Vitamin D in psoriatic arthritis - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize current evidence on vitamin D status in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with a particular focus on disease activity.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that investigated vitamin D levels in PsA. The search was conducted on 12 October 2022.

Body Composition Parameters Correlate to Depression Symptom Levels in Patients Treated with Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of depression and nutritional status and their associations in patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the differences according to the type of treatment. There were fifty-three patients treated with maintenance HD and twenty patients treated with PD enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Body composition, anthropometric parameters, and clinical and laboratory parameters were collected for each participant.

Interconnectedness between periodontitis stage, oral hygiene habits, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and nutritional status in Dalmatian kidney transplant recipients: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), nutritional status parameters, muscle strength, and periodontal status in Dalmatian kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). 89 KTRs were included in this analysis, 40 (45%) women, with a mean age of 61 years (IQR = 13) and a mean time since kidney transplantation of 5 years (IQR = 6.6).

Quantification of Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae and Lactobacillus spp. in bacterial vaginosis.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate prevalence of bacteria most frequently associated with bacterial vaginosis using Amsel's criteria as well as to quantify these bacteria by real-time PCR and to explore the difference in their quantity between healthy and bacterial vaginosis samples.

Methodology: For classification of vaginal discharge samples Amsel's criteria have been used. To detect and quantify Gardnerella vaginalis Atopobium vaginae, Lactobacillus spp.

Extracranial Vertebral Artery Aneurysm Rupture Complicated by Extrapleural Haematoma.

Introduction: Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm (EVAA) and extrapleural haematoma (EH) are rare clinical findings most often associated with blunt or penetrating trauma. However, EVAA rupture can be complicated by development of a large EH.

Report: A 50 year old man underwent an emergency thrombectomy followed by graft reconstruction of an aorto-bi-femoral bypass.

A novel microscopic method for analyzing Gram-stained vaginal smears in the diagnosis of disorders of vaginal microflora.

Background/aim: The Nugent's score is still the gold standard in the great majority of studies dealing with the assessment of vaginal flora and the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). The aim of this study was to show that the analysis of Gram-stained vaginal samples under microscope at the magnification of x200 (a novel microscopic method--NMM), as a fast and simple tool, easily applicable in everyday practice, better reflects complexity of vaginal microflora than the Nugent's methodology (x1000).

Methods: Gram-stained vaginal smears from 394 asymptomatic pregnant women (24-28 week of pregnancy) were classified according to the Nugent's microscopic criteria (immersion, magnification x1000).

Fixed, low radiant exposure vs. incremental radiant exposure approach for diode laser hair reduction: a randomized, split axilla, comparative single-blinded trial.

Background: Diode lasers are the most commonly used treatment modalities for unwanted hair reduction. Only a few controlled clinical trials but not a single randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared the impact of various laser parameters, especially radiant exposure, onto efficacy, tolerability and safety of laser hair reduction.

Objective: To compare the safety, tolerability and mid-term efficacy of fixed, low and incremental radiant exposures of diode lasers (800 nm) for axillary hair removal, we conducted an intrapatient, left-to-right, patient- and assessor-blinded and controlled trial.

Value of bacterial culture of vaginal swabs in diagnosis of vaginal infections.

Background/aim: Vaginal and cervical swab culture is still very common procedure in our country's everyday practice whereas simple and rapid diagnostic methods have been very rarely used. The aim of this study was to show that the employment of simple and rapid diagnostic tools [vaginal fluid wet mount microscopy (VFWMM), vaginal pH and potassium hydroxide (KOH) test] offers better assessment of vaginal environment than standard microbiologic culture commonly used in Serbia.

Methods: This prospective study included 505 asymptomatic pregnant women undergoing VFWMM, test with 10% KOH, determination of vaginal pH and standard culture of cervicovaginal swabs.

Mitochondrial molecular basis of sevoflurane and propofol cardioprotection in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background/aims: Study elucidates and compares the mitochondrial bioenergetic-related molecular basis of sevoflurane and propofol cardioprotection during aortic valve replacement surgery due to aortic valve stenosis.

Methods: Twenty-two patients were prospectively randomized in two groups regarding the anesthetic regime: sevoflurane and propofol. Hemodynamic parameters, biomarkers of cardiac injury and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively.

Echocardiographic appearance of a hydatid cyst of the papillary muscle and chordae tendineae.

A 24-year-old woman with a history of hydatid disease of the lung and brain, which was treated surgically and medically with albendazole, was admitted because of syncope. Echocardiography demonstrated a mass in the anterolateral papillary muscle and chordae tendineae. Despite negative serologic tests for Echinococcus granulosus, cytology and histology of the surgically removed mass confirmed hydatid disease.

Combined usage of inhaled and intravenous milrinone in pulmonary hypertension after heart valve surgery.

Secondary pulmonary hypertension is a frequent condition after heart valve surgery. It may significantly complicate the perioperative management and increase patients' morbidity and mortality. The treatment has not been yet completely defined principally because of lack of the selectivity of drugs for the pulmonary vasculature.

[Primary ovarian malignant melanoma].

Background: Primary ovarian malignant melanoma is extremely rare. It usually appears in the wall of a dermoid cyst or is associated with another teratomatous component. Metastatic primary malignant melanoma to ovary from a primary melanoma elsewhere is well known and has been often reported especially in autopsy studies.

[Cardiac surgery in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT II)].

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) might be life-threatening in patients undergoing open heart surgery, due to thromboembolic events, thrombocytopenia and bleeding. If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is necessary, anticoagulation therapy will be based on usage of danaparoid or direct thrombin inhibitors. Female patient was switched from per oral anticoagulant therapy to low molecular heparin therapy preparing for reredo mitral valve replacement due to endocarditis and artificial valve thrombosis.

[Reliability of the CINtec p16INK4a immunocytochemical test in screening cervical precancerous lesions].

Background/aim: Overexpression of p16INK4a has been found to be linked with genomic integration of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and the developement of precancerous cervical intraepithelial lesions. The aim of this study was to examine is there a higher positive level of correlation between grade of histological dysplasia and p16INK4a level of expression in cervical smear, compared to results of Papanicolaou test. We also examined the correlation between HPV type, p16INK4a expression and Papanicolau test results.

Cervical fluid cytokines in pregnant women: Relation to vaginal wet mount findings and polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to measure and compare concentrations of IFN-gamma, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 in cervical fluids of pregnant women with normal and pathologic microscopic findings of vaginal wet mount.

Study Design: Vaginal samples were obtained from 100 pregnant women (22-32 weeks of gestation) without signs and symptoms of preterm labour (PTL), selected on the basis of the microscopic examination of vaginal wet mounts. Cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12) concentrations were measured in cervical fluids by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Distribution of high-risk HPV types in Yugoslav women with cervical neoplasia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, namely type 16, 18, 31 and 33, among Yugoslav women diagnosed with different grades of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), as well as to investigate the relationship between HPV infection and age, parity, age at first intercourse, number of sexual partners and residence of the patients, all of which are considered risk-factors.

Patients And Methods: DNA was isolated from cervical swabs of 72 women using phenol/chloroform/isoamylalcohol extraction. Detection of HPV DNA in patients' genomic DNA was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method with type-specific primer pairs, and amplification products were analyzed using 2% agarose and 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

[Foundation of pharmaceutical policy in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina].

Pharmaceuticals are inevitable domain of disease prevention, diagnostics and treatment. The basic objective of pharmaceutical sector reform is to meet the needs of the majority of the population with the essential pharmaceuticals, which are proven as effective, evaluated quality and affordable prices. That objective could be achieved by undertaking a range of measures within the national pharmaceutical policy as an integral part of the overall health, policy in the country.