Three new cave-dwelling trechine ground beetles from eastern and southeastern Serbia (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

Three new troglobitic trechine ground beetle species are described from three caves in eastern and southeastern Serbia: Duvalius (Paraduvalius) bogovinae sp. n., from the Bogovinska Pećina Cave, village of Bogovina, Kučajske Planine Mts., near Boljevac, eastern Serbia; D. (P.) milutini sp. n., from the Samar cave system, village of Kopajkošara, Mt. Kalafat, near Svrljig, southeastern Serbia, and D. (P.) beljanicae sp. n., from the Velika Atula Cave, village of Strmosten, Mt. Beljanica, near Despotovac, eastern Serbia. The new species are easily distinguished from relatives. All important morphological features, along with the diagnoses and illustrations of the new taxa are presented. The new species are relicts and endemics of eastern and southeastern Serbia. They probably belong to old phyletic lineages of Tertiary or even pre-Tertiary origin. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

A new species of Leonhardia Reitter, 1901 (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leptodirini) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a key to species of the genus

A new leptodirine leiodid beetle species belonging to the genus Leonhardia Reitter, 1901, L. solaki sp. nov., from a pit in Bosnia and Herzegovina (western Balkan Peninsula) is described and diagnosed. Important morphological features of the new species are listed and photographed. The new species is endemic to the Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A key for identification of species and subspecies of the genus Leonhardia is also provided

Povezanost koštane mineralne gustoće i sastavnica metaboličkog sindroma u postmenopauzalnih žena sa šećernom bolešću tipa 2

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with greater bone mineral density (BMD) due to obesity, although rapid bone loss observed over time could be explained by elevated chronic inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between central adiposity and hyperinsulinemia, as well as inflammation markers with vertebral and femoral BMD and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Femoral and vertebral BMD, osteocalcin, pyrilinks D, beta-CrossLaps (B-CTx), insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured in 114 postmenopausal female patients with diabetes type 2. The patients of similar age, HbA1c levels and diabetes duration were divided into 2 groups based on their body mass index (BMI) values: lower or equal to 27 kg/m2(31 patients) and higher than 27 kg/m2(83 patients). Lower levels of osteocalcin (p=0.001), B-CTx (p=0.000007) and pyrilinks D (p=0.0365), and higher femoral BMD (p=0.00006), insulin level (p=0.0002), PAI-1 (p=0.00000) and CRP (p=0.002) were found in the overweight group. There were no significant differences in vertebral BMD and fibrinogen. Osteocalcin and B-CTx showed inverse correlation, and femoral BMD positive correlation with waist circumference, insulin level and PAI-1. This suggests that abdominal obesity and hyperinsulinemia as components of the metabolic syndrome could increase femoral BMD by lowering bone rate. In addition, the only inflammation marker linked with femoral BMD was PAI-1, which is associated with increased mineralization of cortical bone in mouse models.Šećerna bolest tipa 2 povezana je s većom koštanom mineralnom gustoćom (bone mineral density, BMD) zbog debljine, iako se zamijećeni ubrzani gubitak koštane mase tijekom vremena može objasniti prisustvom kronične upale. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi povezanost biljega koštane pregradnje i koštane gustoće s centralnom debljinom, hiperinzulinemijom kao i upalnim biljezima u postmenopauzalnih žena sa šećernom bolešću tipa 2. U 114 ispitanica izmjerena je koštana gustoća kralježnice i kuka, određeni su osteokalcin, pirilinks D, beta-CrossLaps (B-CTx), inzulin, C-reaktivni protein (CRP), fibrinogen i inhibitor aktivatora plazminogena-1 (PAI-1). Ispitanice slične dobi, podjednakog trajanja dijabetesa te HbA1c bile su podijeljene u dvije skupine prema indeksu tjelesne mase (ITM): niži ili jednaki 27 kg/m2(31 ispitanica) te veći od 27 kg/m2 (83 ispitanice). Niže vrijednosti osteokalcina (p=0,001), B-CTx (p=0,000007) i pirilinksa D (p=0,0365) te više vrijednosti košane gustoće kuka (p=0,00006), inzulina (p=0,0002), PAI-1 (p=0,0000) i CRP (p=0,002) utvrđene su u skupini s prekomjernom tjelesnom težinom. Nije bilo statistički značajne razlike u koštanoj gustoći kralježnice i vrijednosti fibrinogena. Osteokalcin i B-CTx su negativno korelirali, dok je BMD kuka bio u pozitivnoj korealciji s opsegom struka, inzulinom i PAI-1. Ovi rezultati upućuju na to da sastavnice metaboličkog sindroma, centralna debljina i hiperinzulinemija utječu na povećanje koštane gustoće kuka inhibirajući koštanu pregradnju. Jedini upalni biljeg povezan s BMD kuka bio je PAI-1 koji povećava mineralizaciju kortikalne kosti na mišjem modelu

Sadržaj indeksa brojeva 101-121

Kumulativno kazalo za brojeve od 101 do 121. Obrađeno je po rubrikama: članci, presude, prikazi, itd

Chemical Analysis of Mortars of Archeological Samples form Mediana

The aim of this study was mineralogical and chemical analysis of mortar from the floor, ceiling and wall of Stibadium B, from the archaeological site of Mediana. ICP-OES and FTIR-spectroscopy were used to determine chemical composition and some major mineralogical species. The obtained results show that lime mortar is probably used. Large contribution of silicon- and aluminum-oxides, indicate the presence of quartz and clay minerals derived from the aggregate, river sand and crushed bricks. The obtained results also show large amount of iron, manganese and copper. The determinated metals in samples from floor and wall of Stibadium B, are mostly present in oxide fraction, while in sample from ceiling, they are mostly found in silicate fraction

Serumska vrijednost osteoprotegerina u bolesnika s kalcificirajućom aortnom stenozom u ovisnosti o zatajenju srca

The aim of the study was to assess the role of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) as a biomarker in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) in relation to heart failure and symptomatic status. This was a case control study, which included 51 patients with AS and 39 control subjects. At the time of study enrolment, detailed medical history was obtained and all subjects underwent physical examination, chest x-ray and echocardiography. OPG levels were measured in all subjects, and serum N-terminal of the pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro BNP) levels were determined in patients with AS. Serum OPG levels were elevated in patients with AS compared to control subjects (p=0.001). Pa-tients with heart failure due to AS had elevated serum OPG levels in comparison to patients without heart failure (p=0.001). A significant correlation between OPG and symptomatic status was observed in all patients with AS (p<0.001), however, it was not the case in patients without heart failure (p=0.425). There was a positive correlation between OPG and NT pro BNP concentrations with objective signs of heart failure on chest x-ray (p<0.001). Negative correlation of OPG concentrations with aortic valve area was present (p<0.040), as well as with left ventricular ejection fraction (p<0.001). Serum OPG could be a valuable biomarker in the evaluation of severity of calcified AS and serve as an additional indicator besides clinical presentation and echocardiography in the assessment of surgical treatment or aortic valve replacement.Cilj ove studije bio je ocijeniti ulogu osteoprotegerina (OPG) kao biljega u bolesnika sa stenozom aortnog srčanog za-liska u odnosu na prisutne simptome kao i stupanj srčanog zatajenja. U studiju je bio uključen 51 bolesnik s aortnom steno-zom (AS) i 39 kontrolnih ispitanika. Prije uključenja u studiju uzeta je detaljna anamneza, učinjen je fizikalni pregled, ren-tgenska snimka srca i pluća te ehokardiografija. OPG je određen u svih ispitanika, a N-terminalni nastavak pro b-tipa natriu-retskog peptida (NT pro BNP) bio je određen u bolesnika s AS. OPG je bio povišen u bolesnika s AS u odnosu na kontrolne ispitanike (p=0,001). Bolesnici sa srčanim zatajenjem zbog AS imali su povišene razine OPG-a u odnosu na bolesnike bez srčanog zatajenja (p=0,001). Značajna korelacija između OPG-a i simptomatskog statusa bila je zapažena u svih bolesnika s AS (p<0,001), ali to nije bio slučaj u bolesnika bez srčanog zatajenja (p=0.425). Zabilježena je i pozitivna korelacija između koncentracije OPG-a i NT pro BNP-a s objektivnim znakovima srčanog zatajenja na rentgenskoj snimci srca i pluća (p<0,001). Također je opažena negativna korelacija OPG-a i areje aortnog zaliska (p<0,040) te istisne frakcije lijeve klijetke (p<0,001). OPG bi mogao predstavljati vrijedan biljeg u procjeni težine kalcificirane AS te bi mogao poslužiti kao dodatni indikator prilikom odlučivanja o kirurškom liječenju ili zamjeni aortnog zaliska, naravno, uz kliničku prezentaciju i ehokardiografiju

ON THE FIRST NON-TYPE LOCALITY FINDING OF DUVALIUS (PARADUVALIUS) STANKOVITCHI GEORGEVITCHI (JEANNEL, 1923) (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE: TRECHINAE)

Troglobitic trechine ground beetle, Duvalius (Paraduvalius) stankovitchi georgevitchi (Jeannel, 1923) was found outside its type locality (Lazareva Pećina Cave, village of Zlot, near Bor, Kučajske Planine Mts., eastern Serbia) for the first time. Specimens of the mentioned taxon were recently collected in Vernjikica Cave nearby. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed that specimens from both caves belong to the same subspecies, and that there are no significant differences between them

Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolički sindrom (MS) sastavljen je od niza poremećaja koji se manifestiraju centralnom pretilosti, arterijskom hipertenzijom, hiperglikemijom i dislipidemijom, a usko je povezan s rizikom od razvoja šećerne bolesti, kardiovaskularnih bolesti, steatozom jetre, zloćudnih bolesti i demencijom, odnosno pridonosi povećanju mortaliteta. Nažalost, njegova je incidencija u stalnom porastu i u odrasloj i u dječjoj populaciji, a navedeno je u direktnoj vezi sa sedentarnim načinom života i visokokaloričnom prehranom. U prevenciji i liječenju MS-a važnu ulogu ima tjelesna aktivnost jer utječe na patofiziološke mehanizme u podlozi MS-a, prije svega na inzulinsku rezistenciju (IR). Dodatno, tjelesna aktivnost pogoduje poboljšanju lipidograma i sniženju arterijskoga krvnog tlaka te pridonosi redukciji tjelesne mase. Preporučuje se minimalno 150 minuta aerobne tjelesne aktivnosti umjerenog intenziteta uz provođenje vježba snage 2 – 3 puta na tjedan. Također, već od dječje dobi bitno je skratiti vrijeme provedeno u sedentarnom načinu života.Metabolic Syndrome (MS) encompasses several disorders including abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia, and is closely related to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, liver steatosis, malignant diseases and dementia, which lead to higher mortality. Unfortunately, incidence of MS is continually increasing, not only in adults but also in children, which is in direct correlation with the sedentary lifestyle and high-calorie diet. Physical activity plays an important role in both prevention and treatment of MS as it affects underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of MS, especially insulin resistance (IR). Additionally, physical activity improves lipid profile, reduces arterial blood pressure and helps lose weight. Guidelines suggest at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with strength training 2 − 3 times per week. Moreover, it is important to reduce sedentary time in early childhood

Chemical Analysis of Mortars of Archeological Samples form Mediana

The aim of this study was mineralogical and chemical analysis of mortar from the floor, ceiling and wall of Stibadium B, from the archaeological site of Mediana. ICP-OES and FTIR-spectroscopy were used to determine chemical composition and some major mineralogical species. The obtained results show that lime mortar is probably used. Large contribution of silicon- and aluminum-oxides, indicate the presence of quartz and clay minerals derived from the aggregate, river sand and crushed bricks. The obtained results also show large amount of iron, manganese and copper. The determinated metals in samples from floor and wall of Stibadium B, are mostly present in oxide fraction, while in sample from ceiling, they are mostly found in silicate fraction

Chemical Analysis of Mortars of Archeological Samples form Mediana

The aim of this study was mineralogical and chemical analysis of mortar from the floor, ceiling and wall of Stibadium B, from the archaeological site of Mediana. ICP-OES and FTIR-spectroscopy were used to determine chemical composition and some major mineralogical species. The obtained results show that lime mortar is probably used. Large contribution of silicon- and aluminum-oxides, indicate the presence of quartz and clay minerals derived from the aggregate, river sand and crushed bricks. The obtained results also show large amount of iron, manganese and copper. The determinated metals in samples from floor and wall of Stibadium B, are mostly present in oxide fraction, while in sample from ceiling, they are mostly found in silicate fraction