Showing papers by "University of Zagreb published in 1993"
TL;DR: The Harary index as mentioned in this paper is a topological index for the characterization of chemical graphs, derived from the reciprocal distance matrix and named the Harary Index in honor of Professor Frank Harary, has been introduced.
Abstract: A novel topological index for the characterization of chemical graphs, derived from the reciprocal distance matrix and named the Harary index in honor of Professor Frank Harary, has been introduced. The Harary index is not a unique molecular descriptor; the smallest pair of the alkane trees with identical Harary indices has been detected in the octane family. The use of the Harary index in the quantitative structure-property relationships is exemplified in modeling physical properties of the C2-C9 alkanes. In this application, the performance of the Harary index is comparable to the performance of the Wiener number.
359 citations
TL;DR: The program attempted to gain insight into the character and scope of problems of refugee families and to develop and implement a spectrum of interventions that would meet their specific psychological needs to prevent children's mental health problems.
182 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that antagonists of the NMDA receptor-channel complex abolish the PrionSc-induced neuronal injury in vitro, and display no influence on the synthesis and/or the processing of Prion Sc.
160 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the seasonal dynamics of net productivity in the Adriatic Sea and in the northern Gulf of Mexico is coherent with the dynamics of freshwater discharge from their major rivers, the Po River and the Mississippi River, respectively.
159 citations
TL;DR: Data obtained from the radial arteries suggest better myometrial perfusion in patients with natural cycles, and the presence of better uterine receptivity during the periovulatory phase of natural cycles compared with induced ovarian cycles.
131 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that there is a stimulation of intranuclear DAG production, possibly through the activation of an inositide cycle during cell proliferation in vivo.
Abstract: Highly purified nuclei were prepared from livers and kidneys of rats undergoing compensatory hepatic or renal growth, the former being predominantly by cellular proliferation, and the latter mostly by cellular enlargement. In liver, an increase in nuclear diacylglycerol (DAG) concentration occurred between 16 and 30 h, peaking at around 20 h. At the peak of nuclear DAG production a specific translocation of protein kinase C to the nucleus could be detected; no such changes occurred in kidney. There was no detectable change in whole-cell DAG levels in liver, and the increase in DAG was only measurable in nuclei freed of their nuclear membrane. Overall, these results suggest that there is a stimulation of intranuclear DAG production, possibly through the activation of an inositide cycle [Divecha, Banfic and Irvine (1991) EMBO J. 10, 3207-3214] during cell proliferation in vivo.
116 citations
TL;DR: It can be concluded that this study suggests that mean serum cholesterol is the major risk factor in explaining cross-cultural differences in CHD.
Abstract: Sixteen cohorts of men aged 40-59 years at entry were examined with the measurement of some risk factors and then followed-up for mortality and causes of death for 25 years. These cohorts were located in the USA (1 cohort), Finland (2), the Netherlands (1), Italy (3), the former Yugoslavia (5), Greece (2), and Japan (2), and included a total of 12,763 subjects. Large differences in age-adjusted coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates were found, with extremes of 45 per 1000 in 25 years in Tanushimaru, Japan, to 288 per 1000 in 25 years in East Finland. In general, higher rates were found in the US and Northern European cohorts as compared to the Southern European and Japanese cohorts. However, during the last 10 years of follow-up large increases of CHD death rates were found in some Yugoslavian areas. Out of 5 measured entry characteristics treated as age-adjusted levels (serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, body mass index and physical activity at work), only serum cholesterol was significant in explaining cohort differences in CHD death rates. Over 50% of the variance in CHD death rates in 25 years was accounted for by the difference in mean serum cholesterol. This association tended to decline with increasing length of follow-up, but this was due to the great changes in mean serum cholesterol in the two Yugoslavian cohorts of Velika Krsna and Zrenjanin. When these two cohorts were excluded the association increased with time. Changes in mean serum cholesterol between year 0 and 10 helped in explaining differences in CHD death rates from year 10 onward. It can be concluded that this study suggests that mean serum cholesterol is the major risk factor in explaining cross-cultural differences in CHD.
96 citations
TL;DR: BPC, as a possible endogenous free radical scavenger and organoprotection mediator, could be a useful prototype of a new class of drugs, organoprotsective agents.
Abstract: The possibility that the stomach, affected by general stress, might initiate a counter-response has not until recently been considered in theories of stress. We suggest that the stomach, as the most sensitive part of the gastrointestinal tract and the largest neuroendocrine organ in the body, is crucial for the initiation of a full stress response against all noxious stress pathology. The end result would be a strong protection of all organs invaded by 'stress'. Consistent with this assumption, this coping response is best explained in terms of 'organoprotection'. Endogenous organoprotectors (eg prostaglandins, somatostatin, dopamine) are proposed as mediators. Such an endogenous counteraction could even be afforded by their suitable application. A new gastric juice peptide, M(r) 40,000, named BPC, was recently isolated. Herein, a 15 amino acid fragment (BPC 157), thought to be essential for its activity, has been fully characterized and investigated. As has been demonstrated for many organoprotective agents using different models of various tissue lesions, despite the poorly understood final mechanism, practically all organ systems appear to benefit from BPC activity. These effects have been achieved in many species using very low dosages (mostly microgram and ng/kg range) after ip, ig, and intramucosal (local) application. The effect was apparent already after one application. Long lasting activity was also demonstrated. BPC was highly effective when applied simultaneously with noxious agents or in already pathological, as well as chronical, conditions. Therefore, it seems that BPC treatment does not share any of the so far known limitations for 'conventional organoprotectors'. No influence on different basal parameters and no toxicity were observed. These findings provide a breakthrough in stress theory. BPC, as a possible endogenous free radical scavenger and organoprotection mediator, could be a useful prototype of a new class of drugs, organoprotective agents.
95 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of the adnexal tumor vascularization with transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler sonography showed that peripheral and pericystical location with single vessel displayed and resistance index above 0.40 were highly associated with benign ovarian lesions and vascular arrangement and location are important for accurate discrimination of benign from malignant ovarian lesions.
90 citations
TL;DR: Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography can depict endometrial carcinoma, even in asymptomatic women, determine the depth of myometrial invasion, and help in tumor staging.
84 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that for any integer n, there is an infinite number of sets of four natural numbers with Diophantus' property D(e2) of order n, and that such a set can be extended to a set {a, b, c, d} with the same property, if b is not a perfect square.
Abstract: Greek mathematician Diophantus of Alexandria noted that the numbers 1 16 , 33 16 , 68 16 and 105 16 have the property that the product of any two of them when increased by 1 is a square of a rational number. Let n be an integer. We say the set of natural numbers {a1, a2, . . . , am} has the property of Diophantus of order n, in brief D(n), if for all i, j = 1, 2, . . . ,m, i 6= j, the following holds: ai · aj + n = bij , where bij is an integer. The first set of four natural numbers with property D(1) was found by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat (1601 1665). That set is {1, 3, 8, 120}. Davenport and Baker [3] show that a fifth integer r cannot be added to that set and maintain the same property unless r = 0. For the rational number r = 777480 8288641 the product of any two different members of that set increased by 1 is the square of a rational number (see [1]). In this paper we consider some problems of existence of sets of four natural numbers with property D(n), for any integer n. We prove that, for all e ∈ Z, there exist infinite numbers of sets of four natural numbers with property D(e2). Indeed, we show how a set {a, b} with property D(e2) can be extended to a set {a, b, c, d} with the same property, if a · b is not a perfect square. That construction is applied to the identities
TL;DR: Alterations in the main parameters of the immune system and depression of important immune effector functions may have resulted from the psychological stress, physical deprivation, and malnutrition experienced by these war camp prisoners during their detainment.
Abstract: Objective. —To assess immune reactivity in men just released from a war prisoner camp. Participants. —Random sample of 29 men from a group of 764 liberated detainees in war prisoner camp in Bosnia, 15 matched healthy control subjects, and prewar historical control subjects. Main Outcome Measures. —Report on immune reactivity parameters, such as lymphocyte immunophenotypes, natural killer cell and phagocyte function, serum cytokines, and hormones. Results. —Compared with control subjects, detainees had significantly lowered red blood cell count, hemoglobin mass concentration, hematocrit, total serum proteins, and albumin level, while the percentage and count of monocytes and nonsegmented neutrophils were increased. Flow cytometry revealed a significant increase in percentage of activated lymphocytes, activated T lymphocytes, Tc/s lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and total HLA-DR lymphocytes. The absolute counts of activated lymphocytes and activated T lymphocytes were also significantly increased. The percentages of naive Th/i lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4:CD8 lymphocytes were decreased. The in vitro natural killer cell cytotoxic activity and phagocytic functions of ingestion and digestion were significantly depressed. Serum interferon, serum cortisol, and prolactin were also significantly lowered. Serum tumor necrosis factor was increased. Conclusions. —Alterations in the main parameters of the immune system and depression of important immune effector functions may have resulted from the psychological stress, physical deprivation, and malnutrition experienced by these war camp prisoners during their detainment. (JAMA. 1993;270:595-599)
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is shown that PGE is not effective for prophylaxis of oral mucositis in BMT recipients and the incidence of HSV infection was significantly higher in patients receiving PGE.
Abstract: Between October 1988 and December 1990, 60 patients with leukaemia (25 with AML, 19 ALL and 16 CML) undergoing BMT were randomised in a double-blind clinical trial to receive prostaglandin E2 (PGE) (Prostin E2, 0.5 mg per tablet) or placebo for prophylaxis of oral mucositis. Patients had to dissolve tablets in the mouth three times daily starting 7 days before BMT and continuing until 21 days after BMT. The incidence of severe oral mucositis was similar for both groups, 55% in patients receiving PGE and 52% in patients receiving placebo. The duration of severe mucositis did not differ between PGE and placebo groups (chi-square 0.95, p = NS). The incidence of HSV infection was significantly higher in patients receiving PGE. Patients with HSV infection receiving PGE also had a higher incidence of severe oral mucositis. The results presented indicate that PGE is not effective for prophylaxis of oral mucositis in BMT recipients.
TL;DR: Canine parvovirus 2 antibodies were the most frequently found antibodies and the only antibody common to both groups of bears, and may be the first report of antibodies to CPV-2 in bears.
Abstract: Sera from 22 (13 wild and nine captive) European brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Croatia were tested to 18 viral and rickettsial agents. Serologic evidence of exposure was found to the following agents (number positive/number examined): Bhanja virus (3/15), Tahyna virus (3/15), West Nile virus (4/15), Naples sandfly fever virus (1/15), human adenovirus (1/22), influenza A (1/22) and B (1/22) virus, cytomegalovirus (1/22), parainfluenza virus 1 (2/22), Chlamydia psittaci (1/22), Coxiella burnetii (2/22), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) (7/22). Evidence of exposure to arboviruses was found exclusively among free-living bears. Evidence of exposure to agents usually transmitted directly was predominant among captive bears. Canine parvovirus 2 antibodies were the most frequently found antibodies and the only antibody common to both groups of bears. This may be the first report of antibodies to CPV-2 in bears.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the relatively short Cenomanian-Turonian drowning event, which temporarily submerged the Adriatic carbonate platform below the euphotic zone, and which is related here to the well known global CENomanian -Turonian sea-level highstand.
Abstract: The Adriatic carbonate platform existed throughout most of the Mesozoic as an isolated (‘intraoceanic’) carbonate platform. It is characterized by what has been traditionally labelled a ‘continuous’ shallow marine carbonate sedimentation, without terrigenous influences. However, global sea-level changes left unequivocal imprints in the ‘continuous’ carbonate record, thus proving that the carbonate platform sensitively responded to sea-level fluctuations. This paper focuses on the relatively short Cenomanian — Turonian drowning event, which temporarily submerged the platform below the euphotic zone, and which is related here to the well known global Cenomanian — Turonian sea-level highstand. This drowning episode is characterized by the abrupt disappearance of numerous shallow water benthic invertebrate taxa and by an abundant occurrence of planktonic organisms, including calcispheres and ‘primitive’ planktonic foraminifera. Near the middle of the Turonian, the platform regime was re-established, correlating with the global fall in sea level. The situation is different only at the south-west margin of the platform, where pelagic sedimentation, initiated near the end of the Cenomanian, continues into the Santonian and probably marks the Adriatic trough. The drowning began earlier (in the Middle Cenomanian) in those areas nearer to the north-east margin of the platform (the area of what is today central Croatia) and then progressed gradually towards the more interior areas of the platform (the middle Dalmatian islands), which were drowned near the end of the Cenomanian.
TL;DR: The hepatoprotective effects of a newly synthesized 15 amino acid fragment code named BPC 157 significantly prevented the development of liver necrosis or fatty changes in rats subjected to 24 h bile duct + hepatic artery ligation, 48 h-restraint stress and CCl4 administration.
TL;DR: In this article, chemical and structural properties of the rust formed by corrosion of steel in aqueous solutions were studied by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.
Abstract: Chemical and structural properties of the rust formed by corrosion of steel in aqueous solutions were studied by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The corrosion products of steel were generated in aqueous solutions of different electrolyte compositions at room temperature (20 °C) or in an autoclave at 120 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of different oxide phases in the rust, such as lepidocrocite, magnetite, ferrihydrite, goethite and haematite. In all samples, the presence of an amorphous fraction was detected. Ferrihydrite was detected only in the rust samples formed at 120 °C, The characteristic properties of the FT-IR spectrum of the ferrihydrite component in the rust were investigated. Phase compositions of the corrosion products depended on the formation temperature and the electrolyte composition of the aqueous solutions. The influence of chloride, nitrate or sulphate anions on the phase composition of the rust is discussed.
TL;DR: Concentrations of parent pesticide and corresponding diethylphosphorus metabolites in blood serum and urine were investigated in persons who had ingested a concentrated solution of organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos and confirmed that part of chlorp Pyrifos was hydrolysed before its oxidation.
TL;DR: The early cytoarchitectonic specialization and area‐specific differentiation of the prospective entorhinal cortex were studied in the postmortem human fetal brains and revealed the concomitant appearance of a one‐cell‐thick layer (monolayer) at the interface between the cortical plate and the marginal zone and multilaminated spread of the deep part of the cortex plate.
Abstract: The early cytoarchitectonic specialization and area-specific differentiation of the prospective entorhinal cortex were studied in the postmortem human fetal brains (9.5-13.5 postovulatory weeks). At 10 weeks, using the Golgi method, we saw the appearance of area-specific large neurons (promoter neurons) with widely bifurcating apical dendrites situated at the outer margin of the cortical plate of the prospective entorhinal cortex. The analysis of the serial Nissl-stained sections revealed the concomitant appearance of a one-cell-thick layer (monolayer) at the interface between the cortical plate and the marginal zone and multilaminated spread of the deep part of the cortical plate. This is the earliest sign of area-specific cytoarchitectonic differentiation of all pallial regions characterized by the presence of the typical cortical plate. The first subareal differentiation within the entorhinal cortex begins at 13 postovulatory weeks with uneven development of fiber-rich lamina dissecans, which separates two cellular laminae principals (externa and interna), and with the appearance of characteristic cell islands of the prospective layer II. At rostral levels, cell islands begin to develop in the rostromedial entorhinal area at the subpial depths where large promoter neurons reside. At intermediate levels, both lamina dissecans and lamina principalis interna are well delineated. At caudal levels, lamina principalis interna is continuous with the upper subplate zone of the adjacent neocortex. Both area-specific neurons (promoters) and fiber-rich (afferent) strata develop synchronously during the earliest areal differentiation of the cerebral cortex. The precocious lamination of the cortical plate is the crucial event in the histogenesis of the entorhinal cortex.
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of ball milling on zeolite A, X, and synthetic mordenite was analyzed using X-ray diffractometry, FT i.r. analysis, cation exchange capacity and solubility.
TL;DR: There was a strong correlation between serovar implicated by this survey and serovars previously isolated from small mammals in Croatia.
Abstract: From 1981 to 1991, sera of 42 European brown bears (Ursus arctos) from three areas in Croatia were tested for antibodies against 12 Leptospira interrogans serovars: grippotyphosa, sejroe, australis, pomona, canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae, tarassovi, saxkoebing, ballum, bataviae, poi, and hardjo. Diagnostic levels of antibody were found in 17 (40%) of 42 sera. Evidence of exposure to at least one of the serovars was found in seven of 14 free-ranging bears from the Lika region, four of 12 free-ranging bears from the Gorski Kotar region, zero of six orphaned cubs from the Gorski Kotar region, and six of 10 captive bears from the Zagreb Zoo. Based on the antibody titers, we implicated the following serovars: australis in five bears, sejroe in two bears, canicola in one bear, and icterohaemorrhagiae in one bear. There was a strong correlation between serovars implicated by this survey and serovars previously isolated from small mammals in Croatia.
TL;DR: A reduction in pulmonary diffusing capacity is observed in parallel with the appearance of venous bubbles detected by precordial Doppler, suggesting that bubbles cause pulmonary microembolization, triggering a complex sequence of events that remains to be resolved.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether venous gas embolism after a single air dive, evaluated using precordial Doppler monitoring, was associated with alterations in spirometry, lung volumes, arterial blood gases, or pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Postdive time course monitoring of pulmonary function was undertaken in 10 professional divers exposed to absolute air pressure of 5.5 bar for 25 min in a dry walk-in chamber. The US Navy decompression table was followed. Venous bubbles were detected by precordial Doppler monitoring. Two types of decompression were used: air and 100% O2 applied for 21 min during decompression stops. Spirometry, flow-volume, and body plethysmography parameters were unchanged after the dive with air decompression (AD) as well as with O2 decompression (OD). A significant reduction in arterial PO2, on average 20 Torr, was found after the dive with AD. DLCO was decreased in all divers 20, 40, 60, and 80 min after diving with AD (P < 0.001), whereas it was not significantly decreased after diving with OD. Maximal DLCO decrease of approximately 15% occurred 20 min postdive. In AD diving, maximum bubble grade for each individual vs. maximum DLCO reduction correlated significantly (r = 0.85, P = 0.002), as well as DLCO vs. arterial PO2 (r = 0.64, P = 0.017). In conclusion, a reduction in pulmonary diffusing capacity is observed in parallel with the appearance of venous bubbles detected by precordial Doppler. We suggest that bubbles cause pulmonary microembolization, triggering a complex sequence of events that remains to be resolved. Measuring DLCO complements Doppler bubble detection in postdiving assessment of pulmonary function.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how the morphology and phase separation of polyurethane components affect the adhesive properties before and after hydrolysis and showed that effective microphase separation and the development of hydrogen-bonded structures, as well as hydrolytic events in the hard segment domains, depend strongly on the adhesive composition.
TL;DR: In this paper, passive films on AISI 304 and 316 stainless steels in a near-neutral 0.5 M NaCl solution were studied using potentiodynamic, impedance and photoelectrochemical techniques.
TL;DR: Three preparations of Satureja montana subsp.
Abstract: Three preparations of Satureja montana subsp. montana leaves were tested for diuretic activity in rats: an infusion, a water-alcohol extract and essential oil. In 1-day experiments, the cumulative volume of urine was collected during the first 5 h after oral administration of 5 mL/100 g body weight of plant preparation. It was established that all the preparations tested initially caused a decrease in diuresis and subsequently a mild stimulation of diuresis. 0.1 % solution of essential oil was considered to be a therapeutic dose, whereas 0.5% and 1 % solutions caused toxic symptoms in the animals. A further experiment involving treatment of rats for 3 days with a 10% drug infusion and 0.1% essential oil solution demonstrated the considerable diuretic activity of winter savory
TL;DR: In this article, the flexural and compressive strength of high alumina cement (HAC) with lithium and other alkali metal salts have been made, and integral analyses of the results were made in order to test the process of hardening.
TL;DR: In this patient, symptoms appeared after strenuous exercise which included more than 500 pressups each day and he was advised to stop his strenuous exercises and within 3 months muscle strength and sensation had returned.
Abstract: Wasting and weakness of the biceps and brachialis muscles can occur when the musculocutaneous nerve is compressed as it passes through the coracobrachialis muscle; there may also be impairment of sensation on the lateral aspect of the forearm. In our patient, symptoms appeared after strenuous exercise which included more than 500 pressups each day. Electromyography and telethermic examination confirmed the diagnosis. He was advised to stop his strenuous exercises and within 3 months muscle strength and sensation had returned.
TL;DR: In situ digestions with restriction enzymes and in situ hybridization show that this satellite DNA is located in pericentromeric positions of all chromosomes coinciding with C-bands, similar to other satellite families from different species of Tenebrionidae.
Abstract: The chromosomes of Tribolium confusum have conspicuous bulks of pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin. The amount of heterochromatin measured by C-banding in metaphase chromosomes is estimat...
TL;DR: The effect on growth of Hfr resulted from the interaction between the RecBCD-Gam complex and the integrated F plasmid, which suggests that the recF gene product plays an important role in maintenance of viability of the Gam-expressing cells.
Abstract: The interaction between the RecBCD enzyme of Escherichia coli and the lambda Gam protein was investigated. Two types of experiments were done. In one type, Gam protein was produced by transient induction of the cells lysogenic for lambda cI857gam+. The presence of Gam protein, which inhibits RecBCD nuclease, enabled these cells to support the growth of a gene 2 mutant of bacteriophage T4 (T4 2). The lysogens overproducing the RecB subunit of RecBCD enzyme could titrate Gam protein and thus prevent the growth of T4 2. In contrast, the lysogens overproducing either RecC or RecD retained their capacity for growth of T4 2. It is therefore concluded that the RecB subunit is capable of binding Gam protein. In the second type of experiments, Gam protein was provided by derepressing the gamS gene on the plasmid pSF117 (S. A. Friedman and J. B. Hays, Gene 43:255-263, 1986). The presence of this protein did not interfere with the growth of wild-type cells (which were F-). Gam protein had a certain effect on recF mutants, whose doubling time became significantly longer. This suggests that the recF gene product plays an important role in maintenance of viability of the Gam-expressing cells. Gam protein exerted the most striking effect on growth of Hfr bacteria. In its presence, Hfr bacteria grew extremely slowly, but their ability to transfer DNA to recipient cells was not affected. We showed that the effect on growth of Hfr resulted from the interaction between the RecBCD-Gam complex and the integrated F plasmid.