Nitrate-assisted photocatalytic efficiency of defective Eu-doped Pr(OH)3 nanostructures.

Pr(OH)3 one-dimensional nanostructures are a less studied member of lanthanide hydroxide nanostructures, which recently demonstrated an excellent adsorption capacity for organic pollutant removal from wastewater. In this study, Pr1-xEux(OH)3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) defective nanostructures were synthesized by a facile and scalable microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using KOH as an alkaline metal precursor. The phase and surface composition, morphology, vibrational, electronic and optical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman, infrared (IR), photoluminescence (PL), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It was deduced that the incorporation of Eu3+ ions promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies in the already defective Pr(OH)3, subsequently changing the Pr(OH)3 nanorod morphology. The presence of KNO3 phase was registered in the Eu-doped samples. The oxygen-deficient Eu-doped Pr(OH)3 nanostructures displayed an improved photocatalytic activity in the removal of reactive orange (RO16) dye under UV-vis light irradiation. An enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Eu-doped Pr(OH)3 nanostructures was caused by the synergetic effect of oxygen vacancies and Eu3+ (NO3-) ions present on the Pr(OH)3 surface, the charge separation efficiency and the formation of the reactive radicals. In addition, the 3% Eu-doped sample exhibited very good adsorptive properties due to different morphology and higher electrostatic attraction with the anionic dye. Pr1-xEux(OH)3 nanostructures with the possibility of tuning their adsorption/photocatalytic properties present a great potential for wastewater treatment.

Evaluation of Staining-Dependent Colour Changes in Resin Composites Using Principal Component Analysis.

Colour changes in Gradia Direct™ composite after immersion in tea, coffee, red wine, Coca-Cola, Colgate mouthwash, and distilled water were evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and the CIELAB colour coordinates. The reflection spectra of the composites were used as input data for the PCA. The output data (scores and loadings) provided information about the magnitude and origin of the surface reflection changes after exposure to the staining solutions. The reflection spectra of the stained samples generally exhibited lower reflection in the blue spectral range, which was manifested in the lower content of the blue shade for the samples. Both analyses demonstrated the high staining abilities of tea, coffee, and red wine, which produced total colour changes of 4.31, 6.61, and 6.22, respectively, according to the CIELAB analysis. PCA revealed subtle changes in the reflection spectra of composites immersed in Coca-Cola, demonstrating Coca-Cola's ability to stain the composite to a small degree.

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.

Immunological resistance to human biosynthetic insulin--effects of immunosuppression and plasmapheresis.

A 55-year-old gentleman, after being treated for a short time with a diet and with Chlorpropamide, was switched to purified porcine insulin due to ketonuria and ketoacidosis. After a year the patient developed immunological insulin resistance (mean daily insulin dose: 3.72 U/kg body weight; anti-insulin antibodies 78%). In order to lower anti-insulin antibodies human recombinant DNA insulin was introduced into further therapy. Contrary to expectations, the patient did not reduce whatsoever his anti-insulin antibodies and his daily insulin dose increased up to 5.63 U/kg body weight. Introduction of combined immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone plus azathioprine) together with plasmapheresis resulted in rapid lowering of daily insulin requirement and reduction in anti-insulin antibodies. Immunosuppressive therapy was continued with 10 mg of prednisone and a year later the patients insulin daily requirement was 0.66 U/kg BW while his antibodies were 18%. The possible causes of insulin resistance to human recombinant DNA insulin are discussed as well as the advantage of combined immunosuppressive therapy together with plasmapheresis that was used for rapid lowering of insulin daily requirement and anti-insulin antibodies titer.

[Autologous transfusion and its use in clinical practice]. / Autologna transfuzija i njenaprimena u klinickoj praksi.

Autologous transfusion is the reinfusion of a patient's own blood. Increased awareness of the risks of homologous transfusion, primarily transfusion transmitted infections has caused patients and physicians to search for safer alternatives. One promising alternative is autologous transfusion, generally accepted as the safest form of transfusion. Current strategies of autologous transfusion include preoperative collection of autologous blood, intraoperative salvage of autologous blood, postoperative salvage of autologous blood and acute normovolemic haemodilution. Preoperative collection is performed to ensure the patient's blood for elective surgical procedures. Intraoperative salvage consists of aspirating blood from surgical fields or other sterile bleeding sites, and returning this blood to the patient. Postoperative blood salvage is retrieval of blood shed within the first 24-48 hours postoperatively in patients who are actively bleeding, usually after cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Acute normovolemic haemodilution is the rapid removal of blood and simultaneous replacement with cell-free fluid. It appears likely that combination of various autologous transfusion strategies is necessary for the successeful functioning of autologous transfusion programme.

[Echinococcal renal cyst]. / Ehinokokusna cista bubrega.

The article describes a patient with primary, closed, calcified renal cyst in whom the first symptoms appeared three years ago. They were manifested as a dull pain in the flank spinal region. A hard painless tumour, of the size of a man's hand, with clearly limited contours, without signs of fluctuation, was palpable in the left paraumbilical region. The intravenous urography revealed the existence of the pyelocaliceal system of the left kidney displaced by a cranially large cyst. The finding was confirmed by ultrasound. Computerized tomography revealed a cyst of 120 x 85 x 70 cm of size. Its wall was calcified and the content liquidus. Renovasography was performed after constatation that renal echinococcus was in question. This procedure enabled a good insight into the distribution of the blood vessels. On the basis of this finding resection of the lower part of the left cystic kidney was performed. The postoperative course was normal. The histologic finding was: Echinococcus cysticus.

[Idiopathic priapism cured by needle aspiration and prolonged postoperative perfusion]. / Idiopatski prijapizam tretiran iglenom aspiracijom i kontinuisanim postoperacionim ispiranjem.

The authors report a case of idiopathic priapism successfully treated by needle aspiration and continuous perfusion with heparin solution. Two suprapubic cystostomy sets (Cystofix) for punction and drainage of each cavernosal body, were used. The original cystostomy tubes were inserted in the penis and attached to the continuous flow perfusion system. After the operation priapism disappeared and the penis was flaccid during the three days of perfusion. Two months after the operation, the patient had normal erections.

[Plasma glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide in patients with various stages of chronic renal failure]. / Glikemija, insulinemija i ce-peptidemija kod bolesnika s razlicitim stepenom bubrezne insuficijencije.

Plasma glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide were measured in patients with various stages of chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study we observed 50 patients: 26 women and 24 men, between the ages of 17 and 73. Following various stages of CRF our patients were devided into IV groups, with 10 patients in each. V-th group was control group with 10 healthy persons. Plasma glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide were measured in the fasting state and following the 2 hours oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In the fasting state, plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were normal in all groups. With deterioration of the renal function plasma glucose and serum insulin increased slower during OGTT but their levels also decreased slower. Fasting levels of C-peptide increased continually with deterioration of renal function in all patients and values were significantly higher than in control group.

Nutritional status and plasma lipids in diabetic subjects.

The aim of the present work was to determine and analyse the nutritional status and plasma lipid levels in diabetic and control subjects dependent on the type of lipidemia. The investigations involved four groups: controls with normal lipidemia, diabetic (NIDDM) subjects with normal lipidemia, persons with hyperlipidemia type IV, and without diabetes mellitus, and diabetic subjects with hyperlipidemia type IV. The values for the concentrations of plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol, phospholipids and HDL-phospholipids were significantly higher in both diabetic groups than in controls. The values for the relative amount and concentration of HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower in diabetics than in the control groups.

[Castleman's tumor in the retroperitoneal space]. / Kastlemanov (Castleman) tumor u retroperitoneumskom prostoru.

A patient, aged 28, was admitted to the Department of Urology of the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, for the operation of the right adrenal gland tumour. The adrenal gland tumour was first diagnosed as an inactive hormonal tumour. Intraoperatively it was found in retroperitoneal area, over the right adrenal gland and the right kidney, near the Cava inferior and under the liver it was extirpated. It was a Castleman's tumour of hyaline-vascular type.

[Multicenter study of the efficacy and tolerance of gemfibrozil and fenofibrate in the treatment of primary hyperlipoproteinemia]. / Multicentricna studija efikasnosti i podnosljivosti gemfibrozila i fenofibrata u lecenju primarne hiperlipoproteinemije.

In the primary prevention of atherosclerosis and risk of lipoproteinemia, is of primordial importance. Therefore, adequate food and physical activities are necessary. If no good result is evident thereafter medicinal treatment should be prescribed. In our open random study performed in two different centres, we evaluated the efficiency and tolerance of Gemfibrozile and Phenofibrate in 77 patients with IIa, IIb, and IV stage of hyperlipoproteinaemia. The study included the patients in whom the 8-week diet gave no expected results. The evaluation of Gemfibrosile (900 mg daily) and Phenofibrate (300 m daily) efficiency lasted 12 weeks. During that time 11 patients were excluded from the study because of administration of other relevant drugs or for lack of control examinations. The efficiency was evaluated in 66 patients: 33 to Gemfibrozile and 31 to Phenofibrate. At the end of treatment the following results were obtained: decreased cholesterol level by 17% in Gemfibrozile patients and by 6% in Phenofibrate subjects; LDL-cholesterol by 15% i.e. 3% and triglycerides by 48% in Gemfibrozile cases and by 27% in Phenofibrate individuals. At the end of treatment HDL-cholesterol was increased by 29% in patients treated with Gemfibrozile and by 9% in those treated with Phenofibrate. Apoprotein A-1 was increased after Phenofibrate treatment and decreased after Gemfibrozile administration. Apoprotein B was increased in both groups. No harmful clinical or laboratory effects were observed. On the basis of these results it can be concluded that the effect of Gemfibrozile was more favourable on lipod composition in the plasma then that of Phenofibrate. No significant differences in drug tolerance were observed.

Discordance between growth hormone responses after growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and insulin hypoglycemia in ectopic GHRH syndrome.

Dynamic studies of growth hormone (GH) secretion were performed in two patients with ectopic GHRH syndrome. Patient 1 (female, 33 years old) had a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) producing carcinoid of the lung with clinical features of acromegaly while patient 2 (50 years old male) had small cell carcinoma of the lung without acromegaly. Insulin hypoglycemia stimulated GH secretion in both patients (i.e. from a basal level of 10 mU/l to 48 mU/l in patient 1, while the respective values in patient 2 were 5 mU/l and 61 mU/l), TRH acutely stimulated GH in both patients. Synthetic GHRH 1-29 (KABI) i.v. bolus 100 micrograms did not stimulate GH release in either patient (i.e. basal GH 14 mU/l and peak 18 mU/l (patient 1); basal GH 4.6 mU/l and peak 8.8 mU/l (patient 2). It is concluded that: 1. prolonged pituitary exposure to GHRH is associated with chronic GH hypersecretion with or without clinical acromegaly; 2. GH response to TRH may be mediated at the pituitary level and results from prolonged exposure to GHRH; 3. the discordant response of GH after GHRH and insulin induced hypoglycemia might suggest the involvement (at least partially) of somatostatin in the mechanism of GH release after hypoglycemia and after GHRH.

Modulation by glucocorticoids of growth hormone secretion in patients with different pituitary tumors.

The acute administration of glucocorticoids is a new stimulus of growth hormone (GH) secretion in man. In order to ascertain its point of action, and also the suitability of this new test as a diagnostic tool in GH pathological states, 33 subjects were studied. Eight of them were normal controls, and 25 were patients with tumors affecting the hypothalamopituitary area. A glucocorticoid stimulus, dexamethasone 4 mg i.v. was administered at 0 min and GH levels (means +/- SEM, microgram/l) were measured during the following 5 h. In addition, GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and clonidine were employed as either pituitary or hypothalamic GH stimuli. Dexamethasone administration to normal subjects did not alter GH levels in the first 2 h of the test. Afterwards, a GH peak was observed around the third hour, GH levels returning to basal ones thereafter. The dexamethasone-induced GH peak (6.7 +/- 1.5) and area under the curve (526 +/- 137) were lower than after GHRH (14.0 +/- 4.5 and 1,070 +/- 369, respectively). In the 14 acromegalic patients studied, the GHRH-induced GH net increase was similar to that observed in controls, while the placebo did not alter GH basal levels. An absence of hypothalamic control was evident because clonidine did not stimulate GH release. On the other hand, and contrary to normal subjects, dexamethasone strongly inhibited GH secretion, the values being significantly lower when calculated either as mean GH peak, or maximum GH increment (delta). The delta GH was -2.5 +/- 3.1 after placebo, +3.7 +/- 4.5 after clonidine, +17.0 +/- 3.3 after GHRH and -13.4 +/- 4.5 following dexamethasone administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Renal carbuncle (abscess)]. / Karbunkul (apsces) bubrega.

The authors report a case of renal carbuncle at 44 year old women. The patient has been presented with high temperature and strong pain in the left costovertebral angle. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonography, intravenous urography and computed tomography and confirmed by percutaneous punction. The patient has been successfully cured by percutaneous drainage and parenteral application of antibiotics.

[Free urinary cortisol in the diagnosis of hypercorticism]. / Slobodni urinarni kortizol u dijagnostici hiperkorticizma.

24 hour urinary free cortisol has lower values in suspect obese patients compared to patients with Cushing's syndrome. The most favourable discriminatory border value of urinary cortisol is 100 micrograms/24 hours, giving the most valid differentiation of obese patients suspected for Cushing's syndrome from patients with hypercortisismus. Free cortisol has far expressive discriminatory value compared to 17-OHCS, and it is a good screening test in differential diagnosis of obese suspected patients from patients with Cushing's syndrome.

[Various mechanisms of stimulating growth hormone secretion using growth hormone releasing factor and insulin-induced hypoglycemia]. / Razliciti mehanizmi stimulacije sekrecije hormona rasta sa GRF i hipoglikemijom indukovanom insulinom.

The response of the growth hormone was studied in 7 healthy individuals after single and combined insulin administration and administration of growth hormone releasing factor. Very high response of insulin and growth hormone releasing factor in comparison with single administration of these stimuli, was registered. The high elevation of the growth hormone during the combined insulin-growth hormone releasing factor administration was observed after the administration of the maximal dose of the growth hormone releasing factor. This fact suggested the existence of different mechanisms of these stimuli. This was the clinical confirmation of formerly established experimental proofs. On the basis of the analysis of these results it was established that the response of the growth hormone to insulin hypoglycaemia in comparison with growth hormone releasing factor stimulation was fast. This is of practical importance. The highest liberation of the growth hormone in men was achieved with the combined administration of insulin and growth hormone releasing factor. In this way a better evaluation of hypophyseal reserves of the growth hormone was possible.

A comparison among the effectiveness of growth hormone suppression in active acromegaly of bromocriptine and long acting somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995).

The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of bromocriptine vs. long acting somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) on growth hormone suppression in active acromegaly. A twenty year old female, student of law, was previously treated with Parlodel LA 50 mg i.m. injection and then with bromocriptine 30 mg orally for 2.5 years because of active acromegaly and very large intrasellar and suprasellar pituitary adenoma. She was partial bromocriptine responder with mean growth hormone levels prior the treatment 30 mU/L and after bromocriptine 13.7 mU/L and with gross tumor shrinkage. Since she failed to restore menstrual cycles, had clinical signs of the disease, she was taken off bromocriptine and treated with somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) 300 mcg s.c. daily and 400 mcg s.c. daily with mean growth hormone levels 10 mU/L. She was also treated with combined treatment (400 mcg s.c. SMS 201-995 plus 30 mg bromocriptine orally) and mean growth hormone levels were 11 mU/L. SMS 201-995 had a long lasting inhibitory effect on growth hormone secretion in acromegaly (p less than 0.01) but in comparison to daily growth hormone levels during bromocriptine treatment no difference was found (p greater than 0.01). Combined treatment with SMS 201-995 and bromocriptine did not achieve greater suppression of daily growth hormone levels than those achieved with SMS 201-995 alone (p greater than 0.1) or with bromocriptine alone (p greater than 0.05). No significant tumor shrinkage during chronic SMS treatment was seen. Severe clinical and biochemical signs of hypoglycaemia were registered on one occasion only during the first month of treatment with SMS 201-995.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)