Acupuncture and Kinesitherapy Improve Physical Activity More than Kinesitherapy Alone in Patients with Acute Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Who Are Already on Optimal Drug Therapy: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Study.

: It is unknown how early exercise therapy combined with acupuncture (AP) affects the speed of recovery in patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are hospitalized due to worsening HF. : A prospective, sham-procedure-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial with three patient groups was conducted. The study included patients with HFrEF who were hospitalized for worsening HF.

Intraventricular Neurocysticercosis: Comparative Analysis of Different Localizations. Clinical Course and Treatment. A Systematic Review.

Background Neurocysticercosis is significant due to its high prevalence and considerable morbidity and mortality. The intraventricular form of NCC is less common than parenchymal, may have a rapidly progressive course and it requires a corresponding therapeutic response. Despite the extensive literature dealing with NCC and intraventricular cystic lesions, no systematic reviews have addressed similar work related to the clinical course and treatment of the infestation.

Physicochemical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles for Skin Care Creams.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have now been used in skin care creams for several years, with marketed anti-aging, moisturizing, and regenerative properties. Information on the harmful effects of these nanoparticles is lacking, a concern for the use of AuNPs as cosmetic ingredients. Testing AuNPs without the medium of a cosmetic product is a typical method for obtaining this information, which is mainly dependent on their size, shape, surface charge, and dose.

Melanoma Cell Reprogramming and Awakening of Antitumor Immunity as a Fingerprint of Hyper-Harmonized Hydroxylated Fullerene Water Complex (3HFWC) and Hyperpolarized Light Application .

In our recent study, we showed that treatment of melanoma cells with hyperpolarized light (HPL) as well as with the second derivative of fullerene, hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) reduced viability of cells by decreasing their proliferative capacity and inducing senescence and reprogramming towards a normal, melanocytic phenotype. Therefore, we wanted to determine whether these effects persisted in the syngeneic mouse melanoma model with a combined treatment of HPL irradiation and 3HFWC . Our results demonstrated the potent antitumor effects of 3HFWC nanosubstance assisted by HPL irradiation.

Combined Action of Hyper-Harmonized Hydroxylated Fullerene Water Complex and Hyperpolarized Light Leads to Melanoma Cell Reprogramming In Vitro.

(1) Background: Their unique structure and electron deficiency have brought fullerenes into the focus of research in many fields, including medicine. The hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) formulation has solved the limitations of the poor solubility and bioavailability of fullerenes. To achieve better antitumor activity, 3HFWC was combined with short-term irradiation of cells with hyperpolarized light (HPL) generated by the application of a nanophotonic fullerene filter in a Bioptron device.

Association of PC and AT levels in the early phase of STEMI treated with pPCI with LV systolic function and 6-month MACE.

Objectives: To examine a relationship between protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (AT III) activities with ejection fraction of left ventricle (EFLV), in the early phase of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), and to investigate whether PC and AT III are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 6 months following from pPCI.

Patients And Methods: The research had a prospective character and included 357 patients who had, following the diagnosis of the STEMI, undergone pPCI at the Clinic of Cardiology and Emergency Internal Medicine, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2010 until April 2019.

Results: The EFLV positively correlated with PC values (rho = 0.

Anthocyanins Protect Hepatocytes against CCl-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats by Inhibiting Pro-inflammatory mediators, Polyamine Catabolism, Lipocalin-2, and Excessive Proliferation of Kupffer Cells.

This study examined the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins from Vaccinim myrtillus (bilberry) fruit extract on the acute liver failure caused by carbon tetrachloride-CCl (3 mL/kg, i.p.).

Protective effects of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats exposed to nephrotoxic effects of carbon tetrachloride.

This study examined the nephroprotective effects of 15 different anthocyanins from the bilberry extract on the acute kidney injury caused by CCl. The acute nephrotoxicity in rats was induced 24 h after the treatment with a single dose of CCl (3 mL/kg, i.p.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Second-Generation Triazoles for the Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis and Candidiasis.

Second-generation triazoles were developed in response to the quest for more efficacious and safer therapeutic options for the treatment of severe systemic aspergillosis and candidiasis. These agents include voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and ravuconazole. The aim of this review was to present and compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of second-generation triazoles for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis, emphasizing their clinical implications.

Lower plasma protein C activity is associated with early myocardial necrosis and no-reflow phenomenon in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Activity of protein C has important role in the development of early necrosis and no-reflow phenomenon in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). We examined association between plasma activity of protein C, antithrombin, coagulation factors II, VII, VIII and fibrinogen to early formation of new Q-waves (myocardial necrosis) before pPCI and early ST-segment resolution (microcirculatory reperfusion) after pPCI in patients with acute STEMI. According to ischaemic time, patients were considered as early or late presenters.

Significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index in the assessment of the therapeutic response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to examine the therapeutic response of advanced cervical cancer to Ki-67 proliferative index (Ki-67 PI) dependent cisplatin chemotherapy, and to determine Ki-67 PI referential value that is expected to provide a satisfactory therapeutic response of cervical cancer to cisplatin chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study enrolled 59 patients treated for cervical cancer at Clinic for Oncology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. According to the obtained Ki-67 PI values, patients were divided into three groups, and all the patients received the same cytostatic, cisplatin.

Diagnostic significance of three-dimensional echocardiography in asymptomatic unicuspid aortic valve.

Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare congenital anomaly of aorta associated with a faster progress of valvular dysfunction, aortic dilatation and with necessity for more frequent controls and precise evaluation Asymptomatic 35 year old man had abnormal systolic diastolic murmur on aortic valve during routine examination. Initial diagnostic with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) supposed bicuspid aortic valve, while three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) and multidetector computed tomography defined unicuspid, unicomissural aortic valve with moderate aortic stenosis and regurgitation. This case report confirmed that 3D TEE gives us opportunity for early, improved and precise diagnosis of UAV.

Modulatory effect of curcumin on ketamine-induced toxicity in rat thymocytes: Involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway.

Ketamine is a widely used anesthetic in pediatric clinical practice. Previous studies have demonstrated that ketamine induces neurotoxicity and has a modulatory effect on the cells of the immune system. Here, we evaluated the potential protective effect and underlying mechanisms of natural phenolic compound curcumin against ketamine-induced toxicity in rat thymocytes.

Psoriasis is the independent factor for early atherosclerosis: A prospective study of cardiometabolic risk profile.

Background/aim: Psoriasis as multisystemic inflammatory dis-ease is related with an increased cardiometabolic risk. The aim of the study was to analyze risk biomarkers, peripheral and renal arteries ultrasonography and echocardiography for subclinical atherosclerosis and metabolic disease in 106 subjects (66 psoriasis patients and 40 controls, 20 eczema patients and 20 healthy volunteers).

Methods: In all exameenes following parameters were analyzed: body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein, D-dimer, serum amyloid A (SAA), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, ApoB, ApoB/Apo A1 index, fasting glucose, C-peptide, fasting insulinemia, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-β-cell, lipid profile, serum uric acid concentration (SUAC), 24-h proteinuria and microalbuminuria.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing of drugs in elderly patients on chronic hemodialysis treatment .

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug prescription (PIP) in older patients who were on chronic hemodialysis treatment and to explore the factors that lead to PIP.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed at the Department of Nephrology, Clinical Center Niš, Serbia. It included patients who were 65 years old and older who suffered from the end-stage of kidney failure and were treated by hemodialysis.

Very late stent thrombosis of bare-metal coronary stent nine years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Stent thrombosis (ST) in clinical practice can be classified according to time of onset as early (0–30 days after stent implantation), which is further divided into acute (< 24 hours) and subacute (1–30 days), late (> 30 days) and very late (> 12 months). Myocardial reinfaction due to very late ST in a patient receiving antithrombotic therapy is very rare, and potentially fatal. The procedure alone and related mechanical factors seem to be associated with acute/subacute ST.

Antioxidant and proapoptotic effects of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats exposed to hepatotoxic effects of carbon tetrachloride.

Aims: The aim of this research was to determine the hepatoprotective effects of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) by monitoring the parameters of oxidative stress and apoptosis, and by performing the histopathological and morphometric analyses.

Main Methods: Animals were divided into four groups: Group I (0.9% NaCl-10days), Group II (bilberry extract, 75mg/kg-10days), Group III (0,9% NaCl-9days, and on the tenth day CCl4-2ml/kg), Group IV (bilberry extract, 75mg/kg-10days and on the tenth day CCl4-2ml/kg).

Iatrogenic dissection of the left main coronary artery during elective diagnostic procedures--A report on three cases.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION. Left main coronary artery dissection is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of coronary angiography and angioplasty which requests urgent revascularization.

Case Report: During the period between 2010 and November 2014 at single healthcare center we did totally 8,884 coronary procedures, out of which 2333 were percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Successful primary percutaneous coronary interventions in a patient with two consecutive ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions and dual left anterior descending artery (type IV).

Introduction: Dual left anterior descending (LAD) artery is a very rare inherited anomaly. It can be incidentally revealed during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and may produce difficulties in detecting and treating the culprit lesion.

Case Report: We presented a 52-year-old male patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEM1) of inferior wall, in whom dual LAD anomaly was revealed during pPCI: a short LAD artery originated from the left main coronary artery and a long LAD artery originated from the proximal part of the right coronary artery (RCA).

Does thrombolytic therapy harm or help in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by the spontaneous coronary dissection?

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a very rare disease with poor prognosis. It mainly affects young women free of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and women during the peripartum period. The prognosis for myocardial infarction caused by SCAD is poor, management is often difficult and guidelines still missing.

Women have right ventricular infarction more frequently than men.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether women significantly have more frequently right ventricular infarction than men.

Methods: The study population consisted of consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous intervention. The following criteria were used for the diagnosis of right ventricular infarction: ST-segment elevation in one of the right precordial leads V4R-V6R for equal or more than 1 mm together with ST-segment elevation in at least two contiguous inferior leads.

The additive diagnostic role of coronary flow reserve in noninvasive evaluation of coronary stenosis on left descending artery previously detected by multislice computed tomography.

Purpose: Multislice computed coronary angiography (MSCT) provides valuable morphological information about coronary artery disease, but precise quantification of coronary stenosis remains difficult. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography (TDE) gives a new insight into the functional significance of coronary luminal narrowing. We have tried to assess the additive value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) determined by TDE over MSCT in prediction of a significant stenosis on the left anterior descending artery (LAD) using the invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as a reference method.

Chemometrically assisted development and validation of LC-UV and LC-MS methods for simultaneous determination of torasemide and its impurities.

Complete evaluation of chromatographic behavior and establishment of optimal experimental conditions for determination of torasemide and its four impurities are determined by experimental design. Fractional factorial and 3(n) full factorial design were employed for efficient and rapid optimization of liquid chromatography-ultraviolet and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Separation is achieved on a Zorbax SB C(18) analytical column (250 x 4.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased IL-17 and TNFα levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Recent studies revealed a strong association between vitamin D (VD) status and chronic heart failure (CHF). It is now commonly considered that proinflammatory immune response underlies CHF development.

Objective: Since VD expresses anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated its impact on cytokines implicated in CHF, such as TNFα and IL-17, in patients suffering from CHF.

Successful implantation of a permanent pacemaker through a persistent left superior vena cava by using a right subclavian approach.

Introduction: Persistent left superior vena cava, a rare congenital abnormality, can complicate placement of pacemaker leads through the subclavian vein. A left-sided approach is usually preferable in such cases.

Case Report: We reported a case in which we began a single-chamber pacemaker implantation procedure via a right subclavian approach (because of scarring beneath the left clavicle) and then discovered intraoperatively that the patient had a persistent left superior vena cava.