Lack of association between C282Y and H63D polymorphisms in the hemochromatosis gene and risk of multiple sclerosis: A meta-analysis.

Increasing evidence supports the potential role of iron metabolism in multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies examining the association between polymorphisms of the hemochromatosis gene () and susceptibility to MS have yielded inconsistent results. In the present study, a meta-analysis of 7 studies was performed conducted in populations of Caucasian origin using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis 3.

Hepcidin and metallothioneins as molecular base for sex-dependent differences in clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in chronic iron overload.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterised by inflammatory and degenerative changes. It is considered that disease arises from the influence of environmental factors on genetically susceptible individuals. Recent researches, using magnetic resonance imaging, connected iron deposits in different brain regions with demyelinating process in multiple sclerosis patients.

Chronic iron overload induces gender-dependent changes in iron homeostasis, lipid peroxidation and clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

To analyze iron- and gender-dependent mechanisms possibly involved in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in this study we evaluated the effects of iron overload (IO) on iron status and lipid peroxidation processes (LPO) in tissues of female and male DA rats during chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a well-established MS animal model. Rats were treated by iron sucrose (75mg/kg bw/day) or with saline solution during two weeks before the sensitization with bovine brain homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant. Clinical signs of EAE were monitored during 29 days.

Metallothionein I+II expression as an early sign of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins which have been implicated in various forms of stress providing cytoprotective action against oxidative injury, DNA damage and apoptosis. Owing to their high affinity for physiological metals, such as zinc and copper MTs are also critical components of regulatory proteins involved in cell growth and multiplication, as well as in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. To elucidate the role of MTs in the pathomechanisms of autoimmune CNS disorders we estimated the expression of MT I+II proteins and the content of free Zn ions in the brain, spinal cord and in the liver early in the course of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) pathogenesis, i.

Metallothioneins I/II expression in rat strains with genetically different susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Objectives: Compared to the Dark Agouti (DA), the Albino Oxford (AO) rat strain exhibits lower susceptibility to the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we investigated the potential contribution of the heavy metal-binding proteins metallothioneins (MTs) I/II to these effects.

Methods: Rats were immunized with bovine brain homogenate emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant or only with complete Freund's adjuvant.

Influence of a vertical subject on research in biomedicine and activities of The Cochrane Collaboration branch on medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward evidence-based medicine.

Aim: To investigate whether the introduction of a vertical subject on research in biomedicine and founding of The Cochrane Collaboration branch at the University of Split School of Medicine influenced students' knowledge and attitudes toward evidence-based medicine (EBM), including the use of research literature.

Methods: We used a 26-item questionnaire on EBM knowledge and attitudes to survey 1232 medical students of all study years in 3 medical schools in Croatia (Split, Rijeka, Osijek) and the Croatian-speaking medical school in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Results: Students from the University of Split School of Medicine who had been exposed to the vertical subject on research in biomedicine and activities of The Cochrane Collaboration at the school had better knowledge and more positive attitudes toward EBM.

Time-course expression of metallothioneins and tissue metals in chronic relapsing form of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

To elucidate the role of metallothioneins (MTs) in the pathomechanisms of autoimmune CNS disorders we estimated the expression of MTs I+II and the tissue concentrations of Zn²+ and Cu²+ in the brain, spinal cord (SC) and in the liver during the periods of attacks and remissions in chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE). Disease was induced in the genetically susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) rats by subcutaneous injection of bovine brain homogenate in CFA. Control rats were treated with CFA.

Analysis of the elective curriculum in undergraduate medical education in Croatia.

Context: Elective courses are a significant part of undergraduate medical education throughout the world, but the value provided by these courses and the reasons for choosing particular elective courses have not been studied extensively.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate medical and dental students' experiences of elective courses in undergraduate medical education in Croatia and to gather students' recommendations for the improvement of elective courses.

Methods: Medical and dental students studying under the Bologna curriculum were given a questionnaire in which they were asked for their opinions of elective courses and their suggestions as to how they might be improved.

The influence of pregnancy on development and course of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats: implications for multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which mainly affects young women during a reproductive period of life. Since, its symptoms might be significantly affected by pregnancy, in this study we investigated the development and kinetics of disease in the model of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE), induced in genetically susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) strain of rats. They were sensitized with bovine brain white matter homogenate (BBH) in complete Freund's adjuvant during the first, second or third week of pregnancy, and the disease scores were compared between treatment groups, and identically treated nongravid females.

Demographics and motives of medical school applicants in Croatia.

Background: According to data regarding number of physicians per 100,000 inhabitants, Croatia is below the European average. Under those circumstances, more attention needs to be devoted to Croatian medical schools and their applicants.

Aims: This study sought to investigate admission trends of applicants to Croatian medical schools, analyse their demographics and motives for medical school enrollment.

No association of CCR5delta32 gene mutation with multiple sclerosis in Croatian and Slovenian patients.

Several studies investigating the role of the CCR5delta32 mutation in multiple sclerosis (MS) have reported varied, often contradictory results. Therefore in the present study we have analysed whether the CCR5delta32 mutation is associated with the risk of/or disease process in Croatian and Slovene MS patients. Three hundred and twenty-five MS patients and 356 healthy controls were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction method.

Induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in a low-susceptible Albino Oxford rat strain by somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995.

Objective: The effect of the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 (octreotide; OCT) on the course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the relatively resistant Albino Oxford (AO) strain of rats was studied.

Methods: Animals were actively immunized with bovine brain homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant. OCT was given subcutaneously in the hind legs on days 7, 8 and 9 after immunization, at a dose of 3 x 5 microg/kg/day.