Serologic and Genomic Investigation of West Nile Virus in Kosovo.

The prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) is increasing across Europe, with cases emerging in previously unaffected countries. Kosovo is situated in a WNV-endemic region where the seroepidemiological data on WNV in humans remains absent. To address this issue, we have conducted a seroepidemiological investigation of 453 randomly selected sera from a hospital in Kosovo, revealing a 1.

Baló Concentric Sclerosis Mimicking Encephalitis with Seizures and Progressive Aphasia in a 26-Year-Old Woman: A Challenging Diagnostic Dilemma.

Introduction: Baló's concentric sclerosis (BCS) is a rare subtype of multiple sclerosis characterized by inflammatory demyelination within the central nervous system.

Case Presentation: This case report presents a challenging diagnostic scenario involving a 26-year-old woman diagnosed with BCS. Despite treatment, her condition did not ameliorate, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings remained unchanged.

Ability of presepsin concentrations to predict mortality in adult patients with sepsis.

Background: Early diagnosis of sepsis is essential for a favorable disease outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of initial and subsequent presepsin concentrations with sepsis outcomes.

Methods: One hundred sepsis patients were enrolled in the study from two different university centers.

A 14-Year-Old Male Patient with Kawasaki Disease Presented with Stroke after COVID-19.

According to several studies, children represent only about 2% of the patients affected by the current SARS-CoV-2, and most often, they are asymptomatic. However, there is a concern about a vascular inflammatory disease which is similar to Kawasaki disease observed in children and adolescents weeks after infection. We report a case of Kawasaki disease presented with ischemic stroke in a 14-year-old male patient following SARS-Cov-2 infection.

Presepsin values as markers of severity of sepsis.

Objectives: Biomarkers are widely used for rapid diagnosis of sepsis. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating sepsis severity as well as their association with Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score.

Methods: One hundred septic patients from two university clinical centers were enrolled in the study during two time periods.

Relationship between Ribosomal Protein S6-pS240 Expression and other Prognostic Factors in Non-Special Type Invasive Breast Cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of ribosomal protein (RP) S6-pS240 in non-special type invasive breast cancer in relation to other prognostic markers and gain new insights to facilitate more individualized treatment.

Methods: The following clinical and histopathological parameters of 120 patients were determined: S6-pS240 expression, age, menopausal status, tumor size and grade, TNM stage, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), lymph node stage, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) expression, HER2/neu amplification, lymphovascular invasion, and proliferative index as measured by Ki-67. Treatment protocol and disease-free survival were evaluated accordingly.

Association of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder with migraine: Data from Kosovo.

Introduction: Migraine is ranked as the seventh leading cause of disability worldwide, and it is characterized by a manifestation of combined neurological, gastrointestinal, and autonomic symptoms linked with different provoking factors.

Aim Of The Study: This study investigates the association between migraine and PTSD, depression and anxiety in the Kosovo population during the post-war period.

Material And Methods: 273 war survivors with headache were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups: 153 individuals with confirmed migraine (the study group) and 120 individuals with non-migraine headaches (control group).

A Nonfatal Case of Dobrava Hantavirus Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Combined with Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome.

Among hantaviruses (HTNV), 22 are known as pathogenic for humans. HTNV can cause two clinical entities: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). In most countries of Eastern Europe as well as in Kosovo, HTNV infection is presented mainly as HFRS.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis associated with brain tuberculomas during pregnancy: a case report.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis is globally highly prevalent and is commoner in resource-limited countries and in patients with immunosuppression. Central nervous system tuberculosis is one of the severest forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis during pregnancy and associated brain tuberculomas have been rarely reported. With the availability of neuroimaging at our hospital center, we present the first case of tuberculous meningoencephalitis associated with brain tuberculomas during pregnancy.

Is there a relationship between genetic factors and the incidence and severity of H1N1 in Kosova?: A preliminary investigation and pointers for further research.

Background: Host genetic factors may impact susceptibility to infection. A small number of studies have investigated the association between factors such as ABO blood groups and selected phenotypes on the incidence and severity of H1N1 infections with inconclusive results.

Methods: Using data from the Clinic of Infectious Diseases - University Clinical Centre Prishtina and based on the examination of 125 patients hospitalized with H1N1 in the period 2009-2014, the frequency of blood groups from ABO and Rhesus (Rh) systems as phenotypical markers were evaluated.

Clinical Manifestations in 82 Neurobrucellosis Patients from Kosovo.

Background: Central nervous system involvement is a serious complication of brucellosis with various incidence and various clinical presentations.

Patients And Methods: Hospitalized patients in University Clinical Centre, Clinic for Infectious diseases in Prishtina, with laboratory-confirmed brucellosis, were analyzed, a brucellosis-endemic region. Among the 648 confirmed cases with brucellosis during the period 1991- 2013, 82 patients (12.

Isolation and Identification of Brucella melitensis Biovar 3 from Vaccinated Small Ruminants: A Public Health Threat in Kosovo.

In 2011, a human brucellosis case with severe clinical symptoms was reported at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Prishtina, Kosovo. A trace-back investigation was conducted to find the source of human infection. A total of 49 blood samples and 15 corresponding milk samples from sheep and goats raised on the patient's farm were taken for serological and molecular analysis.

Current situation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Southeastern Europe and neighboring countries: a public health risk for the European Union?

Unlabelled: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most widespread tick-borne viral infection of humans, occurring across western China through southern Asia, Middle East, and Southeastern Europe (SEE) and in the most of African countries. CCHF virus is maintained through vertical and horizontal transmission in several genera of ticks, mainly in Hyalomma, which spreads the virus to a variety of wild and domestic mammals, which develop a transient viremia without signs of illness. Human infections occur through tick bite or exposure to the blood or other body fluids of an infected animal or of a CCHF patient.

Elevated Liver Enzymes in Cases of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical parameters in serum of women with preeclampsia and IUGR.

Material And Methods: A clinical prospective study was conducted and included 120 pregnant women divided in two groups: non IUGR group included healthy pregnant women (n=60) and IUGR group included pregnant women with preeclampsia and IUGR (n=60). Outcome measures were following values of biochemical parameters in serum of mother and fetuses: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin (indirect and direct) and cholesterol.

Clinical role of Cefixime in community-acquired infections.

Unlabelled: Cefixime is an oral third generation cephalosporin, frequently used in respiratory tract infections (RTI) in the pediatric population. However, in some publications cefixime has demonstrated poor efficacy against staphylococci and streptococci.

The Aim: of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cefixime in the treatment of community-acquired infections in a country where parenteral third generation cephalosporins have been used for a long time.

Dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of invasive meningococcal diseases.

Purpose: With this study we want to evaluate the role of dexamethasone adjuvant treatment in different clinical forms of invasive meningococcal diseases. WORK METHODS: This was a randomized, open label trial that was conducted in 147 individuals with meningococcal sepsis. All of the cases have been divided in two groups: (1) Cases with meningococcal disease and CNS infection, and (2) Cases with meningococcal disease and no affection of the CNS.

Ecthyma gangrenosum in a patient with acute leukemia.

Ecthymagangrenosum (EG)is a rare condition with characteristic clinical appearance of red maculae that progresses to a central area of necrosis surrounded by an erythematous halo. The most frequently it is caused by Pseudomonas bacteriaemia in neutropenic patient. The authors presents a patient with acute myloblastic leukemia M4 type in whom in relapse EG caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis.

Tuberculous meningitis is an infection of the the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Tuberculous meningitis is a major global health problem and is the most severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, with high rate mortality. Last years in Kosovo incidence of TB was decreased in less than 1000 cases per year and 10-20 cases per year of TB meningoencephalitis.

Thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus.

Thrombosis of the sinuses is a distinct cerebrovascular disorder that, unlike arterial stroke, most often affects young adults and children. The symptoms and clinical course are highly variable. During the past decade, increased awareness of the diagnosis, improved neuro-imaging techniques, and more effective treatment have improved the prognosis.

Complications of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma during a 10-year period in Kosovo.

We review and discuss the results of treatments for complications of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (CCOM) in a tertiary health care center. In a retrospective study, the medical records of patients with complications of CCOM who had undergone surgical treatment at the ENT Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo for the period 1994-2004 were reviewed. From a total of 1,803 patients suffering from CCOM, in 91 patients, 55 (60.

Radiological imaging detection of tumors localized in fossa cranii posterior.

Unlabelled: Intracranial tumors are characterized by a variety imaging aspects and their detection is always a challenge. Clinical application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography has provided an earlier detection and treatment of many CNS pathologies. The aim of this study is to estimate the role of CT and MRI in the determination of posterior fossa tumors.