PROF. ZDENKO KRIŽAN (1915 – 2005) - PHYSICIAN, ANATOMIST AND TEACHER

Zdenko Križan (1915. - 2005.), liječnik, anatom i nastavnik, važna je akademska ličnost 20. stoljeća, posebno na južnoslavenskom području. Sudjelovao je u osnivanju tri anatomska zavoda i rukovodio njihovim radom. Tijekom dugogodišnje karijere bavio se nastavnim i znanstveno-istraživačkim radom. Prof. Križan je autor kompendija opće i specijalne anatomije za studente medicine i stomatologije. Rezultate svojih anatomskih istraživanja, uglavnom iz područja skeleta glave i krvnih žila, objavio je u domaćim i inozemnim znanstvenim časopisima. Ovaj rad pregledno daje biografske podatke o prof. Križanu.Zdenko Križan (1915 - 2005), physician, anatomist and teacher, is an important academic figure of the 20th century, especially in the South Slavic area. He participated in the founding of three anatomical institutes and directed their work. During the years of his career he was teaching and he did scientific research. Prof. Križan is author of three compendia of anatomy for Medicine and Dentistry students. The results of his anatomical research, mainly in the area of the head skeleton and blood vessels, were published in national and international scientific journals. This article is a rewiew of prof. Križan’s biography data

Bone Quality Assessment in Individuals of Different Age, Gender and Body Constitution

The concept of bone quality describes the sets of the characteristics of the osseous tissue that influence bone strength. The aim was to explore the influence of anthropometric parameters and age on the parameters of the bone architecture and bone mineral properties in the lumbar vertebral bone of men and women. Vertebral bone samples underwent bone histomorphometry, bone densitometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Men have greater values of the bone volume and thicker bone trabeculae in relation to women, which indicates that vertebral bone architecture is better preserved in men than in women. Age is the best predictor of changes that affect bone architecture and bone mineral properties. Bone mineral density value and calcium concentration are both negatively predicted by age, but positively predicted by boda mass index. Such result supports the opinion that low body mass index is associated with conditions of bone deficit such are osteopenia and osteoporosis

Role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Human Prostate Cancer Pathogenesis and Development of Bone Metastases: Immunohistochemical Study

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) have the ability to induce ectopic bone formation1–10. The findings of their expression in prostate cancers have been linked with specifically tumor progression to bone and development of osteosclerotic metastases7–15. We investigated the expression pattern of BMP-2/4, -6 and -7 and the receptors BMPR-IA,-IB and -II in normal human prostate, organ-localized and metastatic prostate cancers. The expression we also examined in skeletal metastases caused by prostate cancer. In localized prostate cancers we found increased expression of BMP-6 and decreased expression of BMP-2/4 and -7. In metastatic prostate cancers the expression of examined BMPs decreased. The expression of BMPRs showed the tendency to be lower with progression of prostate cancer but the expression of BMPR-II was completely absent in metastatic prostate cancers. In bone metastases caused by prostate cancer we found high expression of BMP-2/4, -6 and -7. Decreased expression of BMPs and lose of BMPR-II expression, could suggest that the influence of BMPs on prostate cancer cells is inhibited and plays an important role in prostate cancer pathogenesis. High expression of osteogenic BMPs in prostate cancer bone metastases could explain their osteosclerotic properties

Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7, It´s Receptors and Smad1/5/8 in Normal Human Kidney and Renal Cell Cancer

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are cytokines which are important for kidney homeostasis but also have role in the some renal diseases and renal cell carcinoma (RCC)1–5. In the last three decades incidence of RCC was constantly increased and the role of different molecular biomarkers in RCC is explored1. We analyzed expression of BMP-7, their receptors (BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB, BMPR-II) and proteins of their signaling pathway (pSmad1/5/8) in sixteen renal cancer samples and paired normal tissue. Tissue samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. BMP-7, BMP receptors and pSmad1/5/8 were expressed in all structures of normal kidney but dominantly in the proximal tubular cells. In the cancer samples their expression was also noticed. Comparison of BMPs between different tissue showed increased expression of BMPR-IB and pSmad 1/5/8 and decreased expression of BMP-7 and BMPR-II in RCC compared to normal kidney. BMPR-IA was detected with immunohistochemistry but with Western blot attenuated signal was presented. BMP-7, BMP receptors and pSmad1/5/8 were showed in normal kidney and RCC. Detected alterations of BMP-7, BMP receptors and pSmad expression in RCC suggested their possible role in tumorigenesis of kidney cancer

Increased Bone Turnover Markers after Renal Transplantation

Bone remodeling is a process that occurs continuously in a seemingly inactive tissue like bone. Because of decreased vitamin D synthesis, phosphorus retention and decreased calcium blood concentration, patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) develop secondary hyperparathyroidism1–5. Elevated PTH levels shifts balance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity in favor of osteoclast activity and, therefore, bone resorption. Bone metabolic disorder that affects patients with CRF is called renal osteodystrophy (ROD)1–5. We presume that renal transplantation reverses bone metabolism disorder and our goal was to establish whether osteoblast and osteoclast activity returns to the levels of healthy individuals

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Expression in Human Pyelonephritis

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF) beta superfamily and is involved in regeneration, repair, and development of specific tissues, for example kidney and skeleton1–5. The experimental studies have shown its protective role against fibrotic processes. Tubulointerstitial changes are present in the pyelonephritic kidney which progresses to fibrosis4–6. Renal fibrosis may lead to the loss of renal function. The aim of this study was to investigate BMP-7 expression in acute and chronic pyelonephritis in humans. Seven patients with acute pyelonephritis and 7 with chronic pyelonephritis were treated in Department of Nephrology Clinical Hospital, Rijeka. Tissue biopsy was taken and renal tissue was studied histopathologically by use of hematoxylin and eosin and scored for diagnosis of pyelonephritis. BMP-7 expression was studied by imunohistochemical staining. BMP-7 expression was observed in the tubular area of the pyelonephritic kidneys. The expression of BMP-7 was stronger in the acute pyelonephritic group and less in the chronic pyelonephritic group of patients. The results imply that BMP-7 has a role in chronic pyelonephritis. Tubular BMP-7 expression had a negative correlation with fibrosis and tubular, atrophy. Our results are suggesting that BMP-7 plays an important protective role in renal inflammatory diseases preventing greater damage and fibrosis