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Buha I, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Anđelković M, Pavlović S, Vreća M, Stjepanović M, Milin-Lazović J, Simić M, Antonijević G, Spasovski V. Association between active pulmonary tuberculosis and miRNA-146a: A preliminary study from Serbia. J Infect Dev Ctries 2022; 16:1317-1322. [PMID: 36099375 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.16721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant public health problem. The role of small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), was investigated extensively in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection as well as in a variety of other pathophysiological processes in recent years. It was found that miRNAs act as regulators of both early reaction to MTB infection and in process of adaptation of the host immune cells during latent course of the disease. Molecule miRNA-146a is expressed exclusively in immune cells and it has the most prominent role in modulation of innate immunity. METHODOLOGY We investigated the level of expression of miRNA-146a using an RT-qPCR technique in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 44 patients with active pulmonary TB and 17 healthy individuals. We also analyzed the significance of miRNA-146a rs2910164 SNV for expression profile of miRNA-146a, in order to investigate potential usage of miRNA-146a as a biomarker for TB. RESULTS There was statistically significant decrease of expression of miRNA-146a in TB group compared to control group. When gender cohorts were analyzed, the expression levels in TB male and TB female subgroup were significantly lower than the expression levels in the same gender control subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that miRNA-146a plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of TB, suggesting that miRNA-146a could be used as a biomarker for active pulmonary TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Buha
- Clinic for Pulmonology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Marina Anđelković
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sonja Pavlović
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miša Vreća
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Jelena Milin-Lazović
- Department for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Simić
- Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Vesna Spasovski
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Buha I, Mirić M, Agić A, Simić M, Stjepanović M, Milenković B, Nagorni-Obradović L, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Ilić B, Popević S, Dimic-Janjic S, Ilić A. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of propolis and N-acetylcysteine in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022; 26:4809-4815. [PMID: 35856373 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202207_29206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) accelerate the progressive impairment of lung function and general health. Together with maintenance therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and natural propolis have demonstrated pharmacological properties that address crucial pathophysiological processes underlying COPD and may prevent AECOPDs. This study aims at responding to dose-dependent efficacy and safety concerns regarding a propolis-NAC combination for the reduction of COPD exacerbation rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, phase IV trial with three treatment arms: Placebo and two active substance groups, one (AS-600) received 600 mg of NAC + 80 mg of propolis while the other (AS-1,200) received 1,200 mg of NAC + 160 mg of propolis. Following an AECOPD, frequent-exacerbation phenotype patients (n=46) were assigned a once-daily three-month therapy with the study drug and one year follow-up. The primary endpoint was the COPD exacerbation incidence rate during the follow-up period as a measure of dose-dependent efficacy of NAC-propolis combination compared to placebo. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in the AECOPD incidence rate: 52.6% in patients that received placebo, 15.4% that received AS-600 and only 7.1% that received AS-1,200 (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.013). Compared to placebo, AECOPD frequency was significantly lower only in AS-1,200 (p=0.009). Compared to placebo, the relative risk for exacerbation was 0.29 in AS-600 and 0.13 in AS-1,200. No adverse events related to the treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS Oral combination of natural propolis with NAC confirmed formulation efficiency with a favorable safety profile. Our results need to be confirmed by larger clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Buha
- Clinic for Pulmonology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Buha I, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Adžić-Vukičević T, Ilić A, Blanka-Protić A, Stjepanovic M, Anđelković M, Vreća M, Milin-Lazović J, Spasovski V, Pavlović S. Relevance of TNF-α, IL-6 and IRAK1 gene expression for assessing disease severity and therapy effects in tuberculosis patients. J Infect Dev Ctries 2019; 13:419-425. [DOI: 10.3855/jidc.10949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TBC) is a contagious chronic respiratory disease which despite the known cause, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and many decades of successful therapy, remains one of the leading global health problems. Immune responses against Mtb infection involve both of types of immunity, but cellular immunity, in which certain cytokines and Th1 cells play a key role, is crucial. A better understanding of the functions of the cytokine network involved in the state and progression of TBC could identify specific molecular markers for monitoring of disease activity as well as therapy outcomes in TBC patients.
Methodology: We investigated expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IRAK1 genes using an RT-qPCR technique in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 33 TBC patients and 10 healthy individuals.
Results: Comparison between TBC patients and healthy individuals revealed statistically significant differences for all analyzed genes. The levels of expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA were higher, while the level of IRAK1 mRNA was lower in the TBC group compared to controls. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was observed between TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression. When clinical parameters were analyzed, increased levels of TNF-α mRNA were detected in patients with a longer duration of therapy (>2 months) compared to those with a shorter therapy duration (< 2 months), and in patients without anemia.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that the inflammatory genes we examined play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, and that the expression of the TNF-α gene could be a marker for monitoring the clinical effect of the ant-tuberculosis drugs during therapy.
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Stjepanović M, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Radisavljević-Pavlović S, Roksandić-Milenković M, Milin-Lazović J, Babić U, Mašković J, Buha I, Stojković-Lalošević M, Stojković M, Mihailović-Vučinić V. Patient, Healthcare System and Total Delay in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment Among Serbian Population. Acta Clin Croat 2018; 57:257-263. [PMID: 30431718 PMCID: PMC6532000 DOI: 10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY – Currently, topical are studies that examine different reasons for delay of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and its impact on disease prognosis. The aim was to examine three time periods associated with treatment delay: patient related, health system related and total delay. This retrospective-prospective study included 100 consecutive patients hospitalized at Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, in the period from March to December 2015. Study results showed median patient delay to be 92.5 days. Total delay was affected by patient related delay. Median healthcare delay was 18.5 days. Patients that reported excessive alcohol consumption were more likely to have prolonged time to seek medical help. Years of alcohol consumption yielded moderate positive correlation with patient related delay (r=0.362, p<0.001). Correlation between the number of cigarettes and patient delay was moderate, positive and statistically significant (r=0.314, p=0.001). Delay in seeking medical help was more likely in patients with negative family history of TB. There was no difference in the effect of the presence of symptoms on patient related delay (p>0.05). Clinical characteristics such as patient TB category and chest radiograph abnormalities were not associated with prolonged patient related delay (p>0.05). Study results point to the importance of health education and/or health intervention in the population group at a high risk of TB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vesna Škodrić-Trifunović
- Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Marina Roksandić-Milenković
- Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Uroš Babić
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Clinical Center of Serbia, Department of Urology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jovana Mašković
- Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Buha
- Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Mirjana Stojković
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Clinical Center of Serbia, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Violeta Mihailović-Vučinić
- Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Mihailović-Vučinić V, Gvozdenović B, Stjepanović M, Vuković M, Marković-Denić L, Milovanović A, Videnović-Ivanov J, Žugić V, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Filipović S, Omčikus M. Administering the Sarcoidosis Health Questionnaire to sarcoidosis patients in Serbia. J Bras Pneumol 2017; 42:99-105. [PMID: 27167430 PMCID: PMC4853062 DOI: 10.1590/s1806-37562015000000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to use a Serbian-language version of the disease-specific, self-report Sarcoidosis Health Questionnaire (SHQ), which was designed and originally validated in the United States, to assess health status in sarcoidosis patients in Serbia, as well as validating the instrument for use in the country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 346 patients with biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis. To evaluate the health status of the patients, we used the SHQ, which was translated into Serbian for the purposes of this study. We compared SHQ scores by patient gender and age, as well as by disease duration and treatment. Lower SHQ scores indicate poorer health status. Results: The SHQ scores demonstrated differences in health status among subgroups of the sarcoidosis patients evaluated. Health status was found to be significantly poorer among female patients and older patients, as well as among those with chronic sarcoidosis or extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease. Monotherapy with methotrexate was found to be associated with better health status than was monotherapy with prednisone or combination therapy with prednisone and methotrexate. Conclusions: The SHQ is a reliable, disease-specific, self-report instrument. Although originally designed for use in the United States, the SHQ could be a useful tool for the assessment of health status in various non-English-speaking populations of sarcoidosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Branislav Gvozdenović
- Pharmacovigilance Department, Pharmaceutical Product Development Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Mira Vuković
- Education Department, Health Center Valjevo, Valjevo, Serbia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maja Omčikus
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Škodrić-Trifunović V, Stjepanović M, Savić Ž, Ilić M, Kavečan I, Jovanović Privrodski J, Spasovski V, Stojiljković M, Pavlović S. Novel patched 1 mutations in patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome--case report. Croat Med J 2015; 56:63-7. [PMID: 25727044 PMCID: PMC4364350 DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2015.56.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by numerous basal cell carcinomas, keratocystic odontogenic tumors of the jaws, and diverse developmental defects. This disorder is associated with mutations in tumor suppressor gene Patched 1 (PTCH1). We present two patients with Gorlin syndrome, one sporadic and one familial. Clinical examination, radiological, and CT imaging, and mutation screening of PTCH1 gene were performed. Family members, as well as eleven healthy controls were included in the study. Both patients fulfilled the specific criteria for diagnosis of Gorlin syndrome. Molecular analysis of the first patient showed a novel frameshift mutation in exon 6 of PTCH1gene (c.903delT). Additionally, a somatic frameshift mutation in exon 21 (c.3524delT) along with germline mutation in exon 6 was detected in tumor-derived tissue sample of this patient. Analysis of the second patient, as well as two affected family members, revealed a novel nonsense germline mutation in exon 8 (c.1148 C>A).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Vesna Spasovski
- Vesna Spasovski, Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia,
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Dimitrijević I, Popović N, Sabljak V, Škodrić-Trifunović V, Dimitrijević N. Food addiction-diagnosis and treatment. Psychiatr Danub 2015; 27:101-106. [PMID: 25751444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this article we summarized the recent research of the food addiction, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, which is carried out in this area. The concept of food addiction is new and complex, but proven to be very important for understanding and solving the problem of obesity. First part of this paper emphasizes the neurological studies, whose results indicate the similarity of brain processes that are being activated during drug abuse and during eating certain types of food. In this context, different authors speak of "hyper-palatable", industrial food, saturated with salt, fat and sugar, which favor an addiction. In the section on diagnostic and instruments constructed for assessing the degree of dependence, main diagnostic tool is standardized Yale Food Addiction Scale constructed by Ashley Gearhardt, and her associates. Since 2009, when it was first published, this scale is used in almost all researches in this area and has been translated into several languages. Finally, distinguish between prevention and treatment of food addiction was made. Given that there were similarities with other forms of addictive behavior, the researchers recommend the application of traditional addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Dimitrijević
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Pasterova 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia,
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