The utility of procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) in the management of metabolic bone diseases remains a subject of debate since the reference ranges are not rigorously established and fail to account for many of the preanalytical variables. We aimed to establish reference intervals for P1NP level in healthy and osteoporotic postmenopausal females stratified by age, body mass index and menopausal duration. We also aimed to assess the relationship between P1NP and BMD. This cross-sectional study enrolled 183 postmenopausal females who were divided in osteoporosis group (N=93) and control group (N=90) with preserved bone mass based on BMD assessed by DXA. In the osteoporosis group median P1NP was significantly higher (51.7 ng / mL; 95%CI 43.2-53.7) compared to control group (38.9 ng/mL; 95%CI 34.2-43.9)(p<0.01). After controlling for age, BMI and years since menopause, there was significant inverse association between BMD and P1NP at the femoral neck (r=-0.18), total hip (r=-0.207) and lumbar spine (r=-0.236). There was no significant difference in P1NP concentration across quartiles of age in postmenopausal females. P1NP was significantly lower in obese postmenopausal females with preserved bone mass compared to normal weight and overweight females in control and in osteoporosis group. In conclusion, we showed that P1NP is inversely associated with BMD even after controlling for age, BMI and years since menopause. Although, P1NP is significantly higher in postmenopausal females with osteoporosis compared to postmenopausal females with preserved bone mass its low specificity does not warrant its utility is diagnosing osteoporosis.

Factor V is the liver-synthesized multidomain glycoprotein encoded by a gene localised on chromosome 1q23. The point mutation 1691G>A in this gene results in formation of an altered protein of V Factor resistant to activated protein C (APC) cleavage. This mutation alone is the most frequent cause of inborn thrombophilia and the most widely acknowledged genetic risk factor for venous thrombosis in a Caucasian population. This study was designed to provide the first estimate of the frequency of the allele 1691A FV in the Bosnian female population. The 1691G>A FV mutation was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, in a group of 67 women, mean age of 58.6 years with no history of cardiovascular incident. Our findings revealed an absence of the mutated allele 1691A FV in the studied group. This is the first report on the 1691G>A FV mutation in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further research is needed to establish prevalence of the mutated allele in the population from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serum thyreoglobulin (Tg) and whole body scintigraphy (I-131 WBS) have been used to detect recurrent and metastatic thyroid cancers postoperatively. However, discordant results of Tg measurement and 131I WBS have been reported. Negative 131I WBS and a positive Tg test are usually found, but less common occurrence of positive 131I WBS and a negative Tg test has also been demonstrated in a small but significant number of cases. Therefore, the aim of the study was to retrospectively analyse patients with positive 131I WBS after total thyreoidectomy and again 1 year after the radioactive iodine. There were 52 patients included in the study. Four weeks after surgery, during which thyroid hormone treatment was not introduced, each patient received an ablative dose of 131I. The evaluation of the WBS was qualitative and considered positive if thyroid remnant, lymphatic node or metastasis were detected. WBS and serum Tg was measured 12 months after 131I ablation with thyroid hormone suppression. We considered positive any Tg level above the sensitivity values and negative if lower than this level. Tg levels were related to the existence of a positive scan or a negative one. In our 52 WBS positive patients concordant positive Tg levels were observed in 42 patients while in 10 patients we found a negative Tg levels after the surgery. After 1-year follow-up, out of initially 42 concordant patients 8 patients showed remaining concordant positive Tg and WBS values. Discordant results were observed in 13 patients (4 patients were Tg- and WBS+ while 9 patients were Tg+ and WBS-). In the majority of patients (50%) remained with concordant results but changed from Tg+ and WBS+ to Tg- and WBS-. Diagnostic WBS is an additional valuable tool, besides Tg levels, in the follow up of patients after total thyreoidectomy.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences in blood glucose levels between male and female rats immediately after acute bout of forced swimming exercise. Adult male Wistar rats (weight 300350 g) were divided into two groups by gender: males (n =8) and females (n =8). All the rats were given standard rat chow and tap water ad libitum and were housed at 25±3o C on a 12-hour dark/light cycle. Both groups of rats were exposed to forced swimming stress daily, for 6 days. Duration of each swimming session progressively increased from 5 minutes on the first day to 30 minutes on sixth day, allowing adaptation to swimming conditions. The rats were forced to swim in plastic tanks (90 cm wide, 120 cm deep) containing tap water (temperature ca. 25 degrees C). The depth of water was 40 cm. Seventh day we performed acute bout of 40 minutes swimming exercise. Animals were fasted 12 hours before start of last swimming sessions to obtain fasting blood glucose levels. Preexercise blood samples were taken immediately before th last swimming session (7 day) and postexercise samples immediately after the last swimming session from rat's tail vein. Glucose levels in blood were determined using Optium XceedTM Diabetes Monitoring System (Abbot). Before last swimming session male rats had slightly lower glucose levels in comparation with female rats, but this difference was not statistically significant (3.77vs4.64 mmol/l). Acute bout of forced swimming exercise raised blood glucose level and established values in postexercise period were significantly higher in both study group in comparation to values before exercise. Male rats had greater postexercise glucose blood levels (11.85 mmol/l) in comparation with female rats (6.26 mmol/l). Our findings document the existence of gender impact on the glucose postexercise concentrations confirming the differences in the energy substrates utilization and glucose metabolism regulation during and after exercise.

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy as well as with the decline in creatinine clearance. It has been suggested that endothelial dysfunction presents in patients (pts) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The objective of this study was to examine the plasma biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and their association with IMT of carotid arteries in diabetic and non-diabetic patients on CAPD. This study included 37 CAPD pts (25 with type II diabetes and 12 non-diabetic pts) mean age 59.2 years ± 2.48. Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity, serum albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) levels, as well as serum level of homocysteine, parathyroid hormone (PTH) in plasma and microalbuminuria was determined. Ultrasound examination of carotid arteries was performed in all patients by measured bilateral intima-media thickness of carotid artery (CIMT). Mean IMT value was significantly higher in type 2 DM patients (0.86 ± 0.04 mm) compared to non-diabetic patients (0.52 ± 0.06 mm) on peritoneal dialysis (p<0.0001). There was also a significant difference in lipids /triglycerides and Lp (a)/, procoagulation (fibrinogen, von Wilebrand factor, factor VIII) and inflammatory markers (CRP) level between type 2 DM and non-diabetic CAPD patients. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that log triglycerides and factor VIII were independent factors for the IMT. The results of this research impose that diabetic type 2 CAPD patients have developed systemic alteration of endothelial function and higher risk of cardiovascular complications compared to non-diabetic CAPD patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by loss of myelin, the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibres allowing them to conduct electrical impulses. Recent data indicate that oxidative stress (OS) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to estimate level of serum total antioxidative capacity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Our cross-sectional study included 33 patients with MS and 24 age and sex matched control subjects. All our patients had a Poser criteria for definite diagnostic categories of multiple sclerosis. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured by quantitative colorimetric determination, using Total antioxidant Capacity-QuantiCromAntioxidant Assay Kit (BioAssay systems, USA; DTAC-100). Mean serum TAC in multiple sclerosis group of patients was 119.2 mM Trolox equivalents and was significantly lower (p<0.001) compared to the control group of subjects (167.1 mM Trolox equivalents). Our results showed that oxidative stress plays an important role in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This finding, also, suggests the importance of antioxidants in diet and therapy of MS patients.