Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Hemodialyzed Patients and the Association with Later COVID-19 Positivity.

Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine may differ in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to determine the degree of serological response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the population of dialysis patients and its association with later SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Methods: A blood sample was taken for the determination of COVID-19 serological status (IgG antibodies) in 706 dialysis patients 16 weeks after vaccination with the second dose (Pfizer-BioNTech).

PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial disease the worldwide incidence of which is higher than the incidence of caries and represents one of the leading problems in dental medicine. It is manifested by the loss of the attachment apparatus of the tooth and leads to the loss of teeth. Numerous studies have shown the association of periodontal disease and various chronic systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.

Serum levels of the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: case-control study.

Introduction: The involvement of the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has been documented; however, the role of this proinflammatory molecule in children with diabetes type 1 (T1DM) has not been addressed. The aim of this case-control study is to compare the serum level of HMGB1 in children with newly diagnosed T1DM (group 1) and a control group composed of healthy children.

Material And Methods: This case-control study included 136 children: group 1 (n = 96) and a control group (n = 40).

Association Between Interleukin-10 Gene (-1082g/A) Polymorphism and Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes-Related Traits, and Microvascular Complications in the Croatian Population.

Interleukin (IL)-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and a decrease in its secretion is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. However, it has not been established whether the intensity of the immune response during diabetes-associated chronic inflammation affects the development and/or progression of type 2 diabetes and its microvascular complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-1082G/A for IL-10 gene in development of diabetes type 2 and its complications.

Interleukin 17A and Toll-like Receptor 4 in Patients with Arterial Hypertension.

Background/aims: Immune responses are involved in arterial hypertension. An observational cross-sectional case control study was conducted to estimate the association between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and interleukin (IL)-17A serum levels in patients with controlled and non-controlled hypertension.

Methods: We have enrolled 105 non-complicated otherwise healthy hypertensive patients: 53 with well-controlled blood pressure and 52 non-controlled.

Red blood cell distribution width as a simple negative prognostic factor in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective study.

Aim: To determine the prognostic value of baseline red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.

Methods: Data from 81 DLBCL patients diagnosed from 2006 to 2013 at the University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia, were reviewed. We evaluated disease outcome, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS), and demographic, clinical and laboratory factors affecting outcome.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is associated with juvenile spondyloarthritis in Croatian population.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of toll-like and NOD-like receptors have been associated with altered receptor activity and modified production of proinflammatory cytokines leading to a number of diseases. Our aim was to determine whether SNP of TLR2 (Arg753Gln), TLR4 (Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile), and NLRP3 (Q705K) influence susceptibility to juvenile spondyloarthrtis (jSpA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). After the DNA extraction, 26 patients with jSpA, 11 with oligoarticular, polyarticular, or systemic JIA, and 40 healthy controls were genotyped for Arg753Gln, Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile, and Q705K SNP using real-time PCR-SNP analysis.

Polymorphisms of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in chronically infected hepatitis C patients from north-east Croatia.

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is caused by an inadequate immune response. Experimental data suggest that the impaired activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 contributes to chronic infection. We assessed the distribution of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR2 (Arg753Gln) and TLR4 (Asp299Gly/Thr399Ile) genes in individuals from north-east Croatia and their effect on the outcome of antiviral therapy.

Postoperative immunosuppression markers and the occurrence of sepsis in patients with benign and malignant disease.

Aim: To investigate associations between the postoperative immune response and the levels of extracellular circulating DNA (cDNA), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the peripheral blood and their role as potential predictors of postoperative septic complications.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving 115 adult patients who underwent elective surgery. Patients were divided into three groups: with benign disease, with malignant disease, and with malignant disease and administration of dexamethasone.

Most common HCV genotypes in patients from north-eastern Croatia.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the HCV-RNA viral load, genotype distribution, risk factors and symptoms of HCVRNA positive viral load in HCV antibody-positive patients from north-eastern Croatia.

Materials And Methods: From January 2009 to December 2011, 203 HCV antibody- positive patients (130 men and 73 women; median age 44.5 years) were analyzed for HCV-RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test and genotyped by the Linear Array HCV Genotyping test (both from Roche).

Kinetics of changes in serum concentrations of procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and C- reactive protein after elective abdominal surgery. Can it be used to detect postoperative complications?

Postoperative increase in inflammation biologic markers is associated with a nonspecific inflammatory response to a surgical injury. We investigated the kinetics of changes in serum concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) after abdominal surgeries and we focused on the behaviour of those markers in the case of development of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). In the single centre we conducted a prospective observational study and we included patients admitted to the ICU after elective abdominal surgery.

[Angiotensin-converting enyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and blood pressure regulation in type 2 diabetic patients].

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been shown to have important role in blood pressure regulation. Inconsistent results have been reported regarding the association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (NCBI ref. SNP ID: rs1799752) and hypertension as well as a contributing factor in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Ramipril and risk of hyperkalemia in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors provide well known cardiorenal-protective benefits added to antihypertensive effects in chronic renal disease. These agents are underused in management of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) because of common concern of hyperkalemia. However, few studies have investigated effect of renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade on serum potassium in hemodialysis patients.

Integrity of gut mucosa during anaesthesia in major abdominal surgery.

The aim of the study was to examine a perfusion and integrity of small bowel in 60 subsequent patients during the major open abdominal surgery which lasted from 2 to 7 hours. Two samples of the intestinal mucosa were removed: at the beginning, and at the end of the surgical procedure in general anaesthesia. A mucosal injury was classified into 4 grades.

Association of CYP2C9 gene polymorphism with bleeding as a complication of warfarin therapy.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of bleeding as a complication of warfarin therapy with polymorphism of CYP2C9 gene (alleles 1, 2 and 3). The CYP2C9 is the main enzyme for warfarin metabolism. Study included 181 patients receiving warfarin for at least one month.

Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary artery disease.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with coronary artery disease (n = 90) and control group (n = 90) were enrolled into this randomized, multi-centre study.

Human leptospirosis in eastern Croatia, 1969-2003: epidemiological, clinical, and serological features.

This survey presents epidemiological, serological and clinical features of 270 patients (85% males, 18% children) treated for leptospirosis from 1969 to 2003 at the Clinic for Infective Diseases, University Hospital Osijek, Osijek, eastern Croatia. 75% of the admissions were between July and October. The route of transmission was mostly by indirect contact with domestic animals, less frequently by direct contact with urine or tissue of infected animals.

Effects of rHuEPO treatment on red blood cell osmotic resistance.

Red blood cell osmotic resistance (RBCOR) is defined as resistance to osmotic changes in cell integrity after their exposure to hypotonic saline solution. The investigation examined the effect of rHuEPO on RBCOR in hemodialysed patients. The study included 58 patients aged 49 +/- 14 years, treated by hemodialysis for 59 +/- 43 months on average.