Increased inflammatory response in patients with the first myocardial infarction and nonsignificant stenosis of infarct-related artery.

Introduction/aim: Atherosclerosis presents a serial of highly specific cellular and molecular responses, and could be described as inflammatory diseases. Accordingly, for development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), structure and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque are more important than the extent of stenosis of infarct-related artery. Consequently, inflammation and atherosclerosis and its complications are in good correlation.

Epidemiology of nosocomial colonization/infection caused by Acinetobacter spp. in patients of six surgical clinics in war and peacetime.

Background/aim: Acinetobacter spp. has emerged as nosocomial pathogen during the past few decades in hospitals all over the world, but it has increasingly been implicated as a serious nosocomial pathogen in military hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the surveillance data on Acinetobacter nosocomial colonization/infection (NCI) collected during the wartime with the data collected in peacetime.

Combination of narrow band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) videobronchoscopy in endoscopic assessment of lung cancer extension.

Both narrow band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) are new techniques for the assessment of lung cancer. The major aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of these two techniques improve sensitivity and specificity in the assessment of lung cancer extension. The study prospectively evaluated 118 patients with suspected lung cancer.

Therapeutic hypothermia and neurological outcome after cardiac arrest.

Introduction/aim: The most important clinically relevant cause of global cerebral ischemia is cardiac arrest. Clinical studies showed a marked neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia in resuscitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mild hypothermia on neurological outcome and survival of the patients in coma, after cardiac arrest and return of spontaneous circulation.

[Low arterial pressure on admission as a predictor of mortality in operated patients with type A aortic dissection].

Background/aim: Hypertension is a known predictor of proximal aortic dissection, but it is not commonly present in these patients on presentation. The associations between ascending aorta with left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiovascular risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis, and outcome of these patients are not fully elucidated.

Methods: This retrospective study included 55 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection treated surgically in our institution during the last 2 years.

Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness in military pilots.

Background: The common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus in apparently healthy men. The relationship between features of metabolic syndrome (MS) and CCAIMT is not fully understood. We conducted this study to assess the cross-sectional relationship between CCAIMT and MS parameters in military pilots during their regular annual medical physical examinations.

[Urgent percutaneous coronary intervention leads to a decrease in serum concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand].

Background/aim: Inflammation as a consequence of vascular injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a pathological substrate of restenosis and of its complications. The aim of the study was to examine perprocedural inflammatory response expressed by soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients treated with PCI and dual antiplatelet therapy.

Methods: The experimental group included 52 patients (80.

Effects of tirofiban and percutaneous coronary intervention in an old patient with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

A 75 year old man presented in our institutition with acute inferoposterior and right ventricular ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, 40 minutes after the pain onset. He was pretreated with 300 mg of aspirin, 600 mg of clopidogrel, and was taken to the catheterization laboratory. Door to needle time was 35 minutes.

Surgical site infections in a tertiary health care center: prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of surgical site infections (SSIs) using the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary health care center. Infection control personnel collected general and health care related data about patients.

Clinical risk factors for early complications after high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy in the palliative treatment of lung cancer.

Purpose: This study sought to identify the rate of complications and clinical risk factors for early complications of high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDR-EBBT). The identification of these risk factors could result in a decrease or avoidance of complications.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed risk factors for complications in 761 patients with advanced-stage lung cancer who were treated with HDR-EBBT as a part of the multimodality therapy.

[Efficacy of combined antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection in intravenous drug users].

Introduction: Hepatitis C Virus infection represents not just a medical, but also a socio-economic problem. It is estimated that among 170 million infected, 60% belongs to the category of intravenous drug users (IDUs).

Objective: The aim of this paper was to compare the response to the combined therapy of pegylated interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin, in the group of patients with HCV infection who were intravenous drug users (IDUs) and in patients who were identified in the other way of transmission of HCV.

Changes in platelets and anticoagulant protein activity during adenosine-exercise single-photon emission computed tomography stress test.

Introduction: Activation of haemostasis during physical stress or during myocardial ischemia could be an important mechanism to trigger coronary and stent thrombosis. We examined changes in haemostatic parameters and its association with myocardial ischemia during adenosine-exercise-SPECT (adeno-EX) stress test in coronary patients at least 4 months after coronary stenting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine relationship between changes in haemostatic parameters and stress induced myocardial ischemia quantified by perfusion scintigraphy in stented coronary patients.

[Exercise induced rhabdomyolysis].

Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening disease, characterized by the release of intracellular calcium from skeletal muscles and can result in acute renal failure.

Case Report: A nineteen year old boy was admitted to the Clinic for Infective Diseases of Clinical Center Novi Sad. The disease was developing gradually and the symptoms were dizziness, muscle pain and dark color of urine.

Autofluorescence imaging videobronchoscopy improves assessment of tumor margins and affects therapeutic strategy in central lung cancer.

Objective: Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) videobronchoscopy is a new endoscopic tool that improves visualization of neoplastic changes in the bronchial mucosa. The major aim of our study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of the technique in the assessment of tumor extent (margins). The secondary objective was to evaluate the possible effect of AFI on the change in therapeutic decisions of lung cancer treatment.

[Correlation between acute coronary syndrome, hyperlipoproteinemia and statins].

Atherosclerosis is defined as a chronic, progressive, proliferative and inflammatory process developed as a response of blood vessel endothelium to the numerous noxious factors. The definition, which is only an approximate one, shows that one of the terms to carry definition is progression. In other words, it is a well-known fact today that atherosclerosis is a progressive process.

Narrow band imaging videobronchoscopy improves assessment of lung cancer extension and influences therapeutic strategy.

Objective: Narrow band imaging (NBI) videobronchoscopy is a new technique aimed at lung cancer detection. This study investigated its sensitivity and specificity for evaluation of lung cancer extension and its possible influence on therapeutic decision, compared with white light videobronchoscopy.

Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated 106 patients with suspected lung cancer.

[The relationship between C-reactive protein and subclinical carotid arteriosclerosis in military pilots].

Background/aim: Inflammation plays a key role in the physiopathology of arteriosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and common carotid artery intima-media thickness are independent predictors of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus in apparently healthy men, but relationship between them is not fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to assess the cross-sectional relationship between CRP and cardiovascular risk factors with common carotid artery intima-media thickness in military pilots as representatives of healthy men.

Epidemiological characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy persons.

The risk factors that define the metabolic syndrome lead to an accelerated development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases in apparently healthy persons. The goal of the research is determining the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome as well as the participation of the risk factors that define this condition in apparently healthy persons. The metabolic syndrome is defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel.

Autofluorescence videobronchoscopy (AFI) for the assessment of tumor extension in lung cancer.

The major objective of our study was to determine the specificity and sensitivity of AFI videobronchoscopy vs. white light videobronchoscopy, in the assessment of lung cancer extent. Secondary objective was to investigate whether or not AFI can reveal greater extension of the tumor, and can it influence therapy making decision.

Early predictors of left ventricular function improvement late after myocardial infarction.

Background/aim: Prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AIM) depends on the extent of irreversibly damaged myocardium and viable tissue due to stunning or hibernation. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic significance of early echocardiographic parameters of myocardial viability in prediction of late recovery of regional and global ventricular function.

Methods: The study prospectively included 40 patients after the first, uncomplicated univessel AIM treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

[Relationship between C-reactive protein and features of the metabolic syndrome in military pilots in the Serbia and Montenegro].

Background/aim: C-reactive protein is an independent predictor of the risk of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus in apparently healthy men. The relationship between C-reactive protein and the features of metabolic syndrome has not been fully elucidated. To assess the cross-sectional relationship between C-reactive protein and the features of metabolic syndrome in healthy people.

[Influence of orlistat therapy on serum insulin level and morphological and functional parameters of peripheral arterial circulation in obese patients].

Background/aim: Insulin resistance is related to accelerated atherosclerosis, whereas weight loss is associated with the increasing insulin sensitivity, the improvement of functional and the morphological parameters of arterial circulation, and the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of orlistat treatment on serum insulin level and functional and morphologic parameters of peripheral arterial circulation.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double - blind, placebo - controlled study.

Successful treatment of postvenereal reactive arthritis with synovectomy and 3 months' azithromycin.

Background: The effects of antibiotic therapy on the course of postvenereal reactive arthritis have not yet been elucidated.

Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the clinical course and outcome of synovectomy and 3 months of azithromycin therapy in patients with reactive arthritis and previously diagnosed triggering bacteria.

Methods: We performed an open, prospective study on 20 (14 male/6 female) patients with postvenereal reactive knee arthritis, aged 36.

[Distal renal tubular acidosis as a cause of osteomalacia in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome].

Background: One half of the patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome has extraglandular manifestations, including renal involvement. The most frequent renal lesion is tubulo-interstitial nephritis, which manifests clinically as distal tubular acidosis and may result in the development of osteomalacia.

Case Report: In a 29-year-old female patient, with bilateral nephrolithiasis, the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome, tubulo-interstitial nephritis, distal renal tubular acidosis, and hypokalemia were established.

Psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective study of 162 patients.

Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in the patients with psoriasis and to analyze retrospectively the results of a 34-year multidisciplinary management of the patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: The study included 162 out of 183 treated patients with psoriatic arthritis, aged 48 +/- 15 years. All the patients satisfied the current diagnostic criteria for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology.