ObjectiveTo evaluate siMS score and siMS risk score, novel continuous metabolic syndrome scores as methods for quantification of metabolic status and risk.Materials and MethodsDeveloped siMS score was calculated using formula: siMS score = 2*Waist/Height + Gly/5.6 + Tg/1.7 + TAsystolic/130—HDL/1.02 or 1.28 (for male or female subjects, respectively). siMS risk score was calculated using formula: siMS risk score = siMS score * age/45 or 50 (for male or female subjects, respectively) * family history of cardio/cerebro-vascular events (event = 1.2, no event = 1). A sample of 528 obese and non-obese participants was used to validate siMS score and siMS risk score. Scores calculated as sum of z-scores (each component of metabolic syndrome regressed with age and gender) and sum of scores derived from principal component analysis (PCA) were used for evaluation of siMS score. Variants were made by replacing glucose with HOMA in calculations. Framingham score was used for evaluation of siMS risk score.ResultsCorrelation between siMS score with sum of z-scores and weighted sum of factors of PCA was high (r = 0.866 and r = 0.822, respectively). Correlation between siMS risk score and log transformed Framingham score was medium to high for age groups 18+,30+ and 35+ (0.835, 0.707 and 0.667, respectively).ConclusionssiMS score and siMS risk score showed high correlation with more complex scores. Demonstrated accuracy together with superior simplicity and the ability to evaluate and follow-up individual patients makes siMS and siMS risk scores very convenient for use in clinical practice and research as well.

Background and Aim. Differentiating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) from anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a clinical challenge. Hepcidin is a polypeptide synthetized in the liver, and iron levels or inflammation mostly regulate hepcidin production. Our aim was to determine serum hepcidin levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well to investigate whether hepcidin levels correlate with disease activity. Material and Methods. A case-control study was preformed among newly diagnosed IBD patients and same number age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All patients underwent a total ileocolonoscopy. Complete blood count was obtained in addition to inflammatory markers (CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate-ESR). Serum levels of hepcidin were determined with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DRG Instruments Marburg, Germany). Serum iron, TIBC, and UIBC were assessed with an electrochemiluminesence immunoassay, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) was assessed using an immunoturbidimetric method. Mayo score and CDAI, respectively, were calculated for each patient. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software version 20.0 for Windows. Results. There was a high statistically significant difference between IBD patients and controls in levels of hepcidin ( P < 0.01 ). Namely, serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher in the control group. There was no statistically significant correlation of serum hepcidin with CRP, Mayo score, or CDAI, respectively ( P > 0.05 ). However, we have found a statistically significant negative correlation of sTfR and TIBC with hepcidin ( P < 0.01 ). Conclusion. Results of our study suggest that hepcidin is a reliable marker of IDA in patients with IBD, and it could be used in routine clinical practice when determining adequate therapy in these patients.

Structural and optical characteristics of manganese doped cadmium sulfide nanoparticles prepared by in situ chemical synthesis using biocompatible Na-alginate biopolymer as a template is reported.