Micro-RNA Signature in CSF Before and After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of gene expression and have been reported to be dysregulated in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is an immune-ablative treatment intervention for pwMS. Currently, it is unknown if aHSCT affects expression levels of miRNAs in CSF.

Impact of IL-6 and IL-10 genotypes on tacrolimus dose requirements in kidney transplant recipients: Monte Carlo analysis.

IL-6 and IL-10 may affect the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A enzymes involved in tacrolimus (Tac) metabolism. Moreover, the effect of IL-6 and IL-10 on Tac pharmacokinetics may differ with respect to the genetic variations in their genes. To examine the influence of IL-6 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms on Tac dose requirements and exposure over a 5-year period following kidney transplantation.

Validation and application of a method for determination of multi-class pesticides in muscle chicken breast fillets using QuEChERS extraction and GC/MS.

Introduction: The occurrence of pesticide residues in animal products deserves attention because of the contamination by environmental pollutants and pesticides that may be present in the food that animals are fed. The goal of this work was the validation of a method for detection of residues of multiple classes of pesticide and determination of their residues in chicken breast fillets.

Material And Methods: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used for analysis.

Cerebrospinal fluid mtDNA concentrations are increased in multiple sclerosis and were normalized after intervention with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern molecule and could be an early indicator for inflammation and disease activity in MS. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is a potent treatment for MS, but its impact on mtDNA levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) remains unexplored.

Objectives: To verify elevated CSF mtDNA concentrations in MS patients and assess the impact of aHSCT on mtDNA concentrations.

Utility of salivary mycophenolic acid concentration monitoring: Modeling and Monte Carlo validation approach.

The results of the previous studies demonstrated an association between mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure, serum albumin level (ALB), and adverse effects in kidney transplant patients. The aim was the identification of mathematical correlation and association between both, total and unbound MPA concentration in relation to ALB, body mass (BM), age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in stable kidney transplant recipients. Furthermore, investigation was conducted with the aim to clarify the role of salivary concentration (C ) of MPA in adverse effect profile.

Factors Associated With Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Rituximab.

Importance: B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies are widely used for treatment of multiple sclerosis but are associated with an impaired response to vaccines.

Objective: To identify factors associated with a favorable vaccine response to tozinameran.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a specialized multiple sclerosis clinic at a university hospital from January 21 to December 1, 2021.

Spasmolytic, Gastroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Dry Methanol Extract of Ferula heuffelii Underground Parts.

Dry MeOH extract of Ferula heuffelii (Apiaceae) underground parts was tested for spasmolytic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA; 34.6 mg/g) was its main constituent.

The presence of deer ked (Lipoptena cervi, Linnaeus, 1758) in Balkan chamois from the National Park Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This case study describes the presence of a deer ked (, Linnaeus, 1758) in the Balkan chamois () from the area of the National Park "Sutjeska", Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). This is the first finding of this ectoparasite in this animal species in B&H, which indicates that deer ked has significant adaptive abilities to different animal hosts.

Effect of the Interrelation between CYP3A5 Genotype, Concentration/Dose Ratio and Intrapatient Variability of Tacrolimus on Kidney Graft Function: Monte Carlo Simulation Approach.

: Tacrolimus (Tac) is characterized by large between- and within-patient (IPV) variability in pharmacokinetics and exposure. : This study aimed to assess and validate the effect of Tac IPV and trough concentration-to-dose ratio (C/D) over 6-12 months on reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values in the late period after kidney transplantation (Tx), applying Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. : The previously published linear regression was the basis for MC simulation, performed to determine how variations in significant predictors affect the distribution of eGFR from 13 to 36 months post-transplantation.

Prevalence, Intensity and Risks Involved in Helminth Infections in Domestic Mountain Pony and Balkan Donkey in Nature Park Stara Planina, Serbia.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity and risk factors (age and gender) promoting the intestinal helminthic infections of the Domestic mountain ponies and Balkan donkeys in Serbia.

Methods: Prevalence, intensity and risk factors influencing helminth infection in horses (n=39) and donkeys (n=18) at the site of Nature Park Stara Planina, were studied from May to Sep 2015. The presence of one or several gastrointestinal helminth species was confirmed by faecal flotation in 97.

Immunohistochemical expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16 and p57 in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly malignant cancer and is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents, but it is rare in adults (<1% of all adult malignancies). Altered expression and molecular abnormalities of cell-cycle-regulatory proteins are one of the most prominent features in RMS. Therefore, we evaluated the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p57 and p16, as well as p16 methylation status, along with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) in RMS patients.

Effects of mood stabilizer lithium on noradrenergic turnover in the prefrontal cortex of chronically stressed rats.

Objective: Data about the dynamics of noradrenaline (NA) transmission, storage and degradation may be very important for understanding the reduction of functional deficiency of NA and maintaining the stability of NA levels in animals with depressive-like behavior treated with lithium. This study aimed to investigate the effects of mood stabilizer lithium on concentrations of NA in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as behavior rats exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS). In addition, this study examined the effects of lithium on protein levels of noradrenaline transporter (NET), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), as well as the enzyme activity of monoamine oxidase A (MOA) in the PFC of chronically stressed rats.

Influence of breed on selected quality parameters of fresh goat meat.

The potential of goats to produce a high-quality meat is mainly reflected in their healthy fats, low calorie intramuscular fats, saturated fats, and, especially, their high ratios of unsaturated (UFA) and saturated (SFA) fatty acids, as well as hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids. The aim of this study was to collect and compare meat quality parameters for domestic Balkan, Alpine and Saanen goats of the same age. Samples for all tests were taken from .

Side-by-side evaluation of virtual non-contrast and post-contrast images improves detection of clinically significant urolithiasis on single-phase split bolus dual-energy CT urography.

Objectives: Studies show insufficient sensitivity of virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstructions for stone detection in dual-energy CT urography (DE-CTU). The aim of this study was to investigate if side-by-side-evaluation of both VNC and post-contrast images could increase the sensitivity of single-phase split bolus DE-CTU.

Methods: Consecutive patients with haematuria who underwent split bolus DE-CTU on the same dual-source DE-CT scanner were retrospectively enrolled in the study.

Canine intestinal parasites as a potential source of soil contamination in the public areas of Kruševac, Serbia.

Introduction: Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people. In this research the presence of parasitic elements in canine faeces found in the public areas of Kruševac was examined.

Methodology: During May and October 2018, 282 samples were collected from different public areas (ten kindergartens, six public squares and four parks).

Assessment of pharmacokinetic mycophenolic acid clearance models using Monte Carlo numerical analysis.

Previously, we performed population pharmacokinetic analysis and indicated age, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/mycophenolic acid (MPA) daily dose, and presence of nifedipine in patient therapy as significant predictors of MPA apparent clearance (CL/F) variability. This study aimed to determine the reliability of previously published population pharmacokinetic models derived from similar studies. Furthermore, this study investigated correspondence between chosen population models from the literature.

The effect of antioxidant status on overall survival in renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The oxidative stress contributes to all three phases of carcinogenesis and represents a concomitant condition in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RCC is the most common type of neoplasm of the kidney, and despite numerous studies the set of predictive and prognostic markers of survival are still unknown. The aim of our study was to examine the relation between antioxidant (AO) status and overall survival (OS) in RCC patients.

Beneficial Role of ROS in Cell Survival: Moderate Increases in HO Production Induced by Hepatocyte Isolation Mediate Stress Adaptation and Enhanced Survival.

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to impairment of cell structure, biomolecules' loss of function and cell death and are associated with liver diseases. Cells that survive increased ROS often undergo malignant transformation. Many cancer cells tolerate high levels of ROS.

Evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) Circulation in Wild Birds and WNV RNA Negativity in Mosquitoes of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania, 2016.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic flavivirus whose transmission cycle in nature includes wild birds as amplifying hosts and ornithophilic mosquito vectors. Bridge vectors can transmit WNV to mammal species potentially causing West Nile Fever. Wild bird migration is a mode of WNV introduction into new areas.

Serum Concentrations and Pharmacokinetics of Tranexamic Acid after Two Means of Topical Administration in Massive Weight Loss Skin-Reducing Surgery.

Background: Topical administration of tranexamic acid to reduce bleeding is receiving increasing attention, as it is inexpensive, simple, and possibly beneficial in most surgery. Concerns regarding potential systemic adverse effects such as thromboembolic events and seizures may prevent general use of tranexamic acid. Although serum concentrations after topical application are assumed to be low, proper pharmacokinetic studies of tranexamic acid after topical application are lacking.

Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes in Patients with Uterine Polyp, Myoma, Hyperplasia, and Adenocarcinoma.

We previously found that compared to patients with benign uterine diseases (polyps, myomas), patients with premalignant (hyperplasia simplex and complex) and malignant (adenocarcinoma) lesions had enhanced lipid peroxidation and altered uterine antioxidant enzyme (AOE) activities. To further elucidate the mechanism of the observed changes, we examined protein and mRNA levels of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and transcription factor Nrf2. We also examined correlations of AOE expression with AOE activity, lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) level, and level of Nrf2.

Cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Serbia.

Among the wild canids, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is recognised as an important reservoir species for a range of parasites, including cardiopulmonary nematodes of public health and veterinary importance. As cross-host transmission between the red fox and domestic carnivores can play an important role in the epizootiology of cardiopulmonary parasitic diseases, the aim of the present investigations was to obtain data on the geographical distribution of cardiopulmonary nematodes of the red fox. The material for examination consisted of 83 foxes which were legally hunted at different locations during a three-month period from December 2017 to February 2018.

Alaria alata mesocercariae in domestic pigs and wild boars in South Banat, northern Serbia.

Alaria alata (Diplostomidae, Trematoda), a potentially zoonotic pathogen, is the only Alaria species in Europe. In recent years, increasing reports of mesocercariae of A. alata in wild boars have been recorded in European countries; however there have been no described cases in domestic pigs over the past decades.

Cyclin D1 and p57 expression in relation to clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: There is a need for identifying molecular prognostic biomarkers to better predict clinical outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study investigated the pattern of cyclin D1 and p57 expression in RCC patients and evaluated their relation with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS).

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 74 RCC patients.

Modulation of Hippocampal Antioxidant Defense System in Chronically Stressed Rats by Lithium.

This study examined the effects of lithium on gene expression and activity of the antioxidant enzymes copper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) in the hippocampus of chronically stressed rats. In addition, we examined the effects of lithium on anxiety behaviors, hippocampal concentrations of dopamine (DA) and malondialdehyde (MDA), protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter (DAT), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), as well as activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in chronically stressed rats. The investigated parameters were quantified by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot analyses, and assays of enzyme activities.