Galectin 3 rs4644 gene polymorphism is associated with metabolic traits in Serbian adolescent population.

Background: Among many genes which have been analyzed to understand obesity and related metabolic traits among children and adolescents, not many studies are conducted on LGALS3 gene, especially in population of children. A positive correlation of circulating galectin 3 serum levels with impaired blood glucose, high blood pressure and higher values of serum lipids and was found in general population. The aim was to investigate possible association of rs4644 with body mass index, glycaemia, and lipid profile in Serbian adolescents.

rs8177412 Polymorphism Modifies Risk of Upper Urothelial Tumors in Patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy.

Current data suggest that aristolochic acid (AA) exposure is a putative cause of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a chronic kidney disease strongly associated with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. The cellular metabolism of AA is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative distress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze individual, combined and cumulative effect of antioxidant gene polymorphisms ( rs6721961, rs1048290, rs1695, rs1138272, rs8177412 and rs1045642), as well as haplotypes with the risk for BEN development and associated urothelial cell carcinoma in 209 BEN patients and 140 controls from endemic areas.

Prevalence of five pharmacologically most important and allelic variants in the population from the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The enzymes of the cytochrome P450 superfamily play a critical role in phase I drug metabolism. Among them, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 are clinically important, as they can mediate severe toxicity, therapy failure, and increased susceptibility to cancer and other diseases caused by chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pharmacologically most important allelic variants of the and genes in the general population of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and to compare them with other populations.

Association of PRDM16 rs12409277 and CtBP2 rs1561589 gene polymorphisms with lipid profile of adolescents.

Introduction: Positive regulatory domain containing 16 (PRDM16) protein represents the key regulator of brown adipose tissue (BAT) development. It induces brown fat phenotype and represses white adipose tissue specific genes through the association with -terminal binding co-repressor proteins (CtBP1 and CtBP2). In healthy adults presence of BAT has been associated with lower glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

DNA extraction from aged skeletal samples for STR typing by capillary electrophoresis.

STR analysis of DNA extracted from skeletal samples can play an important role in the identification of missing persons. Here we present a method for the extraction of DNA from skeletal samples involving complete demineralization and digestion of the sample, followed by purification by silica binding. This method, together with the multiplex STR typing approach also presented, has proven highly successful in the recovery of DNA profiles from degraded, aged skeletal remains from a wide range of environmental contexts.

Forensic DNA databases in Western Balkan region: retrospectives, perspectives, and initiatives.

The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) recommended the establishment of forensic DNA databases and specific implementation and management legislations for all EU/ENFSI members. Therefore, forensic institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia launched a wide set of activities to support these recommendations. To assess the current state, a regional expert team completed detailed screening and investigation of the existing forensic DNA data repositories and associated legislation in these countries.

Y-chromosomal evidence of the cultural diffusion of agriculture in Southeast Europe.

The debate concerning the mechanisms underlying the prehistoric spread of farming to Southeast Europe is framed around the opposing roles of population movement and cultural diffusion. To investigate the possible involvement of local people during the transition of agriculture in the Balkans, we analysed patterns of Y-chromosome diversity in 1206 subjects from 17 population samples, mainly from Southeast Europe. Evidence from three Y-chromosome lineages, I-M423, E-V13 and J-M241, make it possible to distinguish between Holocene Mesolithic forager and subsequent Neolithic range expansions from the eastern Sahara and the Near East, respectively.