1. Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and diet counselling on adherence to the mediterranean lifestyle in patients after myocardial infarctionMarko Novaković, Uroš Rajkovič, Daniel Košuta, Jure Tršan, Zlatko Fras, Borut Jug, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle—as captured by the Medlife Index Questionnaire (i.e., encompassing a Mediterranean diet as well as other aspects of healthy living, such as food preparation, physical activity, and socializing)—has been associated with reduced cardiovascular events in healthy individuals. In the present study, we sought to determine the adherence to, and the effect of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation on, Mediterranean lifestyle adherence in patients after myocardial infarction. We included 121 patients (mean age, 55 years; women, 37%) undergoing comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation—i.e., exercise training 3 times per week for 12 weeks plus dedicated workshops promoting the Mediterranean lifestyle. Before and after cardiac rehabilitation, patients completed the Medlife Index Questionnaire. High baseline adherence was associated with favourable glucose (5.39 vs. 6.1 mmol/L; p < 0.001), triglycerides (1.1 vs. 1.5 mmol/L; p = 0.002), and HDL cholesterol levels (1.32 vs. 1.12 mmol/L; p = 0.032). More importantly, the Medlife Score significantly improved following comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in patients with low baseline adherence (from 13.8 to 16.7 points; p < 0.001), but not in patients with high baseline adherence (from 19.4 to 18.8 points; p = 0.205). Our findings suggested that Mediterranean lifestyle promotion during cardiac rehabilitation improved adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle, especially in low-adherence patients. Ključne besede: mediterranean diet, mediterranean lifestyle, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, cardiac rehabilitation, lipid status, physical activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 29.11.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 2 Celotno besedilo (1,37 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. Films based on TEMPO-oxidized chitosan nanoparticles: Obtaining and potential application as wound dressingsMatea Korica, Katarina Mihajlovski, Tamilselvan Mohan, Mirjana M. Kostić, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: A series of novel films based on TEMPO-oxidized chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by casting method.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to ascertain the chemical structure of TEMPOoxidized chitosan. The surface morphology of the TEMPO-oxidized chitosan nanoparticles was analyzed by
atomic force microscopy (AFM). The physicochemical (area density, thickness, iodine sorption, roughness),
functional (moisture sorption, liquid absorption capacity, weight loss upon contact with the liquid, and water
vapor transmission rate), antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of films based on TEMPO-oxidized chitosan
nanoparticles were also investigated. The physicochemical properties of the films varied widely: area density
ranged from 77.83 ± 0.06 to184.46 ± 0.05 mg/cm2
, thickness varied between 80.5 ± 1.6 and 200.5 ± 1.6 μm,
iodine sorption spanned from 333.7 ± 2.1 to166.4 ± 2.2 mg I2/g, and roughness ranged from 4.1 ± 0.2 to 5.6 ±
0.3 nm. Similarly, the functional properties also varied significantly: moisture sorption ranged from 4.76 ± 0.03
to 9.62 ± 0.11 %, liquid absorption capacity was between 129.04 ± 0.24 and 159.33 ± 0.73 % after 24 h, weight
loss upon contact with the liquid varied between 31.06 ± 0.35 and 45.88 ± 0.58 % after 24 h and water vapor
transmission rate ranged from 1220.10 ± 2.91to1407.77 ± 5.22 g/m2 day. Despite the wide variations in
physicochemical and functional properties, all films showed maximum bacterial reduction of Staphylococcus
aureus and Escherichia coli, although they exhibited low antioxidant activity. The results suggest that the films
could be effectively utilized as antibacterial wound dressings. Ključne besede: TEMPO-oxidized chitosan nanoparticles, films, antibacterial activity, wound dressings Objavljeno v DKUM: 11.09.2024; Ogledov: 56; Prenosov: 25 Celotno besedilo (4,92 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Ellagitannin content in extracts of the chestnut wood aesculusTaja Žitek Makoter, Maša Knez Marevci, Željko Knez, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: antioxidant activity, chestnut wood, conventional extraction, extraction, fractionation, polyphenols, tannins, ultrasound extraction Objavljeno v DKUM: 05.09.2024; Ogledov: 70; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (1,27 MB) |
4. Antibacterial Komagataeibacter hansenii nanocellulose membranes with avocado seed bioactive compoundsKaja Kupnik, Mateja Primožič, Vanja Kokol, Željko Knez, Maja Leitgeb, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: bacterial nanocellulose membrane, avocado seed extracts, extraction, swelling, release, antibacterial activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 23.08.2024; Ogledov: 70; Prenosov: 4 Celotno besedilo (1,80 MB) |
5. Objectively measured physical activity in patients with coronary artery disease : a cross-validation studyTim Kambič, Nejc Šarabon, Vedran Hadžić, Mitja Lainščak, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) levels in healthy adults are predominately based on self-reporting measures, which generally overestimate PA but underestimate SB. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) eligible for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) follow an individualized program; thus, objective assessment of physical performance and regular daily activity is required. This study aimed to compare self-reported and objectively measured PA and SB in patients with CAD prior to out-patient CR. We included 91 patients with CAD and assessed their PA with an accelerometer for 8 days prior to CR, along with the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire. We found that most patients were sedentary (61%, ~8 h/day), and on average performed 63 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). Males performed less daily light-intensity physical activity (−5%, p = 0.011) and performed more MVPA (+2%, p = 0.002) compared to females. Maximal aerobic capacity was significantly associated with MVPA (Spearman rho = 0.483, p < 0.001) and MVPA > 10 min bouts (Spearman rho = 0.391, p < 0.001). Self-reported measures overestimated MVPA (total MVPA, +108 min/day, p < 0.001; MVPA > 10 min bouts, +152 min, p < 0.001) and underestimated SB (−174 min/day, p < 0.001) compared to objective measures. There was no significant correlation between methods in MVPA (Spearman rho = 0.147, p = 0.165)), MVPA > 10 min bouts (Spearman rho = −0.059, p = 576), and SB (Spearman rho = 0.139, p = 0.187). Quantitative analysis demonstrated the huge proportional bias for MVPA, MVPA > 10 min bouts, and SB. Our findings demonstrate that self-reported physical activity provides inaccurate estimates of MVPA and SB in patients with CAD entering the ambulatory CR. This strongly supports the more objective assessments of daily PA, preferably using an accelerometer. Ključne besede: myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, acute coronary syndrome, sedentary behavior, motor activity, accelerometry, moderate intensity, vigorous intensity Objavljeno v DKUM: 20.08.2024; Ogledov: 117; Prenosov: 9 Celotno besedilo (1,23 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Perceptions of didactic strategies among pupils and teachers in primary schoolMonika Mithans, Joca Zurc, Milena Ivanuš-Grmek, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The quality of educational work is inextricably linked to many factors at the system, school, teacher, and student levels. This research was carried out within the project ‘Education of Teachers as a Factor of Providing High-quality Life-long Learning in the Learning Society/The Society of Fast Socio-economic Changes and Unsure Future’, funded by the Slove-nian Research Agency. This paper provides a basic overview of the char-acteristics of open instruction, an umbrella term that combines active and learner-centred didactic strategies. The empirical section focuses on the use of didactic strategies. The survey was carried out with 1,536 primary school4 pupils in Grades 7 and 9 and 263 of their teachers. Both pupils and teachers cited problem-based learning and research-based learning as the most commonly used didactic strategies, while project-based learning was the least frequently used. Despite the agreement on the most and least frequently used didactic strategies, there are statisti-cally significant differences between pupils’ and teachers’ perceptions of all selected didactic strategies. Teachers reported that they used these strategies more often than was perceived by their pupils. We also found a statistically significant impact of better learning performance on the perception of certain didactic strategies. The results of the study raise new research questions, especially in the design of more detailed analy-ses of the use of didactic strategies in pedagogical practice. Ključne besede: academic performance, didactic strategies, primary school, pupil activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 14.08.2024; Ogledov: 76; Prenosov: 11 Celotno besedilo (1,76 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Mango peels as an industrial by-product: a sustainable source of compounds with antioxidant, enzymatic, and antimicrobial activityNika Kučuk, Mateja Primožič, Petra Kotnik, Željko Knez, Maja Leitgeb, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Plant waste materials are important sources of bioactive compounds with remarkable health-promoting benefits. In particular, industrial by-products such as mango peels are sustainable sources of bioactive substances, with antioxidant, enzymatic, and antimicrobial activity. Appropriate processing is essential to obtain highly bioactive compounds for further use in generating value-added products for the food industry. The objective of the study was to investigate and compare the biological activity of compounds from fresh and dried mango peels obtained by different conventional methods and unconventional extraction methods using supercritical fluids (SFE). The highest total phenolic content (25.0 mg GAE/g DW) and the total content of eight phenolic compounds (829.92 µg/g DW) determined by LC-MS/MS were detected in dried mango peel extract obtained by the Soxhlet process (SE). SFE gave the highest content of proanthocyanidins (0.4 mg PAC/g DW). The ethanolic ultrasonic process (UAE) provided the highest antioxidant activity of the product (82.4%) using DPPH radical scavenging activity and total protein content (2.95 mg protein/g DW). Overall, the dried mango peels were richer in bioactive compounds (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, catechin, and hesperidin/neohesperidin), indicating successful preservation during air drying. Furthermore, outstanding polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipase activities were detected in mango peel extracts. This is the first study in which remarkable antibacterial activities against the growth of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were evaluated by determining the microbial growth inhibition rate after 12 and 24 h incubation periods for mango peel extracts obtained by different methods. Ethanolic SE and UAE extracts from dried mango peels resulted in the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) for all bacterial species tested. Mango peels are remarkable waste products that could contribute to the sustainable development of exceptional products with high-added value for various applications, especially as dietary supplements. Ključne besede: mangifera indica, peels, bioactive substances, LC-MS/MS, proteins, enzymes, antibacterial activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 12.08.2024; Ogledov: 104; Prenosov: 8 Celotno besedilo (6,49 MB) |
8. Alginate beads with encapsulated bioactive substances from mangifera indica peels as promising peroral delivery systemsNika Kučuk, Mateja Primožič, Željko Knez, Maja Leitgeb, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Since various bioactive substances are unstable and can degrade in the gastrointestinal tract, their stabilization is crucial. This study aimed to encapsulate mango peel extract (MPE) into edible alginate beads using the ionotropic gelation method for the potential oral delivery of bioactive substances. Mango peels, generally discarded and environmentally harmful, are rich in health-promoting bioactive substances. The alginate beads were examined for entrapment efficiency, particle size, morphology, thermal stability, physiochemical interactions, release profile under gastrointestinal conditions, and antibacterial efficacy. The study demonstrated the successful encapsulation of MPE with an efficiency of 63.1%. The in vitro release study showed the stability of the alginate beads in simulated gastric fluid with a maximum release of 45.0%, and sustained, almost complete release (99.4%) in simulated intestinal fluid, indicating successful absorption into the human body. In both fluids, the MPE release followed first-order kinetics. Encapsulation successfully maintained the antibacterial properties of MPE, with significant inhibitory activity against pathogenic intestinal bacteria. This is the first study on MPE encapsulation in alginate beads, presenting a promising oral delivery system for high-added-value applications in the food industry for dietary supplements, functional foods, or food additives. Their production is sustainable and economical, utilizing waste material and reducing environmental pollution. Ključne besede: alginate beads, encapsulation, Mangifera indica, mango peels, characterization, in vitro release, antbacterial activity Objavljeno v DKUM: 02.08.2024; Ogledov: 104; Prenosov: 9 Celotno besedilo (6,98 MB) |
9. Associations between physical activity and academic competence : a cross-sectional study among Slovenian primary school studentsJoca Zurc, Jurij Planinšec, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Physical activity has beneficial effects on overall academic performance in children. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding how the individual characteristics of physical activity interact with other confounding variables of academic competence. Leisure-time physical activity with potential confounders—such as developmental, behavioral, family, and school factors, predicting overall, mathematical, and reading academic competence—was studied in a random sample of 1520 Slovenian primary school students in grades 4–6 (51.9% female; mean age = 10.4 years; SD = 0.93). A structured self-reported questionnaire was used to gather data on the children’s leisuretime physical activity and social-demographic variables, while academic competence was measured by teachers using the SSRS Academic Competence Evaluation Scale. The findings showed that children engage in physical activity most days a week, with moderate-intensity and unorganized activities. It was predicted that engaging in physical activity would lead to an increase in academic performance by 4.2% in males (p = 0.002) and 3.2% in females (p = 0.024), but after fully adjusting the model for controlling confounding variables, the prediction increased to 81.1% in females and 84.1% in males (p < 0.001). The frequency and intensity of physical activity, the absence of digital games, and attending sports clubs seem to have the most beneficial effects in terms of academic competence in school children, among other relevant confounders mediating in this complex relationship. Ključne besede: physical activity, leisure time, sports, academic competences, late childhood, multiple regression analyses Objavljeno v DKUM: 12.07.2024; Ogledov: 94; Prenosov: 10 Celotno besedilo (394,49 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. pH-dependence of glucose- dependent activity of beta cell networks in acute mouse pancreatic tissue sliceSandra Postić, Marko Gosak, Wen-Hao Tsai, Johannes Pfabe, Srdjan Sarikas, Andraž Stožer, Dean Korošak, Shi-Bing Yang, Marjan Rupnik, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Extracellular pH has the potential to affect various aspects of the pancreatic beta cell function. To explain this effect, a number of mechanisms was proposed involving both extracellular and intracellular targets and pathways. Here, we focus on reassessing the influence of extracellular pH on glucose-dependent beta cell activation and collective activity in physiological conditions. To this end we employed mouse pancreatic tissue slices to perform high-temporally resolved functional imaging of cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations. We investigated the effect of either physiological H+ excess or depletion on the activation properties as well as on the collective activity of beta cell in an islet. Our results indicate that lowered pH invokes activation of a subset of beta cells in substimulatory glucose concentrations, enhances the average activity of beta cells, and alters the beta cell network properties in an islet. The enhanced average activity of beta cells was determined indirectly utilizing cytosolic Ca2+ imaging, while direct measuring of insulin secretion confirmed that this enhanced activity is accompanied by a higher insulin release. Furthermore, reduced functional connectivity and higher functional segregation at lower pH, both signs of a reduced intercellular communication, do not necessary result in an impaired insulin release. Ključne besede: insulin secretion, membrane excitability, potassium channels, beta cell network, collective activity, calcium waves, pancreatic islets, pH-dependence Objavljeno v DKUM: 01.07.2024; Ogledov: 149; Prenosov: 4 Celotno besedilo (7,45 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |