SURVIVAL OF BRAIN ASTROCYTOMA PATIENTS CONSIDERING PREOPERATIVE TUMOR SIZE

Actual neuroradiological diagnostics of the brain tumors, including astrocytomas, is of great influence on successful planning and realization of the tumor resection, considering the fact that it is often preoperative. CT diagnostics is the most frequently used method of the brain tumor visualization in Serbia, due to height reliability, short time of the exposition, lower costs, and wide using even in smaller health centers, comparing to competitive methods. In our study, we examined 63 patients of different sex and age, which have been operated for a brain tumor at the Neurosurgery Clinic in Nis. Brain astrocytoma has been found in all patients after pathohistological evaluation of the operatively resected material. All patients had maximal reduction of the tumor bulk and postoperatively were treated according to current oncological protocols. The preoperative CT parameter-tumor size was correlated to survival.The most often tumor bulk was presented as medium-sized, average diameter between 25 and 50 mm (34 patients). Large tumor bulk with average diameter over 50mm was found in 17 patients and quite rarely the tumor presented as small, with average diameter less then 25 mm, which was registered in 12 patients. Patients that had large tumor masses lived significant shorter (24 weeks) compared to patients that had medium-sized or small tumors (97 and 84 weeks, respectively)

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma of the thoracic spinal cord: Extremely rare case report of over 70‐year‐old patient

Abstract The Pilomyxoid is rare tumor in elderly population, in addition to the occurrence of an isolated lesion in spinal cord is extremely rare in non‐pediatric population. Taking biopsy and subtotal resection is the starting point in essential approach for the treatment. After defining the histopathological nature of the tumor and specified that is Pilomyxoid, the next step is the combination of reoperation and adjuvant therapy

Galectin 3 (LGALS3) Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Biochemical Parameters and Primary Disease in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease in Serbian Population

Galectin 3 plays a significant role in the development of chronic renal failure, particularly end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of our study was to investigate the association between Gal-3 and biochemical parameters and primary disease in ESRD patients, by exploring the polymorphisms LGALS3 rs4644, rs4652, and rs11125. A total of 108 ESRD patients and 38 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping of LGALS3 gene rs4644, rs4652, and rs11125 polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that LGALS3 rs4644 CC and rs4652 AA genotypes were significantly associated with a higher risk for lower hemoglobin, higher level of parathyroid hormone, and also occurrence of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. The CAA haplotype was significantly more common in patients with diabetes, low hemoglobin level, and normal PTH level. It has been observed as well that the ACT haplotype was more common in patients with low glomerular filtration, low PTH, and normal hemoglobin level. We found that the LGALS3 rs4644 and rs4652 gene polymorphism may be involved in the pathogenesis and appearance of complications in ESRD patients and thus could be considered a new genetic risk factor in this population

Mechanical dispersion is associated with poor outcome in heart failure with a severely depressed left ventricular function and bundle branch blocks

<p><b>Objectives:</b> Bundle branch blocks (BBB)-related mechanical dyssynchrony and dispersion may improve patient selection for device therapy, but their effect on the natural history of this patient population is unknown.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> A total of 155 patients with LVEF ≤ 35% and BBB, not treated with device therapy, were included. Mechanical dyssynchrony was defined as the presence of either septal flash or apical rocking. Contraction duration was assessed as time interval from the electrocardiographic R-(Q-)wave to peak longitudinal strain in each of 17 left ventricular segments. Mechanical dispersion was defined as either the standard deviation of all time intervals (dispersion_SD) or as the difference between the longest and shortest time intervals (dispersion_delta). Patients were followed for cardiac mortality during a median period of 33 months.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Mechanical dyssynchrony was not associated with survival. More pronounced mechanical dispersion_delta was found in patients with dyssynchrony than in those without. In the multivariate regression analysis, patients’ functional class, diabetes mellitus and dispersion_delta were independently associated with mortality.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Mechanical dispersion, but not dyssynchrony, was independently associated with mortality and it may be useful for risk stratification of patients with heart failure (HF) and BBB.Key Messages</p><p>Mechanical dispersion, measured by strain echocardiography, is associated with poor outcome in heart failure with a severely depressed left ventricular function and bundle branch blocks.</p><p>Mechanical dispersion may be useful for risk stratification of patients with heart failure and bundle branch blocks.</p><p></p> <p>Mechanical dispersion, measured by strain echocardiography, is associated with poor outcome in heart failure with a severely depressed left ventricular function and bundle branch blocks.</p> <p>Mechanical dispersion may be useful for risk stratification of patients with heart failure and bundle branch blocks.</p