Publications by authors named "S Matkovic"

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with a high-risk skin melanoma after completion of the primary surgical treatment over time, as well as, to identify factors associated with better HRQoL at the beginning and at the end of follow-up. The study included subjects with histopathologically confirmed high-risk skin melanoma in clinical stages IIC, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC, in whom clinical and radiographic signs of the disease were not confirmed after primary surgical treatment. The HRQoL was evaluated using Short Form-36 (SF-36) after completion of primary surgical treatment (start of follow-up) and after 6 to 12 months (end of follow-up).

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Background: The biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy and safety are still urgently needed. As cytokines are easily detected and monitored in circulation, they could be used as potential predictors of response and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) for ICIs therapy.

Methods: The levels of TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 were measured in sera and plasma by ELISA method of 30 healthy controls (HC) and 32 BRAF wild type (wt) MM patients before and after every 12 weeks of Pembrolizumab, PD-1 inhibitor, until one year or disease progression (DP).

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Numerous immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and inhibitory cytokines identified in melanoma microenvironment have the important role in immune escape. Therefore, in this study we analyzed monocytic (m)MDSCs in peripheral blood of metastatic melanoma (MM) patients. In peripheral blood of 35 MM patients and 30 healthy controls we analyzed percentage of CD14 + HLA-DR- mMDSCs in monocyte gate and the mean fluorescence intensity of Foxp3 in CD25 + CD4 + regulatory T cells by Flow cytometry.

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Aims: Despite efficacy of anti-PD-1 blockade in treatment of metastatic melanoma (MM), many patients achieve rapid disease progression (DP). Therefore, the aim of this study is to better define biomarkers for DP by analysing levels of circulating cytokines TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in MM patients prior to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Methods: Cytokine levels were evaluated before therapy with pembrolizumab in peripheral blood of BRAF wild-type (wt) MM patients by ELISA method.

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Objective: The role of neurogenic inflammation in pathogenesis of chronic rhinitis is well known. However, very little is known about its importance in pathogenesis of nasal polyposis (NP), especially in form of NP which appears as a part of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). The aim of this study was to examine the concentrations of neuropeptides substance P (SP) and bradykinin (BK) in nasal secretions of patients with NP.

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