Aim of the study Aim of the study was to compare radiobiological effects of multiple vs. single low-dose pre-irradiation on the HT29 cell line. This regime is designed to be as similar as possible to fractionated tumour radiotherapy treatment, and to provide data on radiobiological effects on human tumour cells. Material and methods The cell line used in the study was HT29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma, American Type Culture Collection HTB-38™). Also, for comparison, the MRC5 cell line (human foetal lung fibroblasts, American Type Culture Collection CCL 171) was used. Four-day treatment in a 4 × 2 Gy regime was performed. Cell viability was evaluated by tetrazolium colorimetric MTT assay. Results Multiple low-dose pre-irradiation induced a stronger radioadaptive response compared to single low-dose application in the HT29 cell line. Multiple pre-irradiation with 0.03 Gy and 0.05 Gy caused radioadaptive effects, while in both single and multiple low-dose pre-irradiation regimes 0.07 Gy led to radiosensitivity. Radiobiological effects induced in the HT29 cell line by low-dose pre-irradiation were evidently weak during the treatment time, because a single low-dose applied only on the first day gave no radioadaptive effects. In the MRC5 cell line different effects were registered, since radioadaptive response has not been observed after multiple or single pre-irradiation. Conclusions The obtained data are interesting, especially for the possible application of low-dose pre-irradiation in radiotherapy.

ABSTRACT The performance of the new Bio-Rad Geenius HIV-1/2 confirmatory assay was compared with that of the Chiron RIBA HIV-1/HIV-2 strip immunoblot assay using 166 samples from HIV-1-, HIV-2-, or HIV-1/2-positive and HIV-negative individuals and two quality control panels. Our results indicate that the Geenius assay is a suitable alternative for confirmatory HIV testing.

Introduction: Sideropenic anemia is a common pregnancy disorder. Depending on severity, maternal anemia can significantly influence morphometric characteristic of placental tissue, pregnancy course and outcome. Objectives: to estimate if maternal anemia a) results with significant placental changes; b) influence on newborn weight, length and vitality. Patients, material and methods: Research included 100 women and their newborns, 50 anemic, and 50 women in the control group. Sixty placentas were collected, placental mass and volume was determined, and blood vessels of terminal villi were stereologically analyzed. Newborns mass and body length, and Apgar scores within 1 and 5 minutes after delivery were recorded. The results: Placentas of anemic pregnant women showed significant increase of terminal villi blood vessels (224,18 vs. 197,00 cm3; p<0,0001), but total placental mass and volume did not differ significantly. Anemic mothers’ newborns were significantly shorter (51,76 vs. 55,54 cm; p<0,0001), smaller body mass (3048,00 vs. 3615,60 g; p<0,0001) and delivered one week early (38,2 vs. 39,2 GW; p<0,0001), but not significantly poorer vitality (p>0,05) comparing with the control group. Conclusion: Sideropenic anemia increase placental maturity, that could be a possible cause of earlier spontaneous delivery among anemic women. The anemic mothers’ newborns are shorter and lower body mass, but not poorer vitality index.

ABSTRACT Aim: The objective of the study was to examine whether cardiotocography can (CTG) predict asphyxia of the embryo, manifested as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and to what extent one can rely on CTG record. Material and methods: Retrospective research was carried out at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics UKC Tuzla and medical documentation from the history of mothers and newborns was used. The study group consisted of 68 pregnancies and newborns who developed HIE. The control group consisted of 40 pregnancies, which resulted in birth of healthy newborns – without signs of asphyxia. CTG records were analyzed, Apgar score, the ways of finishing delivery. Results: Pathological CTG records (bradycardia 100, tachycardia 180, silent type of curve, late decelerations) were found in 45 (66,17%) cases of the study group in comparison to 11 (27,5%) in the control group. In the study group Apgar score in 5th minute lower than 7 had 17,46% newborns and the highest incidence of the normally finished deliveries. We conclude that cardiotocography is one of the reliable methods of fetal monitoring in pregnancy and delivery, and that pathological CTG record very likely indicates the possible presence of perinatal asphyxia. Conclusion: Achieving a low degree of correlation between pathological intrapartum cardiotocography findings and long-term outcome of children can be achieved by rapid and adequate obstetric intervention and the relatively short duration of fetal acidosis, and optimal procedures during intensive care of newborns.

Introduction: Partial molar trophoblast degeneration is a benign disease characterised by numerous complications such as an invasive mole and malignant alteration.Methods: This was a retrospective study which recruited 70 pregnant women diagnosed with hydatidiform mole or with physiological pregnancy spontaneously aborted. The pregnant women had similar demographic features and were included in two groups. 35 pregnant women with a molar pregnancy diagnosed during the first trimester were included in the study group; while 35 pregnant women with miscarriages during the fi rst trimester were included in the control group.Results: Examined trophoblast changes were: type of atypia, amount and mass of trophoblast proliferation. Specifi c β HCG serum levels were observed in all pregnant women before the treatment. Pregnantwomen in the study group had statistically signifi cant higher levels of β HCG serum in comparison with the control group (both average levels 60191.37±49662.75 and levels according to gestational age). Statisticallysignifi cant changes of villous trophoblast were observed by the pathomorphological analysis: mild trophoblast atypia (57.14%); pronounced trophoblast mass (45.71%) and mild trophoblast proliferationamount (51.43%).Conclusion: Serum β-HCG level measurements and pathomorphological analysis of chorionic villi are reliable and effective methods in a partial mole diagnostics.