Chloroquine and cinchonine affect rat vascular smooth muscle tonus through calcium channels - in silico and in vitro approaches.

Background: In the present study, two structurally similar alkaloids from trees of Cinchona genus, chloroquine and cinchonine, were examined for their vasorelaxant effects in a model of phenylephrine-induced smooth muscle contractions.

Methods: Potential mechanisms of action associated with endothelial vasorelaxant compounds, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (LTCCs), and inositol triphosphate receptors were examined in isolated rat aortic rings. Also, an in silico approach was used to predict the activity of the two test compounds.

Factors contributing to variability in metformin concentration in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aim: To investigate the factors affecting metformin concentrations after chronic administration in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on the pharmacokinetic variability and its implications for personalized therapy.

Methods: This study enrolled 53 PCOS patients undergoing long-term metformin treatment at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Niš, Serbia, from February to December 2019. Pharmacokinetic parameters were measured from blood samples, and metformin concentrations were determined with validated analytical techniques.

The Impact of Opioid Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Fentanyl and Alfentanil's Analgesic Effects in the Pediatric Perioperative Period.

Introduction: The polymorphism of the gene coding mu-opioid receptor () is one of the factors contributing to the variability in the response to opioid analgesics in children. The goal of this study is to investigate its role in association with postoperative acute pain in children of various ages.

Methods: This prospective study analyzed 110 pediatric patients, after plastic or orthopedic surgery, who were genotyped and randomly assigned to receive fentanyl or alfentanil.

Monitoring the Coagulation Profile of COVID-19 Patients Using Standard and ClotPro Hemostasis Tests.

: Coagulation disorders during COVID-19 infection are associated with a poorer prognosis and higher disease severity because thrombosis and inflammation are two processes that interfere with each other. A very important issue for clinicians is timely and adequate hemostasis and inflammation monitoring to prevent and treat potentially lethal consequences. The aim of this study was to identify specific hemostatic parameters that are associated with a higher risk of intrahospital mortality.

Trend of Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Non-ST-Elevation and ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

: Given the fact that galectin-3 has a predictive significance on the development of myocardial dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction, the aim of our study was to examine potential factors that could be important for the dynamics of the concentration of this biomarker in the early postinfarction period. : This study included 89 patients with a diagnosis of stable angina pectoris (SAP) or the first non-ST elevation (NSTEMI) or ST-elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study group included 23 patients with the first NSTEMI and 42 patients with STEMI, while the control group consisted of 24 patients with SAP hospitalized for elective PCI without a previous MI.

The association between NOTCH3 expression and the clinical outcome in the urothelial bladder cancer patients.

Disrupted NOTCH activity is a driving event in urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). After activation by hypoxia, the NOTCH3 receptor participates in tumor cell proliferation, acquisition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype, and angiogenesis. The aim was to analyze the association of NOTCH3 expression with histopathological and clinical parameters, and to determine its predictive impact on the clinical outcome in UBC patients.

Predictive potential of biomarkers and risk scores for major adverse cardiac events in elderly patients undergoing major elective vascular surgery.

Elderly patients scheduled for major elective vascular surgery are at high risk for a major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The objectives of the study were: (1) To determine the individual discriminatory ability of four risk prediction models and four biomarkers in predicting MACEs in elderly patients undergoing major elective vascular surgery; (2) to find a prognostic model with the best characteristics; (3) to examine the significance of all preoperative parameters; and (4) to determine optimal cut-off values for biomarkers with best predictor capabilities. We enrolled 144 geriatric patients, aged 69.

The Effect of and Genes Polymorphism on Propofol Pharmacokinetics in Children.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of and genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of propofol in children of different sexes and ages who undergone total intravenous anesthesia (ТIVA) and deep sedation during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Patients And Methods: The prospective study included 94 children, ASA I-II status, 1 to 17 years of age, who undergone standard anesthetic protocol for TIVA, which implied the continuous use of propofol. Before the administration of propofol, venous blood was sampled to determine the presence of genetic variations in and gene using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Association between Galectin-3 levels within central and peripheral venous blood, and adverse left ventricular remodelling after first acute myocardial infarction.

Our study investigates association between Galectin-3 levels and adverse left ventricular remodelling (LVR) at six months. Fifty-seven patients following first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were enrolled in this study and blood samples collected on day 1 from the femoral vein and artery, the right atrium near the coronary sinus and the aortic root, and on day 30, from the cubital vein. Patients with LVESV ≥20% at six months, were included in the LVR group.

Galectin-3 in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and galectin-3 is possibly involved in its occurrence. Galectin-3 has been shown to play a central role in fibrosis and tissue remodeling and has a role in inflammatory and proliferative responses. The aim of our study was to measure galectin-3 levels in patients with myocardial infarction and to compare its levels in patients with or without AF, in order to investigate the potential predictive role of galectin-3 in this setting.

The association between clopidogrel and 2-oxo-clopidogrel plasma levels and the long-term clinical outcome after acute myocardial infarction .

Background And Objectives: A significant number of ischemic events occur after acute myocardial infarction (MI), even when adhering to dual antiplatelet therapy including aspirin and clopidogrel. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the concentration of the prodrug clopidogrel and its intermediary metabolite 2-oxo-clopidogrel plasma as well as demographic and clinical factors, and the long-term clinical outcome in patients with their first acute MI, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction NSTEMI, treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Materials And Methods: This study included 172 consecutive patients with their first acute MI, 88 STEMI, and 84 NSTEMI, treated with PCI.

The association of clopidogrel and 2-oxo-clopidogrel plasma levels and the 40 months clinical outcome after primary PCI.

Background A significant number of ischemic events occur even when adhering to dual antiplatelet therapy including aspirin and clopidogrel. Objectives The aim of our study was to determine predictors of long-term patient clinical outcome, among variables such as prodrug clopidogrel and intermediary metabolite 2-oxoclopidogrel concentrations, as well as patients' clinical characteristics. Setting Department for the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome in tertiary teaching hospital, Serbia.

Significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index in the assessment of the therapeutic response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to examine the therapeutic response of advanced cervical cancer to Ki-67 proliferative index (Ki-67 PI) dependent cisplatin chemotherapy, and to determine Ki-67 PI referential value that is expected to provide a satisfactory therapeutic response of cervical cancer to cisplatin chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study enrolled 59 patients treated for cervical cancer at Clinic for Oncology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. According to the obtained Ki-67 PI values, patients were divided into three groups, and all the patients received the same cytostatic, cisplatin.

The Association between Galectin-3 and hs-CRP and the Clinical Outcome after Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction with Preexisting Atrial Fibrillation.

Increased galectin-3 plasma concentration has been linked to an unfavorable outcome in patients with heart failure or atrial fibrillation (AF). There are no published data about the prognostic utility of galectin-3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for long-term clinical outcome in the Non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients with preexisting AF. Thirty-two patients with the first acute NSTEMI and preexisting AF and 22 patients without preexisting AF, were prospectively followed for fifteen months.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing of drugs in elderly patients on chronic hemodialysis treatment .

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug prescription (PIP) in older patients who were on chronic hemodialysis treatment and to explore the factors that lead to PIP.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed at the Department of Nephrology, Clinical Center Niš, Serbia. It included patients who were 65 years old and older who suffered from the end-stage of kidney failure and were treated by hemodialysis.

Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Bisoprolol in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Background And Objectives: Bisoprolol is a selective beta adrenergic antagonist commonly used in treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of our analysis was to estimate and identify different factors that could affect bisoprolol clearance (CL) and develop a population pharmacokinetic model in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed by using sixty-six plasma concentrations from the same number of patients (mean age 60.

Impact of Ki-67 and E-cadherin expression on lymphovascular invasion in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Unlabelled: BACGROUND/AIM: Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) constitutes 5% of malignant neoplasms arising from transitional epithelium, but is more invasive than bladder cancer. Lzmphovascular invasion (LVI) is associated with biologically aggressive carcinoma and with occult metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between LVI and immunohistochemical expression of two frequently routinely applied immunohistochemical biomarkers, Ki-67 and E-cadherin, in UUT-UC.

P-Glycoprotein Polymorphism C3435T Is Associated with Dose-Adjusted Clopidogrel and 2-Oxo-Clopidogrel Concentration.

Background/aims: One of the most common polymorphisms of ABCB1 gene, a synonymous mutation C3435T (rs1045642), is associated with increased in vivo activity. The main goal of this study was to determine the association of C3435T polymorphism with clopidogrel and 2-oxo-clopidogrel concentrations in plasma.

Methods: The patients were recruited upon acute myocardial infarction diagnosis.

Glutathione homeostasis disruption of erythrocytes, but not glutathione peroxidase activity change, is closely accompanied with neurological and radiological scoring of acute CNS inflammation.

Objectives And Methods: The levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured in the erythrocytes of 50 patients with clinically isolated syndrome of CNS (CIS) and 57 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Results: A decrease in GSH content and GPx activity showed significance in both study groups compared to the control values (p = 0.0025 and 0.

An inverse correlation between TNF alpha serum levels and heart rate variability in patients with heart failure.

Background: Recent evidence indicates that chronic heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by both activation of the immune system and autonomic imbalance. There is a growing body of evidence that increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory markers have important roles as mediators of disease progression and markers of mortality in patients with CHF.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate connection between autonomic imbalance [obtained by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV)] and activation of the immune system [as measured by serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] in patients with chronic heart failure.