Age-developmental stage and severity of trauma related symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms in participants who lost their fathers during the war in Croatia

Children of different ages will experience a traumatic event in a different ways. The most important in the generalization of research findings is recognizing that children of different ages think differently, act differently and have different emotional functioning. Experiences that are extremely traumatic to an adult may be perceived by a young child as something that is not so frightening. The fear that the child feels will more frequently be a reflection of that of the adult rather than generated by the child's own perception of the event. So, the individual experience of the trauma is age dependent. Our study focused on children who lost their fathers in conditions of war The aim was to explore the association between age-developmental stages and the severity of trauma related symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms in participants who lost their fathers during the war. The study included 103 people who lost their fathers during the war in Croatia, who came to the physical and psychiatric examination organized by the Ministry of Family, War Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity. The sample was consisted of the participants who were children, or not born yet, at the time when they lost their fathers during the war in Croatia. At the time of interview, the participants were aged between 15 and 35 years old. Data was collected using a structured clinical interview which also included socio-demographic data. Data about former and current psychiatric symptoms were collected using the following instruments: Clinician- Administrated PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD). Results showed that there was significant correlation between age and results on used scales. The participants who lost their fathers at a very young age or even before they were born showed less trauma symptoms (r=0.249; p < 0.05) less anxiety (r=0.374; p < 0.01) and depressive (r=0.384; p<0.01) symptoms than participants who lost their fathers at an older age. The study confirmed that the individual experience of the trauma of losing a father in war circumstances is associated with age.     

Recurrent achalasia in a child with Williams-Beuren syndrome

Williams-Beuren syndrome is a multysistem genetic disorder caused by the 1.6Mb hemizygous deletion involving the elastin gene in the region q11.23 of chromosome 7. The phenotype of Williams-Beuren syndrome is extremelly variable but the most common findings include cardiovascular disease, distinctive facies, mental retardation, a specific congitive profile, endocrine abnormalities, growth retardation and connective tissue abnormalities. Although gastrointestinal difficulties are one of the most constant and prominent finding of the syndrome, including gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), poor suckling, vomiting, constipation, prolonged colic, rectal prolapse, inguinal, umbilical and hiatal hernia, there have been no reports of achalasia in association with Williams-Beuren syndrome in the literature. We present the case of a boy with Williams-Beuren syndrome, achalasia and recurrent postoperative stenosis of the cardia. After Heller myotomy, the boy developed severe restenosis of the cardia with abundant adhesions which repeated after every treatment, five times in periods shorter than one month. Eventually, he developed GER, errosive gastritis and hiatal hernia which led to severe malnutrition and failure to thrive. Although the genetic defect causing Williams-Beuren syndrome might not be the direct cause of achalasia we suggest that the frequent development of severe restenosis of cardia due to tight adhesions could be the consequence of elastin gene haploinsufficiency and altered structure and function of elastic fibers in esophageal connective tissue. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of esophageal motor disorders in childhood which should be included in the differential diagnosis when a child with Williams-Beuren syndrome presents with dysphagia and/or regurgitation.     

Growth modulation of human cells in vitro by mild oxidative stress and 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative antioxidants

Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation products are not only cytotoxic but may also modulate signal transduction in cells. Accordingly, antioxidants may be considered as modifiers of cellular redox signaling. Therefore, the effects of two novel synthetic antioxidants, analogues of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives, cerebrocrast and Z41-74 were analysed in vitro on human osteosarcoma cell line HOS, the growth of which can be modulated by lipid peroxidation. The cells were pretreated with either cerebrocrast or Z41-74 and afterwards exposed to mild, copper induced lipid peroxidation or to 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), the end product of lipid peroxidation. The results obtained have shown that both antioxidants exert growth modulating effects interfering with the lipid peroxidation. Namely, cells treated with antioxidants showed increased metabolic rate and cell growth, thereby attenuating the effects of lipid peroxidation. Such biomodulating effects of cerebrocrast and Z41-74 resembled growth modulating effects of HNE, suggesting that the antioxidants could eventually promote cellular adaptation to oxidative stress interacting with redox signaling and hydroxynonenal HNE-signal transduction pathways. This may be of particular relevance for better understanding the beneficial role of hydroxynonenal HNE in cell growth control. Therefore, cerebrocrast and Z41-74 could be convenient to study further oxidative homeostasis involving lipid peroxidation.     

Progress in ethanol production from corn kernel by applying cooking pre-treatment

In order to improve technological properties of corn kernel for ethanol production, samples were treated with a hydrothermal pre-treatment of cooking (steaming), prior to drying. Two types of cooking process parameters were applied; steam pressure of 0.5 bars during a 10 min period, and steam pressure of 1.5 bars during a 30 min period. Afterwards, samples were dried at four different temperatures, 70, 90, 110 and 130 °C. Control sample was also submitted to the afore-mentioned drying parameters. Since the results showed that starch utilization, due to the gelatinization process, was considerably higher in the samples pre-treated before the ethanol production process, it was found that the cooking treatment had a positive effect on ethanol yield from corn kernel. Therefore, the highest ethanol yield was found in the corn kernel samples cooked for 30 min at steam pressure 1.5 bars and dried at 130 °C. Due to the similarity of processes used for starch fermentation, introduction of cooking pre-treatment will not significantly increase the overall ethanol production costs, whereas it will result in significantly higher ethanol yield.     

Prevalence of HIV antibody and pregnancy in Tayside, 1984-9: background to screening.

OBJECTIVE--To determine age specific prevalence of HIV antibody, incidence of pregnancy, and likelihood of detection and correct assignment to risk category by antenatal screening of women known to be positive for HIV antibody, from 1984 to 1989. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of reproductive history and risk behaviour of women positive for HIV antibody and prediction of detection by screening on the basis of blood group samples, Guthrie tests, and rubella tests. SETTING--City of Dundee, where the prevalence of HIV is high, since the appearance of HIV in 1984, predominantly among heterosexual intravenous drug users. PATIENTS--All (61) women known to be positive for HIV antibody who had had clinically indicated tests, for whom case notes were available for 60. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Risk assessment according to case notes and reported to the laboratory, incidence of infection, geographical location, age, date of positive test result, and reproductive history. RESULTS--With 61 infected women the overall minimum prevalence among women within the city of Dundee was 0.67/1000 and 2.9/1000 among women in their third decade. Of the 60 women whose reproductive history was available, 35 had 57 pregnancies, 36 of which occurred after seroconversion was known to have taken place, representing 8.7% of the total number of affected pregnancies reported for the United Kingdom. If antenatal screening for HIV had been performed between 1984 and 1989 it could not have detected positivity for HIV antibody in 25 (42%) women who had no pregnancies during this time. Among the remaining 35 women, screening samples taken for blood grouping could have identified a maximum of 34 (57%), samples taken to check rubella susceptibility a maximum of 22 (37%), and blood spots on Guthrie cards a maximum of 19 (32%). Retesting would have occurred in 14 women 33 times with samples taken for blood grouping, but three and four women would have been tested twice using samples taken for rubella testing and Guthrie cards respectively. Anonymous screening would have been unable to determine risk category as a history of intravenous drug use was known in 47 (79%) women before testing but this was increased by a further 5 (8%) who admitted to it after the test result was known. CONCLUSION--Interpreting the results of antenatal screening programmes will be complex and will underestimate overall prevalence of HIV antibody among women; this will be exaggerated by strategies based on anonymous testing with Guthrie cards or on samples taken for rubella testing, which do not include women who have had an earlier loss of pregnancy. Only open testing with consent will permit satisfactory attribution to     

The role of activation of KАTP channels on hydrogen sulfide induced renoprotective effect on diabetic nephropathy

This work aims to investigate the renal effect of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), in the experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy, besides the role of activation of АТP-sensitive potassium (K_АTP) channel in that effect. Thirty-two adult male albino rats randomly divided into four groups: Control, streptozotocin-induced diabetic (diabetic nephropathy [DN]), DN+NaHS (the H₂S inducer), and DN+NaHS+Glibenclamide (a selective K_АTP channel blocker) groups. Results showed that kidney functions in the diabetic group improved by NaHS proved by the significant decrease in the measured renal injury markers when compared with the diabetic group with an obvious role of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the improved kidney functions produced by NaHS was reduced by the combination with Glibenclamide. Glibenclamide combination led also to a significant increase in renal total antioxidant capacity, in addition to a significant decrease in renal total nitric oxide (NO) level. Аccordingly, the results from the present work revealed that the renoprotective effects of H₂S in the case of DN through its effects on renal tissue antioxidants and NO can be partially dependent on activation of K_АTP channels, while its effect on renal tissue proinflammatory cytokines is independent of it.     

Tissue distribution of lipid peroxidation product acrolein in human colon carcinogenesis

Lipid peroxidation product acrolein, well-known pollutant in tobacco and automotive smoke, accumulates in vivo bound to proteins. It suppresses p53 synthesis acting as potent carcinogenic factor for oral, respiratory and bladder carcinomas, while its possible association with colon carcinogenesis was not studied so far. We used genuine monoclonal antibody to evaluate immunohistochemical distribution of acrolein–protein adducts in 113 human colon tumours. The presence of acrolein–protein adducts was increasing with respect to colon carcinogenesis, from moderate appearance in tubular and villotubular low-grade adenomas to abundant and diffuse distribution in high-grade villotubular adenomas and Dukes A carcinomas. However, in advanced Dukes B and C carcinomas acrolein was hardly noticed, although, its protein adducts were found abundant in non-malignant colon epithelium of these patients. There was no relationship between p53 and acrolein distribution. According to these findings, acrolein seems to be lipid peroxidation product associated with transition from benign into malignant colon tumours.     

Development of a model system for rapid assessment of insect mortality in heated controlled atmosphere quarantine treatments

The development of postharvest quarantine treatments can be both expensive and time-consuming. It is necessary to determine the species and stage of the pest most tolerant to the treatment, if more than one species is the target of the treatment. Initial laboratory studies often include infesting the commodity with various egg and larval stages of the pest and performing treatments and evaluations of the fruit. In collaboration with others, I have previously developed combination high temperature under controlled atmosphere treatments against two quarantine pests in apples (Malus spp.) and peaches and nectarines (both Prunus spp.). I decided to develop an artificial system that can be used for these initial tests without the need for infesting large quantities of the fruit. I tested the system on the immature stages of the pests under regular air and controlled atmospheres by using the controlled atmosphere water bath system. This system can be used for rapid assessment of the most tolerant stage and species of a pest to a combination heat and controlled atmosphere treatment without the expense of infesting, treating, and evaluating the commodity.     

The distribution of 4-hydroxynonenal-modified proteins in gastric mucosa of duodenal peptic ulcer patients

This study used monoclonal antibody specific for 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-histidine to evaluate immunohistochemical distribution of HNE-protein adducts in gastric mucosa biopsies of 52 peptic ulcer patients (all positive for H. pylori) and of 20 healthy volunteers (eight positive and 12 negative for H. pylori). HNE-modified proteins were present in glandular epithelium in all subjects, both patients with duodenal peptic ulcer and healthy subjects. Hence, the presence of HNE did not appear to be related to the presence of H. pylori. However, in patients with duodenal peptic ulcer accumulation of HNE-protein adducts was frequently observed also in nuclei, while in the control group such subcellular distribution of HNE was not observed at all. This study shows physiological presence of HNE in human gastric mucosa, but also suggests its role in pathology of gastric dysfunction in duodenal peptic ulcer patients manifested by accumulation of HNE-protein adducts in particular in nuclei of gastric glandular epithelium.     

Active regulation of respiration and circulation in pupae of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella)

Regulation of autonomic physiological functions has been investigated by means of multisensor electronic methods, including electrocardiographic recording of heartbeat, strain-gauge recording of extracardiac hemocoelic pulsations (EHPs), anemometric recording of air passage through spiracles and respirographic recording of O(2) consumption and CO(2) output. Pupae of Cydia exhibit continuous respiration without remarkable bursts of CO(2). The dorsal vessel of these pupae exhibited regular heartbeat reversals characterized by shorter intervals of faster (forward oriented or anterograde) pulsations and longer intervals of slower (backward oriented or retrograde) peristaltic waves. The periodically repeated EHPs were present during the whole pupal interecdysial period. The internal physiological mechanisms regulating the cardiac (heartbeat) and extracardiac (EHP) pulsations were completely independent for most of the pupal instar. Simultaneous multisensor analysis revealed that the anterograde heartbeat of the dorsal vessel had similar but not identical frequency with EHPs. During advanced pharate adult development, frequency of cardiac and extracardiac pulsation periods profoundly increased until almost uninterrupted pulsation activity towards adult eclosion. At this time, the cardiac and extracardiac pulsations occasionally performed in concert, which enhanced considerably the efficacy of hemolymph circulation in pharate adults with high metabolic rates. The fastest hemolymph flow through the main body cavity was always associated with EHPs and with anterograde heartbeat. Simple physical diffusion of O(2) and CO(2) through spiracles (diffusion theory of insect respiration) does not play a significant role in pupal respiration. Instead, several kinds of regulated, mechanical ventilations of the tracheal system, including EHPs are responsible for effective tracheal ventilation.