Age-related changes of superoxide dismutase activity in patients with schizophrenia

© 2017, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the critical enzyme in the detoxification of superoxide radicals because those are the first species produced in the majority of biological free radical producing reactions. Inconsistent data are present about SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Numerous studies show that SOD is elevated in chronic schizophrenic patients. However, decreased SOD activity is found in neuroleptic naive, first episode schizophrenic patients, in chronic-medicated patients and in chronic-unmedicated patients. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of age, gender, age at disease onset, the duration of the disease, the number of episodes, heredity, psychopathologic symptoms and drug treatment on erythrocyte SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Methods. This study included 68 consecutive patients with schizophrenia (29 males and 39 females) ranging in age from 18 to 61 years, divided into two age groups ( 34 years). SOD activity was measured in erythrocyte hemolyzates by commercially available Ransod test. Results. In the group of patients younger than 34 years SOD levels were significantly higher (1,381 ± 273 U/gHb, p = 0.038) compared to the levels in the older patients (1,231 ± 206 U/gHb). Gender and heredity did not induce any significant difference in SOD activity between the groups. A significant difference in enzyme activity was found between the younger and older patient groups having the onset of the disease after 24 years of age (1,408 ± 217 U/gHb vs 1,252 ± 213 U/gHb, p = 0.031, respectively). The patients in the younger group with more than one psychotic episodes had significantly higher SOD activity (1,492 ± 298 U/gHb; p = 0.009) than those with only one episode (1,256 ± 177 U/gHb), as well as than the older patients with more than one episode (1,253 ± 231 U/gHb; p = 0.014). Although the duration of the disease did not induce any significant difference in enzyme activity between the younger and older patient groups, a significant negative correlation was obtained between SOD activity and the duration of the disease (r = -0.511, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in SOD activity between the groups with the different positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores. First generation antipsychotics were associated with elevated enzyme activity in both groups. Simultaneous treatment of patients with first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics induced a significant decrease in SOD activity in the younger patient group. Conclusion. Our results show that erythrocyte SOD activity is increased in the early phase of schizophrenia, depending on age at the onset of the disease, the number of psychotic episodes, the duration of the disease and medical treatment

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that 54%-100% of patients with IBS may have associated psychiatric illness and personality pathology. This transversal controlled study was realized in order to evaluate anxiety and depression levels, as well as the personality characteristics of patients with IBS and to compare the results obtained with patients with episodes of depression and healthy individuals. Subjects and methods: The experimental group consisted of 30 IBS patients, while two control groups consisted of the same number of inpatients with episodes of depression and healthy individuals from the general population. There were equal number of men and women in the study sample and all subjects were aged between 25 to 65 years. Standard psychometric instruments employed included Hamilton anxiety scale, Zung depression scale, Hamilton depression scale, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Eysenck Perosonality Inventory (EPI). Results: The average Hamilton and Zung depression scores were significantly higher in patients with depressive episodes compared with the IBS patients, while the mentioned scores among them were also significantly higher compared with the healthy controls. There were no significant differences between IBS and the group with depressive episodes in the average Hamilton anxiety levels, EPI neuroticism and extraversion levels and MMPI neurotic scales levels (Hs, D, and Hy). The significant differences were observed comparing the IBS patients to healthy individuals. Conclusion: The patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome who asked for medical help (consulters) because of their intestinal symptoms, presented emotional problems such as depression and anxiety and expressed neurotic personality characteristics

The influence of long term sound stress on histological structure of immune organs in broiler chickens

The aim of this paper was to examine the effect of different duration sound stress on immune organs of broiler chickens of different age. Nine groups, with 10 chickens in each group were included in experiment. The histological structure of bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were analyzed. The results indicated that the bursa of Fabricius, in relation to the other examined organs, was the most sensitive to this kind of stress. Histological changes of spleen and thymus were also observed, but less prominent except in chickens after more than 30 days of exposure to stress. According to our results, degree of histological changes of immune organs under the influence of sound stress depends on the length of exposure and age of chickens.Cilj rada je da se ispita uticaj zvučnog stresora na imunološke organe brojlera koji su bili izlagani u različitim uzrastima i različitom trajanju stresora. Formirano je devet grupa, a svaka grupa je imala po 10 pilića. Ispitivana je histološka građa Fabricijeve burze, grudne žlezde i slezine. Rezultati ukazuju da je Fabricijeva burza, u odnosu na ostale ispitivane organe, najosetljivija na delovanje ove vrste stresora. Promene se uočavaju i kod grudne žlezde i slezine, ali su manje i javljaju se nakon izlaganja stresoru više od 30 dana. Stepen promena u histološkoj građi imunoloških organa pod uticajem zvučnog stresora zavisi od dužine izlaganja kao i uzrasta pilića

Skin ageing: Natural weapons and strategies

The fact that the skin is the most visible organ makes us aware of the ageing process every minute. The use of plant extracts and herbs has its origins in ancient times. Chronological and photo-ageing can be easily distinguished clinically, but they share important molecular features. We tried to gather the most interesting evidence based on facts about plants and plant extracts used in antiaging products. Our main idea was to emphasize action mechanisms of these plant/herbal products, that is, their strategies in fighting skin ageing. Some of the plant extracts have the ability to scavenge free radicals, to protect the skin matrix through the inhibition of enzymatic degradation, or to promote collagen synthesis in the skin. There are some plants that can affect skin elasticity and tightness. Certainly, there is a place for herbal principles in antiaging cosmetics. On the other hand, there is a constant need for more evaluation and more clinical studies in vivo with emphasis on the ingredient concentration of the plant/herbal products, its formulation, safety, and duration of the antiaging effect. © 2013 Ivana Binic et al

LATE PLEISTOCENE RODENTS (MAMMALIA: RODENTIA) FROM THE BARANICA CAVE NEAR KNJAZEVAC (EASTERN SERBIA): SYSTEMATICS AND PALAEOECOLOGY

Baranica is a cave in the Balkan mountain range in the eastern part of Serbia. It contains four layers of sediments of Quaternary age. The Upper Pleistocene deposits (layers 2-4) have yielded a rich and diverse assemblage of vertebrate fauna, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small and large mammals. In this work, preliminary results of a study of the rodent fauna from the Upper Pleistocene deposits of the Baranica Cave (Knjazevac, eastern Serbia) are presented. The fossil material comes from the 1995 archaeological excavation. The remains of 10 rodent species are described herein: Spermophilus cf. citelloides, Castor fiber, Sicista subtilis, Cricetulus migratorius, Cricetus cricetus, Mesocricetus newtoni, Apodemus ex gr. sylvaticus-flavicollis, Spalax leucodon, Dryomys nitedula, and Muscardinus avellanarius. Along with eight vole species, this makes altogether 18 species of rodents found in this locality. Both layers 2 and 4 (layer 3 is very poor in fossils) have yielded a rodent fauna typical for the cold periods of the Late Pleistocene on the Balkan Peninsula, with a prevalence of open and steppe inhabitants, but some forest dwellers were also present. The assemblages from these layers are similar, but there are some differences in the composition of the fauna, which may indicate a slight shift towards drier conditions. They have also been compared to rodent associations from some Serbian and Bulgarian localities of the same age and their similarities and differences are discussed. SHORT NOTE-NOTA BREV

Age-related changes of superoxide dismutase activity in patients with schizophrenia

© 2017, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the critical enzyme in the detoxification of superoxide radicals because those are the first species produced in the majority of biological free radical producing reactions. Inconsistent data are present about SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Numerous studies show that SOD is elevated in chronic schizophrenic patients. However, decreased SOD activity is found in neuroleptic naive, first episode schizophrenic patients, in chronic-medicated patients and in chronic-unmedicated patients. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of age, gender, age at disease onset, the duration of the disease, the number of episodes, heredity, psychopathologic symptoms and drug treatment on erythrocyte SOD activity in patients with schizophrenia. Methods. This study included 68 consecutive patients with schizophrenia (29 males and 39 females) ranging in age from 18 to 61 years, divided into two age groups ( 34 years). SOD activity was measured in erythrocyte hemolyzates by commercially available Ransod test. Results. In the group of patients younger than 34 years SOD levels were significantly higher (1,381 ± 273 U/gHb, p = 0.038) compared to the levels in the older patients (1,231 ± 206 U/gHb). Gender and heredity did not induce any significant difference in SOD activity between the groups. A significant difference in enzyme activity was found between the younger and older patient groups having the onset of the disease after 24 years of age (1,408 ± 217 U/gHb vs 1,252 ± 213 U/gHb, p = 0.031, respectively). The patients in the younger group with more than one psychotic episodes had significantly higher SOD activity (1,492 ± 298 U/gHb; p = 0.009) than those with only one episode (1,256 ± 177 U/gHb), as well as than the older patients with more than one episode (1,253 ± 231 U/gHb; p = 0.014). Although the duration of the disease did not induce any significant difference in enzyme activity between the younger and older patient groups, a significant negative correlation was obtained between SOD activity and the duration of the disease (r = -0.511, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in SOD activity between the groups with the different positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores. First generation antipsychotics were associated with elevated enzyme activity in both groups. Simultaneous treatment of patients with first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics induced a significant decrease in SOD activity in the younger patient group. Conclusion. Our results show that erythrocyte SOD activity is increased in the early phase of schizophrenia, depending on age at the onset of the disease, the number of psychotic episodes, the duration of the disease and medical treatment

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that 54%-100% of patients with IBS may have associated psychiatric illness and personality pathology. This transversal controlled study was realized in order to evaluate anxiety and depression levels, as well as the personality characteristics of patients with IBS and to compare the results obtained with patients with episodes of depression and healthy individuals. Subjects and methods: The experimental group consisted of 30 IBS patients, while two control groups consisted of the same number of inpatients with episodes of depression and healthy individuals from the general population. There were equal number of men and women in the study sample and all subjects were aged between 25 to 65 years. Standard psychometric instruments employed included Hamilton anxiety scale, Zung depression scale, Hamilton depression scale, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Eysenck Perosonality Inventory (EPI). Results: The average Hamilton and Zung depression scores were significantly higher in patients with depressive episodes compared with the IBS patients, while the mentioned scores among them were also significantly higher compared with the healthy controls. There were no significant differences between IBS and the group with depressive episodes in the average Hamilton anxiety levels, EPI neuroticism and extraversion levels and MMPI neurotic scales levels (Hs, D, and Hy). The significant differences were observed comparing the IBS patients to healthy individuals. Conclusion: The patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome who asked for medical help (consulters) because of their intestinal symptoms, presented emotional problems such as depression and anxiety and expressed neurotic personality characteristics

The (Il)legitimacy of EU state building: local support and contention in Kosovo

This article investigates legitimacy of EU state building and conflict resolution as a continuous and collective process through which local stakeholders, as the direct bearers of EU policies, ascribe meaning and support for the EU actors and actions on the ground. Contrary to the static and narrow understanding of legitimacy in the EU literature, the article offers a dynamic framework of legitimacy based on two main aspects: (i) sources of legitimacy (input and output) and (ii) objects of legitimacy (diffuse and specific support) in order to trace the complicated relationship between the EU and different local groups (the government, parliamentary opposition, local NGOs and public opinion) in Kosovo. The main argument is that the EU fails to generate local consent and faces a worsening erosion of support in Kosovo due to the limited participation of local stakeholders into the EU-promoted political decision-making structures and the contested ability of the EU to foster outcomes that have salience for local actors

Chasing Gravitational Waves with the Chereknov Telescope Array

Presented at the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2023), 2023 (arXiv:2309.08219)2310.07413International audienceThe detection of gravitational waves from a binary neutron star merger by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo (GW170817), along with the discovery of the electromagnetic counterparts of this gravitational wave event, ushered in a new era of multimessenger astronomy, providing the first direct evidence that BNS mergers are progenitors of short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Such events may also produce very-high-energy (VHE, > 100GeV) photons which have yet to be detected in coincidence with a gravitational wave signal. The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a next-generation VHE observatory which aims to be indispensable in this search, with an unparalleled sensitivity and ability to slew anywhere on the sky within a few tens of seconds. New observing modes and follow-up strategies are being developed for CTA to rapidly cover localization areas of gravitational wave events that are typically larger than the CTA field of view. This work will evaluate and provide estimations on the expected number of of gravitational wave events that will be observable with CTA, considering both on- and off-axis emission. In addition, we will present and discuss the prospects of potential follow-up strategies with CTA