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Objective / Purpose: The objective of this study was efficacy assessment of Bioapifit® wound care ointment consisted of honey, Cera flava, glycerin, the oil macerates of astringent and soothing herbs combined with three essential oils for the treatment of venous ulcers. Materials and methods : 50 patients with total 112 venous ulcers with the total surface area of 572.5 cm 2 were treated 60 days (twice a day) with Bioapifit® wound care ointment applied on conventionally cleaned wound and covered with bandage during the whole course of the study. The healing process was assessed by Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) tool twice a month. Results: At baseline the mean value and standard deviation of the VCSS score was 25.03 ± 4.37 and 25.53 ± 3.36 for females and males, respectively. The surface area ranged from 1.6 to 28.1 cm 2 for females and from 1.60 to 29.20 cm 2 for males. The mean value and standard deviation of the total VCSS score following the treatment decreased to 6.26 ± 4.0 and 6.47 ± 3.9 for females and males, respectively. Total number of active ulcers decreased from 112 to 17 and the total surface area of all ulcers from 572.5 cm 2 to 7.6 cm 2 . No side-effects were observed during the course of the study. Conclusion / Discussion: Two months application of Bioapifit® wound care ointment resulted in complete closure of 84.8% of the ulcers and reduction in their surface area for 98.7% with the mean healing time of 37.2 days.

Objective/Purpose: The purpose of this work was the assessment of the clinical efficacyand safety of Bioapigyn® vaginal ointment for pelvic muscle tonus compared topelvic floor muscle training in alleviating the symptoms of stress, urge andmixed urinary incontinence and vulvo-vaginal disorders in child-bearing andmenopausal & postmenopausal women. Materialsand Methods: The experimental group consisted of 66 women was treated 28days with Bioapigyn® ointment for pelvic muscle tonus (2.5 mL/day). The controlgroup also consisted of 66 participantswas subjected to pelvic floor muscle training during 28 days (five times aday). ICIQ-UI SF score, the residual urine volume, perineometry, the totalscore of vulvo-vaginal symptoms and vaginal pH were determined before and afterthe treatment or training. Results:Following the treatment with Bioapigyn® ointment ICIQ-UI-SF score decreased54.9%, perineometry parameters increased between 31.5 and 34.3%, residual urine decreased for 76.9% and vaginal pH for 14.2%. All the symptoms ofvulvo-vaginal disorders disappeared completely in all participants. The controlgroup showed no changes in vaginal pH or the improvement concerning thevulvo-vaginal complaints. ICIQ- UI-SF score decreased for 4.3%, residual urinevolume for 9.1% while perineometry parameters increased between 4.3 and 8.3%. Conclusion/Discussion: Bioapigyn®vaginal ointment for pelvic muscle tonus alleviate the symptoms of incontinenceby tightening and firming of the smooth muscles of the pelvic floor thanks tothe ingredients with smooth muscles contraction/relaxation and astringentproperties. Low pH, high osmolarity, viscosity, greasiness and coating effectof the ointment eradicated vulvo-vaginal complaints.

Objective/Purpose: The objective of this study was efficacy and safety assessment of Bioapifit® wound care ointment consisted of honey, Cera flava, glycerin, the oil macerates of astringent and soothing herbs combined with essential oils for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers of grade II. Materials and methods: 50 patients with Wagner grade II diabetic foot ulcers were randomized into experimental and control group (25 patients each). The experimental group was treated 28 days with Bioapifit® wound care ointment applied on the wound after cleaning with povidone iodine once a day and covered with sterile gauze and bandage during the whole course of the study. The control group wounds were cleaned with povidone iodine once a day and covered with sterile gauze and bandage during the whole course of the study without further treatment. The ulcers surface area was measured at baseline and after 14 and 28 days of the treatment. Results: In the end of the treatment the mean values and standard deviation of the surface area in the experimental group dropped from 8.27±6.1 cm 2 to 0.74±0.21 cm 2 for males and from 9.01±5.9 cm 2 to 0.81±0.11 cm 2 for females. Slight, insignificant decrease was also observed in the control population (up to 25%). No side-effects were observed during the course of the study. Conclusion/Discussion: Four weeks treatment with Bioapifit® wound care ointment resulted in complete wound closure in 84% of the patients and 91% reduction in the wound surface area in the rest of them.

Objective / Purpose : The objective of the study was assessment of the clinical efficacy and safety of Bioapigyn O vaginal ointment and pessaries compared to Acidosalus O pessaries and vaginal probiotic in alleviating vulvo-vaginal disorders. Materials and methods : 124 females were randomly selected into four groups (each of 31 participants) and treated once a day for ten days with: A) Bioapigyn O vaginal pessaries (one pessary per day); B) 2.5 mL of Bioapygin O vaginal ointment; C) Acidosalus O vaginal pessaries (one pessary per day); D) 2.5 mL of Acidosalus O vaginal probiotic. All the patients were subjected to gynecological examination, measurement of vaginal pH, Pap test, native and KOH test, self-assessment and clinical assessment of the symptoms at baseline and following the therapy. Results : Following the treatment with Bioapigin O vaginal ointment, Bioapigyn O pessaries, Acidosalus O pessaries, Acidosalus O vaginal probiotic the total score of vulvo-vaginal disorders decreased for 85.2%, 88.9%, 82.7% and 78%, respectively and vaginal pH decreased between 9.1% and 14.3%. Native test showed normalization of the vaginal flora following the treatment with all four products with no significant difference among the products. Conclusion/Discussion : Both Bioapigyn O and Acidosalus O products were highly efficient in alleviation of vulvo-vaginal disorders. The products created unfavorable conditions for pathogenic growth through the lowering of vaginal pH value, promoting the growth of lactobacilli, creating the environment with low water activity and creating a protective layer on the damaged mucosa that creates a physical barrier to the entrance of the pathogens into the cells and enables the recovery of the vaginal mucosa.

The study presents an assessment of mechanism of action and a pilot clinical study of efficacy and safety of the Er:YAG laser for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The subject of this study is a treatment of SUI with a 2940 nm Er:YAG laser, operating in a special SMOOTH mode designed to increase temperature of the vaginal mucosa up to maximally 60–65 °C without ablating the epidermis. Numerical modelling of the temperature distribution within mucosa tissue following an irradiation with the SMOOTH mode Er:YAG laser was performed in order to determine the appropriate range of laser parameters. The laser treatment parameters were further confirmed by measuring in vivo temperatures of the vaginal mucosa using a thermal camera. To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of the SMOOTH mode Er:YAG laser SUI treatment, a pilot clinical study was performed. The study recruited 31 female patients suffering from SUI. Follow-ups were scheduled at 1, 2, and 6 months post treatment. ICIQ-UI questionnaires were collected as a primary trial endpoint. Secondary endpoints included perineometry and residual urine volume measurements at baseline and all follow-ups. Thermal camera measurements have shown the optimal increase in temperature of the vaginal mucosa following treatment of SUI with a SMOOTH mode Er:YAG laser. Primary endpoint, the change in ICIQ-UI score, showed clinically relevant and statistically significant improvement after all follow-ups compared to baseline scores. There was also improvement in the secondary endpoints. Only mild and transient adverse events and no serious adverse events were reported. The results indicate that non-ablative Er:YAG laser therapy is a promising minimally invasive non-surgical option for treating women with SUI symptoms.

The purpose of this work was the development and application of a new herbal ointment and pessaries for the topical treatment of menorrhagia using macerates and essential oils of medicinal plants as active ingredients. Fifty subjects with proven menorrhagia ranging from 32 to 54 years were divided into two groups (each had 25 participants) of similar age, health status and lifestyle. The first group used 2 g of ointment every eight hours while the second group used pessaries instead. The results were obtained at baseline and following the third menstrual cycle. In both groups a significant decrease was observed for all the symptoms (p

The purpose of this work was to develop a pilot plant purification system and apply it to groundwater used for human consumption, containing high concentrations of arsenic and increased levels of phosphates, ammonia, mercury and color. The groundwater used was obtained from the production well in the Vinkovci County (Eastern Croatia). Due to a complex composition of the treated water, the purification system involved a combined electrochemical treatment, using iron and aluminum electrode plates with simultaneous ozonation, followed by a post-treatment with UV, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The removal of the contaminant with the waste sludge collected during the electrochemical treatment was also tested. The combined electrochemical and advanced oxidation treatment resulted in the complete removal of arsenic, phosphates, color, turbidity, suspended solids and ammonia, while the removal of other contaminants of interest was up to 96.7%. Comparable removal efficiencies were obtained by using waste sludge as a coagulant.

Objective The objective of this study was determination of causative factors of the genital infections and their correlation with various predictor variables. Secondary objectives included: (1) determination of the presence and the type of low molecular weight metabolites in the samples of vaginal secretion formed in vivo, (2) determination of the concentration of 2- phenylethanol formed in vitro for each Candida species, (3) determination of the relationship between fungal/bacterial/viral infections with the metabolites formed in vivo using multivariate analysis. Methods One hundred and ninety-seven women in the age range from 18 to 65 years were included in the study. After the completion of questionnaire, all the patients were subjected to Pap test, cervical swabs for the presence of aerobic bacteria, yeasts, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma, and hrHPV DNA. The presence and the concentration of low- molecular weight metabolites in vitro and in vivo were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. Multivariate analysis methods were used for statistical evaluation. Results The most important risk factors of fungal/bacterial/viral infections were determined. The presence of 2-phenylethanol in vivo was confirmed in 14 of 74 tested samples and connected with the Candida species. The presence of symptoms, hrHPV DNA and Ureaplasma urealyticum are the predictor variables with the highest influence on the formation of the metabolite in vivo. The results in vitro confirmed that various Candida species produced 2-phenylethanol with the concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 4.64 μg/mL. Conclusion The medical exposure to irradiation, marital status, and number of partners as well as stress factors (miscarriages, chronic, viral, or tumor illnesses) had the highest influence on the development of the bacterial/fungal/viral infections. The formation of 2-phenylethanol, both in vivo and in vitro, was confirmed and connected with Candida species. Besides, according to statistical tests, it seems that presence of symptoms, hrHPV DNA, and Ureaplasma urealyticum had also significant role on the formation of 2- phenylethanol in vivo.

Toxicological safety of new procedure for the neutralisation/purification of wastewater originated from zinc plating facility was investigated. Wastewater was treated with alkaline solid residue-by-product of zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust. For determination of cytotoxic potential of untreated and purified wastewater MTT test on HEp2 (human laryngeal carcinoma) and HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) cells lines and alkaline comet assay on human leukocytes were used. Then 100% of the sample as well as different dilutions were tested. Compared to negative control 100, 75 and 50% of the sample of untreated wastewater significantly decreased survival of both HEp2 and HeLa cell lines. In the presence of undiluted sample survival percentage of HeLa and HEp2 cells were only 2.3 and 0.3% respectively. Only undiluted purified wastewater showed slight but insignificant decrease of the survival of both cell lines. Even 0.5% of the sample of original electroplating wastewater exhibited significantly higher value of all comet assay parameters compared to negative control. There was no significant difference between negative control and purified wastewater for any of comet assay parameters. Significantly lower level of primary DNA damage recorded after treatment with purified water, even comparable with negative control, confirmed effectiveness of the purification process.

Hypothesis / aims of study: The technical advantages of medical laser technology have been amply justified and proven through its medical effects: biochemical, ablative and photo-thermal, are well established facts. Laser-generated thermal energy breaks up intermolecular cross-links and stabilizes the collagen triple-helix structure, thus resulting in the shortening of collagen fibres. In order to achieve a shrinking of the collagen protein without destroying its fibrilar structure and stimulation of neocollagenogenesis, the temperature must vary between 60oC and 65oC (1). Clinical studies in dermatology, aesthetic medicine and orthopedics have reported significant successes in the treatment of various disorders and conditions based on collagen damage. Inconvenience and fear of social stigma are the main reasons for not reporting stress urinary incontinence symptoms, leading to a 53% prevalence of undiagnosed SUI (2). Recent review showed that the menopause has little if any impact on the risk of urinary incontinence (UI). At the same time, up to 76% postmenopausal women reported symptoms of SUI and deteriorating QoL (3). Less or non- invasive intervention in premenopausal period may reduce incidence of postmenopausal SUI and promote QoL in postmenopausal years. Main objectives of study were comparison of the efficacy of two methods (Er:YAG Laser versus pelvic floor muscle training) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic floor distension syndrome. Study design, materials and methods: After all the exclusions, this single-centre pilot study recruited 33 female patients suffering from SUI, 22 of them underwent treatment with Er:YAG (2940 nm) laser, while 11 were scheduled for pelvic floor muscle training (PMFT). Recruitment period was between January and June 2013. Number of the participants per group was calculated by Power analysis (80% power at a 2sided α level of 0.01 and limit of tolerance of ±5.0%). The degree of incontinence and its impact on quality of life (QoL) was assessed with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), where a maximum score of 21 represents permanent incontinence. Quality of life in the area of sexuality was examined with the validated Pelvic organ prolapse / urinary Incontinence / Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), with a maximum score of 48 points in terms of excellent sexual gratification. The Q-tip test evaluates the mobility/instability of the urethra and bladder neck. Urethral hypermobility was defined as being present when the Q-tip angle was >30º, while a Q-tip movement of ≤30º was presumed as normal. For the measurement of muscle strength of the pelvic diaphragm, an Apimedis perineometer (EXTT-101, Korea) was used to determine the maximum clamping pressure (mm Hg), the average contraction pressure (mm Hg) and mean duration of contractions (seconds). Residual urine volume was measured immediately after the patient returned from the washroom. Measurements were performed with a DC-8 ultrasound unit (Mindray, China). All statistical analyses were made using Statistica for Windows (StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, USA) and the difference between the groups by Mann- Whitney-U test. Statistical significance in all calculations was set to P < 0.05. The procedure was performed with a 2940 nm Er:YAG laser (XS Dynamis, Fotona, Slovenia), using a special modality, SMOOTH mode, which delivers laser energy in a non-ablative, thermal-only technique based on the manufacturer’s proprietary pulsing sequence designed to achieve heating up of vaginal mucosa to around 60°C, achieving depth to 500-700 microns. The patients were placed in lithotomy position and laser probes, consisting of laser speculum and specially designed laser delivery system were introduced into vaginal canal. In three steps protocol the laser irradiation was applied to anterior vaginal wall, the whole circumference of vaginal canal and vestibule area. To each area several passes was applied until 2500 – 3000 J, depending on the length of canal. Cumulative laser energy was deposited in approximately 10 minutes time. No anaesthesia was used before or during the session. During the initial post-operative period of 14 days after intervention patients were instructed to avoid increased intra-abdominal pressure as well as sexual intercourse. Results: Laser treatment was significantly (p

The aim of this research was development of new system for the treatment of highly polluted wastewater (COD = 10240 mg/L; SS = 2860 mg/L) originating from vine-making industry. The system consisted of the main treatment that included electrochemical methods (electro oxidation, electrocoagulation using stainless steel, iron and aluminum electrode sets) with simultaneous sonication and recirculation in strong electromagnetic field. Ozonation combined with UV irradiation in the presence of added hydrogen peroxide was applied for the post-treatment of the effluent. Following the combined treatment, the final removal efficiencies of the parameters color, turbidity, suspended solids and phosphates were over 99%, Fe, Cu and ammonia approximately 98%, while the removal of COD and sulfates was 77% and 62%, respectively. A new approach combining electrochemical methods with ultrasound in the strong electromagnetic field resulted in significantly better removal efficiencies for majority of the measured parameters compared to the biological methods, advanced oxidation processes or electrocoagulation. Reduction of the treatment time represents another advantage of this new approach.