Correction to: pH control and the production of extracellular dextransucrase by Leuconostoc mesenteroides.

Unfortunately, M. M. Vrvic name has been published incorrectly in the original publication as M. M. Vrivic, corrected name appears in this erratum.

Dietary supplements and medications in elite sport--polypharmacy or real need?

The aim of this study was to describe qualitatively and quantitatively dietary supplements (DS) and medication use in elite athletes. Athletes (n=912; age 23.9 ± 6 years; 72% male) reported medications and DSs taken within 3 days before doping control. We analyzed data collected from 2006 to 2008, identified and classified substances. Total of 74.6% athletes reported use of at least one substance, 61.2% took DS (3.17 per user) and 40.6% took medications. Among users, 21.2% reported the use of six and more different products, and one took 17 different products at the same time. Majority of medication users took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (24.7%), and 22.2% used more than one NSAID. We found no gender differences in DS use (P=0.83). Individual sport athletes used more DS (P<0.01). Our study showed widespread use of DS and drugs by elite athletes. Consumption of DS with no evident performance or health benefits, demonstrated the need for specific educational programs focused on DS use. Amount, quantity and combination of the reported products raised concern about the risk of potential side effects.

Immunohistochemical detection of cyclin E in transitional cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: It is known that expression disorders of cell cycle regulators play an important role in the development and prognosis of various malignant tumors. Cyclin expression changes during the cell cycle. This work aimed to analyse the expression of cyclin E in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and also to compare the expression of cyclin E with tumor stage and histological grade as well as to determine possible existence of differences in the expression of cyclin E in TCCs of the upper and lower urothelium. METHODS: Twenty-four cases of TCC of the urinary tract were retrospectively analysed (6 cancers of the renal pelvis, 2 of the ureter and 15 of the bladder; 4 were infiltrative). Immunohistochemical staining for cyclin E of the analysed transitional cancer cells was assessed semiquantitatively: diffuse cyclin E expression + + + (> 50% of all cells), expression in larger groups of cells: + + (up to 50% of all cells), expression in individual cells or small cell clusters: + (<10% of all cells), and absence of expression. Tumor stage was based on clinical and morphological criteria. WHO classification (Lyon 2004) was used for determination of the histological grade. RESULTS: Non-parametric Spearman's correlation showed that there was no statistically significant correlation between tumor stage and expression of cyclin E (ρ = -0331, p> 0.05). Also, no statistically significant correlation between grade and the expression of cyclin E (ρ = -0077, p> 0.05) was found. x2 test results showed no statistically significant difference (x2 = 2.136, p = 0.775) in the expression of cyclin E between upper and lower urothelium. CONCLUSION: This study showed non significant decreased expression of cyclin E with poor differentiation, muscle invasion and upper/lower urothelium. Expression of cyclin E decreased with increasing histological grade and stage of the tumor.

Trichinella prevalence in swine in an endemic district in Serbia: epidemiology and control.

Endemic trichinellosis is re-emerging in Serbia and it is a serious problem both from the perspective of human health and animal husbandry. The widespread appearance of human trichinellosis is attributed to a high prevalence of Trichinella infection in domestic animals, especially swine. Epidemiological data presented in this paper were collected during a 12-year period (1995-2006) at small private swine farms in the region of Branicevo, Serbia, where a high Trichinella prevalence in slaughter pigs (0.57%) has been detected. To further monitor Trichinella prevalence in swine, a serological survey, using ELISA, was performed in 2006. Of 916 swine tested by ELISA, Trichinella specific antibodies were detected in 15 (1.64%), while suspect results were obtained in 10 (1.09%). Positive or suspect animals originated from all parishes except one (Pozarevac). Our results point to the need for systematic monitoring in pigs to achieve a better control of trichinellosis in Serbia.

[Characterization and antimicrobial activity of the bioactive metabolites in streptomycete isolates].

Twenty different streptomycete isolates were obtained from soils of southeast Serbia. Five isolates identified as Streptomyces hygroscopicus (SH100, SH101, SH102, SH103, and SH104) showed strong activity against Botrytis cinerea, a parasite found in domestic vines. These isolates were extensively studied for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and fungi, and also antiviral activity against Herpes simplex. The results indicated that the obtained isolates were highly active against Botrytis cinerea, Candida albicans, and Herpes simplex, with an inhibition zone of approximately 31 mm. The structure of the bioactive components was determined using elemental analysis, as well as UV/VIS, FTIR, and TLC.

Ultrasonic extraction of oil from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seeds.

The ultrasonic extraction (UE) of oil from the seeds of a semi-oriental tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plant strain by using n-hexane and petroleum ether was studied at different temperatures and seeds-to-solvent ratios. The oil yield depended on the seed comminution, the extraction temperature, the seeds-to-solvent ratio and the type of solvent. The oil yield was much higher if the seeds were ground before extraction. The oil yield increased with increasing the extraction temperature and with decreasing the seeds-to-solvent ratio. n-Hexane was somewhat more efficient in the oil extraction than petroleum ether. In recovering the tobacco seed oil (TSO), the UE was less efficient than the Soxhlet extraction. The advantage of the UE was a relatively high oil yield at 25 degrees C in a shorter time. The kinetics of UE of TSO was described using the model of unsteady diffusion through plant material.

The effect of agitation intensity on alkali-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil.

The sunflower oil methanolysis was studied in a stirred reactor at different agitation speeds. The measurements of drop size, drop size distribution and the conversion degree demonstrate the effects of the agitation speed in both non-reaction (methanol/sunflower oil) and reaction (methanol/KOH/sunflower oil) systems. Drop size distributions were found to become narrower and shift to smaller sizes with increasing agitation speed as well as with the progress of the methanolysis reaction at a constant agitation speed. During the methanolysis reaction, the Sauter-mean drop diameter stays constant in the initial slow reaction region, rapidly decreases during the fast reaction period and finally reaches the equilibrium level. Due to the fact that the interfacial area increases, one can conclude that the rate of reaction occurring at the interface will also be enhanced progressively. The "autocatalytic" behavior of the methanolysis reaction is explained by this "self-enhancement" of the interfacial area, due to intensive drop breakage process.

The role of partial cystectomy in treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer is usually treated by radical cystectomy, but in some selected cases with solitary tumor with appropriate localization partial cystectomy can be the treatment of choice achieving long term results with bladder preservation. We reviewed records of 11 patients which were treated in 5 year period from June 2002 to June 2007. by partial cystectomy according to the size of the tumor, localization, histology, multifocality, pathological and clinical stage, sex, and age. Male:female ratio was 6:5, mean age of the patients being 64.9 years. All patients bur one had solitary lesions located in the bladder dome in 4, on lateral sides in 5,2 patients had a tumor in diverticulum. TCC gr II was diagnosed 6 pts, TCC gr III in 5. One patient died in a year from disease progression, one from other reason, while all other patients are alive and disease free, the longest disease free interval being 3 years. Bladder capacity is adequate in all patients resulting in good quality of life . Our results suggest that in selected patients cancer control can be achieved with partial cystectomy.

The evaluation of cytotoxic activity of planar pentadentate ligand 2',2"'-(2,6-pyridindiyldiethylidyne) dioxamohydrazide dihydrate (H2l x 2H2O) and its metal coordination complexes; pitfalls in the use of the MTT-assay.

In this study we have investigated, for the first time to our knowledge, the antineoplastic activity of a planar pentadentate ligand (H2L.2H2O = 2', 2'''-(2,6-pyridindiyldiethylidyne)dioxamohydrazide dihydrate) and some of its metal coordination complexes [Cu(L)(H2O)].H2O, [Cu(HL)(H2O)]Cl04, [Co(L)(H20)2] 6H20, [Co(H2L)(H2O)(MeOH)](ClO4)2 and [Fe(L)(H2O)2]ClO4-3H2O, as well as of inorganic salts CuCl2 2H20, CoCl2 6H2O and FeCl3.6H2O of corresponding metal ions. The antiproliferative activity of these compounds was examined in a human melanoma cell line FemX with exposure time of 48 hours by performing two cytotoxicity tests: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Among these substances, the ligand H2L.2H2O expressed the greatest antineoplastic activity IC50 = 45.40 microM, while the IC50 of others could not be determined by SRB assay in the examined range of concentrations due to their low activity. FeCl3.6H2O showed stimulatory activity. We have found remarkable discrepancies between the results obtained by MTT assay and SRB assay that influence IC50 value as well as other measures of cytotoxicity, which led to the conlusion of uncertainty of using the MTT assay in evaluation of antineoplastic activity of organometalic complexes and inorganic metal salts.

The predictive value of PSA in diagnosis of prostate cancer in non screened population.

INTRODUCTION: [corrected] PSA is the most important tumor marker in all solid tumor, indispensable in the management of prostate cancer. Screening for prostate cancer is still not recomended, although performed in many countries, which introduced questions about the usefulnes of PSA in detection of prostate cancer. The PSA treshold has also been changed, the value of PSA derivatives revised. Whether such changes are applicable in non scrrened population is questionable. Aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of PSA, free/ total PSA and PSA density in our non screened population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TRUS guided prostate biopsy was performed in 579 patients. The number of cores was 6-12. Mean age of the patients was 67.5 years (30-90). PSA was ranging from 0.41 to 2250 (mean 38.6 ng/ml, median: 11.95, SD 140,45). Digitorectal examination was considered positive in 351 patients. Free PSA was measured in 352 patients with the index ranging from 0.02 to 0.88 (mean free/total PSA: 0.14, median: 0.13). The volume of the prostate was measured in all patients according the prostate ellipsoid model, and PSA density calculated according to the formula PSA/PV. Patients were stratified in 6 groups according to PSA value (I: PSA ng/ml, II: PSA 2.5-4, III: PSA 4-10, IV: PSA 10-20, V: PSA: 20 to 50, Group 6: PSA 50). RESULTS: Non homogenicity of the patients can be seen through the wide range of PSA which was from 0.4 to 2025). Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 233 pts (40.2%). As expected, the probability of detecting cancer was raised with PSA (p), and was extremely rare in pts with PSA below 4 ng/ml. PSA, free/total PSA, volume of the prostate and PSA density were significantly different according to the presence of cancer. Most of our patients had PSA between 4 and 20 ng/ml. Predictive value of PSA was 20.6% for pts with PSA from 4 to 10 and 32.7% for those with PSA from 10 to 20 ng/ml. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for different cut off's of PSA (4, 10 and 20) was performed. The best results were obtained for PSA cut off of 10 ng/ml. In the group of patient with PSA, PSA density more reliable than free/total PSA index. CONCLUSION: PSA is still valuable marker for detection of prostate cancer in our non screened population. According to our results PSA treshold should not be lowered below 4 ng/ml. PSA density is a reliable PSA derivative, free/total PSA index having less importance in pts with PSA below 20 ng/ml.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer in Serbia.

PURPOSE: A rising incidence of prostate cancer is noticed in USA and Europe, which might be due to better diagnostic procedures and screening programs started in some countries. We still lack epidemiological studies confirming the same trend in our country, but the rising number of patients in whom radical prostatectomy is performed is an indirect proof of bigger recruitment of patients with prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to establish the most appropriate diagnostic protocol for detection of prostate cancer in our unscreened population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) -guided biopsies of the prostate were performed in 229 patients. Biplanar transrectal probe with needle channel was used. Six to 10 tissue cores were obtained from each patient. RESULTS: The mean patients' age was 67.12 years (range 42-88). All patients had serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) estimation before biopsy, which ranged from 0.41 to 1550 ng/ml (mean 50.83), with 146 (63.8%) patients having PSA level greater than 10 ng/ml. Free (F) PSA was performed in 120 (52.4%) patients; the range of F to total (T) PSA ratio was 0.02 to 0.74 (mean > 0.13). Digital rectal examination (DRE) was positive in 65% of the patients. The mean prostate volume was 40.5 ml (range 11-140). Cancer was diagnosed in 99 (43.2%) patients, prostate cancer in situ (PIN) alone was diagnosed in 37 (16.2%), chronic prostatitis in 73 (31.9%), while benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was found in 20 (8.7%) patients. CONCLUSION: The cancer detection rate in our patients was high. In a lot of patients the biopsy was needed only for histological proof, not as a staging tool, the intention of which is the selection of patients with localized prostate cancer amenable to curative treatment. There is still reluctance to use PSA as a sole indication for biopsy, positive DRE still being mandatory. With such a policy we are missing a lot of curable prostate cancer cases, thus increasing the cost of treatment. A national policy including screening should be considered.

[Mechanisms of the effect of interleukin-1 inhibitor activators]. / Mehanizam delovanja inhibitora aktivnosti interleukina-1.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has a broad range of effects on physiologic processes, including immunologic phenomena. In maintaining the tissue homeostasis the existence of feed-back mechanisms regulating down the IL-1 activity would be beneficial for the host. We and other investigators have provided evidence that such a regulatory circuit exists and may be altered by agents such as glucocorticoids and as well as by the UV irradiation. Here we provide evidence describing the mode of action of an accessory cell derived inhibitor of the IL-1 activity. This inhibitor is a product of radioresistant cells, it does not represent a nonspecific inhibitor of the DNA synthesis and appears to be specific for IL-1 since it does not interfere with the IL-2 dependent T cell proliferation. It affects both the IL-2 production and the induction of IL-2 receptor expression. As indicated in our previous work the immunoinhibitory factors affecting T cell proliferation are present in the sera of patients suffering from chronic renal and hepatic diseases. Further analyses have shown that these serum inhibitors have the same mode of action as macrophagederived glucocorticoid-induced inhibitors. Thus, it appears that the production of an IL-1 receptor antagonist may be enhanced in a pathological condition and during chronic inflammations in particular. Its significance for the disease pathogenesis remains to be elucidated.

Circulating inhibitor of interleukin 1 activity in patients with chronic renal diseases.

The effects of sera derived from patients suffering from chronic renal diseases (endemic Balkan nephropathy, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis) on T cell proliferative response was studied. It was found that these sera contained factors which affect interleukin 1 (IL-1) dependent events in T cell proliferative response. The factors prevent costimulatory effects of IL-1 on T cells but do not bind to IL-1, nor do they affect interleukin 2 (IL-2) dependent T cell proliferation. These findings indicate that immuno-suppression observed in some kidney disorders may be partially due to serum immunoinhibitory factors affecting IL-1 activity.

pH control and the production of extracellular dextransucrase byLeuconostoc mesenteroides.

The specific growth rate, the maximum specific dextransucrase production rate and the maximum dextransucrase yield during the dextransucrase fermentation byLeuconostoc mesenteroides were all unaffected by both the pH of the culture medium, maintained at 5.5 or 6.7, and the mode of pH control, by adding NaOH or K2HPO4.

[Kidney transplantation in high-risk patients]. / Transplantacija bubrega u bolesnika sa visokim rizikom.

Immunosuppression with Cyclosporine A in kidney transplantation, triple therapy (CyA + Imuran + corticosteroids) and plasmapheresis before and after kidney transplantation in high risk recipients (positive cytotoxic antibody, MLC at the level of non related persons), also in high risk patients (juvenile diabetes, patients over 50 years old). In 1988 we had done in our Centre, kidney transplantation in 52.8% (28: 53) in high and increased risk patients. Triple therapy with plasmapheresis before and after kidney transplantation (if the level of cytotoxic antibodies is over 15%) allows successful kidney transplantation in high risk kidney recipients. Patients with juvenile diabetes are also available kidney recipients with therapy and permanent regulation of blood sugar. The patients of the age group between 50-60 years should be considered as suitable for kidney transplantation.