Edhem Hasković

Effects of Glyphosate on Enzyme Activity and Serum Glucose in Rats Rattus norvegicus

Abstract Glyphosate is a pesticide that influences many blood parameters if taken orally or subcutaneously. This pesticide causes important changes in the metabolic activity which can be measured by organospecific enzyme activity such as liver aminotransferases (AST and ALT), while glucose acts as a stress, energy and metabolism indicator after acute glyphosate exposure. In this research, glyphosate was applied subcutaneously to rats, administrated each 24 hours for a 15 days period. The concentration of the applied glyphosate was 2.8 g/kg. The experimental rats were 13 weeks old. The concentration of serum glucose, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and liver transaminases (AST and ALT) were observed as indicators of metabolic changes after treatment. It was observed that glyphosate led to a statistically significant decrease of serum glucose level. Statistically significantly increased (p<0.05) AST, ALT and LDH activities are indicators of hepatocyte damage while LDH activity demonstrates damage of other tissues.

Electrochemical Investigation of the Influence of K2[B3O3F4OH] on the Activity of Immobilized Superoxide Dismutase

It is known that oxidoreductase is responsible for the regulation of oxidative stress in organisms, and pathological changes occur within the cell in the form of accumulation or lack of superoxide and peroxide radicals if the oxidoreductase activity is disturbed. Currently, the development of drugs that target the affected cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected is of great interest. The action of potential drugs is based on the inhibition / activation of oxidoreductase. In this work, we studied the electrochemical parameters of superoxide dismutase as well as the action of the potential drug of boroxine - dipotassium trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate (K2[B3O3F4OH]) as a target therapeutic for enzyme activity. Electrochemical tests were carried out in a classical three-electrode system using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques, and the obtained results were presented in the form of the kinetic parameters with the maximum value of the current obtained when the solution was saturated with the substrate (Imax) and the Michaelis-Menten constant (Km). K2[B3O3F4OH] was proven to be a reversible inhibitor, and the obtained Imax without inhibitor value of 0.014 mM and Km = 12.09 mM. The results from the Lineweaver - Burk diagram show that the inhibition is a partial noncompetitive inhibition type.

Acid-Base Status of Patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Ketonuria: Bosnia and Herzegovina Experience

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the values of biochemical parameters in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and ketonuria. In this prospective comparative study conducted at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, hundred patients of both genders with diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Newly diagnosed diabetic patients with complications like acute ketoacidosis (n = 50) and ketonuria (n = 50) were included in this study and compared. The values of biochemical parameters in these patients were analyzed. We found that mean values of pH, base excess, hydrogencarbonate, sodium, glucose, urea and creatinine concentrations in patients with ketoacidosis were significantly different compared to patients with ketonuria. The values of potassium and calcium serum concentrations were not significantly different. Also, values of pH, base excess, as well as concentrations of hydrogencarbonate, sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose, urea and creatinine were not significantly different between male and female patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. In patients with diabetic ketonuria we found a correlation between admission glucose concentration and acid-base balance.

Troponin and C-reactive Protein in Risk Stratification after Myocardial Infarction

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of troponin I, C-reactive protein and risk factors for the occurrence of complications after myocardial infarction. Troponin I and C-reactive protein values were analyzed in 38% of patients with complications (postinfarction angina, ventricular fibrillation, heart failure and fatal outcome) and in 62% of patients without complications. Values wererecorded on admission and between the eighth and tenth day of hospitalization. It was found that a larger number of risk factors (p = 0.00), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and smoking (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with the complications. It was shown that hypertension increases the risk of developing heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.02). It resulted with statistically non-significant difference in the observed values of troponin I between the group of patients with complications and the group without them (p = 0.22, p = 0.327). There was a statistically significant difference in the observed values of C-reactive protein in the two groups of patients (p = 0.00, p = 0.01). It can be concluded that the values of troponin I had no prognostic significance in risk stratification, while the values of C-reactive protein, individual risk factors and a large numberof risk factors hadsignificance in risk stratification after myocardial infarction.