Distribution and age-related bioaccumulation of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in tissues of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and European catfish (Sylurus glanis) from the Busko Blato reservoir (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The purpose of this study was to quantify the bioaccumulation of Pb, Hg, Cd, and As in tissues of carp (Cyprinus carpio) and catfish (Silurus glanis) from Busko Blato in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Arsenic concentrations were below the Maximal Admissible Concentration (MAC) for Croatia and other countries. Mercury concentrations were below 1 mg kg(-1), but in most muscle samples of both species and all catfish liver samples, the values were higher than 0.5 mg kg(-1) (higher than the MAC for many countries including Croatia). Lead concentrations were higher than 1 mg kg(-1) (the MAC for Croatia) in most muscle samples; all kidney and most catfish liver samples also exceeded 1 mg kg(-1). Cadmium concentrations in all tissues, other than the gonads, were higher than 0.1 mg kg(-1) (MAC for Croatia), with the highest concentrations found in the kidneys. The only gender difference was found in carp, where a 68.4% higher concentration of As was found in the fry compared to the milt (P<0.05). Concentrations of all of the elements were higher in catfish compared to carp for most tissues. Significant correlations were found between all of the elements in the muscles and the liver of carp. In catfish, the muscles were the only tissue in which multiple correlations were found. Linear positive correlations with age and body mass were demonstrated for the concentrations of all heavy metals for all tissues except the gonads in both fish species. We concluded that significant heavy metal accumulation in carp and a catfish tissues correlates with age and body mass; bioaccumulation is species- and tissue-specific and is different for each element.

Impact of ovariectomy, high fat diet, and lifestyle modifications on oxidative/antioxidative status in the rat liver.

AIM: To estimate the impact of high fat diet and estrogen deficiency on the oxidative and antioxidative status in the liver of the ovariectomized rats, as well as the ameliorating effect of physical activity or consumption of functional food containing bioactive compounds with antioxidative properties on oxidative damage in the rat liver. METHODS: The study was conducted from November 2012 to April 2013. Liver oxidative damage was determined by lipid peroxidation levels expressed in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while liver antioxidative status was determined by catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content. Sixty-four female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: sham operated and ovariectomized rats that received either standard diet, high fat diet, or high fat diet supplemented with cereal selenized onion biscuits or high fat diet together with introduction of physical exercise of animals. RESULTS: High fat diet significantly increased TBARS content in the liver compared to standard diet (P=0.032, P=0.030). Furthermore, high fat diet decreased the activities of CAT, GR, and GST, as well as the content of GSH (P<0.050). GPx activity remained unchanged in all groups. Physical activity and consumption of cereal selenized onion biscuits showed protective effect through increased GR activity in sham operated rats (P=0.026, P=0.009), while in ovariectomized group CAT activity was increased (P=0.018) in rats that received cereal selenized onion biscuits. CONCLUSION: Feeding rats with high fat diet was accompanied by decreased antioxidative enzyme activities and increased lipid peroxidation. Bioactive compounds of cereal selenized onion biscuits showed potential to attenuate the adverse impact of high fat diet on antioxidative status.

Effects of high fat diet, ovariectomy, and physical activity on leptin receptor expression in rat brain and white fat tissue.

AIM: To evaluate in a rat animal model whether ovariectomy, high fat diet (HFD), and physical activity in the form of running affect leptin receptor (Ob-R) distribution in the brain and white fat tissue compared to sham (Sh) surgery, standard diet (StD), and sedentary conditions. METHODS: The study included 48 female laboratory Wistar rats (4 weeks old). Following eight weeks of feeding with standard or HFD, rats were subjected to either OVX or Sh surgery. After surgery, all animals continued StD or HFD for the next 10 weeks. During these 10 weeks, ovariectomy and Sh groups were subjected to physical activity or sedentary conditions. Free-floating immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were carried out to detect Ob-R in the brain and adipose tissue. RESULTS: StD-ovariectomy-sedentary group had a greater number of Ob-R positive neurons in lateral hypothalamic nuclei than StD-Sh-sedentary group. There was no difference in Ob-R positive neurons in arcuatus nuclei between all groups. Ob-R distribution in the barrel cortex was higher in HFD group than in StD group. Ob-R presence in perirenal and subcutaneous fat was decreased in StD-ovariectomy group. CONCLUSION: HFD and ovariectomy increased Ob-R distribution in lateral hypothalamic nuclei, but there was no effect on arcuatus nuclei. Our results are first to suggest that HFD, ovariectomy, and physical activity affect Ob-R distribution in the barrel cortex, which might be correlated with the role of Ob-R in election of food in rats.

Design and synthesis of some new 1,3,4-thiadiazines with coumarin moieties and their antioxidative and antifungal activity.

A series of newly disubstituted (compounds 4a,b) and trisubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazines 5a-l with various substituents was prepared utilizing different thiosemicarbazides and 3-α-bromoacetylcoumarins as starting compounds. The structures of the synthesized 1,3,4-thiadiazines are elucidated and confirmed utilizing the corresponding analytical and spectroscopic data. All of the new thiadiazine derivatives were tested for their antioxidant activity, employing different antioxidant assays (DPPH scavenging activity, iron chelating activity, power reducing activity). Compounds 5b, 5f, 5j and 4b were proven to be the best DPPH radical scavengers, while compounds 5h and 5j have shown the best iron chelating activity. Thiadiazine derivatives were also tested on their antifungal activity against four mycotoxicogenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus, Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides. The best antifungal against A. flavus was proven to be compound 5e, while compounds 4a and 5c were the best antifungals on A. ochraceus, and compound 5g showed the best antifungal activity on F. verticillioides.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of some new coumarinyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-ones.

A series of Schiff's bases (E)-N-2-aryliden-2-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yloxy)acetohydrazides 2a-l and N-(2-(substituted phenyl)-4-oxo-thiazolidin-3-yl)-2-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yloxy)acetamides 3a-l were synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant activity by the phosphomolybdenum method. Most of the Schiff's bases and thiazolidine-4-ones bearing two hydroxyl groups on the phenyl ring showed excellent antioxidant activity in comparison with ascorbic acid. Preliminary investigation on cytotoxic and antifungal activity was done on some representative samples.

Heavy metal distribution in tissues of six fish species included in human diet, inhabiting freshwaters of the Nature Park "Hutovo Blato" (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The aim of the study was to quantify heavy metal (mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic) concentration in tissues (muscles, liver, kidney, gills, and gonads) of six fish species (carp: Cyprinus carpio, tench: Tinca tinca, pumpkinseed: Lepomis gibosus, prussian carp: Carassius auratus gibelio, hasselquist: Salmo dentex, eel: Anguilla anguilla) from the freshwaters of the Nature Park Hutovo Blato, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and determine whether they are potentially harmful for human health if included in the diet. Fish were angled from the Svitava Lake in the second part of August of the year 2003, and fish tissues were stored at -18 degrees C until analysis. Heavy metal concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the Veterinary Institute Brno, Czech Republic, and expressed as mg.kg(-1) of wet tissue. Concentration of mercury, lead, and arsenic in most tissues of all analyzed fish types is lower than the maximal allowed concentration (MAC) in most countries. Cadmium concentration is also low in muscles and gonads, but kidney, liver, and gill concentrations exceed MAC value in most countries. Hasselquist, an endemic type for that region, differs from other fish types in the fact that it has very low cadmium concentration in liver and kidney, but the highest concentration of arsenic in most tissues, especially muscles. In muscles and gonads of all fish types analyzed, Pb is present in higher concentration than Cd, whereas in liver, gills, and particularly kidney, the situation is opposite, suggesting diverse metabolic pathways and unequal bioaccumulation of these two metals in different fish tissues. Although the region of the Nature Park Hutovo Blato in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an agricultural territory, the intensive agricultural activities in the neighboring regions already result in high cadmium concentration in inner organs of fish species analyzed. Therefore, fish types in the freshwaters of the Park may be included in the human diet, but without inner organs and gills (or the whole head).

Heavy metal concentration in fish tissues inhabiting waters of "Busko Blato" reservoir (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Heavy metals concentration (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, zinc and chromium) in tissues (muscles, liver, kidney and gonads) of Dalmatian barbelgudgeon, the nase, the souffie and brown trout, inhabiting waters of Busko Blato reservoir in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The meat of the tested fish sorts does not contain elevated concentration of most analyzed heavy metals with exception of lead (higher than MAC in Italy, Germany and Denmark) and mercury (in muscles of brown trout higher than MAC in most countries). The lowest level of all heavy metals is always detected in gonads, with higher values in fry compared to milt for copper, zinc, chromium and arsenic. The highest copper concentration is observed in the liver from the souffie which is suggested as a suitable biomonitor for copper intoxication. In muscles of all fish sorts, lead was always present in much higher concentration than cadmium, while in kidneys of most fish sorts, lead and cadmium concentrations were similar. We showed that bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in the fish sorts analyzed is tissue and sex dependent. Also, we concluded that the small water exchange in reversible shallow reservoir does not induce elevated concentration of heavy metals in fish tissues inhabiting Busko Blato.

Influence of instability and muscular weakness in ethiopathogenesis of hip fractures.

The aim of our study was to, in accordance with the presented theoretical presumptions, analyze the possible reasons for hip fractures of the older population in the north-eastern part of Croatia. A group of 2,696 persons (1,936 women and 760 men) with hip fractures has been analyzed during a 12 year period (from 1993. until 2005. year) in the Clinical Hospital Osijek. The date of admittance, age, gender and fracture location were recorded. In men, the incidence of total hip fracture number on the left side was greater 23.5% (p<0.01) compared to the right side, while in women this difference does not exist. Men have a greater incidence of trochanteric fractures than fractures of femoral neck on both sides, while in women this difference could be shown on the right side only. In women, a 30.5% (p<0.001) higher fracture incidence occurred in the winter compared to the summer. It has been concluded that in men the impaired neuromuscular function on the left body side caused the greater incidence of falls on this side. The more frequent multifragmental fractures of the trochanteric massive in men indicate the possible role of preserved pelvitrochanteric muscle tension in fracture characterization. Increased incidence of falls and fractures in the older female population can be interpreted with a more pronounced weakness of pelvitrochanteric muscles and consequent walking instability. Furthermore, a smaller incidence of hip fractures was noticed in the summer compared with winter. This is explained by a reduced exhaustion of pelvic muscles in summer (primarily pelvitrochanteric) and decrease in fall frequency.