White- and blue-light-emitting dysprosium(III) and terbium(III)-doped gadolinium titanate phosphors.

Here we report the synthesis and structural, morphological, and photoluminescence analysis of white- and blue-light-emitting Dy3+ - and Tm3+ -doped Gd2 Ti2 O7 nanophosphors. Single-phase cubic Gd2 Ti2 O7 nanopowders consist of compact, dense aggregates of nanoparticles with an average size of ~25 nm for Dy3+ -doped and ~50 nm for Tm3+ -doped samples. The photoluminescence results indicated that ultraviolet (UV) light excitation of the Dy3+ -doped sample resulted in direct generation of white light, while a dominant yellow emission was obtained under blue-light excitation. Intense blue light was obtained for Tm3+ -doped Gd2 Ti2 O7 under UV excitation suggesting that this material could be used as a blue phosphor.

Towards the re-introduction of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) in the West Balkan Countries: the case of Serbia and Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Vetchlings (Lathyrus spp.) are widely distributed in both Serbia and Srpska, and represent a valuable component of local floras all over the Balkan Peninsula. Despite this and the existence of a traditional Serbian name for grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), sastrica, and a pan-Slavic name for all vetchlings, grahor, today they are almost forgotten crops. The joint action of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops and the Faculty of Agriculture is aimed at re-introducing grass pea and other vetchlings as multifunctional crops. Within the legume collection in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, a small Lathyrus spp. collection, including about 100 accessions of 16 species, most of them being grass pea, was established in 2002. The landraces of grass pea were collected in several regions of Serbia and Srpska, where they are used for human consumption. Grass pea is commonly used boiled and along with other pulses, with no reports on lathyrism among the local people. The first Serbian breeding programme in Novi Sad produced already two grass pea lines that were registered in November 2009 under the names of Studenica and Sitnica, developed from the crosses of Polish cultivars and local Serbian landraces.

[A quiet clinical course in an otogenic brain abscess]. / Tihi klinicki tok otogenog apscesa velikog mozga.

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of otogenic intracranial complications has been significantly diminished by introduction of antibiotic therapy, improved diagnostic methods and surgical treatment of chronic otitis. Meningitis is still the most frequent otogenic intracranial complication, otogenic brain abscesses are following, while other complications occur rarely (1,2,3). Otogenic meningitis and brain abscesses are often associated, which makes the on time diagnosis of each complication harder. Mortality from otogenic brain abscesses is still relatively high, despite diagnostic and therapeutic achievements (4.5). CASE DESCRIPTION: The aim of this study is to present a patient with brain abscess, which arose quietly, as a consequence of chronic suppurative otitis and to point at possibilities of diagnostics and treatment of this complication. The diagnosis of brain abscess by clinical methods of examination is not always reliable. It is often accompanied by most severe form of meningitis, so that neurological examination, in most cases, reveals only signs of meningitis. In our patient, the abscess has been detected by computerized tomography, in its late stage, when it already had completely formed a capsule and had shown clinically manifesting focal signs. This case is interesting because of quiet and unperceived evolution of brain abscess. In the active phase of chronic suppurative otitis, the patient was receiving antibiotic therapy, which has most likely hidden the early symptoms of evolution of intracranial infections. The appearance of signs of focal intracranial infection (photophobia) required applying computerized tomography revealing brain abscess, which was clearly bounded, with a developed capsule, pointing at its late stage (about two months). These findings lead to a conclusion that an otologist should always keep in mind and check whether there is an intracranial infection in cases of active phase chronic otitis.

[Pathogenesis and methods of treatment of otogenic brain abscess]. / Patogeneza i nacin lecenja otogenih apscesa mozga.

UNLABELLED: Otitis media, acute or chronic, is a potentially dangerous disease which may lead to fatal complications. Meningitis is the most common intracranial complication, followed by otogenic brain abscesses while lateral sinus thrombosis is fairly uncommon. Mortality from otogenic brain abscesses remains relatively high. The aim of the study was to investigate mechanisms of development, diagnostic methods and treatment of these complications of otogenic brain abscesses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study covered 42 patients with otogenic brain abscess (28 cerebral and 14 cerebellar) treated from 1973 to 1995 at the ENT and Neurosurgical Hospital in Belgrade. Medical records of the studied patients were analyzed for the occurrence of the disease, diagnosis and mode of therapy. Special care was dedicated to type of otitis, surgical findings, diagnostic methods, mode of therapy and therapy outcome. RESULTS: In the period of 23 (1973-1995) 114 patients with otogenic intracranial complications were treated at the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery. Meningitis was the most common complication in this series, followed by cerebral abscess, lateral sinus thrombosis, cerebellar abscess, while extradural abscesses were rare, and subdural occurred only exceptionally (Table 1). In somewhat more than half of the patients (55%) one intracranial complication was present, While in 54% two or more intracranial complications were recorded (Table 2). Otogenic brain abscesses are usually associated with meningitis. Meningitis was present in 20 patients with cerebral abscess (71%), and in 5 (33%) patients with cerebellar abscess. Meningitis and lateral sinus thrombosis were more commonly associated with cerebellar abscess (41%), and less with cerebral abscess (10%). In our group of patients otogenic brain abscesses were most common in the third decade of life, than in the second, while the frequency of the complication fell significantly in older age groups (Figure 1). Headache (92%). fever (91%), vomiting (68%) were the most common symptoms, while photophobia and vertigo were less common (38% and 30%, respectively). Active chronic otitis with cholesteatoma was most commonly present in patients with otogenic brain abscess, only somewhat more common in patients with cerebral abscess (84%), than in those with cerebellar abscess (80%). Neurological examination of 28 patients with cerebral abscess evidenced the abscess in 11, while in 15 the examination suggested meningitis. (Table 3). The diagnosis of abscess was most commonly established by computerized tomography. It revealed cerebral abscess in 18 out of 28 patients, and cerebellar abscess in 10 out of 12 patients. (Table 3). Radical trepanation of the temporal bone was performed in all our patients, while in nine patients revision was required after the surgery, since the initial operation was not sufficiently radical. (Table 4). Out of 28 patients with cerebral abscess 5 (18%) died while 3 (29%) patients died out of 14 patients with cerebellar abscess (Table 4). DISCUSSION: Otogenic brain abscesses imply accumulation of pus in the cerebrum or cerebellum developing after encephalitis, caused by pyogenic microorganisms originating from inflammatory process in the middle ear cavity. This is a severe otogenic complication with high mortality. Even with modern therapeutic alternatives, mortality remained high, about 40% (7). According to the data reported by several authors introduction of antibiotic therapy resulted in drastic fall of associated mortality. The annual risk of otogenic abscess of the brain is 1 per 1000 adults with active chronic otitis. The incidence of abscess is significantly higher in a certain age groups, i.e. 1 per 200 between the ages of 20 and 40 (3). The diagnosis of brain abscess established clinically is not quite reliable. The disease is usually associated with severe meningitis, so that neurological examination usually detects only signs of meningi

Effects of growth factors on the enzymes of purine metabolism in culture of regenerating rat liver cells.

Hepatocytes are affected by many cytokines and growth factors during liver regeneration. In regenerating rat liver cells cultures, liver cell growth factor (LCGF), hepatic stimulator substance (HSS), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), as well as their combination, were tested for their ability to activate the enzymes involved in purine metabolism. The enzymes tested were 5' nucleotidase, AMP deaminase, adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase. The cytokines alone or in combination, activated 5' nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase. Activity of AMP deaminase was stimulated by IL-1 beta associated with LCGF, HSS and IL-1 beta. Xanthine oxidase was stimulated by IL-1 beta but not with HSS and LCGF. Associated with IL-1 beta these two substances decreased its activity. A novel approach to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of purine metabolism during liver regeneration, is proposed.

[Recurrence around tracheostomies: analysis of risk factors]. / Recidivi oko traheostome: analiza faktora rizika.

302 patients with planocellular larynx carcinoma treated by total laryngectomy during the period from 1975 to 1986 were analyzed. In the examined group of patients significant risk factors in tracheostoma relapse appearance were the next: glottis-subglottis tumor localization and regionally spread tumor. Planned postoperative radiotherapy can significantly reduce the risk of tracheostoma local relapses' appearance.

[Treatment of severe craniocerebral injuries]. / Lecenje teskih kraniocerebralnih povreda.

During 1992. 19357 patients were examined at the Department for Neurosurgery of the Emergency Centre, Clinical Center of Serbia, out of which 15879 had head injury. In addition to those necessitating hospitalisation, there was also a large number of patients with mild head injury that were not admitted for hospital management and were sent home following initial first aid. The average incidence of these patients was 45 patients per day during 1992. During 1992. a total of 1,978 patients were hospitalised, out of which 1,520 (84%) were injured. A total of 633 patients (25%) were hospitalised due to injuries sustained in traffic accidents. All patients were examined and evaluated according to the standard protocol including GCS as well.

Intra- and extracranial circulatory changes in cigarette smokers assessed by ultrasound: transcranial Doppler (TCD) and duplex scanning investigation.

The group of 98 "healthy smokers" was analyzed in order to evaluate potential influence of cigarette smoking on intracranial blood flow disturbances and extracranial carotid intimal changes, performing transcranial Doppler (TCD) and Duplex scanning of the carotid arteries. Almost 70% of smokers analyzed in our study had some intracranial circulatory changes, predominantly in the vertebral arteries (35%). Half of smokers analyzed had some pathological intimal changes in the carotid arteries. The most frequent finding was wall thickening (23%) and then calcified (13%) and soft plaques (10%). Dose response relationship between smoking and atherosclerosis is also introduced. More than 30 cigarettes smoked per day can significantly influence plaque development and already 20 cigarettes smoked per day can cause significant intracranial blood flow disturbances. The majority of our investigated smokers were in high risk category for development of cerebrovascular disease and 5% were in a very high risk category. Cessation of cigarette smoking will eliminate it as a risk factor. A low dose-response relation and the development of tolerance produced by exposure to nicotine were also introduced.