To investigate association of two LPIN1 gene variations with main traits of metabolic syndrome (MS) (waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and fasting glucose levels) in population from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Introduction: Appropriate vitamin D turnover is essential for many physiological function. Knowledge of it’s function was improved in last two decades with enlargement of scientific confirmation and understanding of overall importance. In addition to classical (skeletal) roles of vitamin D, many other function (no classical), out of bone and calcium-phosphate metabolism, are well defined today. Aim: To analyze vitamin D level in the blood in dialysis and pre dialysis patients and evaluate efficacy of supplementation therapy with vitamin D supplements. Methods: Vitamin D3 level in form of 25-hydroxivitamin D3 was measured in dialysis and pre dialysis patients, using combination of enzyme immunoassay competition method with final fluorescent detection (ELFA). Parathormone was measured by ELISA method. Other parameters were measured by colorimetric methods. Statistical analysis was done by nonparametric methods, because of dispersion of results of Vitamin D and parathormone. Results: In group of dialysis patients 38 were analyzed. Among them 35 (92%) presented vitamin D deficiency, whether they took supplementation or not. In only 3 patients vitamin D deficiency was not so severe. Vitamin D form were evaluated in 42 pre dialysis patients. Out of all 19 patients (45 %) have satisfied level, more than 30 ng/ml. Moderate deficiency have 16 patients (38%), 5 of all (12%) have severe deficiency, and two patients (5%) have very severe deficiency, less than 5 ng/ml. Parathormone was within normal range (9.5-75 pg/mL) in 13 patients (34 %), below normal range (2 %) in one subject, and in above normal range in 24 (63 %). Conclusion: Vitamin D3 deficiency was registered in most hemodialysis patients; nevertheless supplemental therapy was given regularly or not. It is to be considered more appropriate supplementation of Vitamin D3 for dialyzed patients as well as for pre dialysis ones. In pre dialysis patient moderate deficiency is shown in half of patients but sever in only two.

Summary Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) is a key transcription factor in adipogene-sis, and also regulates a number of genes associated with lipid storage and insulin sensitivity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PPARG gene have been associated with obesity and diabetes. In this study, we explored the relationship of three PPARG gene variants with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related traits in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in 43 patients with MetS and 43 healthy controls. Subjects were genotyped for Pro12Ala (rs1801282) and 1431C>T (rs3856806) SNPs by classic PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and for-681C>G (rs10865710) variant by real-time PCR. Results: The genotype distributions for the three polymorphisms were not significantly different between MetS patients and controls. The Pro12Ala and 1431C>T variants were associated with lower body mass index in the control subjects (p=0.012 and p=0.049, respectively). In this group, the carriers of Pro12Ala had also lower waist circumference compared to the wild-type homozygotes (p=0.045). Conclusions: Results of our preliminary study indicate a beneficial effect of a common Pro12Ala variant on the metabolic phenotype in healthy non-obese subjects.

Growing body of evidence suggests that molecular markers are an important prognostic marker for non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Using targeted therapy based on these markers leads to improved outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma. However, progress of targeted therapy in squamous lung cancer is still modest. p16(ink) protein acts as tumor suppressor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes tumor angiogenesis. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in p16(ink4) and VEGF expression between squamous and adenocarcinoma of the lung; to evaluate the relationship of p16(ink4) and VEGF expression to survival outcomes in NSCLC patients, and the difference of their prognostic values between squamous and adenocarcinoma subtypes. 100 NSCLC patients (50 squamous and 50 adenocarcinoma) and 80 healthy individuals were included. p16(ink4) and VEGF proteins were immunohistochemicaly detected on formalin-fixed tissues. One- and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed. p16(ink4) expression was significantly lower in squamous type compared to adenocarcinoma. In both squamous and adenocarcinoma, high VEGF expression correlated with worse 1-year PFS and OS, but only with worse 2-year PFS. Low p16(ink4) expression correlated with worse 1- and 2-year PFS, as well as OS, in both NSCLC subtypes. In squamous lung cancer p16(ink4) expression was an independent negative prognostic marker. Our study confirms the difference of p16(ink4) protein expression in squamous and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Besides anti-VEGF therapy, the regulation of p16(ink4) expression could have a therapeutic potential in NSCLC, especially in squamous lung cancer.

Abstract Common variants in MTNR1B, encoding melatonin receptor 1B, have been recently associated with impaired glucose homeostasis and an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study we investigated the association of MTNR1B variant rs10830963 with T2D and related quantitative traits in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). A total number of 268 subjects were recruited in the study (162 T2D patients and 106 nondiabetic controls). Subjects were genotyped for MTNR1B rs10830963 SNP by using hydrolysis probes. Our data showed that the prevalence of the MTNR1B rs10830963 risk G-allele in BH population was 26%. Furthermore, we demonstrated a significant association of MTNR1B rs10830963 variant with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in nondiabetic subjects. Under the additive genetic model, each variant G-allele was associated with an increased FPG levels of 0.29 mmol/L (95% CI 0.12, 0.46, p=0.001). Strikingly, our results also showed a significant association of this MTNR1B polymorphism with increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in nondiabetic subjects (p=0.040, additive genetic model). An association of the MTNR1B variant rs10830963 with T2D risk was not detected in our cohort. In conclusion, here we have demonstrated the association between the common MTNR1B rs10830963 variation and fasting plasma glucose levels in BH population. Furthermore, the influence of this polymorphism on the HbA1c levels was also shown in this study, further strengthening its role in blood glucose control.

AIM To analyze a change of level of nautriuretic peptide (NT pro- BNP) caused by stress distension of myocardial wall in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AIM), as a possible predictor of early heart failure. METHODS Patients with myocardial infarction were followed up. Standard clinical and laboratory examination, including NT pro- BNP, and other laboratory analyses, were performed on the day of admission, the next day and on the eighth day of hospitalization. Statistical analyses included variance for repeated measurement (ANOVA), factorial multivariate analysis and test of multiple correlations. RESULTS The most important predictors of early heart failure in acute myocardial infarction were age, diastolic blood pressure, creatin kinase (CK) on admission, larger field of infarction zone and so on. Multiple correlations showed statistically significant correlation of age, diastolic pressure and larger zone of myocardial infarction with an increase of NT pro-BNP concentration. The activity of CK on the day after admission was higher than on admission (p=0.02) and myocard-binding CK (CK-MB) the next day after admission was higher than on admission (p=0.016). A statistically significant increase was found on the next day for NT pro-BNP in comparison with the value on admission (p=0.0049), but the level of activity of CK was markedly decreased on the eighth hospital day. CONCLUSION The significant increase of the concentration of NT pro-BNP during myocardial infarction is an important predictor of early heart failure, therefore, in case of a significant increase of NT pro-BNP in the early phase of the infraction a therapy that could prevent clinically relevant heart failure should be administered .

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is many times life treating disease, and the diagnosis should be achieved as soon as possible. Presence of fever may be or not present at the start of PE. Haemoculture should be performed any time if PE is linked with fever. It is very important to check out any symptom and sign of PE. D-dimmer may only exclude the diagnosis, but for this purpose it is very important. AIM: To analyze the most important predictors for clinical course and outcome of septic or no septic PE: METHODS: Patients with PE treated in Department of Pulmology in General Hospital Tesanj. PE was considered if Geneve score was five points or more. For any patient CT scan of the chest, chest X-ray at admission, and 4th, 7th and 14th day of hospitalization. Lactat-dechidrogenase, Creatin-kinase, CRP, D-dimmer, ECG and blood gas analyzes were performed, so. RESULTS: During one year of follow up 36 patients were considered for PE, according to Geneve score, among them 11 with septic embolie. In patients with no septic PE no changes on control Chest X-ray were seen, but in any of septic ones X-ray appearance showed progression. Other parameters were nearly the same, with moderate higher level of CRP in PE. The gold standard for diagnosis of PE rest double scintigrafic imaging of the lung, with ventilation and perfusion phase. D-dimmer is very useful parameter to exclude if PE is not occurred. CONCLUSION: The most important parameter to distinguish septic or no septic PE was dynamic changes of chest X-ray appearance with substantial more progression in septic than in non septic ones.

AIM To analyze the usefulness of specified immunological parameters, proinflammatory IL-1α and profibrogenic, antiinflammatory TGF-β1, along with routinely used laboratory tests, in the differential - diagnostic procedure of chronic hepatitis of infectious and noninfectious etiology. METHODS A total of 150 subjects were divided into two groups, depending on the infectious or noninfectious etiology of liver damage, and the control group. Apart from standard laboratory tests, the analysis included serum levels of cytokines: IL-1α and TGF-β1. RESULTS A high degree of correlation of serum level of IL-1α with viral hepatitis has been found, especially with active replication of genetic material ( HBV-DNA or HCV-RNA-PCR positive), p less 0.01. The highest mean concentration of TGF-β1 was noted in the group of malignant and toxic hepatitis, p less 0.0001. A negative correlation between the concentration of IL-1α and TGF-β1 has been found (-0.18). For IL-1 α significant predictive parameters included a previous infection of hepatitis B, lower serum level of TGFβ, age, use of alcohol, lower MELD and Chilld-Pugh scores. For TGF-β1 significant predictive parameters were age, lower MELD and Child-Pugh scores, history of receiving transfusions, lower serum level of IL-1α, higher serum level of fibrinogen. A predictive model has been delivered MELD = (TGF-β1) x 0,001- (IL-1 α) x 0,085 + CTP x 1,771-2,052; ( ± 2.04, R2=0,61; p less 0,001). CONCLUSION Inflammatory and immune parameters, analyzed together could significantly contribute to the understanding of chronic liver damage and thus differential diagnostic procedure. IL-1α and TGF-β1 are important parameters of inflammatory activity and fibrosis evaluation in chronic liver damage.

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.

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of SIT was well documented in many cases and published data. Selection of patients for SIT should be very serious and must include skin test and total and specific IgE measurement. How outcome of SIT correlate with changes of IgE, skin reactivity and overall symptoms reduction is aim of this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Skin testing, total and specific IgE measurements were performed before and after each year of treatment. Skin test assessment was performed according to recommendation of Manual of Laboratory immunology. IgE ws performed using ELISA method. Clinical outcome was assessed using AQLQ questionnaire. RESULTS: During five years period 58 asthmatic subjects with home dust and dermathophagoides allergy were treated by SIT. Bseline total IgE was 488,5 IU/ml (SD 78,9), mean specific IgE against dermatophagoides pteronissimus was 36,5 IU/ml (SD 15,2). Subcutaneous tests showed 15-20 mm weal in 43, and more than 21 mm in 15 cases. After 5 years mean total IgE was 227 IU/ml (SD 9,2) and mean specific IgE was 28,2 IU/ml (SD 8,9). Skin tests showed decrease diameter of weal. In 49 out of all patients clinical outcome were very well, and in 9 satisfied (according to AQLQ questionnaire). Using test of correlation, by linear regression, better correlation was shown between of skin testing and AQLQ than in total or specific IgE. So, in vivo skin tests were better predictor for success of SIT, than measurement of IgE. CONCLUSION: Results of skin tests in diagnostic assessment of allergy in asthmatic patients were better predictor of successful outcome of SIT than laboratory measurement of total and specific IgE.