Different combinations of maternal and postnatal diet are reflected in changes of hepatic parenchyma and hepatic TNF-alpha expression in male rat offspring.

Obesity is related to increased TNF-alpha production in different tissues. TNF-alpha is connected to mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver and also development of fatty infiltration of the liver. Also, postnatal change from normal to high-fat diet causes a significant increase in TNF-alpha serum levels.

High-fat diet induced changes in lumbar vertebra of the male rat offsprings.

In obesity, bone marrow adiposity increases and proinflammatory cytokines excretion activates RANK/RANKL/OPG system, which leads to increased bone resorption. The aim of this study was to analyze trabecular and cortical bone parameters in animals exposed to the high-fat diet in utero and after lactation. Skeletal organ of interest was the fifth lumbar vertebra, which is not exposed to biomechanical loading in rats.

Hepatoprotective effects of Micromeria croatica ethanolic extract against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.

Background: Micromeria croatica (Pers.) Schott is an aromatic plant from Lamiaceae family previously found to possess potent in vitro antioxidant activity which is mainly attributed to the high level of polyphenolic substances. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity and possible underlying mechanisms of Micromeria croatica ethanolic extract (MC) using a model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in mice.

Myricitrin exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated mice.

Myricetin-3-O-α-rhamnoside (myricitrin) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound which possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to determine the hepatoprotective effects of myricitrin. Myricitrin at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg and silymarin at dose of 100mg/kg were administered to BALB/cN mice by oral gavage, once daily for two consecutive days following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxication.

Renoprotective mechanisms of chlorogenic acid in cisplatin-induced kidney injury.

The aim of this study was to investigate the renoprotective activity of chlorogenic acid (CA) in a murine model of cisplatin (CP)-induced kidney injury. Male BALB/cN mice were gavaged daily with CA at 3, 10 and 30mg/kg for two successive days, 48h after intraperitoneal injection of CP (13mg/kg). On the fifth day, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly increased in CP-intoxicated mice, which was recovered by CA.

Changes in dietary intake and body weight in lactating and non-lactating women: prospective study in northern coastal Croatia.

Postpartum weight retention is a risk factor for the development of midlife obesity. Since dietary intake and breastfeeding practice could be promoters of weight loss during postpartum, the objective of this study was to investigate their influence on weight retention during six months postpartum. The study sample consisted of 83 lactating and 76 non-lactating Croatian women who were examined at three measurement waves: at 1 month +/- 1 week, 3 months +/- 1 week and 6 months +/- 1 week postpartum.

Expression of the BMP-2, -4 and -7 and their antagonists gremlin, chordin, noggin and follistatin during ectopic osteogenesis.

Molecular network of the osteogenic BMPs and extracellular inhibitors maintains homeostasis of the skeletal tissues. It is important to determine relationship between BMP-2, -4 and -7 and their inhibitors: gremlin, follistatin, chordin and noggin, during normal osteogenesis. To determine their expression pattern we conducted investigation by inducing ectopic bone formation in rats.

Berberine exerts nephroprotective effect against cisplatin-induced kidney damage through inhibition of oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, autophagy and apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic activity of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine against cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Berberine was administered at daily doses of 1, 2 and 3 mg/kg by gavage for two successive days, 48 h after intraperitoneal CP injection (13 mg/kg). Mice were sacrificed 24 h after the last dose of berberine.

Luteolin ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice through inhibition of platinum accumulation, inflammation and apoptosis in the kidney.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flavone luteolin against cisplatin (CP)-induced kidney injury in mice. Luteolin at doses of 10mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally (ip) once daily for 3 days following single CP (10 or 20mg/kg) ip injection. Mice were sacrificed 24h after the last dose of luteolin.

Rosmarinic acid ameliorates acute liver damage and fibrogenesis in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural phenolic, in the treatment of acute liver toxicity. RA at 10, 25 and 50mg/kg was administered by gavage once daily for 2 consecutive days, 6h after CCl(4) intoxication. CCl(4) intoxication caused hepatic necrosis and increased serum ALT activity.

Differential hepatoprotective mechanisms of rutin and quercetin in CCl(4)-intoxicated BALB/cN mice.

Aim: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of quercetin-rutinoside (rutin) and its aglycone quercetin against CCl(4)-induced liver damage in mice.

Methods: BALB/cN mice were intraperitoneally administered rutin (10, 50, and 150 mg/kg) or quercetin (50 mg/kg) once daily for 5 consecutive days, followed by the intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4) in olive oil (2 mL/kg, 10% v/v). The animals were sacrificed 24 h later.

The influence of clinical and anthropometric parameters on the serum levels of the endothelin-1 in pregnant women and their newborns.

Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is major contributor to maternal death in developing countries. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstriction agent known and its serum levels are increased in PIH. Therefore it is important to elucidate maternal and neonatal factors which influence endothelin-1 serum levels.

Influence of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on myogenic transcriptional factors of denervated rat muscle.

The aim of this study was to determine whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBo2) treatment influences the expression of transcriptional myogenic factors in denervated rat's extensor digitorum longus muscle. Thus, expressing regulatory myogenic factors MyoD and myogenin were analyzed in denervated muscles (up to 30 days). Second group of denervated rats were afterwards treated with HBO2.

Hepatoregenerative role of bone morphogenetic protein-9.

Bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP-9) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily of cytokines, which regulate cell growth and differentiation during embryogenesis. Apart of that, the hypoglycemic potential of BMP-9 is of great interest. It has been confirmed that BMP-9, like insulin, improves glycemia in diabetic mice and regulates directional glucose metabolism in hepatocytes; therefore it is proposed to be a candidate hepatic insulin-sensitizing substance (HISS).

Vomiting as a reliable sign of concussion.

Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury, with headache being the most frequent symptom of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) (including dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination or difficulty balancing). Concussion may be caused by a blow to the head, or by acceleration forces without a direct impact. Often, MTBI occurs as the result of a sports injury.

Correlation of endothelin-1 mRNA expression and bone structure in advanced osteoarthritis.

Recent understandings of the vascular contribution of pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) mount new evidence of cross-talking between subchondral bone tissue and articular cartilage that might have a decisive role in a pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis (OA). These understandings include blood flow (or interstitial fluid) impairment in subchondral bone. With regard to the mentioned role of the vasculature, the absence of custom nourishing to articular cartilage, and established, vasoconstrictive role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) it was reasonable to assume that ET-1 has an inconvertible role in pathophysiology of OA.

Muscle loss in elderly.

Aging is associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and endurance. The aim of this study was to determinate age related changes in human muscles with different function and location in the body (vastus lateralis muscle and intercostal internus muscle). Our results suggest that age related muscle atrophy affect both human skeletal muscles.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the human psoas major muscle with regards to the body side and aging.

The aim of our study was to explore the age related changes of the fibre type composition of the human psoas major muscle. Moreover, we wanted to compare the fibre type composition of the left and right muscle. Muscle samples were collected from 15 young and 15 old males.

Bone quality assessment in individuals of different age, gender and body constitution.

The concept of bone quality describes the sets of the characteristics of the osseous tissue that influence bone strength. The aim was to explore the influence of anthropometric parameters and age on the parameters of the bone architecture and bone mineral properties in the lumbar vertebral bone of men and women. Vertebral bone samples underwent bone histomorphometry, bone densitometry and atomic absorption spectrometry.

How activity of inflammatory bowel disease influences bone loss.

Bone loss is a common problem for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to assess bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with IBD and to investigate the role of corticosteroid (CS) use and duration and activity of disease on BMD. Ninety-two patients (56 men and 36 women) with IBD, of whom 32 had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 60 had Crohn's disease (CD), underwent clinical assessment.

The effect of nutrition knowledge on dietary intake among Croatian university students.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes among university students. The students (264 males and 741 females) were asked to answer a validated General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire and to fulfil a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Gender, university status (freshmen, juniors, seniors) and eating arrangements (home, restaurants, self-cooking) were used as predictors of the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake.

Anthropometric parameters as predictors for iliopsoas muscle strength in healthy girls and in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

In this study iliopsoas muscle strength was measured by portable dynamometer and it was explored to what extent independent predictors (age, body weight, body height and body mass index) affect iliopsoas strength in healthy subjects and in subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The study population was consisted of 183 girls (90 healthy girls and 93 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis). Student t test analysis showed no differences in maximal voluntary isometric contraction between healthy girls and girls with scoliosis.

Age-related and gender-related differences between human vertebral and iliac crest bone--a histomorphometric study on the population of the Mediterranean Coast of Croatia.

In this study, osseous tissue was examined in normal adult population that has inhabited areas by the Croatian Adriatic Sea. The most of such studies have shown that women are prone to lose bone connectedness, while men are predisposed to be a stronger constitution and they start with greater bone mass, though. Bone samples from two different anatomic sites were analyzed.

Age- and region-dependent changes in human lumbar vertebral bone: a histomorphometric study.

Study Design: Histomorphometric evaluation of autopsy material.

Objectives: To explore region-dependent changes that occur with aging in trabecular and cortical bone of the human vertebral body.

Summary Of Background Data: Human vertebral bone is continuously subjected to external forces (loads) that promote changes in inner architecture.

Study of the healing process after transplantation of pasteurized bone grafts in rabbits.

Different bone allografts (pasteurized, autoclaved, and frozen) were compared based on their osteoinductive properties. Our primary purpose was to examine the biologic qualities of pasteurized allografts, as pasteurization inactivates most viruses transmitted by transplantation. Frozen, pasteurized, and autoclaved allografts were packed into a standard defect of rabbit ulna.