Clinicopathological and microbiological study of fungal rhinosinusitis treated with endoscopic surgery.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the aetiology, clinical presentations, histopathology and microbiological aspects of fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery.

Methods: The descriptive study was carried out over a 4-year period in two Serbian ENT Clinics and included patients with sinonasal pathology who underwent endoscopic surgery.

Results: The study included 26 patients.

Use of vascular access methods for hemodialysis in Serbia: Results from SerbVasc registry.

Introduction: In many countries, hemodialysis is still the most common method of renal replacement. Significant regional variations exist in creating and maintaining vascular access for hemodialysis. Therefore, analyzing national registries with vascular access data is essential for developing effective national treatment strategies.

Vedolizumab Clearance as a Surrogate Marker for Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Insights from Real-World Pharmacokinetics.

Vedolizumab (VDZ) is approved in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). VDZ exhibits considerable variability in its pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and its exposure-response relationship is not yet fully understood. The aim was to investigate the variability in VDZ trough levels and PK parameters, to assess the relationship between VDZ PK and biochemical response, as well as clinical and endoscopic outcomes.

Doxycycline Trap: A Case Report on the Unexpected Development of an Oesophageal Ulcer.

The phenomenon of drug-induced mucosal damage has not been reported much in the literature, although over 100 drugs are known to cause this condition. Tetracyclines contribute the most to mucosal damage. The common symptoms are difficulty swallowing, pain while swallowing, and possibly retrosternal pain.

The ventilatory efficiency parameters outperform peak oxygen consumption in monitoring the therapy effects in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aim: We sought the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameter that most accurately reflected therapeutic efficacy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Well-being questionnaire, N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide measurements, echocardiography, and CPET were performed in patients with symptomatic non-obstructive HCM during phase II, randomized, open-label multicentre study, before and after 16 weeks of traditional or sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Patients were followed 36 months after the initial CPET.

The Utility of Immuno-Nutritional Scores in Patients with Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

Background: Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet Score (HALP) is an accessible score that is easily reproducible from routine laboratory testing while also reflecting patients' immune-nutritional status. Along with other immuno-nutritional scores, such as the Prognostic Nutrition Index (PNI), HALP has been associated with a number of clinical and pathological features. The goal of our study was to evaluate the prognostic utility of HALP and PNI scores in testicular germ cell cancer (GCT) patients.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Anti-Mycobacterial Therapy (RHB-104) in Active Crohn's Disease.

This study, conducted between 4 October 2013, and 30 November 2018, tested the hypothesis that triple antimicrobial therapy, targeting subspecies (MAP), long considered a putative cause, would favorably affect Crohn's disease. A double-blind multicenter study of adults with active Crohn's disease, (i.e.

Increased Odds of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Are Linked to Reduced n-6, but Not n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Plasma.

The increasing prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) underscores the need for better understanding of its complex pathogenesis. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes is among principal mechanisms contributing to MASLD development. While routine lipid parameters are well studied, the profile of circulating fatty acids in MASLD patients remains less explored.

COVID-19 increases mortality in hemodialysis patients: exploring links with inflammation and telomere attrition.

Background And Objective: An increased risk of mortality and hospitalization was consistently demonstrated in hemodialysis (HD) patients affected by pandemic coronavirus infection (COVID-19). In this study, we analyzed parameters that may impact mortality in COVID-19 HD patients, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), COVID-19 disease status and telomere length in peripheral blood cells (TL).

Materials And Methods: A total of 130 chronic hemodialysis patients were enrolled and followed up for 18 months.

Changes of Target Essential Trace Elements in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, complex, and demyelinating disease closely associated with altered levels of trace elements. Although the first studies into the role of trace elements in MS were published in the 1970s, for five decades it has remained unknown whether trace elements can be part of this heterogeneous neurological disease. (2) Materials and methods: To drive toward at a potential solution, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate whether there were differences in circulating levels of neurologically important essential trace elements (Zn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mn, and Se) between MS cases and controls.

Therapeutic Potential of Palmitoylethanolamide in Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endocannabinoid-like bioactive lipid mediator belonging to the family of N-acylethanolamines, most abundantly found in peanuts and egg yolk. When the gastrointestinal (GI) effects of PEA are discussed, it must be pointed out that it affects intestinal motility but also modulates gut microbiota. This is due to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory features.

Subcutaneous Infliximab (CT-P13 SC) as Maintenance Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials (LIBERTY).

Background & Aims: CT-P13 subcutaneous (SC), an SC formulation of the intravenous (IV) infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 IV, creates a unique exposure profile. The LIBERTY studies aimed to demonstrate superiority of CT-P13 SC vs placebo as maintenance therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies were conducted in patients with moderately to severely active CD or UC and inadequate response or intolerance to corticosteroids and immunomodulators.

Insights into treatment of complex Crohn's perianal fistulas.

Complex perianal fistula is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD) which leads to negative impact on patient's quality of life. Successful management of the disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, including a gastroenterologist and a colorectal surgeon, applying combined surgical and medical therapy. One of frequently practiced surgical procedures is seton placement in the fistula tract, which is used to control perianal sepsis and drain the fistula, while preventing recurrent abscess formation.

Markov modeling for cost-effectiveness using federated health data network.

Objective: To introduce 2 R-packages that facilitate conducting health economics research on OMOP-based data networks, aiming to standardize and improve the reproducibility, transparency, and transferability of health economic models.

Materials And Methods: We developed the software tools and demonstrated their utility by replicating a UK-based heart failure data analysis across 5 different international databases from Estonia, Spain, Serbia, and the United States.

Results: We examined treatment trajectories of 47 163 patients.

Risk Factors for Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Patients on Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis.

Introduction: The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) is becoming a major safety concern, as it has been previously linked to a significant number of adverse drug events and could have serious consequences for patients, including death. This is especially relevant for patients with chronic renal failure, as they are particularly vulnerable to drug-drug interactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of pDDIs in patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis.

The effects of synbiotics on the liver steatosis, inflammation, and gut microbiome of metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease patients-randomized trial.

Introduction: Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Liver Disease (MASLD) represents a spectrum of conditions from simple fat accumulation to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The possible role of the intestinal microbiome on MASLD development has been in focus. Our study aimed to examine the effects of synbiotics on the liver steatosis, inflammation, and stool microbiome.

Attributable mortality of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: results from a prospective, multinational case-control-control matched cohorts study (EURECA).

Objectives: To assess the mortality attributable to infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and to investigate the effect of clinical management on differences in observed outcomes in a multinational matched cohort study.

Methods: A prospective matched-cohorts study (NCT02709408) was performed in 50 European hospitals from March 2016 to November 2018. The main outcome was 30-day mortality with an active post-discharge follow-up when applied.

Association of Smoking Patterns with Vision-Related Disability According to Glaucoma Subtypes.

Objective: The relationship between smoking and onset of glaucoma has been inconsistent. However, there is a gap in understanding whether tobacco smoking is linked to a worse visual impairment in different glaucoma subtypes. The objective of this study was to examine the association between smoking behavior and vision-related disability in people who have different glaucoma subtypes.

Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Serbian version of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Treatment Satisfaction-Patient Satisfaction (FACIT-TS-PS) questionnaire.

Objective: Transcultural adaptation and validation of FACIT-TS-PS questionnaire to Serbian language.

Methods: Standard forward and backward translation from English to Serbian language was performed. Pilot testing of FACIT-TS-PS was conducted on 12 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of malignant tumor.

Presence of Non-Diabetic Kidney Diseases in Biopsy Specimens of Diabetic Patients' Single Center Experience.

The complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are well known and one of them is diabetic chronic kidney disease (DCKD). Over time, it has become clear that patients with T2DM can have nondiabetic chronic kidney diseases (NDCKD), especially those that affect the glomeruli. Clinical indicators for identifying DCKD from NDCKD with high sensitivity and specificity have not yet been identified.

Supporting Pharmacovigilance Signal Validation and Prioritization with Analyses of Routinely Collected Health Data: Lessons Learned from an EHDEN Network Study.

Introduction: Individual case reports are the main asset in pharmacovigilance signal management. Signal validation is the first stage after signal detection and aims to determine if there is sufficient evidence to justify further assessment. Throughout signal management, a prioritization of signals is continually made.

Melatonin Action in Type 2 Diabetic Parotid Gland and Dental Pulp: In Vitro and Bioinformatic Findings.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with functional deterioration of the salivary gland and dental pulp, related to oxidative stress. The aim was to integrate experimental and bioinformatic findings to analyze the cellular mechanism of melatonin (MEL) action in the human parotid gland and dental pulp in diabetes. Human parotid gland tissue was obtained from 16 non-diabetic and 16 diabetic participants, as well as human dental pulp from 15 non-diabetic and 15 diabetic participants.

An unusual cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with ANCA vasculitis and ovarian malignancy - a relapse 39 years after initial treatment.

A 69-year-old woman presented with severe anemia, proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and rapidly progressive renal failure. She was admitted to the nephrology department due to severe deterioration of renal function with complaints of malaise, fever, dry cough and occasional epistaxis that appeared 2 months prior to admission. Histopathologic examination of a specimen from kidney biopsy and immunologic findings revealed ANCA positive pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis.

IL-23/IL-17 Axis in Chronic Hepatitis C and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis-New Insight into Immunohepatotoxicity of Different Chronic Liver Diseases.

Considering the relevance of the research of pathogenesis of different liver diseases, we investigated the possible activity of the IL-23/IL-17 axis on the immunohepatotoxicity of two etiologically different chronic liver diseases. A total of 36 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, 16 with (CHC-SF) and 20 without significant fibrosis (CHC-NSF), 19 patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 20 healthy controls (CG) were recruited. Anthropometric, biochemical, and immunological cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-23) tests were performed in accordance with standard procedure.