Light on abnormal red blood cell subpopulations: Label-free optics-based approach for studying in vitro rigidified blood cells.

RBCs deformability plays a crucial role in maintaining proper blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body. Conventional ektacytometry fails to differentiate between variations in deformability of RBC subpopulations as the averaging measurement process obscures these differences. In this study, we introduced an approach that integrates label-free optics-based techniques (flow cytometry, phase-contrast, and two-photon excitation fluorescent microscopy) with ektacytometry to evaluate subpopulations that exhibit decreased RBCs deformability upon an in vitro oxidation using 0.

Exploring the Link between Hydrodynamic Size and Immunoglobulins of Circulating Immune Complexes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

The function of immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is related to their composition and size. Using dynamic light scattering (DLS), we investigated the link between the RA circulating immune complex (CIC) particles' size and the CIC immunoglobulin level. In this study, 30 RA patients and 30 healthy individuals were included.

Polymorphisms of and thrombophilic genes: risk for recurrent pregnancy loss.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects up to 5% of pregnancies, but with no consensus on the definition. Inherited thrombophilia has been postulated as a risk factor for RPL. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of RPL with polymorphisms of five genes that influent the coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Interactions of ultrashort laser pulses with hemoglobin: Photophysical aspects and potential applications.

Hemoglobin (Hb), a life-sustaining and highly abundant erythrocyte protein, is not readily fluorescent. A few studies have already reported Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence (TPEF) of Hb, however, the mechanisms through which Hb becomes fluorescent upon interaction with ultrashort laser pulses are not completely understood. Here, we characterized photophysically this interaction on Hb thin film and erythrocytes using fluorescence spectroscopy upon single-photon/two-photon absorption, and UV-VIS single-photon absorption spectroscopy.

Dynamic light scattering analysis of immune complexes in sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The size of circulating immune complexes (CICs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could be an emerging criterion in disease diagnosis. This study analyzed size and electrokinetic potential of CICs from RA patients, healthy young adults, and RA patients age-matched controls aiming to establish their unique CIC features. Pooled CIC of 30 RA patients, 30 young adults, and 30 RA group's age-matched controls (middle-aged and oldеr healthy adults), and in vitro IgG aggregates from pooled sera of 300 healthy volunteers were tested using dynamic light scattering (DLS).

Total diagnostic interval in children with brain tumours in a middle-income country: national experience from Serbia.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the total diagnostic interval (TDI) and presenting complaints in children with brain tumours in Serbia.

Methods: This study retrospectively analysed 212 children aged 0-18 years newly diagnosed with brain tumours in two tertiary centres from mid-March 2015 to mid-March 2020 covering virtually all children with brain tumours in Serbia. TDI was calculated as the difference between the date of diagnosis and the date of symptom onset presented as a median in weeks.

Putative Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are hematologic malignancies characterized by gene mutations that promote myeloproliferation and resistance to apoptosis via constitutively active signaling pathways, with Janus kinase 2-signal transducers and the activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) axis as a core part. Chronic inflammation has been described as a pivot for the development and advancement of MPNs from early stage cancer to pronounced bone marrow fibrosis, but there are still unresolved questions regarding this issue. The MPN neutrophils are characterized by upregulation of JAK target genes, they are in a state of activation and with deregulated apoptotic machinery.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of 806 Pediatric Oncology Patients Treated With Radiotherapy at the Serbian National Cancer Center.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the multimodal treatment of childhood cancer. Our objective was to provide an analysis of pediatric oncology patients treated with radiotherapy in a national referral institution in Serbia. A retrospective chart review of children treated with radiotherapy between January 2007 and July 2018 was conducted.

Extracellular Hemoglobin: Modulation of Cellular Functions and Pathophysiological Effects.

Hemoglobin is essential for maintaining cellular bioenergetic homeostasis through its ability to bind and transport oxygen to the tissues. Besides its ability to transport oxygen, hemoglobin within erythrocytes plays an important role in cellular signaling and modulation of the inflammatory response either directly by binding gas molecules (NO, CO, and CO) or indirectly by acting as their source. Once hemoglobin reaches the extracellular environment, it acquires several secondary functions affecting surrounding cells and tissues.

Selectivity of polyclonal repertoire of anti-microbial IgA and its subclasses in saliva and serum in humans.

Increased interest in microbiota calls for the thorough analysis of antibody reactivity to different microorganisms. As salivary IgA represents the first line of defence against microorganisms contacting mucosal surfaces, we explored the binding and specificity of salivary IgA by testing the binding of purified, FITC-labelled salivary IgA to different microorganisms in flow cytometry and conclude that this kind of analysis enables the differentiation of species/strains with high IgA binding capacity, which should be corroborated on a larger sample size. Further we compare, with in-house ELISA, the binding of polyclonal salivary IgA with the binding of polyclonal serum IgA from the same individuals to whole microbial cells and to purified microbial components.

Age and gender associated changes in immunoglobulin subclass levels specific to S. pneumoniae, serotype 1.

S. pneumoniae is an important human pathogen which has a polysaccharide capsule with virulent properties. This work aims to estimate the titres of S.

Clinical profile, treatment and outcome of pediatric brain tumors in Serbia in a 10-year period: A national referral institution experience.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of children with primary brain tumors, the effectiveness of treatment modalities, and to detect factors related to the outcome.

Methods: A detailed analysis was performed on a series of 173 pediatric patients treated in a Serbian referral oncology institution between 2007 and 2016, based on their clinical, histological, treatment, and follow-up data.

Results: Mean survival time of all children was 94.

The effects of incubation media on the assessment of the shape of human erythrocytes by flow cytometry: a contribution to mathematical data interpretation to enable wider application of the method.

Flow cytometry (FC) analysis of erythrocyte shape and related biomechanical properties, such as osmotic fragility, have not moved from a research tool to regular clinical testing. The main reason is existing evidence that various pre-analytical factors influence the mathematical interpretation of the data obtained. With an aim to contribute to the standardization and broaden the use of FC for human erythrocyte shape assessment, freshly prepared peripheral blood erythrocytes isolated from healthy donors were incubated in iso and hypo-osmotic solutions (pure saline, saline with potassium and calcium, and phosphate buffered saline) and examined by FC using values of forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC).

Insight into the Biological Activity of Hennosides-Glucosides Isolated from (henna): Could They Be Regarded as Active Constituents Instead.

Henna is the current name of the dye prepared from the dry leaf powder of (Lythraceae). Several studies have focused on the chemistry and pharmacology of the henna dyeing active compound, lawsone, obtained from the main constituents of leaves, hennosides, during the processing of plant material. However, knowledge regarding the biological activity of hennosides is largely lacking.

Effects of oral supplementation with organically modified clinoptilolite during prepartum period on colostrum quality in primiparous dairy cows.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that an oral supplementation with organically modified clinoptilolite will improve colostrum quality in primiparous dairy cows whilst having no adverse effects on the cows' health. A total of 36 pregnant Holstein primiparous dairy cattle were randomly assigned to receive daily oral drenching, two hours following morning feeding, with 1 l of water containing either 0 g/l (n = 16) or 150 g/l (n = 20) of clinoptilolite. Treatment lasted from 24 ± 4 d prior to expected parturition until two days postpartum (pp).

Structural characteristics of circulating immune complexes in calves with bronchopneumonia: Impact on the quiescent leukocytes.

Calf bronchopneumonia is accompanied by increased level of circulating immune complexes (CIC), and we analysed size, and protein and lipid constituents of these CIC with an attempt to elucidate the connection between the CIC structural properties and their capacity to modulate leukocyte function. CIC of heathy calves (CIC) and calves with naturally occurring bronchopneumonia (CIC) were isolated by PEG precipitation and analysed by electrophoresis and chromatography. The predominant CIC proteins were IgG, albumin, and transferrin.

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries.

Background: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries.

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale.

Assessment of health-related quality of life among parents of children with solid tumors in Serbia.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and contributing factors among parents of children with solid tumors in Serbia.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 51 parents of children treated for different solid tumors at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Parents filled out validated Serbian version of SF-36 questionnaire.

ELLSA based profiling of surface glycosylation in microorganisms reveals that ß-glucan rich yeasts' surfaces are selectively recognized with recombinant banana lectin.

The surface of microorganisms is covered with polysaccharide structures which are in immediate contact with receptor structures on host's cells and antibodies. The interaction between microorganisms and their host is dependent on surface glycosylation and in this study we have tested the interaction of plant lectins with different microorganisms. Enzyme-linked lectin sorbent assay - ELLSA was used to test the binding of recombinant Musa acuminata lectin - BL to 27 selected microorganisms and 7 other lectins were used for comparison: Soy bean agglutinin - SBA, Lens culinaris lectin - LCA, Wheat germ agglutinin - WGA, RCA - Ricinus communis agglutinin, Con A - from Canavalia ensiformis, Sambucus nigra agglutinin - SNA I and Maackia amurensis agglutinin - MAA.

Pulmonary embolism during pregnancy: a 17-year single-center retrospective MDCT pulmonary angiography study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and alternative diagnoses detected by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in pregnant women; and to assess changes over time regarding radiation dose, technical quality, and examination frequency.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included all pregnant women referred for CTPA due to clinically suspected PE over 17 years. Two blinded radiologists reviewed the CTPAs in consensus with regard to PE, alternative diagnoses, and technical quality.

Native bovine hemoglobin reduces differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro.

We have tested in vitro effects of hemoglobin from bovine slaughterhouse blood (BHb) on stromal cells of mesodermal origin, with an aim to explore its use as a component of cell culture media. Human peripheral blood mesenchymal stromal cells (PB-MSCs) and three mouse cell lines (ATDC5, MC3T3-E1 and 3T3-L1) were employed to study BHb effects on their growth and migration. The cells multilineage differentiation capacity in the presence of BHb was evaluated after induced differentiation, by histochemical staining and by RT-PCR analysis of the expression of genes specific for chondrogenic, adipogenic and osteogenic lineages.

Transfusion-transmissible infections among Serbian blood donors: declining trends over the period 2005-2017.

Background: The mass migrations experienced by the Western Balkans in the past decades have significantly changed the demographic structures and have probably altered the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) among blood donors. However, data on the prevalence of TTIs in the Western Balkans countries remain incomplete. This study reports the prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in Serbia in the period 2005-2017.