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Aim To determine the influence of high-efficacy disease modifying therapy (DMT) on the development of IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in COVID-19 convalescent people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Methods Seventy-four pwMS taking high-efficacy DMTs (specifically natalizumab, fingolimod, alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab, cladribine and ublituximab) and diagnosed with COVID-19 and 44 healthy persons (HC) were enrolled. SARS-CoV2 antibodies were tested with Elecsys® Anti-SARSCoV-2 S assay. Results pwMS taking high-efficacy DMTs had a significantly higher chance of having negative titer of SARS-CoV2 antibodies compared to healthy controls (33 negative pwMS [44.6%] compared to one negative HC [2.3%], p < 0.001). pwMS taking B-cell depleting therapy (ocrelizumab and ublituximab) had a significantly higher chance of having negative titer of SARS-CoV2 antibodies compared to pwMS on all other DMTs (29 negative pwMS on B-cell therapy [64.4%] compared to four negative pwMS on all other DMTs [13.8%], p < 0.001). Out of other DMTs, two (33.3%) pwMS taking fingolimod and two (16.7%) pwMS taking cladribine failed to develop IgG SARS-COV-2 antibodies. B-cell depleting therapy independently predicted negative titer of IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibody (Exp[B] =0.014, 95%CI 0.002–0.110, p < 0.001). Conclusions A significant proportion of convalescent COVID-19 pwMS on high-efficacy DMTs will not develop IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. B-cell depleting therapies independently predict negative and low titer of IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibody.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mutagenic and antigenotoxic effects of different doses of the flavonoid, apigenin, alone and in combination with the antitumor drugs, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, in vitro and in vivo. Using bacterial reverse mutation inhibition in vitro, with and without metabolic activation, the effect of apigenin (10-400 μg/plate) was studied on genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide (800 μg/plate) and by doxorubicin (0.2 μg/plate). Subsequent to a dose-finding study in vivo, CD1 mice were treated with either cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg, i.p.) or doxorubicin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) with or without co-administration of apigenin (1-100 mg/kg, p.o.). Micronuclei were determined microscopically in blood smears and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidative status (TAS) in whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma, respectively. Apigenin decreased doxorubicin-induced, but not cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenicity in vitro. In vivo, apigenin caused a statistically significant decrease in micronucleus frequency in response to cyclophosphamide, possibly due to active flavonoid metabolite formation or inhibition of cyclophosphamide metabolic activation. In animals treated with apigenin and doxorubicin, a significant decrease in micronucleus frequency was not observed, probably due to interindividual variability. No changes in GPX, SOD or TAS were observed in response to either cytotoxic agents or the flavonoid, possibly due to limited metabolic transformation of the drugs at the doses used. The results of the present study provide further evidence for the chemo-preventative properties of apigenin.

Ana li za građe sper mi ja pre ma kri te ri ji ma SZO i strik tnim kri te ri ji ma: us po red ba dvi ju me to da i unu tar la bo ra to rij ska va ri ja bil no st Spe rm mor pho lo gy as ses sme nt ac cor di ng to WHO and stri ct cri te ria: met hod com pa ri son and in tra-la bo ra to ry va ria bi li ty An drea Čipak 1 , Pat rik Sta nić 1 , Ko ralj ka Đurić 2 , Ti ha na Ser dar 3 , Er ne st Suc ha nek 41 Klini ka za žen ske bo les ti i po ro de, Kli nički bol nički cen tar "Zag reb", Zag reb 1 Uni ver si ty De par tme nt of Ob stet ri cs and Gyne co lo gy, Zag reb Uni ver si ty Hos pi tal Cen ter, Zag reb, Croa tia 2 Me di cin sko bio ke mij ski la bo ra to rij, Po lik li ni ka "Sun ce", Zag reb 2 Me di cal Bioc he mis try La bo ra to ry, Sun ce Po lycli nic, Zag reb, Croa tia 3 Kli nički za vod za la bo ra to rij sku di jag nos ti ku, Kli nička bol ni ca Dub ra va, Zag reb 3 De par tme nt of La bo ra to ry Me di ci ne, Dub ra va Uni ver si ty Hos pi tal, Zag reb, Croa tia 4 Fer ti li ty Cli nic, Tawam Hos pi tal, Joh ns Hop ki ns Me di ci ne, Al Ain, Abu Dha bi, U.A.E. 4 Fer ti li ty Cli nic, Tawam Hos pi tal, Joh ns Hop ki ns Me di ci ne, Al Ain, Abu Dha bi, U.A.E. SažetakUvod: Ana li za građe sper mi ja je dan je od naj važni jih ko ra ka u proc je ni muškog par tne ra kod nep lod nih pa ro va. Međutim, značaj ne međula bo ra to rij ske i unu tar la bo ra to rij ske va ri ja ci je mo gu uz ro ko va ti po teškoće u tu mačenju rezu ltata, pog rešne di jag no ze te mo gu do ves ti do za bu na. Sto ga je neop hod no ove va ri ja ci je sves ti na naj ma nju mo guću mje ru ka ko bi se uk lo ni le pos lje dične greške i osi gu ra la međula bo ra to rij ska i unu tar la bo ra to rij ska po nov lji vo st. Ma te ri ja li i me to de: Uzor ci sjeme na do bi ve ni su od 49 uzas top nih muškara ca ko ji su do la zi li u an dro loški la bo ra to rij ra di proc je ne plod nos ti. Us po re di li smo dva kri te ri ja za ana li zu građe sper mi ja: 1) raz maz sje me na prip rem ljen po moću bo je Giem sa ko ji smo ana li zi ra li pre ma kri te ri ji ma Svjet ske zdravstve ne or ga ni za ci je (SZO) i 2) raz maz sje me na prip rem ljen bo jom Sper mac ko ji smo ana li zi ra li pre ma strik tnim kri te ri ji ma. Ta kođer smo pro ve li i unu tarla bo ra to rij sku us po red bu ana li ze građe sper mi ja. Re zul ta ti: Di jag nos ti ci ra nje te ra to zoos per mije pre ma kri te ri ji ma SZO i prema strik tnim kri te ri ji ma bi lo je po du dar no kod 45 od 49 is pi ta ni ka. Mje ra suklad nos ti među pro mat ra nji ma bi la je slična i kod kri te ri ja SZO i kod strik tnih kri te ri ja (ka pa = 0,700 za SZO kri te rij; ka pa = 0,715 za strik tni kriterij). Zak ljučci: Ana li ze građe sper mi ja pre ma kri te ri ji ma SZO i strik tnim kri te ri jima po du da ra ju se u pos tav lja nju di jag no ze te ra to zoos per mi je i može se postići dob ra ra zi na suk lad nos ti među pro mat račima na kon od go va ra jućeg os posob lja va nja, pažlji vog pregle da raz ma za i poštiva nja kla si fi ka cij skih sus ta va. Ključne ri ječi: sper ...

Finding that estrogen plays an important role in bone homeostasis in men prompted research on relationship of polymorphism at the CYP19 gene and the bone mass. Therefore, influence of 3-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism of CYP19 (TTTA)7 allele on the peak bone mass attainment in males was studied. Fifty-eight unrelated male participants, aged 21-35, were selected depending on the presence of (TTTA)7 (no.=19) or (TTTA)7-3 (no.=39) alleles from the initial cohort of 92 young males. Heterozygotes (TTTA)7/(TTTA)7-3 (no.=13) were not included in the analysis. Serum levels of estradiol, free testosterone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and beta-crosslaps were measured. Bone mass was measured by DXA at the hip and at the spine. (TTTA)7-3 allele was associated with significantly lower femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) (p=0.02). Logistic regression model indicated strong association of (TTTA)7-3 allele with low BMD in the range of osteopenia/osteoporosis (p=0.014, odds ratio 12.36, confidence intervals 1.65-92.46). In the present study association of 3-bp deletion polymorphism of the (TTTA)7 allele with decreased peak bone mass in males is reported for the first time. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the functional relevance of this polymorphism.

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Altogether, intranasal challenge of mice with increasing allergen doses could serve as a suitable experimental system for investigation of mechanisms by which airway inflammation leads to allergen-induced AHR. Our initial findings are in line with previous reports that dissociate AHR from amount of eosinophil accumulation and imply the role of IL-13 in this process.

Introduction Laboratory plays important part in screening, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate current laboratory preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical practices and policies in Croatia. Materials and methods Working Group for Laboratory Endocrinology of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine designed a questionnaire with 27 questions and statements regarding practices and protocols in measuring thyroid function tests. The survey was sent to 111 medical biochemistry laboratories participating in external quality assurance scheme for thyroid hormones organized by Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine. Data is presented as absolute numbers and proportions. Results Fifty-three participants returned the questionnaire. Response rate varied depending on question, yielding a total survey response rate of 46-48%. All respondents perform thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). From all other thyroid tests, most performed is free thyroxine (37/53) and least TSH-stimulating immunoglobulin (1/53). Laboratories are using nine different immunoassay methods. One tenth of laboratories is verifying manufacturer’s declared limit of quantification for TSH and one third is verifying implemented reference intervals for all performed tests. Most of laboratories (91%) adopt the manufacturer’s reference interval for adult population. Reference intervals for TSH are reported with different percentiles (90, 95 or 99 percentiles). Conclusion This survey showed current practices and policies in Croatian laboratories regarding thyroid testing. The results identified some critical spots and will serve as a foundation in creating national guidelines in order to harmonize laboratory procedures in thyroid testing in Croatia.