Population pharmacokinetics of meropenem in critically ill patients.

Objective: The pharmacokinetics of meropenem are significantly altered in critically ill patients. A population pharmacokinetic study was designed to estimate typical values of meropenem clearance in critically ill patients and evaluate potential factors of influence.

Methods: After meropenem reached a steady state in each patient, two blood samples were taken within the dose interval.

Cost-effectiveness of ambroxol in the treatment of Gaucher disease type 2.

Objective: Our aim was to compare the costs and efficacy of ambroxol in combination with imiglucerase with the costs and efficacy of imiglucerase only in the treatment of Gaucher disease type 2 (GD2) in the socio-economic settings of the Republic of Serbia, an upper-middle-income European economy.

Methods: The perspective of the Serbian Republic Health Insurance Fund was chosen for this study, and the time horizon was 6 years. The main outcomes of the study were quality-adjusted life years gained with ambroxol + imiglucerase and comparator, and direct costs of treatment.

Vitamin C Levels in Pregnant Women and the Efficacy of Vitamin C Supplements in Preventing Premature Rupture of Membranes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as the leakage of amniotic fluid before the onset of labor and delivery contractions. Some studies found that women who experienced PROM had significantly lower vitamin C blood levels than those who did not, while others found no significant differences. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the efficacy of vitamin C in the prevention of PROM had conflicting results.

Outcomes of long-acting injectable antipsychotics use in pregnancy: A literature review.

Background: Women with a history of serious psychotic disorders are at increased risk of disease relapse during pregnancy. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have been widely used to improve adherence and prevent relapse in patients with various severe psychotic disorders, but there is a lack of high-quality data from previous research on the safety of LAI antipsychotics during pregnancy.

Aim: To summarize relevant data on maternal, pregnancy, neonatal, and developmental outcomes from published cases of LAI antipsychotic use in pregnancy.

Potential Novel RNA-Targeting Agents for Effective Lipoprotein(a) Lowering: A Systematic Assessment of the Evidence From Completed and Ongoing Developmental Clinical Trials.

An increase in blood lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels, mostly genetically determined, has been identified as an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. No drug has yet been approved that markedly lowers Lp(a) and thereby reduces residual cardiovascular risk. The aim of this article was to critically review the evidence from clinical development studies to date on the efficacy and safety of new RNA-based therapeutics for targeted lowering of Lp(a).

Economic analysis of cerliponase alfa for treatment of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2).

Background: Cerliponase alfa is an orphan drug approved for the treatment of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2).

Aim: Our goal was to assess the cost-effectiveness of cerliponase alfa in patients with CLN2 in the socioeconomic context of the Republic of Serbia in contrast to symptomatic therapy.

Method: For this study, a forty-year horizon and the perspective of the Serbian Republic Health Insurance Fund were used.

Predictors of Mortality in Early Neonatal Sepsis: A Single-Center Experience.

: Early neonatal sepsis is associated with a significant mortality rate despite modern treatment strategies. Our aim was to identify risk factors contributing to the occurrence of death in newborns with early neonatal sepsis. : We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study that included newborns with early sepsis who received care in the intensive and semi-intensive care units at the Institute of Neonatology, Belgrade, Serbia.

Kounis Syndrome Associated With the Use of Diclofenac.

Background: Diclofenac is a widely used analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic drug. In several case reports, its use was associated with the occurrence of Kounis syndrome. The aim of this review was to investigate and summarize published cases of Kounis syndrome suspected to be associated with the use of diclofenac.

Mirtazapine-induced Acute Pancreatitis in Patients With Depression: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Antidepressant-induced pancreatitis is a rare, albeit serious, adverse effect, with a frequency of occurrence that is not equally distributed among antidepressant drugs. The goal of this study was to investigate the association and causal relationship between mirtazapine treatment of patients with depression and pancreatitis.

Methods: The study was designed as a systematic review of the literature, accompanied by the description of a new case of mirtazapine-associated acute pancreatitis.

Meta-analysis of peripheral insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in schizophrenia.

Objective: We aimed to investigate if there is a significant difference in peripheral insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls and to determine whether a difference exists before and after initiation of antipsychotics.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to March 27, 2022. Original clinical studies of any type that reported peripheral blood, serum or plasma IGF-1 levels measured after fasting in schizophrenia patients and/or healthy control group were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Cost-effectiveness of miglustat versus symptomatic therapy of Niemann-Pick disease type C.

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with early infantile (< 2 years), late infantile (2-6 years), juvenile (7-15 years) and adolescent (> 15 years) onset. The mainstay of therapy for NP-C patients with neurological symptoms is miglustat, a drug that may modify the course of the disease.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of miglustat in comparison to symptomatic therapy in patients with NP-C in the socio-economic settings of the Republic of Serbia, an upper-middle-income European economy.

Amoxicillin-associated Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis: systematic review.

Our aim was to explore and summarize available cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) suspected to be associated with amoxicillin reported in the literature. Electronic searches were conducted in several databases. Fifty-one publications describing a total of 64 patients who satisfied inclusion criteria were included in the review.

Risk factors for potential drug-drug interactions in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine risk factors for and frequency of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) among hospitalized patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of the-first time hospitalized MG patients or patients hospitalized because of the exacerbation of MG at the Neurology Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade. Medical records and discharge summaries of hospitalized MG patients over a 10-year period were reviewed.

Antimicrobial treatment of Corynebacterium striatum invasive infections: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to establish an evidence-based guideline for the antibiotic treatment of Corynebacterium striatum infections. Several electronic databases were systematically searched for clinical trials, observational studies or individual cases on patients of any age and gender with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, harboring C. striatum isolated from body fluids or tissues in which it is not normally present.

A review of published cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with the use of acetaminophen.

Purpose: Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic. In several studies, its use was associated with the occurrence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This narrative review aimed to explore and summarise available cases of SJS/TEN suspected to be associated with acetaminophen reported in the literature.

Antimicrobial treatment of Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum invasive infections: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the causal role of Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum in specific invasive infections in humans, and to assess the clinical outcome of antibiotic therapy used to treat them. Several electronic databases were systematically searched for clinical trials, observational studies or individual cases on patients of any age and gender with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to E. ramosum isolated from body fluids or tissues in which it is not normally present.

The effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on male and female fertility: a brief literature review.

The aim of this review was to determine whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the ability to conceive in men and women of reproductive age, as well as to find out whether there are certain differencies between them in terms of effects on fertility. Our review was based on systematic search of literature in four online databases: Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science and SCIndex (Serbian Citation Index). Several clinical studies reported that SSRIs can decrease the number and viability of sperm, and cause a disruption of their morphological structure.

Cost-utility of tafenoquine vs. primaquine for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of malaria.

The aim of this study was to compare cost-utility of tafenoquine (TQ) and primaquine (PQ) for a radical cure (prevention of relapse) of (PV) malaria in Serbia using A five-state, 1-month cycle Markov model. The perspective of Republic Health Insurance Fund was chosen, and the time horizon was 10 years. The model results were obtained after Monte Carlo microsimulation of a sample with 1000 virtual patients.

Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motility of isolated fallopian tube.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the smooth muscle cells acting on voltage-dependent channels for Na , K and Ca , but their action is tissue and species specific. The aim of our study was to investigate effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motility of the isolated fallopian tubes. Isolated preparations of isthmus and ampoule were taken from fallopian tubes of 20 women during hysterectomy due to uterine fibroids and then tested for reactivity on increasing concentrations of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Antimicrobial treatment of Kocuria kristinae invasive infections: Systematic review.

Objective of this systematic review was to establish whether and what invasive infections in humans were caused by Kocuria kristinae, and to evaluate outcomes of administered antibiotic treatment. MEDLINE, EBSCO, SCOPUS, SCINDEKS and GOOGLE SCHOLAR were systematically searched for primary case reports or case series describing invasive infections with K. kristinae.

Risk factors for potential drug-drug interactions in intensive care unit patients.

Purpose: To determine risk factors for each severity-based category of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) encountered at intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated at the ICU of the Clinical Center Kragujevac, a public tertiary care hospital in Kragujevac, Serbia. Three interaction checkers were used to reveal drug-drug interactions: Medscape, Epocrates and Micromedex.