A representative dataset on Czech and Slovak pre-Russia-Ukraine-war attitudes to the West and to the Russian Federation.

This article presents a comprehensive dataset and its associated data collection methodology aimed at understanding public opinion and attitudes across diverse socio-political dimensions in Czechia and Slovakia. The dataset covers a wide array of variables, including socio-demographic variables, media consumption patterns, scales measuring attitudes and ideology, evaluations of political statements, and reactions to political billboards. The dataset is structured into folders containing raw data, metadata, research samples, analyses, and visual stimuli used in the study. The raw data files encompass original survey responses received from participants, while the metadata provides essential details about variables, their coding, scaling, and question formulation. The survey contains data from more than 1200 Czech and Slovak participants. The samples are representative by gender, age, education level, region, and place of residence size. Researchers utilizing this dataset have the opportunity to explore public opinion dynamics, ideological tendencies, and responses to political stimuli. The dataset's extensive and multifaceted nature offers a valuable resource for various analyses, allowing researchers to delve into factors shaping political orientations, public sentiment towards specific political narratives, and the impact of visual stimuli on political perceptions. Moreover, the dataset's inclusion of both Czechia and Slovakia provides a comparative dimension, enabling cross-country analyses and insights into potential socio-political divergences or convergences within the region. Its accessibility and comprehensiveness make it a valuable asset for a wide range of research endeavors across political science, sociology, psychology, and related disciplines.

Exploring the relationship between blood toxic metal(oid)s and serum insulin levels through benchmark modelling of human data: Possible role of arsenic as a metabolic disruptor.

The major goal of this study was to estimate the correlations and dose-response pattern between the measured blood toxic metals (cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni))/metalloid (arsenic (As)) and serum insulin level by conducting Benchmark dose (BMD) analysis of human data. The study involved 435 non-occupationally exposed individuals (217 men and 218 women). The samples were collected at health care institutions in Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2019 to May 2021. Blood sample preparation was conducted by microwave digestion. Cd was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GF-AAS), while inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure Hg, Ni, Cr and As. BMD analysis of insulin levels represented as quantal data was done using the PROAST software version 70.1 (model averaging methodology, BMD response: 10%). In the male population, there was no correlation between toxic metal/metalloid concentrations and insulin level. However, in the female population/whole population, a high positive correlation for As and Hg, and a strong negative correlation for Ni and measured serum insulin level was established. BMD modelling revealed quantitative associations between blood toxic metal/metalloid concentrations and serum insulin levels. All the estimated BMD intervals were wide except the one for As, reflecting a high degree of confidence in the estimations and possible role of As as a metabolic disruptor. These results indicate that, in the case of As blood concentrations, even values higher than BMD (BMDL): 3.27 (1.26) (male population), 2.79 (0.771) (female population), or 1.18 (2.96) µg/L (whole population) might contribute to a 10% higher risk of insulin level alterations, meaning 10% higher risk of blood insulin increasing from within reference range to above reference range. The obtained results contribute to the current body of knowledge on the use of BMD modelling for analysing human data.

Development of Novel Therapeutics for Schizophrenia Treatment Based on a Selective Positive Allosteric Modulation of α1-Containing GABAARs-In Silico Approach.

For the development of atypical antipsychotics, the selective positive allosteric modulation of the ionotropic GABAA receptor (GABAAR) has emerged as a promising approach. In the presented research, two unrelated methods were used for the development of QSAR models for selective positive allosteric modulation of 1-containing GABAARs with derivatives of imidazo [1,2-a]-pyridine. The development of conformation-independent QSAR models, based on descriptors derived from local molecular graph invariants and SMILES notation, was achieved with the Monte Carlo optimization method. From the vast pool of 0D, 1D, and 2D molecule descriptors, the GA-MLR method developed additional QSAR models. Various statistical methods were utilised for the determination of the developed models' robustness, predictability, and overall quality, and according to the obtained results, all QSAR models are considered good. The molecular fragments that have a positive or negative impact on the studied activity were obtained from the studied molecules' SMILES notations, and according to the obtained results, nine novel compounds were designed. The binding affinities to GABAAR of designed compounds were assessed with the application of molecular docking studies and the obtained results showed a high correlation with results obtained from QSAR modeling. To assess all designed molecules' "drug-likeness", their physicochemical descriptors were computed and utilised for the prediction of medicinal chemistry friendliness, pharmacokinetic properties, ADME parameters, and druglike nature.

Nickel's Role in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Potential Involvement of microRNAs.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancer types with a limited overall survival rate due to the asymptomatic progression of symptoms in metastatic stages of the malignancy and the lack of an early reliable diagnostic biomarker. MicroRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) are small (~18-24 nucleotides), endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which are closely linked to the development of numerous malignancies comprising PDAC. Recent studies have described the role of environmental pollutants such as nickel (Ni) in PDAC, but the mechanisms of Ni-mediated toxicity in cancer are still not completely understood. Specifically, Ni has been found to alter the expression and function of miRs in several malignancies, leading to changes in target gene expression. In this study, we found that levels of Ni were significantly higher in cancerous tissue, thus implicating Ni in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Hence, in vitro studies followed by using both normal and pancreatic tumor cell lines and increasing Ni concentration increased lethality. Comparing LC50 values, Ni-acetate groups demonstrated lower values needed than in NiCl2 groups, suggesting greater Ni-acetate. Panc-10.05 cell line appeared the most sensitive to Ni compounds. Exposure to Ni-acetate resulted in an increased phospho-AKT, and decreased FOXO1 expression in Panc-10.05 cells, while NiCl2 also increased PTEN expression in Panc-10.05 cells. Specifically, following NiCl2 exposure to PDAC cells, the expression levels of miR-221 and miR-155 were significantly upregulated, while the expression levels of miR-126 were significantly decreased. Hence, our study has suggested pilot insights to indicate that the environmental pollutant Ni plays an important role in the progression of PDAC by promoting an association between miRs and Ni exposure during PDAC pathogenesis.

Perceived stress among university students in south-east Serbia during the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the mental health of the student population. The study aimed to analyze the psychological response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of perceived stress and its related factors among university students in south-east Serbia. The study was conducted during the increased incidence of COVID-19 in Serbia. METHOD: A total of 434 students from the public university in south-east Serbia enrolled in the study and completed the measures of socio-demographic data, the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS: Study findings suggest that the mean perceived stress score was placed to 20.43 (± 7.67). Our model showed that female gender, higher scores on anxiety/insomnia and depression subscale as well as the coping strategy avoidance predicted higher perceived stress, while higher scores on social dysfunction were related to the reduced perceived stress scores.  CONCLUSION: Notwithstanding the study limitation, findings provided authentic data of stress reactions of the students in south-east Serbia during the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings confirm the need to examine students' experiences in emergencies and crises, as well as to make a plan for online stress management programs that would help alleviate stress during a global pandemic.

Age-related changes of superoxide dismutase activity in patients with schizophrenia.

Background/Aim: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the critical enzyme in the detoxification of superoxide radicals because those are the first species produced in the majority of biological free radical producing reactions. Inconsistent data are present about SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Numerous studies have shown that SOD has been elevated in chronic schizophrenic patients. However, decreased SOD activity was found in neuroleptic naïve, first episode schizophrenic patients, in chronic-medicated patients and in chronic-unmedicated patients. The aim of this study was to examine which of the following factors including age, gender, the onset of the disease, the duration, the number of episodes, heredity, psychopathologic symptoms and drug treatment could affect erythrocyte SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This study included 68 consecutive patients with schizophrenia (29 males and 39 females) ranging in age from 18 to 61 years, divided into two age groups (<34 years and >34 years). SOD activity was measured in erythrocyte hemolyzates by Ransod commercially available test. Results: In the group of patients younger than 34 years SOD levels were significantly higher (1381±273 U/gHb, p=0.038) compared to the levels of the older group (1231±206 U/gHb). Gender and heredity did not induce any significant difference in SOD activity between younger and older subgroups. A significant difference in enzyme activity was found between the younger and older subgroups having the onset of the disease after 24 years of age (1408±217 U/gHb vs. 1252±213 U/gHb, p=0.031). The patients of the younger group who had more than one psychotic episode had significantly higher SOD activity (1492±298 U/gHb; p=0.009) than those who had only one episode (1256±177 U/gHb), as well as than the older subgroup with more than one episode (1253±231 U/gHb; p=0.014). Although the duration of the disease did not induce any significant difference in enzyme activity between younger and older subgroups, a significant negative correlation was obtained between SOD activity and the duration of the disease (r=-0.511, p<0.01). No significant differences were found in SOD activity between the subgroups with different PANSS scores. First generation antipsychotics were associated with elevated enzyme activity in both groups. Simultaneous treatment of patients with first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics induced a significant decrease in SOD activity in the younger group. Conclusion: Our results show that erythrocyte SOD activity is increased in the early phase of schizophrenia and that depends on age of onset of the disease, the number of psychotic episodes, the duration of the disease and medical treatment.

Effect of Nutritionally Relevant Doses of Long-Chain N-3 Pufa on Lipid Status, Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers in an Average Middle-Aged Serbian Population.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of a nutritionally relevant intake of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids derived from oily fish or a fish oil supplement on selected cardiovascular risk factors in average middle-aged individuals. METHODS: Thirty-three participants were randomized to receive salmon (oily fish) providing 274 mg EPA + 671 mg DHA/day or a commercial fish oil supplement providing 396 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA/day in a cross-over trial over an 8-week period separated by a 6-month washout period. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention and lipids, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were determined. RESULTS: Plasma levels of EPA, DHA and total n-3 fatty acids significantly increased after both interventions. A decreasing trend in triglycerides was more pronounced with salmon than with the fish oil supplement, but the changes noticed were not significant. Although there were no relevant changes in inflammatory marker concentrations at the end of both interventions, significant negative correlations were noticed between total plasma n-3 fatty acids and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule and C-reactive protein throughout the whole intervention period (p<0.05). Among the oxidative stress parameters, intervention with salmon showed a prooxidative effect through a superoxide anion increase (p=0.025). A relevant positive correlation was also found between its concentration and total plasma n-3 fatty acids (p<0.05). Other oxidative stress markers were not significantly influenced by the dietary interventions applied. CONCLUSIONS: Following two sets of recommendations for n-3 fatty acids intake aimed at the general public had only a moderate effect on the selected cardiovascular risk factors in average healthy middle-aged subjects over a short-term period.

Surgical treatment of the supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.

This is a retrospective analysis of 439 patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer primary surgically treated in the period 1976-1999. The objectives of our study were to analyze the localizations as well as local and regional tumor spread, frequency of occult and palpable cervical metastases, the incidence of local and regional recurrences, five-year survival rate and functional results of supraglottic partial horizontal laryngectomies. A retrospective analysis of operated patients was carried out. T1 tumor was prevalent in 184 (42%) patients, T2 in 228 (52%) patients, and T3 tumor in 27 (6%) of cases. Clinically negative finding of the neck was found in 369 (84%) patients, and metastasis N1 was established in 70 (16%) patients. The patients with clinically negative cervical finding underwent selective neck dissection, while N1 metastasis patients were subjected to a selective or modified radical neck dissection. Five-year disease-free survival rate was 76% (334/439).