Clinical Characteristics, Laboratory Parameters, and Molecular Epidemiology of Neuroinvasive Flavivirus Infections in a Hotspot Region of Eastern Croatia.

Neuroinvasive flaviviruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are widely distributed in continental Croatian regions. We analyzed clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and molecular epidemiology of neuroinvasive flavivirus infections in eastern Croatia. A total of 43 patients with confirmed flavivirus infection hospitalized from 2017 to 2023 were included in the study.

Differentiation of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia response to ibrutinib and acalabrutinib treatment by single-cell MALDI-TOF MS imaging.

Ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment, aim the same target but their off-target effects are different. The aim of this study was to use single-cell MALDI TOF mass spectrometry imaging to compare the CD19+ lymphocytes' mass spectra in untreated and ibrutinib- or acalabrutinib-treated subjects in order to better understand the therapeutic effect of BTKi. 180 cells from 9 male subjects divided in 3 groups (untreated, ibrutinib-treated and acalabrutinib-treated) were analyzed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyzer.

The Value of Body Plethysmography (sGaw) in the Assessment of Airway Hyperreactivity in Cough Variant Asthma.

: Cough variant asthma (CVA) is characterized by nonspecific symptoms and normal spirometric values, which makes diagnosis challenging. To diagnose CVA it is necessary to document airway hyperreactivity (AHR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of body plethysmography in the assessment of AHR using the methacholine challenge test (MCT).

Obinutuzumab in Combination with Alternative Chlorambucil Schedules in Front-Line Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Study by KroHem, the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases.

Obinutuzumab was approved for front-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in combination with chlorambucil pulses administered every 2 wks. Alternative schedules of chlorambucil enable the administration of higher total chlorambucil doses, and have better antileukemia activity. So far, evidence on the feasibility of combining obinutuzumab with alternative chlorambucil schedules is lacking.

Serum progastrin-releasing peptide in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Introduction: Higher concentrations of the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) serum marker, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP), in lung inflammations has been indicated in literature. The objective of this study was to compare serum proGRP concentration in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Materials And Methods: An observational study was performed to assess serum proGRP against other lung cancer markers in pneumonia, COPD and in stage 1/2 carcinomas.

Association of Ego Defense Mechanisms with Electrolyte and Inflammation Marker Levels, Interdialytic Weight Gain, Depression, Alexithymia, and Sleep Disorders in Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis.

: Ego defense mechanisms are subconscious processes that help individuals cope with stressors from both external and internal realities. They are divided into three levels based on their adaptive function. Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis are those who have been treated with this method for longer than three months.

Ethical attitudes and perspectives of AI use in medicine between Croatian and Slovenian faculty members of school of medicine: Cross-sectional study.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is present in preclinical, clinical and research work, in various branches of medicine. Researchers and teachers at school of medicines may have different ethical attitudes and perspectives about the implementation of AI systems in medicine.

Methods: We conducted an online survey among researchers and teachers (RTs) at the departments and institutes of two Slovenian and four Croatian Schools of Medicine.

Outcomes of Ixazomib Treatment in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Insights from Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases (KROHEM).

: Ixazomib, used in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd), has shown efficacy in clinical trials for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). : This study evaluates the real-world effectiveness and safety of IRd in Croatian RRMM patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 164 RRMM patients treated with ixazomib at nine Croatian haematology centres from November 2016 to February 2023.

Dragonflies (Odonata) as bioindicators of radioactivity.

Bioindicators are living organisms that are successfully used for monitoring changes in the environmental health due to natural and/or anthropogenic influences. Dragonflies (Odonata) are considered to be good indicators of water quality; however, research on dragonflies as potential indicators of radioactivity is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate dragonflies as potential biological indicators of ionising radiation in nature by measuring Cs activity concentrations in the dragonfly and river water samples.

A comprehensive survey of artificial intelligence adoption in European laboratory medicine: current utilization and prospects.

Background: As the healthcare sector evolves, Artificial Intelligence's (AI's) potential to enhance laboratory medicine is increasingly recognized. However, the adoption rates and attitudes towards AI across European laboratories have not been comprehensively analyzed. This study aims to fill this gap by surveying European laboratory professionals to assess their current use of AI, the digital infrastructure available, and their attitudes towards future implementations.

Placenta may exert fetal protection against maternal high salt diet intake via renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of high compared to normal dietary salt intake on fetoplacental vascular function, activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), placental pro- and anti-angiogenic factors and biomarkers of placental remodeling and oxidative stress during healthy uncomplicated pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: Based on their 24-h sodium excretion pregnant women (37-40 weeks' gestation) were categorized into three groups: normal salt (NS, <5.75 g/day, N = 12), high salt (HS, 5.

Correlations between clinical parameters and PSQ in children with suspected OSA.

The aim of this study was to measure tonsils and adenoid vegetations, investigate the modified Mallampati score, determine BMI according to body mass and corresponding percentile, and compare these data with the results of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The subjects were children aged 2 to 18 who were indicated for adenotonsillectomy at the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. A doctor specialist conducted the clinical examinations.

Heart failure biomarkers in revascularized patients with stable coronary heart disease as clinical outcome predictors.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and N-terminal pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with stable obstructive coronary artery disease, as well as their potential to predict clinical outcomes.

Methods: This was a single-center cross-sectional cohort study. 168 patients were divided into three groups: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group (N 64), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) group (N 57), and group with no coronary stenosis (N 47).

Sex-Related Differences in the Associations between Adiponectin and Serum Lipoproteins in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

The strong associations between the serum levels of adiponectin and the lipoprotein subclasses observed in healthy subjects are much weaker in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the impact of sex on these associations remained unexplored. Therefore, in the present study, we examined associations between adiponectin and the lipoprotein subclasses, analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, separately in healthy females and males, as well as in females and males with MS.

The Effect of COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccination on Assisted Human Reproduction Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The most discussed infectious disease is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Many research endeavors have focused on the effects of the virus on reproductive organs, as these have also been shown to carry the receptors to which the virus attaches. The results of assisted reproductive technology (ART) have been significantly affected by the pandemic, with some in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers being closed due to the risk of further spread of the disease.

Juvenile primary hypertension is associated with attenuated macro- and microvascular dilator function independently of body weight.

Objective: Hypertension has become a global medical and public health issue even in childhood. It is well accepted that hypertension is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity in adult patients. However, there is a lack of data on hypertension-related endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive children.

A Rare Case of a Gigantic Retroperitoneal Schwannoma.

: Schwannomas (Schs) are benign tumor masses that rarely occur intra-abdominally and rarely reach larger diameters. When present, they occur as rare solitary nerve sheath tumors of peri-neural Schwann cells. Schwannoma mostly affects the nerves of the extremities, trunk, or the head and neck region.

CA 15 - 3 in screening for systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease associated interstitial lung disease: a single center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The natural course of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) varies significantly and is linked to considerable morbidity and mortality. Therefore, effective screening is crucial for early detection of SARD-ILD. Biomarkers associated with mucin 1, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), are increased in various ILD.

D-dimer assay interference detected by the discrepancy in D-dimer concentrations at different dilutions: a case report.

This case report describes interference from heterophilic antibodies in D-dimer assay. The interference was suspected due to discrepancies between D-dimer concentrations in the original sample and diluted samples, as well as inconsistent clinical findings. The patient's medical history, laboratory results, and imaging studies were considered in the investigation.

Septic Cardiomyopathy.

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction represents reversible myocardial dysfunction which ultimately results in left ventricular dilatation or both, with consequent loss of contractility. Studies on septic cardiomyopathy report a wide range of prevalence ranging from 10% to 70%.

Metabolic profiling of CD19+ cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by single-cell mass spectrometry imaging.

Background And Aims: Modern mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables single cells' metabolism exploration. Aims of this study were development of the single-cell MSI of human CD19+ lymphocytes and metabolic profiling of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Materials And Methods: Blood donor (BD) samples were used for the optimization of CD19+ lymphocyte isolation and single-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI TOF) MSI.

Risk for cardiovascular disease development in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have significant cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Objective: To investigate the effects of chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis on cardiovascular morbidity association with cardiovascular risk factors risk factors. Mortality report is secondary just to show trends without sufficient statistical power as it is accidental endpoint.