Early biomarkers of renal injury and protective effect of erythropoietin on kidneys of asphyxiated newborn rats.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine which of the two biomarkers of renal injury, kidney injury molecule-1 or cystatin C, is more sensitive and to evaluate whether erythropoietin protects kidneys injured by perinatal asphyxia. METHODS: Animals were split into three groups designated as follows: AE, pups that survived perinatal asphyxia and subsequently received 2.5 µg (0.1 ml) of darbepoetin-α (i.p.); A, the pups that survived perinatal asphyxia and received 0.1 ml of 0.9% NaCl; and C, control group. The pups were killed at different ages of life (6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 7 d, and 14 d of age; 10 rats in each subgroup). Immunohistopathological evaluation of kidneys was performed. RESULTS: At 48 h and on days 7 and 14, absolute injury scores were significantly lower in group AE as measured by both biomarkers. Cystatin C expression was the most intensive 6 h after the hypoxic event (average value of absolute injury score was 2.82) and declined over time. Expression of kidney injury molecule-1 was less intensive, with the average value of absolute injury score being 2.02 at 6 h and 2.105 at 24 h; the peak value (2.155) was recorded 48 h after the hypoxic event. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin has a protective effect on hypoxic kidneys. Cystatin C is more sensitive as an early biomarker of acute kidney injury in comparison with kidney injury molecule-1.

Expression and subcellular localization of estrogen receptors α and ß in human fetal brown adipose tissue.

CONTEXT: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has the unique ability of generating heat due to the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). A recent discovery regarding functional BAT in adult humans has increased interest in the molecular pathways of BAT development and functionality. An important role for estrogen in white adipose tissue was shown, but the possible role of estrogen in human fetal BAT (fBAT) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether human fBAT expresses estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERß. In addition, we examined their localization as well as their correlation with crucial proteins involved in BAT differentiation, proliferation, mitochondriogenesis and thermogenesis including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), PPARγ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and UCP1. DESIGN: The fBAT was obtained from 4 human male fetuses aged 15, 17, 20, and 23 weeks gestation. ERα and ERß expression was assessed using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. Possible correlations with PPARγ, PCNA, PGC-1α, and UCP1 were examined by double immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Both ERα and ERß were expressed in human fBAT, with ERα being dominant. Unlike ERß, which was present only in mature brown adipocytes, we detected ERα in mature adipocytes, preadipocytes, mesenchymal and endothelial cells. In addition, double immunofluorescence supported the notion that differentiation in fBAT probably involves ERα. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed mitochondrial localization of both receptors. CONCLUSION: The expression of both ERα and ERß in human fBAT suggests a role for estrogen in its development, primarily via ERα. In addition, our results indicate that fBAT mitochondria could be targeted by estrogens and pointed out the possible role of both ERs in mitochondriogenesis.

Relationship between BMI and skinfold thicknesses to risk factors in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Studies conducted on children and adults have pointed to the correlation of BMI (kg/m2) with risk factors for certain diseases. Other studies have stressed a more intense correlation between the risk factors and indicators of subcutaneous fat obtained in other ways. The aim Of the study was to compare the intensity of correlation between the risk factors and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness in relation to BMI. The study included 53 postmenopausal and 107 premenopausal women, the risk factors were assessed upon systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose concentration, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Statistically significant differences were established in almost all variables referring to premenopausal and postmenopausal women, except in body height, subscapular skinfold thickness and tryglyceride concentration. Significant correlation with the risk factors was detected in BMI and both skinfold thicknesses, while the subscapular thickness correlates more intensively with the risk factors than it is the case with the triceps thickness. The results indicate that BMI equally correlates with risk factors as well as skinfold thickness.

A primary estimation of the cardiometabolic risk by using artificial neural networks.

Estimation of the cardiometabolic risk (CMR) has a leading role in the early prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The CMR estimation can be separated into two parts: primary estimation (PE-CMR) that includes easily-obtained, non-invasive and low-cost diagnostic methods and secondary estimation (SE-CMR) involving complex, invasive and/or expensive diagnostic methods. This paper presents a PE-CMR solution based on artificial neural networks (ANN) as it would be of great interest to develop a procedure for PE-CMR that would save time and money by extracting the persons with potentially higher CMR and conducting complete SE-CMR tests only on them. ANN inputs are values obtained by using PE-CMR methods, i.e. primary risk factors: gender, age, waist-to-height ratio, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. ANN output is cmr-coefficient obtained from the number of disturbances in biochemical indicators, i.e. secondary risk factors: HDL-, LDL- and total cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, fibrinogen and uric acid. ANN training and testing are done by dataset that includes 1281 persons. The accuracy of our solution is 82.76%.

[Analysis of obesity prevalence in students from Novi Sad].

INTRODUCTION: Apart from assessing the nutrition status, the diagnosis of obesity also includes the assessment of mass and distribution of adipose tissue which provides revealing of latent types of obesity that hold higher health risks. The aim of our study was to assess the nutritional status and to analyze the prevalence of normal weight obesity and abdominal obesity in students from the University of Novi Sad. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The body mass index, waist circumference and body fat mass were assessed in the group of 371 students from the University of Novi Sad (their average age being 22.9 +/- 2.5 y). RESULTS: One-fifth of the study sample students were found to be overweight and obese, i.e. 21% and 1.1%, respectively. The frequency of overweight and obesity was higher in male respondents (overweight: 41.67% vs. 6.05%; obesity: 1.92% vs. 0.46%). Among the survey respondents, there were 4.6% of underweight students, all of whom were female students. Body fat was found to be increased in 11% of the students, the frequency being higher in the males. The phenomenon of obesity in normal body mass was recorded in 7% of the respondents, being more frequent in female students. The total of 5.6% of female students and 5.8% of male students had abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION: The survey results indicate the necessity and obligation to direct attention to regular and complete diagnostics of obesity in order to determine the size of fat body mass and its distribution. The presence of obesity in normal body mass among young, student population requires the comprehensive, detailed and timely diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Birth weight and metabolic risk in women of different nutrition levels.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, obesity is one of the most important health problems in both developed and developing countries. Recent studies have shown a significant association of obesity and its complications with birth weight. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of birth weight on the occurrence of metabolic disorders in normal weight and obese women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 134 females of average age 41.71 +/- 11.56 years. In these women the relationship between birth weight and anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as with blood pressure values was analyzed. RESULTS: Our results show that women with higher birth weight had higher values of the anthropometric indicators of fat mass and distribution (such as body mass index, total fat mass, waist circumference and hip circumference), as well as higher values of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In contrast, the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were lower in women with higher birth weight. The analysis of metabolic profile in women of different nutritional status indicates that normal weight women with metabolic syndrome had a lower birth weight when compared with normal weight women without metabolic risk (3.15 vs. 3.40 kg, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher birth weight is related with higher fat mass, while lower birth weight is related with metabolic disturbances. Birth weight seemed to be determinant of metabolic risk in normal weight women

Relationship between body mass index and body fat in children-Age and gender differences.

SUMMARY: When defining obesity body mass index (BMI) has been used as the main criterion. However it indicates only the nutritional status, whereas body fat demonstrates the real body composition picture. This study aimed at analyzing the relationship between nutritional status and adiposity in the population of 2284 Serbian children (1217 boys and 1067 girls). According to BMI subjects were divided into underweight, normal-weight, overweight and obese, and %BF values (based on skinfold thickness measurements) were analyzed with regard to BMI-category, age and gender. Girls showed stronger correlation between BMI and %BF comparing to boys (r = 0.834 vs. 0.577). Differences in %BF between underweight, normal weight and overweight children from different age groups were more obvious in girls, whereas in boys younger than 8 years overlapping in %BF values between different BMI-categories was registered. In normal weight children we found age-related oscillations in %BF values: 8- and 9-year-old boys had lower %BF comparing to 7-year-old boys, which was followed by %BF increasement in 10- and 11-year-old ones; in girls %BF values gradually increased with aging, with significant jumps in 9-, 10- and 11-year-old ones. Thus, adiposity rebound may appear somehow later in boys. In overweight and obese children of both genders %BF continually increased with aging, whereas in underweight children %BF values remained unchanged. Our results pointed to age- and gender-dependent variations of %BF in normal weight and overweight children. We also indicated inconsistency between %BF and BMI especially in boys, and the need for definition of references for %BF.:

[Nutritional status and fat tissue distribution in health adults from some places in Central Banat].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine, relying on anthropological parameters, nutritional status, fat tissue distribution and possible health risk in adult population of Central Banat. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 730 subjects of both genders (average age 40.19 +/- 11.36(y) underwent following measurements: height, weight, waist and hip circumference. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Central Banat population was characterized by great height (males: 178.40 +/- 7.24 cm; females: 163.06 +/- 6.32 cm). The average BMI was at the lower limit of overweight category (males: 26.59 kg/m2; females: 25.29 kg/m2). Overweight and obesity were found in 55.5% of examined subjects. In males, normal weight was recorded only in the youngest age group (20-29y), while in older age groups the percentage of overweight and obese males increased with age. In females, normal weight was recorded till the age of 50, after which overweight category was mainly present. Regarding both of the sexes, obesity was most frequent in the age group 50-59 (22%). The average waist circumference was lower than the cut-off values recommended by WHO (96.43 cm in males and 82.49 cm in females). According to fat distribution, normal values were recorded ini males younger that 39y, after which there was an increase in risk central obesity. In females, normal jar distribution was mainly present in all ages, although the percentage of the risk category increased with age. The highest percentage of the subjects of both sexes showed no health risk. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate the need for preventive action towards obesity consequences and obesiay inducing surroundings.

The synthesis of the rough set model for the better applicability of sagittal abdominal diameter in identifying high risk patients.

This paper aims to investigate possible application of the rough set approach to table-organized data in the medical domain, which reveals some relationships among sagittal abdominal diameter, anthropometric parameters and cardiovascular risk factors. When applied to table-organized data, the methodology based on the rough set theory is capable of producing decision rules in the form of If-Then rules. Such rules are suitable for inspection, examination and further analysis. By examination of the selected 30 decision rules, sagittal abdominal diameter could point out a group of obese and preobese patients with high content of visceral fat with different combination and composition of cardiovascular risk factors. These results suggest that sagittal abdominal diameter could be a clinically useful marker for identification of risk factors, combination and structure of total cardiovascular risk by applying different rules in obese and preobese persons.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in workers at health centre in Beocin].

Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by atherosclerosis, which is a result of interactions between risk factors such as gender, age, blood lipid concentrations, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, adiposity, physical activity and cigarette smoking. Identification of risk factors is the first step in cardiovascular disease prevention. As health workers contribute significantly to cardiovascular morbidity, the aim of our study was to analyze prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and to assess the level of mentioned risk in health workers employed in Health Centre Beocin. The study group consisted of 50 health workers. Obesity was evaluated according to BMI and body fat (BF%) values, while central obesity was defined using waist circumference. Serum lipid concentrations and glycaemia were used in metabolic profile definition. The level of physical activity was assessed using IPAQ, and information about smoking status and family history of cardiovascular diseases was obtained from self-report. Framingham point-scoring system was used to predict the risk for development of coronary heart disease in the 10-year period. Overweight was found in 36%, and obesity in 18% subjects. 42% of examined subjects had higher fat mass, while 24% of them had obesity. Central fat accumulation was observed in 50% subjects. We registered 56% smokers, 70% subjects with positive family history, 28% subjects with hypertension, and 56% subjects with dyslipidemia. According to IPAQ results 20% of examinated subjects were minimally active and 70% were insufficiently active. Estimated risk of coronary heart disease was 7.38%, and 10% subjects had risk over 20%. In spite of lower cardiovascular risk level, our results showed high prevalence of overweight, smoking and physical inactivity in health workers, which suggests take importance of their own lifestyle modification. It should be the first step in increasing motivation of their patients.

Automated extraction of decision rules for leptin dynamics--a rough sets approach.

A significant area in the field of medical informatics is concerned with the learning of medical models from low-level data. The goals of inducing models from data are twofold: analysis of the structure of the models so as to gain new insight into the unknown phenomena, and development of classifiers or outcome predictors for unseen cases. In this paper, we will employ approach based on the relation of indiscernibility and rough sets theory to study certain questions concerning the design of model based on if-then rules, from low-level data including 36 parameters, one of them leptin. To generate easy to read, interpret, and inspect model, we have used ROSETTA software system. The main goal of this work is to get new insight into phenomena of leptin levels while interplaying with other risk factors in obesity.

Body mass index, body fat mass and the occurrence of amenorrhea in ballet dancers.

To evaluate the connection between menstrual disorders and body fat mass, we examined a group of 30 ballet dancers and a group of 30 non-athletic girls (controls). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and percent body fat (FAT%) was measured using the bioelectrical impedance method. A questionnaire was used to obtain age at menarche and duration of menstrual cycles. Ballet dancers had significantly lower values of BMI (18.56 +/- 1.53 vs. 19.96 +/- 2.12 kg/m2) and FAT% (18.85 +/- 4.50 vs. 23.41 +/- 4.34%) compared with controls. According to BMI, 50.0% of ballet dancers and 23.3% of the control group were underweight. Of underweight ballet dancers, 66.7% had lower values of body fat, while most underweight girls from the control group had normal body fat. Normal-weight obesity was registered in 40.9% of the control group and in 6.7% of ballet dancers. Amenorrhea was found in 20.0% and oligomenorrhea in 10.0% of ballet dancers. Ballet dancers more frequently had later appearance of menarche and menstrual cycles of longer duration than did non-athletic girls. A significant negative correlation was found between menstrual cycle duration and FAT% among ballet dancers (r = -0.415). To prevent complications caused by changes of body fat mass, we conclude that body composition assessment in ballet dancers is very important.

[Development of human hypothalamus at the end of the first and in the second trimester of gestation].

INTRODUCTION: The paper deals with the embryonic development of human hypothalamus at the end of the first and during the second trimesters of gestation. Bearing in mind that the mammal brain, as an entity, develops from the prosencephalic, mesencephalic and rhombencephalic vesicles, which are noticeable in the cranial portion of the neural tube in the 4th week of gestation, and that diencephalon is manifested in the eye vesicle at the same gestational age, authors presented the neuronal secretory activity in that period. SECRETORY ACTIVITY OF HYPOTHALAMIC NEURONS: The secretory activity of both neurons and hypothalamic nuclei, as well as their maturation, were followed-up by certain immunohistochemical and immunoradiological methods based on structural identification of some factors (primarily protein molecules), which made it possible to determine the specificity of secretory activity of hypothalamic nuclei (ex. tuberohypophyseal pathways), as well as the levels of the hormone release into the hypothalamo-hypophysial complex. CONCLUSION: The aim of this work was to estimate the catecholamine activity during the development of the respective part of the brain in the 5th, 6th, 11th and 13th week of gestation and later.

[Catecholamines in the human diencephalon].

INTRODUCTION: Catecholamines are chemical compounds which play an important role as neurotransmitters in many vital functions of the organism. The paper presents a short survey of their biosynthesis, disintegration andfunctions, with respect to the neuroanatomical location of cell groups which contain these compounds. CATECHOLAMINES IN THE HUMAN HYPOTHALAMUS: Because the authors were most interested in the behavior of catecholamines in the diencephalon, particularly in the hypothalamus, they focussed their attention on cells secreting catecholamines (dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, octopamine). The paper also deals with the connections between cellular structures which emit and receive the neuronal impulses that transport catecholamines as neurotransmitters. These include the following dopaminergic systems: nigrostriatal, tuberohypophysial, retinal, periventricular, periglomerular and dopaminergic systems in mesolimbic, mesocortical and diencephalic regions. The paper also indicates other areas in human brain with adrenaline and noradrenaline secreting cells.

[Abdominal adipose tissue--significance and methods of detection].

INTRODUCTION: The presence of excess fat in the abdomen, out of proportion to total body fat, is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and other complications of obesity. HISTOANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABDOMINAL ADIPOSE TISSUE: In regard to subcutaneous fat, accumulation of visceral abdominal adipose tissue is more associated with increased metabolic risk However, men have more visceral fat than premeno-pausal women. Compared with premenopausal women, postmenopausal women have 49% more intra-abdominal fat, regardless of age and total fat mass. MEASUREMENT OF ABDOMINAL FAT DEPOTS: Various anthropometric indicators have been suggested for measuring body fat distribution. All of them have advantages and disadvantages, in relation to their interpretation and use. Many are specified as ratios and are difficult to interpret biologically, whereas a change in body fat distribution may exhibit little or no change in the ratios. Waist circumference and sagittal abdominal diameter are good predictors of visceral fat. But, extreme individual variations in visceral to subcutaneous ratio demonstrate the limitations of external anthropometry. The best methods to estimate the amount of visceral fat are imaging techniques like computed tomography or magnetic resonance, but they are expensive and inconvenient in routine practice. CONCLUSION: Further investigations should provide a simple and optimal indicator of abdominal obesity which should correlate with the amount of viscelar fat and the risk.

[The role of enteroclysis and roentgen anatomy of jejunumand ileum in Crohn's disease].

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this research were: 1) to establish the value of enteroclysis in detection of morphological changes of jejunum and ileum in cases with suspected Crohn's disease and 2) to establish types of morphological changes of jejunum and ileum in patients with Crohn's disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study compared two groups of people who voluntarely accepted to be examined: a control group and a study group. The control group included 11 healthy people, without gastrointestinal symptom. The study group included 16 patients with Crohn's disease. Single and double-contrast enteroclysis were performed in both groups. Afterwards, we defined parameters which were compared in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that according to statistics there are significantly lower values of the width of the jejunal and ileal lumen and the number of mucosal folds (per 1 cm) of the jejunal and ileal wall in the examined group in contrast to the control group. Also, according to statistics there are significantly higher values of the width of the jejunal and ileal wall and the thickness of mucosal folds of the jejunum and ileum in the study group in contrast to the control group.

Development of paraventricular nucleus (PVN) associated with immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the second half of gestation.

The aim of this study was to shed more light on the developmental characteristics of human paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and hypothalamus in general, using modern immunohistochemical techniques to detect the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the synthesis of catecholamine (CA). Fetal brains were examined at 12, 16, 20 and 23 weeks gestation. Immunohistochemical staining used for sections is a qualitative method for detection and distribution of the chosen protein. The amplification of positive signals was carried out using AVIDIN/BIOTIN technique. The first positive results were obtained at 16th week of gestation and immunoreactivity) grew with the advencement of gestation and that there was no homogenisation of immunoreactivity in some parts of the nucleus. The PVN showed to be an oval formation. nearly parallel with the lateral wall of the 3rd cerebral ventricle, where the upper apex of the nucleus is situated closer to the ependymal ventricular layer. There was an ascendant dorsal movement of the nucleus in the embryonic phase of hypothalamus development.

[Relations between parameters which define quantity and distribution of adipose tissue]. / Odnos parametara koji definisu velicinu i raspored masnog tkiva.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is defined as an increase of body fat mass. Regional fat distribution, especially abdominal obesity, is a very important risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic complications in obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between some anthropometric parameters and body fat mass in normal weight and obese subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 60 obese and 60 normal-weight subjects of both sexes. All examinees underwent following anthropometric measurements: body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and sagittal abdominal diameter. We calculated values of body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to stature ratio (WSR) and sagittal abdominal diameter to height ratio (SAD/H). Body fat percent (FAT%) was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We have established that FAT% has the strongest correlation with BMI in all examined groups. Comparing with other body fat distribution parameters, FAT% had the best correlation with waist circumference and WHR. 13.33% of normal-weight women and 10% of normal-weight men presented with borderline increased body fat mass, whereas 6.67% of normal-weight women had increased values (normal-weight obesity). Normal-weight subjects had higher values of anthropometric parameters, comparing with normal-weight subjects with normal FAT%. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve precise diagnosis of obesity it is necessary, apart from certain anthropometric measurements, to establish the body fat mass, using some methods of body composition analysis. In order to identify subjects with higher risk for obesity complications, it is necessary to analyze the size of intraabdominal fat depots. We found that waist circumference, as a good predictor of specific fat distribution, also has a very good correlation with total body fat mass.

Body fat mass in normal weight subjects.

Obesity is characterized by excessive body fat accumulation which may lead to serious health problems and complications. Body mass index is the most optimal parameter to evaluate the level of nutritional status and diagnose obesity. However, modern techniques studying body composition can more accurately determine whether the gain of body weight was on the account of body fat, lean body mass or total body water. If one's body mass index is in the range of normal values but the amount of body fat is above normal range, we talk about sarcopenic obesity. In order to evaluate presence of sarcopenic obesity, a group of 140 normal weight students of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad were measured. Apart from standard anthropometrical parameters the amount of body fat was also determined by using the method of bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sarcopenic obesity was diagnosed in 25.71% of examined students. By using body mass index values this type of obesity cannot be diagnosed, and knowing that a higher amount of body fat in normal weight persons can lead to complications, especially metabolic, it is of great importance to evaluate the amount of body fat accurately.