Genetic diversity of Dinaric brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Croatia with implications for bear conservation in Europe

Brown bears have lost most of their range on the European continent. The remaining western populations are small, isolated and highly endangered. The Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population is the western-most stable population and the fourth largest in Europe. It has been recognized as a potential source for recolonization of populations whose survival is at risk. Indeed, several translocations of Dinaric bears to Italy, Austria and France have recently been made. Despite the importance of the Dinaric bear population, its genetic status remains poorly understood. Using tissue samples from 156 hunted or accidentally killed Dinaric bears in Croatia, this study analysed genetic diversity at 12 microsatellite loci, as well as population structure and past reductions in size. In addition, a subset of 59 samples was used to assess diversity of the mitochondrial DNA control region. The results indicate that Dinaric bears have high nuclear genetic diversity, as compared to other extant brown bear populations, despite genetic evidence of a bottleneck caused by past persecutions. However, haplotype diversity was low, probably as a result of male-biased dispersal and female philopatry. Not surprisingly, no evidence of population sub-structure was found using nuclear markers, as the bear habitat has remained continuous and the highway network has been built only recently. Management should focus on maintaining habitat connectivity and keeping the effective population size as large as possible. In addition, when removing individuals, care should be taken not to further deplete the population of rare haplotypes. A coordinated transboundary management of the entire Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population should be a priority for its long-term conservation.     

Implementation of immunohistochemistry on frozen ear notch tissue samples in diagnosis of bovine viral diarrhea virus in persistently infected cattle

One hundred and thirty three "wild" muskoxen, 81 of which of known body mass, were successfully immobilized using etorphine (M99), and xylazine (Rompun^®), delivered by use of a dart gun. A dose of 0.05 mg/kg M99, supplemented by 0.15 mg/kg Rompun was found to be very effective. This dose is much higher than currently recommended e.g. by Handbook of Wildlife Chemical Immobilization.     

Eye disorders in neurofibromatosis (NF1)

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with high index of spontaneous mutations and extremely varied and impredictible clinical manifestations. The aim of this work was to give an account of eye disorders in NF1. 132 patients of age 0-16 years with NF1 were followed up for 15 years. They were checked repeatedly for ophthalmologic disorders. Frequent eye disorders were: Lisch nodules (Iris hamartomas, IH) 78%, hyperthelorism 19.7%, bulbomotoric disorders 15.9%, disorders of the optic disc 16.7% and optic gliomas (18.9%). The highest incidence of eye disorders by NF1 patients showed Lisch nodules (IH). Its ease of clinical recognition and if present with other diagnostic signs (for instance café au lait patches) could be deemed as reliable diagnostic criterion of NF1 in childhood.     

Axial eye length after retinal detachment surgery

Changes in the eye axial diameter were studied to assess the eye globe impact of conventional operation for retinal detachment. The study included 69 eyes in 69 patients operated on for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. There were 46.4% of men and 53.6% of women, mean age 52.7 (+/- 15.21) years. Results of preoperative and postoperative ultrasonographic measurement of axial diameter are presented. The mean preoperative and postoperative eye axial diameter was 23.69 (+/- 1.84) mm and 24.43 (+/- 1.91) mm, respectively. Postoperative results showed the axial eye length to increase by a mean of 0.74 (+/- 0.44) mm, yielding a statistically significant difference from the preoperative measurement (p < 0.001). The mean myopia induced by this eyeball elongation was 1.77 D. The encircling band with and without segmental buckling used in surgical repair of retinal detachment creates circular and segmental indentation of the eyeball, thus increasing its axial length. The myopia induced by elongation of the eyeball results in considerable myopia, which requires appropriate correction in the early postoperative period to achieve favorable vision rehabilitation.     

Selective portal vein embolization as introduction in major surgery

In the period between the December 2000 and September 2004, altogether 13 patients underwent preoperative portal vein embolization (PPVE); 9 patients with colorectal metastases and 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The indirect splenic portography was performed after catheter was introduced into superior mesenteric artery via femoral artery approach. The portal vein was punctured percutaneously transhepatic under fluoroscopy. Following portography, selected portal vein segments were embolized by injecting polyvinil alcohol (PVA) particles until stasis of blood flow was achieved. Proximal parts of branches and the channel in the liver parenchyma were occluded with Gelfoam particles. The increase of the remnant liver parenchyma was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. iTwo patients experienced post-embolization syndrome and another one had subcapsular hematoma. The volume of the liver parenchyma increased minimally for 8% and maximally for 109%. Altogether, 10 patients underwent surgical resection. In two patients, the disease progressed and carcinoma spread to the previously healthy liver lobe and in one there was no hypertrophy and we decided for artery chemoembolization (AC). The results show that PPVE triggers a strong regenerative response resulting in hypertrophy of normal liver parenchyma and expand possibilities of curative surgery for patients who would not otherwise have been candidates for extended resection.     

Influence of maternal pregravid weight, height and body mass index on birth weight of male and female newborns

The study included 2300 healthy couples and their healthy newborns delivered vaginally from singleton, normal term (37-42 weeks) pregnancies in Sibenik, Zadar and Split (Croatia). Both fathers and mothers of male newborns were older and had a higher weight than those of female newborns (p < 0.05). Gestational age and birth weight were higher in male than female newborns (p < 0.001). Increasing maternal pregravid weight led to increasing birth weight of both male and female newborns (p < 0.001). Furthermore, increasing maternal height and body mass index resulted in increasing birth weight of male and female newborns (p < 0.001). Thus, the fathers and mothers of male infants were older than those of female infants (p < 0.05), and increasing pre-gravid body weight, body height and body mass index were associated with a higher birth weight in both male and female newborns.     

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in uterosacral ligaments tissue of women with genital prolapse

Collagen metabolism is altered in the pelvic organ tissues of women with genital prolapse. The aim of this study was to compare collagen metabolism by measuring matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in uterosacral ligament tissues of postmenopausal women with and without genital prolapse. Uterosacral ligament tissues were obtained at the time of abdominal or vaginal surgery from twenty-four patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and 21 women who underwent gynecologic surgery for benign indications. The tissue samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. There were no differences in age, BMI and parity between two groups. The patients with genital prolapse demonstrated significantly higher occurences of MMP-1 expression compared to controls. These findings indicate that increased MMP-1 expression in uterosacral ligaments is associated with genital prolapse. Our data are consistent with the theory that increased collagen breakdown may play an important role in the onset and development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).     

Temporomandibular joint disorder in a patient with multiple sclerosis--review of literature with a clinical report

Temporomandibular disorders are a form of musculoskeletal disorders, which reduce the function of stomatognathic system and they are related to some other diseases causing painful conditions and disorders of oral function. The aim of this paper is to describe a one year follow up clinical case of a female patient with comorbid multiple sclerosis and a relatively rare form of articular disc disorder. Primary clinical diagnostics encompassed manual methods of TMJ examination. Definite diagnosis included radiologic examination. Clinical hyperextensive condyle position was palpated bilaterally and subsequently confirmed by a functional panoramic radiograph of TMJ. The anterior displacement of disc with reduction was diagnosed by magnetic resonance and in the right joint there was a disc displacement upon excursive movement. From relevant literature, the relationship of a number of diseases that can be related to functional disorder of the orofacial system, such as multiple sclerosis, has been described from many aspects. Also, apart from the standard classification of one form of anterior displacement of the disc, made primarily by magnetic resonance, cases of disc displacement upon excursive mandibular movement can rarely be found in literature.     

Influence of small doses of various drug vehicles on acetaminophen-induced liver injury

The biological effects of drug vehicles are often overlooked, often leading to artifacts in acetaminophen-induced liver injury assessment. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effect of dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, propylene glycol, ethanol, and Tween 20 on acetaminophen-induced liver injury. C57BL/6 male mice received a particular drug vehicle (0.6 or 0.2 mL/kg, i.p.) 30 min before acetaminophen administration (300 mg/kg, i.p.). Control mice received vehicle alone. Liver injury was assessed by measuring the concentration of alanine aminotransferase in plasma and observing histopathological changes. The level of reduced glutathione (GSH) was assessed by measuring total nonprotein hepatic sulfhydrils. Dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylformamide (at both doses) almost completely abolished acetaminophen toxicity. The higher dose of propylene glycol (0.6 mL/kg) was markedly protective, but the lower dose (0.2 mL/kg) was only slightly protective. These solvents also reduced acetaminophen-induced GSH depletion. Dimethylformamide was protective when given 2 h before or 1 h after acetaminophen administration, but was ineffective if given 2.5 h after acetaminophen. Ethanol at the higher dose (0.6 mL/kg) was partially protective, whereas ethanol at the lower dose (0.2 mL/kg) as well as Tween 20 at any dose had no influence. None of the vehicles (0.6 mL/kg) was hepatotoxic per se, and none of them was protective in a model of liver injury caused by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide.     

Clinical presentation of a patient with congenital polycythemia

The authors describe a 19 year old male with an isolated but absolute erythrocytosis with iron deficiency without evidence for polycythemia vera as well as another causes of erythrocytosis. The polycythemia was due to a recently described von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) mutation. By stopping iron therapy there was no more requirements for phlebotomy in this patient.