Supplementation with Alpha-Tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease's Statin Therapy in Men.

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the control of lipid status by statins may help to stop the progression of NAFLD. We hypothesized that the addition of antioxidant vitamins C and E to atorvastatin therapy is associated with improved serum enzyme antioxidant status. NAFLD-related serum parameters and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, before and after 3 months of treatment, were determined in patients receiving atorvastatin alone or atorvastatin plus antioxidants.

The impact of vitamin C on the relationship among inflammation, lipid peroxidation and platelet activation during analgesic nephropathy in rats.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of paracetamol-induced renal damage. This study examines the relationship between 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and platelet activation as well as the relative contribution of the pro-inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in enhanced 8-iso-PGF2α biosynthesis, as a complementary onset during analgesic nephropathy induced by chronic treatment with paracetamol. The protective effects of vitamin C on the aforementioned settings are also investigated.

Sheep and goats as indicator animals for the circulation of CCHFV in the environment.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus, which causes a serious illness with case-fatality rates of up to 80% in humans. CCHFV is endemic in many countries of Africa, Asia and Southeastern Europe. Next to the countries with endemic areas, the distribution of CCHFV is unknown in Southeastern Europe.

Circulation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia revealed by screening of cattle sera using a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Background: There are only few assays available for the detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV)-specific antibodies in animals, and data about diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are incompletely documented for most of these tests. This is unfortunate since CCHFV antibodies in animals can be used as indicator for virus circulation in a geographic area and therewith potential risk of human exposure. This paper therefore reports on a novel ELISA for the detection of CCHFV-specific antibodies in cattle and on its application for testing ruminant sera from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

D-galactose induced inflammation lipid peroxidation and platelet activation in rats.

Background: To investigate events possibly related to the development of D-galactose induced senescence, we examined whether 8-iso PGF(2α) formation, a marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation is altered and whether its biosynthesis is associated with 11-dehydro-TXB(2) excretion rate, as a marker of in vivo platelet activation. In this setting, we also investigated the relationship between proinflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNF-α from one, and lipid peroxidation and platelet activation, from another aspect.

Methods And Results: Forty animals were divided, depending on treatment with d-galactose into: placebo and D-galactose treated rats.

Gaps in brucellosis eradication campaign in sheep and goats in Republic of Macedonia: lessons learned.

Aim: To identify why "test and slaughter policy" for eradication of brucellosis did not significantly reduce the prevalence in sheep and goats in Macedonia.

Method: Coverage of sampled vs expected number of sheep and goats, absolute number of positive animals, prevalence, frequency distribution, and classes of disease prevalence were retrospectively analyzed at the village level for 2004-2006. A comparative analysis of the disease prevalence in the investigated villages was also performed.