Zero-waste preparation of mixed oxides for submicromolar sensing of Bentazone pesticide.

Necessity of having simple selective and robust methods for the analysis of environmentally relevant chemicals stimulates the development of new approaches to material preparation. Electrochemical sensing using electroactive substrates has proved efficient in the analysis of a wide range of pesticides and is widely used as a routine analytical method. Recently, mixed oxides showed promising electrocatalytic activity toward hazardous substrates. Prevalence of wet chemical methods in the synthesis of mixed oxides creates a methodological obstacle and inconvenience for their wide utilization. In this work we challenged the common preparation of mixed oxides with simple powder mixing and developed an electrode for bentazone detection with satisfactory detection limit (0.4 µM), recovery rate (≈104%), and a broad linearity range (1-45 µM). The proposed modified carbon paste electrode is highly selective and can be used for determination of bentazone in presence of interfering ions in water samples.

A new voltammetric platform for reliable determination of the sport performance-enhancing stimulant synephrine in dietary supplements using a boron-doped diamond electrode.

For the first time, we propose a new modification-free voltammetric platform for simple, fast and reliable quantification of the sport performance-enhancing stimulant synephrine (SYN) based on the usage of a commercial screen-printed boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrochemical sensor. Applying cyclic voltammetry, SYN exhibited one well-shaped, irreversible and diffusion-driven oxidation peak at a peak potential of +1.45 V (vs. the silver pseudoreference electrode) in the presence of 2 M HClO4. Under the selected experimental conditions, the following analytical parameters for determination of SYN were obtained: linear concentration ranges from 19.6 up to 1000 µM and from 9.9 up to 1000 µM for differential pulse (DPV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV), respectively, detection limits at micromolar concentration levels and intra-day repeatability with a relative standard deviation below 4% for both pulse techniques. The interference study revealed fair selectivity when considering the target dietary supplements. The feasibility of the developed voltammetric platform was verified in the analysis of commercially available dietary supplements and reasonable recovery values were achieved by DPV and SWV, respectively. In addition, the method can be performed directly without higher consumption of chemicals, waste generation, complex sample extraction and higher instrumentation cost. The advanced BDD electrochemical sensor has appeared to be a suitable competitor for efficient applications in food quality control analysis.

A new tool for identifying risk of repeated intimate partner violence adjusted for the population of Montenegro: a cohort study.

Current estimates suggest that approximately 20% of women and 11% of men have been victims of intimate partner violence. Risk identification tools for repeated domestic violence currently exist and have typically been designed by police and judicial authorities, based on the criminal history of the perpetrator. A follow-up cohort study of 238 cases of intimate partner violence (judicially processed and officially judged as DV according to Montenegrin Criminal Act) was conducted by reviewing randomly selected court files. The results showed that certain perpetrator characteristics (unemployment, lack of regret, other violent criminal history, and history of being beaten by a family member) and victim characteristics (nonqualified education and predictions of future harm) were associated with reassault. Relationship characteristics such as different ethnicity, poor socioeconomic status, difference in incomes, living in a rental property, alcohol and drug use, and unprocessed previous history of physical violence were also associated with repeated violence. A risk identification tool for repeated intimate violence was computed based on the significant variables, with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 89%. This study demonstrates a new tool for repeated intimate partner violence prediction in patriarchal societies, widespread in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The majority of factors associated with reassault in this sample have been shown to be predictive for repeated intimate partner violence in previous studies. The applicability of our tool in egalitarian societies should be investigated in order to see whether the combination of these factors is universal or specific to patriarchal societies.

Toxicity study of DE-EDCP as a potential drug for cancer therapy: Toxicity profile of DE-EDCP.

It was reported that novel O, O'-diethyl-(S, S)-ethylenediamine- N, N'-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl) propanoate dihydrochloride (DE-EDCP) displayed in vitro antiproliferative activity on several human and mouse cancer cell lines, which was comparable to that of the prototypical anticancer drug cisplatin. In order to reveal its toxicity profile, acute and repeated-dose toxicity studies were performed in Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) Han mice. The intravenous LD50 values of DE-EDCP were found to be 95.3 and 101.3 mg/kg body weight in female and male mice, respectively. In the subacute toxicity study, DE-EDCP was administered intravenously at the doses of 15, 25, and 40 mg/kg/day for a period of 28 days. There were no adverse effects on general condition, growth, feed and water consumption, and hematological parameters. There was a significant increase in urea and alanine aminotransferase in female mice and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in both genders in 40 mg/kg/day dose-treated group. The histopathological changes confined to the liver and kidney, but in other organs were not found. Satellite group revealed that changes in the kidney and liver were less pronounced, suggesting their reversibility. Interactions with DNA could also be of importance for understanding DE-EDCP toxic side effects. Hyperchromic effect obtained with ultraviolet-visible, suggested electrostatic interactions between DE-EDCP and calf thymus DNA. The toxicity testing of DE-EDCP was conducted to predict human outcomes.

Use of acellular collagen matrix for the closure of the open oral wound in bone regeneration.

Mucograft is collagen matrix was designed for use in open healing situations due to its compact outer layer. The technique presented in this article is an attempt to avail this attribute for covering open oral wound in guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure. The essential idea of this technique is to avoid scoring of periosteum, submucosa and muscle layer for buccal flap advancement. Therefore, we used mucograft to cover bone substitute and barrier membrane in GBR surgical procedure. Thus, we avoided periostal-releasing incisions (PRI) and gained reposition of the flap to original level without impairing the attached keratinized gingiva. Buccal flap advancement in situations of shallow vestibulum, shortly attached gingiva and strong muscle pull may reduce or eliminate attached gingiva with an adverse effect on extended survival of placed implants. This technique promises to be beneficial for the preservation of the soft tissue around dental implants after GBR procedure.

Electrochemical monitoring of the breast milk quality.

The electrochemical techniques were used to determine the total antioxidant capacity of breast milks and the results were compared with a commonly used spectrophotometric (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) method. Breast milk from mothers of preterm infants was monitored in three lactation phases and after storage of expressed milk by monitoring changes in the total antioxidant capacity over a two year period. Statistical analysis showed there was no significant difference between the ability of the three methods to detect changes in breast milk after storage. Either of the electrochemical techniques studied could be successfully used to replace the time-consuming spectrophotometric method and can be applied to clinical trials.

Insights into the genetic structure of the rabbitfish Chimaera monstrosa (Holocephali) across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone.

A comparison of the genetic structure of Chimaera monstrosa populations from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea was carried out using mitochondrial DNA analysis. Results indicate high and significant pairwise ΦST values with no shared haplotypes between the two areas. Furthermore, migration rate estimates suggested absence of gene flow between the two basins. These findings, coupled with the species vertical distribution, suggest that the shallow depth of the Strait of Gibraltar may act as a barrier limiting the dispersal capabilities of these populations, which likely became separated at the end of the middle Pleistocene.

Investigation of mechanism and critical parameters for removal of arsenic from water using Zr-TiO2 composite.

Using the microwave-hydrothermal method for the synthesis of composite, high surface density of hydroxyl groups, as an active adsorption sites for arsenic, was obtained. Adsorption mechanisms of As(III) and As(V) onto zirconium-doped titanium dioxide (Zr-TiO2) were investigated and proposed using macroscopic and microscopic methods. Obtained results are suggesting inner-sphere and outer-sphere adsorption mechanisms for As(III) and As(V), respectively. This allowed us to identify parameters that are critical for the successful removal of arsenic from water, which is essential information for further optimization of the removal process. The composite was further applied for the removal of As(III) and As(V) from water in a dynamic flow through the reactor. Column study proved that the removal of both arsenic species below the value recommended by WHO can be achieved. Elution of As(III) and As(V) from the composite can be done by using small amounts of 0.01 M NaOH solution resulting in preconcentration of arsenic species and possible multiple usage of composite.

Dinuclear copper(II) octaazamacrocyclic complex in a PVC coated GCE and graphite as a voltammetric sensor for determination of gallic acid and antioxidant capacity of wine samples.

A novel efficient differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method for determination gallic acid (GA) was developed by using an electrochemical sensor based on [Cu2tpmc](ClO4)4 immobilized in PVC matrix and coated on graphite (CGE) or classy carbon rod (CGCE). The proposed method is based on the gallic acid oxidation process at formed [Cu2tpmcGA](3+) complex at the electrode surface. The complexation was explored by molecular modeling and DFT calculations. Voltammograms for both sensors, recorded in a HNO3 as a supporting electrolyte at pH 2 and measured in 2.5×10(-7) to 1.0×10(-4) M of GA, resulted with two linear calibration curves (for higher and lower GA concentration range). The detection limit at CGE was 1.48×10(-7) M, while at CGCE was 4.6×10(-6) M. CGE was successfully applied for the determination of the antioxidant capacity based on GA equivalents for white, rosé and red wine samples.

Minimal invasive treatment of cervical rhabdomyosarcoma in an adolescent girl.

Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common soft tissue sarcomas in childhood and adolescence. In cases of minimal cervical invasion, less invasive local excision in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy has resulted in excellent survival rates with complete preservation of the bladder, rectum, uterus and vagina. Herein we present the case of an adolescent girl with a large rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix treated with minimal invasive therapy.

Diagnostic approach to reflex sympathetic dystrophy after fracture: radiography or bone scintigraphy?

The aim of this paper was to compare the value of bone scintigraphy and radiography in the early diagnosis of post-fracture reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Thirty-seven adult patients with post-fracture RSD (28 in the first and nine in the second clinical stage of RSD), as well as seven patients with fracture but without RSD (control group), were investigated by radiography and bone scintigraphy. All of them were immobilized (duration of immobilization: 4-22 weeks). In 21 persons three phase bone scintigraphy was performed. The best distinction between the control group and the RSD patients was achieved by delayed bone scintigrams. The sensitivity (97%), positive predictive value (97%) and accuracy (95%) of delayed bone scintigraphy were very high compared to the values for radiography, which were 73%, 90% and 70% respectively. Bone scintigraphy also displayed higher specificity (86%) and negative predictive value (86%) than radiography (57% and 29% respectively). In the first clinical stage the difference between the accuracy of bone scintigraphy (97%) and radiography (63%) was greater than for the whole group. In the second stage of RSD the accuracy of bone scintigraphy (86%) and radiography (81%) was similar. Three-phase bone scintigraphy is not necessary for the diagnosis of post-fracture RSD: it is sufficient to perform delayed bone scintigraphy. It is concluded that bone scintigraphy is to be preferred to radiography for the early diagnosis of post-fracture RSD in the first clinical stage. In the second stage the diagnostic capabilities of bone scintigraphy and radiography are more comparable.

[Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subtypes in multiple sclerosis--dependance of clinical course and duration of the disease]. / Subpopulacije limfocita T periferne krvi kod multiple skleroze--zavisnost od klinicke forme i trajanja bolesti.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease mediated by immunological mechanisms, with characteristics of an autoimmune prosses. We registered changes in distribution of immunophenotipisation markers CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56 and DR, by indirect immunoflourescence assay, on immune cells of peripheral blood. We tested 20 patients with clinically definite category of illness, in exacerbation, and 10 healthy individuals. Multiple sclerosis patients had changes in distribution of T cell subtypes in exacerbation, which correlated with clinical course and duration of the disease. Relapsing-remitting course of disease is followed by decrease of activated T lymphocytes and fluctuation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, while there are no changes in studied markers at patients with progressive course. Duration of the disease over 10 years is followed by decreases of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, independent of course of the disease.

[Takayasu's disease and cerebromeningeal hemorrhage]. / Maladie de Takayasu et hémorragie cérébroméningée.

A 53-old-woman with both Takayasu disease and intracerebral hemorrhage is reported. Non-specific aorto-arteritis was acquired, while aneurysm on arteria cerebri media is probably of congenital origin. The association of these two syndromes is, judging by this facts, accidental. Nevertheless, it should be taken into consideration than panarteritis had a significant role in formation of aneurysm and favored the appearance of hemorrhage.

Oligosymptomatic glomus tympanicum and caroticium with two different histological pictures.

Though glomus tumors have been relatively frequently reported, there is very little material about their differential diagnostic problems. The authors present a case of glomus tympanicum and glomus caroticum with only otological symptoms, facial paralysis and traumatic arterio-venous shunts in the neck. These two tumors had few different patterns of glomus tissue.

Hepatitis B virus in tissue culture systems. I. Serial propagation of virus in human macrophages.

Human peritoneal macrophages, originating from peritoneal dialysis fluid and growing in vitro, support the growth and serial propagation of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The evidence for virus growth is based on the regular detection of HB core antigen in twenty-one passages of macrophages by a complement fixation test using rabbit anti-HB core serum; detection of HB core and e antigen in the twenty-first passage, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the detection of HB antigen in cultured macrophages in the fourteenth passage by an indirect immunofluorescence test using human convalescent serum; and detection of HB core antigen in the twenty-second passage by immunofluorescence test using rabbit anti-HB core serum. No CPE was observed through twenty-one passages. It is believed that this is the first successful cultivation and serial propagation of HBV in a cell culture system in vitro. Practical aspects of this finding are discussed.