Increased Odds of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Are Linked to Reduced n-6, but Not n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Plasma.

The increasing prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) underscores the need for better understanding of its complex pathogenesis. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes is among principal mechanisms contributing to MASLD development. While routine lipid parameters are well studied, the profile of circulating fatty acids in MASLD patients remains less explored.

Nurses' Perception of Tension, Stress, and Pressure before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Serbian Study.

The mental health of healthcare workers, especially the nursing staff in intensive care units, is crucial for the optimal functioning of healthcare systems during medical emergencies. This study implements a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between nurses' personal characteristics, workplace challenges, and job satisfaction with the increased perception of tension, stress, and pressure at the workplace (TSPW) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we surveyed 4210 nurses from 19 intensive healthcare facilities in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, and, at that time, collected data about their perceived TSPW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diarrhea as a Clinical Challenge: General Practitioner Approach.

Background: Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose stools and increase in stool frequency, weight, or volume. Diarrhea is an important health issue since it accounts for 2.5 million deaths in the world each year.

Abnormal Liver Blood Tests: Hepatologist Approach.

Background: Available data suggest that the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) and primary liver cancer is rising in Europe and represents a major public health problem. Predictions are showing that these trends will continue to rise in the upcoming years.

Summary: Alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcohol fatty liver disease, and viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer in Europe.

Chronic Abdominal Pain: Gastroenterologist Approach.

Background: Abdominal pain is a common symptom of gastroenterology examination. Chronic abdominal pain is present for >3 months.

Summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases encountered by both gastroenterologists and general practitioners.

Anemia as a Problem: GEH Approach.

Background: Anemia is present in almost 5% of adults worldwide and accompanies clinical findings in many diseases. Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver are a common cause of anemia, so patients with anemia are often referred to a gastroenterologist.

Summary: Anemia could be caused by various factors such as chronic bleeding, malabsorption, or chronic inflammation.

Reduced Expression of Autophagy Markers and Expansion of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Correlate With Poor T Cell Response in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Widespread coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is causing pneumonia, respiratory and multiorgan failure in susceptible individuals. Dysregulated immune response marks severe COVID-19, but the immunological mechanisms driving COVID-19 pathogenesis are still largely unknown, which is hampering the development of efficient treatments. Here we analyzed ~140 parameters of cellular and humoral immune response in peripheral blood of 41 COVID-19 patients and 16 age/gender-matched healthy donors by flow-cytometry, quantitative PCR, western blot and ELISA, followed by integrated correlation analyses with ~30 common clinical and laboratory parameters.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is characterized by acid and bile reflux in the distal oesophagus, and this may cause the development of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus (BE). The natural histological course of untreated BE is non-dysplastic or benign BE (ND), then lowgrade (LGD) and High-Grade Dysplastic (HGD) BE, with the expected increase in malignancy transfer to oesophagal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The gold standard for BE diagnostics involves high-resolution white-light endoscopy, followed by uniform endoscopy findings description (Prague classification) with biopsy performance according to Seattle protocol.

Prevalence and Predictors of Violence Victimization and Violent Behavior among Youths: A Population-Based Study in Serbia.

The study identifies the prevalence of violence victimization and the perpetration among youths, and explores the determinants and predictors using a socio-ecological model. The data of 36 variables from a representative sample of 1722 persons, ages 15-24 years, from the National Health Survey of Serbia in 2013, were analyzed by a multivariate logistic regression modeling. The study shows that 13.

Predictive Value of Carcinoembryonic and Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Related to Some Clinical, Endoscopic and Histological Colorectal Cancer Characteristics.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important oncological and public health problem worldwide, including Serbia. Unfortunately, half of the patients are recognized in an advanced stage of the disease, therefore, early detection through specific tumor biomarkers, such as carcinoembryonic (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), is the only way to cope with CRC expansion.

Methods: Our cross-sectional study evaluated the influence of some clinical, endoscopic and histological characteristics of CRC on CEA and CA 19-9 serum levels, to determine whether these biomarkers could be related to CRC detection.

A quality of life assessment and the correlation between generic and disease-specific questionnaires scores in outpatients with chronic liver disease-pilot study.

Introduction: Chronic liver diseases (CLD) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in general population. The aim of this study was to analyze potential differences between patients with CLD and healthy control group, and to estimate the severity of CLD by using simple questionnaires: general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).

Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was performed in Zemun Clinical Hospital during years 2014 and 2015.

Effects of levothyroxine replacement therapy on parameters of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in hypothyroid patients: a prospective pilot study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy during three months on some parameters of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in patients with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. This study included a group of 30 female patients with TSH level >4 mIU/L and 15 matched healthy controls. Intima media complex thickness (IMCT) and peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV) of superficial femoral artery were determined by Color Doppler scan.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of flat and sessile colorectal adenomas: our experience with long-term follow-ups.

Background/aim: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or mucosectomy is a removing method of flat or sessile lesions, laterally spreading tumors and carcinoma of the colon or the rectum limited to mucosa or the surface part of the submucosa. The aim of the study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of EMR in removing flat and sessile colorectal adenomas.

Methods: This prospective study involved 140 patients during the period of 8 years.

Long-term outcome of a modified balloon dilatation in the treatment of patients with achalasia.

Background/aim: Balloon dilatation is a standard approach to the initial achalasia treatment. Modified dilatation is also applied to rise efficacy and to lower complications.

Methods: A total of 57 patients were analysed within a median follow-up of 8.

[The assesment of diastolic function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune chronic disease. In comparison with the overall population, mortality and morbidity of RA patients are increased due to cardiovascular diseases. There is increasing evidence that autoimmunity mechanisms are included in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

[New risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Introduction: In the last three decades numerous epidemiologic studies have shown the correlation between risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. Clinical research has proven that rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) have higher prevalence of classical risk factors in relation to general population, and over the last few years there has been an emphasis on some new risk factors which can contribute to cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Material And Methods: This study examined risk factor values for CVD in 88 patients with RA treated at Rheumatology Department, Clinical Hospital Centre, Zemun.

Interferon beta-1a for the maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease: results of a phase II dose-finding study.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share common pathogenic processes. Interferon (IFN) beta-1a is effective and generally well tolerated in patients with MS and has been shown to down-regulate the expression of interleukin-12, a cytokine that is thought to be involved in mucosal degeneration in CD. IFN beta-1a therefore offers promise as a treatment for CD.

[Cholestatic syndrome in patients with systemic erythematous lupus--differential diagnostic aspects].

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystemic inflammatory disease with diverse clinical manifestations. Hepatic lesion is a rarely seen complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. We report a case of complication of lupus presented as cholestatic syndrome in a 41-year old woman with lupus in her medical history for the past seven years.

[Vascular gastric anomalies as a cause of relapsing bleeding].

Background: Although relatively rare, gastric vascular anomalies can be recognized as a source of both chronic and acute blood loss, most often presenting as long term iron deficiency anemia, rarely as severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Case Report: We present five patients with various gastric vascular anomalies, diagnosed during the year of 2003. in the Clinical Hospital Center Zemun.

Is the routine abdominal ultrasound a sufficiently sensitive method for the detection of colonic malignancy?

Objective: This study examined the sensitivity of routine abdominal ultrasound scanning in the detection of colonic malignancy.

Patients And Methods: A case control prospective study included 101 patients hospitalized at the Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases of Zemun Clinical Hospital over a four-year period. Since the complaints pointed to colonic malignancy, the patients underwent routine golden standard diagnostic procedures.

[Leiomyomas and massive digestive hemorrhages--case reports of patients diagnosed in 2004].

Introduction: During 2004, there were 6 patients with leiomyomas diagnosed and treated at the Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Pathology of the Zemun Clinical Center. The most common location of these benign submucosal tumors is stomach, followed by small intestine and large intestine.

Case Report: The most common symptoms of these patients were massive intestinal hemorrhage, with haematemesis and melaena.

[Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese persons with diabetes].

Background: Obesity, diabetes and different lipid metabolic disorders are the most frequent risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, presented with a high variability in clinical and histological findings.

Case Report: We presented a case of 37-year-old male, suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, grade III obesity (BMI 45 kg/m2) and multiple metabolic disorders. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatomegaly during the last six months.

[Significance of Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with bleeding from upper part of the gastrointestinal tract].

Background/aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use are considered to be the most important risk factors having influence on the onset of bleeding gastroduodenal lesions. Whether there is an interaction between H.

[Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with nodular antritis and follicular gastritis].

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is known to be the must common cause of chronic gastritis having some endoscopic and pathologic characteristies as determinated by the Sydney System for Gastritis Classification. The aim of our case report was to point out the relationship between an endoscopic finding of nodular antritis and the presence of H.