Chemical composition of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ascocarps of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) were found in natural oak and beech forests on calcareous soils, at altitude of 840–850 m, near the town of Šipovo in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), with the help of trained dogs.  Until now, no one in B&H has researched the chemical composition of summer truffle. The aim of the work is to analyze nutritional value, elemental composition, and the assortment of fatty acids in the freshly collected ascocarps and to compare achieved results with the results from the literature related to the summer truffle ascocarps found in some other locations, then with the ascomata of other species of truffles, and with the fruiting bodies of some above-ground edible mushrooms. Chemical analysis showed that Tuber aestivum contains about 75.5 % water and about 25.5 % dry matter. The most common group of compounds were carbohydrates, followed by proteins, while the mineral component and fats were much less presented. Among analyzed elements, the most prevalent was potassium with an average concentration of 26,409 mg/kgDW and the least represented was lead with an average concentration of 0.45 mg/kgDW. The main part of the mineral spectrum consisted of three elements: K, P and Ca, with a share of 95.3 %. In ascocarps of summer truffle, 24 fatty acids were detected, of which 13 were saturated and 11 unsaturated. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was 58.34 % to 41.66 %. The most common among saturated fatty acids was palmitic with a share of 25.89 %, while the most common unsaturated fatty acid was elaidic with a share of 28.17 %. No ingredients have been found in the fruiting bodies that would make them unfit for human consumption in any wa

Nutritive and sensory quality of commercial dry - fermented sausages - ”ČAJNA” type with different salt content

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of dry-fermented pork sausages – “čajna” type from the market, with similar composition and different salt content. Physicochemical parameters of selected samples were determined and sensory quality parameters were evaluated. In samples M and D, with significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) sodium chloride content, higher values of color parameter a* and breaking force and lower values of pH and water activity were found compared to samples T and L. Sample D had the highest protein (25.51%) and sodium chloride content (5.04%), and the lowest fat content (30.04%). Samples M and D had significantly higher sensory quality, especially odor, aroma, taste, consistency and cross-section, compared to other samples. These samples were evaluated as sausages with a pronounced pleasant aroma, taste and odor characteristic for dry-fermented products, with pleasant salinity, appropriate for the product. Although the dry-fermented sausage samples with a lower salt content had more acceptable nutritive values, their sensory quality was lower than expected

Morphological characteristics of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this paper is to present as accurately as possible the morphological characteristics of the summer truffle, found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to compare them with the characteristics of the previously described specimens in other countries and regions. Well-developed fruiting bodies of summer truffles (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) were found in oak and beech forests on calcareous soils in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the help of trained dogs. On the basis of a representative sample, composed of specimens, collected during three consecutive truffle seasons, the following were analyzed: shape, size and mass of ascocarps, structure of the harvest, gleba color, size and shape of ascospores. It was found, that predominant geometric shape of their fruiting bodies is ellipsoid with an average mass of 44.3 g. Most acocarps weighed less than 20 g. As the weight of the pieces increases, their frequency decreases, so that ascocarps over 60 g participate in number with only 20 % and by weight with 47.2 % of the total yield. The length of spores ranges from 26.0 to 35.8 μm, with an average of 30.3 μm, while the width of spores varies from 17.2 to 26.1 μm, with an average of 21.3 μm. The Q-shape parameter takes values in a wide range from 1.16, which roughly corresponds to the globular shape, to 1.64 for the distinctly ellipsoidal shape. In sum, the shape and size of the summer truffle ascocarps and spores native to Bosnia and Herzegovina fit the general picture of this taxon

Bazične motoričke sposobnosti i plesna uspješnost studentica KIF-a

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between motor abilities and the rate of efficiency in performing folk and social dances of 80 female students at Faculty of Kinesiology. Efficiency in dancing was represented by the marks given to the subjects after performing each dance by five experts on the basis of a video recording. The variables’ sample to determine motor abilities consisted of the results achieved by measuring motor abilities of coordination, realization of rhythmical structures, balance, movement frequency, flexibility and explosive strength. Statistically significant relation between a predictor set of the students’ motor abilities and the overall dancing efficiency criterion (R= 0.58), predictor set and the folk dances efficiency criterion (R=0.63) (p<0.01) was established by the means of regression analysis. The students with a higher level of rhythmic abilities, coordination, flexibility and movement frequency will be more successful in performing dancing structures

Bazične motoričke sposobnosti i plesna uspješnost studentica KIF-a

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between motor abilities and the rate of efficiency in performing folk and social dances of 80 female students at Faculty of Kinesiology. Efficiency in dancing was represented by the marks given to the subjects after performing each dance by five experts on the basis of a video recording. The variables’ sample to determine motor abilities consisted of the results achieved by measuring motor abilities of coordination, realization of rhythmical structures, balance, movement frequency, flexibility and explosive strength. Statistically significant relation between a predictor set of the students’ motor abilities and the overall dancing efficiency criterion (R= 0.58), predictor set and the folk dances efficiency criterion (R=0.63) (p<0.01) was established by the means of regression analysis. The students with a higher level of rhythmic abilities, coordination, flexibility and movement frequency will be more successful in performing dancing structures

Asocijacija varijanti u genima PRMT6, PEX10 I SOX5 sa idiopatskim muškim sterilitetom: dokazi iz populacije Severne Makedonije i ažurirana meta-analiza

PRMT6, PEX10 and SOX5 genetic variants were identified as male infertility-associated loci in a genome-wide association study and further validated in various populations. Still, the results of previous case-control studies varied, which could be due to differences in participants’ ethnic backgrounds. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the supposed association of these variants with idiopathic male infertility in North Macedonian population. Furthermore, we aimed to conduct the systematic quantitative data synthesis which includes the results of previous studies on the same issue in other European and non-European populations. A total of 137 men from North Macedonia diagnosed with idiopathic infertility and 130 age-matched fertile controls were included in the present case-control study. PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping. Meta-analysis was performed by OpenMeta-analyst statistical software. Variants rs10842262 in SOX5, rs2477686 in PEX10 and rs12097821 in PRMT6 showed the lack of statistically significant differences in genotype distributions between men diagnosed with idiopathic infertility and the control group. Still, rs10842262 allele G frequency was significantly increased in men with poor sperm concentration (P= 0.024, OR = 2.10, 95%CI 1.08-4.06). Meta-analysis further showed the association of rs10842262 and rs12097821 with the risk of idiopathic male infertility. Our results obtained in North Macedonian population supported the previous reports on the involvement of rs10842262 in the genetic basis of male infertility. The meta-analysis confirmed the association of rs10842262 and rs12097821 with male infertility occurrence. Still, additional studies are needed to support the present findings.Asocijacija varijanti u genima PRMT6, PEX10 i SOX5 sa muškim sterilitetom identifikovana je u studiji genetičke asocijacije na čitavom genomu i kasnije analizirana u studijama slučajeva i kontrola u različitim populacijama. Rezultati prethodnih studija su pokazali značajnu varijabilnost, što može biti posledica razlika u etničkom poreklu studijskih grupa. Osnovni cilj ovog istraživanja je analiza asocijacije navedenih genetičkih varijanti sa rizikom za pojavu idiopatskog muškog steriliteta u populaciji Severne Makedonije. Takođe, naš cilj je bio i sprovođenje sistematske kvantitativne sinteze podataka iz studija sa istom ili sličnom temom istraživanja sprovedenim u drugim evropskim i neevropskim populacijama. Ukupno 137 muškaraca sa idiopatskim sterilitetom iz Severne Makedonije i 130 fertilnih kontrola slične starosti uključeno je u studiju slučajeva i kontrola. Genotipizacaija je vršena PCR-RFLP metodom, dok je za meta-analizu korišćen statistički softver OpenMeta-analyst. Za varijante rs10842262 u SOX5, rs2477686 u PEX10 i rs12097821 u PRMT6 nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika u distribucijama genotipova između grupe ispitanika sa idiopatskim sterilitetom i kontrolne grupe. Međutim, učestalost alela G varijante rs10842262 bila je značajno povećana kod muškaraca sa niskom koncentracijom spermatozoida (P= 0.024, OR = 2.10, 95%CI 1.08– 4.06). Meta-analizom pokazana je asocijacija rs10842262, ali i rs12097821, sa rizikom za razvoj idiopatskog muškog steriliteta. Naši rezultati ustanovljeni u populaciji Severne Makedonije idu u prilog prethodnim navodima o učešću rs10842262 u genetičkoj osnovi muškog steriliteta. Ipak, dodatne studije su neophodne kako bi potvrdile značaj rezultata ovog istraživanja

Prevalence of hypertension in adults in the Šumadija district, Serbia: A cross sectional study

Background/Aim. World Health Organization (WHO) studies on the global level have shown that one of the major problems of the public health is hypertension. Blood pressure level greater than 140/90 mmHg is directly and predictively linked to other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and the risk groups among the adult population in the Šumadija District, Serbia. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 1.669 elderly population of the Šumadija District, aged 25-74. The study was performed according to the protocol of the Country Wide Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Intervention (CINDI) international program. Results. In the Šumadija District more than a half of the population aged 25-74 suffers from hypertension (53%). In the Šumadija District 9% of population has undiagnosed hypertension. In the group of people familiar with their high blood pressure problems, good disease control is achieved in only 46% of them. Statistically, hypertension occurs more frequently in males aged 45-74, of lower education, and in rural population. This is the target group for implementation of the high risk strategy. Statistically, there is a higher prevalence of hypertension in people suffering from myocardial infarction (p = 0.04), angina pectoris (p = 0.00), other cardiac diseases (cardiac insufficiency) (p = 0.00) and cerebrovascular crises (p = 0.04). Conclusion. A continuous increase of patients with hypertension, coupled with the developed complications and increase in cardiovascular diseases as a cause of death, points to the lack of effective access to prevention and early detection of these diseases in the primary health care among the risk groups in Šumadija

Herb-Induced Liver Injury by Ayurvedic Ashwagandha as Assessed for Causality by the Updated RUCAM : An Emerging Cause

Funding Information: This article was supported by the COST Action CA17112—Prospective European Drug Induced Liver Injury Network (ProEuroDILINet) (G.B., V.V. and E.S.B.) and by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia No. 451-03-47/2023-01/200015 (V.V.). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Herb-induced liver injury (HILI) caused by herbal supplements, natural products, and products used in traditional medicine are important for differential diagnoses in patients with acute liver injury without an obvious etiology. The root of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, commonly known as ashwagandha, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to promote health and longevity. Due to various biological activities, ashwagandha and its extracts became widespread as herbal supplements on the global market. Although it is generally considered safe, there are several reported cases of ashwagandha-related liver injury, and one case ended with liver transplantation. In this paper, we review all reported cases so far. Additionally, we describe two new cases of ashwagandha hepatotoxicity. In the first case, a 36-year-old man used ashwagandha capsules (450 mg, three times daily) for 6 months before he developed nausea, pruritus, and dark-colored urine. In the second case, a 30-year-old woman developed pruritus after 45 days of using ashwagandha capsules (450 mg). In both cases, serum bilirubin and liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were increased. The liver injury pattern was hepatocellular (R-value 11.1) and mixed (R-value 2.6), respectively. The updated Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) (both cases with a score of seven) indicated a “probable” relationship with ashwagandha. Clinical and liver function improvements were observed after the discontinuation of ashwagandha supplement use. By increasing the data related to ashwagandha-induced liver injury, these reports support that consuming ashwagandha supplements is not without its safety concerns.Peer reviewe

NOS3 gene variants and male infertility: Association of 4a/4b with oligoasthenozoospermia

Results of recent studies confirmed that oxidative stress negatively affects sperm motility and causes sperm DNA damage. Produced by nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3), nitric oxide is considered to be one of the important mediators of oxidative stress in testis tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association of three genetic variants (rs2070744, rs1799983 and intron variant 4a/4b) in NOS3 gene and infertility occurrence in two groups of infertile men (idiopathic azoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia) and fertile controls. Genotypes for the single-nucleotide genetic variants rs1799983 and rs2070744 were determined by PCR-RFLP, while genotyping of intron 4 variant 4a/4b was performed by gel electrophoresis of PCR products. Statistical analysis was performed by SNPStats software. No significant association between the three genetic variants of the NOS3 gene and infertility risk was determined comparing allele and genotype frequencies among group of patients diagnosed with azoospermia and the control group. Nevertheless, there was a significant positive association between 4a/4b and infertility in the group of males diagnosed with oligoasthenozoospermia, under overdominant genetic model. Our findings suggest that tandem repeat variant within intron 4 of the NOS3 gene is associated with an increased risk of infertility in men diagnosed with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia.Andrologia (2017): e1281