To investigate the association of nephrolithiasis and solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter, member 9 (SLC2A9), also known as glucose transporter type 9, Glut9.
A total of 145 ...participants were recruited in the period April-October 2008 from the Department of Mineral Research of the Medical School Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; 58 (40%) had confirmed nephrolithiasis and 87 (60%) were asymptomatic. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from the SLC2A9 gene were genotyped in both groups (rs733175, rs6449213, rs1014290, and rs737267).
There was a weak but significant association of all 4 SNPs and nephrolithiasis (P=0.029 for rs733175; P=0.006 for rs6449213; P=0.020 for rs1014290, and P=0.011 for rs737267). Logistic regression in an age- and sex-adjusted model suggested that genotype C/T for rs6449213 had odds ratio for nephrolithiasis of 2.89 (95% confidence interval 1.13-7.40). This SNP explained a total of 4.4% of nephrolithiasis variance.
Development of nephrolithiasis may be associated with SLC2A9 gene. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of SLC2A9 gene as a link between uric acid and nephrolithiasis.
Carbohydrate sulfotransferases (CHST) were shown to be involved in carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum CHST7 concentration in differentiation between lung ...cancer and non-malignant pulmonary inflammations.
Clinical case-control study involving 125 participants was conducted: the control group containing cases of pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was compared to the lung cancer group composed of primary and metastatic cancers. Serum concentrations of CHST7 and routinely used markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were determined for each participant using immunochemical methods. Statistical association, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and cross-validation were used for the evaluation of CHST7 either as a standalone biomarker or as a part of a biomarker panel.
In comparison to the control group, serum CHST7 was elevated in lung cancer (p<0.001), but no differences between the overall stages of primary cancers were detected (p=0.828). The differentiation performance in terms of ROC area under curve (AUC) was 0.848 making CHST7 superior biomarker to the NSE (p=0.031). In comparison to CEA and CYFRA 21-1, the performance differences were not detected. CHST7 was not correlated to other biomarkers, and its addition to the routine biomarker panel significantly improved the cross-validated accuracy (85.6% vs. 75.2%) and ROC AUC (p=0.004) of the differentiation using a machine learning approach.
Serum CHST7 is a promising biomarker for the differentiation between lung cancer and non-malignant pulmonary inflammations.
The aim was to evaluate the BD Barricor tubes by comparison with the BD Rapid Serum Tubes (RST) through measuring 25 analytes and monitoring sample stability after 24 hours and 7 days.
Samples of 52 ...patients from different hospital departments were examined. Blood was collected in BD RST and BD Barricor tubes (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, USA). Analytes were measured by Beckman Coulter AU 480 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, USA), Dimension EXL (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Newark, USA) and ARCHITECT i2000SR (Abbott Diagnostics, Lake Forest, USA). Between-tube comparison for each analyte was performed, along with testing analyte stability after storing samples at 4 °C.
BD Barricor tubes showed unacceptable bias compared to BD RST tubes for potassium (K) (- 4.5%) and total protein (4.4%). Analyte stability after 24 hours was acceptable in both tested tubes for most of analytes, except for glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in BD Barricor and free triiodothyronine in BD RST sample tubes. Analyte stability after 7 days was unacceptable for sodium, K, calcium, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, AST, LD and troponin I in both samples; additionally for glucose, alkaline phosphatase and albumin in BD Barricor.
All analytes, except K and total protein, can be measured interchangeably in BD RST and BD Barricor tubes, applying the same reference intervals. For most of the analytes, sample re-analysis can be performed in both tubes after 24 hours and 7 days, although BD RST tubes show better 7-day analytes stability over BD Barricor tubes.
The aim of the present research was to determine the blood metabolic profile and acid-base status of Istrian goats in a Mediterranean production system. The research was carried out on 28, non-gravid ...Istrian goats divided into four groups: group I - < 6 month old kids; group II - < 2 year old goats; group 3 - from 2 to 5 year old goats; group IV - >5 year old goats. The goats were grazing on extensive Mediterranean pastures, but when in the stall, they were fed with hay and approximately 0.2 kg corn per day, as well as water and salt. Haematological parameters were determined in whole blood. The concentrations of biochemical parameters and enzyme activities were determined in the blood serum, while indicators of acid-base balance were determined in the blood plasma. The number of erythrocytes and lymphocytes decreased, while segmented neutrophils and eosinophils increased with age in the Istrian goats. Furthermore, concentrations of Fe, albumin/globulin ratio, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, inorganic phosphate- and the activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly. An increase was determined in concentrations of urea, total proteins and globulins, as well as the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, weak anions and cations based on total protein calculations. The data obtained on the metabolic profile and acid-base status of Istrian goats are useful for understanding this breed's parameters, which will help in monitoring health and nutritional status, as well as for improving the management and conservation of this critically endangered breed. Key words: metabolic profile; acid-base status; Mediterranean production system; Istrian goat
Key points
Recent studies have shown that some of the deleterious effects of a high‐salt (HS) diet are independent of elevated blood pressure and are associated with impaired endothelial function.
...Increased generation of cyclo‐oxygenase (COX‐1 and COX‐2)‐derived vasoconstrictor factors and endothelial activation may contribute to impaired vascular relaxation during HS loading.
The present study aimed to assess the regulation of microvascular reactivity and to clarify the role of COX‐1 and COX‐2 in normotensive subjects on a short‐term HS diet.
The present study demonstrates the important role of COX‐1 derived vasoconstrictor metabolites in regulation of microvascular blood flow during a HS diet.
These results help to explain how even short‐term HS diets may impact upon microvascular reactivity without changes in blood pressure and suggest that a vasoconstrictor metabolite of COX‐1 could play a role in this impaired tissue blood flow.
The present study aimed to assess the effect of a 1‐week high‐salt (HS) diet on the role of cyclo‐oxygenases (COX‐1 and COX‐2) and the vasoconstrictor prostaglandins, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), on skin microcirculatory blood flow, as well as to detect its effect on markers of endothelial activation such as soluble cell adhesion molecules. Young women (n = 54) were assigned to either the HS diet group (N = 30) (∼14 g day–1 NaCl ) or low‐salt (LS) diet group (N = 24) (<2.3 g day–1 NaCl ) for 7 days. Post‐occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) in the skin microcirculation was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. Plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, plasma and 24 h urine sodium and potassium, plasma concentrations of TXB2 (stable TXA2 metabolite) and PGF2α, soluble cell adhesion molecules and blood pressure were measured before and after the diet protocols. One HS diet group subset received 100 mg of indomethacin (non‐selective COX‐1 and COX‐2 inhibitor), and another HS group subset received 200 mg of celecoxib (selective COX‐2 inhibitor) before repeating laser Doppler flowmetry measurements. Blood pressure was unchanged after the HS diet, although it significantly reduced after the LS diet. Twenty‐four hour urinary sodium was increased, and plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels were decreased after the HS diet. The HS diet significantly impaired PORH and increased TXA2 but did not change PGF2α levels. Indomethacin restored microcirculatory blood flow and reduced TXA2. By contrast, celecoxib decreased TXA2 levels but had no significant effects on blood flow. Restoration of of PORH by indomethacin during a HS diet suggests an important role of COX‐1 derived vasoconstrictor metabolites in the regulation of microvascular blood flow during HS intake.
Key points
Recent studies have shown that some of the deleterious effects of a high‐salt (HS) diet are independent of elevated blood pressure and are associated with impaired endothelial function.
Increased generation of cyclo‐oxygenase (COX‐1 and COX‐2)‐derived vasoconstrictor factors and endothelial activation may contribute to impaired vascular relaxation during HS loading.
The present study aimed to assess the regulation of microvascular reactivity and to clarify the role of COX‐1 and COX‐2 in normotensive subjects on a short‐term HS diet.
The present study demonstrates the important role of COX‐1 derived vasoconstrictor metabolites in regulation of microvascular blood flow during a HS diet.
These results help to explain how even short‐term HS diets may impact upon microvascular reactivity without changes in blood pressure and suggest that a vasoconstrictor metabolite of COX‐1 could play a role in this impaired tissue blood flow.
This experimental study aimed to determine how propolis and bee pollen (each supplement separately or in combination in a certain proportion), as additives to broiler feed, affect performance, ...mortality and the values of the selected haematological blood parameters in chickens. This experimental study was conducted on 200 Ross 308 chickens of equally distributed sex, which were randomly divided into five groups. Throughout the whole study, the control group of chickens was fed ordinary feed mixture, while the feed mixture that was fed to the experimental groups of chickens contained propolis and/or bee pollen. The average values of body weight of chickens were significantly higher on the 1st (P=0.001), 2nd-5th (P<0.001) and 6th (P=0.002) weeks of fattening in the experimental groups of chickens in comparison to the control group; the average values of weight gain of chickens were significantly higher on the 1st (P<0.001), 2nd (P=0.002), 3rd (P<0.001), 4th (P=0.029) and 5th (P=0.009) weeks. Lower mortality was recorded in all the experimental groups in comparison to the control group of chickens (P=0.031). Higher values of MCV (P=0.009) and haematocrit (P=0.015) and lower values of the leukocyte count (P=0.029) and of the relative ratio of Mo (P<0.001) were recorded in the experimental groups of chickens in comparison to the control group on the 21st day of fattening. Higher values of the relative ratio of heterophils (P<0.001) and lower values of the relative ratios of lymphocytes (P<0.001) and monocytes (P=0.027) were recorded in the experimental groups of chickens in comparison to the control group on the 42nd day of fattening. The results of this study showed that supplementation with propolis and/or bee pollen improved the general health condition of the chickens and positively affected the performance and the values of the selected haematological blood parameters in the chickens.Key words: natural feeding additives; chickens; health; blood; chicken feeding VPLIV CVETNEGA PRAHU IN PROPOLISA NA RAST, SMRTNOST IN NEKATERE HEMATOLOŠKE KAZALNIKE PRI PIŠČANCIH BROJLERJIHNamen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, kako cvetni prah ali propolis posamezno ali v kombinaciji vplivata na prirast, smrtnost in nekatere hematološke kazalnike pri piščancih brojlerjih. V raziskavo je bilo vključenih 200 piščancev brojlerjev pasme ross308. Piščanci so bili razdeljeni naključno v pet poskusnih skupin, v katerih sta bila enakomerno zastopana oba spola. Kontrolna skupina piščancev je ves čas raziskave prejemala navadno hrano za brojlerje, medtem ko so 4 poskusne skupine prejemale hrano z dodatkom cvetnega prahu in sicer skupina 1 (P1) 0,25 g propolisa in 20 g cvetnega prahu/kg hrane, skupina 2 (P2) 0,5 g propolisa/kg hrane, skupina 3 (P3) 1 g propolisa/kg hrane in skupina 4 (P4) 20 g cvetnega prahu/kg hrane. Telesna teža piščancev je bila statistično značilno višja 1. (p < 0,001), 2. (p < 0,001) in 5. (p < 0,01) teden raziskave v vseh poskusnih skupinah v primerjavi s kontrolno skupino. Podobno je bil tudi povprečen dnevni prirast pri piščancih iz poskusnih skupin statistično značilno višji 1. (p < 0,001), 2. (p < 0,01), 3. (p < 0,001), 4. (p < 0,05) in 5. (p < 0,01) teden raziskave. Tudi smrtnost je bila statistično značilno nižja v vseh poskusnih skupinah v primerjavi s kontrolno skupino (p < 0,05). Piščanci iz poskusnih skupin so imeli 21. dan poskusa v povprečju višje vrednosti MCV (p < 0,01) in hematokrita (p < 0,05) ter nižje povprečno število levkocitov (p < 0,05) in relativno razmerje MO (p < 0,001). Na 42. dan poskusa smo ugotovili višje vrednosti razmerja med heterofilci (p < 0,001) ter nižje relativne vrednosti limfocitov (p < 0,001) in monocitov (p < 0,05) pri piščancih iz poskusnih skupin v primerjavi s piščanci iz kontrolne skupine. Rezultati raziskave kažejo, da dodajanje propolisa ali cvetnega prahu izboljša splošno zdravstveno stanje piščancev brojlerjev ter posledično izboljša njihov prirast ter zviša telesno maso, zato bi se ju lahko uporabljalo kot dodatka k hrani za piščance brojlerje.Ključne besede: piščanci; prirast; zdravstveno stanje; propolis; cvetni prah
Acute pyelonephritis is a severe disease which is sometimes difficult to recognize based on clinical symptoms and routinely available diagnostic tests, especially in young children. The aim of this ...study was to assess the diagnostic value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) as a biomarker of acute pyelonephritis.
In this case-control study we analyzed 134 children (median age 2.5 years) who were admitted to the Pediatric Clinic of University Hospital Centre Osijek, Croatia. Eighty of them had acute pyelonephritis, while 54 children had febrile state of different etiology including cystitis and they represented the control group. uNGAL, white blood cells, C-reactive protein, urinanalysis, urine culture, kidney ultrasound and a dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphic scan were done for each child. uNGAL was measured using chemiluminiscent microparticle immunoassay on ARHITECT i1000SR (Abbott Diagnostics, IL, USA).
uNGAL values were significantly higher in children with acute pyelonephritis compared to the control groups (113.6 ng/mL vs. 10.2 ng/mL, p<0.001). A receiver operating characteristic curve comparison was done for tested parameters and encouraging results were obtained for uNGAL (AUC=0.952). A cut-off value of 29.4 ng/mL had 92.5% sensitivity and 90.7% specificity. We showed that uNGAL can also serve in differentiating acute pyelonephritis from cystitis (cut-off 38.5 ng/mL), and for differentiation of cystitis from febrile states with etiology other than urinary tract infection (UTI) (cut-off 20.4 ng/mL).
uNGAL can be a useful diagnostic biomarker in acute pyelonephritis in children, but also in differentiating cystitis from febrile states other than UTI.
The aim of the present research was to determine the haemato-biochemical profile and blood acid–base status of Croatian spotted goats in a traditional Mediterranean production system. The 60 ...non-gravid female Croatian spotted goats of different ages were included in the research. They were divided into four groups of 15 goats according to age: group I – ≤1 year old; group II – 2–3 years; group III – 3–6 years; and group IV – 7–10 years. Haematological parameters were determined in whole blood, biochemical parameters in serum and acid–base status in plasma by automatic analyser. Total leukocyte number (WBC), haemoglobin (HGB) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the blood were the highest, while mean haemoglobin concentration in erythrocytes (MCHCs) was the lowest in yearlings compared to other groups. Concentrations of urea, Mg, Cl, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and lactate were the highest in yearlings. Concentrations of Ca, Na, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were higher in older goats compared to yearlings, while the opposite was determined for the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Values of pH, the strong ion difference (SID), anion gap (AG) and z values as well as the content of HCO3 and total pressure of carbon dioxide (ctCO2) were higher in older goats compared to yearlings. The results obtained may help in monitoring the health and nutritional status and improve the management of Croatian spotted goats. Based on the results of the present study, the effect of age needs to be included in the model when preparing the reference values for the haemato-biochemical profile and acid–base status of goats.
Obesity is a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, in which a cytokine chemerin with its immunometabolic modulation has an important role. We aimed to study in a healthy population relationships ...between serum chemerin levels, lifestyle choices and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessed volumes of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues, which have different cytokine expression profiles. Overall, 73 healthy participants undertook lifestyle questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements along with MRI scanning of abdominal SAT and VAT. Furthermore, complete blood count was determined along with chemerin and fibrinogen serum levels. Regression model for prediction of chemerin serum levels was built after controlling for sex, age and anthropometric measures. Median serum chemerin was 141 (125-195) ng/mL. Serum chemerin had a moderate positive correlation with SAT and VAT volumes. The two most important predictors of chemerin levels were MRI detected SAT and thigh circumference. Independently, chemerin levels were associated with smoking, preference of salty food, and favoring flavor/simplicity of preparation over nutritional value of the food. Serum chemerin seems to be more strongly correlated with the volume of abdominal SAT than VAT, with certain lifestyle choices influencing chemerin levels independently of abdominal fat.
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