Towards melanoma in situ vaccination with multiple ultra-narrow X-ray beams.

Despite the recent progress, current treatment modalities are not able to eradicate cancer. We show that Microbeam Radiotherapy (MRT), an innovative type of Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy, can control murine melanoma by activating the host's own immune system. The beneficial effects are very pronounced in comparison to uniform radiotherapy traditionally employed in the clinic.

Trends in Melanoma Mortality in Serbia: A 22-Year Population-Based Study.

Background: We aimed to investigating the sex-specific and age-specific melanoma mortality trends observed on the territory of Serbia between 2000 and 2021.

Methods: This population-based study used data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia database during the period 2000-2021. The calculation of the gender and age-standardized rates (ASR) was performed.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Modulation of Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a complex and multifactorial condition that involves a cascade of events, including lung injury, damage of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), generation of immune cell-driven inflammation, and activation of fibroblasts and their differentiation into myofibroblasts, resulting in the excessive production and deposition of collagen and progressive scarring and fibrosis of the lung tissue. As lung fibrosis advances, the scarring and stiffening of lung tissue can significantly hinder the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, potentially leading to respiratory failure that can be life-threatening. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs are used to slow down the progression of the disease, manage symptoms, and enhance the patient's quality of life.

Oxidative stress and galectin-3 levels during skin grafting after hand injury: gender differences.

The study included 40 patients of both genders who underwent skin transplantation after a hand injury. The study aims to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters in patients' blood and serum levels of galectin-3 in order to investigate gender differences pre- and post- skin transplantation. The results of the study suggest a significant increase in superoxide anion radical levels, catalase activity, and reduced glutathione levels in females before skin transplantation.

Analytical model of friction at low shear rates for soft materials in 3D printing.

Background: The biological properties of silicone elastomers such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have widespread use in biomedicine for soft tissue implants, contact lenses, soft robots, and many other small medical devices, due to its exceptional biocompatibility. Additive manufacturing of soft materials still has significant challenges even with major advancements that have occurred in development of these technologies for customized medical devices and tissue engineering.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a mathematical model of tangential stress in relation to shear stress, shear rate, 3D printing pressure and velocity, for non-Newtonian gels and fluids that are used as materials for 3D printing.

Implementation of high sensitivity troponin into routine clinical practice - results of the extended CARdiac MArkers guideline uptake in Europe group (CARMAGUE) survey.

Background: Measurement of cardiac troponin (cTn) by a high sensitivity method is now the recommended strategy for the detection of myocardial injury. An international survey was undertaken to assess how this has been implemented.

Methods: A questionnaire based around 14 domains on cardiac biomarkers was distributed electronically with the aid of professional societies accessed by a web link within the invitation.

Difference in immune responses to Candida albicans in two inbred strains of male rats.

Objective: To investigate the influence of strain differences in immune response on the pathogenesis of oral candidiasis in Dark Agouti (DA) and Albino Oxford (AO) inbred strains of rats.

Design: Seventy male 8-weeks old DA and AO rats were inoculated with Candida albicans to induce three different experimental models of oral candidiasis, one immunocompetent and two immunocompromised models. The animals were sacrificed after 16 days from the beginning of the experiment followed by collecting the samples of the tongue dorsum and blood for histopathological (PAS and H&E staining), immunohistochemical, qRT-PCR, and oxidative stress analyses.

Risk Factors for Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Outpatients with Dyslipidemia.

Background: Patients with dyslipidemia are usually multimorbid and require polypharmacy. Therefore, it is important to identify potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in time to prevent their consequences. We aimed to identify and analyze risk factors contributing to their occurrence to guide health professionals.

Cigarette smoke attenuates mesenchymal stem cell-based suppression of immune cell-driven acute liver failure.

Detrimental effects of smoking on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-dependent immunosuppression and hepatoprotection are unknown. Herewith, by using α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)-induced liver injury, a well-established murine model of fulminant hepatitis, we examined molecular mechanisms which were responsible for negative effects of cigarette smoke on MSC-dependent immunomodulation. MSC which were grown in cigarette smoke-exposed medium (MSC) obtained pro-inflammatory phenotype, were not able to optimally produce hepatoprotective and immunosuppressive cytokines (TGF-β, HGF, IL-10, NO, KYN), and secreted significantly higher amounts of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6) than MSC that were cultured in standard medium never exposed to cigarette smoke (MSC).

Validity and reliability of short-term heart-rate variability from disposable electrocardiography leads.

Background And Aims: Single-use electrocardiography (ECG) leads have been developed to reduce healthcare-associated infection. This study compared the validity and reliability of short-term heart rate variability (HRV) obtained from single-use disposable ECG leads.

Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (33 ± 10 years; 9 females) underwent 5-min resting HRV assessments using disposable (single use) ECG cable and wire system (Kendall DL™ Cardinal Health) and a standard, reusable ECG leads (CardioExpress, Spacelabs Healthcare).

Influence of Thyroid Disorders upon the Incidence and the Severity of Psychosomatic Symptoms in Patients.

Background: Thyroid disorders are an area of public health concern worldwide. The study aimed to examine the incidence and severity of psychosomatic symptoms (distress, depression, anxiety and somatization) in patients with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis in relation to clinically healthy subjects.

Methods: This case control study was carried out from Feb to Jul 2019 in Serbia.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of polyphenols on the outcomes of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is commonly associated with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation which are well known cardiovascular risk factors. Pomegranate peel polyphenols have a proven hypolipemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, there is a lack of clinical studies that would confirm its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic patients.

Low-dimensional compounds containing bioactive ligands. Part XVII: Synthesis, structural, spectral and biological properties of hybrid organic-inorganic complexes based on [PdCl] with derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinolinium.

In this study, four hybrid organic-inorganic compounds (8-HQ)[PdCl] (1), (HClQ)[PdCl] (2), (HNQ)[PdCl] (3) and (HMeQ)[PdCl]·2HO (4) (where 8-HQ = 8-hydroxyquinolinium, HClQ = 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinolinium, HNQ = 5-nitro-8-hydroxyquinolinium and HMeQ = 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinium) were synthesized through organic cation modulation. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of compounds 1 and 3 indicates that their structures are planar and consist of [PdCl] anions and 8-HQ or HNQ cations, respectively. Both ionic components are held together through ionic interactions and hydrogen bonds forming infinite chains linked through π-π interactions to form 2D structures.

Functional Assessment of Myocardial Bridging With Conventional and Diastolic Fractional Flow Reserve: Vasodilator Versus Inotropic Provocation.

Background Functional assessment of myocardial bridging (MB) remains clinically challenging because of the dynamic nature of the extravascular coronary compression with a certain degree of intraluminal coronary reduction. The aim of our study was to assess performance and diagnostic value of diastolic-fractional flow reserve (d-FFR) during dobutamine provocation versus conventional-FFR during adenosine provocation with exercise-induced myocardial ischemia as reference. Methods and Results This prospective study includes 60 symptomatic patients (45 men, mean age 57±9 years) with MB on the left anterior descending artery and systolic compression ≥50% diameter stenosis.

Nutrition education in medical schools (NEMS) project: Joining ESPEN and university point of view.

Background & Aims: Nutrition education is not well represented in the medical curriculum. The aim of this original paper was to describe the Nutrition Education in Medical Schools (NEMS) Project of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN).

Methods: On 19 January 2020, a meeting was held on this topic that was attended by 51 delegates (27 council members) from 34 countries, and 13 European University representatives.

Increased systemic sST2 in patients with end stage renal disease contributes to milder liver damage during HCV infection.

Introduction: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is a serious global health problem. Hepatitis C infection is highly prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), due to frequent exposure to blood and blood products, nosocomial transmission of HCV, and prolong hemodialysis duration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway on severity of the liver disease in ESRD HCV+ patients.

Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for Anti-inflammatory and Immunosuppressive Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Factors.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewable cells capable for multilineage differentiation and immunomodulation. MSCs are able to differentiate into all cell types of mesodermal origin and, due to their plasticity, may generate cells of neuroectodermal or endodermal origin in vitro. In addition to the enormous differentiation potential, MSCs efficiently modulate innate and adaptive immune response and, accordingly, were used in large number of experimental and clinical trials as new therapeutic agents in regenerative medicine.

Pharmacoeconomic Aspects of Low Back Pain Treatment: Cost of Illness Study in the Republic of Serbia.

Introduction: Chronic diseases with disabilities have a huge pharmacoeconomic impact on the health budget, especially in countries with recent history of social and economic transition. The aim of this study was to identify total costs of treating patients with lumbar pain in medical facilities in the central part of the Republic of Serbia.

Material And Methods: This study was designed as a cost of illness study, using a bottom-up approach and it was conducted from a societal perspective.

Therapeutic Potential of Amniotic Fluid Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Based on their Differentiation Capacity and Immunomodulatory Properties.

Background: Amniotic Fluid Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AF-MSCs) are adult, fibroblast- like, self-renewable, multipotent stem cells. During the last decade, the therapeutic potential of AF-MSCs, based on their huge differentiation capacity and immunomodulatory characteristics, has been extensively explored in animal models of degenerative and inflammatory diseases.

Objective: In order to describe molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of AFMSCs, we summarized current knowledge about phenotype, differentiation potential and immunosuppressive properties of AF-MSCs.

Role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) has the most important role in modulation of tryptophan-dependent effects in the gastrointestinal tract, including modulation of intestinal immune response. An increased IDO activity maintains immune tolerance and attenuates ongoing inflammation but allows immune escape and uncontrolled growth of gastrointestinal tumors. Accordingly, IDO represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory and malignant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy of osteoarthritis: Current knowledge and future perspectives.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, prevalent, debilitating joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, bone marrow lesions, meniscal damage, and synovitis. Innate immune cells (natural killer cells, macrophages, and mast cells) play the most important pathogenic role in the early inflammatory response, while cells of adaptive immunity (CD4 + Th1 lymphocytes and antibody producing B cells) significantly contribute to the development of chronic, relapsing course of inflammation in OA patients. Conventional therapy for OA is directed toward symptomatic treatment, mainly pain management, and is not able to promote regeneration of degenerated cartilage or to attenuate joint inflammation.

The opposite effects of nandrolone decanoate and exercise on anxiety levels in rats may involve alterations in hippocampal parvalbumin-positive interneurons.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavioral effects of chronic (six weeks) nandrolone decanoate (ND, 20 mg/kg, s.c., weekly in single dose) administration (in order to mimic heavy human abuse), and exercise (swimming protocol of 60 minutes a day, five days in a row/two days break), applied alone and simultaneously with ND, in male rats (n = 40).

The role of neuropeptide-Y in nandrolone decanoate-induced attenuation of antidepressant effect of exercise.

Since the increased prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroids abuse in last few decades is usually accompanied by various exercise protocols, the scope of our study was to evaluate the effects of chronic nandrolone decanoate administration in supraphysiological dose and a prolonged swimming protocol (alone and simultaneously with nandrolone decanoate) on depressive state in male rats. Simultaneously, we investigated the possible alterations in neuropeptide Y (NPY) content in blood and the hippocampus, in order to determine the role of NPY in the modulation of depressive-like behavior.Exercise induced antidepressant effects in tail suspension test (decrease of the total duration of immobility), as well as significant increase in the number of hippocampal NPY-interneurons in CA1 region.

VITAMIN D STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SINGLE COHORT FROM ROUTINE PRACTICE.

Context: Clinical research suggests that vitamin D deficiency correlates with mental illnesses.

Objective: The aim was to prove that the patients from the psychiatric health care service in Serbia had higher vitamin D deficiency than patients from general practice.

Design: The study had a cross-sectional design.