The importance and effectiveness of nutritional counselling in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases in Poland.

Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases are the most common diseases in humans. Their pathogenesis is complex, pushing patients to search different ways of alleviating their effects, one of which is diet change. The aim of this study was to assess the role of medical personnel in shaping eating habits in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease based on experiences declared by patients.

The Expression of IL-1β Correlates with the Expression of Galectin-3 in the Tissue at the Maternal-Fetal Interface during the Term and Preterm Labor.

The inflammatory processes that occur at the maternal−fetal interface are considered one of the factors that are responsible for preterm birth. The pro-inflammatory roles of the Gal-3-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the consecutive production of IL-1β have been described in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, but the role of this inflammatory axis in parturition has not been studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the protein expression of Gal-3, NLRP3, and IL-1β in the decidua, villi, and fetal membranes, and to analyze their mutual correlation and correlation with the clinical parameters of inflammation in preterm birth (PTB) and term birth (TB).

Asian innovation in pharmaceutical and medical device industry - beyond tomorrow.

The Asian region has passed a long and rocky road during the past several decades to establish itself as the second leading regional biotech market globally. China has become the second largest pharmaceutical market while Japan holds a strong second position as the global hub for medical devices development and innovation. Pharmaceutical expenditure continues to outpace real GDP growth in most of these countries.

The Global South political economy of health financing and spending landscape - history and presence.

The Global South nations and their statehoods have presented a driving force of economic and social development through most of the written history of humankind. China and India have been traditionally accounted as the economic powerhouses of the past. In recent decades, we have witnessed reestablishment of the traditional world economic structure as per Agnus Maddison Project data.

Association Between Inherited Thrombophilia in Pregnancy and Micronucleus Frequency in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes.

The aim of this study was to determine possible predictors of an increased frequency of micronucleus (MN) and the impact of thrombophilia on the chromosomal instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of pregnant women in their first trimester. This study was designed as a case-control study on 74 pregnant women. It was performed in the gestational age of 11 to 14 weeks, when blood samples were collected and incubated for 72 hours.

Population aging and migration - history and UN forecasts in the EU-28 and its east and south near neighborhood - one century perspective 1950-2050.

Background: There is a gap in knowledge on long term pace of population aging acceleration and related net-migration rate changes in WHO European Region and its adjacent MENA countries. We decided to compare European Union (EU-28) region with the EU Near Neighborhood Policy Region East and EU Near Neighborhood Policy Region South in terms of these two essential features of third demographic transition. One century long perspective dating back to both historical data and towards reliable future forecasts was observed.

Estradiol decreases blood pressure in association with redox regulation in preeclampsia.

In this study, we tested a hypothesis that a short-term estradiol therapy may reduce blood pressure in preeclampsia by modulating plasma oxidative stress. The intramuscular injections of 10 mg 17-beta-estradiol were prescribed to preeclamptic pregnant women during the 3-day therapy before a labor induction. The analyses of mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum estradiol concentrations, plasma superoxide anion (O.

Costs differences among monoclonal antibodies-based first-line oncology cancer protocols for breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Purpose: To assess and compare the costs of first-line monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) treatment protocols in breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal carcinoma in South-Eastern Europe.

Methods: A retrospective, bottom-up case series study design was implemented with one-year time horizon and payer's perspective. The study sample size was 265 patients (breast cancer, N=137; colorectal cancer, N=44; and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, N=84), while treatment protocols included adjuvant mAbs: trastuzumab (N=137), bevacizumab (N=28), rituximab (N=16) and cetuximab (N=84).

Significance of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) concentration determination in the assessment of final outcome of pregnancy.

Background/aim: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is high molecular matrix metalloproteinase originally isolated in the serum of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to analyze the values of concentration of PAPP-A in assessment of progress and outcome of pregnancy in pregnant women diagnosed with threatening preterm delivery, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in relation to physiological pregnancy of the same gestational age.

Methods: The study included 60 pregnant women that were divided into three groups according to gestational age and the diagnosis of imminent premature birth upon reception, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction as follows: the group I from 28 to 32 weeks of gestation, a total of 25 pregnant women, the group II from 33 to 36 weeks of gestation, a total of 23 pregnant women, and the group III from 37 to 41 weeks of gestation, a total of 12 pregnant women.

[Changes in parameters of glycoregulation in gestational diabetes mellitus patients with different approach to insulin therapy introduction].

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The diagnosis of GDM is made by performing the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in women with risk factors, usually during 24th to 28th week of gestation. The most common used insulin therapy regime is a conventional intensive insulin therapy with four daily doses.

Effects of methyldopa and nifedipine on uteroplacental and fetal hemodynamics in gestational hypertension.

Objective: Investigation of methyldopa and nifedipine effects on maternal and fetal hemodynamics in women with mild gestational hypertension during the third pregnancy trimester.

Methods: A prospective cohort study. Methyldopa effects were followed in 28 patients, and nifedipine effects in another 28 patients.

[The ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal encephalocele at 13th gestational week].

Background: Encephalocele presents a rare anomaly of central nervous system, developed as a consequence of neural tube closing defect during early embrional development, and it is described by a baggy formation which prolaborates through the pores of the scull, filled with brain tissue, cerebrospinal liquor and entwined with meninges. According to literature search, until this day, the earliest it can be ultrasonically detected is the 13th gestation week, with the appliance of three-dimensional ultrasound.

Case Report: We presented 25 years old patient, ultrasonically diagnosed with occipital fetal encephalocela at the 13th gestation week.

Correlation between serum biochemical markers and early amniocentesis in diagnosis of congenital fetal anomalies.

A combined test performed at the 12th week of gestation enables us to classify the pregnancy as high risk (risk higher than 1:300) or low risk (risk lower than 1:300) for congenital foetal anomalies, with great accuracy of 85 - 90%. According to the available data, the frequency of false positive results is estimated at around 5%. The objective of the study was to examine possible correlation between the serum marker values and amniocentesis results in prenatal diagnostics of congenital foetal anomalies.

[Hyperlipidemia and pregnancy].

During pregnancy of healthy women, it is usual for blood lipids to increase significantly. Total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol increase 25-50%, while triglycerides increase twice to four times, and there is also an increase ofapolipoproteins B. However, this lipid expansion in blood does not lead to endothelial disfunction.

Monitoring of drug-associated electrolyte disturbances in a hospital.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to find drug-associated changes in serum levels of major electrolytes using clinical-event monitoring method.

Methods: During 1-year period, electrolyte disturbances in serum samples from patients of Clinical Center Kragujevac, Serbia, were monitored in central biochemical facility. A sample of 982 patients was randomly selected from total population of 43,120 patients whose electrolyte serum levels were measured in the facility during the study period.

Cost-effectiveness of ritodrine and fenoterol for treatment of preterm labor in a low-middle-income country: a case study.

Objectives: In countries with high income, tocolytic therapy with beta-mimetic agents is a cost-effective strategy compared to placebo. In our study, the cost-effectiveness of two beta-mimetic agents, ritodrine and fenoterol, used in the management of preterm labor was compared in the setting of a low-middle-income transitional country, Serbia & Montenegro.

Methods: This case study was conducted at the Gynecology-Obstetrics Clinic, Clinical Center "Kragujevac," in Kragujevac, Serbia & Montenegro, between October 2004 and January 2006.

A study of alloreactivity in couples with habitual abortions of unknown etiology.

During 2003, we investigated 22 couples with three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions without liveborn children. The study group consisted of 9 couples with three or more successive spontaneous abortions without liveborn children and without known endogenous or exogenous causes of habitual abortions. The first control group comprised 9 couples with liveborn children, while the second one included 9 randomly selected couples without children.

Effects of topical application of metronidazole-containing mucoadhesive lipogel in periodontal pockets.

Introduction: Metronidazole is the drug of choice in the treatment of periodontal pockets up to 5 mm in depth. It is topically applied--directly into the periodontal pockets. There are no registred trademark preparations for this purpose in the market of Serbia and Montenegro.

[Assessment of feasibility of formulation of a preparation for growth inhibition of metronidazole-resistant strains isolated from periodontal pockets].

Introduction: Topical metronidazole benzoate preparations, applied directly into the space between the teeth and, periodontal tissue, are the treatment of choice for periodontal pockets. Oleogels and hydrogels, as the biomucoadhesive bases for the manufacturing of these preparations, were developed in our previous trials. The aim of our latest research was to develop a preparation that would solve the problem of inhibiting the metronidazole-resistant anaerobic strains, isolated from the periodontal pockets.

Relaxant effect of oxytocin on isolated human oviduct.

Aim: Oxytocin produces concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated isthmus and ampulla of human oviduct precontracted by histamine. The aim of our study was to investigate whether this oxytocin effect was specific and by which receptors it was mediated.

Methods: We investigated effects of oxytocin and its antagonists on isolated isthmus and ampulla of the uterine tubes from 20 women who underwent surgery for uterine fibroids.

Different roles of histamine receptor subtypes in ampullar & isthmic segments of human fallopian tube.

We have studied the influence of both menstrual cycle phase and subtype-selective histamine antagonists on the contractions produced by histamine isolated in human fallopian tubes. Histamine produced tonic contractions of the isolated preparations of both the ampullar and isthmic segments of the human fallopian tube were analyzed. The effects of both histamine and its antagonists were not dependent on the phase of the menstrual cycle.