Indicators of stress hematopoiesis in the blood predict COVID-19 progression in patients over 65 years old.

Objectives: Advanced age is a well-established risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Exacerbated inflammation affects multiple organs, among which hematopoiesis responds by increased output of various cells. We aimed to determine the association between COVID-19 progression and large immature cell (LIC) counts, changes in erythrocyte and platelet distribution widths (RDW, PDW) with reference to patients' age.

Biomarker Phenotypes in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Using Hierarchical Clustering-A Pilot Study.

Objectives: We hypothesized the existence of distinct phenotype-based groups within the very heterogeneous population of patients of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and using an unsupervised hierarchical clustering applied to plasma concentration of various biomarkers. We sought to characterize them as "biomarker phenotypes" and to conclude differences in their overall characteristics.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 patients with HFpEF.

The Multi-Faceted Nature of Renalase for Mitochondrial Dysfunction Improvement in Cardiac Disease.

The cellular mechanisms and signaling network that guide the cardiac disease pathophysiology are inextricably intertwined, which explains the current scarcity of effective therapy and to date remains the greatest challenge in state-of-the-art cardiovascular medicine. Accordingly, a novel concept has emerged in which cardiomyocytes are the centerpiece of therapeutic targeting, with dysregulated mitochondria as a critical point of intervention. Mitochondrial dysfunction pluralism seeks a multi-faceted molecule, such as renalase, to simultaneously combat the pathophysiologic heterogeneity of mitochondria-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

Plasma advanced oxidation products as an additional tool in assessment of post-infarction heart failure.

Objective: To define which oxidative stress markers could be used as diagnostic tools in the assessment of post-infarction heart failure (HF).

Methods: This observational study enrolled patients with HF that were divided into three subgroups (ejection fraction [EF] ≥ 50%; EF 40-49%; EF < 40%) and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The plasma concentrations of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, catalase activity and free thiols were determined in all participants.

Renalase Challenges the Oxidative Stress and Fibroproliferative Response in COVID-19.

The hallmark of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathophysiology was reported to be an inappropriate and uncontrolled immune response, evidenced by activated macrophages, and a robust surge of proinflammatory cytokines, followed by the release of reactive oxygen species, that synergistically result in acute respiratory distress syndrome, fibroproliferative lung response, and possibly even death. For these reasons, all identified risk factors and pathophysiological processes of COVID-19, which are feasible for the prevention and treatment, should be addressed in a timely manner. Accordingly, the evolving anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic therapy for severe COVID-19 and hindering post-COVID-19 fibrosis development should be comprehensively investigated.

Platelet-derived immuno-inflammatory indices show best performance in early prediction of COVID-19 progression.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) profoundly affects the immune and hematopoietic systems with various degrees of reactive changes in the blood cell counts. Immuno-inflammatory indices are considered a simple and effective tool in the prediction of COVID-19 outcomes. We aimed to evaluate and compare the usefulness of leukocyte and platelet counts-based immuno-inflammatory indices on admission to hospital in predicting COVID-19 progression and mortality.

The Scientific Rationale for the Introduction of Renalase in the Concept of Cardiac Fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis represents a redundant accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, resulting from a cascade of pathophysiological events involved in an ineffective healing response, that eventually leads to heart failure. The pathophysiology of cardiac fibrosis involves various cellular effectors (neutrophils, macrophages, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts), up-regulation of profibrotic mediators (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors), and processes where epithelial and endothelial cells undergo mesenchymal transition. Activated fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the central cellular effectors in cardiac fibrosis, serving as the main source of matrix proteins.

Temporal Changes in Incidence Rates of the Most Common Gynecological Cancers in the Female Population in Central Serbia.

There were 1,335,503 newly diagnosed cases of the most common gynecological cancers in women (cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer) worldwide in 2020. The main objective of this paper was to assess temporal changes in incidence rates of the most common gynecological cancers and to determine the age group with the greatest increase in incidence in the Serbian female population in the period 2003-2018. Trends and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by Joinpoint regression analysis.

Vitamins, microelements and the immune system: current standpoint in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory disease associated with severe systemic inflammation. The optimal status of vitamins and microelements is considered crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system and necessary for successful recovery. Most patients with respiratory distress in COVID-19 are vitamin and microelement deficient, with vitamin D and Se deficiency being the most common.

Cancer of unknown primary - incidence, mortality trend, and mortality-to-incidence ratio is associated with human development index in Central Serbia, 1999-2018: Evidence from the national cancer registry.

Objectives: The aim was to estimate the trend of incidence, mortality and mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) in Central Serbia in 1999-2018 and its possible association with the human development index (HDI).

Methods: In this study, cancer of unknown primary (CUP) was included as C77-C80 codes. Trend analysis was performed in the Joinpoint Regression Programme version 4.

The Discriminatory Ability of Renalase and Biomarkers of Cardiac Remodeling for the Prediction of Ischemia in Chronic Heart Failure Patients With the Regard to the Ejection Fraction.

Renalase has been implicated in chronic heart failure (CHF); however, nothing is known about renalase discriminatory ability and prognostic evaluation. The aims of the study were to assess whether plasma renalase may be validated as a predictor of ischemia in CHF patients stratified to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and to determine its discriminatory ability coupled with biomarkers representing a range of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology: brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity (sST2), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), syndecan-1, and cystatin C. A total of 77 CHF patients were stratified according to the LVEF and were subjected to exercise stress testing.

Interaction of thrombophilic SNPs in patients with unexplained infertility-multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) model analysis.

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the frequency and SNP-SNP interactions between factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A, prothrombin G20210A mutation, and C677T MTHFR and PAI-1 4G/5G gene polymorphisms in female IVF patients with unexplained infertility (UI) by using a multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) model analysis.

Methods: A total of 225 subjects were enrolled in the study. There were 105 females in UI group and 120 healthy controls.

The partnership between renalase and ejection fraction as a risk factor for increased cardiac remodeling biomarkers in chronic heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) represents a huge socio-economic burden. It has been demonstrated, experimentally, that renalase, a newly discovered protein, prevents cardiac hypertrophy and adverse remodeling, which is seen in HF. We postulated the following aims: to investigate associations of renalase with biomarkers of cardiac remodeling: galectin-3, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity, (sST2), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and syndecan-1, myocardial stretch (BNP) and cardio-renal axis (cystatin C) in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) to determine whether renalase, in combination with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), represents a risk factor for plasma elevation in biomarkers.

Cardiac Remodeling Biomarkers as Potential Circulating Markers of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 and syndecan-1 represent biomarkers of cardiac remodeling, involved in heart failure (HF) progression. We hypothesize that their plasma concentrations, together with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are different in HF stratified by ejection fraction (EF), demonstrating correlations with echocardiographic parameters that indicate left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy; LV mass index (LVMI) and posterior wall and septum diameters. HF patients (n = 77) were classified according to EF: reduced EF < 40% (HFrEF), mid-range EF = 40-49% (HFmrEF), preserved EF > 50% (HFpEF).

Association of Plasma Renalase and Left Ventricle Mass Index in Heart Failure Patients Stratified to the Category of the Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study.

Heart failure represents a growing health problem, with increasing morbidity and mortality globally. According to the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of heart failure, many biomarkers have been proposed for the timely diagnosis and prognostication of patients with heart failure, but other than natriuretic peptides, none of them has gained enough clinical significance. Renalase, a new protein derived from kidneys was demonstrated to metabolize catecholamines and to have a cardioprotective role.

Impact of socio-demographic characteristics and long-term complications on quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been one of the leading chronic diseases worldwide over past decades. The objective of the study was to identify predictors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in diabetic patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at the General Hospital of the city of Leskovac, between June and November 2015.

Trends in thyroid cancer incidence and mortality in Central Serbia, 1999-2014.

Introduction: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignant disease of the endocrine system. The incidence of the TC has been increasing worldwide, especially in female population. However, mortality from TC is low in both males and females.

Renalase Assessment With Regard to Kidney Function, Lipid Disturbances, and Endothelial Dysfunction Parameters in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients.

Background: Renal transplant dysfunction has been shown to be independent predictor for premature cardiovascular disease and mortality. Renalase, a flavoprotein secreted by several tissues, including the kidney, has been found to regulate sympathetic tone and blood pressure. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore relationships among parameters of endothelial dysfunction, lipids, glomerular filtration rate, and renalase in 2 groups: renal transplant patients with controlled hypertension and healthy volunteers.

The influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the frequency and complexity of ventricular arrhythmias and heart rate variability in patients after myocardial infarction.

Background/aim: After myocardial infarction arrhythmic cardiac deaths are significantly more frequent compared to non-arrhythmic ones. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the frequency and complexity of ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction.

Methods: The study included 293 patients, mean age 59.

Crosstalk of Various Biomarkers That Might Provide Prompt Identification of Acute or Chronic Cardiorenal Syndromes.

Introduction: Pathophysiological interaction between the heart and kidneys represents the basis for clinical entities called cardiorenal syndromes. The purpose of the study was to assess the relations between acute and chronic cardiorenal syndromes and biomarkers [advanced oxidation protein products, brain natriuretic peptide, malondialdehyde, xanthine oxidoreductase (XOD), xanthine oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, interleukin 8, cystatin C, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, high-sensitive troponin T, C-reactive protein and glomerular filtration rate, measured by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula], to hypothesize biomarkers that might provide a prompt identification of acute or chronic cardiorenal syndromes, and to distinguish acute versus chronic types of these syndromes.

Methods: A total of 114 participants were enrolled in this study, i.

Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients with Respect to the Immunosuppression Protocol - Differences or Similarities?

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate parameters of oxidative and nitrosative stress as well as antioxidative parameters in a group of renal transplant recipients with stable graft function and no clinical signs of cardiovascular disease. We also aimed to determine the correlations among these parameters and to evaluate potential differences in all the biomarkers with regard to the immunosuppression protocol.

Methods: We enrolled 57 renal transplant recipients and 31 controls who were age and sex matched with the renal transplant recipients.

The assessment of renalase: searching for the best predictor of early renal dysfunction by multivariate modeling in stable renal transplant recipients.

Background: Renal transplant dysfunction has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiac, non-cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality in post-transplantation follow-up.

Material And Methods: We enrolled 73 renal transplant recipients who were more than 12 months post-renal transplant surgery, had stable graft function, and were on standard immunosuppression. The purpose of the study was to observe the relation between renal dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction parameters (nitrates, asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase), and renalase, and to hypothesize the best predictor of early renal dysfunction by multivariate modeling.

Potential role of tacrolimus in erythrocytes' antioxidative capacity in long-term period after renal transplantation.

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of tacrolimus daily dose (TDD) as well as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 6986A>G and ABCB1 3435C>T polymorphisms on the erythrocytes' oxidative stress parameters in long-term period after renal transplantation (Tx). Secondly, we investigated whether tacrolimus and/or oxidative injury might have affected renal function or it was independent from both. In order to evaluate erythrocytes' oxidative stress status in 72 renal transplant recipients and 62 healthy volunteers, we measured the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) as well.

Circulating purine compounds, uric acid, and xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase relationship in essential hypertension and end stage renal disease.

Purine nucleotide liberation and their metabolic rate of interconversion may be important in the development of hypertension and its renal consequences. In the present study, blood triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) breakdown pathway was evaluated in relation to uric acid concentration and xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase (XDH/XO) in patients with essential hypertension, patients with chronic renal diseases on dialysis, and control individuals. The pattern of nucleotide catabolism was significantly shifted toward catabolic compounds, including ADP, AMP, and uric acid in patients on dialysis program.