War and suicidal deaths by explosives in southwestern Croatia

A total of 853 suicides, from which 29 were committed by explosives, were recorded in the examined region during three distinctly specific intervals-peace time (1986-1990), wartime (1991-1995), and the postwar time (1996-2000). Suicides caused by explosives, without a terrorist background, from 1986-2000 were reviewed. Out of 29 suicides by explosives committed in the examined period, the age and sex of suicide victims and alcohol intoxication at the time of suicide were analyzed. In the prewar period no suicides by explosives were recorded, in distinction from wartime and the postwar period when 20 and 9 such suicides were recorded, respectively. Alcohol testing was performed in 76% of the cases, showing the highest alcohol concentration in suicides' blood in wartime with an average value of 1.58 g/kg of absolute alcohol. As to the suicides' sex, 93% of the victims were male and 7% female. The paper emphasizes the drastically increased number of suicides committed by explosives in wartime.     

Work related diseases and injuries on an oil rig

The analysis of diseases and injuries in the workers on an American oil rig, operating in the Mediterranean Sea, was done in the period of one year, from 1 May 1996 to 1 May 1997. In total, 518 medical examinations of sick and injuried workers were conducted. At the first place in morbidity, there were injuries and poisonings (26.7% of all registered cases). Then followed musculo-skeletal (17.5%), respiratory (14.2%), gastrointestinal diseases (12.1%), mental disorders (10.3%), nervous system (9.2%), skin (6.5%), urogenital (2.9%) and circulatory system diseases (0.6%). Out of all cases, the hand and finger injuries (48.3%) were most frequent, followed by injuries of the leg (13.4%), eye (11.3%), head and neck (10.1%), arm (7.9%), foot (6.7%) and trunk (2.3%). To reduce the incidence of diseases and injuries, special attention should be paid to the workers' basic medical education, to protective measures and providing first aid at the work site.     

Effect of Croatian propolis on diabetic nephropathy and liver toxicity in mice

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In the present study, we examined the antioxidant effect of water soluble derivative of propolis (WSDP) and ethanolic (EEP) extract of propolis on renal and liver function in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. In addition, we examined whether different extract of propolis could prevent diabetic nephropathy and liver toxicity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in vivo. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in Swiss albino mice with a single intravenous injection of alloxan (75 mg kg-1). Two days after alloxan injection, propolis preparations (50 mg kg-1 per day) were given intraperitoneally for 7 days in diabetic mice. Survival analysis and body weights as well as hematological and biochemical parameters were measured. The renal and liver oxidative stress marker malonaldehyde levels and histopathological changes were monitored in the liver and kidney of treated and control mice. RESULTS: Administration of propolis to diabetic mice resulted in a significant increase of body weight, haematological and immunological parameters of blood as well as 100% survival of diabetic mice. Alloxan-injected mice showed a marked increase in oxidative stress in liver and kidney homogenate, as determined by lipid peroxidation. Histopathological observation of the liver sections of alloxan-induced diabetic mice showed several lesions including cellular vacuolization, cytoplasmic eosinophilia and lymphocyte infiltrations, but with individual variability.Treatment of diabetic mice with propolis extracts results in decreased number of vacuolized cells and degree of vacuolization; propolis treatment improve the impairment of fatty acid metabolism in diabetes. Renal histology showed corpuscular, tubular and interstitial changes in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Test components did not improve renal histopathology in diabetic mice. CONCLUSIONS: Propolis preparations are able to attenuate diabetic hepatorenal damage, probably through its anti-oxidative action and its detoxification proccess as well as the potential to minimize the deleterious effects of free radicals on tissue. The protective role of propolis against the ROS induced damages in diabetic mice gives a hope that they may have similar protective action in humans.     

Value of β2-microglobulin in the serum of healthy subjects older than 40 years

The aim of this research was to determine if the age of healthy subjects older than 40 years of age has an influence on the concentration of β(2) -microglobulin in the serum of subjects of different populations. We examined the values of β(2) -microglobulin in the serum of 51 healthy subjects aged 40-86 years using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay AxSYM β(2) -microglobulin test. The reference values of β(2) -microglobulin according to the nonparametric statistical method is 0.95-2.73 mg/L. A correlation was found between β(2) -microglobulin and age: 40-50 years (0.94-1.54 mg/L), 51-65 years (0.96-2.62 mg/L), and >65 years (1.13-2.84 mg/L). There was no significant statistical difference of β(2) -microglobulin between genders (P > 0.05); however, there was a statistically significant difference between the concentration of β(2) -microglobulin and the subjects' age. (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ρ = 0.66; P < 0.01). A direct correlation between age and the concentration of β(2) -microglobulin was observed. This research is a contribution to determining reference values of β(2) -microglobulin in subjects of different populations.     

Modulation of peripheral cytotoxic cells and ictogenesis in a model of seizures

Purpose: A link between seizure susceptibility, blood–brain barrier (BBB) failure, and the activation of peripheral white blood cells has been recently proposed. However, the molecular players involved in this cascade of events are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that immunosupression by splenectomy or lack of perforin, a downstream factor of natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T cells, could reduce seizure onset. Methods: Pilocarpine was used to induce seizures in adult rats wild‐type and perforin‐deficient mice. Splenectomy was performed prior to pilocarpine injection. Seizure onset was evaluated by electroencephalography (EEG) and joint time–frequency analysis. Spleens from control and pilocarpine‐treated groups were analyzed for anatomical changes and CD3+ cell content. BBB damage was assessed by measuring albumin parenchymal extravasation. Fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was performed on spleen and brain tissue of wild‐type and perforin‐deficient mice treated, or not, with pilocarpine. Key Findings: Splenectomy significantly reduced seizure‐associated mortality. Histologic analysis of the spleens exposed to pilocarpine revealed altered white and red pulp anatomy and an increase in CD3+ T cells. Onset of status epilepticus (SE) and mortality were significantly decreased in perforin‐deficient mice. Pilocarpine significantly increased spleen NK 1.1 and CD8+ cell percentage; in contrast, the brain inflammatory cell profile remained unchanged at the time of pilocarpine SE. BBB damage was reduced in the perforin‐deficient pilocarpine‐treated mice. Significance: Immunosuppressant maneuvers such as splenectomy or lack of perforin decrease the onset or the severity of pilocarpine SE. Our results suggest that cytotoxic lymphocytes, and specifically the cytolytic factor perforin, may be key molecular players involved in the axis between peripheral intravascular inflammation and seizures.     

Cellular localization and functional significance of CYP3A4 in the human epileptic brain

Purpose: Compelling evidence supports the presence of P450 enzymes (CYPs) in the central nervous system (CNS). However, little information is available on the localization and function of CYPs in the drug‐resistant epileptic brain. We have evaluated the pattern of expression of the specific enzyme CYP3A4 and studied its co‐localization with MDR1. We also determined whether an association exists between CYP3A4 expression and cell survival. Methods: Brain specimens were obtained from eight patients undergoing resection to relieve drug‐resistant seizures or to remove a cavernous angioma. Each specimen was partitioned for either immunostaining or primary culture of human endothelial cells and astrocytes. Immunostaining was performed using anti‐CYP3A4, MDR1, GFAP, or NeuN antibodies. High performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet (HPLC‐UV) analysis was used to quantify carbamazepine (CBZ) metabolism by these cells. CYP3A4 expression was correlated to DAPI) condensation, a marker of cell viability. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells were transfected with 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (CYP3A4 to further evaluate the link between CYP3A4 levels, CBZ metabolism, and cell viability. Key Findings: CYP3A4 was expressed by blood–brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells and by the majority of neurons (75 ± 10%). Fluorescent immunostaining showed coexpression of CYP3A4 and MDR1 in endothelial cells and neurons. CYP3A4 expression inversely correlated with DAPI nuclear condensation. CYP3A4 overexpression in HEK cells conferred resistance to cytotoxic levels of carbamazepine. CYP3A4 levels positively correlated with the amount of CBZ metabolized. Significance: CYP3A4 brain expression is not only associated with drug metabolism but may also represent a cytoprotective mechanism. Coexpression of CYP3A4 and MDR1 may be involved in cell survival in the diseased brain.     

Correlational aspects of hematogenous osteomyelitis in children and adults

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone caused by an infecting organism. The infection may be limited to a single portion of the bone or may involve a number of regions such as the marrow, cortex, periostium and even the surrounding soft tissue. Material and method: This retrospective study included a number of 256 cases made by 152 children (56%) and 115 adults (44%). RESULTS: Hematogenous osteomyelitis appears at any age, most frequently in growth period, 85% cases until 16 years. This study relieve a high frequency of subacute (40.1%) and acute (31.1%) hematogenous osteomyelitis compare with chronic form (28.8%). Regarding the distribution of cases by sex, there are no differences between man and woman in chronic osteomyelitis, but subacute form is most frequently at men. The analysis of the cases distribution by location and sex relieve that at womans metaphysis and diaphysis are most interested (70.09%) but only 53.7% at men. Regarding the treatment, the distribution of cases relieve that chronic osteomyelitis generally cannot be eradicated without surgical treatment (sequestrectomy and resection followed by reconstruction with material. Those others forms, acute and subacute hematogenous osteomyelitis, were resolved with medical and surgical treatment, equally. CONCLUSION: Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are required to prevent further destruction and growth disturbance. Generally, a multidisciplinary approach is required, involving an orthopaedic surgeon, an infectious disease specialist and a plastic surgeon in complex cases with soft tissue loss.     

Master connectivity index and master connectivity polynomial

We give the standard expressions of the Zagreb indices, Randi? indices and their variants. Then we present the master connectivity index and show how this index can generate all connectivity indices of both varieties. We also present the master connectivity polynomial and show the relationship between this polynomial and the master connectivity index. Because of this relationship, the master connectivity polynomial can also be used to generate connectivity indices.