SPOLNE RAZLIKE U RAZINI GLUKOZE U KRVI KOD ŠTAKORA NAKON VJEŽBE FORSIRANOG PLIVANJA

The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in blood glucose levels between male and female rats immediately after acute bout of forced swimming exercise. Adult male Wistar rats (weight 300- 350 g) were divided into two groups by gender: males (n =8) and females (n =8). All the rats were given standard rat chow and tap water ad libitum and were housed at 25±3o C on a 12-hour dark/light cycle. Both groups of rats were exposed to forced swimming stress daily, for 6 days. Duration of each swimming session progressively increased from 5 minutes on the first day to 30 minutes on sixth day, allowing adaptation to swimming conditions. The rats were forced to swim in plastic tanks (90 cm wide, 120 cm deep) containing tap water (temperature ca. 25 degrees C). The depth of water was 40 cm. Seventh day we performed acute bout of 40 minutes swimming exercise. Animals were fasted 12 hours before start of last swimming sessions to obtain fasting blood glucose levels. Preexercise blood samples were taken immediately before last swimming session (7th day) and postexercise samples immediately after the last swimming session from rat\u27s tail vein. Glucose levels in blood were determined using Optium Xceed™ Diabetes Monitoring System (Abbot). Before last swimming session male rats had slightly lower glucose levels in comparation with female rats, but this difference was not statistically significant (3.77vs4.64 mmol/l). Acute bout of forced swimming exercise raised blood glucose level and established values in postexercise period were significantly higher in both study group in comparation to values before exercise. Male rats had greater postexercise glucose blood levels (11.85 mmol/l) in comparation with female rats (6.26 mmol/l). Our findings document the existence of gender impact on the glucose postexercise concentrations confirming the differences in the energy substrates utilization and glucose metabolism regulation during and after exercise.Cilj ove studije bio je istražiti moguće razlike razine glukoze u krvi izmeðu muških i ženskih štakora odmah nakon akutnog opterećenja vježbom forsiranog plivanja.: Odraslih muški štakori soja Wistar (prosječne mase 300-350 g) su bili podijeljeni u dvije skupine po spolu: muški (n= 8) i ženski (n = 8). Svi štakori su dobili standardnu, komercijalnu hranu za štakore i vodu iz slavine ad libitum, a bili su smješteni na 25 ± 3 ° C na 12- satnom tamno / svijetlo ciklusu. Obje skupine štakora bila su izložene vježbama forsiranog plivanja,dnevno u trajanju od 6 dana. Trajanje svake sesije plivanja postupno se povećavalo sa 5 minuta prvog dana do 30 minuta šestog dana , čime se postigla prilagodba životinja na uslove plivanja. Sedmi dan smo izveli akutno opterećenje 40 minutnog forsiranog plivanja. Štakori su plivali u plastičnim spremnicima (90 cm širine, 120 cm dubine) koji su sadržavali vodu iz slavine (temperature približno 25 stupnjeva C). Dubina vode iznosila je 40 cm. Životinjama nismo davali hranu 12 sati prije početka posljednje sesije plivanja kako bi dobili razine glukoze u krvi natašte. Uzorci krvi za odreðivaje glukoze uzeti su neposredno prije posljednje sesije plivanja (7.dan) i neposredno nakon posljednje sesije plivanja iz repne vene štakora. Razine glukoze u krvi utvrðene su pomoću Optium ™ Xceed Dijabetes sustava praćenja (Abbot) . U uzetim uzorcima krvi neposredno prije posljedenje sesije plivanja utvrðene su nešto niže razine glukoze kod muških u usporedbi s ženskim štakorima, ali ta razlika nije bila statistički značajna (3.77vs4.64 mmol /l). Akutno opterećenje vježbom forsiranog plivanja podiglo je razinu glukoze u krvi i srednje vrijednosti u uzorku uzetom neposredno nakon posljednje sesije plivanja bile su značajno više u obje skupine u usporedbi s vrijednostima prije vježbanja. Muški štakori imali su značajno veću razinu glukoze u krvi (11,85mmol / L) u usporedbi sa ženskim štakorima (6,26 mmol / L). Naši rezultati ukazuju na uticaj spola na razinu glukoze nakon fizičkog opterećenja potvrðujući spolne razlike u iskorištavanju energetskog supstrata i i regulaciji metabolizma glukoze u toku i nakon vježbanja

The Value of Serum Thyreoglobulin Levels and Whole Body (I-131) Scintigraphy in the Follow-Up of the Thyroid Cancer Patients after Thyroidectomy

Serum thyreoglobulin (Tg) and whole body scintigraphy (I-131 WBS) have been used to detect recurrent and metastatic thyroid cancers postoperatively. However, discordant results of Tg measurement and 131I WBS have been reported. Negative 131IWBS and a positive Tg test are usually found, but less common occurrence of positive 131IWBS and a negative Tg test has also been demonstrated in a small but significant number of cases. Therefore, the aim of the study was to retrospectively analyse patients with positive 131I WBS after total thyreoidectomy and again 1 year after the radioactive iodine. There were 52 patients included in the study. Four weeks after surgery, during which thyroid hormone treatment was not introduced, each patient received an ablative dose of 131I. The evaluation of the WBS was qualitative and considered positive if thyroid remnant, lymphatic node or metastasis were detected. WBS and serum Tg was measured 12 months after 131I ablation with thyroid hormone suppression. We considered positive any Tg level above the sensitivity values and negative if lower than this level. Tg levels were related to the existence of a positive scan or a negative one. In our 52 WBS positive patients concordant positive Tg levels were observed in 42 patients while in 10 patients we found a negative Tg levels after the surgery. After 1-year follow-up, out of initially 42 concordant patients 8 patients showed remaining concordant positive Tg and WBS values. Discordant results were observed in 13 patients (4 patients were Tgand WBS+ while 9 patients were Tg+ and WBS-). In the majority of patients (50%) remained with concordant results but changed from Tg+ and WBS+ to Tg- and WBS-. Diagnostic WBS is an additional valuable tool, besides Tg levels, in the follow up of patients after total thyreoidectomy

PERIPHERAL 8-ISO-PGF2α AS A BIOMARKER IN BOSNIAN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA

Background: Cerebrospinal levels of isoprostanes (IsoPs) have been established as biomarkers of oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The value of peripheral levels in the diagnostics of these diseases is less conclusive. The aim of this study was to determine serum 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2α) levels in Bosnian AD and VD patients and to establish whether there is an association between 8-iso-PGF2α serum concentration and cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with dementia. Subjects and methods: Serum levels of 8-iso-PGF2α were measured by enzyme immunoassay method in AD (n=30) and VD patients (n=30) and control subjects (CG, n=30). The AD and VD group were further stratified according to the level of CI. Results: The serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in the AD (74.00 pg/mL) and VD groups (38.00 pg/mL) compared to the CG (17.50 pg/mL). A significant difference in serum 8-iso-PGF2α levels between patients with moderate and severe CI was not established in either AD or VD. Conclusion: Serum 8-iso-PGF2α proved to be a good biomarker in AD and VD, however it cannot be recommended for the differentiation of moderate and severe CI

SPOLNE RAZLIKE U RAZINI GLUKOZE U KRVI KOD ŠTAKORA NAKON VJEŽBE FORSIRANOG PLIVANJA

The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in blood glucose levels between male and female rats immediately after acute bout of forced swimming exercise. Adult male Wistar rats (weight 300- 350 g) were divided into two groups by gender: males (n =8) and females (n =8). All the rats were given standard rat chow and tap water ad libitum and were housed at 25±3o C on a 12-hour dark/light cycle. Both groups of rats were exposed to forced swimming stress daily, for 6 days. Duration of each swimming session progressively increased from 5 minutes on the first day to 30 minutes on sixth day, allowing adaptation to swimming conditions. The rats were forced to swim in plastic tanks (90 cm wide, 120 cm deep) containing tap water (temperature ca. 25 degrees C). The depth of water was 40 cm. Seventh day we performed acute bout of 40 minutes swimming exercise. Animals were fasted 12 hours before start of last swimming sessions to obtain fasting blood glucose levels. Preexercise blood samples were taken immediately before last swimming session (7th day) and postexercise samples immediately after the last swimming session from rat\u27s tail vein. Glucose levels in blood were determined using Optium Xceed™ Diabetes Monitoring System (Abbot). Before last swimming session male rats had slightly lower glucose levels in comparation with female rats, but this difference was not statistically significant (3.77vs4.64 mmol/l). Acute bout of forced swimming exercise raised blood glucose level and established values in postexercise period were significantly higher in both study group in comparation to values before exercise. Male rats had greater postexercise glucose blood levels (11.85 mmol/l) in comparation with female rats (6.26 mmol/l). Our findings document the existence of gender impact on the glucose postexercise concentrations confirming the differences in the energy substrates utilization and glucose metabolism regulation during and after exercise.Cilj ove studije bio je istražiti moguće razlike razine glukoze u krvi izmeðu muških i ženskih štakora odmah nakon akutnog opterećenja vježbom forsiranog plivanja.: Odraslih muški štakori soja Wistar (prosječne mase 300-350 g) su bili podijeljeni u dvije skupine po spolu: muški (n= 8) i ženski (n = 8). Svi štakori su dobili standardnu, komercijalnu hranu za štakore i vodu iz slavine ad libitum, a bili su smješteni na 25 ± 3 ° C na 12- satnom tamno / svijetlo ciklusu. Obje skupine štakora bila su izložene vježbama forsiranog plivanja,dnevno u trajanju od 6 dana. Trajanje svake sesije plivanja postupno se povećavalo sa 5 minuta prvog dana do 30 minuta šestog dana , čime se postigla prilagodba životinja na uslove plivanja. Sedmi dan smo izveli akutno opterećenje 40 minutnog forsiranog plivanja. Štakori su plivali u plastičnim spremnicima (90 cm širine, 120 cm dubine) koji su sadržavali vodu iz slavine (temperature približno 25 stupnjeva C). Dubina vode iznosila je 40 cm. Životinjama nismo davali hranu 12 sati prije početka posljednje sesije plivanja kako bi dobili razine glukoze u krvi natašte. Uzorci krvi za odreðivaje glukoze uzeti su neposredno prije posljednje sesije plivanja (7.dan) i neposredno nakon posljednje sesije plivanja iz repne vene štakora. Razine glukoze u krvi utvrðene su pomoću Optium ™ Xceed Dijabetes sustava praćenja (Abbot) . U uzetim uzorcima krvi neposredno prije posljedenje sesije plivanja utvrðene su nešto niže razine glukoze kod muških u usporedbi s ženskim štakorima, ali ta razlika nije bila statistički značajna (3.77vs4.64 mmol /l). Akutno opterećenje vježbom forsiranog plivanja podiglo je razinu glukoze u krvi i srednje vrijednosti u uzorku uzetom neposredno nakon posljednje sesije plivanja bile su značajno više u obje skupine u usporedbi s vrijednostima prije vježbanja. Muški štakori imali su značajno veću razinu glukoze u krvi (11,85mmol / L) u usporedbi sa ženskim štakorima (6,26 mmol / L). Naši rezultati ukazuju na uticaj spola na razinu glukoze nakon fizičkog opterećenja potvrðujući spolne razlike u iskorištavanju energetskog supstrata i i regulaciji metabolizma glukoze u toku i nakon vježbanja

Chronic Kidney Disease and Endothelium

The endothelial cell layer is responsible for molecular traffic between the blood and surrounding tissue, and endothelial integrity plays a pivotal role in many aspects of vascular function. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its incidence and severity increase in direct proportion with kidney function decline. Non-traditional risk factors for CVDs, including endothelial dysfunction (ED), are highly prevalent in this population and play an important role in cardiovascular (CV) events. ED is the first step in the development of atherosclerosis and its severity has prognostic value for CV events. Several risk markers have been associated with ED. Reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide plays a central role, linking kidney disease to ED, atherosclerosis, and CV events. Inflammation, loss of residual renal function, and insulin resistance are closely related to ED in CKD. ED may be followed by structural damage and remodelling that can precipitate both bleeding and thrombotic events. The endothelium plays a main role in vascular tone and metabolic pathways. ED is the first, yet potentially reversible step in the development of atherosclerosis and its severity has prognostic value for CV events

First decade of publishing Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

The Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (BJBMS) is an international English-language, peer reviewed journal, publishing original articles from different disciplines and predominantly basic medical sciences. The first issue was published in 1998, followed by a four year period without publication. The second issue was published in February 2002 and since then the BJBMS has been published regularly and in a timely fashion. As BJBMS is now approaching its 10th year anniversary of continuous publishing, we believe that it is time to evaluate the achievements in this period.

The utility of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide for the bone status assessment in postmenopausal women

The utility of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) in the management of metabolic bone diseases remains a subject of debate since the reference ranges are not rigorously established and fail to account for many of the preanalytical variables. We aimed to establish reference intervals for P1NP level in healthy and osteoporotic postmenopausal females stratified by age, body mass index and menopausal duration. We also aimed to assess the relationship between P1NP and BMD. This cross-sectional study enrolled 183 postmenopausal females who were divided in osteoporosis group (N=93) and control group (N=90) with preserved bone mass based on BMD assessed by DXA. In the osteoporosis group median P1NP was significantly higher (51.7 ng / mL; 95%CI 43.2-53.7) compared to control group (38.9 ng/mL; 95%CI 34.2-43.9)(p<0.01). After controlling for age, BMI and years since menopause, there was significant inverse association between BMD and P1NP at the femoral neck (r=-0.18), total hip (r=-0.207) and lumbar spine (r=-0.236). There was no significant difference in P1NP concentration across quartiles of age in postmenopausal females. P1NP was significantly lower in obese postmenopausal females with preserved bone mass compared to normal weight and overweight females in control and in osteoporosis group. In conclusion, we showed that P1NP is inversely associated with BMD even after controlling for age, BMI and years since menopause. Although, P1NP is significantly higher in postmenopausal females with osteoporosis compared to postmenopausal females with preserved bone mass its low specificity does not warrant its utility is diagnosing osteoporosis

Endothelial dysfunction in uremic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy as well as with the decline in creatinine clearance. It has been suggested that endothelial dysfunction presents in patients (pts) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The objective of this study was to examine the plasma biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and their association with IMT of carotid arteries in diabetic and non-diabetic patients on CAPD. This study included 37 CAPD pts (25 with type II diabetes and 12 non-diabetic pts) mean age 59.2 years ± 2.48. Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity, serum albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) levels, as well as serum level of homocysteine, parathyroid hormone (PTH) in plasma and microalbuminuria was determined. Ultrasound examination of carotid arteries was performed in all patients by measured bilateral intima-media thickness of carotid artery (CIMT). Mean IMT value was significantly higher in type 2 DM patients (0.86 ± 0.04 mm) compared to non-diabetic patients (0.52 ± 0.06 mm) on peritoneal dialysis (p<0.0001). There was also a significant difference in lipids/triglycerides and Lp (a)/, procoagulation (fibrinogen, von Wilebrand factor, factor VIII) and inflammatory markers (CRP) level between type 2 DM and non-diabetic CAPD patients. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that log triglycerides and factor VIII were independent factors for the IMT. The results of this research impose that diabetic type 2 CAPD patients have developed systemic alteration of endothelial function and higher risk of cardiovascular complications compared to non-diabetic CAPD patients

Decreased Serum Lipids in Patients with Probable Alzheimer´s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease but its aetiology and pathophisiology are still not fully understood. Epidemiologic studies examining the association between lipids and dementia have reported conflicting results. High total cholesterol has been associated with both an increased, and decreased, risk of AD and/or vascular dementia (VAD), whereas other studies found no association. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum lipids concentration in patients with probable AD, as well as possible correlation between serum lipids concentrations and cognitive impairment. Our cross-sectional study included 30 patients with probable AD and 30 age and sex matched control subjects. The probable AD was clinically diagnosed by NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were determined at the initial assessment using standard enzymatic colorimetric techniques. Low-den- sity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels were calculated. Subjects with probable AD had significantly lower serum TG (p<0,01), TC (p<0,05), LDL-C (p<0,05) and VLDL-C (p<0,01) compared to the control group. We did not observe signifi-cant difference in HDL-C level between patients with probable AD and control subjects. Negative, although not significant correlation between TG, TC and VLDL-C and MMSE in patients with AD was observed. In the control group of subjects there was a negative correlation between TC and MMSE but it was not statistically significant (r = -0,28). Further studies are required to explore the possibility for serum lipids to serve as diagnostic and therapeutic markers of AD

Prevalence of 1691G>A FV mutation in females from Bosnia and Herzegovina - a preliminary report

Factor V is the liver-synthesized multidomain glycoprotein encoded by a gene localised on chromosome 1q23. The point mutation 1691G>A in this gene results in formation of an altered protein of V Factor resistant to activated protein C (APC) cleavage. This mutation alone is the most frequent cause of inborn thrombophilia and the most widely acknowledged genetic risk factor for venous thrombosis in a Caucasian population. This study was designed to provide the first estimate of the frequency of the allele 1691A FV in the Bosnian female population. The 1691G>A FV mutation was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, in a group of 67 women, mean age of 58.6 years with no history of cardiovascural incident. Our findings revealed an absence of the mutated allele 1691A FV in the studied group. This is the first report on the 1691G>A FV mutation in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further research is needed to establish prevalence of the mutated allele in the population from Bosnia and Herzegovina