Putting Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders within the Spectrum of Inflammatory Disorders Can Improve Classification and Diagnostics of These Disorders.

The spectrum, intensity, and overlap of symptoms between functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and other gastrointestinal disorders characterize patients with FGIDs, who are incredibly different in their backgrounds. An additional challenge with regard to the diagnosis of FGID and the applicability of a given treatment is the ongoing expansion of the risk factors believed to be connected to these disorders. Many cytokines and inflammatory cells have been found to cause the continuous existence of a low level of inflammation, which is thought to be a basic pathophysiological process. The idea of the gut-brain axis has been created to offer a basic framework for the complex interactions that occur between the nervous system and the intestinal functions, including the involvement of gut bacteria. In this review paper, we intend to promote the hypothesis that FGIDs should be seen through the perspective of the network of the neuroendocrine, immunological, metabolic, and microbiome pathways. This hypothesis arises from an increased understanding of chronic inflammation as a systemic disorder, that is omnipresent in chronic health conditions. A better understanding of inflammation's role in the pathogenesis of FGIDs can be achieved by clustering markers of inflammation with data indicating symptoms, comorbidities, and psycho-social factors. Finding subclasses among related entities of FGIDs may reduce patient heterogeneity and help clarify the pathophysiology of this disease to allow for better treatment.

THE HISTORY OF DENTAL MEDICINE IN OSIJEK.

Throughout history, Osijek and Slavonia were parts of numerous empires and states. In this paper, the authors depict dental health care of the inhabitants of Osijek and Slavonia throughout their history, since the ancient prehistoric times when dental medicine and medicine in general were 'in the hands' of gods and medicine men, throughout the period of the Roman Empire and Middle Ages, as well as the Turkish sovereignty, all the way to the modern era when Osijek and Slavonia became part of the Austrian Empire and many novelties were introduced in the society, among other things, and for those times, modern procedures of medicine and dental protection. Those were the true beginnings of medicine and dental protection. The authors illustrate the work of various 'dentists' who worked in Osijek, from military and town surgeons, barbers, and especially the work of doctors that needed to have formal school and specialist education after the reforms implemented in the 19th century. Thanks to the reforms of the Austrian, and later the Austrian-Hungarian authorities, the practice and work of people who were allowed to perform dental procedures started being regulated, prices were established, and punishments introduced for those who performed dental procedures without having the proper qualifications.

Effect of Metformin and Simvastatin in Inhibiting Proadipogenic Transcription Factors.

Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat in adipose tissue driven by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes through adipogenesis. Adipogenesis plays a key role in the development of obesity and related metabolic disorders, which makes it potential target for the therapeutic approach to obesity. An increasing number of studies confirm the pleiotropic action of the combined treatment with metformin and statins, suggesting their anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-adipogenic effect. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of different doses of metformin (MET) and simvastatin (SIM) on the expression of key transcription factors of adipogenesis. Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiation in adipogenic medium with sustained MET and SIM treatment to assess the effect on adipogenesis. Nine days after initiating adipogenesis, the cells were prepared for further experiments, including Oil Red O staining, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Treating the cells with the combination of MET and SIM slightly reduced the intensity of Oil Red O staining compared with the control group, and down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1C. In conclusion, the inhibitory effect of MET and SIM on adipocyte differentiation, as indicated by decreased lipid accumulation, appears to be mediated through the down-regulation of adipogenic transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding pro-tein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1C).

Lack of Relationships Between Serum Prolactin Concentrations and Classical Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Eastern Croatian Older Adults.

BACKGROUND Relationships between serum prolactin concentrations and various CV risk factors in older adults have rarely been assessed. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between serum prolactin concentrations and CV risk factors in older patients with multiple CV risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS This case-control study included 92 patients, 50-89 years old (median, 69 years), with multiple CV risk factors. We used data from general practice electronic health records and biochemical laboratory tests. Patients were divided according to categories of CV risk factors. RESULTS Serum prolactin concentrations were significantly higher in elderly people (£65 vs. >65) and in men (70.65±58.02 vs. 150.82±114.05 mIU/L), as well as in patients with lower renal function (156.70±127.23 vs. 72.53±37.25 mIU/L, the bottom vs. top quartile of creatinine clearance), higher serum homocysteine and TSH concentrations, and in those who used NSAID and statins. Parameters indicating chronic inflammation (CRP) and renal function decline (creatinine clearance) were significantly and independently correlated with increased serum prolactin concentrations in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS When assessing the relationships between prolactin and CV risk factors in older people with multiple CV risk factors, the effect of renal function decline and chronic inflammation should receive attention.