YKL-40 as a risk stratification marker in acute pancreatitis: A prospective study.

Background/objectives: Increased systemic concentrations of YKL-40 are seen in various inflammatory conditions. We explored the relationship between the serum YKL-40 concentrations and subsequent disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: Consecutive adults with AP were prospectively enrolled, and classified as having mild, moderate or severe disease.

Evaluation of a flow cytometry-based method for determination of T-lymphocyte subtypes for quality assessment of cell therapy products.

Chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy is currently the best-known type of immune effector cells therapy. For CAR T-cell therapy, the determination of CD3+ T cells is necessary for the quality control of fresh leukapheresis product as starting material. The aim was to validate analytical method for quantification of percentage and absolute count of T lymphocyte subtypes (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells) in fresh apheresis products using single-platform method on flow cytometer BD FACS Canto II.

YKL-40 as a biomarker in various inflammatory diseases: A review.

YKL-40 or Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a highly conserved glycoprotein that binds heparin and chitin in a non-enzymatic manner. It is a member of the chitinase protein family 18, subfamily A, and unlike true chitinases, YKL-40 is a chitinase-like protein without enzymatic activity for chitin. Although its accurate function is yet unknown, the pattern of its expression in the normal and disease states suggests its possible engagement in apoptosis, inflammation and remodeling or degradation of the extracellular matrix.

MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN CROATIA: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of patients presenting to the emergency room with acute appendicitis and subsequent results of surgical treatment. Our single center retrospective study was conducted in Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia. We analyzed data on the patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, their duration of symptoms, length of hospital stay, histopathologic diagnosis, and operative techniques, recorded from September 1, 2019 to October 17, 2020.

Young stroke patient with patent foramen ovale and intracranial stenosis-a case report.

The prevalence of patent foramen ovale is approximately 20% in the global population. In patients under the age of 55 years, it has been proven as a cause of acute ischemic embolic stroke of otherwise undetermined source. We present a case of a 25-year-old patient who experienced an acute stroke of dominant hemisphere due to internal carotid artery occlusion.

Potential of lignin multifunctionality for a sustainable skincare: Impact of emulsification process parameters and oil-phase on the characteristics of O/W Pickering emulsions.

Colloidal lignin particles (CLPs) from softwood kraft lignin were evaluated as a multifunctional ingredient to prepare bio-based oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. After a preliminary screening, three Pickering emulsions systems were formulated using orange, coconut, and paraffin oils, at varying concentration of CLPs, oil/water ratio, and by applying two-step homogenisation processes (rotor-stator homogenisation followed by ultrasonication). Ultrasonication as a second homogenisation step considerably enhanced the emulsification efficiency, generating emulsions with smaller droplet size and less polydisperse distribution.

Gut peptide changes in patients with obstructive jaundice undergoing biliary drainage: A prospective case control study.

Background: Biliary obstruction is a relatively common condition that affects approximately 5 in 1000 people annually. Malnutrition is very common in patients with biliary obstruction and since it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, it is important to identify factors and mechanisms involved in its development.

Aim: To determine the influence of obstructive jaundice on the hormones controlling appetite and nutritive status.

Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Liver Disease: Where Do We Stand?

As the burden of liver disease in the general populace steadily increases, so does the need for both advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Endoscopic ultrasound is a reliable diagnostic and therapeutic method that has an established role, foremost in pancreatobiliary pathology. This paper aims to summarize the growing role of endoscopic ultrasound in hepatology based on the search of the current literature.

Efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin after futile recanalisation therapy in patients with severe stroke.

Introduction: Golden standard of acute stroke treatment is recanalisation therapy. However, opening the occluded blood vessel sometimes does not show the expected clinical result or leads to haemorrhagic complications. As neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity play an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke, neuroprotective agents might preserve brain tissue after futile recanalisation.

Acute Carotid Stent Thrombosis in an Ultrarapid Clopidogrel Metabolizer: Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) represents an effective procedure for treating carotid artery disease. The acute in-stent thrombosis is an extremely rare complication of CAS especially when it occurs postprocedurally during the first 24 hours. Improper antiplatelet therapy or poor response to antiplatelet medications is known to be associated with a higher risk of in-stent thrombosis during early postprocedural period following a successful intervention.

Effects of simvastatin and fenofibrate on butyrylcholinesterase activity in the brain, plasma, and liver of normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic rats.

The study objective was to test the hypothesis that simvastatin and fenofibrate should cause an increase in butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity not only in the plasma and liver but also in the brain of normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic rats. Catalytic enzyme activity was measured using acetylthiocholine (ATCh) and butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) as substrates. Normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic rats were divided in four groups receiving 50 mg/kg of simvastatin a day or 30 mg/kg of fenofibrate a day for three weeks and three control groups receiving saline.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rural area of Croatia.

Rural areas, where 47.6% of the Croatian population lives are not generally the focus of research; yet there are challenges which affect the rural population that often go unreported. These communities often exhibit disadvantages in many areas of health.

The Americanization of the Croatian language.

The USA is spreading their political, military, economic, scientific, artistic and cultural mission throughout the world. The aim of this paper is to bring to the attention the Americanization of the Croatian language particularly evident in the newly adopted language manners, in teenage language, in specialist languages, in the field of advertising and in political correctness. The spread of Americanization of the Croatian language has both negative and positive effects.

Antimicrobial activity of juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae).

Juniper essential oil (Juniperi aetheroleum) was obtained from the juniper berry, and the GC/MS analysis showed that the main compounds in the oil were alpha-pinene (29.17%) and beta-pinene (17.84%), sabinene (13.

Optimization of gas chromatographic method for the enantioseparation of arylpropionic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug methyl esters.

The gas chromatography (GC) method for enantioseparation of well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, fenoprofen and ketoprofen methyl esters mixture was developed. Best enantioseparation was performed on capillary column with heptakis-(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-t-butyldimethyl-silyl)-beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase and hydrogen used as a carrier gas. Initial temperature, program rate and carrier pressure were optimized to obtain best resolution between enantiomers.

Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of some new 3,7-dichloro-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid dianilides and 3,5-dichloro-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid dianilides. II.

The electron impact mass spectra of some benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid dianilides and dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid dianilides are discussed. Dominant peaks in these dianilides are formed by the cleavage of a C-N bond on one side of an anilino group. These ions fragment further by the cleavage of a C-C bond on the other side of an anilino group and a CONRPhR' group may be lost directly.

Synthesis of some carbon-3 substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones and their central nervous system effects.

Starting from 3-hydroxy-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones 1--3, via 3-chloro derivatives 4--6, 13 new C(3)-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones were synthesized. Reaction of 4--6 with ethylene glycol yielded 3-(beta-hydroxyethyl) derivatives 7--9. Similar reaction with the isopropylidene derivative of glycerol afforded 10--12, which on hydrolysis of the isopropylidene group hielded glycerol derivatives 13--15.

[Biologically active azomethines. Delépine reaction with 1-chloromethylisatin; preparation of some 1-aminomethylisatinazomethines (author's transl)].

The authors describe the synthesis of I-aminomethylisatin (3) from [I-chloromethylisatin] (1) by means of the Delépine reaction. On condensation with aromatic aldehydes, 3 yields the azomethines 5--7. The azomethine 5 is converted into the corresponding thiosemicarbazone 9.