Emotional Intelligence and Marital Quality: Dyadic Data on Croatian Sample

The aim of this study was to examine if emotional intelligence (EI) measured by tests and selfreports contributes to the explanation of self and partner’s assessments of marital quality. Ninety eight married heterosexual couples participated. Each partner completed for itself measures of EI, quality of marriage, personality inventory and some socio-demographics. Models showed that socio-demographics, personality traits, and EI measure explained between 21% and 27% of own and partner’s quality of marriage, with 5% – 7% of specific contribution of EI measures to quality of marriage. Among EI measures, ability to regulate one’s own and others’ emotions was significant predictor of own and partner’s quality of marriage, while self-reported measure of regulation and managing of emotions significantly predicted own quality of marriage. Other significant predictors were extraversion for both own and partner’s quality of marriage, and agreeableness, length of acquaintance before marriage and cohabitation for partner’s quality of marriage only

Age-Related and Gender-Related Differences between Human Vertebral and Iliac Crest Bone – A Histomorphometric Study on the Population of the Mediterranean Coast of Croatia

In this study, osseous tissue was examined in normal adult population that has inhabited areas by the Croatian Adriatic Sea. The most of such studies have shown that women are prone to lose bone connectedness, while men are predisposed to be a stronger constitution and they start with greater bone mass, though. Bone samples from two different anatomic sites were analyzed. The crista iliaca and the lumbar vertebra represent functionally different organs too. We wanted to consider weather the same age- and gender-related changes affect these two organs due to normal aging. Static histomorphometry was used to quantify involution changes in the trabecular bone. Results showed that involution process more severely affects women than men. Age-related structural changes were more prominent in lumbar vertebra than in iliac crest bone. Severe structural changes in lumbar vertebra could subsequently lead to a dysfunctional and deformed vertebral column. Therefore, iliac crest bone biopsies could hardly explain involution process that affects lumbar spine

Seroprevalence nekih zaraznih bolesti u pasa lutalica u širem području Leskovca

Since the last decade, stray dogs have been significant ecological, economical and sociological problem in the world as well as in the Republic of Serbia. They occupy specifi c place in the ecology of big cities and their contact with human population represents danger since they are carriers of many zoonotic infectious diseases. The goal of this paper is to present epizootiological survey on some diseases of bacterial, viral and parasitic origin through serological investigation of blood sera and full blood. The prevalence of leptospirosis, Tularaemia, West Nile fever and dirofilariosis has been determined in this research. The material included full blood and blood sera of stray dogs in the wider territory of Leskovac city. The research methods encompassed standard serological tests: microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for determination of specific antibodies against Leptospira spp.; slow and fast agglutination test for determination of antibodies against Tularaemia causative agent (Francisella tularensis); agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for detection of specific antibodies against West Nile virus -WNV; modified Knot's test for the detection of microfilaria. The results revealed seropositivity for causative agents of Leptospirosis, Tularaemia and dirofilariosis, while there were no positive findings for WNV.Tokom poslednjih deset godina, psi lutalice se smatraju značajnim ekološkim, ekonomskim i socijalnim problemom kako u celom svetu tako i u Republici Srbiji. Psi lutalice zauzimaju posebno mesto u ekologiji velikih gradova i njihov kontakt sa ljudima, predstavlja opasnost, jer oni mogu biti nosioci uzročnika mnogih zoonotskih infektivnih oboljenja. Cilj ovog rada je da se predstavi epizootiološka studija nekih bakterijskih, virusnih i parazitskih oboljenja, pomoću seroloških ispitivanja krvnih seruma i pune krvi pasa. Tokom ovog istraživanja, ispitivana je prevalenca na leptospirozu, tularemiju, groznicu zapadnog Nila i dirofilariozu. Materijal su predstavljali uzorci pune krvi i krvnog seruma pasa lutalica, iz šire okoline grada Leskovca. Metode ispitivanja su obuhvatale standardne serološke testove: test mikroskopske aglutinacije (MAT) za utvrđivanje specifičnih antitela protiv Leptospira spp.; spora i brza aglutinacija za utvrđivanje antitela protiv uzročnika tularaemije (Francisella tularensis); agar gel imunodifuzioni test (AGID) za detekciju specifičnih antitela protiv virusa Zapadnog Nila -WNV; modifikovani Knotov test za detekciju mikrofilarija. Rezultati ispitivanja pokazuju seropozitivnost na uzročnike leptospiroze, tularemije i dirofilarioze, dok nisu dobijeni pozitivni nalazi za WNV. PR Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 37015

Expression of the BMP -2, -4 and -7 and their Antagonists Gremlin, Chordin, Noggin and Follistatin during Ectopic Osteogenesis

Molecular network of the osteogenic BMPs and extracellular inhibitors maintains homeostasis of the skeletal tissues. It is important to determine relationship between BMP-2, -4 and -7 and their inhibitors: gremlin, follistatin, chordin and noggin, during normal osteogenesis. To determine their expression pattern we conducted investigation by inducing ecto- pic bone formation in rats. The results shown that levels of the BMP-2 and BMP-4 expression in chondrocytes are similar to noggin and follistatin. The latter BMPs and inhibitors have increased levels of the expression at day 14 th of the osteo- genesis, which suggests their important roles in early phases of the chondrogenesis. Gremlin and chordin have shown increased levels of expression in late phase of chondrogenesis, which suggests their important role in regulation of the osteogenesis initiation. In this study, BMPs and inhibitors have the highest levels of the expression at 21 st day in the osteocytes, which suggests their strong interactions in osteogenesis

Expression of bone morphogenetic protein -2 and -7 during experimental inflammatory bowel disease

SAŽETAK. Cilj: Za koštane morfogenetske proteine -2 i -7 pokazano je da osim snažnog osteoinduktivnog svojstva imaju važnu ulogu u razvoju i cijeljenju različitih neskeletnih tkiva i organa. Svrha ovog rada je ispitati ekspresiju BMP-2 i BMP-7 tijekom upalne bolesti crijeva u štakora, te učinak dvotjednog liječenja sa BMP-7 na cijeljenje tkiva kolona i ekspresiju ovih morfogenetskih proteina. Metode: Eksperimentalni kolitis izazvan je primjenom klizme koja sadrži 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfoničnu kiselinu (TNBS) i etanol. Na uzorcima crijeva pratili smo makroskopske i mikroskopske promjene koje se zbivaju tijekom akutne i kronične faze kolitisa, te nakon i.v. primjene BMP-7. Metodom imunohistokemije i lančane reakcije polimeraze pratili smo izražaj BMP-2 i -7. Rezultati: Imunohistokemijska i RT-PCR analiza pokazala je ekspresiju BMP-2 i -7 tijekom akutne i kronične faze upalne bolesti crijeva. U akutnoj fazi kolitisa BMP-2 i -7 prisutni su u području ulkusa, a u kroničnoj fazi BMP-7 pozitivno bojanje prisutno je u kolonocitima uzduž kripti kolona, dok je BMP-2 pozitivno bojanje u kolonocitima površnog epitela te između kripta. Specifično bojanje na BMP-7 kao i ekspresija mRNA za BMP-7 na uzorcima crijeva životinja liječenim sa BMP-7 pokazuje smanjenje prisustva BMP-7, a pojačano bojanje i ekspresiju mRNA za BMP-2. Zaključak: Sistemska primjena koštanog morfogenetskog proteina-7 smanjuje makroskopsko i mikroskopsko oštećenje kolona tijekom upalne bolesti crijeva u štakora. Način ekspresije BMP-2 i -7 tijekom upalne bolesti crijeva te nakon liječenja sa BMP-7 ukazuje na značajnu ulogu koštanih morfogenetskih proteina u kontroli oštećenja i cijeljenja tkiva kolona tijekom ove bolesti.ABSTRACT. Aim: Bone morphogenetic proteins -2 and -7, along with their osteoinductive function, play important role in the development and healing of different non-skeletal tissues and organs. The aim of this study was to reveal the expression of BMP-2 and BMP-7 during experimental inflammatory bowel disease, as well as after 14th day of BMP-7 treatment. Methods: Experimental colitis was induced by the intracolonic administration of the clysma containing 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulphonic acid (TNBS) and ethanol. We investigated the macroscopic and microscopic colon tissue damage during acute and chronic phases of colitis as well as after IV treatment of BMP-7. Results: Imunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses showed expression of BMP-2 and -7 during acute and chronic phases of inflammatory bowel disease. In the acute phase of colitis, BMP-2 and -7 expressions were located in mucosa of ulcer region. In the chronic phase BMP-7 expression was placed in the colonocytes along the crypt, while BMP-2 expression was located in the coloncytes of surface epithelium and intercrypt table. BMP-7 treatment reduced the expression of BMP-7 and mRNA for BMP-7 but also increased the expression of BMP-2 and mRNA for BMP-2 in colonic tissue. Conclusions: Systemic administration of bone morphogenetic protein 7 decreased macroscopic and microscopic colonic tissue damage during experimental inflammatory bowel disease. The expression pattern of BMP-2 and -7 during inflammatory bowel disease, as well as after BMP-7 treatment suggests an important role of bone morphogenetic proteins in control of colon tissue damage and healing during disease

Seroepidemiological survey of leptospiral infection in stray dogs in Serbia

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis with worldwide distribution. This disease is facilitated among stray dogs due to their lifestyle and the absence of immunoprophylaxis. The aim of the present study was to provide serological data on the presence of certain serovars of Leptospira spp., which are assumed to circulate in the population of stray dogs in Serbia. During a period of 3 years (from April 2010 to June 2013), 1045 canine sera originating from 11 shelters were submitted to the laboratory of the Department of Infectious Animal Diseases and Diseases of Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade. A microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed to detect antibodies to Leptospira (cutoff, 1: 100). The overall seroprevalence was 5.45% (57/1045) and the most prevalent Leptospira serovars were Icterohaemorrhagiae 33.3% (19/57), Pomona 29.8% (17/57), Canicola 14.0% (8/57), Grippotyphosa 3.5% (2/57), Bataviae 1.7 % (1/57), and Sejroe 1.7% (1/57). All dogs were seronegative for antibodies against serovars Australis and Bratislava. The results showed that stray dogs contribute to the spread and maintenance of Leptospira spp. in Serbia. Due to close contact with humans it is very important to improve the prevention of leptospirosis in dogs and support a One Health approach

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Signaling Pathway in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Advances in Pathogenesis and Management

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of uncertain origin. Its two main phenotypes are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). CD affects any part of the GI tract and is characterized by transmural inflammation, whereas UC is confined to the colon and affects only the mucosal layer. IBD is thought to occur in genetically predisposed individuals that develop an abnormal immune response to enteric bacteria in the intestinal mucosa (Podolsky, 2002; Xavier RJ & Podolsky, 2007). Disease occurs as a result of complex and dynamic interactions between immune and non-immune cells as well as the cross-talk between intestinal epithelium and mesenchyme (Danese, 2011; MacDonald et al., 2011; Strober & Fuss, 2011). Therefore, factors that are able to influence both interactions may be very important for the pathogenesis and treatment of IBD. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a large group of structurally related proteins that belong to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily. Along with their primarily osteogenic function their importance in development, proliferation and morphogenesis of a variety of cells and tissues has been shown (Hogan, 1996; Vukicevic et al., 1989; 1995; Wozney et al., 1988). In addition, association of BMPs with healing processes of different non-skeletal tissues and organs was also described (Lories et al., 2005; Martinovic et al., 2002; Nguyen et al., 2008; Simic & Vukicevic, 2004; Turk et al., 2009; Vukicevic et al., 1996; Vukicevic & Grgurevic, 2009). Due to their wide-range of effects, they are commonly named “body morphogenetic proteins” (Reddi, 2005). Perturbations in BMP expression and BMP signaling pathway have been associated with the pathological conditions linked to several human diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Allaire et al., 2011; Burke et al., 2007; Krishnan et al., 2011). In this chapter we will discuss the importance of BMPs in gut development and hereditary diseases as well as their influence on cellular and molecular events that occur in IBD and fibrogenesis, the most common complication of IBD. Furthermore, we will address the therapeutical potential of BMPs, especially BMP7 in treatment of IBD. Finally, we will explore the possibility of BMP pathway components as putative biomarkers of gut tumor development and progression