Cystatin C as a potential marker for relapse in patients with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma.

The concentration of cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin C was determined in sera from 59 patients with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma using ELISA. The sera from 43 age and sex matched healthy blood donors served as controls. Cystatin C was significantly increased in sera of patients without therapy (mean 1136+/-SE 105.7ng/ml, p=0.00001) and with therapy (mean 1073+/-52ng/ml, p=0.001) compared to controls (mean 819+/-28ng/ml). The highest levels were determined in sera of patients with a relapse (mean 1680+/-196ng/ml). By using immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy we determined immature dendritic cells as a major population of cystatin C positive cells in affected lymph nodes. Our study reports for the first time that cystatin C is a potential marker for relapse in patients with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma.

[Aminotransferase activity during convalescence in infectious hepatitis in older adolescents]. / Uticaj prebolovanog infektivnog hepatitisa na aktivnosti aminotransferaza u starijih adolescenata.

The objective of the research were consolidate the correlation the greatest values ALT and AST, and the recovery from hepatitis infection. To the group of 237 adolescents, male sex of 18, 19 and 20 years is measured the activity of ALT and AST. The examinees are questionnaired to the recovery from hepatitis infection. Had to the significant increased values AST, and only mildly increased values in relation to the upper referent values.

[Effect of alcohol on aminotransferase activity in adolescents]. / Uticaj alkohola na aktivnosti aminotransferaza u adolescenata.

The objective of research were consolidate the correlation the greatest values ALT and AST, and consummation alcohol. To the group of 302 adolescents, male sex of 18, 19 and 20 years is measured the activity of ALT and AST. The examines are questionned to the consummation of alcohol. Had to the significant increased values AST, and only mildly increased values in relation to the upper referent values.

[Correlation of body mass index and aminotransferase activity in healthy adolescents]. / Korelacija indeksa tjelesne mase i aktivnosti aminotransferaza u zdravih adolescenata.

The objective of this study to consolidate the correlation between BMI with the values of ALT and AST of the healthy adolescents in age of 18, 19 and 20 years. To the group of 237 examinees of the healthy adolescents is determined BMI, and is measured the activity of ALT and AST. In the sample of the examinees we had 22% examinees had the increased BMI > or = 25. The examinees who had the increased BMI (> or = 25), had the significant increased values ALT, and only mildly increased values AST in relation to the upper referent values. On the basis of the simple linear regression was confirmed the positive correlation between the of body mass indexes and activities ALT i AST.

[New findings on the diagnosis and therapy of prion diseases]. / Nova saznanja o mogucnostima dijagnostike i terapije prionskih bolesti.

Spongiform encephalopathies are the fatal diseases, that affect the brain tissue of mammals. They are caused by a conformational changed prion protein. There is no adequate diagnostic test for in vivo identification of prion protein. Disease can be diagnosed only by clinical sings and EEG in new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Post mortem, histopathological examination of brain tissue reveals spongiform changes and immunohistochemistry detects disease-related prion protein. Appropriate diagnostic in vivo tests are not developed yet; therefore extensive researches are ongoing aimed to introduce such methods. This review describes a few promising experimental methods, which may develop into diagnostic tests in the future: detection of prions in urine samples, PMCA (protein misfolding cyclic amplification), DATAS (differential analysis of transcripts with alternative splicing), SELEX (in vitro selection), detection of prions in tonsils and detection of copper and manganese dysbalance in tissues. Current therapy strategy is based on testing of some known drugs (quinacrine, chlorpromazine), and antioxidant and antibody treatments. The detection of NSE (neuron-specific enolase) and cholesterol in meat products reveals the presence of brain and spinal cord tissue. The spreading of spongiform encephalopathies can be diminished by utilising the adequate in vivo diagnostic tests, effective therapy strategy and preventive steps.