Assessment of gamma dose rates from terrestrial exposure in Serbia and Montenegro.

The gamma dose rates due to naturally occuring terrestrial radionuclides ((226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K) were calculated based on their activities in soil samples, determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. A total of 140 soil samples from 21 different regions of Serbia and Montenegro were collected. The gamma dose rates ranged from 7.

Thyroid peroxidase immunohistochemistry in differential diagnosis of thyroid tumors.

Thyroperoxidase (TPO) is a thyroid-specific enzyme expressed by differentiated thyroid cells. Initial immunohistochemical studies claimed that TPO expression, detected by the monoclonal antibody mAb 47, may be a potentially important diagnostic tool in differentiating malignant from benign lesions. However, some recent studies have failed to reproduce the earlier results, suggesting the limitations for TPO immunohistochemistry.

The efficacy of the thyroid peroxidase marker for distinguishing follicular thyroid carcinoma from follicular adenoma.

Aim: Expression of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in the thyroid gland tissue is well known as a sensitive marker of the thyroid malignancy. We have evaluated immunohistochemical assay of TPO for distinguishing follicular thyroid carcinoma from follicular adenoma.

Materials And Methods: Sections of formalin-fixed tissues obtained from 92 patients with thyroid tumors (52 follicular carcinomas and 40 follicular adenomas including the Hurthle cell type) were analyzed using a monoclonal antibody (TPO mAb 47) and the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex immunohistochemical technique.

Human carcinoma-associated and salivary mucins detected by anti-bovine submaxillary mucin antibodies.

Polyclonal rabbit anti-bovine submaxillary mucin antibodies, anti-BSM IgG, were analyzed by autoradiography and densitometry (after SDS electrophoresis and blotting), ELISA, and IRMA assays for reactivity against native antigen BSM, deglycosylated and desialylated BSM, and human salivary and carcinoma-associated mucins. Known human tumor marker CA19-9 antigen reacted with rabbit anti-BSM IgG under different conditions, either soluble or immobilized. As soluble antigen, in IRMA it reacted with anti-BSM antibodies used both as a catcher and a tracer, as well as in combination with monoclonal anti-CA19-9 antibodies as a catcher.

Gastrointestinal inflammation and the circulating IGF system in humans.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) have important anabolic functions in normal tissue growth, which in excess may lead to tumorigenesis. In the present study, circulating IGF-I, IGF-II and their binding proteins (IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-1) were determined in 92 adult patients with gastrointestinal inflammation (Crohn's disease, colitis ulcerosa, gastritis, duodenitis errosiva, gastrointestinal candidiasis, and rotaviral and adenoviral enteritis). Serum IGF concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, while IGFBP profiles and IGFBP proteolytic patterns were characterized by immunoblotting.

Galectin-3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background And Aim: To examine the relationship between galectin-3 and cell proliferation in thyroid tumor tissue. Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside binding protein, has recently been recognized as a promising molecular marker of thyroid malignancy, due to its high expression in thyroid carcinomas and absence from normal or benign thyroid tissue. However, its exact role in thyroid tumor biology is still unknown.

Galectin-3 expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma: relation to histomorphologic growth pattern, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroid invasion, and tumor size.

Background: Galectin-3 has been recently recognized as a promising presurgical marker of thyroid malignancy.

Methods: Galectin-3 expression was examined immunohistochemically in 202 specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in relation to histomorphologic subtypes and clinicopathologic data. RESULTS.

The involvement of the macrophage mannose receptor in the innate immune response to infection with parasite Trichinella spiralis.

The macrophage mannose receptor (MR) is a pattern recognition receptor of the innate immune system that binds to microbial structures bearing mannose, fucose and N-acetylglucosamine on their surface. The MR can mediate endocytosis and phagocytosis, as well as activation of macrophages and antigen presentation. Since Trichinella spiralis antigens are rich in oligomannose residues, we investigated whether a mannose-recognizing receptor, such as the MR, participated in the host-parasite interaction.

Anti-Trichinella antibodies detected in chronically infected horses by IFA and Western blot, but not by ELISA.

In the Balkan countries, where trichinellosis is a re-emerging zoonosis, it is of great importance to determine Trichinella infection prevalence among the major hosts, including horses. One method for monitoring prevalence is serological surveillance; however, the validity of serological methods in horses is not well understood. The dynamics of anti-Trichinella IgG production and circulating excretory/secretory (ES) antigens were investigated in three horses experimentally-infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Prediction of peak-to-background ratio in gamma-ray spectrometry using simplex optimized artificial neural network.

An artificial neural network (ANN) model was used for the prediction of peak-to-background ratio (PBR) as a function of measurement time in gamma-ray spectrometry. In order to make the ANN model with good predictive power, the ANN parameters were optimized simultaneously employing a variable-size simplex method. Most of the predicted and the experimental PBR values for eight radionuclides ((226)Ra, (238)U, (235)U, (40)K, (232)Th, (134)Cs, (137)Cs, and (7)Be) commonly detected in soil samples agreed to within +/-19.

Molecular forms and microheterogeneity of the oligosaccharide chains of pregnancy-associated CA125 antigen.

Background: The cancer antigen CA125 has a very complex molecular architecture in terms of both protein backbone and oligosaccharide chains. In this study, we examined the molecular forms and microheterogeneity of oligosaccharide chains of pregnancy-associated CA125, as a first step towards gaining an insight into its possible involvement as a ligand in carbohydrate-dependent interactions. The glycobiochemical properties of CA125 may be of diagnostic and biomedical importance as specific markers of physiological and pathological conditions of early pregnancy, as well as targets in different therapeutic procedures.

Glycosylation of urinary prostate-specific antigen in benign hyperplasia and cancer: assessment by lectin-binding patterns.

Objectives: In the present study, we examined the glycosylation of urinary prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) subjects, specifically looking at alterations in its oligosaccharide chain as a potential biomarker of these pathophysiological conditions.

Design And Methods: First morning urine voids were collected from subjects with PCa and BPH before initiation of any treatment. Urinary PSA was characterized by ion-exchange chromatography, followed by lectin affinity chromatography on the columns using immobilized plant lectins.

Insulin-like growth factors in patients with liver cysts.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play an important role in cell growth and differentiation, and the liver is the main source of IGFs and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) that appear in the circulation. The effect of liver cysts on the circulating IGF system was studied in this work. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and -II were measured by radioimmunoassay, IGFBP patterns were characterised by ligand-affinity and immunoblotting, and a lectin-binding assay was used to investigate the glyco component of IGFBP-3 complexes.

Circulating insulin-like growth factors in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori.

Objectives: The level of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins may change in acutely ill humans. The aim of this work was to examine the changes in the IGF system in patients suffering from infection induced by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Radiocesium accumulation in mosses from highlands of Serbia and Montenegro: chemical and physiological aspects.

The aim of this work was (i) to determine the activity levels of 137Cs in mosses from highland ecosystems of Serbia and Montenegro, (ii) to find out if radiocesium is associated with essential biomacromolecules, and (iii) to investigate 137Cs distribution among intracellular compartments. It was found that biomolecules of mosses do not bind significant amounts of radiocesium (2.3-3.

Expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human fetal thyroid gland.

High levels of expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3, the beta-galactoside-binding proteins, have been recently described in malignant thyroid tumors but not in adenomas nor in normal thyroid tissue. However, there are no data about the expression of these galectins during fetal thyroid development. In this study we analyzed immunohistochemically the presence of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human fetal thyroid glands (16-37 weeks of gestation).

Identification of human placental wheat germ agglutinin-immunoreactive protein by mass spectrometry.

A preparation of polyclonal antibodies to human placental calcium-dependent, carbohydrate-binding glycoprotein, previously identified as wheat germ agglutinin-immunoreactive protein, was applied as the ligand in an immunoaffinity procedure. Following electrophoretic separation of purified material, the specific 66-kDa antigen band was excised and subjected to in-gel protein cleavage. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of the tryptic digest yielded 42 isotopically resolved peptide fragments from mass 860 to 2,690.

Lectin-blot analyses of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory components.

The rapid recognition of invading pathogen polysaccharides by host lectins might have a significant role in the outcome of the infection. Oligosaccharide structures of the pathogens may provoke an antibody response and serve as a target for specific antibodies. It is well known that Trichinella spiralis antigens, either on the surface or excreted-secreted, are key modulators or targets of the host immune system.

Present status of trichinellosis in Yugoslavia: Serbia.

Trichinellosis was recognized almost one century ago as a health and animal husbandry problem in Serbia. In the last 10 years, trichinellosis has been expanding from three endemic regions (Srem, Macva and Negotinska Krajina) to neighbouring regions. The infection rate detected by veterinary inspection in 1999 year was 0.

Immunodiagnosis of Trichinella infection in the horse.

From 1998 to 2000, 5,267 horse sera were collected from several Trichinella regions in Romania. Sera were initially screened in laboratories in Romania, Serbia and Italy with an ELISA and a Western blot (Wb) using an excretory/secretory (ES) antigen and several conjugates (protein A, protein G, and sheep or goat anti-horse). Differences in serology results were obtained among the different conjugates and also between ELISA and Wb.

Galectin-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen expression in medullary thyroid carcinoma: possible relation to tumour progression.

Aims: Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside binding protein involved in multiple biological processes through interactions with complementary glycoconjugates. We analysed the expression and coexpression of galectin-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), one of the putative galectin-3 ligands, in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

Methods And Results: An immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies was performed on paraffin sections of 20 cases of sporadic MTC comprising 10 cases without and 10 cases with lymph node metastases at the time of surgery.

A specific wheat germ agglutinin-immunoreactive protein in human placenta.

In this study we examined human placenta for the presence of molecules antigenically related to a plant lectin, wheat germ agglutinin. The initial results of immunolocalization using polyclonal antibodies against wheat germ agglutinin showed that human placenta contains protein(s) recognized specifically. Staining of syncytiotrophoblast brush border and cytotrophoblast, granular in appearance was observed in first trimester human placenta.

Immunohistochemical localization of galectin-3 in malignant and benign human thyroid tissue.

Background: Galectin-3 is an endogenous beta-galactoside binding lectin with putative roles in development, immunomodulation, transformation and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to analyze galectin-3 expression in a series of human thyroid neoplastic lesions.

Methods: A total of 76 cases, including 47 specimens of thyroid malignancies, 14 follicular adenomas and 15 specimens of normal thyroid tissue, were analyzed immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody to galectin-3 and avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method.

Hypoosmotic swelling test for quality control of sperm prepared for assisted reproduction.

This study evaluates the clinical usefulness of one additional parameter for assessment of human sperm cell function in vitro--the hypoosmotic swelling test. The hypoosmotic swelling test evaluated the functional integrity of the sperm plasma membrane. The investigation included a comparison of the hypoosmotic swelling test in samples containing motile and immotile spermatozoa and their correlation with the intrauterine insemination outcome.