Magnesium supplementation and iron status among female students: The intervention study

BackgroundLiterature data indicate the benefit of magnesium (Mg) supplementation. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of short-term Mg supplementation on iron status in healthy female participants.MethodsOne hundred healthy female students of the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy participated the study during eleven intervention days. Students ingested Mg preparations with the same dose of the active substance. The analysis included the measurement of serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), total Mg (tMg), ionized Mg (iMg), complete blood count, met-, carboxyand oxy-haemoglobin (metHgb, COHgb, O2Hgb). Transferrin concentrations and percentage of transferrin saturation (SAT) were calculated manually. The association among the analyzed biochemical parameters was examined using polynomial regression. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the evaluation of interdependence between the analyzed parameters.ResultsA statistically significant trend for change in O2Hgb (%) by tertiles of iMg concentrations was found (P = 0.029). Serum tMg reached significant positive correlation with the SAT at concentration levels greater than 0.9 mmol/L, after 11 days of intervention (R2=0.116). Ionized Mg in a concentration higher than 0.6 mmol/L is positively correlated with SAT and serum Fe (R2=0.214; 0.199, respectively). PCA revealed variability of 64.7% for two axes after 11 days.ConclusionsMg supplementation leads to an improvement in the certain iron status parameters even in individuals with optimal levels of these indices. However, caution should be exercised when supplementing Mg, and laboratory monitoring of the interaction is required.     

Single Gene Prognostic Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose

To discover novel prognostic biomarkers in ovarian serous carcinomas.

Methods

A meta-analysis of all single genes probes in the TCGA and HAS ovarian cohorts was performed to identify possible biomarkers using Cox regression as a continuous variable for overall survival. Genes were ranked by p-value using Stouffer’s method and selected for statistical significance with a false discovery rate (FDR) <.05 using the Benjamini-Hochberg method.

Results

Twelve genes with high mRNA expression were prognostic of poor outcome with an FDR <.05 (AXL, APC, RAB11FIP5, C19orf2, CYBRD1, PINK1, LRRN3, AQP1, DES, XRCC4, BCHE, and ASAP3). Twenty genes with low mRNA expression were prognostic of poor outcome with an FDR <.05 (LRIG1, SLC33A1, NUCB2, POLD3, ESR2, GOLPH3, XBP1, PAXIP1, CYB561, POLA2, CDH1, GMNN, SLC37A4, FAM174B, AGR2, SDR39U1, MAGT1, GJB1, SDF2L1, and C9orf82).

Conclusion

A meta-analysis of all single genes identified thirty-two candidate biomarkers for their possible role in ovarian serous carcinoma. These genes can provide insight into the drivers or regulators of ovarian cancer and should be evaluated in future studies. Genes with high expression indicating poor outcome are possible therapeutic targets with known antagonists or inhibitors. Additionally, the genes could be combined into a prognostic multi-gene signature and tested in future ovarian cohorts.     

Solid-Phase Radioimmunoassay for Substance P

The solid-phase immunoassay for quantification of substance P has been developed. The assay is based on the repartition of anti-substance P antibodies between the insoluble phase-immobilized substance P and the free peptide. The immobilized substance P-antibody complex is then quantified with 125I-protein A. The method allowed detection of 10 pg of substance P. The values of substance P concentration obtained by the present method in different regions of the rat brain were comparable to those obtained by standard radioimmunoassay with 125I-tyr-8-substance P as tracer. The described solid-phase radioimmunoassay is a simple, sensitive, and reliable technique for quantification of substance P-like immunoreactivity in biological samples.     

A kinetic study of D-glucose oxidation by bromine in aqueous solutions

The kinetics of the oxidation of D-glucose to D-gluconic acid by bromine in aqueous solution were studied using potentiometric techniques and theoretical considerations of complex bromine-bromide-pH equilibria. The pH has a strong influence on reaction rate. At pH < 8 the reaction is very slow, while in the pH range pH 8-9.5 the reaction is sufficiently fast and seems optimal for the reaction. The proposed active species at that pH region is hypobromous acid. At pH > 9.5, the reaction is further accelerated due to the formation of hypobromite. The proposed kinetics expression for gluconic acid formation, based on the determined kinetic parameters at pH 9.24, is of the form dc(GA)/dt = 160c(2)(G)c(o)(HOBr)c(o)(H(+)c(o)(Br)     

Maternal and fetal outcome in elective versus emergency caesarean section in a developing country

As the other major European countries, Croatia has also seen a marked increase in the rate of caesarean sections. The aim of this study was to determine the most common reasons for caesarean section, to compare emergency and elective caesarean section in regard to intraoperative and postoperative complications in both mother and child, and to assess the decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) in our clinic in comparison to current recommendations. Analyzing the results of our research we can say that the new-borns in the group with the elective caesarean section had considerably better Apgar index score in the first minute (p = 0.00056) and in the fifth minute (p = 0.054) than the children born in the group with emergency caesarean section. Children from the group with elective caesarean section had also less frequent asphyxia (p = 0.02315) and considerably less frequent resuscitation (p = 0.0143) than the children from the group with emergency caesarean sections. Only 39.73% of the emergency caesarean sections were performed within the "golden standard" period of 30 minutes. Regarding the data from the literature our results are similar with the ones from developed countries and 30 minute current standard seem to be not achievable.     

Monitoring of cross-country skiers by means of an expert model of potential performance

On the basis of expert knowledge, an expert model of potential performance covering the motor, morphological, psychological, and sociological subspace was constructed (MMPS). The scores of variables were obtained by application of the computer program Sport Measurement Management System (SMMS). In the subjects included in measurements, trends of the obtained average scores of variables were established through various competition categories and age periods. The sample of subjects consisted of 48 cross-country skiers in three competition categories. Fluctuations in development in individual age periods are larger in the motor and morphological subspace. In the psychological subspace, an upward trend of average scores can be noticed, while the sociological subspace is not subjected to any essential changes in different age and competition categories. Monitoring of cross-country skiers across all three competition categories showed that in these age categories there are periods which owing to laws of development do not allow uniform progress. Therefore, the principle of individuality must be taken into account especially in planning the transformation process.     

Target intraocular pressure in the management of glaucoma

Achievement of target intraocular pressure is the goal of every efficient antiglaucoma therapy. Target intraocular pressure is the level of intraocular pressure which is associated with minimal likelihood of visual field or optic nerve lesion, or an existing lesion progression due to elevated intraocular pressure. Results of large clinical studies which have offered some new concepts on target intraocular pressure in the management of glaucoma are reviewed. An association between the curve of intraocular pressure decrease and glaucoma progression was demonstrated in these studies. Generally, a lower value of target intraocular pressure implies better protection from the loss of vision and visual field impairment in glaucoma patients. In advanced glaucoma, the greatest possible reduction from the initial intraocular pressure should be attempted. A 20% reduction from the initial intraocular pressure or decrease to < 18 mmHg in advanced glaucoma has been recognized as a favorable strategy to reach target intraocular pressure. In normal tension glaucoma, a lower value of target intraocular pressure is associated with a slower disease progression. In patients with initial glaucoma, 25% reduction from the initial intraocular pressure will slow down the disease progression by 45%. The value of target intraocular pressure depends on the pretreatment level of intraocular pressure, optic nerve condition, glaucoma disease state, rate of glaucoma progression, patient's age, and other risk factors for the development of glaucoma.     

Epidemiology of monosymptomatic optic neuritis in Rijeka County, Croatia: meteorological aspects

In order to analyze the meteorological factors possibly influencing the monosymptomatic optic neuritis in Rijeka County, northwestern part of Croatia, retrospective analysis of all cases diagnosed in Rijeka County in period from 1977 to 2001, was done. Meteorological data on monthly and yearly temperature, humidity, insolation in Rijeka County were collected from Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service. In the observed period there were 173 cases of monosymptomatic optic neuritis, female/male ratio was 1.66, and overall incidence was 2.18/100,000 inhabitants. There was no correlation of incidence with average yearly and monthly temperature, humidity, insolation, or month of birth. This is the first study on meteorological factors and optic neuritis in Croatia.