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The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect observed in diabetic rats after treatment with a commercially available β-glucan-enriched extract (BGEE) were examined. Multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes was used (40 mg STZ/kg) as a model for type 1 diabetes. BGEE was administered daily (80 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, starting from the last day of the STZ treatment. In vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that significant free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of BGEE were responsible for a systemic adjustment of the redox disturbance and reduction of DNA damage in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats. BGEE-treated diabetic rats also displayed increased Akt kinase activity and decreased pro-caspase-3 degradation, implying that BGEE mediates its beneficial effects through activation of the cellular pro-survival pathway. We conclude that β-glucan administration under diabetic conditions promotes a systemic improvement that can be expected to increase the organism’s resistance to the onset of diabetic complications.

This study examines the effectiveness of digital microscopic and molecular analysis (rbcL and 18S markers) in assessing diatom community composition and water quality in two international rivers (Sava and Tisa rivers). Also, two different approaches were applied for calculating diatom indices: based on the relative abundance of taxa and the presence/absence of taxa. The rbcL marker showed up as a more suitable choice for providing a comprehensive view of the diatom community compared to 18S, which can be partly attributed to variations in the coverage of reference databases. Furthermore, both morphological and molecular analysis pointed out statistically different ecological statuses of investigated rivers. Diatom indices derived from molecular data indicated one or two classes of lower ecological status than those based on morphological analysis. However, the average diatom indices derived from molecular presence/absence data were higher than those based on the relative abundance of taxa. After summarizing all the results, we can recommend using the rbcL marker with taxa presence/absence data for routine monitoring of large lowland rivers.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the application of benthic diatoms and the efficiency of diatom indices in water ecological assessment of rivers in Serbia, as well as the influence of trout farms on rivers water quality. Research was conducted in one year period along the Crnica and Radovanska rivers (Eastern Serbia), in 11 sampling sites (taking into account the position of trout fish farms that are built on both rivers). Results showed that fish farms affect the physical and chemical parameters, as well as diversity of the epilithic diatom assemblage along the rivers. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that among tested physical and chemical parameters, conductivity “EC”, water hardness “WH”, sulfates “SO42-”, ionized ammonia fraction “NH4+”, nitrates “NO3–“, “pH”, mud, stone and depth were the most important variables affecting the distribution of diatom species. A total of 206 epilithic diatom taxa were recorded in the Radovanska and 170 in the Crnica River. Based on diatom indices, trout fish farms have no significant negative impact on the water quality of the investigated rivers (indices are not enough sensitive). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed a high degree of correlation between the majority of indices which mostly indicated to good water quality of studied rivers. TID and TDI were the only two indices indicating moderate and poor water quality of both rivers. Water quality based on the TIDRS, the first proposed diatom index for Serbia was differ in two classes in most sites compairing with TID.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus paraplantarum BGCG11 on the regulatory pathways that underlie the defense responses of the liver and kidney in diabetic rats. Probiotic-treated diabetic rats exhibited decreased hyperglycemia, glycated hemoglobin, triacylglycerols and a reduction in advanced glycation end products of serum proteins. The probiotic treatment adjusted the redox imbalance in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats, reduced the level of DNA damage, increased the activity of the pro-survival Akt kinase, decreased procaspase 3 degradation and lowered the level of inflammatory mediator C/EBPβ. Administration of probiotic to diabetic rats attenuated fibrotic process activated in the liver and kidneys as judged by the increase in E-cadherin and decreases in α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin. In summary, the probiotic administration had an ameliorating effect on diabetes-associated disturbed redox homeostasis, inflammation and fibrosis, which underline the development of diabetic complications.

The beneficial effect of a commercially available β-glucan-enriched extract (BGEE) from cereal grain, against a diabetes-induced hepatic redox imbalance and inflammatory response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was evaluated. Diabetic rats that were treated with BGEE exhibited lower hyperglycaemia and improved biochemical parameters of liver damage. BGEE attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, revealed by a decreased concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and a restored GSH/GSSG ratio. BGEE also exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on the liver, evidenced by the normalization of the serum concentrations of the “positive” and “negative” acute-phase proteins, α2-macroglobulin and albumin, respectively, as well as by upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and IL-4 mRNA expression, and inhibition of RAGE/NF-κB signaling. These findings suggest that BGEE application exerts a beneficial effect in the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and that it therefore possesses an important potential in diabetes management.

This effect of commercially available β-glucan-enriched extract (BGEE) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats on protein glycation and enzymatic post-translational glycosylation with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) groups was examined. The BGEE-promoted improvement of diabetic hyperglycaemia was accompanied by significantly lower serum protein glycation. While this revealed an indirect effect of BGEE on protein glycation through its ability to improve hyperglycaemia, the observed BGEE capability to decrease the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in an in vitro glycation process pointed to its direct glycation-suppressive function in vivo. Compared to untreated diabetic rats, BGEE-treated diabetic rats displayed lower levels of O-GlcNAc-modified liver and kidney antioxidant enzymes, Mn- and CuZn superoxide dismutases and catalase, their improved specific enzymatic activities and increased transcription of genes encoding for them. These results show that BGEE exerts a normalizing effect on diabetes-linked protein modifications, adding to the list of beneficial effects it could provide in diabetes management.

Field observations form the basis of the majority of studies on microphytobenthic algal communities in freshwater ecosystems. Controlled mesocosm experiments data are comparatively uncommon. The few experimental mesocosm studies that have been conducted provide valuable insights into how multiple stressors affect the community structures and photosynthesis-related traits of benthic microalgae. The recovery process after the stressors have subsided, however, has received less attention in mesocosm studies. To close this gap, here we present the results of a riparian mesocosm experiment designed to investigate the effects of reduced flow velocity, increased salinity and increased temperature on microphytobenthic communities. We used a full factorial design with a semi-randomised distribution of treatments consisting of two levels of each stressor (2 × 2 × 2 treatments), with eight replicates making a total of 64 circular mesocosms, allowing a nuanced examination of their individual and combined influences. We aimed to elucidate the responses of microalgae communities seeded from stream water to the applied environmental stressors. Our results showed significant effects of reduced flow velocity and increased temperature on microphytobenthic communities. Recovery after stressor treatment led to a convergence in community composition, with priority effects (hypothesized to reflect competition for substrate between resident and newly arriving immigrant taxa) slowing down community shifts and biomass increase. Our study contributes to the growing body of literature on the ecological dynamics of microphytobenthos and emphasises the importance of rigorous experiments to validate hypotheses. These results encourage further investigation into the nuanced interactions between microphytobenthos and their environment and shed light on the complexity of ecological responses in benthic systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a rapid, non-destructive and label-free technique for identifying subtle changes in all bio-macromolecules, and has been used as a method of choice for studying DNA conformation, secondary DNA structure transition and DNA damage. In addition, the specific level of chromatin complexity is introduced via epigenetic modifications forcing the technological upgrade in the analysis of such an intricacy. As the most studied epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation is a major regulator of transcriptional activity, involved in the suppression of a broad spectrum of genes and its deregulation is involved in all non-communicable diseases. The present study was designed to explore the use of synchrotron-based FTIR analysis to monitor the subtle changes in molecule bases regarding the DNA methylation status of cytosine in the whole genome. In order to reveal the conformation-related best sample for FTIR-based DNA methylation analysis in situ, we used methodology for nuclear HALO preparations and slightly modified it to isolated DNA in HALO formations. Nuclear DNA-HALOs represent samples with preserved higher-order chromatin structure liberated of any protein residues that are closer to native DNA conformation than genomic DNA (gDNA) isolated by the standard batch procedure. Using FTIR spectroscopy we analyzed the DNA methylation profile of isolated gDNA and compared it with the DNA-HALOs. This study demonstrated the potential of FTIR microspectroscopy to detect DNA methylation marks in analyzed DNA-HALO specimens more precisely in comparison with classical DNA extraction procedures that yield unstructured whole genomic DNA. In addition, we used different cell types to assess their global DNA methylation profile, as well as defined specific infrared peaks that can be used for screening DNA methylation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Multiple randomized trials have confirmed that endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is an effective treatment method for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, patients older than eighty years of age show worse functional outcomes and higher mortality rates after ET. Our retrospective study aimed to confirm the efficacy of ET in older patients and identify characteristics or variables that can be associated with a better or worse outcome of ET., Methods: The data of 102 patients with AIS aged 80 years or older were retrospectively collected from January 2019 to September 2020 from the Clinical University Hospital of Split (Department of Neurology). All patients had the AIS caused by occlusion of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), 51 of them were treated with ET, and 51 of them received general supportive measures (symptomatic therapy - ST group). Detailed demographic information about age, gender, previous diseases (stroke risk factors), baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS), as well as NIHSS and mRS at discharge, were collected. In addition, concomitant use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, symptom onset to hospital admission time, time from admission to groin puncture, thrombectomy duration, and thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale (TICI) recanalization grading scores were collected., Results: Rates of functional independence (mRS score 0-2) were significantly higher among elderly patients treated with ET than with ST (14 vs. 8% respectively, Z = 1.98, p < 0.05). Mortality in the ET group was 33%, while in the ST group was 41%, and no statistically significant difference was found. TICI 2b and 3 negatively correlate with thrombectomy duration (r = -0.39; p < 0.05). Patients with a good outcome had significantly better TICI scores (86% of patients had TICI 2b and 3) and lower NIHSS at admission (12.6 ± 5.4 vs. 16.4 ± 3.6 in the group with poor outcome, p < 0.01). Hypertension (HTN) showed to be an independent predictor of poor clinical outcome (OR 4, p = 0.03, CI 1.11-14.35)., Conclusions: Outcomes of ET among older adults are better than among the older adults treated with ST. The lower NIHSS at the admission, shorter duration of ET, and better TICI could be the predictors of good ET outcome, while HTN could be a predictor of poor outcome. Better patient selection and more studies of ET in the elderly are needed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Along six transects in each of six lakes across the Western Balkans, we collected data for three groups of littoral biological water quality indicators: epilithic diatoms, macrophytes, and benthic invertebrates. We assessed the relationships between them and three environmental pressures: nutrient load (eutrophication), hydro-morphological alteration of the shoreline, and water level variation, separating the effect of individual lakes and continuous explanatory variables. Lake water total phosphorus concentration (TP) showed substantial variation but was not related to any of the tested biological indicators, nor to any of the tested pressures. We suggest that this may be due to feedback processes such as P removal in the lake littoral zone. Instead, we found that a gradient in surrounding land-use towards increasing urbanization, and a land-use-based estimate of P run-off, served as a better descriptor of eutrophication. Overall, eutrophication and water level fluctuation were most important for explaining variation in the assessed indicators, whereas shoreline hydro-morphological alteration was less important. Diatom indicators were most responsive to all three pressures, whereas macrophyte biomass and species number responded only to water level fluctuation. The Trophic Diatom Index for Lakes (TDIL) was negatively related to urbanization and wave exposure. This indicates that it is a suitable indicator for pressures related to urbanization, although a confounding effect of wave exposure is possible. Invertebrate abundance responded strongly to eutrophication, but the indicator based on taxonomic composition (Average Score Per Taxon) did not. Our results suggest that our metrics can be applied in Western Balkan lakes, despite the high number of endemic species present in some of these lakes. We argue that local water management should focus on abating the causes of eutrophication and water level fluctuation, whilst preserving sufficient lengths of undeveloped shoreline to ensure good water quality in the long run., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biological assessment metrics and water chemistry measurements are used to quantify the link between stressors and their effects on lake ecosystems, for the Water Framework Directive. However, correlations between metrics and water chemistry are often poor. This is seen as major weaknesses of Water Framework Directive-related monitoring and assessment. We analyzed macrophytes, benthic algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, water chemistry and sediment total phosphorus content in the littoral of six lakes in the Western Balkans and used CORINE land use data to estimate nutrient enrichment via runoff from the adjacent land. Lakes with a higher estimated phosphorus runoff from the adjacent land did not have higher littoral water nutrient concentrations, but littoral diatom assemblages indicated more eutrophic conditions. These lakes also had higher abundances of littoral benthic primary producers, which in turn were associated with low concentrations of dissolved nutrients, but only in autumn, not in spring. This is consistent with primary producers taking up nutrients during the summer growth season. In lakes with high abundances of benthic primary producers, it is likely that the littoral vegetation plays a large role in the transfer of nutrients from the water to the benthos. This process impairs correlations between biological metrics and water nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that CORINE land cover may be more useful to characterize littoral nutrient enrichment than lake water chemistry. Increased benthic primary producer biomasses and "eutrophic" diatom indices may indicate littoral nutrient enrichment even if water nutrient concentrations are low., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript, do not have any conflict of interest and agree with its submission to Science of the Total Environment., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biochemical indicators and biomarkers were analyzed in the liver and gills of chub caught in three localities along the Sava River exposed to different environmental impacts. Sampling sites were: downstream from Zagreb (Zgd), downstream Sremska Mitrovica (SM) and downstream from Belgrade (Bgd). We observed that the relative amounts and levels of activity of Cu, Zn containing superoxide dismutase and glutathione in both the liver and gills, and the relative amounts of heat shock protein (HSP90) and metallothioneins in the gills were highest in the Zgd locality, suggesting a higher impact of metal pollution. The Zgd locality had higher concentrations of trace metals in the water, especially iron. In the SM and Bgd localities, higher relative levels of glutathione peroxidase and catalase were recorded (especially in SM) as compared to the Zgd locality, pointing to the presence of hydrogen peroxide and different classes of organic peroxides. Low water oxygen and high temperature levels in the Bgd locality suggesting different metabolic activity between examined locations. Our results suggest that different presence and concentrations of individual environmental factors (total environment) influence the way how fish establish homeostasis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 1-D mathematical model of a porous enzymatic electrode exhibiting the mediated electron transfer (MET) mechanism has been developed. As a model system, glucose oxidation catalyzed by immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx) in the presence of a co-immobilized tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) mediator in the porous electrode matrix has been selected. The balance equations for potential fields in the electron- and ion-conducting phases as well as concentration field have been formulated, solved numerically and validated experimentally under steady state conditions. The relevant kinetic parameters of the lumped reaction kinetics have been obtained by global optimization. The confidence intervals (CIs) of each parameter have been extracted from the respective likelihood. The parameter study has shown that the parameters related to mediator consumption/regeneration steps can be responsible for the shift of the reaction onset potential. Additionally, the model has shown that diffusion of the oxidized mediator out of the catalyst layer (CL) plays a significant role only at more positive potentials and low glucose concentrations. Only concentration profiles in different layers influence the electrode performance while other state fields like potential distributions in different phases have no impact on the performance. The concentration profiles reveal that all electrodes work through; the observed limiting currents are diffusion-reaction limiting. The normalized electrode activity decreases with an increase of enzyme loading. According to the model, the reason for this observation is glucose depletion along the CL at higher enzyme loadings. Comparison with experiments advices a decrease of enzyme utilization at higher enzyme loadings., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the excitability of contralateral and ipsilateral corticobulbar pathways, using the methodologies of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES)., Methods: In 11 healthy subjects, the primary motor cortex (M1) for laryngeal muscles was mapped with nTMS in both hemispheres and the corticobulbar motor evoked potentials (CoMEPs) were recorded from the right cricothyroid muscle. In 15 patients undergoing left craniotomy, CoMEPs were obtained from cricothyroid muscles bilaterally, using TES over C3/Cz and C4/Cz., Results: In five out of 11 healthy subjects, both contralateral and ipsilateral CoMEPs were recorded from the right cricothyroid muscle. In eight out of 15 patients, contralateral and ipsilateral CoMEPs were elicited with TES over C3/Cz, while in five out of 15 patients contralateral and ipsilateral CoMEPs were elicited with TES over C4/Cz. Contralateral CoMEP amplitude responses were significantly larger compared to ipsilateral CoMEP amplitudes in both groups., Conclusion: We obtained significantly larger amplitude responses of contralateral CoMEPs from cricothyroid muscles compared to ipsilateral CoMEP amplitude using nTMS in healthy subjects and TES in patients. This confirms the bilateral nature of corticobulbar pathway projections for laryngeal muscles, with contralateral domination., Significance: These findings will influence recording of CoMEPs during preoperative and intraoperative mapping of M1 for laryngeal muscle representation, and they facilitate the pathophysiologic research of motor speech disorders., (Copyright © 2014 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)