Delayed Care and Mortality Among Women and Men With Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have higher mortality rates than men. We investigated whether sex-related differences in timely access to care among STEMI patients may be a factor associated with excess risk of early mortality in women.

Methods And Results: We identified 6022 STEMI patients who had information on time of symptom onset to time of hospital presentation at 41 hospitals participating in the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries) registry (NCT01218776) from October 2010 through April 2016.

Are the cutaneous manifestations in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome a marker for predicting lung manifestations?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate association between pulmonary and skin manifestations in a large group of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) as well as their connection with antiphospholipid antibodies.

Methods: Our prospective study comprises of 390 patients with primary APS. Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) analysis included detection of aCL (IgG/IgM), ß2GPI (IgG/IgM) and LA.

Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. The aim of this study was to analyse risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in PCOS, to define individual risk factors and assess their ability to predict risk.

Methods: Fifty-four young women with PCOS (22 obese and 32 normal weight) were compared to 46 respective controls (17 obese and 29 normal weight).

Pulse Wave Velocity: Retrospective Analysis in a Balkan Normotensive and Hypertensive Population: A Study of 9923 Patients.

We compared pulse wave velocity (PWV) between hypertensive patients and control patients to identify demographics and patient characteristics related to PWV. We retrospectively analyzed 9923 participants (3105 controls and 6818 hypertensive patients) from 5 outpatient hypertensive clinics (in Serbia and Greece). Pulse wave velocity had different distribution between controls and hypertensive patients ( P < .

Correlation between ECG changes and early left ventricular remodeling in preadolescent footballers.

The aim of this study was to assess the early electrocardiogram (ECG) changes induced by physical training in preadolescent elite footballers. This study included 94 preadolescent highly trained male footballers (FG) competing in Serbian Football League (minimum of 7 training hours/week) and 47 age-matched healthy male controls (less than 2 training hours/week) (CG). They were screened by ECG and echocardiography at a tertiary referral cardio center.

Regional differences in health-related quality of life in elderly heart failure patients: results from the CIBIS-ELD trial.

Aim: Patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are main treatment goals for heart failure (HF) and therefore endpoints in multinational therapy trials. However, little is known about country-specific differences in HRQoL and in treatment-associated HRQoL improvement. The present work sought to examine those questions.

Novel Biomarkers of Heart Failure.

Although substantial improvements have been made in majority of cardiac disorders, heart failure (HF) remains a major health problem, with both increasing incidence and prevalence over the past decades. For that reason, the number of potential biomarkers that could contribute to diagnosis and treatment of HF patients is, almost exponentially, increasing over the recent years. The biomarkers that are, at the moment, more or less ready for use in everyday clinical practice, reflect different pathophysiological processes present in HF.

Very short/short-term benefit of inpatient/outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background: Exercise-based rehabilitation is an important part of treatment patients following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Hypothesis: To evaluate effect of very short/short-term exercise training on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters.

Methods: We studied 54 consecutive patients with myocardial infarction (MI) treated with CABG surgery referred for rehabilitation.

Analysis of the third- and fourth-generation cephalosporin use for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria in hospital settings.

Objective: The aims of our study were to assess the prevalence and distribution of Gram-negative (G-) bacteria in hospital isolates, their sensitivity to the third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins (c3 and c4), therapeutic use of c3 and c4 in the treatment of G- infections and drug utilisation data.

Research Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study collected medical records data from the General Hospital "Gornji Milanovac" (GM) and the University Medical Center "Bezanijska kosa" (BK). The time frame of the study was 12 months.

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischaemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial.

Aims: Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort.

Methods And Results: This multinational, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study was conducted in 39 hospitals.

Nintedanib plus pemetrexed versus placebo plus pemetrexed in patients with relapsed or refractory, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LUME-Lung 2): A randomized, double-blind, phase III trial.

Objectives: LUME-Lung 2 investigated the efficacy/safety of nintedanib plus pemetrexed in patients with pretreated non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Patients with stage IIIB/IV or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC who had received one prior chemotherapy regimen were randomized (1:1 stratified by histology [adenocarcinoma/non-adenocarcinoma], prior bevacizumab, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and presence of brain metastases) to receive intravenous pemetrexed 500mg/m on Day 1 plus nintedanib 200mg orally twice daily or matching placebo on Days 2-21, every 3 weeks until progression/unacceptable toxicity. Progression-free survival (PFS) by independent central review was the primary endpoint.

Prognostic Significance of Cereblon Expression in Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Background: To personalize the treatment approach for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), molecular markers such as cereblon (CRBN) are currently the focus of investigation. The aim of the present study was to test the prognostic significance of CRBN expression in MM patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Patients And Methods: The data from 92 previously untreated patients were analyzed.

Homocysteine is a marker for metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.

Background: It has been documented that patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and vascular complications have higher homocysteine levels. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with IR, increasing oxidative stress, which causes lesions of vascular endothelium leading to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to examine homocysteine values, along with cardiovascular risk factors (lipid and apolipoprotein status, CRP, blood pressure), indicators of renal function (microalbuminuria/24h), glucose regulation and insulin resistance (glucose and insulin level, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, uric acid) and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, HC, WHR) in patients with and without MS as a correlation between homocysteine and MS factors.

Lipid peroxidation as risk factor for endothelial dysfunction in antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress markers and it relations to endothelial damage as risk factor for thrombosis in patients with primary (PAPS) and secondary (SAPS) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in correlation to traditional risk factors. Flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerine (NMD)-induced dilation of the brachial artery were studied in 140 APS patients (90 PAPS, 50 SAPS) and 40 controls matched by age, sex, and conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis. Markers of oxidative stress, lipid hydroperoxydes (LOOH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), total sulfhydryl groups (tSHG), and paraoxonase 1 activity (PON1) were determined by spectrophotometric method.

Factors affecting the development of adverse drug reactions to β-blockers in hospitalized cardiac patient population.

The aim of the present study was to undertake a study on the prevalence of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) poor metabolizer alleles (*3, *4, *5, and *6) on a Montenegrin population and its impact on developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of β-blockers in a hospitalized cardiac patient population. A prospective study was conducted in the Cardiology Center of the Clinical Center of Montenegro and included 138 patients who had received any β-blocker in their therapy. ADRs were collected using a specially designed questionnaire, based on the symptom list and any signs that could point to eventual ADRs.

Proliferation and differentiation markers of colorectal adenocarcinomaand their correlation with clinicopathological factors.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate proliferation and differentiation markers in colorectal adenocarcinoma and their correlation with clinicopathological factors.

Materials And Methods: Samples were collected from 38 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and 10 healthy controls. E-cadherin, carcinoembryonic antigen (mCEA), cyclin B1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) were examined by immunohistochemistry; VEGF and EPO were examined by real-time PCR.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians.

Background: Limited data are available on the outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in octogenarian patients, as the elderly are under-represented in randomized trials. This study aims to provide insights on clinical characteristics, management and outcome of the elderly and very elderly presenting with STEMI.

Methods: 2225 STEMI patients ≥70years old (mean age 76.

Sex and age differences and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: There is conflicting information about sex differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the era of reperfusion therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to examine presentation, acute therapy, and outcomes of men and women with ACS with special emphasis on their relationship with younger age (≤65years).

Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, we enrolled 5140 patients from 3 primary PCI capable hospitals.

Benign Hydronephrosis and Elevated of Serum Levels of Carbohydrate Antigen CA 19-9: A Case Report.

Background: Carbohydrate tumor-associated antigen (CA 19-9) has been shown to be upregulated in other malignant tumors including gastric, ovarian, hepatocellular, and colorectal carcinoma as well as benign diseases of the biliary track such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, and choledocholithiasis. According to the available literature, in several cases of benign hydronephrosis and in a few cases of benign renal diseases, elevated CA 19-9 has been noted.

Case Report: A 58-year-old Caucasian male patient was admitted in our clinic with complaints about blunt abdominal pain in the past two-month period localized in the right lumbar region and irradiating into the right inguinal area, constipation, abdominal bloating, and intermittent hematuria.

Faecal occult blood screening for colorectal cancer in Serbia: a pilot study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is becoming a major public health problem in the Republic of Serbia. Organized mass screening has been shown to decrease CRC mortality and even its incidence. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of a faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin proposed by primary care physicians.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Heart Failure: The INOVATE-HF Trial.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is increasing in prevalence and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite advances in medical and device therapy. Autonomic imbalance, with excess sympathetic activation and decreased vagal tone, is an integral component of the pathophysiology of HF.

Objectives: The INOVATE-HF (Increase of Vagal Tone in Heart Failure) trial assessed the safety and efficacy of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) among patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction.

The IgM isotype of anti-annexin A5 antibodies and multiple positivity of conventional antiphospholipid antibodies: increasing the number of clinical manifestations of primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

We evaluated the importance of anti-annexin A5 antibodies (aanxA5 Abs) for clinical (thrombosis and/or recurrent pregnancy loss) and serologic (presence of antiphospholipid antibodies: lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL), and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies) features of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). Our study included 70 patients with PAPS according to the international consensus criteria for APS. The mean age of the analyzed patients was 45.

Profile of rheumatology patients willing to report adverse drug reactions: bias from selective reporting.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have a significant impact on human health and health care costs. The aims of our study were to determine the profile of rheumatology patients willing to report ADRs and to identify bias in such a reporting system.

Methods: Semi-intensive ADRs reporting system was used in our study.