Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Is a Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction in Thrombotic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients.

Objective: The potential contribution of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) to endothelial dysfunction in APS patients has not been studied in detail, until now. The study involved 105 APS patients (59 diagnosed with primary APS (PAPS) and 46 APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SAPS)) who were compared to 40 controls. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate dilatation (NMD) of the brachial artery.

Genetic Diversity of Orobanche cumana Populations in Serbia.

In this study, we report genetic characterization of Orobanche cumana, the causal agent of sunflower wilting in Serbia. The genetic diversity of this parasitic plant in Serbia was not studied before. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and partial rbcL gene sequences analysis were used to characterize the O.

Association of the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism with Body Mass Index, Fasting Glucose Levels and Lipid Status in Adolescents.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has an important role in energy balance. It suppresses food intake, reduces hepatic glucose production and converts white fat into brown fat in adipose tissue, leading to energy dissipation, lowered blood glucose and a lean phenotype. Studies have shown that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Val66Met within BDNF may be associated with obesity, insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and dyslipidemia.

CD56-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia Following Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia with Cladribine - Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature.

Treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with alfa-interferon and purine analogs significantly prolongs survival in these patients. However, with life prolongation, an increased risk of secondary malignancies has been reported. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as a second malignancy after HCL treatment is extremely rare and has been reported in only 12 cases so far.

Rituximab in the therapy of stage III and IV follicular lymphoma: Results of the REFLECT 1 study of the Serbian Lymphoma Group.

Purpose: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent lymphoma that responds well to rituximab+chemotherapy. We evaluated the prognosis and efficacy of immunochemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, advanced FL.

Methods: REFLECT 1 is a multicentre, prospective study of 99 patients with previously untreated FL stage III-IV.

Late relapse of Hodgkin's lymphoma - is it different in clinical characteristics and outcome?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, therapy and outcomes of patients with very late relapse (>5 years) of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of all relapsed patients with HL treated between 1999 and 2009 and compared the clinical characteristics and survival of patients who relapsed before and after 5 years of follow up.

Results: Among the group of 102 patients with relapsed HL 16 (15.

Lipid peroxidation as risk factor for endothelial dysfunction in antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress markers and it relations to endothelial damage as risk factor for thrombosis in patients with primary (PAPS) and secondary (SAPS) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in correlation to traditional risk factors. Flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerine (NMD)-induced dilation of the brachial artery were studied in 140 APS patients (90 PAPS, 50 SAPS) and 40 controls matched by age, sex, and conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis. Markers of oxidative stress, lipid hydroperoxydes (LOOH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), total sulfhydryl groups (tSHG), and paraoxonase 1 activity (PON1) were determined by spectrophotometric method.

Specificity of treatment is mandatory in very old patients with hairy cell leukemia.

Introduction: There are only a few available data about hairy cell leukemia (HCL) in very old patients. We presented three very different cases of HCL in very old patients diagnosed in a single center and discussed some epidemiological and therapeutical issues in such patients.

Case Report: The first patient, 89-year-old, had symptomatic cytopenia and achieved sustained complete remission after cladribine treatment.

Management of myelofibrosis during pregnancy: a case report.

Introduction: Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm that occurs most commonly in the decade six of life and it is very rare in the young persons.

Case Report: We reported a 28-year-old female patient with primary myelofibrosis who had a normal pregnancy and delivery in the week 40 of pregnancy without any complications. Two years before the diagnosis of PMF she had normal pregnancy.

EFFICACY OF METAMITRON IN APPLE THINNING IN SERBIA.

The thinning of fruits is a required pomotechnical measure in intensive fruit production which ensures the production of good quality fruits and high yields. Metamitron, known as inhibitor of photosynthesis, has been successfully used in the thinning of apple fruits. This study had the aim to determine the efficacy of metamitron on the thinning of apple fruits in the agroecological conditions of Serbia and to evaluate the possibility of its practical application.

BCL10 aberations and NF-kappa B activation involving p65 are absent or rare in primary gastric MALT lymphoma.

Background/aim: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma accounts for 5-17% non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The molecular pathogenesis of MALT lymphomas is not well-established. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemically determined nuclear coexpression of BCL10 and NF-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in tumor cells of gastric MALT lymphoma and its impact on the patogenesis and outcome of the disease.

Myelodysplastic syndromes in adults aged less than 50 years: incidence and clinicopathological data.

Purpose: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is rarely seen in patients younger than 50 years, but rapidly increases with advancing age. Data on MDS biology in young patients are yet scarce but more than necessary. The purpose of this study was to estimate the proportion of MDS patients <50 years of age and to compare the clinicopathological data between younger and older patients.

Double-hit primary unilateral adrenal lymphoma with good outcome.

Introduction: Primary adrenal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. On the other side, double-hit lymphomas with BCL2 and MYC translocation are characterized by advanced disease stage, extranodal and central nervous system involvements at presentation or disease progression.

Case Report: We reported a 73-year-old male patient with double-hit primary adrenal lymphoma and preserved adrenal function, showing a favorable clinical course.

Association between cardiac manifestations and antiphospholipid antibody type and level in a cohort of Serbian patients with primary and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS, also known as Hughes syndrome) may manifest itself as a primary or secondary disease, most commonly with systemic lupus erythemathosus (SLE) and various cardiac manifestations.

Objectives: To report the first results from the Serbian National Cohort study, which was started in January 2000.

Methods: Our study included 374 patients: 260 primary APS patients and 114 SLE patients with secondary APS.

Comparison of prognostic impact of absolute lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count prognostic score and ratio in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Background: The combination of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and absolute monocyte count (AMC) at diagnosis has prognostic relevance in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Aims: The present study was designed to investigate the prognostic significance of ALC and AMC and to determine whether ALC/AMC ratio or ALC/AMC prognostic score is better predictor of outcome in DLBCL.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the prognostic significance of ALC and AMC, ALC/AMC ratio and ALC/AMC prognostic score at diagnosis in 222 DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP.

Validation of the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

The objective of this study is to externally validate the recently published Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and compare it with the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). We conducted a retrospective study of 173 adult MDS patients who had not received disease-altering treatment. Using the Cox hazard method, we found the IPSS-R to be a significant predictor of survival (p < 0.

Association between non-thrombotic neurological and cardiac manifestations in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between non-thrombotic neurological and cardiac manifestations in patients with antiphospholipd syndrome (APS), as well as their connection with type and level of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Methods: Our prospective study comprises 333 patients: 218 with primary and 115 with secondary APS. Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) analysis included detection of aCL(IgG/IgM), ß2GPI(IgG/IgM) and LA and served to evaluate associations with distinct neurological manifestations.

Only particular cytogenetic events are related to disease progression in sequential cytogenetic studies in myelodysplastic syndromes.

We performed prospective sequential cytogenetic studies in 76 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) followed up to 82 months. Their karyotypes were followed routinely, regardless of clinical status. The incidence of evolutive karyotypes was similar in patients with a normal karyotype at referral and in patients with clonal abnormalities at diagnosis (24.

c-FLIP does not correlate with response to immunochemotherapy treatment and outcome of patients with nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Unlabelled: Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is a critical anti-apoptotic regulator that inhibits apoptosis-inducing ligand, (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis as well as chemotherapy-triggered apoptosis in malignant cells. The present study was designed to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of c-FLIP expression in patients with nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with immunochemotherapy.

Methods: We have analyzed lymph node biopsy specimens, obtained from 60 patients with newly diagnosed nodal DLBCL treated with immunochemotherapy (R-CHOP or R-EPOCH).

Biological and clinical features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the elderly.

Purpose: The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) in elderly people has increased in recent years because the world population is getting older. The aim of this study was to compare the biological and clinical features in patients diagnosed with NHLs younger and older than 65 years, and the possible influence of age on the choice of optimal therapeutic approach.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 193 patients with NHLs: 111 (68%) were <65 years and 82 (42%) ≥65 years.

Association between systemic non-criteria APS manifestations and antibody type and level: results from the Serbian national cohort study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of aPL type and level for non-criteria-related events in APS patients.

Methods: Our study included 374 patients: 260 with PAPS and 114 with APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Results: We discovered significant connection between migraine and LA absence, livedo reticularis and aCL-IgG, skin ulcerations with aCL-IgG and anti-β2GPI-IgM, pseudovasculitis lesions with aCL-IgG, aCL-IgM and anti-β2GPI-IgM, and thrombocytopenia with aCL-IgM, aCL-IgG and anti-β2GPI-IgG.