Impact of Selenium Addition to Animal Feeds on Human Selenium Status in Serbia

Research conducted during the 1980s demonstrated Se deficiency in humans. Increased inclusion of selenium in animal feeds started from the year 2000 onwards. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of selenium inclusion in animal feeds on human selenium status and dietary habits of the Serbian population related to food of animal origin. Plasma selenium concentration in healthy adult volunteers, including residents of one of the regions with the lowest (Eastern Serbia, n = 60) and of one of the regions with the highest Se serum levels reported in the past (Belgrade, n = 82), was determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Multivariate analysis was employed to determine the correlation between Se plasma levels and dietary intake data derived from food frequency questionnaires and laboratory tests. The mean plasma Se level of the participants was 84.3 +/- 15.9 g/L (range: 47.3-132.1 g/L), while 46% of participants had plasma Se levels lower than 80 g/L. Frequency of meat, egg, and fish consumption was significantly correlated with plasma selenium level (r = 0.437, p = 0.000). Selenium addition to animal feed in the quantity of 0.14 mg/kg contributed to the improvement of human plasma selenium levels by approximately 30 mu g/L

Quality of Life and Mood Disorders in Patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Aim: It is well known that hypothyroidism is associated with poorer quality of life. Still, there are more studies nowadays that also report low health-related quality of life (HRQol), more depression, and anxiety in euthyroid Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). We hypothesized that autoimmunity itself is associated with low HRQoL and a high prevalence of mood disorders in euthyroid HT. Patients and methods: We examined 130 euthyroid patients with HT (90% females) and 111 matched euthyroid, healthy controls. The groups were subdivided per age: 20-49 yrs. and 50 years. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis. We took blood samples for thyroid hormone levels and thyroid autoantibodies. We examined HRQoL via the health questionnaire (SF-36) short-form version 1 and the presence and degree of mood disorders with the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaire. Significant associations between variables were examined with ANOVA analysis and partial correlations. Results: Patients were significantly more depressed than control subjects (p 0.001), and have had more anxiousness, but only in the younger group (p 0.05). Quality of life was significantly better in the older control group comparing to patients with Hashimoto (p 0.01). The overall SF-36 score was in a significant negative correlation with antibodies (TPOAb, TgAb). Depression was positively associated with TSH and TPOAb levels. Conclusion:  Our study indicated that euthyroid patients with HT had worse HRQoL and showed more symptoms of anxiety and depression. We also have found that levels of thyroid antibodies were crucial in terms of neuropsychological wellbeing. More studies with longitudinal observations could explain a possible causal relationship.</p

Nanostructured Fe2O3/TiO2 thick films prepared by screen printing

Nanostructured single layered (pure TiO2 , pure α-Fe2O3 and mixed Fe2O3 /TiO2 with two different oxide ratios, 2 : 3 and 3 : 2) and double layered (TiO2 layer over a Fe2O3 layer) thick films 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 100 °C and sintered at 650 °C/60 minutes. Structural, morphological and optical studies have been carried out using XRD, SEM analyses and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The prepared pure and mixed Fe2O3 /TiO2 thick films had a homogenous nanostructure without secondary phases. Indirect band gaps were determined from the measured transmission spectra and the obtained values are in the range of literature data. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III45007

Effects of Combined Allogenic Adipose Stem Cells and Hyperbaric Oxygenation Treatment on Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis in Knee Joint Induced by Monoiodoacetate

The beneficial effects of HBO in inflammatory processes make it an attractive type of treatment for chronic arthritis. In addition, the effects of combination therapy based on adipose stem cells and HBO on OA progression have not been fully investigated. The current study explored the efficacy of intra-articular injection of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) combined with hyperbaric oxygenation treatment (HBO) in a rat osteoarthritis (OA) model. The rat OA model was induced by intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) and 7 days after application of MIA rats were divided into five groups: healthy control (CTRL), osteoarthritis (OA), ADMSCs (ADS), the HBO+ADS21day and HBO+ADS28day groups. A single dose of 1 × 106 allogeneic ADMSCs suspended in sterile saline was injected into the knee joint alone or in combination with HBO treatment. Rats were sacrificed at 3 or 4 weeks after MIA injection. Treatment outcomes were evaluated by radiographic, morphological and histological analysis and by specific staining of articular cartilage. We also measured the level of inflammatory and pro/antioxidative markers. We confirmed that combined treatment of ADMSCs and HBO significantly improved the regeneration of cartilage in the knee joint. Rtg score of knee joint damage was significantly decreased in the HBO+ADS21day and HBO+ADS28day groups compared to the OA. However, the positive effect in the HBO+ADS28day group was greater than the HBO+ADS21day group. The articular cartilage was relatively normal in the HBO+ADS28day group, but moderate degeneration was observed in the HBO+ADS21day compared to the OA group. These findings are in line with the histopathological results. A significantly lower level of O2−. was observed in the HBO+ADS28day group but a higher NO level compared to the HBO+ADS21day group. Moreover, in the HBO+ADS28day group significantly higher concentrations of IL-10 were observed but there was no significant difference in proinflammatory cytokine in serum samples. These results indicate that a single intra-articular injection of allogeneic ADMSCs combined with HBO efficiently attenuated OA progression after 28 days with greater therapeutic effect compared to alone ADMSCs or after 3 weeks of combined treatment. Combined treatment might be an effective treatment for OA in humans

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

Effects of citric ion on hexagonal NaYF4: Yb/Er phase formation during solvothermal synthesis

Up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) which have ability to emit a visible light upon excitation with NIR photons are with wide applications in optoelectronic devices, forensic, biomedicine and security. The synthesis of the most efficient hexagonal β- NaYF4:Yb/Er phase in shape of uniformly sized spherical nanoparticles is usually performed through thermal decomposition of complex organic precursor in high-boiling organic solvents, which rise deep concerns regarding their potential citotoxicity. In this work, citric acid and Na-citrate are used for the stabilization of hexagonal polymorph during solvothermal processing of NaYF4:Yb/Er phase from common inorganic precursor (rare earth nitrate salts). Additionally, effect of precipitation agent, i.e. fluorine source (NaF, NH4F and NH4HF2) on the final particle morphology is deduced based on comprehensive scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Detailed refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction data (XRPD) revealed simultaneous nucleation of a cubic and hexagonal phase during solvothermal reaction. The use of citric acid resulted in formation of micro- and nano- spherical particles of a hexagonal and cubic NaYF4:Yb/Er phase, respectively, while Na-citrate provoked nucleation of well crystallized hexagonal crystals of β-NaYF4:Yb/Er phase. Size of the crystallites is determined by the choice of the precipitant, and is smallest in the case when NH4F is used. All synthesized powders emit bright and intense green light due to the intensification of the 2H11/2,4S3/2 →4I15/2 electronic transitions upon the excitation by the infrared light (λ=978 nm)

Intracerebral hemorrhage as a first sign of pheochromocytoma: case report and review of the literature

Pheochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumours that represent very rare causes of intracerebral haemorrhage in the young, with only a few cases reported. A 32-year-old man presented to our emergency department because of sudden onset of severe headache. He had a six-month history of paroxysmal headache, palpitations, and sweating. During examination he became somnolent and developed left-sided hemiplegia. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the brain showed a right temporoparietal haematoma. He was admitted to the Clinic for Neurosurgery and the haematoma was evacuated. The patient was comatose, on assisted respiration, with frequent hypertensive crises. An examination for possible secondary causes of hypertension was undertaken. Plasma metanephrine value was elevated (414 pg/mL, reference values &lt; 90 pg/mL). Abdominal CT scans revealed a large mass (6 cm) in the right adrenal gland. After adequate control of the hypertension was achieved with nonselective alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockers the tumour was excised. The histopathologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The genetic analysis demonstrated a duplication in exon 1 of the VHL gene. We reported a rare, potentially fatal complication of pheochromocytoma — an intracerebral haemorrhage. This case and review of similar rare cases in the literature illustrate the importance of early recognition of the characteristic symptoms of catecholamine excess in young patients with hypertension

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN SPORTS ENGAGEMENT

Summary. The number of overfed children, not satisfying the daily movement dose, is increasing. It is a serious problem which is to be prevented. The objective of this work is to get the insight into the level of children inclusion (engagement) in different organized sports activities, as well as to find out how the parents level o education and economic situation in the family impact that. Based on the literature search of previoussimilar studies, the results obtained may be consideredin the right way. The data processing has been made by means of Т-test and X2- test. The study covered 1630 parents of primary school children, from I to IV grade in the territory of the towns, as follows: Nis, Vranje, Knjazevac and Pirot. We covered schools both from urban and rural areas of the mentioned cities. Results achieved indicate that the increased educational level of parents and better economic situation impact the children sports engagement. Keywords: education, sports, Serbia, parents, childre