The sense of family coherence among adolescents

The main point of this dissertation is to promote salutogenesis and Aaron Antonovsky's idea to search for the factors that promote health and not disease in the study of adolescents and their families, and to find the importance the salutogenic health model has, or may have in the preservation and improvement of health. The survey that was carried out is a continuation of the author's research conducted on a sample of families from Kosovo, with the aim of improving and strengthening the mental health of adolescents on their way to adulthood, on a practical level, with the involvement of experts. On the basis of the previous studies of sense of coherence on a sample of adolescents in our country, it is determined that there is a correlation with the variables included in this study. Considering the fact that the studies on the sense of family coherence are so rare (especially in our country), this study aims to improve the research scene on this problem. The results of the study, which was conducted for the last ten years on different age groups of people living in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, point out a specific chronic social crisis in the region and the impact that living in conditions of social crisis can have on the individual aspects of personality. The object of this research, broadly defined, is the connection between a sense of family coherence among adolescents from Kosovo and Central Serbia (n = 360 adolescents, 15 to 24 years of age) and: family and partner affective attachment, self-esteem, age, family's financial situation, parents' level of education, vulnerability level in terms of the social crisis, strategies for proactive coping with stress, family satisfaction. The main issue of the research is to examine whether, in terms of a double crisis (developmental and social), the adolescents from Kosovo became ''victims'' or ''survivors'', what is the role of a sense of family coherence, and is the sense of coherence stronger among the younger or the older adolescents, among adolescent boys or adolescent girls. More precisely, the problem of the research is to examine whether there is a connection between a sense of family coherence among adolescents with: the degree of vulnerability of adolescents in terms of social crisis, family satisfaction (general and global), family affective attachment dimensions (avoidance and anxiety), models of partnership attachment (model of self and model of others), proactive coping, self-esteem, family's financial situation and parents' level of education; and whether there are differences in the intensity of the sense of family coherence in relation to some socio-demographic variables: place of residence, age, and adolescents' gender. This dissertation is salutogenic oriented, based on the salutogenic approach to health, i.e. on the salutogenesis and the feeling of coherence (Sagy and Antonovsky, 1992; Antonovsky and Sourani, 1988; Antonovsky, 1984). We focus on the sense of family coherence as one of the resources in the developmental and social crisis, which affects the health preservation and movement of the individual toward the positive pole of the health-illness continuum. Conducted research aimed to determine the connection between the sense of family coherence in adolescents, as an important resource in the developmental and social crisis, with the variables that were included in the study based on the settings of Aaron Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health. The survey used: Socio-Demographic Questionnaire for Obtaining Basic Data (constructed for the purposes of research), Questionnaire on the Degree of Vulnerability of the Individual in Terms of Social Crisis (Minic, 2009), The Family Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky & Sourani, 1988), The Family Adaptation Scale (Antonovsky & Sourani, 1988), The Family Attachment Assessing Questionnaire (Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1995), The Relationship Questionnaire – for the assessment of partner attachment (Bartolomew & Horowitz, 1991), The Proactive Coping Inventory (Greenglass et. al., 1999) and Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). In the processing of data we used: descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages, M and SD), correlation analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and regression analysis. The results of the research pointed put that there is a positive correlation between the sense of family coherence and family satisfaction, self-esteem, model of partnership affective attachment, proactive coping with stress and family's financial situation, and that there is a negative correlation between the sense of family coherence and the dimensions of family attachment (avoidance and anxiety). No statistically significant correlation between the sense of family coherence and the degree of vulnerability of the individual in terms of social crisis and the educational level of the father and mother was determined. The results also showed that there was a high positive correlation between the sense of family coherence of fathers and mothers, but no statistically significant correlation between the sense of family coherence in adolescents and a sense of family coherence of fathers and mothers. There are differences in the intensity of the feeling of family coherence in relation to the place of residence (Kosovo and Metohija, Central Serbia), age (middle and late adolescence) and adolescents' gender. Younger adolescents (15 to 19 years old) have a stronger sense of family coherence than older adolescents (20 to 24 years old). Intelligibility as a component of a sense of family coherence is more prominent among adolescents living in Kosovo and Metohija, compared to adolescents who live in Central Serbia. The results also point out that female participants in the study have a stronger sense of meaningfulness as a component of family coherence, compared to male participants. The sense of family coherence was stronger among adolescents with secure affective attachment styles, compared to adolescents with rejecting and fearful form of family affective attachment. Adolescents and their parents have adequate health resources, their mental health in terms of developmental and social crisis is not impaired thus preventive measures should be aimed at protecting and improving their health. The results of the research pointed out that the families of adolescents are an important source of a sense of family coherence and an important source of resistance in terms of developmental and social crisis. In addition, the results showed that the sense of family coherence at a family level is a good basis for further development and that is what makes a family an appropriate developmental environment for adolescents. The obtained data are consistent with most hypotheses and with the results of some previous studies

Novel H1N1 influenza in neonates: from mild to fatal disease

Analysis of pediatric deaths associated with pandemic A H1N1 influenza shows that fatal outcome is more likely in young children, under the age of 5. Neonates, because of the immaturity of their immune system, could represent a high-risk group for severe disease and fatal outcome. We present a group of five neonates with confirmed novel influenza A H1N1 infection. This report indicates that the full spectrum of influenza A H1N1 infection ranging from mild febrile illness with spontaneous recovery to severe disease with fatal outcome may be expected even in neonates. Journal of Perinatology (2011) 31, 446-448; doi:10.1038/jp.2010.19

A combination of N-acetyl cysteine and propolis attenuates oxidative-inflammatory parameters during COPD exacerbation

– OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine any differences in ox- idative stress and inflammation parameters in COPD patients treated with either N-acetyl cys- teine (NAC) alone or with NAC in combination with propolis (NACP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty COPD pa- tients in the exacerbation phase were enrolled into the study and were treated with either NAC (NAC group; n=20) or NACP (NACP group; n=20) twice daily for one month. Redox status was de - termined by measuring superoxide anion (O 2 .– ), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), total oxidative status (TOS), prooxidative-anti- oxidant balance (PAB), malondialdehyde (MDA), ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and sever- al other antioxidant markers: superoxide dis- mutase (SOD), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), total sulf- hydryl groups (SHG) and total antioxidant status (TAS). Interleukins 6, 8 and 17 were measured as markers of inflammatory status. RESULTS: Both groups had similar socio-de - mographic and clinical characteristics. Af- ter treatment significantly higher SHG [0.446 (0.395-0.516) vs. 0.292 (0.270-0.325), p<0.001] and significantly lower TOS – 50.6 [49.7-53.4 vs. 73.2 (50.9-84.6), p<0.05] – and IMA [0.650 (0.629-0.682) vs. 0.709 (0.667-0.756), p<0.05] – were found in the NACP group compared to the NAC group. Factorial analysis indicated a larger oxidative stress-inflammatory load in the NAC group after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From an oxidative stress and inflammatory status perspective, treatment with NACP was more successful than with NAC. The inclusion of propolis into therapy for COPD patients, especially those in the exacerbation phase, could prove beneficial

"When I'm not at school" - fifth graders' perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of online instruction

Objective: This study is part of the broader research1 conducted to investigate the experiences of pupils, teachers, parents and students regarding online and blended (online and face-to-face classroom) instruction in the Republic of Serbia during the pandemic, focusing on students' perceptions of the changed form of schooling. Method: The subject of this study was the descriptions of teaching-related events that left a strong impression on 5th grade students in elementary schools in the Republic of Serbia during the first semester of 2020. Thematic analysis was used to collect data in the form of narratives. Findings: The 5th grade students value events related to the transition from classroom to subject teaching (getting to know the teacher and new subjects) more positively than events related to the change in teaching model caused by the coronavirus pandemic outside (lack of direct contact, inconsistency of online and face-to-face instruction, abbreviated classes). They also highlight the benefits of this instructional model, such as face-to-face teaching (albeit not on a daily basis) and learning about new educational technologies. Conclusion: The findings can be regarded as a modest contribution to a better understanding of this problem, which remains relevant in light of the current pandemic conditions

Investigation of the effect of algal chromopeptides on the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro

This study aimed to investigate whether and to what extent enzymatic digests of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from algae inhibit the activity of Mpro from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Phycobiliproteins are light-harvesting proteins from cyanobacteria and red algae. Phycobiliprotein chromopeptides are released by the action of proteases and possess various biological activities. C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) and B-Phycoerythrin (B-PE), the major PBPs in Arthrospira platensis and Porphyridium purpureum, respectively, were digested with pepsin and pancreatin. Monitoring Mpro activity by fluorescence measurements showed that only the pancreatin digest of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) could inhibit Mpro activity by 74% compared to the control reaction. Chromopeptides from B-PE digest were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into two main fractions. Further monitoring of enzyme kinetics demonstrated that both fractions inhibit Mpro activity but less effectively than the complete B-PE digest. Estimated IC50 values, expressed by chromophore equivalents, were 1.3µM for initial digest, 4.3µM for Fraction 1 and 3.7µM for Fraction 2. Tandem mass spectrometry identified 12 chromopeptide sequences potentially responsible for inhibiting Mpro, originating from α- and β-subunits of B-PE. These results show that chromopeptides are primary components of the B-PE digest responsible for inhibiting Mpro activity and could potentially be used in treating coronavirus-induced diseases in conjunction with other standard treatments

Verminozni gastriti svinja

Verminal gastritis are swine parasitoses caused by nematodes of genus Spiruridea (Arduena strongyllinae, Gnathostoma hispidum,Physocephalus sexalatus and Simondsia paradoxa) and Trichostrongylidae (Hyostrongylus rubidus and Ollulanus tricuspis). In Serbia H. rubidus were occurred at 3-6% farm breeding swine and infection with Arduena strongyllinae, Gnathostoma hispidum, Physocephalus sexalatus and Hyostrongylus rubidus were occurredat extensive breeding condition. Pathology changes were at deep part of stomach mucus where we found deep wound and bacterial infection at fixation places. Clinical signs are apathy, slenderness, convulsion and at hard infection possibility died.Verminozni gastriti svinja je obolenje farmskih i ekstenzivno držanih svinja uzrokovano sa nematodama iz rodova Spiruridea i Trichostrongylidae. Obolenja su raširena širom sveta. U našoj zemlji, H.rubidus se sreće kod 3-6% farmski držanih svinja, dok je u ekstenzivnom držanju ustanovljena infekcija sa Ascarops strongyllinae, Gnathostoma hispidum, Physocephalus sexalatus i Hyostrongylus rubidus ali prevalence nije poznata. Patološko delovanje se ispoljava u vidu dubokih rana u sluznici želuca i posledičnim infekcijama na mestu fiksacije. Od kliničkih simptoma prisutni su apatija, mršavljenje, anemija, a kod jakih infekcija i uginuća. Značaj koji verminozni gastriti imaju kod svinja daleko prevazilazi pažnju koja joj se poklanja u našoj sredini i morala bi biti predmet jednog studioznog istraživanja

Supplementary data for the article: Minic, S. L.; Stanic-Vucinic, D.; Mihailovic, J.; Krstic, M.; Nikolic, M. R.; Velickovic, T. C. Digestion by Pepsin Releases Biologically Active Chromopeptides from C-Phycocyanin, a Blue-Colored Biliprotein of Microalga Spirulina. J. Proteomics 2016, 147, 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.043

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.043]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2313]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3444

Supplementary data for article: Peruško, M.; Al-Hanish, A.; Mihailović-Vesić, J.; Minić, S. L.; Trifunović, S.; Prodić, I.; Ćirković-Veličković, T. Antioxidative Capacity and Binding Affinity of the Complex of Green Tea Catechin and Beta-Lactoglobulin Glycated by the Maillard Reaction. Food Chemistry 2017, 232, 744–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.074

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.074]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2456

Applying immobilised phycobiliproteins onto chitosan for efficient mercury removal

This study aimed to improve chitosan polymer's capabilities to absorb mercury by immobilising phycobiliproteins (PBPs) onto the surface of chitosan beads (chitosan– PBPs). Phycobiliproteins, light-harvesting proteins from algae and cyanobacteria, have several industrially essential applications. These proteins can bind heavy metals with high affinities. Protein extracts obtained from both Arthrospira platensis, with C-phycocyanin as the dominant phycobiliprotein and Neoporphyra haitanensis, with R-phycocyanin and R-phycoerythrin as the dominant PBPs, were covalently immobilised onto chitosan beads. Binding analysis showed that, on average, 54 μg of PBPs were immobilised per bead. Immobilised proteins were still in their native state, with no visible colour change after immobilisation. Chitosan–PBPs and chitosan alone were tested for mercury adsorption at pH 4 and pH 7 by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The tested concentration range of mercury was from 1 to 70 ppm. Affinity, calculated using Henry's binding isotherm, of chitosan–PBPs for mercury was higher at both pH values than chitosan alone. Furthermore, chitosan–PBPs beads were able to absorb significantly more mercury than chitosan alone. These results show that the covalent immobilisation of PBPs onto chitosan improves its mercury adsorption characteristics and creates a more efficient eco-friendly adsorbent for removing mercury ions in the tested concentration range

Supplementary data for the article: Minic, S. L.; Stanic-Vucinic, D.; Mihailovic, J.; Krstic, M.; Nikolic, M. R.; Velickovic, T. C. Digestion by Pepsin Releases Biologically Active Chromopeptides from C-Phycocyanin, a Blue-Colored Biliprotein of Microalga Spirulina. J. Proteomics 2016, 147, 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.043

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.043]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2313]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3444