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Introduction/Objective. Vitamin D not only plays a role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, but also has antiproliferative, prodifferentiation, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency in individuals with autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods. A total of 156 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups. First group included 108 patients with 25 (OH) D insufficiency, and second included 48 individuals with normal 25 (OH) D levels. All participants underwent a detailed clinical examination, laboratory tests for thyroid function [T3, fT4, TSH, thyroid antibodies (TPO-Ab, and TG-Ab)], as well as ultrasound scanning (thyroid volume and Doppler characteristics). Results. The patients with vitamin D insufficiency (n = 108 (69.2%)) were predominantly female and had a higher body mass index than the patients with normal vitamin D levels. The group with vitamin D insufficiency had statistically significantly higher TSH levels. The prevalence of positive thyroid antibodies was higher in the vitamin D insufficiency group, while thyroid volume, superior thyroid artery, and inferior thyroid arteries resistance index, as well as the prevalence of positive circular dichroism signals, were significantly higher in the vitamin D insufficiency group. Out of the 156 subjects, 44 were diagnosed with thyroiditis (28.2%). The mean serum level of 25 (OH) D was statistically notably lower in patients with thyroiditis (20.23 ± 8.10 ng/mL) than in the group without thyroiditis (25.44 ± 8.38 ng/mL), p < 0.001. Conclusion. There was an association between vitamin D insufficiency and hypothyroidism in subjects with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

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.

We studied the effects of whey and pumpkin seed oil supplementation on the biochemical parameters in blood serum of male rats after chronic ad libitum alcohol consumption. The levels of AST, ALT, total bilirubin, ALP, LDH, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride/HDL ratio, total cholesterol/HDL ratio (cholesterol ratio) and LDL/HDL ratio (index of atherosclerosis) were determined in rats after six weeks of treatment with: (i) ethanol (12% ethanol, ad libitum), (ii) whey (2 g/kg per day), (iii) pumpkin seed oil (2 mL/kg per day), (iv) both ethanol and whey, and (v) both ethanol and pumpkin seed oil. The results showed no changes in the levels of AST, ALT, total bilirubin, ALP, total cholesterol, HDL and VLDL in alcoholic rats when compared to the controls (fed with a standard laboratory diet ad libitum) and rats supplemented with whey and pumpkin seed oil. Our results suggest that alcohol consumption in small doses for 6 weeks changes lipid metabolism and significantly elevates the LDL/HDL ratio (index of atherosclerosis) but does not induce extensive liver damage. Ethanol consumption in our experimental conditions lowered the triglyceride level as well as the triglyceride/HDL ratio, suggesting lipid redistribution and the induction of some cardio-protective effect. However, ethanol induced a higher index of atherosclerosis. Pumpkin seed oil showed some protective potential in alcoholic rats by lowering the total cholesterol/HDL ratio, but it elevated the LDH. Whey consumption prevented elevation of the atherosclerosis index, pointing to its protective role, probably through the redistribution of lipids. However, whey in combination with ethanol elevated LDH. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 173014 and Grant no. III41029]

Endocardial endothelium (EE) is a barrier which controls the passage of macromolecules and fluids between the blood and the adjacent miocardial interstitium. At the same time it is the place of synthesis of numerous endothelial mediators. Histamine as an inflammation mediator increases the permeability of the endothelium, but also has a positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart through the activation of histamine H1 and H2 receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of the role of endocardial endothelium in the effect of histamine on myocardial contraction in the conditions of histamine receptors blockade. The study was carried out on the samples of the right ventricle of the albino Wistar rats (n = 42, age 8 weeks, body mass 180-200g) presented in two experimental models. The first experimental model presented the right ventricle of the rat heart with an intact endocardial endothelium and the second with the endothelium chemically removed by immersion of the chamber in a 1% solution of Triton X-100. Histamine (1x10-4 mol/l) increases the contraction of the right ventricle of the heart with intact endocardial endothelium but also with the removed endocardial endothelium. The effect of the histamine on the contraction was significantly increased in the absence of endocardial endothelium (p

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation of latency and amplitude of P300 cognitive potential and the degree of lateralization of brain hemispheres. The study included 60 subjects whose age was between 45 and 56 years. Bioelectric brain activity was recorded using argentum chloride (AgCl) electrodes that were placed at central line of the scalp (over Fz and Cz regions) according to the international 10-20 standard. P300 was generated using 'oddball' paradigm with randomized stimuli: A frequent 1000 Hz tone with an occurrence of 80 % and a 2000 Hz tone (target) with a 20 % occurrence. The measurement is done with the right hand (first recording) and left hand (second recording). All subjects in this study were tested for usage lateralization and showed that they are right-handed. Based on the results of gestural lateralization subjects are divided in three groups. In the group with high degree of lateralization latencies of P300 were significantly lower when dominant hand was used in comparison to non-dominant hand, on Fz electrode (t = 4,162, p0.05) for latencies and amplitudes of P300 between dominant and non-dominant hand for the group of subjects with weak and average degree of lateralization. In both subject groups, significantly faster RT was measured when dominant hand was used. The P300 cognitive potential and reaction time can contribute to the study of indicators of the functional hemispheric asymmetry of the brain.

Introduction. Endocardial endothelium, a natural biological barrier between circulating blood in heart ventricle and cells, creates a complex yet finely tuned balance of interactions with the immediate environment. Objective. We investigated the roles of theophylline, nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and imidazole, an activator of phosphodiesterase on contractility of the right ventricle of rat heart, with intact and removed endocardial endothelium. Methods. Adult rats, of both sexes, type Wistar albino, were used in this experiment. All experiments were conducted on the preparations of the right ventricle using two experimental models. In the first experimental model, an endocardial endothelium (EE) was preserved, and in the second model, an endocardial endothelium (-EE) was removed using 1% solution Triton X-100. Results. Theophylline (1x10-2 mol/l) expressed the positive inotropic effect on the heart, regardless of the presence of the endocardial endothelium. Inotropic response as multiple process can be induced by inhibition of phosphodiesterase, accumulation of cyclic nucleotides and activation of Ca2+ channels. Imidazole (2x10-3 mol/l) increased the contractility of the right ventricle of the heart with EE. The modulator effect of endocardial endothelium on contractility of imidazole proved to be significant. As imidazole influenced the contractility of the right ventricle only in the presence of the endocardial endothelium, it is assumed that its effect is mediated via deliverance of endothelial mediators with positive inotropic effect. Conclusion. An intact endocardial endothelium is necessary for completion of contractile performance of the heart.

Introduction. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of orofacial pain in students and the impact of pain on their quality of life and everyday professional obligations. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study included 319 respondents of both genders. Two questionnaires were used in this study; one that we specifically designed to detect orofacial pain among students and the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance questionnaire. Results. Of the total number of examinees, 101 (32%) reported that they had previously experienced pain in the orofacial region. Using the logistic regression analysis, we found that gender was an important predictor of pain and that female students had a 1.8 times higher risk for developing pain (p < 0.05). The highest prevalence of pain in our subjects was in the temporal region (7%; confidence interval 4%; 9%) and the region around the eye (6%; confidence interval 4%; 9%). Namely, in 65 (64.4%) students who had pain in the orofacial region, it had an impact on the quality of life and daily activities. The most prominent was the impact of the orofacial pain on the performance of their activities at the faculty. Orofacial pain has a significant impact on the psychosocial sphere, emotional and social contacts (12.3%; 14.1%). The temporomandibular joint pain and the pain when opening the mouth showed the least impact on the quality of life (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Orofacial pain is a condition that affects daily activities of students at the faculty, as well as their emotional and social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure, suffer from affective dysfunction to a variable extent. The aim of our study was to evaluate the cognitive and affective status in patients before and after hemodialysis. Apart from this, the goal of the study was to examine and compare the cognitive status of patients on dialysis in relation to the control group, but also in relation to laboratory parameters. Material and Methods. This research was a prospective study including 30 hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure treated at the Department of Nephrology of the Health Center in Kosovska Mitrovica. The cognitive status of the subjects was evalueted by determining the simple reaction time to auditory and visual stimuli before and after hemodialysis sessions and using the Mini Mental Status Examination, while the affective status was evalueted by using the Beck Depression Inventory. Results. The analysis of the obtained results showed a statistically significantly lower auditory and visual simple reaction times (p = 0.014) after dialysis (p = 0.023). The results have confirmed a statistically significantly decreased simple reaction time to visual stimuli (p = 0.001), while a statistical significance (p = 0.137) was not obtained for the auditory stimuli when compared to the control group. The Mini Mental Status Examination and the Beck Depression Inventory did not indicate a significant cognitive status damage or presence of depression. Conclusion. The importance of hemodialysis in the improvement of cognitive function is clearly evident, even though the general state of cognitive status in patients on hemodialysis is lower compared to the healthy population. Evaluation of the cognitive and affective status using simple reaction time, Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination and the Beck Depression Inventory, should be used on daily basis in hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide is produced by almost all cardiac cells, endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes and nerve fibers. It is synthesized by an enzyme, a nitric oxide synthase, which occurs in endothelial, neural and inducible form. The distribution of nitric oxide synthase in the heart is characterized by a pronounced non-uniformity. Nitric oxide exerts its effects in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The physiological effects of low concentrations of nitric oxide, which is released in the normal conditions under the influence of constituent enzymes, occur via cyclic guanosine monophosphate. The synthesized nitric oxide exhibits its effect in the cells where it is produced, in an autocrine manner, or by diffusing into the neighboring cells, in a paracrine manner. Nitric oxide acts by regulating the coronary vessel tonus, affecting the contractility of cardiomyocytes, generating an inotropic effect in a dose-dependent manner and controlling the cellular respiration. Other effects of nitric oxide in the cardiovascular system include the hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle cells in blood vessels, the inhibition of the monocyte adhesion, the inhibition of platelet migration, adhesion and aggregation and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of nitric oxide are based on these effects. Nitric oxide is a weak free radical in gaseous state, and the cytotoxic and/or the cytoprotective effects of the higher concentrations of nitric oxide are related to the chemical structure of nitric oxide as a free radical. The excessive production of nitric oxide by the activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase can lead to major irregularities in the function of cardiomyocytes and cardiac insufficiency. Understanding the nitric oxide molecular mechanisms of signaling pathways in the heart can provide a new strategic approach to prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide is produced by almost all cardiac cells, endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes and nerve fibers. It is synthesized by an enzyme, a nitric oxide synthase, which occurs in endothelial, neural and inducible form. The distribution of nitric oxide synthase in the heart is characterized by a pronounced non-uniformity. Nitric oxide exerts its effects in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The physiological effects of low concentrations of nitric oxide, which is released in the normal conditions under the influence of constituent enzymes, occur via cyclic guanosine monophosphate. The synthesized nitric oxide exhibits its effect in the cells where it is produced, in an autocrine manner, or by diffusing into the neighboring cells, in a paracrine manner. Nitric oxide acts by regulating the coronary vessel tonus, affecting the contractility of cardiomyocytes, generating an inotropic effect in a dose-dependent manner and controlling the cellular respiration. Other effects of nitric oxide in the cardiovascular system include the hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle cells in blood vessels, the inhibition of the monocyte adhesion, the inhibition of platelet migration, adhesion and aggregation and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of nitric oxide are based on these effects. Nitric oxide is a weak free radical in gaseous state, and the cytotoxic and/or the cytoprotective effects of the higher concentrations of nitric oxide are related to the chemical structure of nitric oxide as a free radical. The excessive production of nitric oxide by the activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase can lead to major irregularities in the function of cardiomyocytes and cardiac insufficiency. Understanding the nitric oxide molecular mechanisms of signaling pathways in the heart can provide a new strategic approach to prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Introduction: Endocardial endothelium, a natural biological barrier between circulating blood in heart ventricle and cells, creates a complex yet finely tuned balance of interactions with the immediate environment., Objective: We investigated the roles of theophylline, nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and imidazole, an activator of phosphodiesterase on contractility of the right ventricle of rat heart, with intact and removed endocardial endothelium., Methods: Adult rats, of both sexes, type Wistar albino, were used in this experiment. All experiments were conducted on the preparations of the right ventricle using two experimental models. In the first experimental model, an endocardial endothelium (EE) was preserved, and in the second model, an endocardial endothelium (-EE) was removed using 1% solution Triton X-100., Results: Theophylline (1 x 10(-2) mol/l) expressed the positive inotropic effect on the heart, regardless of the presence of the endocardial endothelium. Inotropic response as multiple process can be induced by inhibition of phosphodiesterase, accumulation of cyclic nucleotides and activation of Ca2+ channels. Imidazole (2 x 10(-3) mol/l) increased the contractility of the right ventricle of the heart with EE. The modulator effect of endocardial endothelium on contractility of imidazole proved to be significant. As imidazole influenced the contractility of the right ventricle only in the presence of the endocardial endothelium, it is assumed that its effect is mediated via deliverance of endothelial mediators with positive inotropic effect., Conclusion: An intact endocardial endothelium is necessary for completion of contractile performance of the heart.