Usporedba dinamičke analize para iznad otopine i mikroekstrakcije analita na čvrstoj fazi za plinskokromatografsko određivanje BTEX-a u urinu

The aim of this study was to compare two extraction procedures: dynamic headspace-purge and trap (PT) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) for gas chromatographic determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and isomeric xylenes (BTEX) in urine with photoionization (PID) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection, respectively. Both methods showed linearity in the range of interest [(50-2000) ng L-1], good accuracy (80% to 100 %), and repeatability (RSD≤11 %). Detection limits were in the low ng L-1 level for both methods, although slightly greater sensitivity was found for the PT method. In comparison with PT, HS-SPME was simpler and required less time for analysis. Although the analytical features of both examined methods are appropriate for biomonitoring of environmental exposure to BTEX, only the HS-SPME-GC-MS method is recommended for routine analysis of BTEX in urine. The method was applied for the quantitative analysis of BTEX in urine samples collected from non-smokers (n=10) and smokers (n=10).Cilj ovog rada bio je usporediti dva postupka ekstrakcije za plinskokromatografsko određivanje benzena, toluena, etilbenzena i izomera ksilena u urinu. Uspoređene su dinamička analiza para iznad otopine (tzv. purge and trap) uz fotoionizacijski detektor i mikroekstrakcija analita na čvrstoj fazi uz detektor spektrometar masa. Rezultati upućuju na linearnost odziva detektora u ispitivanome koncentracijskom području [(50- 2000) ng L-1], zadovoljavajuću točnost (80 %-100 %) i ponovljivost (RSD ≤11 %). Postignute su niske granice detekcije za obje metode. Mikroekstrakcija analita na čvrstoj fazi uz detektor spektrometar masa pokazala se jednostavnijom i bržom za izvođenje pa se preporučuje za rutinsko određivanje BTEX-a u urinu. Metoda je primijenjena za analizu tih spojeva u uzorcima urina nepušača (n=10) i pušača (n=10)

The role of macrophages within microenvironment in a lung cancer development and progression

Lung cancer, including carcinogenesis and therapy, is one of the main research focuses today. One of the main reasons for that is the very high mortality rate of patients with lung cancer. Cancer tissue is very heterogeneous, consisting of malignant tumor cells with many different cell types, proteins, and signaling molecules, all together forming the tumor microenvironment. The concept that tumor development is primarily based on mutations has been reapproached from the side of interaction between immune cells of the host, tumor cells, and tumor microenvironment. All components of the cancer microenvironment interact with each other and with tumor cells in a complex manner, both promoting tumor cell growth and development, as well as suppressing it. This interplay is very complicated and today still not completely understood. The most prevalent cells among leukocytes in the cancer microenvironment are macrophages. These are called tumor-associated macrophages and are still very difficult to differentiate and identify by single markers. However, it is clear that they have a very important role in tumor development and progression in lung cancer, as in many other cancers. In patients with lung carcinoma, there is a correlation between tumorassociated macrophages and prognosis, although not uniform. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG

A preliminary study on the age and growth of the argentine, Argentina sphyraena (Actinopterygii: Osmeriformes: Argentinidae) from the eastern Adriatic Sea

Background. Age determination is a basic step in understanding fish biology and dynamics of fish populations. The only available data on the age and growth of argentine, Argentina sphyraena Linnaeus, 1758, a non-commercially exploited species of the family Argentinidae, was published almost half a century ago. More recent reports are limited to general biological characteristics of A. sphyraena so the main goal of our study was to fill a gap by investigating age and growth of the eastern Adriatic population of this fish. Materials and methods. Samples of the argentine were collected in the eastern Adriatic Sea, during March 2011, using a bottom trawl. We analysed sagittal otolith morphology and morphometry; the age of each fish was determined from the number of growth zones on otoliths and relations between the observed otolith age and otolith morphometrics were constructed using a power model. Mean length-at-age was described using the von Bertalanffy growth model. Results. Sagittal otoliths of Argentina sphyraena displayed alternating opaque and translucent zones. The maximum observed age was 3 years for both females and males. Females that were 2+ and 3+ years old were the most numerous in the sampled population. The estimated values of the von Bertalanffy growth model parameters were: L∞ = 17.57 cm; k = 0.40 year–1; t0 = –1.39 years. The age of the argentine can be best predicted from the otolith thickness. Conclusion. The maximum lengths and ages recorded in this study confirmed that in warmer southern latitudes, Argentina sphyraena attains a smaller maximum size. It should be emphasized that the presented model described the growth of fish ages 1–3 and therefore is probably representative only for younger age groups of argentine

Evidence for genetic contribution to the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in schizophrenia

The epidemiologic link between schizophrenia (SCZ) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the presence and extent of a shared genetic background between SCZ and T2D using genome-wide approaches. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and polygenic risk score analysis in a Greek sample collection (GOMAP) comprising three patient groups: SCZ only (n = 924), T2D only (n = 822), comorbid SCZ and T2D (n = 505); samples from two separate Greek cohorts were used as population-based controls (n = 1,125). We used genome-wide summary statistics from two large-scale GWAS of SCZ and T2D from the PGC and DIAGRAM consortia, respectively, to perform genetic overlap analyses, including a regional colocalisation test. We show for the first time that patients with comorbid SCZ and T2D have a higher genetic predisposition to both disorders compared to controls. We identify five genomic regions with evidence of colocalising SCZ and T2D signals, three of which contain known loci for both diseases. We also observe a significant excess of shared association signals between SCZ and T2D at nine out of ten investigated p value thresholds. Finally, we identify 29 genes associated with both T2D and SCZ, several of which have been implicated in biological processes relevant to these disorders. Together our results demonstrate that the observed comorbidity between SCZ and T2D is at least in part due to shared genetic mechanisms. © 2018, The Author(s)

Assessment of the Relative Catch Performance of a Surrounding Net without the Purse Line as an Alternative to a Traditional Boat Seine in Small-Scale Fisheries

The catch performance of a traditional Ligurian boat seine, which is not in line with the European Union regulation, was compared with an experimental surrounding net without the purse line as a potential legal alternative. The relative catch performance between the two gear types was assessed using a new catch comparison method requiring neither paired data collection nor equal number of hauls with the two gears. The comparison was based on the catches of the three species that comprise the bulk of the catch in traditional Ligurian boat seine fisheries: Bogue Boops boops, Saddle Bream Oblada melanura, and Blotched Picarel Spicara maena. The experimental gear exhibited poor catch efficiency for all three species, since it was estimated that the catches would only be 2, 64, and 6%, respectively, of those with the boat seine. For both Bogue and Blotched Picarel these reductions in catch performance were found to be highly significant proving that the experimental surrounding net is not a viable solution to replace the traditional boat seine.publishedVersio