Melatonin treatment prevents carbon-tetrachloride induced rat brain injury.

Introduction: Herein the neuroprotective properties of melatonin, a highly effective antioxidant, administered in a single dose 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally, were investigated in the brain tissue of Wistar rats acutely exposed to the toxin carbon-tetrachloride (1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally).

Methods: To assess the degree of whole encephalic mass damage, biochemical parameters related to lipid and protein oxidation, antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase), glutathione and inducible nitric oxide/arginase pathways were determined.

Results: The results showed that carbon-tetrachloride impaired the function of antioxidant enzymes (reduced catalase and superoxide dismutase activities) and reduced glutathione-metabolizing enzymes (reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and peroxidase activity).

Exposure to hazmat road accidents - Toxic release simulation and GIS-based assessment method.

Industrial demand has intensified production, utilization, and transport of hazardous materials (hazmat). As the production and use of hazardous materials are frequently carried out at different locations, accidents during the transport of hazmats constantly occur. The most critical points on the hazmat routs within inhabited urban or rural areas are centres where the population with increased vulnerability reside.

Occurrence of bisphenol A and microplastics in landfill leachate: lessons from South East Europe.

In order to confirm the landfills as potential sources of microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA), the investigation of microplastics occurrence and concentration levels of BPA in landfill leachate samples from three landfills sites in the South East Europe was conducted. The landfills have been selected depending on the different waste management practice, waste amounts, operating period as well as leachate management practice. Microplastic was detected in different sizes, shapes and colours in all analysed leachate samples.

Decomposition of pharmaceutical micropollutant - diclofenac by photocatalytic nanopowder mixtures in aqueous media: effect of optimization parameters, identification of intermediates and economic considerations.

This study evaluates application of three different nanopowder mixtures for decomposition of diclofenac (DCF), one of frequently detected pharmaceutical in wastewater. Analyzed three photocatalytic mixtures ZnO/SnO, ZnO/TiO and ZnO/InO are for the first time used for diclofenac degradation. A set of experiments were performed in order to investigate influence of catalyst concentration (0.

Health risk assessment of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in atmospheric air of municipal solid waste landfill in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The municipal solid waste landfill in Novi Sad, Serbia is in its operative status from early 1980s and represents potential significant source of environmental compartments pollution and the threat to human health as a result of undeveloped waste management practice. Residues of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic chemicals were investigated in ambient air of landfill site in Novi Sad. Passive air sampling technique was used for the purpose of ambient air sampling.

Sorption of carbendazim and linuron from aqueous solutions with activated carbon produced from spent coffee grounds: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic approach.

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) have been used for the production of activated carbon (AC) by impregnation with different ratios of phosphoric acid at 600 °C, Xp (HPO/coffee): 3:1, 4:1, 3:1 and 4:1. The obtained AC was characterized by BET, FTIR and SEM. BET surface area corresponds to 803.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and impact of aflatoxin difuranocoumarin derivative system – A case report.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of liver malignancy. As a carcinogen, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) causes HCC by inducing deoxyribonucleic acid adducts that lead to genetic changes in liver cells and may be the cause of HCC in up to 30% of cases. The incidence of HCC has been on the rise and is an issue in the countries of the Western Balkans.

Evaluation of the adsorption potential of eco-friendly activated carbon prepared from cherry kernels for the removal of Pb, Cd and Ni from aqueous wastes.

Development, characterization and evaluation of the efficiency of cost-effective medium for the removal of Pb, Cd and Ni from aqueous systems, as a novel, eco-friendly solution for wastewater remediation were done. The precursors for low-cost adsorbent were lignocellulosic raw materials (sweet/sour cherry kernels), as industrial byproducts and components of organic solid waste. Activated carbon synthesis was carried out by thermochemical conversion (HPO, 500 °C) in the complete absence of inert atmosphere.

Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in human milk samples in Vojvodina, Serbia: Estimation of average daily intake by babies.

The objectives of the study were to determine the aflatoxin M1 content in human milk samples in Vojvodina, Serbia, and to assess the risk of infants' exposure to aflatoxins food contamination. The growth of Aspergillus flavus and production of aflatoxin B1 in corn samples resulted in higher concentrations of AFM1 in milk and dairy products in 2013, indicating higher concentrations of AFM1 in human milk samples in 2013 and 2014 in Serbia. A total number of 60 samples of human milk (colostrum and breast milk collected 4-8 months after delivery) were analyzed for the presence of AFM1 using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method.

Effect of pretreatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUfas) on hematological parameters and platelets aggregation in patients during elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background/aim: [corrected] Using omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) could provide protection against ischemic-reperfusion damage, prevention of postoperative arrhyth mia and attenuation of inflammatory response. However, omega-3 PUFAs inhibit cyclooxygenase (and thus decrease the synthesis of thromboxane A2 from arachidonic acid in platelets), which leads to decreased platelet aggregation. In cardiac surgery it is necessary to achieve a balance between inhibition and full platelets function.

Occurrence of antibiotics as emerging contaminant substances in aquatic environment.

The occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in the environment has become a subject of growing concern. Due to the constant input of the emerging contaminants in the surface water via wastewater which leads to the long-term adverse effects on the aquatic and terrestrial organisms, special attention is being paid to their presence in the aquatic environment. Most of the emerging substances, especially pharmaceuticals, could not be completely removed using the wastewater treatment.

Pollution of soils with organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers.

The detection of the three organophosphate esters TCEP, TCPP and TBEP in soil samples indicates that pollution of soils from diffuse atmospheric sources has to be considered in risk assessments.

Application of Twisselmann extraction, SPME, and GC-MS to assess input sources for organophosphate esters into soil.

Although the ubiquitous distribution of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the environment has been documented very thoroughly, data on their occurrence in soil is so far sparse. In this study, an analytical method was developed to determine six OPEs in soil. The method consists of a combination of Twisselmann extraction and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Cost-effectiveness of four immunomodulatory therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a Markov model based on data a Balkan country in socioeconomic transition.

Background/aim: A cost-effectiveness analyses of immunomodulatory treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in developed countries have shown that any benefit from these drugs is achieved at very high cost. The aim of our study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of five treatment strategies in patients diagnosed with RRMS (symptom management alone and in combination with subcutaneous glatiramer acetate, intramuscular interferon beta-1a, subcutaneous interferon beta-1a, or intramuscular interferon [beta-1b) in a Balkan country in socio-economic transition.

Methods: The Markov model was developed based on the literature about effectiveness and on local Serbian cost calculations.