Management of severe pyogenic spinal infections: the 2SICK study by the EANS spine section.

Background Context: Spondylodiscitis management presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in critically ill patients, where the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be carefully balanced. The optimal timing of surgery in this context remains a subject of debate.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early surgery versus delayed surgery or conservative management in critically ill patients with de novo pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Pineal Tumor Surgery-The Choice of the Approach Related to Tumor Characteristics and Posterior Fossa Anatomy.

Objective: This research aimed to determine whether an adequate surgical approach can be chosen based on clearly defined values of anatomical landmarks (tentorial angle) and tumor size and extension.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients operated on because of pineal tumors. The cohort was divided depending on the surgical approach.

Measurement of chromosomal instability and level of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of endometrial cancer patients.

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common invasive gynecologic malignancies in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate chromosomal instability and level of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of newly diagnosed endometrial cancer patients in relation to health status (diagnosis), age, histological grade of cancer, residence, smoking, number of pregnancies, miscarriages, and abortions. The analyzed sample consisted of 60 individuals, 30 endometrial cancer patients with an average age of 64.

Germline Variants in Cancer Predisposition Genes in Pediatric Patients with Central Nervous System Tumors.

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise around 20% of childhood malignancies. Germline variants in cancer predisposition genes (CPGs) are found in approximately 10% of pediatric patients with CNS tumors. This study aimed to characterize variants in CPGs in pediatric patients with CNS tumors and correlate these findings with clinically relevant data.

A potential role of mechano-gated potassium channels in meningioma-related seizures.

Every third patient with intracranial meningioma develops seizures of poorly understood etiology. Tumor and peritumoral edema may exert mechanical pressure on the cortex that may affect mechano-gated potassium channels - KCNK2 and KCNK4. These channels regulate neuron excitability and have been related to seizures in some other conditions.

Reconstruction of Moderately and Severely Atrophic Scalp-A Multicentric Experience in Surgical Treatment of Patients Irradiated for Tinea Capitis in Childhood and Surgical Algorithm.

: Before the introduction of griseofluvin, the use of X-ray radiation was the treatment of choice for tinea capitis. More than half a century later various types of tumors have been found to be associated with childhood irradiation due to tinea capitis, most commonly cancers of the head and neck, as well as brain tumors. The often unusually aggressive and recurrent nature of these tumors necessitates the need for repeated surgeries, while the atrophic skin with an impaired vascular supply due to radiation often poses an additional challenge for defect reconstruction.

Proapoptotic and proautophagy effect of H1-receptor antagonist desloratadine in human glioblastoma cell lines.

Glioblastomas are aggressive and usually incurable high-grade gliomas without adequate treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of desloratadine to induce apoptosis/autophagy as genetically regulated processes that can seal cancer cell fates. All experiments were performed on U251 human glioblastoma cell line and primary human glioblastoma cell culture.

Putative application of Najas marina L. extracts as a source of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and genotoxic properties.

In this research paper, the total phenols (TP), flavonoids (TF), and tannins (TT) content in the acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of Najas marina L. and the identification and quantification of phenolic acids and flavonoids from the ethyl acetate extract were performed. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties of the mentioned extracts were investigated in vitro.

Total diagnostic interval in children with brain tumours in a middle-income country: national experience from Serbia.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the total diagnostic interval (TDI) and presenting complaints in children with brain tumours in Serbia.

Methods: This study retrospectively analysed 212 children aged 0-18 years newly diagnosed with brain tumours in two tertiary centres from mid-March 2015 to mid-March 2020 covering virtually all children with brain tumours in Serbia. TDI was calculated as the difference between the date of diagnosis and the date of symptom onset presented as a median in weeks.

Factors associated with preoperative and early and late postoperative seizures in patients with supratentorial meningiomas.

Objective: Risk factors for epilepsy in meningioma patients are not yet clearly defined, however, seizure freedom is a significant factor for quality of life after surgery.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of the 333 adult patients who received surgery for supratentorial meningioma at our center. Various clinical, radiological, and surgical variables were included in the multivariate regression, and the outcomes measured were the occurrence of seizure(s) preoperatively, during the hospitalization, and during the follow-up period.

Genome instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical condition characterized by functional and structural defects of the myocardium, but genetic and environmental factors are considered to play an important role in the development of the disease. In the present study, we investigated the genome instability (DNA and chromosomal damage) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) ≤40% and its association with risk factors. The studied population included 48 individuals, of which 29 HFrEF patients (mean age 57.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of 806 Pediatric Oncology Patients Treated With Radiotherapy at the Serbian National Cancer Center.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the multimodal treatment of childhood cancer. Our objective was to provide an analysis of pediatric oncology patients treated with radiotherapy in a national referral institution in Serbia. A retrospective chart review of children treated with radiotherapy between January 2007 and July 2018 was conducted.

Homozygous-Recessive Characteristics as a Biomarker of Predisposition for COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a new form of severe acute respiratory syndrome, has caused a global pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze homozygous-recessive characteristics (HRC) in the group of COVID-19 patients, considering their gender, forms of the disease (mild and severe symptoms), risk factors: hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, hyperlipidemia, smoking habits, and the distribution of ABO blood group. Using the HRC test, we analyzed 20 HRCs in a sample of 321 individuals: 205 patients and 116 controls.

L., Turra and their constituents reduce mitomycin C-induced genomic instability in human peripheral blood lymphocytes .

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous and acetone extracts from L. (AV) and Turra (AA), and two major polyphenols compounds (3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside) presented in both extracts of the plants against mitomycin C (MMC)-induced genomic instability. Genomic instability was measured using cytokinesis block micronucleus (MN) assay in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) by analyzing two biomarkers - MN and nuclear division index (NDI).

Case Report: Atypical Solitary Brain Metastasis: The Role of MR Spectroscopy In Differential Diagnosis.

Background: Metastatic brain tumors are typically located at the cerebral hemispheres or the cerebellum and most frequently originate from primary breast or lung tumors. Metastatic lesions are usually associated with blood-brain barrier disruption, solid or ring-like contrast enhancement, and perilesional vasogenic edema on brain imaging. Even in cases where metastases are predominantly cystic, enhancement of the minor solid component can be detected.

Association between microRNAs 10b/21/34a and acute toxicity in glioblastoma patients treated with radiotherapy and temozolomide.

A personalized approach to chemoradiation is important in reducing its potential side effects and identifying a group of patients prone to toxicity. MicroRNAs have been shown to have a predictive potential for radiotoxicity. The goal of the study was to test if levels of miRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of glioblastoma patients are associated with toxicity and to identify the peak time point for toxicity.

The sellar region as presenting theater for hematologic malignancies-A 17-year single-center experience.

Hematological neoplastic mass lesions of the sellar region are rare. We identified five cases of hematological malignancy with first presentation in the sellar region from our departmental database of 1,405 patients (0.36%) with sellar lesions diagnosed over the 17-year period (2005-2021).

Comparative study of the genotoxic activity of L. and Turra extracts .

In this study, the genotoxic activity of acetone and aqueous extracts of two species of genus Artemisia ( L. and Turra), and possible role of their polyphenolic composition in the observed activities were investigated. Polyphenolic contents were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA), while the genotoxic activity was tested using cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) .

Assessment of Chromosomal Damage in Umbilical Blood Lymphocytes of Newborns from Kragujevac in Central Serbia Born 18 Years after Environmental Contamination.

The measurement of micronuclei (MN) in umbilical blood lymphocytes of newborns are increasingly used in cytogenetic epidemiology as one of the preferred methods for assessing chromosomal damage resulted from maternal exposure to mutagen. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of strong environmental contamination (EC) (which occured in the City of Kragujevac, Central Serbia in 1999) on the MN frequency in group of 22 newborns born in Kragujevac 18 years after EC, using cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The mean MN frequency in umbilical lymphocytes of these newborns was 5.

Clinical profile, treatment and outcome of pediatric brain tumors in Serbia in a 10-year period: A national referral institution experience.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of children with primary brain tumors, the effectiveness of treatment modalities, and to detect factors related to the outcome.

Methods: A detailed analysis was performed on a series of 173 pediatric patients treated in a Serbian referral oncology institution between 2007 and 2016, based on their clinical, histological, treatment, and follow-up data.

Results: Mean survival time of all children was 94.

UNUSUAL CLINICAL COURSE OF NEUROSARCOIDOSIS MANIFESTED WITH ACUTE HYDROCEPHALUS.

Approximately 5% to 15% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis develop neurological complications. However, the actual prevalence of subclinical disease may be higher. Symptoms are not specific, and may resemble those of other neurological diseases.