The Importance of Vitamin D Supplementation in Different Periods of Woman's Life.

Background: Vitamin D is involved in numerous reactions in the human body, as well as in the regulation of about 3% of the human genome. Research shows that insufficient concentration of vitamin D in the blood is found in 40-50% of the population. The total intake of vitamin D through food is very low, only 20% of the total daily needs. This paper shows importance of vitamin D supplementation in different periods of woman's life. Objective: To estimate average plasma levels of vitamin D3 in all researched group and establish which group should be supplemented with vitamin D3. Methods: The study included 182 women, divided in appropriate groups according to age, who came regularly for annual gynecological check-ups. Total concentration of 25 (OH) vitamin D in plasma was determined by a competitive immunochemical test. Results: The average value of vitamin D3 plasma level in patients aged 18 to 45 was 24,409 ng/ml, in the patients aged 46 to 55 years was 27,519 ng/ml and in the patients aged 56 and over 31,960 ng/ml. The results obtained indicate a vitamin D shortage in the first two groups of patients and an adequate vitamin D3 levels in third group of patients. Vitamin D supplementation is required in patients aged 18 to 55 years. Conclusion: Vitamin D shortage is present in two groups of patients. Because of complex role that this vitamin plays in numerous reactions in human body adequate supplementation is necessary.

Influence of body weight on the biochemical indicators in menopause.

INTRODUCTION: One of the problems of today and probably this century is obesity, which is classified by the WHO as a disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of the body weight impact on certain biochemical indicators in menopausal women living in the municipalities Cazin and Velika Kladusa. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The study included 334 women aged 40-60 years, who had regular medical examinations. For each patient at the beginning of the study we measured: body mass index, total cholesterol values, LDL, HDL and triglycerides fractions. Our findings indicate an increase in total cholesterol, LDL fraction and triglycerides in patients with increased body mass index, without statistical significance. Values of HDL fraction were significantly decreased with increasing body mass index.

Receptive functions at childbearing age, perimenopause and postmenopause.

INTRODUCTION: Receptive functions represents higher mental processes by which people carry out normal daily living tasks. The specificity of these functions is that they stimulate specific physiological functions in the body. They are reflected in the ability to select, classify and integrate the information received. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed an assessment of visual-perceptual abilities by Purdue nonverbal test (PNT-TV) in 135 patients. Patients are classified into three age groups of 45 patients. The first group consisted of patients of childbearing age (25-39 years), second group of patients in perimenopausal age (40-54 years) and a third group of postmenopausal patients (≥55 years). RESULTS: The distribution of the results are statistically different between groups, suggesting that at the onset of menopause there is a decrease of visual-perceptual abilities in patients (Friedman test was significant with p<0.001). CONCLUSION: By the distribution of the results of our study, and the statistical significance of Friedman's, it can be concluded that patients who enter menopause have tendency to decrease of receptive functions.

Phytoestrogens impact on menopausal symptomatology.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: none declared. INTRODUCTION: The balance of endocrine and autocrine activity usually starts to fade after age of 45 years in women. This is particularly true for the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. This imbalance creates a number of clinical syndromes and disorders. GOAL: The goal of the study is to determine the effects of phytoestrogens on the psychological, somatic-vegetative and urogenital symptoms of menopause. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 275 respondents who are more than three in menopause. Respondents were taking commercially available phytoestrogens, in duration of 12 months. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Review of clinical and epidemiological studies showing different results regarding effects of phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms. In our study there was a significant reduction of somatic-vegetative and psychological symptoms under the influence of phytoestrogens, while urogenital symptomatology was not significantly changed. We recommend the use of phytoestrogens in early postmenopausal women with moderate symptoms.

Correlation between hormonal and lipid status in women in menopause.

It is widely accepted that menopause leads to changes in hormonal status, metabolism and lipid profile. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of menopause on the concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins and, the influence of estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH on lipid profile in menopausal women as well. The menopausal women had higher but non-significant (p>0,05) concentrations of total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, and triglycerides than women with regular menstruation. The concentration of HDL was significantly lower in menopausal women than in women with regular menstruation (p<0,05). Also, the concentration of apolipoprotein B was significantly higher in menopausal women (p<0,05), but the concentrations of apolipoprotein and lipoprotein (a) were lower but without significance (p>0,05). Estrogen concentration has significant negative correlation with VLDL and triglycerides (p<0,05) and significant positive correlation with HDL (p<0,05) in menopausal women. Progesterone concentration has shown no correlation with concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins in menopause. We can conclude that menopause leads to changes in lipid profile by reducing HDL, and elevating apolipoprotein B levels, thus increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease. These changes were caused by reduction of estrogen concentrations in menopause.

[The influence of sequential hormonal therapy on biochemical and cardiovascular indices in menopause]. / Utjecaj sekvencijske hormonske terapije na biohemijske i kardiovaskularne pokazatelje u menopauzi.

This study follows 94 patients, age 45 to 60, by controlled, random and prospective studies in time period of six months. Out of total number of patients, 53 were divided into research group and treated with hormonal therapy (2 mg of estradiol and 0,5 mg of norgestrel), 41 patients were divided into control group and treated with refemin (Cimicifuga recemosa). Results were statistically processed using Student test and ANOVA, giving us following results: use of HNL resulted with statistically significant changes--increase of heart frequency (*p<0,01), QTc-intervals (**p=0,01), increase of systolic pressure (**p=0,01), increase of diastolic pressure (**p=0,01), increase of body mass index (**p=0,01), endometrial thickness decrease (**p=0,01); use of Cimicifuge recemose resulted with statistically significant changes--increase of diastolic pressure(*p=0,01), increase of body mass index (BMI) (*p=0,01) and endometrial thickness decrease (*p=0,05). By testing research and controlled group with ANOVA test, we have determined that there is statistical difference in operating between recovered hormone therapy and Cimicifuge recemose within parameters of hearth frequency and diastolic pressure.

Frequency of feet deformities in pupils attending junior grades of elementary school.

The examination of feet by plantograph was performed in 552 pupils of first, second and fourth grades of elementary school "Harmani II" in Bihac. Examination revealed 201 children (36,42%) with satisfactory condition (pedes recti) while 351 pupils were diagnosed with certain form of feet deformity. Frequencies of feet deformities in girls are 60,00% in first, 65,19% in second and 66,30% in fourth grade. Average frequency of feet deformities in the examined girls is 64,90%. Pedes plani was found in 24,91% pupils. Frequencies of feet deformities in boys are 61,29% in first, 65,54% in second and 52,54% in fourth grade. Average frequency of feet deformities in the examined boys is 62,17%. Pedes plani is the most frequent deformity (23,83%).

Median nerve: neurophysiological parameters in third trimester of pregnancy.

An examination of neurophysiologic features of median nerve in third trimester of regularly controlled normal risk pregnancies is performed at the Department of Neurophysiology of Primary Health Centre in Tuzla during January / April 2006. Examined group consisted of 40 young females in third trimester of pregnancy, and average age of 25,6 +/- 4,9 years. Control group consisted of young healthy females with average age of 31,1 +/- 4,4 years. Symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel sy. (CST) had 12 patients, but diagnosis is neurophysiologically confirmed in 9 (75%) patients. In group of pregnant females without symptoms 3 (10,7%) patients showed neurophysiologic evidence of CTS. Sensory velocity of right median nerve was significantly lower in pregnant group of patients (p=0,002), but area of sensory potentials on both sides were lower in pregnant group (p<0,0001). Area of CMAP of right median nerve was significantly lower in pregnant group (p=0,0003). Significant differences in CTS group compared with control group were in sensory velocities of median nerve (left median nerve p=0,0007, right p<0,0001), and area of SNAP of both sides (left p<0,0001, right p=0,0001), but area of CMAP right (p=0,0003). In CTS group 7 females had unilateral and 5 had bilateral neurophysiological changes. Our conclusion is that neurophysiological parameters of median nerve in third trimester of pregnancy are changed mainly due to high prevalence of CTS that might disturb quality of life and have psychological and physical implications on future mother. Hence, it is necessary to, continuously, pay enough attention in prevention or treatment of mentioned syndrome in this population group.

Cytogenetic findings at Down syndrome and their correlation with clinical findings.

Down syndrome is a genetic state characterized by trisomy of chromosome 21. In the retrospective study for 12 years period (1991-2002) we have conducted correlation between cytogenetics analyses and clinical findings in our centre at 96 male and 83 female patients. Down syndrome was confirmed by cytogenetics analyses in 84 (87.5%) male patients and excluded in 12 (12.5%) male patients. Down syndrome was confirmed by cytogenetics analyses in 71 (85.5%) female patients and excluded in 12 (14.5%) female patients. Most common karyotype is free trisomy found in 139 (89.7%) examinees, than follows translocation form determined in 9 (5.8%), and mosaicism determined in 7 (4.5%) examinees. Our results indicate that cytogenetics analyses are necessary to confirm diagnosis of Down syndrome.