Large-Vessel Giant Cell Arteritis following COVID-19-What Can HLA Typing Reveal?

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an immune-mediated vasculitis that affects large arteries. It has been hypothesized that viruses may trigger inflammation within the vessel walls. Genetic studies on human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) have previously reported HLA-DRB1*04 as a susceptible allele for GCA and HLA-DRB1*15 as a protective allele for GCA.

Validation of online version of asthma control questionnaire in pediatric patients.

The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) is a seven-item questionnaire assessing symptoms that asthma clinicians consider to be most important for evaluating the adequacy of asthma control. An online version of the ACQ may be able to indicate whether a visit to the physician is warranted to modify therapy to achieve better control of their asthma, ultimately reducing the number of unnecessary visits, particularly during the pandemic. The aim of our study is to compare the paper and online ACQ to validate the online version for use in real-life settings.

Melatonin arrests excessive inflammatory response and apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-damaged rat liver: A deeper insight into its mechanism of action.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction. An animal model mimicking sepsis utilizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin recognized as the most potent bacterial mediator of sepsis. Melatonin (MLT), an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, is a promising adjunctive drug for sepsis.

Thrombosis risk assessment in patients with congenital thrombophilia during COVID - 19 infection.

Background: Coagulation dysfunction represents a serious complication in patients during the COVID-19 infection, while fulminant thrombotic complications emerge as critical issues in individuals with severe COVID-19. In addition to a severe clinical presentation, comorbidities and age significantly contribute to the development of thrombotic complications in this disease. However, there is very little data on association of congenital thrombophilia and thrombotic events in the setting of COVID-19.

The Effects of Regular Physical Activity and Playing Video Games on Reaction Time in Adolescents.

Reaction time is of great importance in life. In both sports and video games, movements of participants are conditioned by different visual, acoustic and somatosensory signals. The aim of this research was to determine whether reaction time is influenced by regular physical activity and playing video games in adolescents.

Personal Freedom and Public Responsibility: Remaining Questions after First Case of HIV Transmission via Blood Transfusion in North Serbia.

The reduction in the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (including HIV infection) is an essential part of transfusion patient care. Here, we report the first incident of HIV transmission via transfusion in north Serbia due to blood donor dishonesty, and the failure of the laboratory screen tests to detect the presence of HIV particles in his blood. Infected blood products were distributed to two recipients, and HIV infection was confirmed in one.

Epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in SERBIA: A Cross-Sectional Study on Blood Donors.

Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed parasitic zoonosis, affecting approximately one third of the human population. Epidemiological studies on toxoplasmosis conducted in Serbia so far have been focused on women of childbearing age, without a clear insight into the prevalence in the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of the healthy adult population consisting of 1095 blood donors of both genders to establish the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection.

D-dimer, CRP, PCT, and IL-6 Levels at Admission to ICU Can Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Introduction: Health care workers have had a challenging task since the COVID-19 outbreak. Prompt and effective predictors of clinical outcomes are crucial to recognize potentially critically ill patients and improve the management of COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to identify potential predictors of clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Reactivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Serbian Convalescent Plasma Donors.

Passive immunotherapy with convalescent COVID-19 plasma (CCP) is used as a therapeutic procedure in many countries, including Serbia. In this study, we analyzed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in Serbian CCP donors. Individuals ( = 468) recovered from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and who were willing to donate their plasma for passive immunization of COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study.

Phosphatidylserine Exposing Extracellular Vesicles in Pre-eclamptic Patients.

Pre-eclampsia (P-EC) is associated with systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulability. The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in coagulation disturbances affecting the development and severity of P-EC remains elusive. We aimed to evaluate the concentration of EVs expressing phosphatidylserine (PS) and specific markers in relation to the thrombin and fibrin formation as well as fibrin clot properties, in pregnant women with P-EC in comparison to healthy pregnant women of similar gestational age.

Genotyping of Eight Human Platelet Antigen Systems in Serbian Blood Donors: Foundation for Platelet Apheresis Registry.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the allele and genotype frequencies of 8 human platelet antigen (HPA) systems among blood donors from the Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia and to compare them with published studies. These data would be useful to establish the basis for a platelet apheresis donor registry.

Material And Methods: Seventy-two unrelated male platelet apheresis/blood donors from Serbia were typed for 8 HPA systems (HPA-1 to HPA-6, HPA-9, and HPA-15) via the FluoGene method, based on polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific amplification (PCR-SSP; PCR using sequence-specific primers) with fluorometric signal detection.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seropositivity among Tick Infested Individuals in Serbia.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), is a life-threatening disease with clinical symptoms ranging from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system. Despite TBE is a notifiable disease in Serbia since 2004, there is no active TBE surveillance program for the serologic or molecular screening of TBEV infection in humans in the country. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the TBEV exposure among tick-infested individuals in Serbia during the year 2020.

Shared Odds of and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia.

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Serbia and other European countries. Rabies is a fatal zoonosis distributed worldwide and is caused by the rabies virus. Professionals at risk of rabies-including veterinarians, hunters, communal service workers, and forestry workers-overlap with some professions at a higher risk of exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infections.

Assessing donor suitability for blood donation: Utility of Geenius HIV 1/2 confirmatory assay.

Background: Blood donor care and blood safety require a quick and accurate decision on the presence or absence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, based on the proper selection of blood donors, serological and molecular HIV testing as well as western blot test. The aim was investigating the possibility of inclusion of Geenius HIV 1/2 Confirmatory Assay in blood donor testing algorithm in order to shorten test time and decrease the number of indeterminate results.

Methods: A total of 75 archived serum/plasma samples were tested.

The importance of plasma ferritin values in blood donors for the evaluation of body iron store in a five-month period.

Aim To present haemoglobin and ferritin parameters in donors to highlight the importance of serum ferritin testing for the purpose of evaluating iron depots in order to make recommendations for preserving a population of blood donors. Method A prospective study was conducted on 80 blood donors divided in two groups: group I (regular donors, n =40) and group II (irregular donors, n=40). Haemoglobin and ferritin were measured twice every 45 days, before two consecutive blood donations.

Genetics and Hemostatic Potential in Persons with Mild to Moderate Hemophilia A with a Discrepancy between One-Stage and Chromogenic FVIII Assays.

Background:  Factor VIII (FVIII) activity (FVIII:C) can be measured by different methods including one-stage clotting assays (OSAs) and chromogenic assays (CSAs). Discrepancy between FVIII:C assays is known and associated with genetic variations causing mild and moderate hemophilia A (HA). We aimed to study the discrepancy phenomenon and to identify associated genetic alterations.

Characteristics of autologous peripheral blood stem cells collection over a one-year period.

Aim To present characteristics of collecting autologous peripheral blood stem cells over a one-year period with an emphasis on efficiency and safety. Methods A retrograde analysis of 24 leukapheresis in 20 adult patients with malignant haematological diseases in the Blood Transfusion Institute of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, was done. Cell separators Amicus and Spectra Optia were used for collection procedures.

Evaluation of global haemostatic assays and fibrin structure in patients with pre-eclampsia.

Introduction: Haemostatic balance shifted towards hypercoagulability in normal pregnancy is even more pronounced in pre-eclampsia (P-EC). The aim of this study was to analyse haemostatic disturbances and fibrin clot properties in women with pre-eclampsia and to investigate their association with maternal and foetal outcomes.

Methods: Forty-six pregnant women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia were included in the study, with blood sampling done on the morning following admission to hospital, as well as after delivery (mean duration 4.

The Silence Speaks, but We Do Not Listen: Synonymous c.1824C>T Gene Variant in the Last Exon of the Prothrombin Gene as a New Prothrombotic Risk Factor.

Background: Thrombosis is a major global disease burden with almost 60% of cases related to underlying heredity and most cases still idiopathic. Synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (sSNPs) are considered silent and phenotypically neutral. Our previous study revealed a novel synonymous FII c.

Genotype phenotype correlation in a pediatric population with antithrombin deficiency.

Inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency is a rare autosomal dominant disorder, caused by mutations in the AT gene (SERPINC1). Considering that the genotype phenotype relationship in AT deficiency patients remains unclear, especially in pediatric patients, the aim of our study was to evaluate genotype phenotype correlation in a Serbian pediatric population. A retrospective cohort study included 19 children younger than 18 years, from 15 Serbian families, with newly diagnosed AT deficiency.

Implementation of Molecular Typing at Two Blood Transfusion Institutes from Southeastern Europe.

Introduction: Determination of RhD variants in blood donors, pregnant women, and newborns is important for transfusion strategies, in order to prevent RhD alloimmunisation and hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns. Implementation of molecular RHD typing in two transfusion institutes is presented in this article, from Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Belgrade (Serbia).

Study Design And Methods: Blood donors' RhD was checked by direct agglutination assays (tube) and indirect antiglobulin test (gel).