Microinflammation factors in the common diseases of the heart and kidneys.

Aim: To determine levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in different cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) modalities and to compare findings to some already investigated direct and indirect parameters of inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Materials And Methods: Testing involved 114 examinees, divided into control and clinical groups suffering from different modalities and were formed according to the basis of a valid classification for CRS.

Results: C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in all CRSs in comparison to the control group (P < 0.

Arginase activity and lecithin/sphingomyelin (l/s) ratio in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women.

Arginase activity is important in polyamines and nitric oxide production which are required for the normal growth of placenta and embryo. A considerable arginase activity is observed in amniotic fluid in women at the end of pregnancy. Lecithin to sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio is widely used in order to assess fetal lung immaturity and prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Gynaecological cancer mortality in Serbia, 1991-2010: a joinpoint regression analysis.

This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to analyse the mortality trends from gynaecological cancer in Serbia. Average annual percentage of change (AAPC) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for trend using joinpoint regression analysis. Nearly 25,000 gynaecological cancer deaths occurred in Serbia during the 1991-2010 period, with the average annual age-standardised mortality rate being 17.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a case report.

Introduction: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a very rare familial disease with the predisposition to the development of malignant tumors, such as osteosarcoma, breast cancer, brain neoplasm, leukemia, and adrenal tumors. Inheritance is autosomal dominant and is caused by heterozygous mutations in the p53 gene. The diagnosis is based on clinical criteria: a person under the age of 45 years suffering from sarcoma, the closest relative younger than 45 years diagnosed with cancer and a relative of the first or second degree, which is up to 45 years, was diagnosed with cancer and was diagnosed with sarcoma at any age.

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica: a case report.

Introduction: Dysplasia epphysealis hemimelica, also known as Trevor's disease, is an extremely rare skeletal developmental disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by an osteocartilaginous outgrowth of one or more epiphyses or of a tarsal bone during childhood.

Case Report: We presented a sporadic case of dysplasia Epipysealis hemimelica developed in the talus. A 6-year-old boy complained of swelling of his right ankle joint, with painful and reduced movements.

The dichotomy of the Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor: RTK and GPCR: friend or foe for cancer treatment?

The prime position of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), at the head of the principle mitogenic and anti-apoptotic signalling cascades, along with the resilience to transformation of IGF-1R deficient cells fuelled great excitement for its anti-cancer targeting. Yet its potential has not been fulfilled, as clinical trial results fell far short of expectations. Advancements in understanding of other receptors' function have now begun to shed light on this incongruity, with the now apparent parallels highlighting the immaturity of our understanding of IGF-1R biology, with the model used for drug development now recognised as having been too simplistic.

Malignant lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms mortality in Serbia, 1991-2010: a joinpoint regression analysis.

Background: Limited data on mortality from malignant lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms have been published for Serbia.

Methods: The study covered population of Serbia during the 1991-2010 period. Mortality trends were assessed using the joinpoint regression analysis.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvascular density assessment in different histotypes of basal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor microvascular density (MVD) in different histotypes of basal cell skin carcinoma (BCC).

Methods: We used a total 101 histological archival specimens, including superficial, nodular, cystic, keratinocytic, adenoid infiltrative types and cases of metatypical BCC. Routine hematoxylin/eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical ABC method with NOT AE1/AE3, anti VEGF anti CD34 antibodies were used.

Radiobiological effects of multiple vs. single low-dose pre-irradiation on the HT29 cell line.

Aim Of The Study: Aim of the study was to compare radiobiological effects of multiple vs. single low-dose pre-irradiation on the HT29 cell line. This regime is designed to be as similar as possible to fractionated tumour radiotherapy treatment, and to provide data on radiobiological effects on human tumour cells.

The presence of dysautonomia in different subgroups of myasthenia gravis patients.

To analyze the presence of autonomic dysfunction in different subgroups of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Standard cardiovascular reflex tests according to Ewing, spectral and time domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) at rest were assessed in 27 patients with thymoma-associated acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-positive MG, 25 AChR-positive MG patients without thymoma and 23 patients with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) MG. All patients were compared to the healthy controls, matched for sex and age.

Association of renin-angiotensin system genes polymorphism with progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background/aim: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) as a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) include a progressive increase in urinary albumin excretion in association with an increase in blood pressure and to end stage renal failure. Hypertension connected with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) hyperactivity and corresponding genotypes, angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensine-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), predispose the increasing risk of DN. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of AGT, ACE and AT1R gene polymorphisms in patients with type 1 DM according to the level of DN and patients clinical characteristics.

In vitro--in silico--in vivo drug absorption model development based on mechanistic gastrointestinal simulation and artificial neural networks: nifedipine osmotic release tablets case study.

In vitro--in vivo correlations (IVIVC) are generally accepted as a valuable tool in modified release formulation development aimed at (i) quantifying the in vivo drug delivery profile and formulation related effects on absorption; (ii) establishing clinically relevant dissolution specifications and (iii) supporting the biowaiver claims. The aim of the present study was to develop relevant IVIVC models based on mechanistic gastrointestinal simulation (GIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis and to evaluate their applicability and usefulness in biopharmaceutical drug characterisation. Nifedipine osmotic release tablets were selected as model drug product on the basis of their robustness, dissolution limited drug absorption and the availability of relevant literature data.

Chemical composition of Angelica pancicii essential oil determined by liquid and headspace GC-MS techniques.

The essential oil of the Balkan endemic species, Angelica pancicii, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed by GC and GC-MS, applying the liquid injection mode. These results were compared with the chemical composition of volatiles achieved by the "headspace" injection mode, followed by GC and GC-MS (HS-GC-MS). A total of 40 compounds were identified in the essential oil (98.

Increasing frequency of soft tissue sarcomas in Vojvodina - comparison with the literature.

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent 1% of all malignant lesions. In this study the authors analyzed the incidence of STS in Vojvodina (the north region of Serbia) in the period from 1985 to 2009. A number of studies conducted worldwide indicate that STS incidence rates are tending to increase.

Cigarette smoking and breast cancer: a case-control study in Serbia.

Background: Despite the fact that breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide, more than half of the breast cancer risk factors remained unexplained. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of cigarette smoking with risk of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Clinical Centre of Kragujevac, Serbia, covering 382 participants (191 cases and 191 controls).

Abortion and breast cancer: case-control study.

Aims And Background: The aim of the present study was to examine if certain aspects of a woman's experience of abortion might be associated with the risk of breast cancer.

Methods And Study Design: The case-control study was conducted in Kragujevac (Serbia) during the period 2004-2005. The case group (191 women) consisted of patients with newly diagnosed first primary breast cancer, which was histologically confirmed.

Assessment of the consistency among three drug compendia in listing and ranking of drug-drug interactions.

Inconsistent information about drug-drug interactions can cause variations in prescribing, and possibly increase the incidence of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is an inconsistency in drug-drug interaction listing and ranking in three authoritative, freely accessible online drug information sources: The British National Formulary; The Compendium about Drugs Licensed for Use in the United Kingdom (the Electronic Medicines Compendium) and the Compendium about Drugs Licensed for Use in the United States (the DailyMed). Information on drug-drug interactions for thirty drugs which have a high or medium potential for interactions have been selected for analysis.

[Level of job satisfaction among employees working at healthcare facilities in Nisava and Toplica district].

Introduction: The product of health system and its employees is health service whose quality is related to the satisfaction and motivation of people working in health system. The objective of this study was to assess and compare satisfaction with different aspects of work among different categories of employees in healthcare facilities on primary, secondary and tertiary level of health care in Nisava and Toplica districts.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted as a one-day study in 15 healthcare facilities on primary level, in two public hospitals and 27 clinics of Clinical Centre of Nis, using anonymous questionnaire.

Arteriovenous fistula aneurysm in patients on regular hemodialysis: prevalence and risk factors.

Background/aims: Compared to all other complications, literature data about vascular access aneurysm (VAA) are the scarcest. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) aneurysms and to confirm the risk factors for their appearance.

Methods: The presence, number and morphological characteristics of AVF aneurysms were confirmed, and according to the score of AVF aneurysm (the sum of the length and width in cm), patients were classified into group 1 (score ≤12) and group 2 (score >12).

Analysis of mutant frequencies and mutation spectra in hMTH1 knockdown TK6 cells exposed to UV radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation is a highly mutagenic agent that damages the DNA by the formation of mutagenic photoproducts at dipyrimidine sites and by oxidative DNA damages via reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can also give rise to mutations via oxidation of dNTPs in the nucleotide pool, e.g.

[Surgical anatomy of the initial segment of the lateral circumflex femoral artery].

Introduction: The lateral circumflex femoral artery usually originates from the lateral side of the initial part of the deep femoral artery, or less frequently from the femoral artery. If it is a branch of the femoral artery, it arises directly above the point of origin of the deep femoral artery. The aim of this study was to determine the origin of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, its origin distance from the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and the topographical relations of the origin, which have a great significance in clinical work.

EMortality from cancer of the lung in Serbia.

Purpose: To estimate the death rates for lung cancer and their secular trends in the population of Serbia, excluding the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohia, over the 1991-2009 period.

Methods: A descriptive epidemiological method was employed. Trend of the lung cancer mortality rates was estimated using joinpoint linear regression analysis.

Pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia from 1991-2010 - a joinpoint analysis.

Aim: To analyze the trends of pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia.

Methods: The study covered the population of Serbia in the period 1991 to 2010. Mortality trends were assessed by the joinpoint regression analysis by age and sex.

Origin of the medial circumflex femoral artery--a cadaver study.

Aim: To determine the pattern of origin of medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA), its origin distance from the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and the topographical relations of the origin, which have great significance in clinical work.

Methods: Dissections on the autopsy group of 42 thighs were performed, and anatomical relationships of MCFA was analyzed. All data were entered into a scheme of the protocol which was designed for this research containing the case number, age and sex, side, topographical-anatomical relations of MCFA, artery dimensions and variations, and the distance between the place of origin of MCFA and the midpoint of the inguinal ligament.