The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal activity of four commercial essential oils from the Burseraceae family - two Boswellia carterii Flueck oils, Canarium ...luzonicum (Blume) A. Gray oil, and Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl oil, against most common Candida spp. recovered from the human oral cavity. The essential oil samples were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. The analysis showed that major essential oils' components were α-pinene (23.04 % and 31.84 %), limonene (45.62 %) and curzerene (34.65 %), respectively. Minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum fungicidal (MFC) concentrations were determined using a microdilution standardized technique. All tested Candida spp. clinical isolates and ATCC strains showed susceptibility to tested essential oils in a dose dependent manner. The strongest antifungal activity was shown by essential oil of B. carterii, sample 2; the average MIC values ranged from 1.25 to 1.34 mg/ml, and MFC values ranged from 2.50 to 3.75 mg/ml, depending on the fungus. This study supports the possible use of essential oils from the Bursecaceae family in reduction and elimination of Candida spp. populations in patients with oral cavity fungal infections.
A novel, simple, low-cost, and user-friendly potentiometric surfactant sensor based on the new 1,3-dihexadecyl-1
-benzo
imidazol-3-ium-tetraphenylborate (DHBI-TPB) ion-pair for the detection of ...cationic surfactants in personal care products and disinfectants is presented here. The new cationic surfactant DHBI-Br was successfully synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and elemental analysis and was further employed for DHBI-TPB ion-pair preparation. The sensor gave excellent response characteristics for CTAB, CPC and Hyamine with a Nernstian slope (57.1 to 59.1 mV/decade) whereas the lowest limit of detection (LOD) value was measured for CTAB (0.3 × 10
M). The sensor exhibited a fast dynamic response to dodecyl sulfate (DDS) and TPB. High sensor performances stayed intact regardless of the employment of inorganic and organic cations and in a broad pH range (2-11). Titration of cationic and etoxylated (EO)-nonionic surfactant (NSs) (in Ba
) mixtures with TPB revealed the first inflexion point for a cationic surfactant and the second for an EO-nonionic surfactant. The increased concentration of EO-nonionic surfactants and the number of EO groups had a negative influence on titration curves and signal change. The sensor was successfully applied for the quantification of technical-grade cationic surfactants and in 12 personal care products and disinfectants. The results showed good agreement with the measurements obtained by a commercial surfactant sensor and by a two-phase titration. A good recovery for the standard addition method (98-102%) was observed.
Large amounts of hazardous and toxic substances in the environment require non-toxic, cheap, easy, rapid, and sensitive methods for their detection. Blue luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were ...produced by electrochemical cleavage of graphite electrodes followed by gamma irradiation in the presence of ethylenediamine (EDA). Modified dots were able to detect metal ions (Co2+, Pd2+, Fe3+) due to photoluminescence quenching. The highest sensitivity was detected for the sample irradiated at a dose of 25 kGy. The limits of detection (LODs) were 1.79, 2.55, and 0.66 μmol L−1 for Co2+, Fe3+, and Pd2+, respectively. It was observed that GQDs irradiated at 200 kGy act as an ultra-sensitive turn-on probe for Malathion detection with LOD of 94 nmol L−1. Atomic force microscopy images proved the aggregation of GQDs in the presence of the investigated metal ions. Results obtained by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and LIVE/DEAD cytotoxicity test indicated that GQDs irradiated with EDA are not toxic towards MRC-5 cells, which makes them a promising, eco-friendly and safe material for sensing application.
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•Amino GQDs were tested as PL sensors for Co2+, Pd2+, Fe3+ and Malathion.•PL intensity of GQDs was quenched with Co2+, Pd2+ and Fe3+ ions.•For the first time, Pd2+ were detected by GQDs with LOD 657 nmol L−1•Malathion enhance PL intensity and LOD was 94 nmol L−1•GQDs are characterized as non-cytotoxic material.
Structures of a series of push–pull 2-alkylidene-4-thiazolidinones and 2-alkylidene-4,5-fused bicyclic thiazolidine derivatives were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory in the gas phase ...and discussed with respect to configurational and conformational stability. Employing the GIAO method,
13C NMR chemical shifts of the C-2, C-2′, C-4 and C-5 atoms were calculated at the same level of theory in the gas phase and with inclusion of solvent, and compared with experimental data. Push–pull effect of all compounds was quantified by means of the quotient π
∗/π, length of the partial double bond,
13C NMR chemical shift difference (Δ
δ
C
C
) and
1H NMR chemical shifts of olefinic protons. The effect of bromine on donating and accepting ability of other substituents of the push–pull C
C double bond is discussed, too.
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Objective: The potential contribution of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) to endothelial dysfunction in APS patients has not been studied in detail, ...until now. The study involved 105 APS patients (59 diagnosed with primary APS (PAPS) and 46 APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SAPS)) who were compared to 40 controls. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate dilatation (NMD) of the brachial artery. ADMA (micromol/L) was analyzed by ELISA. Results: FMD in patients with APS was significantly lower than that of the controls (p < 0.001), with no difference between the PAPS and the SAPS groups. ADMA and hsCRP concentrations were significantly higher in the patient cohort than in the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively), as was the case with the SAPS group as compared to the PAPS group (p < 0.001, p = 0.022, respectively). FMD impairment correlated to ADMA (ρ 0.472, p < 0.001) and to hsCRP (ρ 0.181, p = 0.033). In the regression model, the ADMA concentration confirmed the strength of its association (B 0.518, SE 0.183, Wald 8.041, p = 0.005, Exp(B) 1.679, 95% CI 1.174−2.402) to FMD impairment. The synergistic probability model of ADMA and hsCRP caused FMD impairment when the positivity of β2GPIIgG was added. ADMA may be used as a simple and low-cost tool for verifying the presence of endothelial dysfunction in APS patients. According to the results of the study, we could presume that hsCRP, together with aPL, has a preparatory effect on the endothelium in causing endothelial dysfunction.
Ocular blood flow (OBF) disturbances could be involved both in the pathogenesis and in progression of glaucomatous damage.
The aim of the study was to compare the retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters ...in the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and short posterior cilliary arteries (SPCA) after decreasing the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients by using color Doppler imaging (CDI).
We examined 60 patients (21 male and 39 female) with diagnosed and treated POAG. Thirty-nine patients had increased IOP (> 25 mm Hg). Peak-systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), Pourcelot resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were assessed in the OA, CRA, and SPCA. IOP was measured both with the Goldmann Applanation tonometer (GAT) and with the Dynamic Contour tonometer (DCT), three times respectively. Ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) was measured using DCT.
The retrobulbar parameters between the baseline and after IOP reduction showed no difference in measurements. After Bonferroni correction (p < or = 0.0056, alpha/9) statistical significance was recorded only in the following retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters; DCT (29.8 +/- 6.2 vs. 15.5 +/- 5.0), GAT (33.8 +/- 9.0 vs. 15.0 +/- 6.6) and OPA measurements (4.3 +/- 1.0 vs. 3.0 +/- 1.6), as compared to the baseline. There was no correlation between the changes in IOP measured with either DCT or GAT and changes in the hemodynamic parameters (p > 0.05 for all). Pearson correlation coefficient (95% CI) showed very good correlation for IOP measurements between DCT and GAT: at baseline 0.83 (0.71 to 0.90) and at the end 0.71 (0.55 to 0.83); p < 0.0001 for both measurements, but without any difference between them (p > 0.05).
There was a lack of correlation between the changes in IOP measured with either DCT or GAT and the changes in the hemodynamic parameters.
Vestibularna rehabilitacija jest planirani, individualno prilagođen sustav vježbi kojima se ubrzava proces središnje kompenzacije oštećenoga vestibularnog sustava. U medicinu ju uvode Cawthorne i ...Cooksey sredinom prošloga stoljeća. Godinama su postojali prijepori o značenju i učinkovitosti ovoga načina liječenja. Provedene su brojne randomizirane prospektivne kliničke studije, koje su dokazale važnost vestibularnih vježbi, kao i njihov povoljan učinak na brzinu i stupanj oporavka bolesnika, tako da one posljednjih desetljeća zauzimaju sve značajnije mjesto u liječenju vrtoglavica. Vestibularna hipofunkcija, bilo da je riječ o akutnome ili kroničnom poremećaju, ili pak o jednostranome ili obostranom oštećenju, predstavlja dosta čest problem za liječnika praktičara, osobito onoga koji se bavi problemima vrtoglavica. Premda je vestibularna rehabilitacija za većinu poremećaja ravnoteže metoda izbora u liječenju, ona je kod nas još uvijek podosta zapostavljena i neopravdano podcijenjena. Cilj ovih Smjernica za kliničku praksu jest pomoći liječnicima i fizioterapeutima pri ujednačavanju pristupa pacijentima s jednostranim i obostranim vestibularnim oštećenjima, izbjegavajući nepotrebne varijacije u primjeni vestibularnih vježbi. One nisu udžbenik niti jedini i neupitni izvor znanja, već pružaju okvir za strategiju kod donošenja odluka, ne zamjenjujući pritom značenje kliničke prosudbe. Vestibularnim vježbama značajno se ubrzava oporavak bolesnika s vestibularnom hipofunkcijom i njihov povratak uobičajenim životnim aktivnostima. Svrha ovih Smjernica jest utvrditi koga, kada, kako i koliko dugo liječiti, kao i kako otkloniti nepotrebne varijacije u pristupu rehabilitaciji pacijenata s vestibularnom hipofunkcijom. One se zasnivaju na dokazima dobivenim metaanalizom podataka iz dostupne medicinske literature, oslanjajući se pored toga i na naše dugogodišnje iskustvo u radu s vertiginoznim pacijentima.
Syntheses of thiazolidine-fused heterocycles via exo-mode cyclizations of vinylogous N-acyliminium ions incorporating heteroatom-based nucleophiles have been examined and discussed. The formation of ...(5,6)-membered systems was feasible with all nucleophiles tried (O, S and N), while the closing of the five-membered ring was restricted to O- and S-nucleophiles. The closure of a four-membered ring failed. Instead, the bicyclic (5,6)-membered acetal derivative and the tricyclic system with an eight-membered central ring were obtained from the substrates containing O and S nucleophilic moieties, respectively. The reaction outcome and stereochemistry are rationalized using quantum chemical calculations at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The exclusive cis-stereoselectivity in the formation of (5,6)- and (5,5)-membered systems results from thermodynamic control, whereas the formation of the eight-membered ring was kinetically controlled.
Breastfeeding attitudes are already being formed in the years of preadolescenceadolescence, which means that the educational program should be focused on this age group. For this purpose, many ...authors suggest that school should be used as an established educational institution and therefore they are developing different education programs. The authors offered an educational program adapted to the cultural, sociological, legal, health, and other specificities of the community to which the students belong. A questionnaire on breastfeeding intentions and knowledge was used to measure the long-term effects of education (after 6 months) in 155 students. They were divided into two groups: experimental (n=101, Grammar School students) and control (n=54, Bjelovar High School students) groups. The experimental group underwent breastfeeding education program, while control group did not. The study was approved by the Ministry of Education and Science, and co-operation with schools was approved by the School Ethics Committees. Six months after educational intervention, students in the experimental group had significantly improved their breastfeeding intentions and knowledge compared to baseline measurement (before intervention). However, 6 months after the education, their knowledge and intentions were less positive than shortly after education, as described in a previous report. The authors suggest that a team of experts be gathered to design a structured educational program that would be interesting to secondary school students. This program should also be adapted to students' age and interest. Key words: Breastfeeding education; School Stavovi o dojenju formiraju se vec u predadolescentnoj-adolescentnoj dobi pa je potrebno obrazovne programe o dojenju usmjeriti na tu dobnu skupinu. Vecina autora s tim ciljem predlaze uporabu skole kao etablirane obrazovno-odgojne ustanove te razvijaju razlicite obrazovne programe. Autori su ponudili obrazovni program prilagoden kulturoloskim, socioloskim, zakonskim, zdravstvenim i drugim specificnostima sredine kojoj ispitanici pripadaju. Upitnik o namjerama i znanju primijenjen je kako bi se izmjerili dugotrajni ucinci izobrazbe (nakon 6 mjeseci) na skupini od 155 ucenika. Ispitanici su podijeljeni u dvije skupine: eksperimentalnu (n=101, gimnazija) i kontrolnu skupinu (n=54, Medicinska skola Bjelovar). Eksperimentalna skupina je pohadala program izobrazbe o dojenju, a kontrolna nije. Studiju je odobrilo Ministarstvo obrazovanja i znanosti, a suradnju sa skolama eticka povjerenstva skola. Sest mjeseci nakon izobrazbe o dojenju ucenici u eksperimentalnoj skupini znatno su poboljsali svoje namjere i znanje o dojenju u usporedbi s pocetnim rezultatima (prije izobrazbe). Medutim, 6 mjeseci nakon izobrazbe njihovo znanje i namjere bili su manje pozitivni nego nedugo nakon izobrazbe, sto je opisano u prethodnom radu. Autori predlazu formiranje tima strucnjaka koji ce izraditi strukturirani program izobrazbe o dojenju za ucenike srednjih skola, prilagoden dobi i interesima ucenika. Kljucne rijeci: Izobrazba o dojenju; Skola
The growth of Yersinia enterocolitica and lactic acid bacteria in minced pork meat stored at 4C under vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was determined. In addition, the influence of ...different pH values and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) on the growth of Y. enterocolitica was evaluated. Ground meat was packed under customary conditions using vacuum and modified atmospheres with different CO₂ concentrations (MAP 1 was 20% O₂, 50% CO₂ and 30% N₂; MAP 2 was 20% O₂, 30% CO₂ and 50% N₂) and stored at 4 ± 1C for 12 days. During the storage time, Y. enterocolitica counts were determined by direct plate counts. Y. enterocolitica counts in pork were not significantly different (P > 0.01; P > 0.05) under the two packaging conditions, but were significantly different (P < 0.01; P < 0.05) between storage days in the same packs. Packaging with higher CO₂ concentration had an inhibitory effect on the growth of Y. enterocolitica. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Several preservation techniques are used to extend the shelf life of meat and meat products. Packaging of fresh meat is a common application to protect meat quality. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) involves replacement of air in a package of food with different mixture of gases. For proper MAP application and for preserving meat quality, it is crucial to choose a suitable combination of gas, packaging system, packaging application and packaging material. A specific gas combination to ensure meat quality should be used. Several studies have been performed to study the extension of fresh pork meat shelf life using MAP techniques. However, there are few data on the behavior of Yersinia enterocolitica in pork meat under MAP. The results of this research will form the basis for further studies and will also be beneficial for the meat industry.
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