nos: 145-148

AbstractA complete characterization of the different physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) is necessary for the evaluation of their impact on health and environment. Among these properties, the surface characterization of the nanomaterial is the least developed and in many cases limited to the measurement of surface composition and zetapotential. The biological surface adsorption index approach (BSAI) for characterization of surface adsorption properties of NPs has recently been introduced (Xia et al. Nat Nanotechnol 5:671–675, 2010; Xia et al. ACS Nano 5(11):9074–9081, 2011). The BSAI approach offers in principle the possibility to characterize the different interaction forces exerted between a NP's surface and an organic—and by extension biological—entity. The present work further develops the BSAI approach and optimizes a solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) method which, as an outcome, gives a better-defined quantification of the adsorption properties on NPs. We investigated the various aspects of the SPME/GC-MS method, including kinetics of adsorption of probe compounds on SPME fiber, kinetic of adsorption of probe compounds on NP's surface, and optimization of NP's concentration. The optimized conditions were then tested on 33 probe compounds and on Au NPs (15 nm) and SiO2 NPs (50 nm). The procedure allowed the identification of three compounds adsorbed by silica NPs and nine compounds by Au NPs, with equilibrium times which varied between 30 min and 12 h. Adsorption coefficients of 4.66 ± 0.23 and 4.44 ± 0.26 were calculated for 1-methylnaphtalene and biphenyl, compared to literature values of 4.89 and 5.18, respectively. The results demonstrated that the detailed optimization of the SPME/GC-MS method under various conditions is a critical factor and a prerequisite to the application of the BSAI approach as a tool to characterize surface adsorption properties of NPs and therefore to draw any further conclusions on their potential impact on health. Graphical AbstractThe basic principle of SPME/GC-MS method for characterization of nanoparticles surface adsorption forces

BACKGROUND/AIM The cell line C6 is a continuous cell line of rat glioma and, as a transplantable line, is frequently used for induction into in vivo model of primary brain tumor. It is believed that, pursuant to its histological traits and biological behavior, this experimental tumor corresponds to human anaplastic astrocytoma of grade II/III, which is characterized by proliferative and invasive potency, and marked cell differentiation. The aim of this study was to determine macroscopic analysis of rat brain with implanted tumor during tumorigenesis, histological features of tumor cells of induced brain tumor and markers of proliferation (proliferation cell nuclear antigen - PCNA, cytokeratin - CK 19) and differentiation (glial fibrillary acidic protein -GFAP) in rat brain with implanted tumor. METHODS To determine histological structure of the brain with implanted C6 cells, we used brain sections stained for hematoxylin-eosin or kresyl violet, whereas other sections were immunohistochemically stained for GFAP, CK 19 and PCNA. RESULTS A statistically significant difference in weights of the left and right brain hemispheres with implanted tumors during tumorigenesis in as soon as 7 days from the day of inducing tumors was revealed. The tumor was of cellular type, with distinct pleomorphism of cells and frequent hyperchromasia of the nucleus. Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA revealed a significant number of positive cells on the days 7, 14 and 21 day following the implantation of C6 cells. CK 19 positive cells were present in both brain hemispheres, and numerous GFAP positive astrocytes were found around the puncture lesion. CONCLUSIONS Within the experimental conditions of the present research, C6 glioma did not demonstrate any relevant deviations concerning development, clinical symptomatology and macroscopic anatomy relative to those already described in the literature.

Introduction   Pap smear, the main tool of cervical cancer screening is not always available, but some patients are in urgent need for proper diagnostic. Aim of this article was to investigate accuracy of colposcopy for detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions of low or high grade (LGSIL, HGSIL) and to promote colposcopy as useful tool for detection of patients in need for immediate further diagnostics.  Methods Prospective multicentric study performed in BH 95% CI = 42.024 to 5713.304).  HGSIL was confirmed in 27 (87%) cases by histology (CIN II /CIN III). There were no statistically significant differences between colposcopic finding and histology results (Yates-corrected χ2 = 0.33 P = .5637) Conclusions This study showed high level of correlation between colposcopy and PAP results    (63-64%) and to histology for HGSIL (87%). In absence of PAP test colposcopy could be used to select patients in need for biopsy.

Recent evidence has demonstrated the role of CCR5Δ32 in a variety of human diseases: from infectious and inflammatory diseases to cancer. Several studies have confirmed that genetic variants in chemokine receptor CCR5 gene are correlated with susceptibility and resistance to HIV infection. A 32-nucleotide deletion within the CCR5 reading frame is associated with decreased susceptibility to HIV acquisition and a slower progression to AIDS. Mean frequency of CCR5Δ32 allele in Europe is approximately 10%. The highest allele frequency is observed among Nordic populations (about 12%) and lower in the regions of Southeast Mediterranean (about 5%). Although the frequency of CCR5Δ32 was determined in numerous European populations, there is a lack of studies on this variant in the Bosnia and Hercegovina population. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the frequency of CCR5Δ32 allele in the cohort of Bosniaks and compare the results with European reports. CCR5Δ32 was detected by sequence-specific PCR in a sample of 100 healthy subjects from Bosnia and Herzegovina (DNA collected 2011-2013). Mean age of the cohort being 58.8 (± 10.7) years, with 82% of women. We identified 17 heterozygotes and one mutant homozygote in study group, with mean ∆32 allele frequency of 9.5%. CCR5∆32 allele frequency among Bosniaks is comparable to that found in Caucasian populations and follows the pattern of the north-southern gradient observed for Europe. Further studies on larger cohorts with adequate female-to-male ratio are necessary.