It is Not (Always) the Mismatch That Beats You—On the Relationship Between Interaction of Early and Recent Life Stress and Emotion Regulation,an fMRI Study

Brain Topography - Stress may impact the ability to effectively regulate emotions. To study the impact of stressful experiences in early and recent life on emotion regulation, we examined the...     

Endothelial NOS G894 T and MMP-3 5A/6A gene polymorphisms and hypertension in Serbian population

The incidence of hypertension is increasing and it is more common in man than in women. Up to date, MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism has been associated with artery stiffening and elevated blood pressure, whereas results considering association of endothelial NOS (eNOS) G894 T polymorphism with hypertension are controversial. The aim of our study was to analyze the possible association of eNOS G894 T and MMP-3 5A/6A gene polymorphisms with hypertension in Serbian population. Study sample consisted of 172 hypertensive and 200 normotensive subjects divided by gender. Both female and male group was truncated according to age. All subjects were genotyped for MMP-3 5A/6A and eNOS G894 T polymorphism. There was a significantly higher (P < 0.05) prevalence of 5A/5A genotype in hypertensive females compared to normotensive ones (19.30 % vs. 10.84%) even more pronounced in group > or =50 years, according to its recessive effect. In young males (<40 years), we found 3.7-fold increased risk for hypertension associated with allele 6A (P < 0.01), and 8.1-fold with genotype 6A/6A (P = 0.01) according to recessive model. We found no association of eNOS G894 T polymorphism with hypertension. These results indicate that there were gender- and age-specific differences in association of MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism with hypertension in Serbian population.     

High-Dimensional Single-Cell Mapping of Central Nervous System Immune Cells Reveals Distinct Myeloid Subsets in Health,Aging, and Disease

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The Validation Study of Neurofilament Heavy Chain and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine as Plasma Biomarkers of Clinical/Paraclinical Activity in First and Relapsing-Remitting Demyelination Acute Attacks

Although current evidence mainly suggests immunopathogenesis of demyelination and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), there are results which document the importance of other factors, such as oxidative stress and its mediated injuries. The oxidative stress intensity in axonal damage during acute demyelination is little known. We performed this study as a cross-sectional biomarker validation study in order to evaluate the parameters of axonal damage (phosphorylated neurofilaments heavy chain (pNF-H)) and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)) in plasma of patients with initial and relapsing-remitting demyelination attacks, defined as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); and the correlations between these parameters and biological (index of blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability), clinical (index of disease progression), and radiological (T₁-Gd-enhancing lesion volume) activities of disease. Both parameters were increased in CIS and RRMS compared to control subjects (p < 0.05). The positive correlations were observed between 8-OHdG values and index of BBB permeability, clinical severity of disease, and demyelinated brain lesion volume, in CIS group (r > 0.50; p < 0.05). Similar correlations were obtained between pNF-H values and the above parameters, as well as the index of disease progression, in RRMS group (r > 0.30; p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between values of 8-OHdG and pNF-H only in CIS group, r = 0.52, p < 0.05. While the plasma values of 8-OHdG reflect the degree of acute demyelination in CIS, pNF-H values reflect that in RRMS. The obtained results must be reevaluated in similar prospective studies related to their prognostic values.     

Rationalizing blood management in orthopedics and traumatology

In recent years there has been growing interest in blood conservation and avoidance of transfusion in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. The benefits of blood transfusion must be considered and evaluated in terms of risk factors relating to the adverse effects of transfusion. A number of strategies are available to reduce the need for blood transfusion. These strategies are maximally effective if combined to span the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative periods. Surgical, anesthetic and pharmacological techniques can reduce blood loss during operation and the use of allogenic blood. This article presents current opinions, on the base of contemporary literature, regarding risks of transfusion and several simple techniques that will reduce the need for transfusion in orthopedic procedures.     

Brain imaging in transient ischemic attack – redefining TIA

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) has recently been redefined to incorporate the latest clinical and neuroimaging information that has shed new light on TIA pathophysiology. Patients suffering from TIA are at a substantial risk of subsequent stroke, but quantifying this risk is difficult as TIA patients are a heterogeneous population and there are multiple TIA mimics. Clinical scores for prediction of stroke risk are principally based on patient history and potentially understate actual risk. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in particular diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) performed in the first days following TIA, reveals relevant focal ischemic abnormalities in 21–68% of patients. These lesions predict stroke recurrence, functional dependence and subsequent vascular events. Adding imaging information to clinical scores improves prediction of stroke risk following TIA. Alongside clinical judgement, use of MRI has the potential to change the management of TIA patients and is the imaging modality of choice for this condition.     

Forensic DNA databases in Western Balkan region: retrospectives, perspectives, and initiatives

The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) recommended the establishment of forensic DNA databases and specific implementation and management legislations for all EU/ENFSI members. Therefore, forensic institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia launched a wide set of activities to support these recommendations. To assess the current state, a regional expert team completed detailed screening and investigation of the existing forensic DNA data repositories and associated legislation in these countries. The scope also included relevant concurrent projects and a wide spectrum of different activities in relation to forensics DNA use. The state of forensic DNA analysis was also determined in the neighboring Slovenia and Croatia, which already have functional national DNA databases. There is a need for a 'regional supplement' to the current documentation and standards pertaining to forensic application of DNA databases, which should include regional-specific preliminary aims and recommendations.