Association of kidney fibrosis with urinary peptides: a path towards non-invasive liquid biopsies?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of CKD progression is renal fibrosis characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of the urinary proteome classifier CKD273 and individual urinary peptides with the degree of fibrosis.

Zero-fluoroscopy cryothermal ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia guided by endovascular and endocardial catheter visualization using intracardiac echocardiography (Ice&ICE Trial).

Introduction: Stochastic damage of the ionizing radiation to both patients and medical staff is a drawback of fluoroscopic guidance during catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, emerging zero-fluoroscopy catheter-guidance techniques are of great interest.

Methods And Results: We investigated, in a prospective pilot study, the feasibility and safety of the cryothermal (CA) slow-pathway ablation in patients with symptomatic atrioventricular-nodal-re-entry-tachycardia (AVNRT) using solely intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for endovascular and endocardial catheter visualization.

To which countries do European psychiatric trainees want to move to and why?

Background: There is a shortage of psychiatrists worldwide. Within Europe, psychiatric trainees can move between countries, which increases the problem in some countries and alleviates it in others. However, little is known about the reasons psychiatric trainees move to another country.

Trigonocephaly - Our Experience and Treatment in the Republic of Macedonia.

Introduction: Prematurely fused metopic suture results in developmental anomaly named trigonocephaly. The treatment of trigonocephaly is a surgical reconstruction, starting from the simple suturectomy toward the complicated cranial vault reconstructions with aim to obtain enough endocranial space for normal development of the brain and aesthetic correction as well.

The Aim: The aim of our paper is to present our experience on this pathology in the Republic of Macedonia, stressing the trigonocephaly as one of the rare forms of craniosynostosis.

The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry Annual Report 2014: a summary.

This article summarizes the European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry's 2014 annual report. It describes the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2014 within 35 countries. In 2016, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on patients who in 2014 where undergoing RRT for ESRD, from 51 national or regional renal registries.

Epidemiology and outcome analysis of sepsis and organ dysfunction/failure after burns.

Background: The aim of this prospective study in adult population is to give frequency data (prevalence, incidence) of burn wound sepsis and its consequences (organ dysfunction/failure); to analyze the evolution of the SOFA cumulative score during the disease and relationship between the SOFA score in the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21th day after burn with mortality.

Method: A prospective cohort study was performed among adult patients (age ≥20 years) admitted in the ICU, with major and moderate burns. Sepsis, organ dysfunction, organ failure and mortality were calculated as Cumulative Incidence (CI) and as Incidence rate (IR).

Autism in Southeast Europe: A Survey of Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The aim of this study was to understand the diagnostic, service and lived experiences of families affected by ASD in Southeast Europe. A total of 758 caregivers from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey were surveyed from 2013 to 2015 about characteristics of the child with ASD; service encounters; and caregiver perceptions. The average age at first concern was 24.

Community acquired infections among refugees leading to Intensive Care Unit admissions in Turkey.

Objectives: Data on the impact of refugees on Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are lacking in the literature, in particular for community-acquired (CA) infectious diseases, for which they are known to be at higher risk. We did a descriptive, multicenter study to analyze CA infections among refugee patients requiring ICU admission.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were adult refugee patients admitted to an ICU due to CA infections.

Tetanus in adults: results of the multicenter ID-IRI study.

Tetanus is an acute, severe infection caused by a neurotoxin secreting bacterium. Various prognostic factors affecting mortality in tetanus patients have been described in the literature. In this study, we aimed to analyze the factors affecting mortality in hospitalized tetanus patients in a large case series.

Statistical and clinical analysis of alterations in glucose values after burns.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate independent factors (mainly critical hyperglycaemic values on admission) with an impact on outcome in burn patients (sepsis and mortality) and analyse prevalence of critical hyperglycaemia on admission and during burn disease in adult and elderly patients with severe burns. This was an observational retrospective cohort study involving burn patients (≥ 20 years old) hospitalized in the ICU of the Burn Facility in Albania during 2010-2014. Patients were categorized as having euglycaemia, moderate or critical hyperglycaemia.

Diagnosis of celiac disease and applicability of ESPGHAN guidelines in Mediterranean countries: a real life prospective study.

Background: We assessed how the diagnosis of Celiac Disease (CD) is made and how the new ESPGHAN guidelines can be applied in children from countries with different resources.

Methods: A real life prospective study was performed in 14 centres of 13 different Mediterranean countries. Participants were asked to apply the usual diagnostic work-up for CD according to their diagnostic facilities.

Relationship Between Genotype Variants Follicle-stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Polymorphisms (FSHR) and Morphology of Oocytes Prior to ICSI Procedures.

Introduction: This study investigated association of Asn680Ser FSHR polymorphism with the ovarian response in 104 women of Albanian ethnic population enrolled in ICSI program. The reason of infertility in all cases has been identified as male factor.

Methods: Analysis of the Asn680Ser polymorphism was performed using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay.

The Role of DNA Methylation and Histone Modifications in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Epigenetic modifications of the genome, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, have been reported to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: To systematically review studies investigating epigenetic marks in AD or PD.

Methods: Eleven bibliographic databases (Embase.

The readiness of emergency and trauma care in low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional descriptive study of 42 public hospitals in Albania.

Background: Traumatic injuries have become a substantial but neglected epidemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but emergency rooms (ERs) in these countries are often staffed with healthcare providers who have minimal emergency training and experience. The aim of this paper was to describe the specialized training, available interventions, and the patient management strategies in the ERs in Albanian public hospitals.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 42 ERs in the Republic of Albania between September 5, 2014, and December 29, 2014 was performed.

Pattern and Frequency of Short Stature in Albanian Children.

Introduction: Short stature is defined as a standing height more than 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the mean for age and sex. While there are many medical causes for being short and having poor growth, including growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, Turner syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney problems, malnutrition, etc., most children who are short are normal.

From Pre-Existing Renal Failure to Perioperative Renal Protection: The Anesthesiologist's Dilemmas.

Context: Pre-existing renal dysfunction presents specific features that anesthesiologists must deal with. Anesthesia and renal function are connected and can interfere with each other. Induced hypotension anesthesia and the toxic effects of anesthetic drugs can further deteriorate renal function.

Self-reported Prevalence and Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases in the Albanian Adult Population.

Aim: There is growing evidence that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major health problem in developing and transitional countries. The prevalence of NCDs and associated factors are under-researched in Albania. We aimed to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of NCDs in the Albanian adult population.

Inflammation, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and Mortality in End-stage Renal Disease.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular geometry, its relationship with the inflammatory markers, and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease on peritoneal and hemodialysis treatment.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled adult patients on long-term dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) for more than 3 months. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed by an experienced cardiologist who was blinded to all clinical details of patients.

Carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms in a tertiary university hospital in Albania-a point prevalence survey.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance has been recognised as a serious global Public Health problem. Prevalence of Multiple-Drug-Resistant (MDR) organism carriage in Albania is largely unknown since no national surveillance system is in place and few publications are accessible in the literature.

Methods: A 1-day point-prevalence-survey (PPS) screening for nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and rectal MDR Gram-negative carriage was carried out at the high-dependency wards in the country's only tertiary care hospital, in Tirana.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND LIFESTYLE CORRELATES OF SELF-PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF ALBANIAN ADULT MEN AND WOMEN.

Aim: Self-perceived health is considered a suitable health indicator, based on a single item asking individuals to rate their health. It has been recommended as a reliable factor to assess the population health. Several socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of self-perceived health status have been documented in different population.

The functions of estrogen receptor beta in the female brain: A systematic review.

Females have unique and additional risk factors for neurological disorders. Among classical estrogen receptors, estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) has been suggested as a therapeutic target. However, little is known about the role of ERβ in the female brain.