The prevalence of American liver fluke Fascioloides magna (Bassi 1875) in red deer from Croatian hunting grounds

From October 2002 till April 2003, 194 feces samples and 28 liver samples of red deer shot in the Republic of Croatia territory were examined to determine the prevalence of Fascioloides magna in this game population. The majority of study samples were obtained from animals originating from the east part of Croatia, and only a minor proportion from animals originating from the central and west parts and littoral of Croatia. F. magna eggs were detected in 67/194 (34.53%) feces samples and F. magna adults in 8/28 (28.57%) liver samples. The majority of invaded red deer originated from the east part of Croatia, Baranya region, where F. magna eggs were found in 64/120 (53.33%) and F. magna adults in 8/15 (53.33%) animals. F. magna eggs were detected in only 3/74 (4.05%) animals originating from the other parts of Croatia.     

Cell cycle-dependent 3D distribution of telomeres and telomere repeat-binding factor 2 (TRF2) in HaCaT and HaCaT-myc cells

Telomeres are specialized structures at the ends of the chromosomes that, with the help of proteins--such as the telomere repeat-binding factor TRF2 -, form protective caps which are essential for chromosomal integrity. Investigating the structure and three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the telomeres and TRF2 in the nucleus, we now show that the telomeres of the immortal HaCaT keratinocytes are distributed in distinct non-overlapping territories within the inner third of the nuclear space in interphase cells, while they extend more widely during mitosis. TRF2 is present at the telomeres at all cell cycle phases. During mitosis additional TRF2 protein concentrates all around the chromosomes. This change in staining pattern correlates with a significant increase in TRF2 protein at the S/G2 transition as seen in Western blots of synchronized cells and is paralleled by a cell cycle-dependent regulation of TRF2 mRNA, arguing for a specific role of TRF2 during mitosis. The distinct territorial localization of telomeres is abrogated in a HaCaT variant that constitutively expresses c-Myc--a protein known to contribute to genomic instability. These cells are characterized by overlapping telomere territories, telomeric aggregates (TAs), that are accompanied by an overall irregular telomere distribution and a reduced level in TRF2 protein. These TAs which are readily detectable in interphase nuclei, are similarly present in mitotic cells, including cells in telophase. Thus, we propose that TAs, which subsequently also cluster their respective chromosomes, contribute to genomic instability by forcing an abnormal chromosome segregation during mitosis.     

Long term results of age-related macular degeneration therapy with prednisolone acetate--special refer to peripheral visual field changes

In the north Croatian Adriatic area in the period of seven years (from January 2001 to September 2007) 475 patients (39 to 80 years of age) with dry form of age related macular degeneration (AMD) were diagnosed. Complete ophthalmologic examination with special reference to visual field testing (Perimetric analysis) was performed. Peripheral visual field defects were found in 85% of patients. Elderly patients with more advanced forms of macular degeneration had more peripheral visual field defects. In 400 patients corticosteroid therapy (5 mg Prednisolonacetate, anterior H-inject, Winthorp) was administered via parabulbar injections every day/five days. Control group consisted of 75 patients treated with regular polyvitamine therapy (Lutein, Beta Karoten, Vitamin E). Patients treated with corticosteroids had peripheral visual field improvements from 10 to 25 degrees and central field improvements from 5 to 20%. In the control group treated with vitamins, central visual field showed improvements from 0.5 to 1% in 43 patients but without peripheral visual field improvements after 6 months.     

Augmentation of NKT and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity by peptidoglycan monomer linked with zinc

BACKGROUND: Peptidoglycan monomer (PGM), which was originally prepared by biosynthesis from culture fluids of penicillin-treated Brevibacterium divaricatum, is an immunostimulator, the activities of which might be improved by addition of zinc (Zn) to the basic molecule. METHODS: To test the possible cytotoxic effects of this new analogue, we analyzed the ability of PGM-Zn and PGM to change the phenotypic profile of hepatic and splenic mononuclear lymphatic cells and to affect the growth of malignant T-cell line YAC-1 and syngeneic thymocytes. RESULTS: Pretreatment of C57BL/6 mice primarily with PGM-Zn over 6 days (10/mg/kg intraperitoneally) significantly enhanced the proportions of NK1.1high+, CD4-CD8-, CD69+, and CD3intermediate/NK1.1+/IL2R-beta+ (NKT) cells in the liver, and major histocompatibility complex class II+, CD69+, and CD8+ cells in the spleen. Both types of cells were highly cytotoxic against YAC-1 and syngeneic thymocytes, increasing the destruction of YAC-1 by 70% on addition of hepatic cells and by 30% on addition of splenic cells. Destruction of thymocytes increased by 10 and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results point to PGM-Zn as a potent cytotoxicity-inducing agent, which also generates autoreactive NKT cells.     

Exonuclease requirements for recombination of lambda-phage in recD mutants of Escherichia coli

Recombination of lambda red gam phage in recD mutants is unaffected by inactivation of RecJ exonuclease. Since nucleases play redundant roles in E. coli, we inactivated several exonucleases in a recD mutant and discovered that 5'-3' exonuclease activity of RecJ and exonuclease VII is essential for lambda-recombination, whereas exonucleases of 3'-5' polarity are dispensable. The implications of the presented data on current models for recombination initiation in E. coli are discussed.     

Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine fibroids

Uterine artery embolization can be regarded as a less invasive procedure for the treatment of fibroids compared with myomectomy, hysterectomy, and laparoscopic myolysis. The aim of this study was the evaluation of safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization and of womens' opinion about this treatment. After gynecological examination sixty-nine premenopausal women underwent uterine artery embolization. All procedures but four were technically successful; three women underwent unilateral embolization because of vascular malformation and one of them had an allergic reaction to contrast medium. Of the 69 patients: 58 went home the day after embolization, and 11 within first week. The follow-up examinations after 3, 6 and 12 month showed a significant reduction of uterine and fibroid volume with significant improvement of bleeding. Therefore, according to this report, uterine artery embolization is a successful, minimal invasive treatment of myoma that preserves the uterus and requires shorter hospitalization and recovery times than surgery.     

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients from Croatian Zagorje County treated at Department of Medicine, Zabok General Hospital from 2000 to 2006

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients treated for coronary heart disease (CHD) at Department of Medicine, Zabok General Hospital during the 2000-2006 period. Cardiovascular diseases are a group of diseases that occur due to arterial. The risk factors that lead to the development and occurrence of cardiovascular disease are hypertension, cigarette smoking, hyperholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus and positive family history. Additional factors favoring the occurrence of cardiovascular disease include overweight, inadequate physical activity, and emotional stress. Data on all patients hospitalized and diagnosed with CHD at Department of Medicine, Zabok General Hospital during the 2000-2006 period were analyzed for the prevalence of risk factors for CHD, i.e. hypertension, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus and positive family history of cardiovascular disease. Hypercholesterolemia was defined by a cholesterol level higher than 5.1 mmol/L, hypertension from history data and blood pressure measurement on admission greater than 140/90 mmHg, diabetes mellitus from history data, and hypertriglyceridemia by a triglyceride level greater than 1.7 mmol/L. Information on heredity and cigarette smoking was collected from history and a questionnaire filled out on admission. All laboratory values were determined on patient admission to the hospital. Analysis of the risk factors for CHD recorded in patients from Zagorje County during the 2000-2006 period revealed hypertension to be the most common risk factor in our patients. According to sex, CHD was found to show a male preponderance. According to age at admission, CHD predominated in the > 70 age group, which accounted for one third of all patients, followed by a comparable proportion of the 50-60 and 60-70 age groups, i.e. still active population groups. As CHD is one of the leading health threats worldwide, estimated to remain so at least by 2020, it is fully justified to invest all efforts in the study of cardiovascular disease. New research projects should be focused on the prevention and early detection of the disease, improvement of diagnosis procedures, introduction of novel therapeutic options, use of new concepts, and due survey of the measures taken. CHD poses great socioeconomic burden upon every community in industrialized societies because of the ever younger age at onset. Actions should be taken to improve awareness of the CHD risks and morbidity in the population at large, stimulating favorable lifestyle and dietary modifications, and one's own health awareness, in order to upgrade the control of risk factors for and morbidity of cardiovascular disease.     

The chromatin remodelling complex NoRC safeguards genome stability by heterochromatin formation at telomeres and centromeres

Constitutive heterochromatin is crucial for the integrity of chromosomes and genomic stability. Here, we show that the chromatin remodelling complex NoRC, known to silence a fraction of rRNA genes, also establishes a repressive heterochromatic structure at centromeres and telomeres, preserving the structural integrity of these repetitive loci. Knockdown of NoRC leads to relaxation of centromeric and telomeric heterochromatin, abnormalities in mitotic spindle assembly, impaired chromosome segregation and enhanced chromosomal instability. The results demonstrate that NoRC safeguards genomic stability by coordinating enzymatic activities that establish features of repressive chromatin at centromeric and telomeric regions, and this heterochromatic structure is required for sustaining genomic integrity.     

Knowledge-based computational methods for identifying or designing novel,non-homologous antimicrobial peptides

We describe computational approaches for identifying promising lead candidates for the development of peptide antibiotics, in the context of quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) studies for this type of molecule. A first approach deals with predicting the selectivity properties of generated antimicrobial peptide sequences in terms of measured therapeutic indices (TI) for known antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Based on a training set of anuran AMPs, the concept of sequence moments was used to construct algorithms that could predict TIs for a second test set of natural AMPs and could also predict the effect of point mutations on TI values. This approach was then used to design peptide antibiotics (adepantins) not homologous to known natural or synthetic AMPs. In a second approach, many novel putative AMPs were identified from DNA sequences in EST databases, using the observation that, as a rule, specific subclasses of highly conserved signal peptides are associated exclusively with AMPs. Both anuran and teleost sequences were used to elucidate this observation and its implications. The predicted therapeutic indices of identified sequences could then be used to identify new types of selective putative AMPs for future experimental verification.     

Influence of in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation on psychological status after myocardial infarction in patients with D-type personality

The aim of this study was to determine the number of D-type personality patients in the group with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) and the influence of comprehensive in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation (iCR) on their psychological status (PS). The study included 316 consecutive patients aged 18 to 65 with MI in the last six months admitted into the programme of iCR. Surgical revascularized patients, clinically unstable patients and patients with sever chronic diseases and disorders were excluded. At the beginning and in the end of iCR diagnostic exam, hematological/biochemical blood analysis, ergometric testing was conducted. At the beginning and four weeks after the finish of the iCR estimation of PS was conducted. Distress scale 14 (DS14) questioner was used for that purpose. In the period of three weeks, patients were included in the programme of comprehensive iCR. Out of 316 patients in the study group 83.2% were male, while 16.8% were female. Average age of the patient was 51.3 +/- 7.2. When being admitted to iCR 42.7% patients had characteristics of D-type personality. Those patients had substantially lower level of body mass and body mass index. In the same time there were no differences among groups in risk factors, values of clinical, laboratory and diagnostic parameters. During iCR study group had more complications in comparison to the control group. At the end of iCR substantial rise of functional capacity of patients, improvement of lipid profile and lowering of glycaemia was recorded. Also at the end of iCR antiarrhythmics and psychopharmaceutical medicaments were more often prescribed to the patients in the study group. Four weeks after the iCR share of D-type personality patients was 41% and 71% of study group patients kept their D-type structure.