The Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention

“Overall, we have done pretty well. In some areas, we could have done better” - Ambassador Paul van den IJssel, President, Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Seventh Review Conference 2011 was a year of particular importance to the BWC. It was an opportunity to shape the direction that the treaty would take in coming years and ensure that it would remain at the forefront of efforts to prevent the use of disease as a weapon. Hopes for the future were high. Annual meetings had been constructive and the atmosphere positive. There was momentum. There had been an exhaustive, open-ended preparatory process which provided multiple opportunities to explore technical issues, flag concerns, find compromises, and build the foundations for success. States parties gathered in Geneva in December 2011 to reflect on what they had achieved, and looked forward to what they wished to accomplish in the next five years

Brucellosis

Brucellosis permanently belongs to the group of the most unpredictable re-emerging zoonotic and food borne disease, related to significant changes of global ecological map, identifying new species, hosts and reservoirs. Disease primarily affects domestic and wild animals than transfer to humans by following ways: respiratory, contact, alimentary or combination. Several areas traditionally considered to be endemic (e.g., France, Israel, and most of Latin America’s) have achieved control of the disease, while the situation in certain countries of the Near East (e.g., Syria) is rapidly worsening. The disease is still present, in varying trends, both in European countries and in the USA. Disease exists in Republic of Macedonia since 1980, with over 12.000 reported and confirmed human cases. All countries in the region reported brucellosis, with significantly different incidence. The geographical distribution of brucellosis is constantly changing with new foci, reservoirs and new brucella strains. The aim of this presentation is to: 1. present the experience of control and prevention of a small country with endemic areas of brucellosis; 2. emphasize the importance of new, recently identified brucella species, hosts and reservoirs. Brucella melitensis biotype 2 was confirmed as etiological agent in Republic of Macedonia. Recent study based on molecular methods for species typing (AMOS PCR and RT PCR), and genotyping (MLVA-16 and MLVA-8), beside Brucella melitenisis also confirmed Brucella abortus (for the first time in Macedonia). Epidemiological data suggested about 23% of spreading the disease by alimentary way (foodborne disease due to consumption of unpasteurized milk, cheese, and undercooked infected meat), 34% by contact and 43 % by combined way of spreading brucellosis. Respiratory way is not often, happens in laboratories or working with infected animals. About 80% of patients lived in rural and 20% in urban areas. Disease in Mediterranean area has seasonal character with maximum in May-June and minimum in winter. Since 2008, national control strategy was completely changed from „test and slaughter” to vaccination of small ruminants (sheep and goats) with Rev 1 vaccine, applied intraocular. Results are significant decreasing of epizooty in animals and human morbidity (287, 167, 107, 94, 47, 35, 20, 23 and 21 new human cases in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively). Genus Brucella represented a genetically homogeneous and clonal group of bacteria, but numerous new members were reported in recent years. Species genetically highly related to each other (> 99 %) associated with infections of numerous warm-blooded animals and humans, are classified as: 1. Terresterial mammalian hosts (Classical strains: B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis, B. canis, B. ovis, B. neotomae), 2. Marine mammals (B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis), and 3. „Atypical”, (B. microti, B. inopinata, B. papionis and B. vulpis). Most recently isolated brucellae strains from cold-blooded, worldwide-distributed exotic frogs (“amphibian” brucellae) were reported. These new brucellae species are capable to cause localized manifestations to generalized infections of frogs. Genetically highly diverse, these new strains, might represent several new brucella species or link between free living soil saprophytes and the pathogenic brucella. Therefore, frogs represents new and ecologically significant natural host and reservoir. To date, there is no evidence that frog’s isolates represent a zoonotic threat, but precaution to avoid contacts with potentially infected amphibians until the zoonotic potential is better investigate and understood is useful advice. Identification of new hosts and reservoirs, have significant contribution to understanding of evolution of the genus Brucella from a soil-associated motile bacterium to a host-adapted pathogen, but taxonomy of brucella is still controversial and debating is still going on. Control of animal brucellosis is imperative for control of human brucellosis but it remain very complicated due large reservoirs. In addition, of existing, new “amphibian” -brucella species, new hosts and reservoirs increases the concerns for successful control and keeps brucellosis permanently on the list of most important re-emerging diseases

Ковид 19 пандемија – Парадокс на нашето време

Постојат седум познати хумани корона вируси од кои четири најчесто причинуваат лесни настинки кај особи со добар имун систем. Oстанатите три вида кои се откриени во последните две децении (SARS CoV, MERS CoV и SARS CoV-2), се пренесуваат како зоонози и се причинители на тешки респираторни заболувања и смрт. Најновиот и најопасниот од групата на Корона вируси се појави за прв пат во декември 2019 година, во градот Вухан, во Кина. Вирусот е идентификуван на 7 јануари 2020 година и е наречен 2019 – nCoV (novel Coronavirus), но подоцна (на 11 февруари 2020) СЗО го преименува во SARS-CoV-2, а заболувањето го нарече COVID-19. Комплетниот геном на SARS CoV-2 вирусот е секвенциониран и официјално објавен на 10 јануари 2020 година. Заради брзото ширење во светот, СЗО објави пандемија со COVID-19 на 11 март 2020 година. Според последните податоци (21 септември 2021), инфицирани биле 230,172,313, умреле 4,719,645, оздравеле 206,874,302 особи. Од јули 2021, идентификувани се четири варијанти на SARS-CoV-2 вирусот: алфа, бета, гама и делта варијанта (доминантна во светот). Од самиот почеток, пандемијата е поврзана со огромен број на предизвици и парадокси, невидени и незабележани во досегашната историја. Овие парадокси се поврзани со повеќе прашања и малку одговори како што се: потеклото на вирусот (природен или создаден во лабораторија), дијагностиката (PCR, антигенски тестови, одредување на антитела, биохемиски индикатори), можностите за превенција (маски, дистанца, вакцини, витамини, антиоксиданси, пробиотици), можностите за терапија (непостоење на ефикасни стратегии и протоколи, употреба на: моноклонални антитела, антибиотици, антивирусни лекови, антипаразитарни лекови, интерферон, кислород, кортикостероиди, антикоагуланси, EXO-CD24), рестриктивните мерки, добивање на информации преку сите видови медиуми како и „научни“ часописи – вистинити и невистинити, чести менување на мислења, препораки и ставови и од највисоки инстанци како што е СЗО, не постоење на активности за промоција на здравјето, страв, паника и стрес кои се присутни кај огромен дел од светското население, блокадата и нефункционирањето на здравствените системи како и на сите други аспекти на животот. Пандемијата има огромно влијание и на стоматолошката пракса (ограничен пристап до услугите) заради ризикот од создавање на аеросоли од плунката на пациентите и блискиот контакт со пациентите кои овозможуваат пренос на вирусите во двата правци

Association between the Gut Microbiota and Obesity

BACKGROUND: People co-evolved with members of the microbiota and developed, used and adapted many complex immune mechanisms, which are used for monitoring and control of the microbiota. The gut microbiota in cooperation with humans became its essential part, so-called "hidden organ" with many important and indispensable functions. Quantitative and/or qualitative deficiency of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) probably is a basis of many disorders, including obesity.AIM: To present an overview of the possible association between gut microbiota and obesity.METHODS: Meta-analysis of available scientific and published data including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library.RESULTS: In the intestinal microbiota at obese people is detected a specific increase in the proportion between class Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes despite the non-obese people. Also, it is detected a decrease in this proportion if the person lost weight. These facts may be secondary to obesity. The colonisation of germ-free mice with microbiota from ordinarily feed or obese mice, without changes in the feed style leads to increase body fat to more than 50%.CONCLUSION: The human gut microbiota directly affects the food digestion, absorption and metabolism. The gut microbiota of obese people has a higher capacity for receiving energy from the food than the microbiota at slim people. The gut microbiota affects appetite control and energy balance. Lifestyle and food regimen affect the diversity of the gut microbiota and the presence of dysbiosis

Evaluation of kidney dimensions in preterm infants at various gestational ages

Anthropometrica! characteristics are indicators of growth, development and health situation.The aim of the research was defining the kidney dimensions in preterm infants at variosus gestational ages.Knowledge of these measurements may earlier diagnosis of a variety of abnormalities.Kidney dimensions (maximum longitudinal length, width, and anteroposterior diameter) in relation to gestational age, were determined in 120 preterm infants (48 females and 72 males), with gestational ages from 15 to 25 weeks.A highly significan correlation was found between renal dimensions and gestational age

Микроорганизмите како објекти за испитување на генотоксичност со примена на Aмесов тест

Амесов тест или анализа на реверзибилна мутација на Salmonella typhimurium е тест за идентификација или детекција (скрининг) на субстанции што предизвикуваат генотоксичност или имаат мутагено дејство кај бактериските клетки како краен објект. Станува збор за општо прифатен тест од СЗО кој се користи за потврдување на генотоксичноста на различни хемиски и физички агенси, лекови, адитиви, конзерванси кои се користат во различни технолошки или индустриски гранки. Амесовиот тест е еден од најчесто применуваните тестови во токсикологијата, генетиката, микробиологијата, хистологијата и други гранки или научни дисциплини. Амесовиот тест е именуван по истражувачот или човек што прв го применил во пракса, Bruce N. Ames, од Универзитетот во Калифорнија. Цел на овој труд сакаме да ја потенцираме важноста и значењето на Амесовиот тест и примената на микроорганизмите како објекти за потврдување на генотоксичност во организмот. Во истиот направен е историски преглед на развојот и усовршувањето на Амесовиот тест, неговите предности и недостатоци, детално се објаснети процедурата и изведувањето на тестот, етапно се објаснети сите промени во Salmonella typhimurium кои се резултат на одредена генотоксичност во организмот, направена е споредба на Амесовиот тест со останатите in vivo и in vitro тестови за генотоксичност и евалуиран е ревијален преглед на неколку студии кои го користеле истиот тест

Mouse embryo development under an enriched atmosphere of negative air ions: a pilot study

Several studies have shown that negative air ions may have positive effects on the living organisms. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether an enriched environment of negative air ions have an influence on the mouse embryo development. A controlled negative air-ion generator (CNAIG) was installed in a standard incubator and test embryos cultured under the enriched atmosphere with negative ions. Embryo development was judged in terms of blastocyst rates, blastocyst total cell number, and potential of these to develop to term. In a first series of experiments, we observed that mouse embryos cultured in the atmosphere enriched with negative ions developed up to the blastocyst stage with a 96.1% (49/51) efficiency, similarly (p= 0.675)to controls 97.1% (32/34). Blastocysts obtained in the experimental group showed a total mean number of cells (110±20.1) statistically equivalent (p = 0.351) to controls (121±33.4) cultured under standard conditions. In a second series of experiments, blastocysts were transferred to synchronized pseudo-pregnant females, so embryo development could be followed in vivo. A total of 33.3% of the blastocysts transferred from the experimental group developed to term, in a similar proportion (p>0.05) to the control group (40%).In this pilot study, we demonstrate for the first time that mouse embryos cultured in an enriched negative ions atmosphere are able to develop in vitro and in vivo with very high successful rates. Key words: controlled negative air-ion generator (CNAIG), mouse embryo development, in vitro fertilization, embryo culture

Antibacterial Activity of Selected Silver Nanoparticles Coatings - Our Initial Experience

Nanoparticles exhibits chemical and physical properties significantly different to their macro-scale counterparts composed of the same substance (due higher surface/volume ratio, colour, solubility, diffusivity,material strength, toxicity, thermodynamic, magnetic, optical and other properties) and may have unique impacts on health and environment. Extremelly small size (1-100 nm) enables them to enter the human body through usual or unusual routes, pass through cell membranes, or cross the blood-brain barrier. Gravity loses impact and importance, surface tension and Van der Waals constants has more importance in system of nano particles. Nanotechnology is already used in various applications, with potential tobe applied at any stage in food industry: production, preservation, processing, packaging,transport, nanobarcodes for food authenticity and tracing, labelling, keeping the quality of food products, extend the products shelf-life, removal of undesirable tastes, flavours or allergens from food products, nano (bio)sensors for food safety, water filtration. Risks of nanotechnology are still unknown and unpredictable. Initial scientific studies showed negative effects on living organisms and a potential for serious threat to human health. Authorities of the most developed countries, have set up, guidance documents and procedures for nanoenabled products based on existing regulations, appropriate in vitro and in vivo ADME studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) and requirements for standardised and harmonised analytical test methods for proper risk assesments, clear identification and characterization of nano-hazards. Nanotechnology in medicine (Nanomedicine) apply for rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria and low levels of viruses, in small sample volumes, at lower costs than current in-use technologies. This advance in early detection enables accurate and prompt treatment. Nano-robots to make repairs at the cellular level are under development. Rapid and sensitive detection methods, based on nano (bio) senzors, are developed for food-borne pathogens E. coli, especially E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, C. jejuni, E. cloacae, B. subtilis, L. monocytogenes. Detection sensor to detect bacterial biofilm formation on surfaces are under development. New strategies to combat multydrug resistant microorganisms (MDR) are urgently needed and nanomaterials are very promising approach. Small size provides large surface of nanoparticles and at least 50% of molecules will react to the microorganisms. Metal nanomaterials (silver, gold, copper, titanium, zinc, magnesium,cadmium, and alumina) possess advantage of unique antimicrobial activities. Scientists offers also new complex antibacterial and antiviral nano systems on the basis of metal oxides or intermetallic oxide compounds (such as TiO2, ZrO2, SnO and SiO2). Inside the human body ionic silver quickly combines with chloride to form an insoluble compound called silver chloride which is far less reactive than metallic silver nanoparticles. Some studies established that silver ions has strongest bactericidal effect, cooper and gold weaker one. In our preliminary study on antibacterial activity of several different compositions of nanoparticle coatings (titanium, inox and silver), we found antimicrobial activity of silver, double composition of titanium and silver against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, but not for E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes and Candida albicans. More extensive studies will follow. Key words: Nanoscience, nanoparticles, silver, ions, biofilm, antimicrobial, antibiotic, resistance

Практикување на медицина и стоматологија базирана на докази

Медицина/стоматологија базирана на докази претставува совесно, експлицитно и одговорно користење на моментално најдобриот доказ што ќе помогне да се донесе одредена одлука при лекувањето и грижата за индивидуален пациент (Sackett DL,BJM,1996). Доказите се делат на внатрешни и надворешни. Внатрешните докази се темелат на знаењето на лекарот/стоматологот стекнато при неговото образование и континуирано усовршување, како и на искуството од секојдневната практика. Надворешните докази се информации добиени од литературата – во прв ред примарната литература. Постојат различни видови на надворешни докази во зависност од тоа со која методологија, односно, со кој тип/ дизајн на студија се добиени, а достапни се при користење на се поголемиот број на биомедицинските бази на податоци. Практикување на медицина/стоматологија базирана на докази претставува интегрирање на индивидуалното знаење и клиничкото искуство, со моментално најдобриот доказ според светската литература при индивидуалниот пристап кон пациентот. Корист од ваквото практикување имаат и пациентите и лекарите и целиот здравствен систем. Во трудот ќе бидат презентирани епидемиолошките методи кои се основа во научно-истражувачката работа, можните дизајни на студии и прашањата на кои тие треба да одговорат, како и стратегијата за пребарување на литература при практикување на медицина/стоматологија базирана на докази

Screening of Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections among the male and female population of the Republic of Macedonia

Noninvasive urine screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infections offers a valuable public health tool, that could be of vast importance in Chlamydia control programs. The goal was to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis infections among a sexually active population, to define the epidemiological factors associated with it, and to develop potential selective screening strategies among asymptomatic individuals in the Republic of Macedonia, using a highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification method for C. trachomatis. A total of 1435 urine samples, divided into two main groups: asymptomatic individuals (n = 1210) and symptomatic patients (n = 225), were tested. Samples from the asymptomatic group were collected during routine screening programs, while the symptomatic group consisted of patients with symptoms of urogenital tract infection, attending sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics. The presence of C. trachomatis was determined using commercial AMPLICOR C. trachomatis Assay (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). The prevalence of C. trachomatis infections among different groups was: recruits 0%, soldiers 0.4%, policemen 3.5%, clerks 4.6%, pregnant women 4%, and students 4.4%. The average prevalence for both groups (asymptomatic and symptomatic) was 2.3%[95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-3.1%]. The average prevalence for the asymptomatic group was 1.6% (95% CI: 0.8-2.4%), while the average prevalence for the symptomatic group was 6.2% (95% CI: 3.1-9.3%) which were significantly different (P = 0.00003). Testing first void urine specimens by AMPLICOR C. trachomatis assay is a highly sensitive and specific method for diagnosing C. trachomatis infections in men and women. This method provides health care workers and public health officials with a new molecular amplification assay that uses noninvasive urine specimens for population-based screening purposes. The prevalence of C. trachomatis was relatively low among asymptomatic individuals. However, selective screening strategies are highly recommended for testing the student population in the Republic of Macedonia. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 08/2005; 19(4):427-30. • 2.69 Impact Facto