Low dose gamma-irradiation alters the expression of p53 protein in the rat hippocampus

The tumor-suppressor p53 protein and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) respond to different types of stress. In an attempt to reveal the possibility that p53 protein is involved in the regulation of GR gene expression after low dose cranial irradiation (CI) with 2 Gy, we examined the expression of p53 mRNA and protein as well as expression of GR mRNA and protein in the hippocampus of 18-days-old rats. We found that p53 mRNA expression was unchanged after CI, while induction of p53 protein was rapid, leading to the accumulation of p53 protein in the cytoplasm. Irradiation leads to stimulated GR gene expression in a time-dependent manner, whereas the level of GR protein was unchanged after CI. Co-immunoprecipitation has not showed that wild type p53 protein physically interacts with the GR in the cytoplasm. Our data suggest that the low dose cranial irradiation leads to stabilization of the 53 protein, without interaction with GR protein the cytoplasm.Physical chemistry 2006 : 8th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 26-29 September 200

Different induction of dual corticosteroid receptor system in the rat hippocampus following gamma radiation

Cranial radiotherapy (CRT) is an effective way to prevent CNS relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, CRT also has serious side effects on normal tissues, including long-term neuroendocrine disturbances. In order to test this clinical protocol on animals, we examined the effects of CRT (10 Gy) on the level of mRNA for glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the hippocampus of 8-days-old rats. Irradiation rapidly stimulated GR gene expression in a time-dependent manner, whereas the time-course of MR mRNA expression showed no statistically significant changes. At postnatal day 42, the level of GR mRNA was diminished while the level of MR mRNA remained unchanged compared to matched controls. Dexamethasone suppression test (DST) revealed the altered nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of activated GR after CRT in 42-days-old rats, as a long-term consequence of gamma irradiation.Physical chemistry 2006 : 8th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 26-29 September 200

The effect of lithium on the neurotransmitter and antioxidant status in the perfrontal cortex and hippocamus of the rats exposed to restraint stress

Cilj istraživanja je bio da se detaljnije prouče molekulski mehanizmi delovanja litijuma na neurotransmiterski i antioksidativni status u prefrontalnom korteksu i hipokampusu stresiranih životinja. Specifični cilj rada bio je da se ispita uticaj ponavljanog stresa fizičkog sputavanja u trajanju od 14 dana, kao i delovanje litijuma kod pacova izlaganih 14 dana ponavljanom stresu fizičkog sputavanja na: količinu dopamina (DA) i noradrenalina (NA), ekspresiju gena za tirozin hidroksilazu (TH) i dopamin β hidroksilazu (DBH) (enzime koji učestvuju u biosintezi DA i NA), ekspresiju gena za dopaminske i noradrenalinske transportere odgovorne za preuzimanje, skladištenje i odpuštanje DA i NA (DAT, NET i VMAT 2), aktivnost i količinu enzima odgovornih za razgradnju DA i NA (MAO A, MAO B i COMT), ekspresiju gena za enzime antioksidativne zaštite (SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx i GR), ekspresiju gena za BDNF u prefrontalnom korteksu i hipokampusu, koncentraciju ACTH i CORT u plazmi i ponašanje eksperimentalnih životinja. U eksperimentima je korišćen ponavljani stres fizičkog sputavanja, izvođen na taj način što je pacov podvrgnut stanju nepokretnosti smeštanjem u plastične tube dimenzija 25x7 cm. Pacovi su podvrgnuti opisanom stresu po dva sata tokom 14 dana u različito vreme u periodu od 9-13 h. Rastvor litijum-hlorida (LiCl) je pacovima injeciran intraperitonealno jednom dnevno 14 dana. Početna doza litijuma je bila 1,5 mEq/kg i primenjena je prva dva dana. Zatim je povećana na 2,3 mEq/kg sedam dana, pa na 3 mEq/kg pet dana. Ovakav protokol davanja LiCl pacovima obezbeđuje koncentracije litijuma u plazmi koje su, u poređenju sa pacijentima sa bipolarnim poremećajem, iznad minimalne terapeutske koncentracije (i. e. 0,4 mM) tokom perioda terapije. U ovom istraživanju korišćene su sledeće metode: 1. Metoda za kvantifikaciju ekspresije TH, DBH, DAT, NET, VMAT 2, SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx, GR i BDNF gena (RТ-PCR-а u realnom vremenu sa TaqMan probama); 2. Metoda za kvantifikaciju sinteze TH, DBH, DAT, NET, VMAT 2, COMT, SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx, GR i BDNF proteina (Wеstern blot); 3. Metode za određivanje aktivnosti enzima MAO A i MAO B (Amplex Red Monoamine Oxidase Assay kit; molecular Probes), SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx i GR (Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, UK; metoda po Claiborn-u; metoda po Maral-u; metoda po Glatzle-u); 4. Metoda za određivanje DA i NA u tkivu (kit 3-CAT Research ELISA kits BA E-5600, Labor Diagnostica Nord, Nordhorn, Germany); 5. ELISA еsеј, metoda za određivanje CORT u plazmi (OCTEIA EIA kit, Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc.); 6 Hemiluminiscentna metoda za određivanje ACTH u plazmi pomoću automatskog analizatora...The aim of this research was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of lithium on neurotransmitter and antioxidant status in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the stressed animals. The specific aim of the work was to investigate the effect of chronic restraint stress in a period of 14 days and also the effect of lithium administration on: the amounts of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA), the gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) (biosynthetic enzymes for DA and NA), the gene expression of transport proteins for uptake, storage and release of DA and NA (DAT, NET and VMAT 2), the activity and amount of DA and NA degrading enzymes (MAO A, MAO B and COMT), the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx and GR), the gene expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, the plasma concentrations of ACTH and CORT, as well as on the behavior of experimental animals. In our experiments the rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress by being placed in the plastic tubes sized 25x7 cm, two hours a day for 14 days, at different times in the period from 9 to 13 h. Lithium-chloride solution (LiCl) was injected to the animals intraperitoneally once a day during 14 days. The initial dose of lithium of 1,5m Eq/kg was applied in the first two days. The dose was increased to 2,3 mEq/kg during the next 7 days and to 3 mEq/kg during the following 5 days. This protocol of LiCl administration provided the concentrations of lithium in the plasma of rats to be higher than the minimal therapeutic concentration (i.e. 0,4 mM) in the patients with bipolar disorder. The following methods were used in this investigation: 1. The expressions of TH, DBH, DAT, NET, VMAT 2, SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx, GR and BDNF were quantified by using real time RT-PCR with TaqMan assays. 2. Western blot analysis was used to quantify the synthesis of TH, DBH, DAT, NET, VMAT 2, COMT, SOD1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx, GR and BDNF protein. 3. Methods for evaluation of MAO A and MAO B enzyme activity (Amplex Red Monoamine Oxidase Assay kit; molecular Probes), enzyme activities of SOD 1, SOD 2, CAT, GPx i GR (Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, UK; method by Claiborn-u; method by Maral-u; method by Glatzle-u); 4. Methods for measuring DA i NA in the tissue (kit 3-CAT Research ELISA kits BA E-5600, Labor Diagnostica Nord, Nordhorn, Germany); 5. ELISA assay, the method for measuring CORT in the plasma (OCTEIA EIA kit, Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc.); 6. Hemiluminiscent method for measuring of ACTH in the plasma by automatic analyzer..

Ecological analysis of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in three types of running waters in Belgrade region

Proučavanjem zajednica akvatičnih makrobeskičmenjaka tekućih voda na području Beograda u periodu 2007-2011. godina zabeleženo je 115 taksona iz 48 porodica, 8 klasa i 5 razdela. Istraživani vodotoci nalaze se pod velikim antropogenim stresom i prema važećem Pravilniku o parametrima ekološkog i hemijskog statusa površinskih voda i parametrima hemijskog i kvantitativnog statusa podzemnih voda (Službeni glasnik RS 74/2011), svrstani su u tri tipa i to: tip 1, vrlo velike ravničarske reke sa dominacijom finog nanosa – Dunav i Sava; tip 2, velike reke sa dominacijom srednje krupnog nanosa – Kolubara; i tip 3, male i srednje velike reke nadmorske visine do 500 m sa dominacijom krupnog nanosa – Topčiderska i Železnička reka. Istraživanja su vršena od 2007. do 2011. godine u periodu visokih voda (maj/jun) i niskih voda (septembar/oktobar). Takođe je korišćen i materijal prikupljen u periodu od 1996. do 2000. godine od strane istaživača laboratorije Odeljenja za hidroekologiju i zaštitu voda Instituta za biološka istraživanja "Siniša Stanković" Univerziteta u Beogradu. U tipu 1 vodotoka na području Beograda zabeležena su 63 taksona u Dunavu i 43 u Savi, sa dominacijom oligoheta. Najveći broj taksona zabeležen je u tipu 2 vodotoka, 78 taksona u Kolubari, sa dominacijom insekatske komponente u zajednici. U tipu 3 vodotoka, u Topčiderskoj i Železničkoj reci, zabeleženo je 25, odnosno 36 taksona, pri čemu je u Topčiderskoj reci dominirala grupa oligoheta, dok su u Železničkoj reci najveći udeo u zajednici imale hironomide. Poređenjem sa rezultatima prethodnih istraživanja, analizirane su promene u sastavu i strukturi zajednica u istraživanim tokovima. Rezultati multivarijantne analize ukazuju da je karakterističnoj distribuciji vrsta u sva tri tipa istraživanih vodotoka u najvećoj meri doprineo hemijski sastav sedimenta. Fizički i hemijski parametri vode su takođe, u velikoj meri, pokazali uticaj na zajednice akvatičnih beskičmenjaka. Uočeno je da je u velikim rekama efikasnije razmatrati vezu zajednice akvatičnih beskičmenjaka i višemesečne prosečne vrednosti fizičkih i hemijskih parametara vode, dok su u manjim vodotocima bujičnog karaktera trenutno izmerene vrednosti pokazale veći uticaj na zajednice akvatičnih beskičmenjaka...During the survey of the communities of aquatic macroinvertebrates of rivers and streams in Belgrade region 115 taxa from 48 families, 8 classes and 5 phyla were detected. These waterbodies are under a high anthropogenic stress and, based on the Regulation on the parameters of the ecological and chemical status of surface waters and the parameters of the chemical and quantitative status of groundwater (Official Gazette of RS 74/2011), they are classified into three types: Type 1, large lowland rivers with the domination of fine bottom sediments – the Danube and the Sava River; Type 2, large rivers with the domination of medium sized sediments – the Kolubara River; and Type 3, small to medium sized rivers at elevation of up to 500 m, with the domination of the hard bottom substrate – the Topčiderska River and the Železnička River. The research was carried out from 2007 to 2011, in the period of high water levels (May/June) and of low water levels (September/October). Additional material, collected from 1996 to 2000 by researchers from the laboratory of the Department of Aquatic Ecology of the Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" of the University of Belgrade, was also included in the analyses. In the Type 1 watercourses in Belgrade region, 63 taxa were recorded in the Danube and 43 in the Sava River, with Oligochaeta as the dominant group. The largest number of taxa were identified in the Type 2 watercourses, 78 taxa in the Kolubara River, with the dominance of the insect component of the community. In the Type 3 watercourses, in the Topčiderska River and the Železnička River, 25 and 36 taxa were recorded, respectively. While Oligochaeta prevailed in the Topčiderska River, Chironomidae were the dominant group in the Železnička River. Changes in the composition and structure of communities in the studied streams were observed following the comparison with the previous findings. The results of a multivariate analysis indicate that the chemical composition of the sediment largely contributed to the characteristic distribution of species in all three investigated watercourses. Physical and chemical parameters of water also showed a significant impact on communities of aquatic invertebrates. Our results suggest that it is more effective to analyse the relation of the average values of chemical parameters across several months and macroinvertebrate assemblages in the case of large rivers, while for smaller size watercourses of torrential character, the current values of chemical parameters were better correlated with these communities and had a greater impact on them..

Unmet health care needs as an indicator of availability, accessibility and acceptability of health care

Uvod: Nezadovoljene potrebe za zdravstvenim uslugama su prepoznate kao pokazatelj pristupačnosti zdravstvene zaštite, koji daje sliku o specifičnim preprekama sa kojima se korisnici suočavaju kada imaju potrebu za korišćenjem zdravstvenih usluga. Cilj ove disertacije je bio da analizira demografske, socijalnoekonomske, regionalne karakteristike i percepciju zdravstvenog stanja ispitanika koji imaju nezadovoljene zdravstvene potrebe za uslugama lekara i uslugama stomatologa u 2013. i 2014. godini i da identifikuje prediktore za nastanak nezadovoljenih potreba za uslugama lekara i uslugama stomatologa koji se odnose na dostupnost, pristupačnost i prihvatljivost zdravstvene zaštite. Metod: U ovoj studiji korišćeni su podaci iz dva nacionalna istraživanja o prihodima i uslovima života (Anketa o prihodima i uslovima života - SILC), sprovedenih u Srbiji na reprezentativnom uzorku osoba starijih od 15 godina (17 183) u 2013. godini i starijih od 16 godina (16 220) u 2014. godini. .Kao instrument ispitivanja korišćeni su upitnici. Rezultati: U 2013. godini skoro svaki peti ispitanik stariji od 16 godina je imao nezadovoljene potrebe za uslugama lekara, a u 2014. godini skoro svaki sedmi ispitanik. Razlozi nezadovoljenih potreba za uslugama lekara koji ukazuju na odgovornost sistema zdravstvene zaštite, (ugrožena pristupačnost i dostupnost zdravstvene zaštite), su u 2013. godini bili odgovorni za 44,4% nezadovoljenih potreba a u 2014. godini za 58,2%. Razlozi koji su bili u vezi sa ličnim preferencijama ispitanika u 2013. godini su bili zastupljeni u 55,6% slučajeva a u 2014. godini u 41,7% slučajeva. Najdominantniji razlog u okviru ugrožene pristupačnosti je bio finansijski razlog, u okviru ugrožene dostupnosti to su bile liste čekanja na medicinske intervencije i procedure a u okviru ugrožene prihvatljivosti želja da se sačeka i vidi da li će se stanje zdravlja popraviti i problem proći sam od sebe...Introduction: Unmet health care needs are recognized as an indicator of access to health care, which provides an overview of specific barriers that users face when they need health services. This thesis aimed to analyze demographic, socioeconomic, regional characteristics and perception of the health status; to identify predictors of unmet health care needs and consequently determine the size of inequalities in the availability, accessibility and acceptability of health care. Method: The study used data from two national surveys on Income and living conditions (Survey on Income and Living Conditions - SILC), conducted in Serbia on a representative sample of people over 15 years old (17,183) in 2013 and older than 16 years (16,220) in 2014. The survey instruments were questionnaires. Results: In 2013 every fifth respondent over the age of 16 had unmet health care needs while in 2014 every seventh respondent. The reasons for unmet health care needs related to the availability of the health care, (threatened availability and accessibility of health care) were responsible for 44.4% of unmet needs in 2013 and 58.2% in 2014. The reasons related to the individual preferences of respondents contributed in 55.6% of cases in 2013 and in 41.7% of cases in 2014. The most dominant reason within the threatened accessibility was a financial reason, within the threatened availability were waiting lists for medical interventions and procedures, and within the threatened acceptability wish to wait and see if the state of health will improve and the problem will pass by itself..

Antioxidant Protection against Curative and Palliative Doses of Ionizing Irradiation in Human Blood Decreases with Aging

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are independently recognized to play a significant role in radiation-induced damage on healthy tissue and in aging process. However, an age-related alteration of antioxidant (AO) system in radiation response in humans is poorly investigated. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the irradiation effects on the activities and expression of AO system in the blood of healthy women during aging. Blood samples were irradiated with curative and palliative doses of 2 Gy or 9 Gy γ-rays. AO capacity for detoxification of O2•− and H2O2 in response to 2 Gy γ-irradiation decreases in women above 58 years, while in response to 9 Gy shows signs of weakening after 45 years of age. Due to reduction of AO capacity during aging, cytotoxic effects of curative and palliative doses of irradiation, mediated by ROS, may significantly increase in older subjects, while removal of H2O2 excess could reduce them

Genotype x Environment Interaction for Wheat Yield Traits Suitable for Selection in Different Seed Priming Conditions

Different seed priming treatments are widely used in order to improve the nutritional status of wheat, as well as to improve its grain yield and yield- related traits. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of seed priming with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the yield related traits, such as, field emergence, plant height, spike length and grain yield per plant of four winter wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) during two vegetation seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The seeds of each wheat genotypes were primed with different concentrations of ZnO NPs (0 mg L-1, 10 mg L-1, 100 mg L-1 and 1000 mg L-1) for 48 h in a dark box by continuous aeration and were sown in soil pots with 60-70% moisture content until full maturity. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) models were used to study the genotype environment effects. The results indicated that the plants response to ZnO nanoparticles significantly increased all of the observed traits of the wheat, while its maximum rates reduced the traits of the wheat. The AMMI analysis revealed the very complex nature of the variation observed in the trial and showed the significant effect of the GxE interaction, in which the first main component was significant for all components

Black Oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) Ontogenesis and Agronomic Performance in Organic Cropping System and Pannonian Environments

This study examined the influence of agroecological conditions on the ontogenesis and production yield traits of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.). Understanding the agronomic and phenological properties related to productive properties of black oats can enable more successful introduction into new areas of oat cultivation. Field microexperiments were performed during the three consecutive years (2017-2019) on the two localities in South Banat, in Serbia, which differed in soil type: carbonate chernozem and humogley, respectively. The results showed that all investigated traits of oat in the chernozem soil type were higher when compared with measured traits obtained from the humogley soil type. The average value of yields of aboveground biomass, yield and protein content were significantly higher in relation to the humogley, by 13%, 17% and 11%, respectively for all three seasons. Observed by years, all productivity parameters differed significantly, which confirmed that the productivity of the cultivated plants was strongly influenced by different agroecological, soil and climatic conditions in Pannonian environments. The aboveground biomass and grain yield obtained from the humogley soil type indicate that this species can be successfully grown and utilized in production as a cover or fodder crop even in less favorable soil conditions

Changes of c-myc expression in b16 melanoma cells induced by 8-chloroadenosine-3′, 5′-monophosphate and tiazofurin

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of 8- chloroadenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP) and tiazofurin (TR) on the expression of c-myc gene in B16/F10 and B16/C3 mouse melanoma cells. Exponentially growing cells were treated with 8-Cl-cAMP or TR (5µmol - 25µmol) for 6h and 24h. The level of c-myc expression, estimated by RT-PCR, did not significantly change in B16/F10 cells after treatment with 8-Cl-cAMP or TR. Similar results were obtained in B16/C3 cells after treatment with 8-Cl-cAMP. The level of c-myc expression has shown a significant increase in B16/C3 cells after treatment with TR. Further studies of these agents will lead to better understanding of molecular mechanisms of their action.Physical chemistry 2004 : 7th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 21-23 September 200

Material toughness assessment using different parameters obtained by Charpy Pendulum

Na instrumentiranom Šarpi klatnu može se ukupna energija loma razdvojiti na energiju inicijacije i energiju rasta prsline. To je iskorišćeno u ovom radu za ispitivanje udarne žilavost E postupkom zavarenog spoja čelika, mikrolegiranog niobijumom, vanadijumom i titanom. Izmerena je tvrdoća spoja, i izvedena su makro- i mikrostrukturna ispitivanja. Merenjem poprečne deformacije epruveta posle loma, fraktografskim pregledom i određivanjem udela krtog loma na površini preloma dobijeni su dodatni podaci o mehanizmu loma. Poređenje svih praćenih parametara omogućava ocenu sklonosti materijala ka krtom lomu, otpornosti na nastanak i rast prsline i potencijalnih mesta nastanka loma.It is possible to divide total impact energy on instrumented Charpy pendulum into energies for crack initiation and growth. This is applied in this paper for impact toughness testing of the joint, welded by E procedure in the steel, microalloyed with niobium, vanadium and titanium. Hardness of the joint was measured, and macro- and microstructural analysis has been performed. By measuring of lateral extension of specimens after fracture, fractography and brittle fracture appearance on fracture surface additional data about fracture mechanisms are obtained. The comparison of all considered parameters enables assessment of material susceptibility to brittle fracture, crack initiation and growth resistance and potential sites of fracture occurrence