Biomonitoring findings for occupational lead exposure in battery and ceramic tile workers using biochemical markers, alkaline comet assay, and micronucleus test coupled with fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Manufacture of lead-containing products has long been associated with various health risks. To get an insight into the related genotoxic risks, we conducted a biomonitoring study in 50 exposed workers and 48 matched controls using a battery of endpoints that sensitively detect the extent of genome instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The levels of primary DNA damage were estimated with the alkaline comet assay, while cytogenetic abnormalities were determined with the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) cytome assay.

Streamlined downstream process for efficient and sustainable (Fab') antivenom preparation.

Background: Antivenoms are the only validated treatment against snakebite envenoming. Numerous drawbacks pertaining to their availability, safety and efficacy are becoming increasingly evident due to low sustainability of current productions. Technological innovation of procedures generating therapeutics of higher purity and better physicochemical characteristics at acceptable cost is necessary.

First recorded case of paramyxovirus infection introduced into a healthy snake collection in Croatia.

Background: In the present study, we describe the first paramyxovirus infection in a snake collection in Croatia caused by an introduction of new snakes that were not previously tested and didn't show any signs of disease.

Case Presentation: In less than a month after introduction into a healthy colony, new snakes began to show respiratory symptoms (i.e.

Influence of population diversity on neurovirulence potential of plaque purified L-Zagreb variants.

Background: Despite continuing research efforts, determinants of mumps virus virulence are still largely unknown. One of consequences of this is difficulty in striking a balance between efficacy and safety of live attenuated mumps vaccines. Among mumps vaccine strains associated with occurrence of postvaccinal aseptic meningitis is L-Zagreb, developed by further attenuation of vaccine strain L-3.

Structural and biochemical characterisation of VaF1, a P-IIIa fibrinogenolytic metalloproteinase from Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom.

A high molecular mass metalloproteinase with α-fibrinogenolytic activity, termed VaF1, was purified from nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes) venom. Subcutaneous injection of 9 μg of VaF1 did not induce bleeding in rats. Nevertheless, in vitro it degraded collagen IV, nidogen and fibronectin, components of the extracellular matrix, although with low efficacy and narrow specificity.

Accumulation of defective interfering viral particles in only a few passages in Vero cells attenuates mumps virus neurovirulence.

Immunization programs have implemented live attenuated mumps vaccines which reduced mumps incidence ≥97%. Some of the vaccine strains were abandoned due to unwanted side effects and the genetic marker of attenuation has not been identified so far. Our hypothesis was that non-infectious viral particles, in particular defective interfering particles (DIPs), contribute to neuroattenuation.

Replication of genetic susceptibility loci for testicular germ cell cancer in the Croatian population.

Genome-wide association studies in patients with testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCT) from Great Britain and the United States have identified six susceptibility loci in or near biologically plausible candidate genes. However, these loci have not been replicated in an independent European sample. We performed a genetic replication study of previously identified TGCT susceptibility loci in a Croatian case-control sample and performed additional analyses as concerning histological subtypes or tumor staging.

Management of complaints in blood establishments: thirteen years of experience at the Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine.

Background: The aim of the study is to present the results and experience in the management of complaints in a transfusion service in order to draw attention to the importance of this segment of quality management and to stimulate publication of other studies on the topic.

Materials And Methods: This study is based on data from the Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine obtained by analysis of complaints recorded during a 13-year period (1998-2010). The distribution of the types and frequencies of complaints is presented, along with the level of their justifiability and criticality.

Ammodytagin, a heterodimeric metalloproteinase from Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom with strong hemorrhagic activity.

Ammodytagin, a hemorrhagic Zn(2+)-dependent metalloproteinase from Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (Vaa) venom, is a glycosylated heterodimer of 108 kDa, as determined by MALDI mass spectrometry. Partial amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation and MS/MS analysis identified sequences belonging to metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains, which in addition to its heterodimeric nature allows classification into the P-IIIc group of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). Only few members of that group have been described so far.

Salivary and serum interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with leukoplakia and oral cancer.

Objectives: The aim of study was to compare salivary and serum concentrations of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in patients with oral leukoplakia, oral cancer and healthy controls.

Study Design: Eighty eight patients (28 with oral cancer, 29 leukoplakia, and 31 healthy controls) were included in this study. Cytokine concentrations were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunoassay.

Serotonin level and serotonin uptake in human platelets: a variable interrelation under marked physiological influences.

Background: Although it is known that platelet serotonin level (PSL) depends directly on platelet serotonin uptake (PSU) through the plasma membrane, reports on their interrelation are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to systematically explore the relationship between these two platelet serotonin parameters in large human population.

Methods: PSL and full-kinetics of PSU were determined on 318 blood donors (276 males, 42 females; 20-67 years).

Intraspecies variability in Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom related to its toxicity and immunogenic potential.

Vipera ammodytes is the most venomous European snake, whose venom has been used as antigen for immunization of antivenom-producing animals. Same as venom of any other snake, it is a complex mixture of proteins, peptides and other compounds which biochemical and pharmacological variability has been demonstrated at interspecies and intraspecies level. In this work we demonstrated intraspecific variability between 8 venom production batches using both the conventional and the new methodology.

Correlation between folate and vitamin B₁₂ and markers of DNA stability in healthy men: preliminary results.

The aim of this study was to find correlations between folate and vitamin B₁₂ on baseline damage in white blood cells and their association with smoking, alcohol consumption and ageing. Thirty-six healthy vitamin non-deficient male subjects were selected in a randomized study. Comet assay (SCGE) and micronucleus (MN) assay were used as biomarkers of DNA damage.

Platelet serotonin transporter (5HTt): physiological influences on kinetic characteristics in a large human population.

The present study had two goals: first, to give a detailed description of a reliable method for full kinetic analysis of serotonin transporter (5HTt) on the membrane of human platelets, and second, as a main issue, to report on physiological influences on kinetic characteristics of this transmembrane transport on a large population of healthy individuals. Full kinetic analyses of platelet serotonin uptake were performed on 334 blood donors of both sexes by the use of 14C-radioisotopic method, which was first optimized according to assumptions of enzyme kinetic analyses, with regard to platelet concentration, duration of uptake, concentration of substrate as well as important technical parameters (underpressure of filtration, blanks, incubating temperature, etc). Kinetic parameters of platelet serotonin uptake in the whole population were for V(max): 142 +/- 25.

Inventory management.

A critical aspect of blood transfusion is the timely provision of high quality blood products. This task remains a significant challenge for many blood services and blood systems reflecting the difficulty of balancing the recruitment of sufficient donors, the optimal utilization of the donor's gift, the increasing safety related restrictions on blood donation, a growing menu of specialized blood products and an ever-growing imperative to increase the efficiency of blood product provision from a cost perspective. As our industry now faces questions about our standard practices including whether or not the age of blood has a negative impact on recipients, it is timely to take a look at our collective inventory management practices.

Ammodytoxin content of Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom as a prognostic factor for venom immunogenicity.

Venoms are complex mixtures of proteins, peptides and other compounds whose biochemical and biological variability has been clearly demonstrated. These molecules have been used as antigens for immunization of anti-venom-producing animals (horses or sheep). Ammodytoxins (Atx) are potently neurotoxic compounds, and the most toxic compounds isolated so far from the Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (Vaa) venom.

ABO blood groups and genetic risk factors for thrombosis in Croatian population.

Aim: To assess the association between ABO blood group genotypes and genetic risk factors for thrombosis (FV Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutations) in the Croatian population and to determine whether genetic predisposition to thrombotic risk is higher in non-OO blood group genotypes than in OO blood group genotypes.

Methods: The study included 154 patients with thrombosis and 200 asymptomatic blood donors as a control group. Genotyping to 5 common alleles of ABO blood groups was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP).

Pre-fibrillar alpha-synuclein variants with impaired beta-structure increase neurotoxicity in Parkinson's disease models.

The relation of alpha-synuclein (alphaS) aggregation to Parkinson's disease (PD) has long been recognized, but the mechanism of toxicity, the pathogenic species and its molecular properties are yet to be identified. To obtain insight into the function different aggregated alphaS species have in neurotoxicity in vivo, we generated alphaS variants by a structure-based rational design. Biophysical analysis revealed that the alphaS mutants have a reduced fibrillization propensity, but form increased amounts of soluble oligomers.

The role of antibodies specific for toxic sPLA2s and haemorrhagins in neutralizing potential of antisera raised against Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom.

The contribution of antibodies directed against the two main toxic groups of proteins in the Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom, haemorrhagic metalloproteinases (H) and neurotoxic sPLA2s (Atxs), to the overall protective efficacy of the whole venom antisera was investigated. Using ELISA assays we established a high correlation between the protective efficacy of the whole venom antisera in mice and their anti-Atxs antibody content. As the haemorrhage is the prevailing toxic effect of the venom in human, the lack of correlation also with anti-H IgG content exposed that the mouse model might not be optimal to evaluate the neutralizing potential of the venom-specific antisera for human therapy.

Alcohol dependence and polymorphisms of serotonin-related genes: association studies.

Variations in 5HT-related genes contribute to the alterations of serotonergic neurotransmission, which is implicated in the etiopathology of alcoholism. In this preliminary study we have tested polymorphisms of genes involved in 5HT transport and turnover for their association with alcohol dependence. A case group of males with type 2 alcoholism (N=59) and a control group of healthy males (N=282), both of Croatian origin, were analyzed for the frequency distribution of polymorphisms in 5HT transporter (5HTT-VNTR2, 5HTT-LPR), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA-uVNTR) and B (MAOB-A/G) and tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1 A218C) and 2 (TPH2 G-703T) genes.

Platelet monoamine oxidase kinetics, alcoholism subtypes and cigarette smoking.

In trying to dissociate the effect of alcohol and tobacco use on platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, we compared the enzyme kinetics in controls (n = 66) and alcohol-dependent patients (n = 81), subdivided according to the severity of both, alcohol and tobacco use. Platelet MAO-B kinetics was measured spectrophotofluorimetrically in chronic alcohol intoxication and after 3 weeks abstinence. In alcoholic patients, an increased Michaelis-Menten constant (16%, p < 0.

Comparison of mouse and rabbit model for the assessment of strong PGM-containing oil-based adjuvants.

Peptidoglycan monomer (PGM) is an adjuvant active molecule with potential for use in human and veterinary vaccine. PGM's action is short-lived in mammals hence its effects might be limited. Novel PGM-containing oil-based formulations have been developed recently by incorporation of PGM into Montanide ISA720 and ISA206 adjuvants with the aim to prolong and improve immunostimulating activities of PGM.

Effectiveness of novel PGM-containing incomplete Seppic adjuvants in rabbits.

Peptidoglycan monomer (PGM) is adjuvant active molecule in experimental mice, although its adjuvanticity is much lower in comparison to potent adjuvants. The novel adjuvant formulations were developed by incorporation of PGM into Montanide ISA 206 and Montanide ISA 720 adjuvants, with the aim to enhance its adjuvanticity by protecting it from the fast degradation and metabolic clearance. Adjuvanticity of the novel adjuvant formulations was tested in rabbits for induction of protein-specific antibodies.