Human Encounter with a Horsehair Worm (Nematomorpha): Is There a Reason To Worry?

We report here a specimen of the horsehair worm (Gordiida, Nematomorpha) Spinochordodes bacescui (Capuse, 1965) found in a patient´s urine. This is the first record of this species from Serbia and the sixth gordiid species known in Serbia. It is discussed that there is no evidence that gordiids are parasites of humans. Instead, gordiids parasitize terrestrial insects, which release their mature gordiid parasite into water and may thereby also use containers in human surroundings. Pseudoparasites, such as Spinochordodes bacescui, do not pose a threat to human health nor are they a serious public health issue.

Impact of Adiponectin Resistance on Coronary Artery Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND: The serum adiponectin level (AD), adiponectin resistance (AD-R) may reflect the degree of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The role parameter AD-R, The Homeostasis Model Assessment-Adiponectin (HOMA-AD) index on the coronary artery disease (CAD) severity is not still understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine adiponectin concentration and HOMA-AD index in patients with CAD with/without MetS and to evaluate their prognostic importance on severity of CAD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved selected 130 examinees which were divided into three groups: CAD+MetS, CAD-MetS, control group (no CAD/MetS). In all examinees values of biochemical and anthropometric parameters were determined. We analyzed the severity of coronary artery lesions from coronary angiography. Total serum adiponectin concentration was measured by ELISA. We calculated atherogenic Gensini scoring system, Duke prognostic index, and HOMA-AD-index. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in the group with CAD+MetS (p < 0.001) and in CAD-MetS group (p < 0.01), compared to the control group. The HOMA-AD index showed statistically significant positive correlation with the key parameters of MetS, as well as with the parameters of CAD, number of CAD and modified Gensini score. After applying logistic regression analysis the best predictors for CAD were: adiponectin, blood pressure, HOMA-IR index, and HOMA-AD index. The cut-off values of adiponectin ≤1506.38 pg/mL, HOMA-IR index ≥3.91 and HOMA-AD index ≥0.67 were associated with a higher risk of CAD. CONCLUSION: Patients with CAD with or without MetS had low adiponectin levels and this hypoadiponectinemia indicates that AD and HOMA-AD index may be a useful marker for identifying patients at risk for CAD.

Adiponectin resistance parameter as a marker for high normal blood pres-sure and hypertension in patients with metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The different degrees of adiponectin/insulin sensitivity and dysfunctional adipose tissue lead to the development of hypertension (HT). This study aimed to determine adiponectin (AD) concentration in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and high-normal blood pressure or hypertension and to investigate the importance of Homeostatic Model Assessment-AD (HOMA-AD) index in assessing adiponectin/insulin resistance in hypertension. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 150 subjects divided into two groups: with MetS (and high-normal blood pressure, n =50; and HT, n =50), and controls without MetS (n =50). In all subjects, serum adiponectin concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and HOMA-AD index were calculated. RESULTS: The results showed that, compared to the control group, serum AD concentrations were significantly lower in patients with MetS and high-normal blood pressure (p =0.008), and the lowest in group MetS and HT (p =0.001). High AD levels and low HOMA-AD were significantly associated with decreased blood pressure values. In patients with MetS, the value of HOMA-AD≥1.13 was associated with a higher risk of developing high-normal blood pressure. Furthermore, the value of HOMA-AD≥2.63 was associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with hypertension, especially in the early stages of the disease. The serum AD levels and HOMA-AD index may be useful markers for identifying patients at risk for high-normal blood pressure and hypertension. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(1): 3-7.

Rare renal cell carcinoma metastasis to mandibular gingiva: A case report and literature review.

Metastatic lesions represent approximately 1% of all the intraoral lesions. They most commonly originate from lung and breast carcinomas, while the third most common source is the renal cell carcinoma. In this paper, we present the rare case of metastases of renal cell carcinoma in the mandibular gingiva of a 53-year-old male patient.

Extracranial meningiomas in the head-and-neck region: A 15 years' experience.

Meningiomas constitute a large group of tumors of the central nervous system, with the prevalence of 18%-20%. Extracranial localization of meningeomas could appear due to their extracranial origin or due to the spreading of intracranial meningeomas. In this paper, we present our 15 years' experience in the diagnosis and treatment of extra- and intracranial meningiomas invading the head-and-neck region. In the period from 2001 to 2016 at our clinic, there were five patients (three men and two women), with meningiomas of extracranial origin or meningiomas of intracranial origin, spreading into the head-and-neck region. All patients were surgically treated, with the addition of adjuvant radiation therapy in some of the cases. Postoperative and postirradiation complications were described as well.

Seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Vojvodina, Serbia.

The present cross-sectional serosurvey constitutes the first effort to describe the varicella zoster virus (VZV) seroepidemiology in Serbia. An age-stratified serum bank of 3570 residual samples collected between 2015 and 2016 in each of the seven districts of the Vojvodina Province was tested for IgG anti-VZV antibodies with an enzyme immunoassay. Results were standardised into common units according to the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) methodology. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to examine the relationships between standardised anti-VZV positivity or logarithmically transformed antibody titres and demographic features of study subjects. Seropositivity (85% overall) increased with age, in parallel with geometric mean titres. By the time of school entry, 68% of children were immune. The slower subsequent acquisition of immunity leaves epidemiologically relevant proportions of adolescents (7%), young adults (6%) and especially females of reproductive age (6%) prone to more severe forms of varicella. In the ongoing pre-vaccine era, natural infection provides a high level of collective immunity, with the highest VZV transmission in children of preschool age. The detected gaps in VZV immunity of the Serbian population support the adoption of the official recommendations for varicella immunisation of non-immune adolescents and young adults, including non-pregnant women of childbearing age.

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2014-16 in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Croatia.

Objectives: To determine antibiotic susceptibility of isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 573) and Haemophilus influenzae (n = 345) collected in 2014-16 from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Croatia. Methods: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints. Results: Among S. pneumoniae, susceptibility was generally lowest in Romania and Serbia and highest in Bulgaria. Rates of susceptibility to penicillin (CLSI oral or EUCAST) were 22.3% and 21.8% in Romania and Serbia respectively, 57% in Croatia and 86.6% in Bulgaria. Similarly, macrolide susceptibility using CLSI/EUCAST breakpoints was low in Romania and Serbia (∼28% and 34.5%, respectively), higher in Croatia (55.9%) and highest in Bulgaria (∼75%). Only fluoroquinolones were active against all isolates in all four countries. Susceptibility was higher and variability across countries less pronounced for H. influenzae. Susceptibility by CLSI criteria to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, azithromycin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and fluoroquinolones was ≥98% in all countries. Ampicillin susceptibility ranged from 85.3% in Romania to 100% in Bulgaria. Much greater variability was seen across breakpoints. Susceptibility to azithromycin and cefuroxime using CLSI criteria was ≥98% in all four countries, but was 0%-1% by EUCAST criteria. Conclusions: The variability in antimicrobial susceptibility using different breakpoints makes it difficult for clinicians to interpret antimicrobial resistance data, and efforts should be made to harmonize breakpoints. The variability found across the four neighbouring countries demonstrates the need to monitor and publish national and local resistance patterns. These findings provide information critical for the selection of appropriate antimicrobial agents for the treatment of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae.

ERK-regulated αB-crystallin induction by matrix detachment inhibits anoikis and promotes lung metastasis in vivo.

Evasion of extracellular matrix detachment-induced apoptosis ('anoikis') is a defining characteristic of metastatic tumor cells. The ability of metastatic carcinoma cells to survive matrix detachment and escape anoikis enables them to disseminate as viable circulating tumor cells and seed distant organs. Here we report that αB-crystallin, an antiapoptotic molecular chaperone implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse poor-prognosis solid tumors, is induced by matrix detachment and confers anoikis resistance. Specifically, we demonstrate that matrix detachment downregulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity and increases αB-crystallin protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Moreover, we show that ERK inhibition in adherent cancer cells mimics matrix detachment by increasing αB-crystallin protein and mRNA levels, whereas constitutive ERK activation suppresses αB-crystallin induction during matrix detachment. These findings indicate that ERK inhibition is both necessary and sufficient for αB-crystallin induction by matrix detachment. To examine the functional consequences of αB-crystallin induction in anoikis, we stably silenced αB-crystallin in two different metastatic carcinoma cell lines. Strikingly, silencing αB-crystallin increased matrix detachment-induced caspase activation and apoptosis but did not affect cell viability of adherent cancer cells. In addition, silencing αB-crystallin in metastatic carcinoma cells reduced the number of viable circulating tumor cells and inhibited lung metastasis in two orthotopic models, but had little or no effect on primary tumor growth. Taken together, our findings point to αB-crystallin as a novel regulator of anoikis resistance that is induced by matrix detachment-mediated suppression of ERK signaling and promotes lung metastasis. Our results also suggest that αB-crystallin represents a promising molecular target for antimetastatic therapies.

Quantification of cells expressing markers of proliferation and apoptosis in chronic tonsilitis.

During chronic tonsillitis, the relationship between proliferation and apoptosis of lymphocytes in tonsillar follicles can be disturbed, which gives rise to attenuation of tonsil immunocompetence and diminishing its contribution in systemic immunity. In this study, we have quantified the cells expressing the markers of proliferation and apoptosis in the follicles of the palatine tonsil. Six tonsils from patients aged 10-29 years with hypertrophic tonsillitis and five tonsils from patients aged 18-22 years with recurrent tonsillitis were studied. The sections of paraffin blocks of tonsillar tissue were stained by the immunohistochemical LSAB/HRP method with the utilisation of antibodies for: Ki-67 antigen-cell marker of proliferation; Bcl-2 and survivin anti-apoptotic factors and Fas/CD95, caspase-3 and Bax pro-apoptotic factors. The size of lymphoid follicles, i.e. mean follicle area and number of lymphoid follicle immunopositive cells per mm2 of a slice area, i.e. numerical areal density were determined by the quantitative image analysis. The localisation of Ki-67, Bcl-2, survivin, Fas/CD95, caspase-3 and Bax- immunopositive cells inside the palatine tonsil was similar in both types of tonsillitis. The number of Ki-67 immunopositive cells was significantly (p < 0.01) larger in the tonsils with hypertrophic tonsillitis (14681.4 ± 1460.5) in comparison to those with recurrent tonsillitis (12491.4 ± 2321.6), although the number of survivin and caspase-3 immunopositive cells was significantly (p < 0.05) larger in recurrent tonsillitis (survivin, 406.9 ± 98.4; caspase-3, 350.4 ± 119.4) when compared to those with hypertrophic tonsillitis (survivin, 117.4 ± 14.5; caspase-3, 210 ± 24). Our results show that the rate of the proliferation and apoptosis of follicular lymphocytes is different in various types of tonsillitis. This suggests that the immunological potential of the palatine tonsil varies in patients with hypertrophic and recurrent tonsillitis, which in practice poses a dilemma over the choice of conservative or surgical treatment.

Biocompatibility of new nanostructural materials based on active silicate systems and hydroxyapatite: in vitro and in vivo study.

AIM: To evaluate in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo inflammatory response to new nanostructural materials based on active calcium silicate systems (CS) and hydroxyapatite (HA-CS). METHODOLOGY: Cytotoxicity of eluates of new nanostructural noncommercial materials CS and HA-CS, and MTA (White MTA, Angelus(®) Soluções Odontológicas, Londrina, Brazil) as a control, were tested using the MTT assay on MRC-5 cells. Eluates of set materials were tested in 100% and 50% concentrations, 24 h, 7 days and 21 days post-elution. The pH values were determined for undiluted eluates of set materials. Polyethylene tubes containing the test materials (CS, HA-CS, MTA) were implanted in subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats. Histopathological examinations were conducted at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after the implantation. Data were statistically analyzed using three-way and one-way anova Tukey's post hoc test as well as Kruskall-Wallis test with Dunn's post hoc test at α = 0.05. RESULTS: All materials significantly reduced cell viability; especially when undiluted eluates were used (P < 0.001). After 24 h elution, cell viability was 10 ± 1.8%, 49.5 ± 4.2% and 61 ± 7.4%, for MTA, and HA-CS, respectively. However, CS and HA-CS were significantly less toxic than the control material MTA (P < 0.05). Cytotoxicity could be at least partially attributed to pH kinetics over time. Dilution of eluates of all tested materials resulted in better cell survival. Histopathological examination indicated similar inflammatory reaction, vascular congestion and connective tissue integrity associated with CS, HA-CS and MTA at each observation period (P > 0.05). The only significant difference was found for capsule thickness, that is thicker capsule was associated with HA-CS compared to MTA at 60 days (P = 0.0039). HA-CS induced moderately thick capsules (median score 3, score range 2-3), whereas MTA resulted in thin capsule formation (median score 2, score range 1-3). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and inflammatory response indicated better biocompatibility of CS and HA-CS, in comparison with MTA (White MTA, Angelus(®) Soluções Odontológicas, Londrina, Brazil).

Ultrafast X-ray Auger probing of photoexcited molecular dynamics.

Molecules can efficiently and selectively convert light energy into other degrees of freedom. Disentangling the underlying ultrafast motion of electrons and nuclei of the photoexcited molecule presents a challenge to current spectroscopic approaches. Here we explore the photoexcited dynamics of molecules by an interaction with an ultrafast X-ray pulse creating a highly localized core hole that decays via Auger emission. We discover that the Auger spectrum as a function of photoexcitation--X-ray-probe delay contains valuable information about the nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom from an element-specific point of view. For the nucleobase thymine, the oxygen Auger spectrum shifts towards high kinetic energies, resulting from a particular C-O bond stretch in the ππ* photoexcited state. A subsequent shift of the Auger spectrum towards lower kinetic energies displays the electronic relaxation of the initial photoexcited state within 200 fs. Ab-initio simulations reinforce our interpretation and indicate an electronic decay to the nπ* state.

On the possibility of enhanced multiple ionization near conical intersections.

Recent measurements of the transient laser-induced fragmentation of photoexcited 1,3-cyclohexadiene undergoing isomerization have seen that some of the fragments have higher velocity at the pump-probe delay corresponding to the time of passage through a conical intersection (Coln). (http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.3728) Here we explore several possible explanations related to the electronic and ionic structure of molecules in the vicinity of Colns and suggest some experimental tests that could illuminate the mechanism and ultimately control this behaviour.

New nanostructural biomaterials based on active silicate systems and hydroxyapatite: characterization and genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

AIM: To characterize and investigate the genotoxic effect of a new endodontic cement based on dicalcium- and tricalcium-silicate (CS) with hydroxyapatite (HA) on human lymphocytes. METHODOLOGY: Hydrothermal treatment was applied for synthesis of CS and HA. The final mixture HA-CS, with potential to be used in endodontic practice, is composed of CS (34%) and HA (66%). Human lymphocytes were incubated with HA, HA-CS and CS for 1 h, at 37 °C and 5% CO2. Cell viability was determined using the trypan blue exclusion assay. To evaluate the level of DNA damage comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis) was performed. For the statistical analysis anova and Duncan's Post Hoc Test were used. RESULTS: The SEM analysis indicated that CS consisted mostly of agglomerates of several micrometers in size, built up from smaller particles, with dimensions between 117 and 477 nm. This is promising because dimensions of agglomerates are not comparable with channels inside the cell membranes, whereas their nano-elements provide evident activity, important for faster setting of these mixtures compared to MTA. Values of DNA damage obtained in the comet assay indicated low genotoxic risk of the new endodontic materials. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly improved setting characteristics and low genotoxic risk of the new material support further research.

Ongoing mumps outbreak in Novi Sad, the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia, January to April 2012.

From 16 January to 30 April 2012, a total of 119 cases of mumps were notified in Novi Sad, Serbia. Of these cases, 89 (75%), were among students. The average age of cases was 22 years-old (range 3-37). The outbreak is still ongoing in Novi Sad and is spreading to other parts of the Vojvodina province. As of 30 April, 209 cases have been notified in the province among those 119 from Novi Sad.

Ultrafast ring opening in 1,3-cyclohexadiene investigated by simplex-based spectral unmixing.

We use spectral unmixing to determine the number of transient photoproducts and to track their evolution following the photo-excitation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) to form 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT) in the gas phase. The ring opening is initiated with a 266 nm ultraviolet laser pulse and probed via fragmentation with a delayed intense infrared 800 nm laser pulse. The ion time-of-flight (TOF) spectra are analyzed with a simplex-based spectral unmixing technique. We find that at least three independent spectra are needed to model the transient TOF spectra. Guided by mathematical and physical constraints, we decompose the transient TOF spectra into three spectra associated with the presence of CHD, CHD(+), and HT, and show how these three species appear at different times during the ring opening.

Three probable cases of cutaneous anthrax in autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia, June 2011.

Three probable cases of cutaneous anthrax were reported in June 2011 in the eastern part of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. All cases were involved in slaughtering of a heifer that died and was suspected to have had anthrax. In the same village, anthrax was confirmed in other animals.

The effect of supplementation of clove and agrimony or clove and lemon balm on growth performance, antioxidant status and selected indices of lipid profile of broiler chickens.

The study investigated the effects of diet supplementation with 1% clove flower buds powder combined with either 0.2% lemon balm extract or 0.2% agrimony extract (each of the two pulverized extracts supplied through drinking water) on body weight of broilers, total feed intake, feed conversion ratio and the carcass yield, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.9) in blood, concentration of sulfhydryl (-SH) groups, malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin A and E, low-density lipoproteins in the blood plasma, serum cholesterol, total lipids, triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins in broiler chickens at 42 days of age. On the day of hatching, 120 male and female broilers of Cobb 500 were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (1st group) of broilers received a basal diet (BD) without any feed and water additive. Both experimental groups of chicks were fed BD enriched with clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) powder at a dose of 10 g/kg DM for 42 days. Moreover, either lemon balm (Mellisa officinalis L.) extract or agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.) extract diluted with drinking water (2:1000) was given to broilers in the 2nd and 3rd group respectively. The results indicated that feeding the diets enriched with selected herbal supplements failed to affect the growth performance of broiler chickens at 42 days of age. In addition, this supplementation had no influence on the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, concentration of vitamin A and selected lipid metabolism indices. On the other hand, we observed beneficial effects on some indices of the antioxidant status (increased concentration of -SH groups and vitamin E, decreased concentration of MDA) in the blood of broilers in both experimental groups in comparison with the control group of chickens (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a slightly better antioxidant capacity was found in the blood of broilers supplied the combination of clove and lemon balm compared to clove and agrimony (vitamin E, 11.26 ± 0.73 vs. 9.73 ± 0.64 µmol/L, p < 0.05 respectively). It could be concluded that supplementation of the diet with clove flower buds powder combined with lemon balm extract or agrimony extract dissolved in drinking water has a potential to increase the antioxidant status but fails to influence either the growth performance or the selected lipid metabolism indices of broilers at the age of 42 days.

Considerations upon a case of synchronous primary malignancies: adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid and clear cell carcinoma of the right kidney.

Synchronous primary colon and renal cancer is a rare but real clinical entity reported with variable incidence. An 81-year-old man admitted for abdominal pain and melena is diagnosed with right colic tumor by colonoscopy and with simultaneous right kidney tumor by CT-scan. The patient is adequately prepared and scheduled for laparotomy. Both tumors are resected in the same surgical session with curative intent - right hemicolectomy and right radical nephrectomy. The patient recovered well and was discharged after 10 postoperative days. The microscopic examination indicated an adenocarcinoma in the sigmoid and a clear cell renal carcinoma in the kidney. Immunohistochemical staining did not find any compatibility between those tumors. The patient started chemotherapy and is under appropriate oncologic follow-up. Modern investigations allow detection of simultaneous malignancies making possible the planned simultaneous resection of both. Histopathologic examination will proof the diagnosis of primary different malignancies.

Ultraintense x-ray induced ionization, dissociation, and frustrated absorption in molecular nitrogen.

Sequential multiple photoionization of the prototypical molecule N2 is studied with femtosecond time resolution using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). A detailed picture of intense x-ray induced ionization and dissociation dynamics is revealed, including a molecular mechanism of frustrated absorption that suppresses the formation of high charge states at short pulse durations. The inverse scaling of the average target charge state with x-ray peak brightness has possible implications for single-pulse imaging applications.