The main circulatory medium of echinoderms is the coelomic fluid. Biochemistry of coelomic fluid is very complex and slightly different from seawater. The main aim of this research was to analyse concentration of electrolytes (potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine and sodium), heavy metals (lead, chromium, cadmium and cobalt) and iron in coelomic fluid of sea urchin, Arbacia lixula as an indirect indicator of seawater contamination. After precise statistical evaluation it was observed that electrolyte concentrations were; Na 189.20±11.41 mmol/l, Cl 134.06±37.08 mmol/l, Mg 4.24±1.08 mmol/l, Ca 3.04±0.84 mmol/l. Biochemical content of heavy metals in coelomic fluid was; Co 1.292±0.879 ppm, Pb 0.644±0.131 ppm, Cr 0.116±0.055 ppm, Cd 0.031±0.017 ppm and iron 0.259±0.058 ppm, and it depends on the potential accumulation level in the organism. The composition of electrolyte and heavy metal content varies depending on the composition of seawater. Obtained values are within the range of values most commonly found in low polluted areas of the Adriatic sea. Similar models may be applied for monitoring of heavy metal contamination in marine environment.

The incidence of thyroid dysfunction in the area of central Bosnia with special reference to hyperthyroidism was being monitored. Considering that there were disagreements among earlier authors and even their contradictory results, the goal was to determine the percentage ratio between the thyroid hyperfunction and other dysfunctions and to identify the degree of correlation between thyroid hormones and the age structure of women. The study included 76 women aged 20 to 82 years with increased values of thyroid hormones and 49 women with reduced values of thyroid hormones. Thirty female patients with baseline thyroid hormone levels comprised a control group. Hyperthyroidism was observed in 60.8 % of women, with the highest percentage of getting ill in their fourth and fifth decade of life (64 %). The monitoring of TSH, FT4 and FT3 hormone values in thyroid dysfunction compared to women with thyroid gland hormone reference values by age groups showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the age group between 40 and 59 years (p < 0.05). For the age group of 60 years and older, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). The TSH hormone value and the age of women are positively correlated and mutually dependent (p < 0.05). The observed reduction in the thyroid hormone values with an increase in women’s age can be considered an adaptation of the organism to the reduced need for energy and represents an important metabolic parameter of the biological process of aging.

Total number and types of hemocytes were analysed in hemolymph of Roman snail (Helix pomatia L.). Significant differences in the number and types of hemocytes during the season at different locations were identified. The average number of hemocytes ranged from 154 to 288 per 10 μL of hemolymph. The highest number of hemocytes was recorded in snails at higher altitudes. Significant intergroup differences between all sites were identified. The most numerous hemocytes were granulocytes, followed by agranulocytes, while hyalinocytes were the least common in the post-hibernation period. Post hoc analysis showed certain intragroup differences for most locations except for comparison between wet habitat and habitats with anthropogenic influence, and between wet habitats and urban place with wet vegetation. A large number of transformed hemocytes in the encapsulated phase were identified in snail hemolymph infected with flat worms. Our results represent the first record of data for the number of hemocytes in molluscs and the first data for hemocytes of Helix pomatia. Further investigations and development of a uniform classification of hemocytes and their role in the immune response would be necessary in the future.

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the values of biochemical parameters in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and ketonuria. In this prospective comparative study conducted at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, hundred patients of both genders with diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Newly diagnosed diabetic patients with complications like acute ketoacidosis (n = 50) and ketonuria (n = 50) were included in this study and compared. The values of biochemical parameters in these patients were analyzed. We found that mean values of pH, base excess, hydrogencarbonate, sodium, glucose, urea and creatinine concentrations in patients with ketoacidosis were significantly different compared to patients with ketonuria. The values of potassium and calcium serum concentrations were not significantly different. Also, values of pH, base excess, as well as concentrations of hydrogencarbonate, sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose, urea and creatinine were not significantly different between male and female patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. In patients with diabetic ketonuria we found a correlation between admission glucose concentration and acid-base balance.

Trivalent chromium is an essential trace element for humans and animals and it is the final product of hexavalent chromium reduction in the cell. It is an integral part of the glucose-tolerance factor, which increases the systemic impact of insulin. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of trivalent and hexavalent chromium on selected biochemical parameters in Japanese quails. Birds were divided into three groups: group I (control group, n=12), group II (treated with trivalent chromium, n=12) and group III (treated with hexavalent chromium, n=12). During 20 days of follow-up, control and experimental groups of quails had identical diet; chromium was added daily into the food (5 mg/kg) and water (5 mg/L) of the experimental groups. Glucose concentrations were the highest in Group III, while lowest glucose concentrations were obtained in Group I. There were higher differencies regarding blood biochemical parameters between control group and quails treated with Cr(VI). Our results showed that hexavalent chromium had negative effects on biochemical parameters in quails, while treatment with Cr(III) showed minor fluctuations in concentrations or activities of blood biochemical parameters.

Abstract Urinary tract infections can be uncomfortable, painful and even dangerous for most dog breeds. Clinical signs are often nonspecific and insufficient for diagnosis. Urinalysis in combination with biochemical parameters and urine culture is the best combination of clinical findings for diagnosis of urinary tract infections. The incidence of urinary tract infections in dogs population is growing and 27% of dogs develop an urinary tract infection through their life. Urinary infections occur more often in the elderly than in younger dogs. More than 70% of all urinary tract infections are infections with one bacterial species. Biochemical profile is important aspect for diagnosis establishment, but due to the nature of action infection by different agents may be considered as individual case. The main aim of this research was to analyse biochemical parameters of Maltese and Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) dog breed, who were affected by urinary tract infections. Urea concentration was elevated in Malinois, while urea, phosphates, albumins and alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in Maltese dogs. Statistical analysis showed differences in concentrations of urea, creatinine, phosphates, so as alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase activity between compared breeds during acute urinary infections. Maltese dogs are less resistant to bacterias, that causes urinary tract infections, and have lower chance to maintain homeostasis of biochemical parameters in blood during urinary bacterial infections, in comparison to Maltese dogs.

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of troponin I, C-reactive protein and risk factors for the occurrence of complications after myocardial infarction. Troponin I and C-reactive protein values were analyzed in 38% of patients with complications (postinfarction angina, ventricular fibrillation, heart failure and fatal outcome) and in 62% of patients without complications. Values wererecorded on admission and between the eighth and tenth day of hospitalization. It was found that a larger number of risk factors (p = 0.00), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and smoking (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with the complications. It was shown that hypertension increases the risk of developing heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.02). It resulted with statistically non-significant difference in the observed values of troponin I between the group of patients with complications and the group without them (p = 0.22, p = 0.327). There was a statistically significant difference in the observed values of C-reactive protein in the two groups of patients (p = 0.00, p = 0.01). It can be concluded that the values of troponin I had no prognostic significance in risk stratification, while the values of C-reactive protein, individual risk factors and a large numberof risk factors hadsignificance in risk stratification after myocardial infarction.

Abstract Adaptation mechanisms as response to water content, oxygen level and pollutants are very important and they can be interpreted by hematological analysis. The aim of this study was the analysis of hematological and immune adaptations of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) to thermal stress. All specimens were divided into a control and experimental group. The control group of fish was exposed to a constant water temperature of 10°C. We induced thermal stress in experimental fish by gradually heating water to 28°C, held for 30 minutes and then comparing the obtained results with the control fish. Short-term hyperthermia lead to an increase of the number of leukocytes, especially pseudoeosinophilic granulocytes and monocytes, while the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes was reduced. The analysis of the leukocyte number and differential blood count in the control group showed high individual variation of segmented granulocytes, monocytes and pseudoeosinophilic granulocytes. Statistically significant differences (p=0.00) were found for the white blood cells, nonsegmented neutrophils and pseudoeosinophils between the control and experimental group. The experimental group of males had an increased number of white blood cells, monocytes and pseudoeosinophils, where significant differences were found for nonsegmented and total neutrophils and also for pseudoeosinophils (p=0.00), lymphocytes (p=0.01) and monocytes (p=0.03). Females had an increased total number of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and pseudoeosinophils, while significant differences (p=0.00) were obtained in the number of white blood cells, nonsegmented and total neutrophils and pseudoeosinophils between the control and experimental group. Adaptation mechanisms in carp after water temperature heating are mostly reflected in the increase of pseudoeosinophils and the decrease of neutrophils.