Phytoremediation potential of invasive plant species for potentially toxic elements along the Sava River upstream.

Invasive plant species (IPS) have many characteristics that are necessary for successful phytoremediation and the accumulation of large amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The most common IPS from the source of the Sava River are Re and . Considering that the riparian soils of the Sava River are classified as moderately polluted, this study investigated their enrichment with PTEs (As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and the potential for accumulation of these elements in roots and leaves of the most common IPS.

The Impact of Cytokines on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines in nasal mucus may be associated with HRQoL in adolescents with AR.

Methods: European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), "The Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire" (AdolRQLQ) and the Total 4 Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system were administered to 113 adolescents with AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and to healthy control subjects.

Ecophysiological response of L. to multiple stress factors during the revitalisation of coal fly ash lagoons at different stages of weathering.

The enormous quantities of fly ash (FA) produced by thermal power plants is a global problem and safe, sustainable approaches to reduce the amount and its toxic effects are still being sought. Vegetation cover comprising long-living species can help reduce FA dump-related environmental health issues. However, the synergistic effect of multiple abiotic factors, like drought, low organic matter content, a deficit of essential nutrients, alkaline pH, and phytotoxicity due to high potentially toxic element (PTE) and soluble salt content, limits the number of species that can grow under such stressful conditions.

Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts and fractions.

There is little data on the phytochemical/pharmacological properties of Salisb. (syn. (Salisb.

Simultaneous determination of macrolides in water samples by solid-phase extraction and capillary electrophoresis.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, tylosin) and tiamulin in water samples was described in this article. These compounds were extracted with different types of sorbents ( Oasis HLB, C18, C8, SDB, and Strata-X) and different masses of sorbents (60 mg, 200 mg, and 500 mg) using different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile) and different pH values of water samples (pH 7.00, 8.

The (rs156697) Polymorphism Modifies Diabetic Nephropathy Risk.

Background and Objectives: In the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications, genetic and environmental factors play important roles. Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the major microangiopathic chronic diabetic complications, is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the possible modifying effect of glutathione transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 rs1138272/rs1695, GSTO1 rs4925 and GSTO2 rs156697) in the susceptibility to T2DM and diabetic nephropathy.

Utility of salivary mycophenolic acid concentration monitoring: Modeling and Monte Carlo validation approach.

The results of the previous studies demonstrated an association between mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure, serum albumin level (ALB), and adverse effects in kidney transplant patients. The aim was the identification of mathematical correlation and association between both, total and unbound MPA concentration in relation to ALB, body mass (BM), age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in stable kidney transplant recipients. Furthermore, investigation was conducted with the aim to clarify the role of salivary concentration (C ) of MPA in adverse effect profile.

Behavioral and Dietary Habits That Could Influence Both COVID-19 and Non-Communicable Civilization Disease Prevention-What Have We Learned Up to Now?

The massive expansion of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has urged countries to introduce lockdowns and set restrictive actions worldwide. The focus of the studies was to determine how COVID-19 induces damage to the lungs in order to find an alternative or adjuvant therapy that could lead to preventing COVID-19 or at least ameliorating it. This paper aims to survey the literature and provide new insights into behavioral and dietary habits that could influence the prevention of COVID-19.

Removal of micropollutants using a membrane bioreactor coupled with powdered activated carbon - A statistical analysis approach.

The occurrence of micropollutants in wastewater is largely documented as well as the environmental risk posed by their residues in the aquatic environment. Many investigations have been carried out and plan to study and improve their removal efficiency in existing wastewater treatment plants. At the same time, efforts are being made to develop new technologies or upgrade existing ones to increase the removal of a selection of micropollutants.

The Phytoremediation Potential and Physiological Adaptive Response of Pall. Ex M. Bieb. during the Restoration of Chronosequence Fly Ash Deposits.

The challenging process of identifying and selecting plant species suited to the phytoremediation of fly ash (FA) dumps involves studying their functional properties and physiological response to a deficit of essential elements and toxicity from heavy metal(loid)-induced oxidative stress. We hypothesised that has high potential to be used for the phytoremediation of FA deposit sites thanks to its secretion strategy and antioxidative system. In this study, this hypothesis was examined by determining the bioconcentration and translocation factors for As, B, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn at the FA disposal lagoons at the 'Nikola Tesla A' thermal power plant in Obrenovac, Serbia, three (lagoon L1) and eleven (lagoon L2) years after the phytoremediation process had begun, and by measuring parameters of photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration, non-enzymatic antioxidant defence (carotenoids, anthocyanins and phenolics), oxidative stress (concentration of malondialdehyde-MDA) and total antioxidant capacity to neutralise DPPH free radical activity.

Sex Differences in the Use of Cardiovascular Drugs: A Survey of Patients in a Single Center.

Objective: Patients and medical professionals have a common misconception that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) predominantly affect men, which can lead to less prescribing of cardiovascular drugs to women. This study examined whether there were sex differences in the administration of cardiovascular (CV) drugs in patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the Internal Medicine Clinic of Foča University Hospital (ICFUH).

Materials And Methods: The study comprised 332 patients hospitalized at the ICFUH from January 1st to June 30th, 2019.

Plasma activity of the antioxidant enzymes in predicting diabetic nephropathy progression.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine whether biomarkers of oxidative stress are predictors of diabetic nephropathy (DN) progression.

Methods: The study involved 45 patients with type 2 diabetes and DN and 15 healthy controls. Patients were followed for 3 years and the annual percentage change in eGFR was used to estimate the progression of DN.

Chemical Fractionation, Environmental, and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil of Industrialised Urban Areas in Serbia.

The primary focus of this research was the chemical fractionation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their presence in several industrialised cities in Serbia. Furthermore, their origin, contamination levels, and environmental and human health risks were assessed. The results indicated that the examined soils were characterised by slightly higher Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels than those set by European and national regulations.

Fractionation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Urban Soils from Salzburg, Thessaloniki and Belgrade: An Insight into Source Identification and Human Health Risk Assessment.

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were measured in topsoil samples collected from parks in the cities of Salzburg (Austria), Thessaloniki (Greece), and Belgrade (Serbia) in order to assess the distribution of PTEs in the urban environment, discriminate natural (lithogenic) and anthropogenic contributions, identify possible sources of pollution, and compare levels of pollution between the cities. An assessment of the health risks caused by exposure to PTEs through different pathways was also conducted. The study revealed that, with the exception of Pb in Salzburg, levels of PTEs in the soils in polluted urban parks were higher than in unpolluted ones, but still lower than those recorded in other European soils.

Miniaturized analytical methods for determination of environmental contaminants of emerging concern - A review.

The determination of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in environmental samples has become a challenging and critical issue. The present work focuses on miniaturized analytical strategies reported in the literature for the determination of CECs. The first part of the review provides brief overview of CECs whose monitoring in environmental samples is of particular significance, namely personal care products, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, UV-filters, newly registered pesticides, illicit drugs, disinfection by-products, surfactants, high technology rare earth elements, and engineered nanomaterials.

An Impact of Psychological Stress on the Interplay between Salivary Oxidative Stress and the Classic Psychological Stress-Related Parameters.

Both oxidative and psychological (mental) stress are the likely culprits for several acute and chronic health disturbances, and adequate tests mimicking that are needed. Herein, in controlled laboratory surroundings, a PEBL (Psychology Experiment Building Language) test battery was used to evoke stress-related biological responses followed by tracking changes in saliva parameters. The study objectives were to determine the impact of psychological stress on selected salivatory parameters and to assess the correlation between the determined oxidative and stress parameters.

Assessment of pharmacokinetic mycophenolic acid clearance models using Monte Carlo numerical analysis.

Previously, we performed population pharmacokinetic analysis and indicated age, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/mycophenolic acid (MPA) daily dose, and presence of nifedipine in patient therapy as significant predictors of MPA apparent clearance (CL/F) variability. This study aimed to determine the reliability of previously published population pharmacokinetic models derived from similar studies. Furthermore, this study investigated correspondence between chosen population models from the literature.

Multi-subject Stochastic Blockmodels for adaptive analysis of individual differences in human brain network cluster structure.

There is considerable interest in elucidating the cluster structure of brain networks in terms of modules, blocks or clusters of similar nodes. However, it is currently challenging to handle data on multiple subjects since most of the existing methods are applicable only on a subject-by-subject basis or for analysis of an average group network. The main limitation of per-subject models is that there is no obvious way to combine the results for group comparisons, and of group-averaged models that they do not reflect the variability between subjects.

Evaluation of Salix alba, Juglans regia and Populus nigra as biomonitors of PTEs in the riparian soils of the Sava River.

A large number of human activities result in the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the environment, which could lead to the degradation of riparian areas. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Salix alba, Juglans regia and Populus nigra for the biomonitoring of PTEs in the riparian soils of the Sava River. Levels of seven PTEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were measured in the soils, roots and leaves of plants at selected sampling sites and evaluated according to bioaccumulation and translocation factors.

Sources and a Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Dust at Children's Playgrounds with Artificial Surfaces: A Case Study in Belgrade.

The focus of this research on children's playgrounds with artificial surfaces aimed to establish levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in dust, their origin, and impact on children at 15 playgrounds: 9 on school grounds and 6 on day nurseries in Belgrade (Serbia). Soil samples were taken from the immediate vicinity of the playgrounds to establish the origin of PTEs in the dust samples. Soil analyses revealed the lithogenic origin of Co, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn and the anthropogenic origin of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn.

Towards a modern approach to traditional use: in vitro and in vivo evaluation of Alchemilla vulgaris L. gel wound healing potential.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Alchemilla vulgaris is an important remedy in European folk medicine, known for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties; it is traditionally used to heal gynecological and gastrointestinal diseases. Despite its folkloric use in wound healing, there is a lack of scientific data to support this therapeutic application.

Aim Of The Study: To analyze the wound healing potential of different solvent A.

Fate of febantel in the aquatic environment-the role of abiotic elimination processes.

Febantel is widely used anthelmintic drug active against a range of gastrointestinal parasites in animals. Despite the fact that it has been detected in the aquatic environment, there is no information on its environmental fate. Therefore, abiotic elimination processes of febantel in the aquatic environment have been studied.

Fractionation, Mobility, and Contamination Assessment of Potentially Toxic Metals in Urban Soils in Four Industrial Serbian Cities.

The main soil properties, concentrations of selected elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and the chemical speciation of each element were determined in urban soil samples taken from urban parks in four Serbian cities (Belgrade, Pančevo, Obrenovac, and Smederevo) exposed to different sources of pollution. Pollution indices (PI, PI) and factors (MF, ICF, GCF) also were evaluated. The study revealed As and Cd concentrations below the detection limit, whereas the content of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn at some sites exceeded the limits established by local regulations, as well as the background values, which may represent an environmental threat.

Traditional wound-healing plants used in the Balkan region (Southeast Europe).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The geographical and ecological specificity of the Balkan Peninsula has resulted in the development of a distinct diversity of medicinal plants. In the traditional culture of the Balkan peoples, plants have medicinal, economic and anthropological/cultural importance, which is reflected in the sound knowledge of their diversity and use. This study analyses the traditional use of medicinal plants in the treatment of wounds and the pharmacological characteristics of the most frequently used species.