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

Nanostructured Fe2O3/TiO2 thick films

Thick films of nanostructured pure TiO2, -Fe2O3, Fe2O3/TiO2 (ratio 2:3 and 3:2) and a hetero-junction in the form of a TiO2 layer over a Fe2O3 layer have been fabricated by screen printing technology on a glass substrate. The pastes used for film preparation were obtained by adding an organic vehicle to the oxide powders together with a small percentage of binding glass frit. Samples were dried up to 100oC and sintered at 650oC/60 minutes. Structural, morphological and optical studies have been carried out using XRD, SEM, EDS analysis and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Fe2O3/TiO2 thick films had a homogenous nanostructure and no new compounds were formed. Indirect band gaps were determined from the measured transmission spectra

Criterion validity of metabolic and anthropometric predictors in diabetic foot syndrome

© 2019, Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. The diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) appears in 15% of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and is the most common cause of hospitalization, prolonged hospital stay and lower extremity amputation. This study assesses the discriminant validity of the indicators of glycemic control, lipoprotein status and the body mass index (BMI) in diagnosing DFS in the DM patients. Methods. A comparative observational study was conducted with the study group composed of patients diagnosed with DM and DFS and a control group, composed of healthy volunteers. Metabolic predictors measured in the study were: Fasting glycaemia (FG), postprandial glycaemia (PPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, total triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDLc) and high density lipoprotein (HDLc). The BMI was measured as an anthropometric variable. The validity criterion of both metabolic and anthropometric variables was estimated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) procedure. Results. A total of 70 patients with DM and 60 healthy volunteers were observed. Using the ROC procedure, five significant predictors of DFS were proved. The validity criterion for HbA1c, FG, PPG, LDLc and the BMI were in the following order: 6.3%, 6.3 mmol/L, 7.1 mmol/L, 4.39 mmol/L and 25 kg/m2, respectively. Significantly larger surfaces were found under the curve for all glycometabolic variables, compared to the surface under the curve for LDLc, as well as relative to the surface under the curve for BMI. Conclusion. Preventing DFS in patients with DM has to include intensification of diet measures along with the treatment of the increased value of fasting glycaemia, postprandial glycaemia and LDLc, even when they lower compared to the current recommended values for the patients with DM. Lowering body fat in the patients with DM has to be approached in the period of their pre-obesity

Criterion validity of metabolic and anthropometric predictors in diabetic foot syndrome

© 2019, Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. The diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) appears in 15% of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and is the most common cause of hospitalization, prolonged hospital stay and lower extremity amputation. This study assesses the discriminant validity of the indicators of glycemic control, lipoprotein status and the body mass index (BMI) in diagnosing DFS in the DM patients. Methods. A comparative observational study was conducted with the study group composed of patients diagnosed with DM and DFS and a control group, composed of healthy volunteers. Metabolic predictors measured in the study were: Fasting glycaemia (FG), postprandial glycaemia (PPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, total triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDLc) and high density lipoprotein (HDLc). The BMI was measured as an anthropometric variable. The validity criterion of both metabolic and anthropometric variables was estimated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) procedure. Results. A total of 70 patients with DM and 60 healthy volunteers were observed. Using the ROC procedure, five significant predictors of DFS were proved. The validity criterion for HbA1c, FG, PPG, LDLc and the BMI were in the following order: 6.3%, 6.3 mmol/L, 7.1 mmol/L, 4.39 mmol/L and 25 kg/m2, respectively. Significantly larger surfaces were found under the curve for all glycometabolic variables, compared to the surface under the curve for LDLc, as well as relative to the surface under the curve for BMI. Conclusion. Preventing DFS in patients with DM has to include intensification of diet measures along with the treatment of the increased value of fasting glycaemia, postprandial glycaemia and LDLc, even when they lower compared to the current recommended values for the patients with DM. Lowering body fat in the patients with DM has to be approached in the period of their pre-obesity

Macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) resins-Versatile immobilization supports for biocatalysts

Crosslinked macroporous hydrophilic poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)s [abbreviated poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)] with identical chemical structure (60% of glycidyl methacrylate) but with varied average pore sizes (from 30 to 560 nm), specific surface areas (from 13.2 to 106.0 m(2)/g), specific volumes (from 0.755 to 1.191 cm(3)/g) and particle sizes (less than 100-650 mu m) were synthesized via suspension polymerization. The influence of the resin properties on the loading of Candida antarctica lipase B (Cal-B) during immobilization and on the hydrolytic (hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl acetate) and synthetic (ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone) activity of the immobilized CalB were studied. Immobilization of Cal-B was performed at different temperatures and pH values. Cal-B immobilized at 30 degrees C and pH 6.8 was leading to increased activities. By decreasing the resin diameter: (i) the amount of Cal-B adsorbed onto the resin decreases, (ii) the conversion of para-nitrophenyl acetate increases (hydrolytic activity) and (iii) the conversion of epsilon-caprolactone and the molecular weight of the synthesized poly-epsilon-caprolactone increases (synthetic activity). Varying the porosity parameters results in different hydrolytic and synthetic activities. Pore sizes of all synthesized resins (from 30 to 560nm) are big enough to overcome diffusion limitations. Therefore increasing the pore size of the resins resulted in a large increase in the hydrolytic and synthetic activity. Increasing the specific surface area resulted in an increase of activities, as the result of alleviated substrate approach to the immobilized enzyme zones. The obtained results were compared to results from dried Cal-B powder and Novozyme 435. Resin with particle size less than 100 mu m and pore size 48 nm had much higher hydrolytic activity than both dried Cal-B powder and Novozyme 435. Nearly similar trends were observed for the synthetic activity. Via the DMSO leaching technique we could show that about 80% of Cal-B was covalently attached to the macroporous resin. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of Candida antarctica Lipase B Immobilization on the Porous Structure of the Carrier

A series of poly(GMA-co-EGDMA) resins with identical composition but varying particle sizes, pore radii, specific surface areas and specific volumes are studied to assess how Candida antarctica lipase B immobilization affects the porosity of the copolymer particles. Mercury porosimetry reveals a significant change in the average pore size (up to 6.1-fold), the specific surface area (up to 3.2-fold) and the specific volume (up to 2.1-fold) of the epoxy resin. A similar behaviour is observed for glutaraldehyde-modified epoxy resins. The influences of the resin porosity properties on the loading of Candida antarctica lipase B during immobilization and on the hydrolytic activity (hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate) of the immobilized lipase are studied

Surface modification of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) resins for improved Candida antarctica lipase B immobilization

Crosslinked macroporous hydrophilic poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [abbreviated poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)] with identical chemical structure (60% of glycidyl methacrylate) but with varied average pore sizes (from 30 to 560 nm), specific surface areas (from 13.2 to 106.0 m(2)/g), specific volumes (from 0.755 to 1.191 cm(3)/g) and particle sizes