Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Atherosclerotic Plaques on Carotid Arteries in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: The Role of MDCT Angiography.

Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterised by arterious and venous thrombosis, miscarriage, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the blood. As we know, APS is also characterised by accelerated atherosclerotic degeneration with an increased risk of thrombosis in all blood vessels, including the carotid arteries. Carotid artery stenosis can manifest in many different ways.

Humoral Response of Different Types of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Experiences from a Serbian Cohort.

Background: Data are scarce on the immunogenicity of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD).

Objectives: To measure the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunization and to evaluate clinical characteristics associated with seropositivity.

Methods: Samples were collected after the second and third doses of the three different types of vaccines in ARD patients.

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.

Circulating immune-complexes of IgG/IgM bound to B2-glycoprotein-I associated with complement consumption and thrombocytopenia in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystemic autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombotic events and/or gestational morbidity in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). In a previous single center study, APS-related clinical manifestations that were not included in the classification criteria (livedo reticularis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia) were associated with the presence of circulating immune-complexes (CIC) formed by beta-2-glycoprotein-I (B2GP1) and anti-B2GP1 antibodies (B2-CIC). We have performed a multicenter study on APS features associated with the presence of B2-CIC.

Anatomic and MRI bases for medullary infarctions with patients' presentation.

Objective: There is a low incidence of the medullary infarctions and sparse data about the vascular territories, as well as a correlation among the anatomic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic signs.

Materials And Methods: Arteries of the 10 right and left sides of the brain stem were injected with India ink, fixed in formalin and microdissected. The enrolled 34 patients with medullary infarctions underwent a neurologic, MRI and Doppler examination.

Anatomic and MRI Bases for Pontine Infarctions with Patients Presentation.

Objectives: There are scarce data regarding pontine arteries anatomy, which is the basis for ischemic lesions following their occlusion. The aim of this study was to examine pontine vasculature and its relationships with the radiologic and neurologic features of pontine infarctions.

Materials And Methods: Branches of eight basilar arteries and their twigs, including the larger intrapontine branches, were microdissected following an injection of a 10% mixture of India ink and gelatin.

Analysis of Serbian Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients Confirmed a Strong Association Between Livedo Reticularis and Arterial Thrombosis: A National Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) associated with thrombosis (arterial and/or venous) and/or obstetrical manifestations. However, various manifestations, which are considered to be noncriteria manifestations, are frequently found in APS.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether noncriteria manifestations may be found more frequently in subjects with thrombotic and/or obstetrical APS ("criteria" manifestations) in a population of patients with primary APS (PAPS).

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause of impaired left ventricular diastolic function: experience from a Serbian cohort.

Objectives: Cardiovascular manifestations, encountered in antiphospholipid syndrome, may develop as a consequence of acquired thrombophilia mediated by antiphospholipid antibodies and accelerated atherosclerosis as well. Our study aims to assess the impairment of the left ventricular diastolic performance, as early evidence of myocardial involvement in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).

Methods: We analysed 101 PAPS patients, with the average age of 47.

Cardiac manifestations in primary antiphospholipid syndrome and their association to antiphospholipid antibodies' types and titers-cross-sectional study of Serbian cohort.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is multisystem autoimmune coagulopathy with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in its ground, manifested as a primary disease (PAPS) or in the setting of other conditions, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate various cardiac manifestations and their possible relation to aPL type and titer in a Serbian cohort of PAPS patients.

Methods: A total of 360 PAPS patients were analyzed and aPL analysis included detection of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL: IgG/IgM), anti-ß2glycoprotein I (ß2GPI: IgG/IgM), and lupus anticoagulant (LA).

In utero exposure to Azathioprine in autoimmune disease. Where do we stand?

Azathioprine (AZA), an oral immunosuppressant, is safe during pregnancy. Some reports suggested different impairments in the offspring of mothers with autoimmune diseases (AI) exposed in utero to AZA. These observations are available from retrospective studies or case reports.

Presence of Immune Complexes of IgG/IgM Bound to B2-glycoprotein I Is Associated With Non-criteria Clinical Manifestations in Patients With Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder defined by the presence of both clinical (thromboembolic events or pregnancy morbidity) and laboratory (antiphospholipid antibodies, aPL) manifestations. Despite their importance, several clinical manifestations strongly associated with APS such as livedo reticularis (LR), thrombocytopenia, sicca-ophthalmic(sicca), heart, or neurological manifestations are not included in the APS clinical classification criteria. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) formed by Beta-2-glycoprotein I (B2GPI) and aPL (B2-CIC) have been described and their presence has been related with thrombotic events.

Relationship between cerebrovascular and valvular manifestations in a Serbian cohort of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) may manifest itself as a primary (PAPS) or secondary disease, most commonly in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with various neurological and cardiac manifestations in its occurrence. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between cerebrovascular (stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA)) and valvular manifestations in a Serbian cohort of APS patients.

Methods: This is cross sectional study of 508 APS patients: 360 PAPS and 148 APS patients associated with SLE (SAPS).

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.

Physical Activity Program Is Helpful for Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Given the crucial events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) such as joint and muscle pain, fatigue, depression, obesity and osteoporosis, the very thought of exercising can be challenging. This prospective study included 60 patients diagnosed with SLE in stable condition. A randomly selected group of 30 women had aerobic training on a bicycle ergometer for a period of 15 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, while the second group of 30 women performed isotonic exercises (to stretch and lengthen muscles and improve the range of motion) for 30 minutes, 3 times per week during the same period.

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.

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 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.

[The role of hormonal ovarian ablation in adjuvant treatment of premenopausal breast cancer].

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant disease in women with about 25% compared to all malignant tumours. Chemotherapy, antiestrogen and ovarian ablation/ supression present effective adjuvant approach for premenopausal women diagnosed with hormonal depended, operable breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate benefits of combined chemo/hormonal therapy that is undutiful, but optimal application has not yet been clearly determined.

[Late onset of severe thrombocytopenia during interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection--case report].

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in chronic liver diseases and it is caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms. Immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in hepatitis C infection is a distinct clinical entity. Possible reasons for ITP in this case could be capabillity of HCV to induce autoimmune phenomena but also immunomodulatory effects of interferon that is used for HCV infection treatment.