Association between FokI, ApaI and TaqI RFLP polymorphisms in VDR gene and Hashimoto's thyroiditis: preliminary data from female patients in Serbia.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most prevalent autoimmune thyroid disorder caused by an interaction between genes and environmental triggers. Intrathyroid lymphocytic infiltration may lead to progressive destruction of thyroid tissue and consequently to hypothyroidism. Many studies in different populations have shown association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and various autoimmune diseases, including HT.

Anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of zinc on rats and its impact on general behavioural parameters.

Background/aim: Zinc is an essential element which has considerable interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid A type receptors (GABA(A)) and glutamate receptors in the cen tral nervous system (CNS). It is believed that zinc acts as a potent inhibitor of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and binding to structurally specific site on the GABA(A) receptor leads to inhibition of GABA-dependent Cl-pass. The aim of our research was to test the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of zinc after single application and its influence on general behavioural parameters after repeated administration.

Anti-atherogenic effects of 17β-estradiol.

Estrogens are secreted primarily by the ovaries and placenta, by the testes in men and also produced by peripheral steroidogenic conversion. The 3 major naturally occurring estrogens are: 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone and estriol, of which E2 is the predominant and most active. The actions of E2 are mediated by at least 3 different receptors - the classical ERs (ERα and ERβ) and G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30).

Innovative approach to laser acupuncture therapy of acute obstruction in asthmatic children.

A prospective randomized study encompassed 100 patients with asthma in the stage of acute bronchial obstruction, 7 to 17 years of age, of both sexes and with the similar rate of attack severity. The patients were spirometrically monitored (FVC, FEV1, PEF and FEF 25-75%) by a pediatrician-pulmonologist for 12 days. Fifty patients were subjected to conservative drug therapy, whereas other 50 patients additionally underwent the Su Jok therapy according to the 6-Ki principles, applying laser ray at the acupuncture points in the hand.

[A historical review of the development of physical medicine and rehabilitation service in Vojvodina].

At the end of 1959, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was founded as a part of the Main Provincial Hospital in Novi Sad and it was located in the building built for that purpose in 1958. This institution specialized for rehabilitation was the first of its kind in the region of Vojvodina. Drilling of the first well in the area of today's Futoski park began in 1897.

[Kinesitherapy: one of the most important aspects of medical rehabilitation].

Introduction: Kinesitherapy, as a part of physical therapy, represents one of the most important aspects of medical rehabilitation. It involves movement of various parts of the body, or of the whole body, using exercises in order to maintain, establish, develop and change functions of the locomotor apparatus and organs of locomotion.

Aim: The aim of kinesitherapy is to use all potentials of the treated patients, to achieve optimal recovery of the damaged function of locomotion.

[Meteorotropism in children with cerebral palsy].

Introduction: Members of the Rehabilitation team and families of children with cerebral palsy are daily engaged in various activities with these children. Weather changes (the atmospheric pressure especially) on particular days, cause difficult performance of anticipated therapeutic exercises, occupational therapy, speech therapy, education, daily living etc. The aim of this study was to underline the possible connection between performing daily activities of children with cerebral palsy and weather changes.

[Backache in children].

Back ache is a rare phenomenon in children and adolescents, but it is always caused by serious pathologic changes. The aim of this study was to point to pediatricians to the importance of anamnesis and clinical examinations in making a diagnosis.

[Use of cyclosporin A for remission induction in newly-detected insulin-dependent diabetes].

It has been postulated that some of the recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetics, after the initial use of insulin therapy, might develop the "honey moon period", i.e., a spontaneous remission of the disease, defined as the state of normal metabolic control maintained without insulin therapy.

[Human fetal pancreatic islet transplantation in insulin-dependent diabetics: possibilities of early detection of transplant destruction].

The factors determining the outcome of human fetal islet transplantation in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) remain unclarified. In this study we analysed the ratio between immunoregulatory lymphocyte subpopulations in order to search for a possible marker of the immune destruction of transplanted islets. Human fetal islets were isolated by collagenase digestion, cultured for 14 days at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2, and implanted under fascia of m.

[Treatment of post-traumatic hemarthroses of the knee and ankle in children using transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation].

TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) was applied in 36 children with knee or ankle hemarthros. Pain was diminished after first or second treatment and completely disappeared at the end of the first or second day. Swelling usually disappeared in the interval between the third and seventh day.

[The effect of Hatha yoga on poor posture in children and the psychophysiologic condition in adults].

Hatha Yoga's effects on the posture of 15 ten year-old children and also its effects on the psychophysical condition of 15 grown-ups was studied. As symptoms, during the first examination, 12 of the 15 children had head protrusion, 14 had shortened back extensors, all 15 had bent shoulders, relaxation of the frontal abdominal wall and shortened flexors of both the calf and thigh. The condition of all the children was remarkably better after six months of practice, some of the symptoms having completely disappeared (head protrusion, asymmetry of the shoulders, mamillas and hips, shortening of the pectoralis and back extensors), 9 children still had slight to medium relaxation of the frontal abdominal wall, 8 children still had bent shoulders, and 1 child still had shortened calf and thigh extensors.