Background/Aim: Hypomagnesaemia is one of the most detected electrolyte abnormalities in diabetics. Modulation of numerous cardiovascular pathophysiological processes is a potential goal for anti-diabetic therapy. Magnesium supplementation prevents subclinical tissue magnesium deficiency, thus delaying the onset of metabolic imbalance in diabetes, but long-term effects of magnesium supplementation in chronic diabetes and numerous pathophysiological processes remain unknown. Aim of this study was to determine the effects of subchronic intake of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich mineral water on cardiometabolic markers and electrolytes in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Methods: A total of 28 Wistar, male rats, body weight 160 g at start, were divided into four groups of 7 each: two controls, group that drank tap water and received a single ip injection of saline (0.9 % NaCl) (TW-C), group that drank mineral water rich in magnesium hydrocarbonate and received a single ip injection of saline (0.9 % NaCl) (MW-C); and two experimental groups with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, group that drank tap water and received a single ip injection of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) in saline (0.9 % NaCl, 1 mL) (TW-DM), group that drank mineral water rich in magnesium hydrocarbonate and received a single ip injection of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) in saline (0.9 % NaCl, 1 mL) (MW-DM). Results: Regarding the biochemical parameters, a decrease was observed in the MW-C group for vitamin B12 and proteins, while triglycerides were higher compared to the TW-C group. By comparing the haemostatic biomarkers between TW-C and MW-C groups, a statistically significant decrease was found for fibrinogen, while the electrolyte analysis showed an increase in phosphates for the MW-C group. Biochemical value comparison between TW-DM and MWDM groups showed that magnesium hydrocarbonate usage in diabetic rats did not significantly reduce glycaemia although the average glycaemic values were lower in the group treated with magnesium hydrocarbonate. Regarding the electrolyte values, a statistically significant decrease was observed for sodium, potassium and phosphate in the MW-DM group. The MW-DM group also showed a significant increase in iron value compared to TW-DM group. Conclusion: Subchronic intake of magnesium hydrocarbonate-rich mineral water, as a form of magnesium supplementation, did not cause a significant improvement in glycaemia or normalisation of diabetes-induced dyslipidaemia. This study showed the reduction of fibrinogen value, thus indicating the possibility of usage of this form of magnesium supplementation in different pro-thrombogenic conditions.

Introduction: Human papilloma viruses (HPV) have been identified as a major etiological factor in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. High-risk type HPV16 has the greatest medical significance. Based on differences in the nucleotide sequence of the type 16 genome, the existence of 16 variants of this type with different geographical distribution has been shown. Aim: Examination of the nucleotide sequence variability of the L1 gene presented in HPV16 variants in our territory. Material and methods: The paper includes 37 sequences of HPV16 L1 genes taken from the database of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. The sequences were compared with the reference sequences of the HPV16 variants and the construction of the phylogenetic tree was done using the MEGA (Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis, version X) software package. Results: Out of the 37 HPV16 L1 analyzed gene sequences, 23 were grouped with European variants. Other isolates were grouped with non-European HPV16 variants. The nucleotide distance was less than 1%, that is, at the level of subvariants. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the European variants of the HPV16 virus are the most common in our population, but they also indicate the presence of non-European variants. Further analysis is necessary in order to monitor the circulation of HPV16 variants in our population.

Introduction: Isoprenaline or isoproterenol (1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-isopropylaminoethanolhydrochloride; ISO), a synthetic b-adrenergic agonist, can be used to establish myocardial ischemia, cardiotoxicity, necrosis and/or an experimental model of infarction in rats. Aim: Determination of the dynamics of myocardial injury biomarkers production of aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT), with changes on electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters during the subcutaneous aplication of ISO in male Wistar rats. Material and methods: All animals (n = 23) were divided into two groups: control group (n = 11) treated with a saline solution, during two consecutive days (0,2 ml/kg b.m. daily, sc); and the ISO group (n = 12) treated with isoprenaline, during two consecutive days (85 mg/kg b.m. daily, sc). Blood was drawn from the rat tail vein in both groups, in order to determine serum activity levels of myocardial injury biomarkers, and an ECG (n = 6) was registered prior to the application, as well as 48h following the first dose of of saline solution or isoprenaline. Results: In comparison to the control group, in which no significant enzyme activities elevation (p > 0.05) nor ECG changes were registered, ISO group presented a significant rise of two clinically significant biomarkers of acute myocardial injury/myocardial infarction (AMI), CK (p = 0.05) and hsTnT (p < 0.01), as well as an ST segment elevation, with a patognomonic ECG change. Conclusion: Obtained results support previous studies, proving that isoprenaline represents an adequate experimental model for myocardial injury/AMI induction, and a "golden standard" for evaluating potential cardioprotective effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic modalities, with the ultimate goal of lowering the degree of lesions and improving post-infarction myocardium function.