Self-image and refugee status in adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

The first aim is focused in refugees comparing them with a comparison group in clinical characteristics. In addition, the authors compared scores on the self-image (S-I) scale of refugees and comparison subjects, after they had stratified them into four groups by gender and age. Subjects were 133 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and comparison subjects were from Zagreb, Croatia (n = 189). The subjects were assessed by psychotherapeutic interview, Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ), questionnaires of depressive symptoms, war stressors, posttraumatic reactions (PTS-reactions) and general data. Refugees had significantly higher scores on the questionnaires of war stressors and PTS-reactions (p < 0.001). Refugees didn't differ in the majority of 12 scales of OSIQ from comparison subjects, in all four groups. Younger male refugees had the most scales with significantly higher raw scores in S-I, four in total. S-I can give us useful insight into different dimensions of personality of refugees.     

Antioxidant properties of tea investigated by EPR spectroscopy

The antioxidant properties of green, black and mixed (fruit) tea samples of different origin were investigated by means of EPR spectroscopy. A six line EPR spectrum of solid tea samples indicates the presence of Mn(II) ions and it is superimposed with a sharp singlet line attributed to semiquinone radical species (Delta H(pp)=1 mT; g=2.0022). Antioxidant properties of aqueous tea extracts in H(2)O(2)/NaOH/dimethylsulfoxide system generating reactive radicals (*OH, O(2)*-), *CH(3)) were followed by spin trapping technique. In addition, antioxidant capacity of these samples was assessed using stable radicals 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPOL). Typically, the highest antioxidant potential to terminate superoxide radicals was found in green teas, followed by black and fruity teas. The pro-oxidant activity of green teas evidenced by spin traps was promoted in samples with higher Mn(II) and ascorbic acid concentrations. Various sources of free radicals used in the antioxidant tests due to their specific action show different termination rates in the presence of the individual tea samples.     

Comparison of self-reported and parent-reported emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents from Croatia

The first goal of this study was to obtain, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) problem-scales data for youths in Croatia, and compare them to the original American sample. The second goal of this study was to compare boys -girls problem scales data and CBCL-YSR differences. The instruments were administered to school adolescents aged between 12-18 comprising a non-referred sample (n=611) drawn from the whole country. Youths, compared to their parents, rated higher scores in all scales in both sexes (p < 0.001). According to parents' reports boys had higher scores in more scales (five out of eleven). According to adolescents'self-reports girls had higher scores in more scales (seven out of eleven). Consistent with other studies, Croatian sample confirmed a larger number of serious behavioral and emotional problems reported by adolescents. Adolescents were confirmed as the most reliable informants on their problems.     

The Relation Between Human Exposure to Mercury and Thyroid Hormone Status

The aim of this study was to investigate total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) exposure of 75 mother-child pairs in relation to their thyroid hormone status (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (fT4)). THg and MeHg in blood samples were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry and gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. The median THg and MeHg levels in maternal blood, cord blood, and blood of 6-month-old children were 0.50, 0.53, and 0.32 and 0.22, 0.32, and 0.08 μg/L, respectively. There were significant correlations between paired maternal-cord blood levels for THg and MeHg, with a greater transplacental transport of MeHg compared with THg (mean cord/maternal blood ratio, 1.80 vs. 1.24). The maternal blood THg was found to be a better predictor of TSH levels in children than their current THg exposure. There was a positive correlation between maternal THg and children's TSH. T3 and fT3 levels in children were negatively related to cord blood THg in the majority (Caucasian) subgroup, whereas these associations were positive in the Roma subgroup. Mothers with dental amalgam fillings had significantly lower T4 and fT4 levels. Moreover, fT4 in the mothers of boys negatively correlated with maternal THg levels. MeHg exposure lowered T3 levels in the mothers of girls. Our results suggest that low-level exposure to Hg can affect thyroid hormone status during prenatal and early postnatal exposure depending on the form of Hg, gender, ethnicity, lifestyle, or socioeconomic status (dental amalgam fillings).     

Chromosome numbers and genome size variation in Indian species of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Genome size and chromosome numbers are important cytological characters that significantly influence various organismal traits. However, geographical representation of these data is seriously unbalanced, with tropical and subtropical regions being largely neglected. In the present study, an investigation was made of chromosomal and genome size variation in the majority of Curcuma species from the Indian subcontinent, and an assessment was made of the value of these data for taxonomic purposes. METHODS: Genome size of 161 homogeneously cultivated plant samples classified into 51 taxonomic entities was determined by propidium iodide flow cytometry. Chromosome numbers were counted in actively growing root tips using conventional rapid squash techniques. KEY RESULTS: Six different chromosome counts (2n = 22, 42, 63, >70, 77 and 105) were found, the last two representing new generic records. The 2C-values varied from 1.66 pg in C. vamana to 4.76 pg in C. oligantha, representing a 2.87-fold range. Three groups of taxa with significantly different homoploid genome sizes (Cx-values) and distinct geographical distribution were identified. Five species exhibited intraspecific variation in nuclear DNA content, reaching up to 15.1 % in cultivated C. longa. Chromosome counts and genome sizes of three Curcuma-like species (Hitchenia caulina, Kaempferia scaposa and Paracautleya bhatii) corresponded well with typical hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) Curcuma spp. CONCLUSIONS: The basic chromosome number in the majority of Indian taxa (belonging to subgenus Curcuma) is x = 7; published counts correspond to 6x, 9x, 11x, 12x and 15x ploidy levels. Only a few species-specific C-values were found, but karyological and/or flow cytometric data may support taxonomic decisions in some species alliances with morphological similarities. Close evolutionary relationships among some cytotypes are suggested based on the similarity in homoploid genome sizes and geographical grouping. A new species combination, Curcuma scaposa (Nimmo) Skornick. & M. Sabu, comb. nov., is proposed.     

Biomarkers for Monitoring Pre-Analytical Quality Variation of mRNA in Blood Samples

There is an increasing need for proper quality control tools in the pre-analytical phase of the molecular diagnostic workflow. The aim of the present study was to identify biomarkers for monitoring pre-analytical mRNA quality variations in two different types of blood collection tubes, K₂EDTA (EDTA) tubes and PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes (PAXgene tubes). These tubes are extensively used both in the diagnostic setting as well as for research biobank samples. Blood specimens collected in the two different blood collection tubes were stored for varying times at different temperatures, and microarray analysis was performed on resultant extracted RNA. A large set of potential mRNA quality biomarkers for monitoring post-phlebotomy gene expression changes and mRNA degradation in blood was identified. qPCR assays for the potential biomarkers and a set of relevant reference genes were generated and used to pre-validate a sub-set of the selected biomarkers. The assay precision of the potential qPCR based biomarkers was determined, and a final validation of the selected quality biomarkers using the developed qPCR assays and blood samples from 60 healthy additional subjects was performed. In total, four mRNA quality biomarkers (USP32, LMNA, FOSB, TNRFSF10C) were successfully validated. We suggest here the use of these blood mRNA quality biomarkers for validating an experimental pre-analytical workflow. These biomarkers were further evaluated in the 2^nd ring trial of the SPIDIA-RNA Program which demonstrated that these biomarkers can be used as quality control tools for mRNA analyses from blood samples.     

Insight into the environment of a pre-Roman Iron Age hillfort at Vladař, Czech Republic, using a multi-proxy approach

The large fortified hilltop site of Vladař, northwest Bohemia, Czech Republic (50°05′N, 13°13′E), has recently been studied intensively by way of environmental archaeology, in which palaeoecological methods have played a crucial role. The latter include the analyses of pollen, green algae, Cladocera, other microfossils, plant macro-remains (including charcoal and wood) and chemical composition, carried out on the wet sediments from an artificial cistern/pond situated in the middle of the large citadel, supplemented by charcoal and wood analysis on material from dry situations. The continuous palaeoecological record consists of well-preserved biological remains and covers the period from ca. 400 b.c. to recent times. The chronology is primarily based on radiocarbon dating, supplemented by archaeological finds. The main focus is on the La Tène period of the Iron Age. During the early to middle La Tène the hillfort had a considerable number of permanent inhabitants and woodland was almost completely replaced by an agricultural landscape. The site became partly abandoned by the end of the 3rd century b.c. and completely abandoned around the birth of Christ, after which it reverted to natural woodland communities.     

The potential of pollen analyses from urban deposits: multivariate statistical analysis of a data set from the medieval city of Prague, Czech Republic

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the land which is now the Czech Republic underwent deep social and landscape changes, defined by historians and archaeologists as a transitional period between the early and late medieval periods. This study aims to analyze this transition as reflected by 142 pollen spectra from urban deposits so far excavated in the city of Prague. Multivariate statistics and critical assessment of the results has brought general conclusions on the potential of pollen analysis for urban archaeological research. They reveal an early medieval urban environment as a fine mosaic formed by extensive management, and composed of many habitats without sharp borders between them. Since human impact increased with time and the use of land became more rationalized and intensive, this mosaic developed a relatively coarser structure in the high medieval period. Our results support findings of the earlier subjective and uncertain characteristics of two differing types of medieval pollen spectra (Cerealia-dominated ones with low pollen diversity versus those with a higher proportion of arboreal and wild herbal pollen and high pollen diversity) obtained from various archaeological sites.     

Solid phase synthesis of glycopeptide dendrimers with Tn antigenic structure and their biological activities. Part I

Multiple antigenic peptides containing dimeric Tn antigen [Ac‐(Tn)₂‐γ‐Abu]₄‐(Lys‐X)₂‐Lys‐β‐Ala ( V : X=0; VIII : X=γ‐Abu) and [Ac‐(Tn)₂‐γ‐Abu]₈‐(Lys‐X)₄‐(Lys‐X)₂‐Lys‐β‐Ala ( XI : X=0; XIV : X=γ‐Abu), immobilized on biocompatible Tenta Gel S NH₂ support were prepared by SPPS. Rosetting tests of V , VIII , XI and XIV showed positive reactions with anti‐Tn (DAKO) and Tn+ erythrocytes, with anti‐Tn/A (BRIC 66) and Tn+ and A erythrocytes, other combinations were negative. In all the animals immunized with XIV , we found a remarkable increase in the level of anti‐Tn (titre 2000–64 000, score 105–167) and no change of anti‐A levels (titre 8, score 13–17). Neither non‐immune nor immune sera showed any reactivity with T⁺, Cad⁺ and blood group O erythrocytes. Immunized mice did not exhibit any sign of adverse reaction to the administered conjugates. Biological activities were correlated with molecular modelling and molecular dynamic calculations. The biological activities of these synthetic Tn antigen conjugates (good availability for the immunological interactions, highly specific immunogenicity, good biological tolerance) together with their precise chemical characterization seem to be a promising approach to preparation of anti‐tumour vaccine and affinity purification of anti‐Tn antibodies. Copyright © 1999 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.