Biomedical subjects

Zeljko Romić

Publications and source records attributed to Zeljko Romić.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

In vivo study of propolis supplementation effects on antioxidative status and red blood cells.

In vivo study has been conducted on 47 healthy women and men in order to investigate whether daily intake of powdered propolis extract during 30 days has any influence on the following blood parameters: activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, concentration of plasma malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, uric acid, ferritin and transferrin, together with routine red blood cell parameters. The effect of daily propolis intake seems to be time and gender related. For the men test group after the initial 15 days of propolis treatment, 23.2% (p=0.005) decrease in concentration of malondialdehyde was observed. After 30 days of treatment, statistically significant (p=0.010) 20.9% increase in superoxide dismutase activity and change in some of the red blood cell parameters were detected. For the women test group, the propolis treatment did not induce a change in any of the measured parameters.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Evidence of an acute phase response in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), haematocrit (HCT) and platelet number (PLT) were quantified and compared with the acute phase proteins (APPs) in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis and healthy dogs. Both groups were treated with imidocarb dipropionate on the day of admission and both groups were monitored for all parameters on the admission day and on the first, second, third, fourth and seventh days in order to determine the presence of an acute phase reaction, to assess the diagnostic value of these markers in uncomplicated canine babesiosis and to evaluate the use of APPs in treatment monitoring. It was demonstrated that an acute phase response occurs in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis, with significant increases in the concentration of major acute phase proteins. The serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased daily after treatment and approached reference range values by the eighth day. PLT and haematocrit (HCT) increased daily after treatment and approached reference range values by the fourth day. WBC and haptoglobin increased after treatment and then decreased from the third and fourth days, respectively, to the eighth day. The diagnostic sensitivity of CRP, SAA and PLT was significantly higher compared to haptoglobin, ESR, HCT and the WBC count. CRP and SAA were of clinical use in monitoring the response to antibabesial treatment.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Serum concentration of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and its complications is still not clearly understood. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were determined in 105 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy subjects by means of plasma sequential spectrophotometer. Serum concentrations of zinc were significantly lower (median 0.82 vs. 11.22 micromol/L, p < 0.001) in patients with liver cirrhosis in comparison to controls. Serum concentrations of copper were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (median 21.56 vs. 13.09 micromol/L, p < 0.001) as well as manganese (2.50 vs. 0.02 micromol/L, p < 0.001). The concentration of magnesium was not significantly different between patients with liver cirrhosis and controls (0.94 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, p = 0.132). There were no differences in the concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium between male and female patients with liver cirrhosis. Only manganese concentration was significantly different between Child-Pugh groups (p = 0.036). Zinc concentration was significantly lower in patients with hepatic encephalopathy in comparison to cirrhotic patients without encephalopathy (0.54 vs. 0.96 micromol/L, p = 0.002). The correction of trace elements concentrations might have a beneficial effect on complications and maybe progression of liver cirrhosis. It would be recommendable to provide analysis of trace elements as a routine.

Ascites↗

PubMed2004

Antioxidants in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state accompanied by increased oxygen utilization, increased production of reactive oxygen species and consequentially measurable changes in antioxidative factors. Therefore, the activities of whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS) in serum and erythrocytes, and serum urate and transferrrin concentrations were determined in 70 women: 14 with newly diagnosed Graves' disease (group A); 28 with hyperthyroidism on therapy with methimazole (group B, divided into two subgroups, B1 and B2) and 28 healthy women (group C). In comparison with control group C, GPx activity was significantly decreased in all patient groups (p < 0.05), whereas SOD activity was significantly decreased in group A (p < 0.01) and significantly increased in group B (p < 0.01). In comparison with the control group, serum TAS activity was significantly decreased in group A, and erythrocyte TAS activity in all patient groups. Study results suggest that the impaired antioxidative factor balance leads to the development and presence of oxidative stress in women with hyperthyroidism. The severity of these alterations, considered contradictory by some authors, appears to depend on the use of therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Biochemical markers in acute coronary syndrome].

For many years, cardiac markers have been used to assist cardiologists in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular disease. At first, enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase have been used in diagnosing patients with chest pain in order to differentiate those with acute myocardial infarction. In the field of cardiac markers, emphasis is currently put on the use of protein markers such as myoglobin, and cardiac troponin T or I. Troponins are very highly cardiac specific and their concentration in blood increase only from four to six hours after the onset of chest pain. Today we obligatorily use two markers, the first being the early one (myoglobin, isoform of creatine kinase), which is very sensitive and shows up in the circulation one to two hours after myocardial damage. Confirmation of myocardial damage can be obtained by definite markers (troponin I or T), which are highly specific of myocardial damage.

Angina, Unstable↗

PubMed2004

[Inflammation markers in acute coronary syndrome].

Inflammation is a component of atherosclerotic plaque, but it is also a possible pathogenetic factor of acute coronary event responsible for coronary instability. Inflammatory markers are considered as new risk factors for atherosclerosis. Among others (C-reactive protein (CRP) is the best known marker of inflammatory response which is most frequently found in patients with acute myocardial infarction preceded by a period of instability. High values of inflammatory markers indicate poor prognosis after acute myocardial infarction. Therapy may lower the inflammatory component and the risk of coronary disease. Specific response of inflammatory marker during diagnostic and percutaneous coronary interventions indicates more severe coronary disease.

Angina, Unstable↗

PubMed2003

Paraoxonase activity and concentration of indicators of lipids status in the serum of cardiac patients.

In this research, we measured the activity of paraoxonase (basal and activated) enzyme, and components of lipid status components (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and Apo A I) in the serum of patients, undergoing bypass surgery. We also tested how the applied EKC affected changes of defined indicators. Measuring of all the given parameters was conducted prior to the operation, 90 minutes, 1.5 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours and 72 hours, on 29 patients (11 of them did undergo myocardium revascularization with the application of EKC, while the rest of them did not). Activity of paraoxonase (both basal and activated) changes significantly during the postoperative period, in relation to pre-operative values, p < 0.05. Total cholesterol concentration is reduced in both examined groups, regardless of the application of EKC. This trend is also accompanied by LDL cholesterol concentration. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol concentration during post-operative period does not indicate any significant statistical change in relation to pre-operative values, while we noticed difference with regard to EKC application, 90 minutes after surgery. This change of lipid status indicator is partly due to heparin, a stimulator of lipoprotein lipase that was applied during the surgery. Our conclusion is that lipid profile changes significantly after the bypass surgery, mostly regardless of the application of EKC.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia].

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was performed in 67 patients of both sexes aged 20 to 78 years with moderate hypercholesterolemia to investigate the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol--a mixture of aliphatic primary alcohols from rice (Oryza sp.). After a 8-week run-in period in which patients were placed on therapeutic lifestyle changes, in particular cholesterol-lowering diet, they were randomly assigned to receive policosanol 10 mg capsules or placebo capsules once daily with the evening meal for 8 weeks. During next 8 weeks those receiving policosanol during the first 8 weeks, received placebo and those taking placebo during the first 8 weeks, received policosanol. Total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, triglycerides, oxidized LDL, apoproteins A I and B and lipoprotein (a) as well as AST, ALT, GGT, CK, blood glucose and bilirubin were determined before the treatment, after the first part of the study i.e. after the first 8 weeks and at the end of the study, i.e after the second 8 weeks. Policosanol significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol and increased apoprotein A I but did not change plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, LDL-C, oxidized LDL, Lp (a) and apoproteinS. It was well tolerated, with no drug-related effects on safety parameters such as serum aminotransferases, blood glucose, bilirubin, and CK, neither did it cause any clinical adverse reactions.

Adult↗