Introduction: Oxidative stress represents a pathophysiological mechanism lying behind occurrence of different acute and chronic diseases. Pregnancy, mainly due to placenta rich with mitochondria, is also being associated with the state of oxidative stress. Numerous markers have been proposed in order to test oxidative stress in pregnancy state, one of them being 8-isoprostane. The aim of this study was to analyse serum concentrations of 8-isoprostane as a possible oxidative stress marker in pregnancy.Methods: Serum concentrations of 8-isoprostane were measured in overall population of 84 woman, between 20 and 30 years of age. Tested population was divided in 2 groups: 42 pregnant woman were classifi ed as being either in the fi rst or second trimester of pregnancy. In the control group healthy nonpregnant women were included. Concentration of 8-isoprostane in serum was determined by commercial 8-isoprostane EIA test kit of Cayman Chemical Company, USA.Results: The 8-isoprostane levels were signifi cantly increased in pregnant women in relation to healthy non pregnant women (p<0.05). The 8-isoprostane levels were signifi cantly increased in second and third trimester of pregnancy (p<0.05).Conclusions: According to the obtained results, 8-isoprostane might be used as a possible marker of oxidative stress in pregnancy state, but not as a biomarker for the risk of complications development in pregnancy in analysed population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a worldwide epidemic with considerable health and economic consequences. T2DM patients are often treated with more than one drug, including oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) and drugs used to treat diabetic complications, such as dyslipidemia and hypertension. If genetic testing could be employed to predict treatment outcome, appropriate measures could be taken to treat T2DM more efficiently. Here we provide a review of pharmacogenetic studies focused on OAD and a role of common drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) and drug-transporters (DT) variants in therapy outcomes. For example, genetic variations of several membrane transporters, including SLC22A1/2 and SLC47A1/2 genes, are implicated in the highly variable glycemic response to metformin, a first-line drug used to treat newly diagnosed T2DM. Furthermore, cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are implicated in variation of sulphonylurea and meglitinide metabolism. Additional variants related to drug target and diabetes risk genes have been also linked to interindividual differences in the efficacy and toxicity of OAD. Thus, in addition to promoting safe and cost-effective individualized diabetes treatment, pharmacogenomics has a great potential to complement current efforts to optimize treatment of diabetes and lead towards its effective and personalized care.

Introduction: Several decades of basic science and animal research provided considerable support for significant role of plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) in etiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Contradicting data related to signifi cance of elevated FFAs in plasma of patients with Type 2 diabetes prompted us to study concentrations of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid, in patients and healthy controls in an attempt to possibly use them as potential biomarkers in progression of the disease. Since aging is associated withincreased plasma glucose and insulin levels that are consistent with an insulin resistant state, in this study,age differences in the concentration of the above mentioned acids were tested.Methods: Progressive changes in their concentrations were followed through a period 6 months. All subjects included in the study were free of evidence of hepatitis B or C viral infection or active liver and kidney damage. Analysis of glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were performed on BT PLUS 2000 analyzer using standard IFCC protocols, while concentrations of FFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography.Results: Our data demonstrated signifi cantly higher FFA values in plasma of diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls. There was a trend of correlation of FFAs levels with the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, which was more prominent in diabetic men than in women.Conclusion: With aging, levels of free fatty acids signifi cantly increased in plasma of diabetic patients, and this effect was also more profound in male than in female diabetics.

Introduction: The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) catalyzes the conversion of the hormonally inactive cortisone to active cortisol, thus facilitating glucocorticoid receptor activation in target tissues. Increased expression of 11β-HSD1 in adipose tissue has been associated with obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the association of two 11β-HSD1 gene (HSD11B1) polymorphisms with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its characteristics in the Bosnian population. Materials and methods: The study included 86 participants: 43 patients diagnosed with MetS and 43 healthy controls. Subjects were genotyped for two HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms: rs846910: G>A and rs45487298: insA, by the high resolution melting curve analysis. Genotype distribution and an influence of genotypes on clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed. Results: There was no significant difference in the mutated allele frequencies for the two HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms between MetS patients and controls. In MetS patients, no significant associations between disease-associated traits and rs45487298: insA were found. Regarding rs846910: G>A variant, heterozygous patients (G/A) had significantly lower systolic (P = 0.017) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.015), lower HOMA-IR index (P = 0.011) and higher LDL-cholesterol levels (P = 0.049), compared to the wild-type homozygotes. In the control group, rs45487298: insA polymorphism was associated with lower fasting plasma insulin levels (P = 0.041), lower homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index (P = 0.041) and lower diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.048). Significant differences between rs846910: G>A genotypes in controls were not detected. Haplotype analysis confirmed the association of rs45487298: insA with markers of insulin resistance in the control subjects. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a common rs45487298: insA polymorphism in HSD11B1 gene may have a protective effect against insulin resistance.

In this paper we would like to briefly introduce readers to the situation in the field of laboratory medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on training in the field of medical biochemistry. As in some of neighboring countries, term Medical biochemist is the usual name for the Clinical biochemist or Clinical chemist in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the difficult period through which the profession had passed in the last two decades, laboratory work, particularly clinical biochemistry, has managed to retain the necessary quality and keep pace with the developed world. In post war period, Society of Medical Biochemists of Bosnia and Herzegovina held regular meetings each year as a part of "life long learning" process, where both scientific and vocational lecturers presented their work. A single law on the state level would provide us with more defined and precise answers, such as: who can get a specialization, how long should last the training for medical biochemistry specialists (duration in years). This law should be in consent with the program described in EC4 or other documents given by the EFCC (European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) and IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine).