Dysregulation of transcripts SMAD4-209 and SMAD4-213 and their respective promoters in colon cancer cell lines.

The pervasive role of alternative promoters in context-specific isoform expression and the importance of promoter choice over its level of transcriptional activity have been recently implied based on pan-cancer studies. We aimed to explore this phenomenon at the cellular level on the example of a major tumor suppressor SMAD4 in search of molecular mechanisms in colorectal cancer that could be exploited for novel biomarkers or therapeutic approaches. Multi-omics technologies, tools and functional assays were applied to analyze the transcripts expression and the alternative promoters' function of the SMAD4 gene in colon cell lines HCEC-1CT, HCT116, DLD-1, SW480 and SW620.

Safe Transition from Open to Total Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Cancer Utilizing Process Management Methodology.

The global shift from open esophagectomy (OE) to minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for treating esophageal cancer is well-established. Recent data indicate that transitioning from hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (hMIE) to total minimally invasive esophagectomy (tMIE) can be challenging due to concerns about higher leakage rates and lower lymph node counts, especially at the beginning of the learning curve. This study aimed to demonstrate that a safe transition from OE to tMIE for cancer is possible using process management methodology.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between e-cigarette use among non-tobacco users and initiating smoking of combustible cigarettes.

Introduction: The rapid increase in e-cigarette use over the past decade has triggered an important public health question on the potential association between e-cigarette use and combustible cigarette smoking. Following AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA guidelines, this evidence synthesis sought to identify and characterize any associations between e-cigarette use among individuals not smoking cigarettes and initiation of cigarette smoking.

Methods: The protocol was registered on September 24, 2018 (PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018108540).

A systematic review of preclinical studies evaluating the association between nicotine and the initiation and progression of cancer.

Background: The association between cigarette smoking and the increased risk of many cancers is well established. Conversely, epidemiological studies of smokeless tobacco demonstrate decreased risk, or no elevated risk, of certain cancers versus smoking. However, it is unclear what role, if any, nicotine plays in these associations.

A Systematic Review Investigating Associations Between E-Cigarette Use Among Former Cigarette Smokers and Relapse to Smoking Cigarettes.

As e-cigarette use has steadily increased over the recent years, the public health interest in the potential implications of e-cigarette use on cigarette smoking has grown in parallel. With strict adherence to PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review examined the potential associations between e-cigarette use and relapse to cigarette smoking among former cigarette smokers. The protocol was registered on November 06, 2018 (PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018115674).

Transcript CD81-215 may be a long noncoding RNA of stromal origin with tumor-promoting role in colon cancer.

The role of tetraspanin CD81 in malignant transformation is best studied in colorectal cancer, and it appears that other transcripts beside the fully coding mRNA may also be dysregulated in malignant cells. Recent data from a comprehensive pan-cancer transcriptome analysis demonstrated differential activity of two alternative CD81 gene promoters in malignant versus nonmalignant gut mucosa. The promoter active in gut mucosa gives rise to transcripts CD81-203 and CD81-213, while the promoter active in colon and rectal cancer gives rise to transcripts CD81-205 and CD81-215.

Study title: A systematic review of RCTs to examine the risk of adverse cardiovascular events with nicotine use.

Associations between cigarette smoking and increased risk of cardiovascular disease are well established. However, it is unclear whether the association is mediated by exposure to nicotine and/or to other constituents in cigarette smoke. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) was to identify any potential associations between exposure to nicotine and the risk of clinically diagnosed adverse cardiovascular events in adult current users and nonusers of tobacco products.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 () and-9 () Gene Variants and Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Vascular complications are the leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients. It has been postulated that matrix metalloproteinases and , zinc-dependent endopeptidases through remodeling of the extracellular matrix, can contribute to the onset and progression of diabetic vascular complications. The aim of our study was to assess whether there is a major difference in single nucleotide polymorphisms in the (at position -1306C˃T) and (at position -1562C˃T) gene in type 2 diabetic patients and healthy controls and to determine whether there is an association of these gene variants with the presence of microvascular complications in diabetic patients.

Pilot proteomic study of locally advanced rectal cancer before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy indicates high metabolic activity in non-responders' tumor tissue.

Purpose: In the search for candidate predictive biomarkers to evaluate response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in rectal cancer, only a few studies report proteomic profiles of tumor tissue before and after nCRT. The aim of our study was to determine differentially expressed proteins between responders and non-responders before and after the therapy in order to identify candidate molecules for prediction and follow-up of response to nCRT.

Experimental Design: The study has included tissue sections of rectal tumor and non-tumor mucosa from five responders and five non-responders taken before and after nCRT from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Cancer: Cut Down Complications to Unveil Positive Results of Minimally Invasive Approach.

Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have confirmed the advantages of laparoscopic surgery in early gastric cancer, and there are indications that this may also apply in advanced distal gastric cancer. The study objective was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), in comparison to open gastrectomy (OG), in the management of locally advanced gastric cancer. The single-center, case-control study included 204 patients, in conveyance sampling, who underwent radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer.

Campylobacter concisus.

Campylobacter concisus has been described as the etiological agent of periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and enterocolitis. It is also detected in healthy individuals. There are differences between strains in healthy individuals and affected ones by production of two exototoxins.

Sex differences in GABAergic neurotransmission to rat DMV neurons.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including delayed gastric emptying and decreased gastric motility, are more prevalent in women, suggesting a potential role for circulating gonadal hormones, including estrogen. Gastric motility is tuned by the vagal inputs arising from the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), which is itself controlled by tonic GABAergic inputs. Estrogen increases GABA functions in various central nervous system areas; however, the effect of the estrus cycle in modulating GABAergic inputs onto DMV neurons, hence vagal control of gastric motility, has not been investigated.

Comparative toxicity evaluation of targeted anticancer therapeutics in embryonic zebrafish and sea urchin models.

Cancer drug resistance and poor selectivity towards cancer cells demand the constant search for new therapeutics. PI3K-Akt-mTOR and RAS-MAPK-ERK signaling pathways are key mechanisms involved in cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism and their deregulation in cancer can promote development of therapy resistance. We investigated the effects of targeted inhibitors (wortmannin, GSK690693, AZD2014 and tipifarnib) towards these two pathways on early zebrafish and sea urchin development to assess their toxicity in normal, fast proliferating cells.

Gene Polymorphisms and Salbutamol Responsiveness in Serbian Children with Asthma.

Inhaled β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonists are the mainstay of asthma therapy. The β2-AR protein is encoded by the gene and variants within this gene can have significant consequences for modulating the response to asthma therapy. This cross-sectional study performed at the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade, included 54 children with asthma.

Is Apolipoprotein E ε2 Associated with Delayed Onset of Non-Lesional Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible association between Apo E polymorphisms and age at seizure onset in patients with non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy. Eighty patients with non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy with or without bilateral tonic-clonic propagation were analyzed. Age at seizure onset was defined as age at the first unequivocal seizure (excluding febrile convulsions).

Depression and intimate relationships of adolescents from divorced families.

Aim To determine an impact of parental divorce to depression and intimate relationships of young people during adolescence, and prevalence of symptoms of depression and the level of intimacy in relations to adolescents living in intact families and those from divorced families. Methods This prospective descriptive research was conducted on a sample of 168 examinees of which 64 (38.1%) were students of the University Zenica, and 104 (61.

Could hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy improve the treatment results of esophageal cancer?

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (hMIE) in comparison with open esophagectomy (OE) in esophageal cancer treatment.

Methods: The single center prospective nonrandom cohort study included a total of 88 patients in convenience sample, who underwent the Ivor-Lewis procedure with a curative intention for the middle- and lower-third esophageal cancer between January 2009 and February 2015. All patients were operated by the one surgical team.

The Burden of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on Patients' Daily Lives: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in a Primary Care Setting in Serbia.

Introduction: Recent data from the studies conducted in the Western countries have proved that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease have significantly impaired health-related quality of life compared to general population.

Objective: The study is aimed at evaluating the burden of reflux symptoms on patients'health-related quality of life.

Methods: The study involved 1,593 patients with diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Cancer: Single Center Experience after 44 Consecutive Cases.

Introduction: At the Department of Minimally Invasive Upper Digestive Surgery of the Hospital for Digestive Surgery in Belgrade, hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (hMIE) has been a standard of care for patients with resectable esophageal cancer since 2009. As a next and final step in the change management, from January 2015 we utilized total minimally invasive esophagectomy (tMIE) as a standard of care.

Objective: The aim of the study was to report initial experiences in hMIE (laparoscopic approach) for cancer and analyze surgical technique, major morbidity and 30-day mortality.

The use of autologous fascia lata graft in the laparoscopic reinforcement of large hiatal defect: initial observations of the surgical technique.

Background: Even though there is no consensus, many authors believe that in the cases of large hiatal defects, structurally altered crura and/or absence of peritoneal lining, a crural reinforcement should be performed. Reinforcement could be performed with different techniques and different type of mesh, either synthetic or biologic. The disadvantages of mesh repair include the possibility of serious complications and increased costs especially in the usage of composite or biologic mesh.

Identification of Campylobacter species isolates with phenotypic methods and polymerase chain reaction.

Introduction: Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and Campylobacter coli (C. coli) are the most common bacterial causes of enterocolitis in humans.

Characterization of synapses in the rat subnucleus centralis of the nucleus tractus solitarius.

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) receives subdiaphragmatic visceral sensory information via vagal A- or C-fibers. We have recently shown that, in contrast to cardiovascular NTS medialis neurons, which respond to either purinergic or vanilloid agonists, the majority of esophageal NTS centralis (cNTS) neurons respond to vanilloid agonists, whereas a smaller subset responds to both vanilloid and purinerigic agonists. The present study aimed to further investigate the neurochemical and synaptic characteristics of cNTS neurons using whole cell patch-clamp, single cell RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernias: experience after 200 consecutive cases.

Introduction: Repair of hiatal hernias has been performed traditionally via open laparotomy or thoracotomy. Since first laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair in 1992, this method had a growing popularity and today it is the standard approach in experienced centers specialized for minimally invasive surgery.

Objective: In the current study we present our experience after 200 consecutive laparoscopic hiatal hernia repairs.

Plasticity in the brainstem vagal circuits controlling gastric motor function triggered by corticotropin releasing factor.

Stress impairs gastric emptying, reduces stomach compliance and induces early satiety via vagal actions. We have shown recently that the ability of the anti-stress neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) to modulate vagal brainstem circuits undergoes short-term plasticity via alterations in cAMP levels subsequent to vagal afferent fibre-dependent activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the OXT-induced gastric response undergoes plastic changes in the presence of the prototypical stress hormone, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).