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Introduction: The obesity pandemic is closely related to the growing prevalence and severity of fatty liver. Metabolic imbalancesinsulin resistance and dyslipidemiaare cited as the main factors that create the basis for its occurrence and progression to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other complications (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma). Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the FLI and TyG indices within two groups of patients, obese and non-obese, as well as to determine their interrelationship and correlation with other laboratory parameters. Material and methods: The study included 62 patients, divided into two groups: obese and non-obese, equally represented (50%; 31). Anthropometric measurements and all laboratory tests of blood samples taken after 12-14 hours of night fasting were performed at the Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases UCCS. The FLI and TyG indices were calculated using appropriate algorithmic calculators. Results: The median of FLI in the obese patients was 86.4 and in the non-obese 13.7 (p < 0.001). The average value of TyG in obese was 5.0 ± 0.3 and in the non-obese 4.7 ± 0.3 (p < 0.001). Obese patients were significantly older, and had higher BMI and waist circumference (p < 0.01). Non-obese patients had higher values of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL (p < 0.05), while triglycerides were higher in obese patients (p = 0.01). The interrelationship as well as the correlation between indices and other laboratory parameters was of a significant medium degree (p < 0.05), except in the case of HDL, where a moderate degree of negative correlation was observed. Conclusion: Fatty liver indices were significantly higher in obese patients. Total cholesterol, HDL and LDL were higher in non-obese and tryglicerides were higher in obese patients. The interrelationship and correlations between the indices and other laboratory parameters were moderately positive. Lower HDL values resulted in higher indices values.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome includes insulin resistance, visceral obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, which together lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is considered a pathophysiological mechanism underlying metabolic syndrome, characterized by inadequate glucose metabolism, hyperinsulinemia and lipid imbalance. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic disease characterized by microvesicular steatosis and isn't a consequence of the use of drugs, alcohol, or inherited diseases and is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Aim: Since insulin resistance is pathophysiologically related to metabolic liver diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of the FLI index with insulin resistance indices HOMA and QUICKI, but also a comparison of the insulin resistance index HOMA, Quicki and Tyg and the FLI index of fatty liver in the complete sample and in the groups of overweight and obese patients with characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: The study included 70 patients who met the criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and who were selected by reviewing the medical documentation. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A were overweight patients (BMI 25 - 29.9 kg/m2). Group B were obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2). Insulin resistance index values were compared between groups and then correlated by statistical analysis with FLI index within groups and in a complete sample. Results: Statistical analysis found a correlation between the FLI index and the insulin resistance index HOMA (p = 0.03) in a complete sample. A statistically significant difference in the values of the FLI index between the examined groups was proved (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The positive correlation between the FLI index with the HOMA index speaks in favor of the interrelationship between insulin resistance and fatty liver in patients with metabolic syndrome. In this case, insulin resistance can be a predictor for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatosis, steatohepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and cardiovascular diseases.

This research aimed to develop a reliable, easy-to-perform and cheap method for measuring protein oxidation in complex samples such as aquaculture feed within various protein sources. For that purpose modified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-based method for quantification of protein carbonyls was employed whilst the modification of the method consisted of using different solutions for the extraction (distilled water and different concentrations of KCl and NaCl solutions), time of protein extraction (after homogenization and over the night) and concentration of trichloroacetic acid (10 and 25% TCA) for protein precipitation. Extraction during the night, higher TCA concentration and the use of 0.5 M KCl extraction solution resulted in the highest protein amount measured by the Lowry method and 280 nm protein estimation. On the other hand, the lowest protein yield was obtained by using distilled water for the extraction. Furthermore, the lowest amount of protein carbonyls was in the case when extraction was performed with distilled water (DW), while the highest content of protein carbonyls was reached with 0.15 M KCl and 0.5 M KCl extraction solutions. It was observed that the amount of proteinbound carbonyls compounds was increasing during storage under accelerated conditions and, in comparison to the original method, the modified method for measuring protein oxidation resulted in a higher amount of carbonyls during all points of storage.

Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) possesses a protective potential against liver injury due to the presence of biologically active ingredients. Adult male albino rats were administrated PSO (per os, 2 mL/kg b.w./day) and a 12% ethanol solution in water, ad libitum, with an average intake of 8.14 g of ethanol/kg bw/day for 6 weeks. Congestion, hepatic central vein dilation, portal vein branch dilation, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, fatty liver changes, hepatocyte focal necrosis were observed after daily alcohol intake. All observed changes were reduced when PSO was ingested with ethanol. PSO intake itself induced discrete cellular edema, congestion and slight dilatation of the central and portal vain branches. Chronic ethanol intake elevated catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione reductase (GR) protein expression; concomitant PSO intake had no effect on CAT activity or GR protein expression. PSO intake decreased the activities of GR, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the liver, probably due to the ingestion of antioxidants. Intake of PSO and ethanol significantly decreased cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and increased NF-κB protein expression compared to ethanol intake, suggesting that the protective effects of PSO were mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results reveal a therapeutic potential of PSO in alcoholic liver disease.

Background/Aim. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is one of the most commonly used calcium phosphate bioceramics with osteoconductive properties. Growth factors are capable of directly inducing morphological and functional differentiation of neodontoblasts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of HAp-based biomaterial in combination with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the creation of new dentine and obturation of the root canal apex in the teeth of an experimental animal model. Methods. Rodent (rabbit) teeth were used as the experimental animal model. After pulp removal with a pulp extirpator in vital pulpectomy, the biomaterial was applied using a Lentulo spiral in the apex portion at the level of the physiological foramen apicale. The experiment was performed in general anesthesia. Animals were kept alive for 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment. The extracted teeth were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results. Using SEM, it was found that the number of teeth with newly created dentine and apex canal obturation was greater 12 months after the treatment. Conclusion. Apex obturation of the dental root canal with newly created dentine took place in our experimental groups treated by biomaterial with or without TGF-β1.

Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species (ROS) production overwhelms cell protection by antioxidants. This review is focused on general anaesthesia-induced oxidative stress because it increases the rate of complications and delays recovery after surgery. It is important to know what effects of anaesthetics to expect in terms of oxidative stress, particularly in surgical procedures with high ROS production, because their either additive or antagonistic effect may be pivotal for the outcome of surgery. In vitro and animal studies on this topic are numerous but show large variability. There are not many human studies and what we know has been learned from different surgical procedures measuring different endpoints in blood samples taken mostly before and after surgery. In these studies most intravenous anaesthetics have antioxidative properties, while volatile anaesthetics temporarily increase oxidative stress in longer surgical procedures.

The active galactic nuclei (AGN) are among the most powerful sources with an inherent, pronounced and random variation of brightness. The randomness of their time series is so subtle as to blur the border between aperiodic fluctuations and noisy oscillations. This poses challenges to analysing of such time series because neither visual inspection nor pre-exisitng methods can identify well oscillatory signals in them. Thus, there is a need for an objective method for periodicity detection. Here we review our a new data analysis method that combines a two-dimensional correlation (2D) of time series with the powerful methods of Gaussian processes. To demonstrate the utility of this technique, we apply it to two example problems which were not exploited enough: damped rednoised artificial time series mimicking AGN time series and newly published observed time series of changing look AGN (CL AGN) NGC 3516. The method successfully detected periodicities in both types of time series. Identified periodicity of ~4 yr in NGC 3516 allows us to speculate that if the thermal instability formed in its accretion disc (AD) on a time scale resembling detected periodicity then AD radius could be ~0.0024 pc.

The mass measurement of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) is a very complex task. Between several methods for SMBH mass measurements, some of them use the spectral lines, which indicate the motion of the emitting/absorbing material around an SMBH. Mostly, there is an assumption of virialization of line emitting gas in the region which is close to the central SMBH. In this paper we will give an overview of methods for the SMBH mass measurements using broad emission spectral lines observed in Type 1 AGNs. First we give the basic idea to use the parameters of broad lines to SMBH mass measurements. After that we give an overview of broad lines from X-ray (Fe kα) to the IR (Pashen and Brecket lines) which have been used for SMBH mass estimates. Additionally, we describe and discuss a new method for SMBH mass measurements using the polarization in the broad lines emitted from Type 1 AGNs.

Avala Mountain is accommodated 15 km southward from the city of Belgrade and extends over the area of about 10 km2. Avala Mountain is a cultural and historical heritage of Belgrade qualified by the Law on Environmental protection. The area is abundant with water springs that have been exploited by tourist facilities and local population. By analyzing groundwater sampled from several springs and wells located in a vicinity of the Avala magmatic entity here we study the occurrence, concentration and origin of arsenic pollutant. The investigated springs are accommodated within the faulted complex of Mesozoic carbonate and clastic sediments, serpentinite, further intruded by the Tertiary magmatic rocks. By using the concentrations of the major and minor components(e.g. Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn) in groundwater, the relationship between groundwater and local lithostratigraphic units is outlined. Chemical analysis of the investigated waters shows that arsenic concentration in groundwater of the investigated area is in range from 3.0 to 102.0 μg/l. Arsenic concentrations over the maximum allowed value in drinking water (10 μg/l) are detected in more than 55% cases. The occurrence of arsenic in groundwater can be attributed to local igneous rocks, i.e. to the process of oxidation of sulphide minerals with As (major or minor presence) – primarily arsenopyrite or pyrite. Groundwater with higher concentration of arsenic (above10 μg/l) is exploited as drinking water used by tourists and by local population. Along term use of the water with high concentration of arsenic impose a major health risk.

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This paper presents a methodology for aerodynamic optimization of UAV with VTOL capabilities. Aircrafts such as these usually fly at low speeds and due to that low Reynolds numbers are to be expected. The friction drag is highly dependent on the quality of the production process so unless special measures are undertaken, high friction drag coefficients could drastically influence overall performance of the aircraft. Changes of the geometrical parameters influence not only the induced drag of the wing, but also the distribution of the base drag due to sensitivity to changes of the Reynolds numbers. In order to determine the optimal geometrical parameters of the wing, a code for wing performance analysis was written. All necessary factors were calculated by utilizing the Glauert's solution of the Prandtl's equation for multi-segmented wings. By including experimental data of numerous airfoils optimized for low Reynolds numbers, the base drag distribution, along with the induced drag of the wings were calculated for a wide range of angles-of-attack. The obtained results are presented through diagrams and the methodology for the selection of the highest efficiency wing is described. The design of the T - shaped stabilizer was achieved by utilizing analytical methods while the Vortex Lattice Method, DATCOM and CFD were used for verification purposes.

Kombucha beverage is a fermented product obtained by kombucha culture fermentation of, usually, black or green tea. Besides black and green tea, kombucha also ferments water extracts of medicinal herbs. The obtained products possess antioxidant activity. The aim of this paper was to establish the antioxidant potential of kombucha beverages with black tea, green tea, and medicinal herbs after pepsin and pancreatin in vitro digestion. The radical scavenging ability of DPPH and hydroxyl radical, as well as reducing power of kombucha products was determined. At the end of the digestion process, the highest antioxidant potential towards hydroxyl radical showed only kombucha beverages with peppermint and stinging nettle extract. Results for reducing power and antioxidant capacity to scavenging DPPH radical showed a decrease in values after the digestion process.

Bioactive properties, as well as chemical composition and sensory characteristics of traditional and alternative kombucha broths were examined. Samples were produced by adding 10% of kombucha starter to sweetened (7% sucrose) decocts of black and green teas (traditional substrates) and infusions of winter savory (Satureja montana), peppermint (MenthaЧpiperita), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and quince (Cydonia oblonga), at 25°C. Fermentation lasted the shortest with elderberry (3 days) and the longest with quince (10 days). The samples with black tea and peppermint had the best sensory quality. In general, alternative products had better antioxidant activity to hydroxyl radicals than the traditional ones, reducing power and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. The most pronounced acetic acid content was obtained with elderberry substrate. Moreover, peppermint substrate showed the highest values both for total phenols and total flavonoids contents. Taken together, the samples produced with the alternative substrates highlighted a higher phenolic and flavonoid contents, compared to the ones obtained with the traditional substrates. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III46009]

Introduction. Secretory breast carcinoma is rare subtype of breast carcinoma which occurs primarily in children and young adults, so in the past it was called juvenile carcinoma. Case report. A 67-year-old female patient presented with mass of the right breast since one month. After physical, routine laboratory examination and mammography, core needle biopsy was performed and histopathological examination confirmed invasive carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, estrogen-receptors (ER) and progesteron-receptors (PR) showed weak positive reaction in 10% of tumor cells, while human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) was without expression. After an adequate preoperative preparation, operation was done – quadrantectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with 6 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF) combination, radiotherapy (60 Gy) and tamoxifen. After 5-year follow-up the patient had no signs of the disease. Conclusion. Secretory breast cancer is a rare subtype of invasive breast carcinoma with wide age range of occurrence and good prognosis despite its triplenegative immunophenotype. Although the therapeutic management is non-consensual for this breast cancer special type, surgery is considered the mainstay of the treatment as well as the adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation.

Ice Ages (IA) and their glacial periods can be regarded as significant natural hazards (NH). Unfortunately, the knowledge of hominid evolution that occurred during IAs, in such extreme climatic fluctuations, is preserved almost exclusively in mythology. The omission of more scientific discourse regarding the history of NH during IAs should be rectified for posterity. As our civilization will likely have to cope with the beginnings of a new glacial phase, a more complete understanding of the mechanisms of IA climate dynamics is crucial.

In this study some functional properties and the in vitro digestibility of protein isolates from plum oil cakes, obtained by supercritical fluid extraction and cold pressing, as a control, were described and compared. Amygdalin contents in the protein isolates were at amounts considerably lower than regulatory. Solubility profiles of both protein isolates were typical for this type of plant proteins. Proteins showed good digestibility, which was assessed by gastrointestinal proteases (pepsin and pancreatin). SDS-PAGE analysis was used for characterisation of protein digests which showed that the protein isolates were completely digested. In vitro antioxidant capacity by three complementary methods and enzyme inhibitory effects towards Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) related to the onset of hypertension were determined. All obtained protein hydrolysates acted as DPPH and ABTS scavengers, as reducing agents and also as ACE enzyme inhibitor. Hence, the protein isolates obtained from plum kernel cake showed to be a potential source of natural products for food applications, with good digestibility and beneficial bioactive properties.