Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Aim To investigate the correlation of body mass index (BMI) with severity of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods The study enrolled patients who had undergone surgical intervention for a herniated disc at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Cantonal Hospital Zenica. Patients underwent thorough preoperative evaluation, including medical history, neurological and physical assessments, and radiological analysis. ⋯ The study group exhibited significant differences in chondrocyte proliferation, tears and clefts, granular changes, and mucous degeneration (p<0.05), and positive correlations were found between BMI and these alterations found in the herniated discs (p<0.05). Therefore, HDS showed positive correlations with BMI (R=0.599; p<0.001) and weight (R=0.696; p<0.001). Conclusion The study's findings confirmed that BMI has a significant impact on intervertebral disc degeneration, emphasizing the importance of weight management in preventing disc degeneration.
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Aim Examination of the effectiveness of STR loci in proving sibship of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian village of Orahovica and the formation of a "grey zone". Methods The probability of sibship was determined by calculating the likelihood ratio (LR) parameter for each of the 15 observed STR loci and for each of the pairs of relatives and non-relatives. Cumulative sibship index (CSI) was calculated for each of the pairs by multiplying the LR values of all 15 loci and obtained values are used as CSI limit for separating relatives from non-relatives. ⋯ On the contrary, incredibly low CSI value was recorded among non-relatives,ranging from CSI=0.0000001 to 0.5261434 (SP=0.000009999% to 34.475357951%). Conclusion For the threshold value CSI=1 and for CSI=3, this method determined sibship in 100% of pairs of relatives and the absence of biological sibship in 100% of pairs of non-relatives in the village of Orahovica. The STR system is proved to be a successful method in determining sibship or absence of sibship in small local populations.
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Aim Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated inflammation of the nose. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), plasma cells and inflammatory cytokines have shown to play a critical role in allergic airway inflammation. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in generating Treg cells and plasma cells associated with regulating interlukin-10 (IL-10) in AR model. ⋯ This finding was aligned with the significant increase of Treg level. Conclusion MSCs administration regulates IL-10 and plasma cell-mediated immune and inflammatory responses while increasing Treg cell production. MSCs may be a promising therapeutic target for treating Treg-mediated allergic diseases.
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Aim To investigate the effect of direct epineural electrical stimulation of the nerve on the nature of reparative processes in the bone stump. Methods Three series of experiments were carried out with amputation of the thigh in the middle third and muscle plasty. In the 1st and 2nd experimental series a perineural catheter was brought to the stump of the sciatic nerve, through which mechanical irritation of the nerve was performed for 20 days daily for 20 minutes. ⋯ In the 3rd series, results of the formation of the stump were better than in the 1st, but worse than in the 2nd series. Conclusions Painful nerve irritation after amputation leads to a significant disturbance of microcirculation and reparative regeneration at the end of the bone stump with the development of pathological restructuring of bone tissue. Electrostimulation of the nerve improves microcirculation and reparative regeneration of the bone tissue.
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Aim To determine the most common indications for measuring metanephrine and normetanephrine in plasma by gender and age and to compare the concentrations of metanephrine and normetanephrine by indication, gender and age. Methods The study was conducted on 224 patients whose plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine concentrations were measured at the Clinical Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics at the University Hospital Centre Osijek for one year, until 1st January 2020. Results The most frequent indications for biochemical testing were adrenal incidentaloma, 138 (6.6 %), and symptoms of pheochromocytoma, 41 (18.3%). ⋯ Of the 224 patients, only one patient was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, whose indication for measurement of metanephrine and normetanephrine was adrenal incidentaloma. Conclusion Adrenal incidentalomas and symptoms suggestive of pheochromocytoma are very common in the general population, while the incidence of pheochromocytoma is extremely low. Clear guidelines for the referral of patients for biochemical testing are needed to avoid unnecessary costs and to identify the correct diagnosis promptly.