Comparison of thyroglobulin concentrations measured by two immunoradiometric assay

© 2020, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Circulating thyroglobulin measurements is a highly specific test in the management of patients affected by differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy, followed by radioiodine ablation. The aim of our study was to com-pare two thyroglobulinimmunoradiometric assays (INEP, Serbia and Cisbio Bioassays, France). Study included 42 patients of both genders with DTC. The subjects were on suppres¬sive doses of levothyroxine and followed up. Results showed concordance between the two assay methods for determining serum thyroglobulin for 39 (92.85%) pa-tients. Statistical analysis showed that there was a direct correlation between two IRMA tests, with a positive correlation coefficient r=0.613 (p 0.05). We concluded that there is good agreement between the two thyroglobulin assays compared in this study

Influence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in management of anemia in patients on regular hemodialysis

© 2020 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Anemia is a common complication in hemodialysis patients. Treatment of anemia is affected by iron deficiency, insufficient dose of erythropoietin, microinflammation, vitamin D deficiency, increased intact parathyroid hormone concentration and inadequate hemodialysis. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its impact on hemoglobin con-centration, iron status, microinflammation, malnutrition, dialysis adequacy and erythropoietin dose in patients on regular hemodialysis. Methods. The study involved 120 patients divided into three groups: severely deficient of vitamin D: 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] 20 ng/mL. For statistical analysis Kolmogorov- Smirnov test, the single-factor parametric analysis of variance - ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test were used. Results. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients on regular hemodialysis was 75.83%, while the prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency was 24.7%. Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency had lower blood concentration of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum concentration of total proteins and albumin, and dialysis indices were also lower compared to the other two groups of patients. The level of C-reactive protein was significantly higher in the group of patients with severe vitamin D deficiency than in the two rest groups. Conclusion. Hemodialysis patients with severe vitamin D deficiency have lower hemoglobin, lower dialysis adequacy, significant microinflammation, malnutrition, bone meta-bolism disorders and need higher dose of erythropoietin than patients whose vitamin D was higher than 10 ng/mL. Vitamin D is important risk factor for development of anemia in hemodialysis patients and important factor that can affect treatment of anemia in these patients

Predicting the survival probability of functional neuroendocrine tumors treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: Serbian experience

IntroductionPeptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is a treatment option for well-differentiated, somatostatin receptor positive, unresectable or/and metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Although high disease control rates seen with PRRT a significant number NET patients have a short progression-free interval, and currently, there is a deficiency of effective biomarkers to pre-identify these patients. This study is aimed at determining the prognostic significance of biomarkers on survival of patients with NETs in initial PRRT treatment.MethodologyWe retrospectively analyzed 51 patients with NETs treated with PRRT at the Department for nuclear medicine, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Serbia, with a five-year follow-up. Eligible patients with confirmed inoperable NETs, were retrospectively evaluated hematological, blood-based inflammatory markers, biochemical markers and clinical characteristics on disease progression. In accordance with the progression og the disease, the patients were divided into two groups: progression group (n=18) and a non-progression group (n=33). Clinical data were compared between the two groups.ResultsA total of 51 patients (Md=60, age 25-75 years) were treated with PRRT, of whom 29 (56.86%) demonstrated stable disease, 4 (7.84%) demonstrated a partial response, and 14 (27.46%) demonstrated progressive disease and death was recorded in 4 (7.84%) patients. The mean PFS was a 36.22 months (95% CI 30.14-42.29) and the mean OS was 44.68 months (95% CI 37.40-51.97). Univariate logistic regression analysis displayed that age (p<0.05), functional tumors (p<0.05), absolute neutrophil count (p<0.05), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio-NLR (p<0.05), C-reactive protein-CRP (p<0.05), CRP/Albumin (p<0.05), alanine aminotransferase-ALT (p<0.05), were risk factors for disease progression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that functional tumors (p<0.001), age (p<0.05), CRP (p<0.05), and ALT (p<0.05), were independent risk factors for the disease progression in patients with NETs. Tumor functionality was the most powerful prognostic factor. The median PFS (11.86 ± 1.41 vs. 43.38 ± 3.16 months; p=0.001) and OS (21.81 ± 2.70 vs 53.86 ± 3.70, p=0.001) were significantly shorter in patients with functional than non-functional NETs respectively.ConclusionThe study’s results suggest that tumor functionality, and certain biomarkers may serve as prognostic survival indicators for patients with NETs undergoing PRRT. The findings can potentially help to identify patients who are at higher risk of disease progression and tailor treatment strategies accordingly

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Comparison of Thyroglobulin Concentrations Measured by Two Immunoradiometric Assay

Circulating thyroglobulin measurements is a highly specific test in the management of patients affected by differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy, followed by radioiodine ablation. The aim of our study was to compare two thyroglobulinimmunoradiometric assays (INEP, Serbia and Cisbio Bioassays, France). Study included 42 patients of both genders with DTC. The subjects were on suppres¬sive doses of levothyroxine and followed up. Results showed concordance between the two assay methods for determining serum thyroglobulin for 39 (92.85%) patients. Statistical analysis showed that there was a direct correlation between two IRMA tests, with a positive correlation coefficient r=0.613 (p 0.05). We concluded that there is good agreement between the two thyroglobulin assays compared in this study

One year experience in treatment of multi-vessel coronary artery disease with PCI and TAXUS stent implantation in comparison to CABG

Objective. Previous experience in the treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease using PCI showed satisfactory short-term, but inferior long-term results in comparison to CABG. Certain groups of patients with multi-vessel disease treated with PCI may have long-term results equal to CABG. In the decision making process there is, apart from the angiographic finding, a need for careful evaluation of the patient's clinical state, treatment goals, previous knowledge and experience in order to reach the decision in the best interest of the patient. The aim of the study is to compare the outcome of PCI and TAXUS stent implantation with CABG in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease one year after the intervention. Methods. Our study included 114 patients in PCI group and 93 in CABG group, which were treated during 2004 and 2005. The outcome was expressed as the rate of MACCE which comprises death, reinfarction, CVI and reinterventions. Results. After one year follow-up composite MACCE rate was 17.5% in the PCI group and 14% in the CABG group (p=0.486). The rate of re-interventions between the PCI and CABG groups was 11,5% and 4.3% (p=0.064). There was no statistically significant difference between the incidence of MACCE (p=0.486) or between the frequency of reintervention between the groups (p=0.064). Conclusion. PCI with TAXUS stents implantation at one year follow up is equally effective as CABG in the treatment of multi-vessel coronary artery disease

SERATTIA AS THE CAUSE OF AN INTRAHOSPITAL INFECTION AT THE NEUROCHIRURGICAL CLINIC IN NIS

Intrahospital infections represent a serious problem in medicine. Withneurochirurgical patients infections can seriously damage the quality of treatmentwhile in some cases they can threaten patients' lives. Meningitis, brain abscess,osteomyelitis or secondary wound healing are complications caused by infection. Inthe period between October, 28, to December, 24, 1999, at the Neurochirurgicalclinic in Niš there was an intrahospital infection caused by the bacteria Serattia. Thesource of the infection was not discovered. Comprehensive measures wereundertaken for disinfecting the operation block and the intensive treatment unit aswell as a sanitary examination of the staff. In 2000 there was no record of any newčaše of the infection caused by the bacteria

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PARAMETERS ON DYEING OF KNITTING MATERIAL WITH REACTIVE DYES UDC 676.088.48: 547.44

Abstract. Our studies concern the effects of different parameters on dyeing process of knitting materials with reactive vinyl sulphonic dyes. Based on the corresponding parameters correlations, an estimation of ultrasound application validity in dyeing processes of cotton – type textile substrates has been established. Desired color hue may be attained with application of ultrasound reducing dye concentration or shortening dyeing time for 20 min with reduction of salt concentration even to 20 g/dm 3. Key words: cellulose fibers, different parameters of dyeing process, reactive vinyl sulphonic dyes, ultrasoun

Clinical Usefulness of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC and 131I-MIBG Scintigraphy in the Evaluation of Adrenal Tumors

Disorders and morphological abnormalities affecting the adrenal gland, could lead to profound clinical consequences, owing to its biochemical structure-activity and morphological characteristics

Identification of sterile cytoplasm (CMS) in maize by using specific mtDNA primers

Thirty sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) from Maize Gene Bank "Zemun Polje", distributed among Yugoslav OP varieties, have been tested for the presence of particular type of cytoplasm by a single seed multiplex PCR approach with specific primer pairs for T, C and S type cytoplasm. Combination of three pairs of primers in a single PCR reaction, corresponding to the chimeric regions of mtDNA sequences specific for each type of CMS, allowed reliable identification of the major CMS types. Dominant presence of S type cytoplasm was detected. For sources where there is no clear identification of the type of CMS (absence of the PCR band) there is a reasonable doubt that it could be a new, yet unidentified type of CMS.Trideset izvora citoplazmatične muške sterilnosti (CMS) u okviru lokalnih populacija iz Banke gena Instituta za kukuruz "Zemun Polje" je testirano na prisustvo odgovarajućeg tipa citoplazme multipleks PCR metodom, korišćenjem specifičnih prajmera za T, C i S citoplazmu. Kombinovanje tri para prajmera u jednoj PCR reakciji, koji odgovaraju himernim regionima mitohondrijalnih DNK sekvenci specifičnih za svaki tip citoplazme, omogućilo je pouzdanu identifikaciju glavnih tipova sterilne citoplazme. Detektovano je dominantno prisustvo S tipa citoplazme. Za izvore sterilnosti kod kojih nije identifikovan tip sterilne citoplazme (odsustvo PCR trake) postoji realna sumnja da se radi o novim, neidentifikovanim tipovima citoplazmatične muške sterilnosti