Učinak pentadekapeptida BPC 157 na cijeljenje rektovaginalnih fistula u štakora [The effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on healing of rectovaginal fistulas in rats]

Aim. Recto-vaginal fistula is a devastating condition providing more than 99% of patients for surgical treatment. We hypothesized that rectovaginal fistulae may be healed by therapy with stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, in consistence with its initial clinical application and effect on external fistulas. Materials and Methods. BPC 157 (10 μg/kg or 10 ng/kg) was given perorally, in drinking water (0.16 μg/ml or 0.16 ng/ml, 12 ml/rat/day) till sacrifice, or alternatively, intraperitoneally, first application at 30 min after surgery, last at 24h before sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0 ml/kg ip) or water only (12 ml/rat/day). The assessment (i.e., rectal and vaginal defect, fistula leakage, defecation through the fistula, adhesions and intestinal obstruction as healing processes) was at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21. Results. Regularly, rectovaginal fistulas exhibited poor healing, with both of the defects persisting, continuous fistula leakage, defecation through the fistula, advanced adhesion formation and intestinal obstruction. By contrast, BPC 157 given perorally or intraperitoneally, in μg and ng regimens rapidly improved the whole presentation, with both rectal and vaginal defects simultaneously ameliorated and eventually healed. The maximal instilled volume was continuously raised till the values of healhty rats were achieved, there were no signs of defecation through the fistula. A counteraction of advanced adhesion formation and intestinal obstruction was achieved. Microscopic improvement was along with macroscopic findings. Conclusion. BPC 157 effects appear to be suited to induce a full healing of rectovaginal fistulas in rats

EXERCISE ADDICTION – GENDER DIFFERENCES

Mnoga su istraživanja potvrdila dobrobit vježbanja i sporta za tjelesno i mentalno zdravlje. Posljednjih godina sve se više istražuju i negativni učinci tjelesnog vježbanja koji se vežu uz fenomen ovisnosti o vježbanju. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitati učestalost simptoma ovisnosti o vježbanju na uzorku zdravih vježbača različite dobi te istražiti spolne razlike u manifestaciji simptoma tog tipa ovisnosti. Rezultati dobiveni na uzorku 55 vježbača i 65 vježbačica pokazali su da ovisnih o vježbanju ima 9%, 84% vježbača spada u rizičnu skupinu za razvoj tog tipa ovisnosti, dok je 7% vježbača bez simptoma ovisnosti. Spolne razlike utvrðene su na razini sukoba s obitelji i partnerom zbog količine vježbanja te postepenog poveæanja količine treninga, što je tipičnije za muškarce. Osobe koje uzimaju prehrambene i vitaminske suplemente pokazuju značajno izraženije simptome ovisnosti o vježbanju, neovisno o spolu.It is very well known that exercising and sport participation bring many benefits for physical and mental health. Recently, negative effects of exercising are more investigated, some of them are related to exercise addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate the representation of exercise addiction symptoms on the sample of healthy exercisers of different age and to determinate the gender differences in manifestation of those symptoms. The results obtained on the sample of 55 men and 65 women showed that 9% of participants showed exercise addiction symptoms, 84% belong to risk group, and 7% of exercises showed no symptoms of this type of addiction. Gender differences indicated that men are in conflict with their family and friends due to the amount of the exercise and increment of training time more often than women. Persons who take nutrition and vitamin supplements show significantly higher symptoms of exercise addiction regardless to gender

Projektiranje izvora stabilnog napona/struje i napona napajanja niske potrošnje za 9-bitni AD pretvornik sa simetričnim ulazima

This paper presents the design of a low-power voltage reference, bias current and the supply voltage for a 9-bit fully differential ADC. The references, power supply circuits and the ADC are integrated in one circuit, i.e. chip. The proposed chip is implemented in the UMC 0.18 μm CMOS process and occupies 800×700 μm^2 . The circuit supply voltage V DD is obtained from the external RF signal. When the circuit is active VDD is used as a supply for the rest of the circuitry. The circuit generates supply, reference voltages and currents when V DD exceeds the upper voltage level V_HIGH ≈1.82 V. When VDD is lower than the lower voltage level V LOW ≈1.35 V, the circuit is off. When the circuit is active, the current consumption is 22 μA. The presented results are based on measurements.U ovom radu opisano je projektiranje izvora stabilnog napona, stabilnih struja i napona napajanja za 9-bitni AD pretvornik sa simetričnim ulazima. Izvori stabilnih napona, struja i AD pretvornik integrirani su u jedan čip. Opisani čip je projektiran u 0,18 um CMOS procesu tvrtke UMC i zauzima 800x700 um^2. Napon napajanja čipa VDD je dobiven iz vanjskog RF signala. Kad je čip aktivan VDD se koristi kao napajanje za ostale dijelove čipa. Stabilni napon, struja i napon napajanja uključuju se kad VDD prijeđe gornju naponsku granicu V_HIGH~1.82 V. Kada je VDD niži od donje naponske razine V_LOW~1.35 V, čip je isključen. Kad je čip uključen, potrošnja struje je 22 uA. Rezultati predstavljeni u ovom radu temelje se na mjerenjima

Heritability of Indirect Bread-making Quality Traits in Segregating Generations of Two Winter Wheat Crosses

Modern wheat breeding programs aim to create cultivars with high genetic potential for yield and bread-making quality. The effectiveness of selection in segregating generations depends on the heritability of the traits under selection and on the correlations among traits. The aim of this study was to compare realized heritability of 1000 kernel weight and five indirect bread-making quality traits (grain protein content, wet gluten content, gluten index, the Zeleny sedimentation value and Pelshenke value) between segregating generations (F4 to F6) of two bi-parental wheat crosses, calculated using four different methods, and to estimate phenotypic correlations among these traits. Realized heritability of investigated traits, estimated as parent-off spring regression, ranged from 0.21 to 0.79. Realized heritability for wet gluten content, gluten index and Pelshenke value was much higher in comparison with other quality traits. Correlations between the four methods used to calculate realized heritability revealed the best agreement between heritability estimated as parent-off spring regression and that based on divergent screening, and the lowest agreement between realized heritabilities based on upward and downward screening. Strong positive correlations were observed among grain protein content, wet gluten content, and Zeleny sedimentation value; and strong negative correlations between gluten index on one side and grain protein content and wet gluten content on the other side

Spontaneous Isolated Dissection of the Abdominal Aorta

Isolated spontaneous dissection of the abdominal aorta is such a rare entity and there are only a few cases reported in literature up to date. A 42-year old male was admitted to the hospital with mild pain in the lower abdomen and back that had began seven days prior to admission together with the sudden onset of the ischemic symptoms of the left leg (ischemic ulcers of the calf, gangrenous toe and pallor foot). Patient denied any trauma, hypertension history was negative, while he was active cigarette smoker. MSCT and digital subtracted angiography have shown a dissection of the abdominal aorta approximately two centimeters below the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery extending in the left common iliac artery, with no sign of the aneurysmatic dilatation of the abdominal aorta. Emergent surgery was performed with aorto- biiliacal bypass graft interposition, amputation of the left toe and necrectomy of the left calf. Postoperative follow up and local vascular condition were satisfied. Even though is rare entity, isolated abdominal aorta dissection accounts for ap proximately 2–4% of all aortic dissection. Nowadays therapeutic regimen includes endovascular, open surgery or conser vative treatment

Determinants of thyroid volume in healthy young adults of Dalmatia

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate thyroid volume (TV) and its determinants in healthy young adults without present or previous thyroid disease. Materials and methods: The study was performed in a sample of 145 healthy young participants aged 19-29 years, living in an iodine-sufficient area of Dalmatia. Dimensions of the thyroid gland were obtained by ultrasound and used to determine TV. Anthropometric data was collected, and measurements of serum TSH, fT4, Tg, TgAb, and TPOAb levels were determined. Correlations between TV and other continuous variables were determined using the Pearson correlation test, while multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations of the potential predictors for the TV. Results: TV in men was larger than in women (p=3.53x10-8) and was positively correlated with anthropometric measurements, with the highest correlation coefficient for height (r=0.53, p=6.36x10-12), then body surface area, BSA (r=0.48, p=1.68x10-9), weight (r=0.43, p=8.28x10-8) and body mass index, BMI (r=0.17, p=0.04). Age and cigarette smoking did not appear to be significantly associated with TV (p=0.13 and p=0.95, respectively). Univariate analysis showed TV correlated with fT4 plasma levels (r=0.35, 1.73x10-5), while multivariate analysis showed height and fT4 levels to be important parameters with a significant role in TV. Conclusions: We confirmed previously observed association of TV with sex and anthropometric parameters and reported a significant correlation between TV and fT4 levels. Furthermore, fT4 levels and height were found to be the important parameters for predicting TV.</p