Since COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis, tests with high sensitivity and specificity are crucial for the identification and management of COVID-19 patients. There is an urgent need for low-cost ...rapid antigen COVID-19 test with a good diagnostic performance. Although various antigen rapid detection tests are widely available, strong evidence of their usefulness in clinical practice are still limited. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate clinical performance of STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test (SD Biosensor, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea).
The performance of the STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen was evaluated in comparison to RT-qPCR results in 120 symptomatic patients (median age 49, IQR 36-70) who presented to health care facility in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia.
Twenty five out of 120 samples have been tested positive using STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test, and all of them were also positive on RT-qPCR. Overall, the STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test showed sensitivity of 58.1% (95% CI 42.1-73.0) but it was higher in the early days of disease, when the highest viral loads were detected. During the first five days after the symptom onset, the sensitivity ranged from 66.7% to 100% and the pooled accuracy and Kappa values were high (0.92 and 0.852).
A strong agreement between performance of STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test and RT-qPCR was observed during the first five days of illness, suggesting that this rapid antigenic test can be very useful for COVID-19 diagnosis in the early phase of disease.
Systems theory views the family as a dynamic system inextricably linked with other social systems. According to this theory, a community is a system that is much more than the sum of its parts and ...has its own structure, hierarchy, boundaries, and through its life cycle it encounters numerous developmental and non-developmental crises. Different authors mention different but also overlapping dimensions of family functioning. After brief descriptions of certain dimensions of the family, primarily those mentioned by the authors Olson, McMasters and Beavers of the family functioning model, we will try to conclude what a functional family would be and especially what good and functional parenting would be. The advantage of the systemic approach is its holistic approach to the family, but also the fact that it presents the family as a developing entity that is in relationship with the environment and recognizes the importance of external influences, i.e. various interventions in the family system in order to improve the functionality of the family.
Problem-solving is, by nature, a creative process which, by teaching through the implementation of research and discovery activities, allows students to create their knowledge, revise it and link it ...to broader systems. The aim of the research was to describe and analyse the process of solving biological problems through activities that are performed during the process of solving them, as well as to study how the implementation of these activities affects the level and quality of student achievement in biology. This study employed a quantitative method research strategy to describe the problem-solving process in biology teaching and determine student achievement. Data collection was by means of survey and testing. A Likert-scale survey and a biology knowledge test were constructed for the purposes of the research. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient were used. The data of eighth-grade students were collected from September 2016 to February 2017, in 72 schools in Serbia (565 students). The factor analysis confirmed that problem-solving activities could be grouped into the following five areas: (1) analysing and planning problem-solving; (2) discovering solution(s) to the problem; (3) problem-solving evaluation activities; (4) additional activities involving the discussion of the problem; (5) the degree of student independence in the process of discovering a solution to a problem. The results show that with the increasing frequency of the realisation of the research problem-solving activities, the achievement of students also increases. With regard to achievement quality, a positive but low correlation was found in all three domains—knowledge acquisition, understanding and application.
Aim
Recent studies point at the crucial role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of multifactorial diseases such as periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2. In addition, circulatory ...microRNAs (miRs) have emerged as novel biomarkers for various diseases. Aim of this study was to investigate the levels of miR‐146a and miR‐155 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of periodontitis patients with (CPDM) and without (CP) DM type 2 as well as in periodontally healthy, control groups (PHDM and PH, respectively).
Material and methods
miR modulation was analysed using quantitative real‐time PCR while SOD activity was measured spectrophotometrically.
Results
The upregulation of miR‐146a and miR‐155 was observed in CP and CPDM patients’ baseline, while the levels decreased after 6 weeks of the non‐surgical therapy to the levels comparable to PH and PHDM, respectively. Expression levels of miRs positively correlated with SOD activity. Levels of miR‐146a were higher in PHDM compared to PH patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that levels of miR‐146a and miR‐155 were significantly associated with periodontitis when adjusting for age and gender.
Conclusions
miR‐146a and miR‐155 may be considered as possible novel biomarkers for periodontitis in non‐diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients.
Pedagogical research is based on specific views on the nature of truth and reality, which means that every research has its methodological orientation that determines the research approach and ...procedure. As the investigation of the methodological approaches provides an insight into the world of pedagogical research, it indirectly provides an insight into the current state of affairs in pedagogical theory and practice. Hermeneutical approach to research is one of the methodological approaches in pedagogy that has been unfairly neglected. The aim of this paper is to point to the significance, outreach, and the possibility of applaying this method in pedagogical research. Starting from the nature of pedagogical phenomena, the paper analyzes the basic assumtions of hermeneutics from the perspective of its implementation in researching pedagogical issues. The author emphasizes the importance of a deeper insight into specific phenomena, events, and processes, as well as the need for this approach and the possibilities of applying hermeneutical circle not only in pedagogical research, but also in pedagogical practice. The importance of analyzing this approach is also reflected in the fact that qualitative research, more or less explicitly, is mostly based on the foundations of this approach.
Although long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn-3FAs) regulate inflammatory pathways of relevance to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), their susceptibility to peroxidation may limit their ...therapeutic potential. We compared the metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with an engineered EPA derivative (icosabutate) in human hepatocytes in vitro and their effects on hepatic glutathione metabolism, oxidised lipids, inflammation, and fibrosis in a dietary mouse model of NASH, and in patients prone to fatty liver disease.
Oxidation rates and cellular partitioning of EPA and icosabutate were compared in primary human hepatocytes. Comparative effects of delayed treatment with either low- (56 mg/kg) or high-dose (112 mg/kg) icosabutate were compared with EPA (91 mg/kg) or a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist in a choline-deficient (CD), L-amino acid-defined NASH mouse model. To assess the translational potential of these findings, effects on elevated liver enzymes and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were assessed in overweight, hyperlipidaemic patients at an increased risk of NASH.
In contrast to EPA, icosabutate resisted oxidation and incorporation into hepatocytes. Icosabutate also reduced inflammation and fibrosis in conjunction with a reversal of CD diet-induced changes in the hepatic lipidome. EPA had minimal effect on any parameter and even worsened fibrosis in association with depletion of hepatic glutathione. In dyslipidaemic patients at risk of NASH, icosabutate rapidly normalised elevated plasma ALT, GGT and AST and reduced FIB-4 in patients with elevated ALT and/or AST.
Icosabutate does not accumulate in hepatocytes and confers beneficial effects on hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in mice. In conjunction with reductions in markers of liver injury in hyperlipidaemic patients, these findings suggest that structural engineering of LCn-3FAs offers a novel approach for the treatment of NASH.
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are involved in multiple pathways regulating hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, but their susceptibility to peroxidation and use as an energy source may limit their clinical efficacy. Herein, we show that a structurally modified omega-3 fatty acid, icosabutate, overcame these challenges and had markedly improved antifibrotic efficacy in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A hepatoprotective effect of icosabutate was also observed in patients with elevated circulating lipids, in whom it led to rapid reductions in markers of liver injury.
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•The susceptibility of PUFAs to peroxidation may limit their efficacy in NASH.•Icosabutate, a modified PUFA derivative, does not accumulate in liver cells.•Icosabutate, but not eicosapentaenoic acid, reduces inflammation and fibrosis in mice.•Markers of liver injury are reduced after icosabutate treatment in humans.•Activation of FFAR4 (GPR120) may underlie the beneficial effects of icosabutate.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common viral infections in sexually active population worldwide, and is the main cause of cervical cancer, which is the fourth most common ...cancer among women. Serbia ranks third in incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Europe. We conducted a cross-sectional study considering parents' motivation for the HPV vaccination of their children. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model. We found that the strongest motive was "Recommendation from paediatrician" (20.2%), followed by the attitude that HPV vaccine protects against cancers in different localization (15.4%), the motive "It is better to vaccinate a child than expose them to potential risk of HPV infection" (13.3%) and "Feeling anxiety due to a possible infection and cancer in the child" (13.1%). For those parents that vaccinated their child for some other strongest motive, reasons like "Vaccine is free of charge", "Recommendation from friends and family" and motive "My child received all obligatory vaccines, so I want to receive this one as well", were significantly more frequently selected. In the group where paediatricians' recommendation was not a motive for accepting the HPV vaccine, the largest percentage of parents (89.6%) selected motive "HPV vaccine protects against cancers in different localization" and the motive "It is better to vaccinate a child than expose them to potential risk of HPV infection" (78.1%). Paediatrician's recommendation is very important for parents' decision to vaccinate, however, other motives also influenced and had significance in making the parents' decision to vaccinate their children against HPV. Encouraging trust in public health authorities in Serbia, highlighting the advantages of the HPV vaccine and further encouraging healthcare workers to give stronger recommendations can increase the HPV vaccine uptake. Finally, we provided the basis to create more targeted messages that will empower parents to vaccinate their children.
BACKGROUND.Weight gain and obesity are well-known clinical issues in liver transplantation (LTx). However, their impacts on patient outcomes remain unclear, as only the impact of pre-LTx body mass ...index (BMI) on survival has been meta-analyzed. We summarized and synthesized the evidence on pre- and post-LTx body weight parameters’ relations with post-LTx outcomes such as survival, metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities, and healthcare utilization.
METHODS.We followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions’ recommendations. Quality was assessed via a 19-item instrument. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for outcomes investigated in ≥5 studies.
RESULTS.Our meta-analysis included 37 studies. Patients with pre-LTx BMI ≥ 30 kg/m and BMI ≥ 35 kg/m had lower overall survival rates than those with pre-LTx normal weight (72.6% and 69.8% versus 84.2%; P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). Those with pre-LTx BMI ≥ 30 kg/m had worse overall graft survival than normal weight patients (75.8% and 85.4%; P = 0.003). Pre-LTx BMI and pre-LTx overweight were associated with new-onset diabetes (P < 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively), but post-LTx BMI showed no relationship. No associations were evident with healthcare utilization.
CONCLUSIONS.Patients with BMI values ≥30 kg/m had worse patient and graft survival than those with normal weight. Few of the reviewed studies examined post-LTx body weight parameters or other relevant outcomes such as cardiovascular comorbidities. High heterogeneity as well as diverse definitions and operationalizations of measurement and outcomes severely impeded comparability.
Apart from structure and composition, morphology plays a significant role in influencing the performance of materials in terms of both bulk and surface behavior. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) ...constituted by submicrometric fibers is prepared. Using a modified electrospinning (ES) device to carry out solution blow spinning (SBS), the fibrillar morphology is modified, with the aim to induce variations in the properties of the material. The modification of the ES device consists of the incorporation of a source of pressurized gas (air) and a 3D-printed nozzle of our own design. For this work, the morphology of the PLA submicrometric fibers is modified by varying the rotational speed of the collector in order to understand its influence on different properties and, consequently, on the performance of the material. The rotational speed of a cylindrical collector (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 rpm) is considered as variable for changing the morphology. Morphological study of the materials was performed using scanning electron microscopy and image analysis carried out with ImageJ 1.54f software. Besides a morphology study, structural characterization by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflectance of prepared materials is carried out. Finally, the morphology and structure of produced PLA fibrous mats were correlated with the analysis of mechanical properties, wettability behavior and adhesion of DH5-α
bacteria. It is of interest to highlight how small morphological and chemical structure variations can lead to important changes in materials' performance. These changes include, for example, those above 30% in some mechanical parameters and clear variations in bacterial adhesion capacity.
Phytotechnologies have been used worldwide to remediate and restore damaged ecosystems, especially those caused by industrial byproducts leaching into rivers and other waterways. The objective of ...this study was to test the growth, physiology, and phytoextraction potential of poplar and willow established in soils amended with heavy-metal contaminated, dredged river sediments from the Great Bačka Canal near Vrbas City, Serbia. The sediments were applied to greenhouse-grown trees of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. clone ‘Bora’ and Salix viminalis L. clone ‘SV068’. Individual pots with trees previously grown for two months were amended with 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kg of sediment containing 400 mg Cr kg−1, 295 mg Cu kg−1, 465 mg Zn kg−1, 124 mg Ni kg−1, 1.87 mg Cd kg−1, and 61 mg Pb kg−1. Following amendment, trees were grown for two seasons (i.e., 2014, 2015), with coppicing after the first season. In addition to growth parameters, physiological traits related to the photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism were assessed during both growing seasons. At the end of the study, trees were harvested for biomass analysis and accumulation of heavy metals in tree tissues and soils. Application of sediment decreased aboveground biomass by 37.3% in 2014, but increased height (16.4%) and leaf area (19.2%) in 2015. Sediment application negatively impacted the content of pigments and nitrate reductase activity, causing them to decrease over time. Generally, the effect of treatments on growth was more pronounced in poplars, while willows had more pronounced physiological activity. Accumulation patterns were similar to previously-published results. In particular, Zn and Cd were mostly accumulated in leaves of both poplar and willow, which indicated successful phytoextraction. In contrast, other metals (e.g., Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu) were mostly phytostabilized in the roots. Differences in metal allocation between poplar and willow were recorded only for Cu, while other metals followed similar distribution patterns in both genera. Results of this study indicated that the composition of heavy metals in the sediments determined the mechanisms of the applied phytoremediation technique.
•Greenhouse pot experiment with poplars and willows amended with river sediments.•Treatments preferentially affected growth of poplars and physiology of willows.•Zn and Cd mostly accumulated in leaves while Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni sequestered in roots.•Genera differed for Cu allocation.•Mechanisms of phytoremediation were determined by heavy metal composition.
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