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Biomedical subjects

Z Romić

Publications and source records attributed to Z Romić.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in vitamin E concentration after surgery and anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this randomized study was to examine changes in vitamin E concentration in female subjects (age 30-60, ASA I) after cholecystectomy and halothane (N = 16) or isoflurane (N = 16) anaesthesia. Vitamin E concentration was measured two days before, and then one, five and twenty-four hours and four days after surgery. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used for its determination. Simultaneously activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were determined. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: ANOVA, Tukay HSD test. The research has been accepted by the Drugs Committee of the Karlovac County Hospital. Preoperative vitamin E concentrations in the halothane group were 8.69 +/- 2.35 micrograms/L, median 8.67 micrograms/L and in the isoflurane group 9.43 +/- 2.4 micrograms/L, median 9.08 micrograms/L. Statistically lower vitamin E concentrations compared with preoperative values were noted one hour (P < 0.05), 5 hours (P < 0.01), 24 hours (P < 0.01), as well as 4 days (P < 0.01) after the operation. The lowest vitamin E concentrations were noted 24 hours after the operation with statistically insignificantly higher values in the isoflurane group (halothane group 5.98 +/- 2.08 micrograms/L, isoflurane group 6.58 +/- 1.51 micrograms/L). Analyzing enzyme (ALT, AST and GGT) pre- and postoperative values, no statistically significant differences between the investigated groups and during the time were observed. Statistically significant differences were found between individual measurement times, with no statistical significance of the differences between the halothane and isoflurane groups. It seems that neither the difference in halothane and isoflurane biotransformation nor their distinct effect on perfusion of some organs are the determining factors in post-operative changes in vitamin E concentration.

Anesthesia, General↗

Serum total, LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides related to age, gender and cigarette smoking in patients with first acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to examine relationships between total cholesterol, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and age, gender, and cigarette smoking in 190 patients (132 men and 58 women) aged 34-87 years with first AMI. The control group included 103 patients (57 men and 46 women) aged 29-90 years without a history of angina pectoris or AMI. High total cholesterol (over 5.2 mmol/L) was observed in 75% of patients with AMI vs. 48% of patients in the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with AMI had significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels than controls (p < 0.0001). HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower among patients with AMI than among the control group patients (p < 0.0001). Serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol is higher in patients with AMI up to 60 years old, but lower in patients older than 60 years. Women aged less than 50 years had significantly higher HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), lower LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), and lower total cholesterol (p < 0.05) than those over 50 years. Smokers with AMI who smoked over 20 cigarettes per day had significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels than the non-smokers (p < 0.05). These findings suggest important influences of hyperlipoproteinemia and cigarette smoking upon development of myocardial infarction, especially in younger patients.

Adult↗

Serum selenium concentration in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of the study was to investigate the serum selenium concentration in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 59 patients, 49 with liver cirrhosis and 10 with liver cirrhosis and coexistent hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as 202 healthy volunteers entered the study. In the patients with liver cirrhosis and in those with liver cirrhosis and coexistent hepatocellular carcinoma, serum selenium concentrations were significantly lower (39.28 +/- 13.99 and 42.00 +/- 10.59 g/L, respectively), when compared to the group of healthy volunteers (66. 79 +/- 9.13 g/L) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum selenium concentrations between the two patient groups. In the group of patients with liver cirrhosis positive correlation was found between serum selenium and albumin concentrations, and negative correlation between serum selenium and bilirubin (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was no correlation of serum selenium concentration with fibrinogen and prothrombin time. Results of the study suggested the possible important nutritive and protective role of selenium in the patients with liver cirrhosis and coexistent hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the potential need of selenium supplementation in these patients.

Aged↗

Haematologic values of Hyla rabbits fed different levels of by-product arising from the propagation of Pleurotus pulmonarius.

The nutritive influence of different levels of by-product arising from the propagation of the mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius on the red and white blood cell count of rabbits was studied in the course of fattening. The experiment was carried out on 4 groups of male Hyla rabbits, a control group (C) and 3 experimental groups (E1, E2, E3), with 15 rabbits per group. The control group was fed a standard fodder and the three experimental groups were fed the standard mix with 10%, 20% or 30% dried by-product added, respectively. At the end of the 9th week of the experiment, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, and the red blood cell (RBC) count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), haemoglobin, haematocrit, thrombocyte count, white blood cell (WBC) count and the differential WBC were determined. The different levels of byproduct interwoven by mycelium added to the feed did not change the RBC count but significantly increased the MCV, MCH, haemoglobin concentration and the haematocrit value. The different diets had no influence on either the WBC count or the differential WBC count, but the number of thrombocytes decreased significantly.

Animals↗

Nasopharyngeal cancer and blood selenium level.

A case-control study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was performed in Zagreb from 1989 until 1993. Blood selenium concentrations were determined in 34 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer and 47 normal subjects by means of the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The sera of nasopharyngeal cancer patients showed no significant differences in selenium values from the sera of normal individuals, but there were significant differences between patients with enlarged cancer (T4 stage) and normal individuals. The results suggest that lower blood selenium levels in this group of nasopharyngeal cancer patients may be a consequence of their disease, rather than the cause of the cancer.

Adult↗

A contribution to the world selenium map.

Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method was used to determine the serum selenium levels of 86 healthy individuals. Variations in age, sex, and geographically different urban regions of Yugoslavia were investigated. A group of 63 healthy children, ages 8-15 yr, were examined. Mean +/- standard deviation of the serum selenium concentration was 57 +/- 9 micrograms/L; age and geographic area had no effect on the Se status of children, but the difference between boys and girls was significant (P less than 0.05). A group of 23 men from Zagreb, ages 22-37 yr, were examined. The group was divided into three age subgroups and no difference was found among these groups. The mean Se concentration was 69 +/- 18 micrograms/L, and a statistically significant difference was found only between the group of adults and the group of children (P less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗

[The chemical war in Croatia].

During the present war against the Republic of Croatia, chemical weapons have been used by the Yugoslav Federal Army (YFA) against both civilians and Croatian Army soldiers. The use of irritants was suspected (Vukovar, Bogdanovci and Vinkovci, October-November, 1991; Solin in the Split area, September, 1991) and proved (Velika Gorica in the Zagreb area, September, 1991; Cakovec, November, 1991) in many cases. The use of psychochemical incapacitating agents (Bilje near Osijek, July, 1991), as well as of psychostimulants in YFA own soldiers (Zadar, August, 1991) has been suspected on clinical findings or laboratory tests. The use of acetylcholnesterase inhibitors was proved in one aggressor's diversion (Zadar, Krusevo, July, 1991). Phosphorus from projectiles and fuming boxes caused poisoning and skin burns due to incineration (Vukovar, November, 1991). YFA used the civilian's fear of chemical and biological weapons, throwing untoxic substances all over the Croatian territory. Great ecocide problems have occurred with massive industry devastation (Sisak, Osijek, October, 1991-January, 1992), with enumerous amounts of toxic substances released into the soil and river aquatoria.

Chemical Warfare↗