Clinical characteristics of human brucellosis in patients with various monoarticular involvements.

The aim of the study was to determine the main demographic, epidemiological, clinical characteristics, and outcome in patients with various types of brucellar monoarticular involvement. Retrospectively, we analyzed medical histories of 331 patients with brucellar monoarticular involvement who were treated at the infectious diseases departments in Prilep, Shtip, and Veles, Republic of Macedonia, during the period 1990-2012. Their data were compared accordingly to the affected joint (sacroiliac, hip, knee, ankle, wrist, and shoulder).

Childhood brucellosis: Review of 317 cases.

Objective: To describe the main epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features, treatment options and outcome in children with brucellosis.

Methods: Retrospectively evaluated data were obtained from 317 pediatric patients with brucellosis that were treated at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, during the period from 1989 to 2011. The medical records and follow-up protocols were used for evaluation.

Distribution of the most Common Genetic Variants Associated with a Variable Drug Response in the Population of the Republic of Macedonia.

Genetic variation in the regulation, expression and activity of genes coding for Phase I, Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and drug targets, can be defining factors for the variability in both the effectiveness and occurrence of drug therapy side effects. Information regarding the geographic structure and multi-ethnic distribution of clinically relevant genetic variations is becoming increasingly useful for improving drug therapy and explaining inter-individual and inter-ethnic differences in drug response. This study summarizes our current knowledge about the frequency distribution of the most common allelic variants in three broad gene categories: the Phase I oxidation-cytochrome P450 (CYP450) family (CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, CYP2D6); the Phase II conjugation (GSTT1, SULT1A1; UGT1A1) and drug target (TYMS-TSER, MTHFR and VKORC1) in the population of the Republic of Macedonia and compares the information obtained with data published for other indigenous European populations.

Six week follow-up of metabolic effects induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study was initiated to refine and characterize a nongenetic experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to follow up various metabolic parameters up to six weeks after diabetes induction. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: CON group--consumed standard rat chow and served as control; HFD group--consumed high-fat diet (45% calories as fat); STZ group-was injected once intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) on day 14, and DM-2 group--consumed high-fat diet and was injected with streptozotocin. The metabolic parameters were measured one week after streptozotocin injection (week 3) and at the end of the study (week 9).

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2, 7 and 9 in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are perceived to play a key role in tumor invasion and metastasis by their capacity to degrade basement membranes and extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 in tumor tissue and their relation to clinicopathologic features in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Specimens of resected colorectal cancer and surrounding normal tissue of 82 patients were immunohistochemically stained for MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9.

Characterization of the most common CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 allelic variants in the population from the Republic of Macedonia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the most common CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 polymorphisms in the population of Macedonia and compare them with the global geographic data reported from different ethnic populations. In total, 184 healthy volunteers from the general population were included. Genotypes for the CYP2C9 (*2 [rs1799853] and *3[rs1057910]) and CYP2C19 (*2-[rs4244285] and *17 [rs12248560]) polymorphisms were detected by Real-Time PCR using TaqMan SNP genotyping assay.

Perindopril treatment in streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropaty.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common causes of terminal stadium damage to the kidneys. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) represents a significant risk factor for the progression of DN. ACE inhibitors are medications of particular interest knowing the role of angiotensin II in the development of DN.

Acute fulminant hepatatis in kidney transplant recipient after repeated sevoflurane anesthesia--a case report and literature review.

Introduction: A liver dysfunction induced by halogenated volatile anaesthetics is considered as a significant diagnostic problem. The aim of our report was to describe the first case of lethal hepatic failure in a female patient undergoing kidney transplantation (KTx) from a living donor after repeated sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old hypertensive and diabetic female patient received kidney from her 70-year-old mother.

Development and validation of automated SPE-LC-MS/MS method for determination of indapamide in human whole blood and its application to real study samples.

A fast and simple liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of indapamide in human whole blood was developed and validated. The sample extraction of indapamide from human whole blood was achieved using automated solid-phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on Kinetex C18 column (100 × 2.

Osteoarticular involvement in childhood brucellosis: experience with 133 cases in an endemic region.

Aim: To describe the main clinical and laboratory characteristics, frequency and distribution of osteoarticular involvement, therapeutic options and outcome in children with osteoarticular brucellosis.

Methods: This descriptive study includes 133 pediatric patients with osteoarticular brucellosis who were treated at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, during the period between 1989 and 2011. Brucellosis was presumptively diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and confirmed by the detection of specific antibodies at significant titers.

Erythropoietin reduces cumulative nephrotoxicity from cisplatin and enhances renal tubular cell proliferation.

Cisplatin, a heavy metal complex, is one of the most active drugs used in the treatment of several human malignancies. However, high-dose therapy with cisplatin is limited by its cumulative nephrotoxicity. The main objectives of this study were to determine the role of recombinant human erythropoietin (Epoetin alfa) in the prevention of nephrotoxicity induced experimentally in Wistar rats by long-term administration of cisplatin (2 mg/kg/b.