Sex steroid hormones status influence on antidepressant pharmacotherapy effect in male and female patients

Depression causes immense burden on health care systems worldwide with two time s higher prevalence in women. However, both male and female patients are treated with antidepressants under same protocols. As it was demonstrated that estrogen has a prodepressant and testosterone an antidepressant affect, it is reasonable to assume that pharmacotherapeutic effect might depend also on sex hormones status. The aim of this pilot study was to explore hormonal status of female and male patients upon hospitalization on occurrence of depressive episode and to correlate it with pharmacotherapy effect after four weeks of therapy. Subjects were 42 patients, 14 males, 14 females in the first (follicular) phase of menstrual cycle and 14 females in the second (luteal) phase of menstrual cycle upon hospitalization. The Hamilton scale was used to determine degree of depressive state upon hospitalization an after 28 days. At both time points, blood was sampled and level of testosterone and estrogen for male and estrogen, progesterone and testosterone for female patients was analysed. Results of the study showed that antidepressant effect calculated as a difference in Hamilton scale was highest in male group of patients and significantly higher than in women in the second phase of the cycle (10.4 vs 8.1). This correlated with increase of testosterone in male patients during four weeks treatment (12.08 vs. 9.46), while there was no significant change in the level of testosterone in both female groups of patients. Furthermore, in female patients in the luteal phase of the cycle, with lowest response to antidepressants, both estrogen and progesterone were significantly reduced during four weeks of treatment. In conclusion, results of our pilot study suggest sex differences in response to antidepressant therapy and level of hormonal status should be evaluated for better personalized pharmacotherapy.The Biochemistry Global Summit, 25th IUBMB Congress, 46th FEBS Congress, 15th PABMB Congress, July 9–14, 2022, Lisbon, Portuga

Serum activity of DPPIV and its expression on lymphocytes in patients with melanoma and in people with vitiligo

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV, a multifunctional serine protease, is implicated in regulation of malignant transformation, promotion and further progression of cancer, exerting tumor-suppressing or even completely opposite - tumor-promoting activities. The aim of present research was to determine the serum DPPIV activity, as well as the percentages of CD26+ lymphocytes, CD26+ overall white blood cells and the mean fluorescence intensity of CD26 expression on lymphocytes in patients with melanoma, people with vitiligo and in healthy controls. Methods: The activity of DPPIV in serum was determined by colorimetric test. Expression of DPPIV (as CD26) on immunocompetent peripheral white blood cells was done using flow cytometry analysis. Results: Data from our study show for the first time statistically significant decrease: in the serum DPPIV activity, in the percentage of CD26+ overall white blood cells and in the percentage of lymphocytes in patients with melanoma in comparison to healthy control people. In addition, significantly lower serum DPPIV activity was found in the group of patients with melanoma in relation to people with vitiligo too. Conclusion: This study indicates the need for exploring the cause and the importance of the disturbances in the serum DPPIV activity and in the CD26 expression on immunocompetent cells in complex molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of melanomaThe authors are grateful to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia for the financial support (Project 175011)S

COENUROSIS OF SHEEP IN SERBIA - CASE REPORT

Coenurosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval forms of Taenia multiceps which are great host's animals from the family of canids. The disease is global distribution but is most present in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Central Africa and Australia. Larvae exhibit tropism toward brain tissue, and cysts are usually located in the left hemisphere of the brain of small ruminants. Involvement of the brain can cause increased intracranial pressure, seizures, loss of consciousness, and focal neurologic deficits. During 2022 we examinee one flocks of 78 milking sheep reared on hilly pastures located below the Zmajevac hill (397 m), between the branches of the Osimćki mountains and the river Zapadna Morava, at an altitude of 178 m. Symptoms of ataxia, such as unsteady gait and stumbling, and depression were observed in 12 animals. In 5 sheep, continuous aimless or circular movement, wandering, was also manifested. In addition to these symptoms, in one sheep that died, visual disturbances were observed depression and unilateral blindness. All affected sheep were slaughtered and a pathoanatomical examination was performed. In the brain of all animals we revealed the presence of infestation with one to four coenuri 4.1-5.5 cm in size. The sites of predilection were the left hemisphere (48%), followed by the right hemisphere (40%) and the cerebellum (12%). The coenurus has a thin wall surrounding a single cavity that contains a clear fluid. When the cysts were opened, numerous scoleces were found inside, from 2 to 3 mm in diameter attached to the cyst wall. Each scolex has four circular suckers and two rows of hooks on a rostellum. The hook lengths are 147 to 165 µm and 87 to 125 µm.The results show that C. cerebralis was a major cause of the nervous manifestations of coenurosis in clinically affected sheep

Coenurosis of sheep in Serbia - case report

Coenurosisa is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval forms of Taenia multiceps which are great host's animals from the family of canids. The disease is global distribution but is most present in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Central Africa and Australia. Larvae exhibit tropism toward brain tissue, and cysts are usually located in the left hemisphere of the brain of small ruminants. Involvement of the brain can cause increased intracranial pressure, seizures, loss of consciousness, and focal neurologic deficits. During 2022 we examinee one flocks of 78 milking sheep reared on hilly pastures located below the Zmajevac hill (397 m), between the branches of the Osimćki mountains and the river Zapadna Morava, at an altitude of 178 m. Symptoms of ataxia, such as unsteady gait and stumbling, and depression were observed in 12 animals. In 5 sheep, continuous aimless or circular movement, wandering, was also manifested. In addition to these symptoms, in one sheep that died, visual disturbances were observed depression and unilateral blindness. All affected sheep were slaughtered and a pathoanatomical examination was performed. In the brain of all animals we revealed the presence of infestation with one to four coenuri 4.1-5.5 cm in size. The sites of predilection were the left hemisphere (48%), followed by the right hemisphere (40%) and the cerebellum (12%). The coenurus has a thin wall surrounding a single cavity that contains a clear fluid. When the cysts were opened, numerous scoleces were found inside, from 2 to 3 mm in diameter attached to the cyst wall. Each scolex has four circular suckers and two rows of hooks on a rostellum. The hook lengths are 147 to 165 µm and 87 to 125 µm.The results show that C. cerebralis was a major cause of the nervous manifestations of cenurosis in clinically affected sheep.Proceeding

Gastrointestinal helminths of small ruminants in Serbia

During study of gastrointestinal helminths of small ruminants in Serbia, performed from 2010 to 2020 we collected fecal samples from 470 herds in various part of Serbia. Samples were colected at monthly intervals and we examined more than 6500 faecal samples. Examination was performed using standard coprological technique. During ten years 738 sheep and goats we were examined by post-mortem examination. Determination of adult parasites and eggs of parasites were done by morphological characteristic. During these investigations, the following GI helminths were found in sheep:: Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta, Ostertagia trifurcata, Ostertagia ostertagi, Ostertagia occidentalis, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Nematodirus filicoliis, Nematodirus spathiger, Nematodirus abnormalis, Cooperia curticei, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia punctata, Cooperia zurnabada, Skrjabinema ovis, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Chabertia ovina. In goats, the presence has been establishedOstertagia circumcincta, O. ostertagi, Ostertagia occidentalis, Trichostrongylus axei, T. Colubriformis, T. capricola, Nematodirus spathiger, N. filicollis, Haemonchus contortus, Marshallagia marshalli, Skrjabinema ovis, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum venulosum i Cooperia curticei. The intensity of infection and polyparasitsm was monitored in relation to the age of sheep and goats. It was found that in younger animals intensity of infection was lower than that of older animals. The dynamics of the first appearance of established gastrointestinal strongylid species in both populations of small ruminants was as follows: in March in sheep faeces we have occurred eggs of Ostertagia sp., Trichostrongylus sp. and Nematodirus sp.. In May, were observed infection withBunostomum sp. and Chabertia spp. (ovina);. During June we had first record of Skrjabinema sp.. In Modern Trends in Agricultural Production, Rural Development, Agro-economy, Cooperatives and Environmental ProtectionJuly were established eggs of Haemonchus sp. (contortus) and Cooperia sp. finally, in October and Novembar, before withdrawing sheep from the pasture, we showed the presence of Marshallagia sp

Trematode kod svinja

Klasa Trematoda, u narodu poznatija kao metlji, obuhvata parazite čije telo nije segmentisano na člančiće i poseduju organe za pričršćivanja u vidu jakih muskuloznih pijavki. Kod svinja parazitira mali broj trematoda od kojih je većina u adultnom obliku a neke se nalaze incistirane u larvarnom stadijumu najčešće u mišićima svinja. U Evropi je prisutan mali broj trematoda ali su one zato u Aziji u velikom broju prisutne u patologiji svinja i ljudi. Ovde će mo dati prikaz najznačajnih zoonotske trematoda svinja: Alaria alata, Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocelium dendriticum, Fasciolopsis buski, Clonorchis sinensis i Opisthorchis felineus.Zbornik radov

Immunity to melanin and to tyrosinase in melanoma patients, and in people with vitiligo

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine the presence and the intensity of humoral immunity to melanoma-associated antigens: tyrosinase and melanin, in patients with melanoma, in persons with vitiligo and in control healthy people. Methods The study involved 63 patients with melanoma and 19 persons with vitiligo. Control group consisted up to 41 healthy volunteers. Mushroom tyrosinase and synthetic melanin were used as the antigens. Results ELISA test showed significantly (p  Although there was no significant difference between the levels of IgA anti-melanin autoantibodies in melanoma or vitiligo patients in comparison with controls, the enhanced concentrations of anti-melanin IgA autoantibodies were preferentially found in melanoma patients with metastatic disease. Significantly high percentage in the Fc alphaRI (CD89) positive cells was determined in melanoma patients (p  Levels of IgG autoantibodies to mentioned antigens in melanoma patients although low were not significantly lower from controls. These findings analyzed together with the statistically significant low percentage of FcgammaRIII, (CD16) positive immunocompetent cells (p  Conclusion Autoantibodies to tyrosinase and to melanin which are found even in healthy people, point that consummation of edible mushrooms that carry the antigen tyrosinase and melanin, could influence the humoral anti-melanoma immune response. Levels of different immunoglobulin classes of anti-melanin and anti-tyrosinase antibodies varied depending on the presence and the stage of studied diseases. Besides, the statistically enhanced ratio of the percentages of granulocytes and percentage of lymphocytes, together with statistically decreased percentage of NK cells is found in analyzed melanoma patients.</p