Koja je cijena pušenja? – Opasnosti za okoliš Ana Čurić; Katarina Muzica; Ivana Runjak ...
Kemija u industriji; časopis kemičara i tehnologa Jugoslavije,
03/2023, Letnik:
72, Številka:
3-4
Journal Article
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Konzumiranje duhanskih proizvoda ne predstavlja samo zdravstveni već i važan ekološki problem. U prosjeku je oko 80 % opušaka odbačeno u okoliš. Najveći problem odbačenih opušaka su kemijski spojevi ...koji su štetni za ljude i okoliš te filtri koji se sporo razgrađuju u prirodi. Klasične cigarete imaju filtar napravljen od celuloznog acetata, odnosno polimernog materijala, koji nije biorazgradiv. Celulozni filtri su alternativa polimernim filtrima jer su biorazgradivi, te samim time i manje štetni za okoliš i organizme. Električne cigarete su alternativa klasičnim cigaretama zbog jednostavnijeg sastava i zbog pretpostavke da je to zdravija opcija, a ujedno je izbjegnut i problem zaostalih opušaka. Odbačene opuške možemo primijetiti u svakodnevnom životu. Pomoću vjetra i oborina transportiraju se s kopna u vodeni okoliš te još dugi niz godina otpuštaju štetne kemikalije, a s vremenom potonu na dno. Svrha ovog rada bila je razmotriti štetan učinak odbačenih opušaka na okoliš pomoću testova ekotoksičnosti. Istraženi su radovi koji ispituju ekotoksičnost na morskim i slatkovodnim vrstama u vodenom ekosustavu (bentos, plankton, nekton), kao i na kopnenim organizmima (biljke, beskralješnjaci, kralješnjaci). Istraživanja na vodenim organizmima pokazuju osjetljivost na štetne spojeve koji se nalaze u odbačenim opušcima. Također, odbačeni opušci negativno utječu i na kopneni ekosustav, što je ustanovljeno istraživanjima na mikrobiološkim zajednicama u tlu te biljkama, beskralješnjacima i kralješnjacima. Zaključno, potrebno je informirati pušače o štetnosti odbačenih opušaka u okoliš te ih educirati o pravilnom odlaganju opušaka. Štoviše, problem se može dodatno smanjiti provedbom recikliranja opušaka.
To assess the association between vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHD) and the macular thickness changes following uneventful phacoemulsification.
In this prospective cohort study optical coherence ...tomography (OCT) examinations were performed preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively in patients undergoing cataract surgery. OCT images were analyzed for retinal central subfield thickness (CST) and preretinal VHDs. Surgeries were recorded for the assessment of lens fragments in the space of Berger.
111 eyes of 97 patient were enrolled of whom 69 (62.2%) were female. VHDs were seen in 25 eyes (22.5%) at week 1; in 21 eyes (18.9%) at month 1 and in 3 eyes (2.7%) at month 3. In all eyes with VHDs retro-capsular lens fragments were visible immediately after phacoemulsification. The number of VHDs significantly decreased over the postoperative period. There was a moderate correlation between the number of VHDs and CST at 1 month (r = 0.426, p<0.001). In eyes with VHD the CST averaged 238.8±17.6 μm (214-266) at 1 week; 276.1±63.5 μm (231-481) at 1 month and 285.1±122.3 μm (227-785) at 3 months. In eyes with no detectable VHDs CST averaged 235.9±23.3 μm (192-311) at 1 week; 240.1±21.6 μm (200-288) at 1 month and 242.2±21.3 μm (205-289) at 3 months. Although the differences among the assessment points were relatively low, there was a significant difference in general (p<0.001, Friedman test).
In conclusion, VHDs seem to cause macular thickening throughout the postoperative course. The origin of VHDs is still unknown; however, they presumably represent lens fragments that provoke subclinical inflammation.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of this study was to provide normative databases of Fourier analysis (FA) and Belin-Ambrósio enhanced ectasia display (BAD) in healthy White 4-year-old emmetropic children.
FA parameters ...analyzed were spherical component (SRmin), spherical eccentricity (SEcc), maximal decentration (MD), regular astigmatism at the center (Astigm. C) and periphery (Astigm. P), and irregularity (I). The parameters obtained by BAD included summary indicator BAD D, anterior corneal curvature (K1 and K2, D), maximal keratometry (Kmax, D), maximal Ambrósio relational thinnest (ART max), and pachymetric and BAD indices.
Eighty-nine eyes of eighty-nine 4-year-old children were included. The mean values of FA parameters were the following: SRmin 7.77, SEcc 0.600, MD 0.160, Astigm. C 0.070, Astigm. P 0.050, and I 0.019. The mean K1 and K2 in our study group were 42.92 ± 1.29 D and 43.75 ± 1.41 D, with the mean BAD D value 0.42 ± 0.67. The mean PPI min 0.629 ± 0.117, PPI max 1.059 ± 0.155, PPI avg 0.847 ± 0.103, Kmax 44.10 ± 1.39, and median of ART max 515.0 were recorded. No statistically significant differences between male and female sex in any of FA or BAD parameters were found.
This is the first study providing large normative data on FA and BAD in 4-year-old White emmetropic children. We proposed a cutoff D value for early ectasia and clinical keratoconus in 4-year-old children.
RPE65, an abundant membrane-associated protein present in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is a vital retinoid isomerase necessary for regenerating 11-cis-retinaldehyde from all-trans retinol in ...the visual cycle. In patients with inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD), precise genetic diagnosis is an indispensable approach as it is required to establish eligibility for the genetic treatment of RPE65-associated IRDs. This case report aims to report the specific phenotype−genotype correlation of the first patient with a homozygous missense variant RPE65 c.499G>T, p. (Asp167Tyr). We report a case of a 66-year-old male who demonstrated a unique phenotype manifesting less severe functional vision deterioration in childhood and adolescence, and extensive nummular pigment clusters. The underlying causes of the differences in the typical bone spicule and atypical nummular pigment clumping are unknown, but suggest that the variant itself influenced the rate of photoreceptor death. Functional studies are needed to define whether the substitution of aspartate impairs the folding of the tertiary RPE65 structure only and does not lead to the complete abolishment of chromophore production, thus explaining the less severe phenotype in adolescence.
Pathogenic variants in
are associated with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa 10 (RP10), and Leber congenital amaurosis 11. This case report of a 13-year-old girl with Down's syndrome and ...keratoglobus is aimed at linking the novel variant
c.134A>G, p.(Tyr45Cys), a variant of uncertain significance, to a clinical phenotype and to provide grounds for the objective assignment of its benign features. RP10 is characterized by the early onset and rapid progression of ocular symptoms, beginning with nyctalopia in childhood, accompanied by typical RP fundus changes. As evidenced via thorough clinical examination and testing, none of the RP10 characteristics were present in our patient. On the contrary, our patient who was heterozygous for
c.134A>G, p.(Tyr45Cys) showed no signs of peripheral retinal dystrophy, and did not manifest any disease characteristics typical of the
gene mutation. Consequently, we conclude that the variant did not contribute to the phenotype. According to standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants,
c.134A>G, p.(Tyr45Cys) revealed likely benign features.
Precise genetic diagnosis in RPE65-mediated retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is necessary to establish eligibility for genetic treatment with voretigene neparvovec: a recombinant adeno-associated viral ...vector providing a functional RPE65 gene. This case report aims to report a novel RP-related point mutation RPE65 c.353G>A, p.(Arg118Lys), a variant of uncertain significance associated with a severe clinical presentation and the striking phenotypic feature of complete macular atrophy. We report the case of a 40-year-old male with inherited retinal dystrophy, all features typical for the RPE65-associated RP, and marked macular atrophy. Genetic testing identified that the patient was a compound heterozygote in trans form with two heterozygous variants: RPE65 c.499G>T, p.(Asp167Tyr) and RPE65 c.353G>A, p.(Arg118Lys). Furthermore, short-wavelength and near-infrared autofluorescence patterns exhibited deficiencies specific to mutations in the visual cycle genes. To the best of our knowledge, RPE65 c.353G>A, p.(Arg118Lys) is the first described point mutation on this locus, among all other reported insertional mutations, currently classified as likely benign and of uncertain significance. We concluded that this variant contributed to the pathological phenotype, demonstrating its significance clearly to be reclassified as likely pathogenic. This being the case, patients with this specific variant in homozygous or compound heterozygous form would be likely candidates for genetic treatment with voretigene neparvovec.
The purpose of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of uncomplicated phacoemulsification on macular perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in healthy aging ...subjects. OCTA was performed before phacoemulsification and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after. Superficial vascular complex (formed of nerve fiber layer vascular plexus and superficial vascular plexus), deep vascular complex (formed of intermediate capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus), as well as choriocapillaris (CC) and large choroidal blood vessels were recorded. Significant changes of vascular parameters in 95 eyes of 95 patients reached plateau 1 week after surgery and remained stable up to 6 months, occurring in all retinal layers but not in choroid and CC. Statistically significant increases in retinal vessels area, vessels percentage area, total number of junctions, junctions density, and total and average vessels length were found, followed by the total number of end points and mean lacunarity decline, proving an increase in blood supply. The study confirmed that uncomplicated phacoemulsification leads to a long-term increase in macular retinal perfusion. The results might ease the decision regarding timing for cataract surgery as long-term perfusion benefits can be achieved. Furthermore, study results provide a normative database of retinal and choroidal vasculature in healthy aging patients.
Background. Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a monogenic, but genetically heterogenous disease, and at least 27 genes are implicated. This case report is aimed at providing evidence to link the ...novel variant RPE65 c.393T>A, p.(Asn131Lys), variant of uncertain significance (VUS), to clinical phenotype and to set the ground for objective assignment of pathogenicity confidence. Case Presentation. A case report of a female patient with LCA who manifested with nystagmus, night blindness, profound visual deficiency, and peripheral involvement of the retina consistent with RPE65 dystrophy. A thorough clinical examination, diagnostic evaluation, and genetic testing were performed. The patient was a compound heterozygote in trans form: RPE65 c.304G>T, p.(Glu102∗) pathogenic, and RPE65 c.393T>A, p.(Asn131Lys), VUS. The latter variant is absent in healthy controls and is considered harmful on in silico prediction. Conclusions. We conclude that RPE65 c.393T>A, p.(Asn131Lys) contributed to the pathologic phenotype, demonstrating its significance clearly in the case presented, and should be reclassified according to the criteria of evidence as likely pathogenic. This being the case, patients with this specific variant are likely candidates for genetic treatment.
The relationship between morphometric measurements (16) and meristic characters (6) was examined in 460 specimens of the European hake (225 females, 210 males and 25 immature ones) caught in the ...central Adriatic Sea. Morphological difference between males and females was not marked. Biometric analyses of the morphometric and meristic characteristics indicated a homogenous morphology stock of M. merluccius in the central Adriatic Sea. Changes in some morphometric characteristics obtained in conjunction with an increase in body length showed that smaller specimens have a longer head, anal and ventral fin than adult specimens. The negative correlation recorded for the maximum and minimum body depth indicated that the body becomes progressively elongated. The meristic characteristics of the European hake from different Mediterranean and NE Atlantic areas are mostly in agreement with the data in our study.