The flight distances of floodwater mosquitoes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes vexans,Ochlerotatus sticticus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ochlerotatus caspius</Emphasis>) in Osijek,Eastern Croatia

In spring 2004, the mark-release-recapture study was conducted in the Osijek area, covering the total of 171 km², to describe dispersal pattern of three floodwater mosquito species (Aedes vexans, Ochlerotatus sticticus and Oc. caspius). Forty CO₂ baited Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traps were set at distances varying from 0.95 to 16.7 km from release site. Fifty thousand mosquitoes were released, and a total of 22 marked mosquitoes were recaptured in 12 traps, 82% of which were collected in the first six days after release. The maximum distance of recaptured mosquito (Oc. sticticus) was found at 11.68 km from the release site. During the study, the average dispersal rate per day for mosquitoes ranged from 0.96 km to 3.6 km in regard to different species.     

Body size changes in elite junior rowers: 1997 to 2007

The aim of this study was to determine whether elite international junior rowers in 2007 were heavier and taller than those evaluated in 1997, and to compare this change among finalists and non-finalists, and sweep rowers and scullers. Body weight and height data obtained by a questionnaire from a total of 398 rowers (42% female, 58% male) at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Beijing, People's Republic of China, in 2007 (65.9% of all competitors), were compared with data from 603 rowers measured at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium in 1997 (36.5% female, 63.5% male, representing 90% and 89% of all competitors, respectively, by gender). Male and female rowers in 2007 were significantly taller compared to those in 1997 (1.0 cm, p = 0.009 and 2.1 cm, p < 0.001, respectively; one-sample t-test). No statistically significant difference was found for body mass. The finalists and sweep rowers were taller and heavier compared to nonfinalists and scullers at both Championships respectively. The heights of elite level junior rowers increased significantly over the decade. The finalists at World Junior Rowing Championships were again taller and heavier compared to the nonfinalists.     

Postoperative use of radioiodine (131-I): review of recommendations and guidelines

In the management of large number of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, the radioactive iodine (131-I) administration plays an important role. The guidelines of numerous international and national medical societies regarding the issue of postoperative 131-I administration have been published and updated in the last few years. The guidelines differ in the shape and content, and contain some specific features. The different methods for evaluation and analysis of clinical evidence level and resulting grades of recommendations have been used in line with the very guidelines. The postoperative 131-I administration refers to the radioiodine ablation as a form of adjuvant treatment and radioiodine therapy in the management of patients with recurrent cancer, persistent disease and regional or distant metastases. According to the indications for the postoperative 131-I administration, the patients could be divided into the three risk groups: the very low risk group in which there is no indication for the postoperative 131-I administration, the low risk group in which the indication could be considered, and the high risk group in which there is a clear indication for the 131-I administration. The different criteria for distribution of patients into these three groups are expressed in a certain guidelines. There are different opinions about the necessary dosage of 131-I for the efficient ablation in the low risk group. Moreover, the opinions are also divided regarding the conduction of postoperative (preablative or pretherapeutic) scintigraphy with 131-I. As regards the instructions on preparation of patients for the radioiodine ablation and therapy, all the guidelines recommend the low iodine diet and endogenous or exogenous stimulation of TSH. The endogenous stimulation is accomplished by the withdrawal of thyroid hormones, whereas the recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is used for exogenous stimulation. For conducting the therapy with 131-I the level of TSH has to be > 25-30 mU/L.     

Displacement of a mandibular incisor--an infrequent complication of mandibular fracture

A case of a mandibular fracture with an unusual complication is reported. A 13-year-old boy was admitted four years after conservative treatment of a symphyseal fracture. He complained of recurrent swelling. A radiographic evaluation showed a horizontally laid permanent mandibular left lateral incisor (PMLLI) that had probably slid into the fracture line and provoked repetitive infection episodes. After a surgery, a clinical and radiological analysis showed satisfactory healing.     

Distribution of major brain gangliosides in olfactory tract of frogs

Gangliosides are major cell-surface determinants in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates, found both in neuronal and glial cell membranes. Together with cholesterol and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) - anchored proteins, gangliosides are involved in organization of plasma membrane microdomains. Based on biochemical studies, frog brain was previously described as having low quantities of gangliosides and their distribution pattern in specific brain regions was unknown. Using highly specific monoclonal antibodies generated against four major brain gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b), we examined the distribution of these molecules in CNS of four different species of frogs (Rana esculenta, Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo and Bufo viridis). We also studied the distribution of myelin- associated glycoprotein (MAG), an inhibitor of axonal regeneration, which is a ligand for gangliosides GD1a and GT1b. Our results show that ganglioside GDla is expressed in neurons of olfactory bulb in all studied animals. In the brain of Rana sp., GD1a is expressed in the entire olfactory pathway, from olfactory bulbs to amygdala, while in Bufo sp. GD1a is restricted to the main olfactory bulb. Furthermore, we found that most of myelinated pathways in frogs express MAG, but do not express GD1a, which could be one of the reasons for better axon regeneration of neural pathways after CNS injury in amphibians in comparison to mammals.     

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)1-3 enhances bone repair

Members of the astacin family of metalloproteinases such as human bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) regulate morphogenesis by processing precursors to mature functional extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and several growth factors including TGFβ, BMP2, BMP4 and GFD8. We have recently discovered that BMP1-3 isoform of the Bmp-1 gene circulates in the human plasma and is significantly increased in patients with acute bone fracture. We hypothesized that circulating BMP1-3 might have an important role in bone repair and serve as a novel bone biomarker. When administered systemically to rats with a long bone fracture and locally to rabbits with a critical size defect of the ulna, recombinant human BMP1-3 enhanced bone healing. In contrast, neutralization of the endogenous BMP1-3 by a specific polyclonal antibody delayed the bone union. Invitro BMP1-3 increased the expression of collagen type I and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E₁ osteoblast like cells, and enhanced the formation of mineralized bone nodules from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. We suggest that BMP1-3 is a novel systemic regulator of bone repair.     

Ultrasound effect on physical properties of corn starch

High power ultrasound (HPU) represents a non-thermal processing method that has been rapidly researched and used in the last 10 years. The application of power ultrasound offers the opportunity to modify and improve some technologically important compounds which are often used in food products. One of them is starch. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of the high power ultrasound of 24 kHz frequency on rheological and some physical properties of corn starch. Various ultrasound treatments were used; an ultrasound probe set with different intensities (34, 55, 73 W cm⁻²) and treatment times (15 and 30 min) and ultrasound bath of 2 W cm⁻² intensity and treatment times (15 and 30 min). Rheological parameters, turbidity and swelling power of corn starch suspensions were determined for native and ultrasonically treated corn starch suspensions. Differential scanning calorimetry was used in order to examine the pasting properties of corn starch. The results have shown that the ultrasound treatment of corn starch distorts the crystalline region in starch granules. The results of differential scanning calorimetry measurements have shown a decrease in enthalpy of gelatinization. A significant decrease in consistency coefficient (k) has also been observed. The consistency coefficient decreases stepwise jointly with the increasing ultrasound power. The increase in the swelling power is associated with water absorption capacity and corn starch granules solubility, respectively.     

Cardiac valve replacement: Experience in 2400 patients

In the series described here, 2400 patients over a 15-year period underwent surgery for correction of acquired valvular heart disease. Of these, 1586 patients had single valve replacement, 714 had double valve replacement, and 100 had triple valve replacement. Concomitant surgery for associated congenital and acquired lesions was done in 114 patients. The hospital mortality was 9.16%.     

High incidence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rare and endangered wild grapevine

High levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation of 90–100%, as well as high vesicular and arbuscular colonisation were found in the roots of the rare and endangered wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) along the Neretva River in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, surpassing colonisation in region vineyads.     

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)