The Role of MRI in the Diagnosis of Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas and Its Mimickers: A Case-Based Review with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is rare pancreatic tumor occurring most commonly in young females. The typical imaging appearance of SPN is of well-defined, encapsulated, and large heterogeneous tumors, consisting of solid and cystic components due to various degrees of intralesional hemorrhage and necrosis. However, atypical imaging presentation in the form of small solid tumors or uniformly cystic lesions might also be seen, which can be explained by specific pathological characteristics.

The Different Clinical Courses of Legionnaires' Disease in Newborns from the Same Maternity Hospital.

In children, the incidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD) is unknown, hospital-acquired LD is associated with clinical risk factors and environmental risk, and children with cell-mediated immune deficiency are at high risk of infection. Both newborns were born in the same delivery room; stayed in the same hospital room where they were cared for, bathed, and breastfed; were male; were born on time, with normal birth weight, and with high Apgar score at birth; and survived this severe infection (, serogroup 2-15) but with different clinical courses. In neonate 1, bleeding in the brain, thrombosis of deep pelvic veins, and necrosis of the lungs, which left behind cystic and cavernous changes in the lungs, were found, while neonate 2 suffered from pneumonia alone.

Leptin, Obesity Parameters, and Atopy Among Children with Asthma.

Leptin, as a major adipokine, positively correlates with the body's fat, while atopy is an important feature in the development of childhood asthma. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between leptin, parameters of obesity, and atopy in children with asthma. The study included 112 children (73 boys, 39 girls, mean age 11.

RNA ImmunoGenic Assay: A Method to Detect Immunogenicity of Transcribed mRNA in Human Whole Blood.

The mRNA therapeutics is a new class of medicine to treat many various diseases. However, transcribed (IVT) mRNA triggers immune responses due to recognition by human endosomal and cytoplasmic RNA sensors, but incorporation of modified nucleosides have been shown to reduce such responses. Therefore, an assay signifying important aspects of the human immune system is still required.

Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the follow up of neuroendocrine neoplasms of appendix.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors of appendix (ANETs) known as carcinoids, are rare endocrine neoplasms originated from enterochromaffin cells of gastrointestinal tract. ANETs are the third most frequent (16.7%) gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, with the incidence of 0.

Comparative analysis of lentiviral gene transfer approaches designed to promote fetal hemoglobin production for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies.

β-Hemoglobinopathies are among the most common single-gene disorders and are caused by different mutations in the β-globin gene. Recent curative therapeutic approaches for these disorders utilize lentiviral vectors (LVs) to introduce a functional copy of the β-globin gene into the patient's hematopoietic stem cells. Alternatively, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can reduce or even prevent the symptoms of disease when expressed in adults.

Divergent trends in the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and asthma in a developing country: three repeated surveys between 2002 and 2016.

Introduction And Objectives: There have been differences in temporal trends of asthma prevalence by geographic region and economic prosperity. The aim of this study was to assess temporal trends in asthma prevalence among young adolescents in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia as a developing country with a low asthma prevalence.

Subjects And Methods: Data were obtained from three cross-sectional surveys (2002, 2006, and 2016) of adolescents (12-15 years) from randomly selected schools in Skopje.

The Association between Asthma and Obesity in Children - Inflammatory and Mechanical Factors.

Background: Association of asthma and obesity has been demonstrated in numerous epidemiological studies. However, the underlying mechanisms of the association are not well understood. Both conditions are characterised by chronic tissue inflammation, which includes numerous different inflammatory markers, and possible atopy.

Cross-cultural selection and validation of instruments to assess patient-reported outcomes in children and adolescents with achondroplasia.

Purpose: Achondroplasia, as the most common form of disproportionate short stature, potentially impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functioning of people with this condition. Because there are no psychometrically validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) condition-specific instruments for achondroplasia, this study selected and tested available generic, disease-specific and under development questionnaires for possible use in multinational clinical research.

Methods: A three-step approach was applied.

Single center study of 53 consecutive patients with pituitary stalk lesions.

Background: The etiological spectrum of pituitary stalk lesions (PSL) is wide and yet specific compared to the other diseases of the sellar and suprasellar region. Because of the pituitary stalk's (PS) critical location and role, biopsies of these lesions are rarely performed, and their underlying pathology is often a conundrum for clinicians. A pituitary MRI in association with a clinical context can facilitate their diagnosis.

An international comparison of risk factors between two regions with distinct differences in asthma prevalence.

Background And Purpose: Investigation of the geographic variation in asthma prevalence can improve our understanding of asthma etiology and management. The purpose of our investigation was to compare the prevalence of asthma and wheeze among adolescents living in two distinct international regions and to investigate reasons for observed differences.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 13-14 year olds was completed in Saskatoon, Canada (n=1200) and Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (n=3026), as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase 3 study.

An international comparison of asthma, wheeze, and breathing medication use among children.

Background: There is variation in childhood asthma between countries with typically higher prevalence in "Westernized" nations. We compared asthma, respiratory symptoms, and medication prevalence in Eastern and Central European regions and Canada.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of children (5-15 years) from one urban centre in each of Canada, Belarus, Poland, Republic of Georgia (Adjara), Republic of Macedonia, and Ukraine.

Transcriptomic profile of cystic fibrosis patients identifies type I interferon response and ribosomal stalk proteins as potential modifiers of disease severity.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common monogenic disease among people of Western European descent and caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. However, the disease severity is immensely variable even among patients with similar CFTR mutations due to the possible effect of 'modifier genes'. To identify genetic modifiers, we applied RNA-seq based transcriptomic analyses in CF patients with a mild and severe lung phenotype.

Clinoptilolite for Treatment of Dyslipidemia: Preliminary Efficacy Study.

Objectives: A tribomechanically activated clinoptilolite (natural aluminosilicate mineral) has been used to increase growth in meat-producing animals, as an adjuvant in cancer therapy, and a heavy metal remover in humans. Because of its unique cation exchanging and chelating properties, we hypothesized that clinoptilolite may be beneficial for the treatment of dyslipidemia in the manner similar to bile acid sequestrants. Thus, specific aims of this pilot study were to orally administer clinoptilolite in different doses and granule size combinations to determine magnitude and time profile of changes in blood lipids.

Extracellular Adenosine Production by ecto-5'-Nucleotidase (CD73) Enhances Radiation-Induced Lung Fibrosis.

Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis is a severe side effect of thoracic irradiation, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood and no effective treatment is available. In this study, we investigated the role of the extracellular adenosine as generated by the ecto-5'-nucleotidase CD73 in fibrosis development after thoracic irradiation. Exposure of wild-type C57BL/6 mice to a single dose (15 Gray) of whole thorax irradiation triggered a progressive increase in CD73 activity in the lung between 3 and 30 weeks postirradiation.

Perinatal injury of the central nervous system in Lithuania from 1997 to 2014.

Background: Perinatal CNS injuries are significant for the health of neonates and for child development at a later period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the frequency of perinatal CNS lesions (corresponding to ICD 10 code P91) over a 20-year period, using the data collected from the Lithuanian Medical Data of Births (Registry of Births).

Material And Methods: In total, data of 559,164 newborns were analyzed.

Hb G-Waimanalo [A1] or α64(E13)Asp→Asn (α1) (HBA1: c.193G>A) Observed in a Bulgarian Family.

The abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) with an aspartic acid to asparagine substitution at α64 has been found on both the α2- and α1-globin genes. It has been described in many different populations under different names, but never in Bulgaria. Using the recently proposed nomenclature, Hb G-Waimanalo [A1] refers to the HBA1: c.

Direct Molecular Diagnosis of CYP21A2 Point Mutations in Macedonian and Serbian Patients with 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.

Background: Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is present in 90-95% of all cases with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an autosomal recessive disorder. It can present as the severe classical salt wasting (SW) or simple virilising (SV) form, or the milder, nonclassical form. Nine pseudogene-derived point mutations account for about 80% of all defects in the CYP21A2 gene coding the 21-hydroxylase enzyme.

Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: As the expected survival improves in individuals with the cystic fibrosis (CF), so they may be faced with a number of medical complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of liver cirrhosis in our CF population as well as the clinical and genetic characteristics of these patients.

Methods: All patients older than 2 years (n = 96) were screened for liver disease.

Urban-rural differences in asthma prevalence among young adolescents: The role of behavioural and environmental factors.

Background: Asthma prevalence has been reported to be lower in rural areas compared to urban areas, although this has been inconsistent. This study aims to identify the influence of urban-rural residence on asthma prevalence in adolescents in the Republic of Macedonia and to investigate characteristics that may explain observed associations.

Methods: Following International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood protocol, a national sample of Macedonian urban and rural dwelling adolescents (12-16 years) was recruited in 2006.

The self-reported density of truck traffic on residential streets and the impact on asthma, hay fever and eczema in young adolescents.

Background: Conflicting results have been reported, mostly in developed countries, on the relationship between exposure to traffic and allergic diseases. This study aims to examine the impact of truck traffic on asthma, rhinitis and eczema in early adolescence in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, as a developing country with a lower middle rate of high truck traffic exposure and low prevalence rates of allergic diseases.

Methods: Self-reported data was used, obtained through the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase 3 written questionnaires, from 3026 adolescents aged 13-14 years from Skopje.

Detected heterozygotes during the molecular analysis of the common CYP21A2 point mutations in Macedonian patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and their relatives.

Background: Deficiency of 21-hydroxylase is present in 90-95% cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an autosomal recessive disorder. Eleven common pseudogene-derived mutations account for approximately 95% of all affected CYP21A2 alleles in all three clinical forms of the disease.

Objective: To analyse the detected heterozygotes during the molecular analysis of eleven CYP21A2 common pseudogene-derived point mutations in Macedonian CAH patients and their relatives, using the PCR-ACRS protocol.

Genotype-phenotype correlation in CAH patients with severe CYP21A2 point mutations in the Republic of Macedonia.

Unlabelled: Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is a most frequent cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), due to mutations in the CYP21A2 gene. Approximately 75% of patients with classical form of CAH have severe impairment of 21-hydroxylase activity.

Methods: We have performed direct molecular diagnosis of the nine common CYP21A2 point mutations in 24 Macedonian CAH patients from 20 unrelated families, using differential PCR and ACRS.