catalyzed by a commercial lipase from Candida rugosa was investigated and the process parameters were optimized. Lipase from C. rugosa successfully catalyzed the synthesis of 19 esters. The highest yields, of more than 90 % after 20 h, were observed in the synthesis of short-chain esters, pentyl propanoate, isopentyl butanoate, and butyl butanoate. Increasing the number of carbon atoms of both substrates above 8 caused a significant decrease of the initial reaction rates and the final yields. The enzyme showed surprisingly low affinity towards pentanoic acid and hexanoic acid, compared with the higher homologues, octanoic acid and decanoic acid. In addition to the number of carbon atoms, the structure of the substrates had a significant influence on the enzyme activity. Namely, the activity of the enzyme towards isopropanol was significantly lower compared with n-propanol. Additionally, cis-9-octadecenoic acid was a better substrate than octadecanoic acid, its saturated analogue