Search

The presence of pharmaceuticals in natural waters has been the subject of numerous studies in the last decade due to their potential negative effects on human health and the environment. Indeed, the intensive use of pharmaceuticals leads to their presence in municipal wastewater. Unfortunately, international and national regulations still do not require continuous monitoring of the presence of pharmaceuticals in natural waters and drinking water, so wastewater treatment plants do not focus on removing them from wastewater. Diclofenac, 2-[2-(2,6-dichloroanilino)phenyl]acetic acid (DCF), is a nonsteroidal compound used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic drug and is therefore commonly found in wastewater. Due to its properties, DCF remains biologically active in the aquatic environment and easily enters the food chain. Therefore, DCF should be removed from wastewater before it is discharged into water bodies. Adsorption is an efficient and simple method that can be used to remove DCF from water. In this study, the possibility of removing DCF by adsorption on activated carbon is investigated. Modified hazelnut shell (MHS), modified commercial activated carbon Cullar (MC) and unmodified commercial activated carbon Cullar (C) were batch tested as adsorbents. The tested adsorbents were characterised by FTIR, zeta potential and pHpzc, while the adsorbent efficiency was tested in the pH range from 2 to 10 and described by isothermal studies. Among the tested adsorbents, the maximum uptake of 48.7 mg g–1 was found when modified activated carbon Cullar was used, while both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models fitted well to the data. Modified activated carbon from hazelnut shells showed effective removal of DCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like atezolizumab have improved outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, especially in the second-line setting after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy. However, access to ICIs remains limited in many developing nations. This study evaluated the efficacy of atezolizumab as a second-line versus later-line treatment for advanced NSCLC patients in Serbia., Methods: This retrospective study involved 147 advanced NSCLC patients treated with atezolizumab following progression on prior platinum-based chemotherapy at two academic centers in Serbia. Data on demographics and clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics were collected. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression identified outcome predictors., Results: The median PFS was 7.13 months, and median OS was 38.6 months. The overall response rate (ORR) was 15%, with a disease control rate (DCR) of 57.9%. No significant PFS differences were observed between patients treated with atezolizumab in the second line versus later lines. Patients with good performance status (ECOG 0-1) had significantly better PFS compared to those with poorer status (12.03 vs. 1.63 months, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Atezolizumab is effective in both second-line and later-line settings for advanced NSCLC, particularly in patients with good performance status. This highlights the importance of patient selection based on performance status, as well as the need for wider access to ICIs in resource-limited regions.

Introduction: Since COVID-19 first surfaced in 2019, it has seriously threatened public health. The most prevalent symptoms are respiratory ones. This study aimed to present the correlation between the severity of the clinical presentation of the disease and the results of respiratory function tests conducted within 6 months after hospital discharge., Methodology: This retrospective study included 99 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Of all patients 24.2% had accentuated bronchovascular pattern, 9.1% had unilateral, and 29.3% had bilateral pneumonia. In comparison, 35.4% patients had diffuse changes, which were described as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on computed tomography (CT)., Results: Patients with unilateral, bilateral pneumonia or diffuse lung damage had significantly lower forced vital capacity (FVC) values. They were treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) or invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and had lower FVC values (0.039). A negative, weak correlation existed between CT findings during the infection and Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) measured after the infection (0.003). A negative, weak correlation was found between oxygen therapy, the use of NIV, and MV findings during the infection with DLCO. A negative correlation was noted between leukocyte values during the infection and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and FVC after the infection., Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 infection who need oxygen support and MV continue to suffer from loss of respiratory function after the resolution of COVID-19 infection. These findings highlight the negative predictive value of pulmonary tests in the long-term follow-up for the development of PC-ILD as well as decreased pulmonary capacity., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2024 Slobodan Belic, Andjelka Ivanovic, Aleksandra Todorovic, Nikola Maric, Sandra Milic, Jovan Perić, Mihailo Stjepanović, Snjezana Krajisnik, Ivana Milosevic, Jelena Jankovic.)

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are pivotal in managing metastatic non-oncogene addicted non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They have unique toxicities known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Previous studies have linked irAEs during atezolizumab-based first-line treatments in advanced NSCLC with improved outcomes. This study explored the association between irAEs and the efficacy of atezolizumab in advanced NSCLC patients who had previously received platinum-based chemotherapy. The study involved 105 advanced NSCLC patients who received atezolizumab monotherapy after progressing on at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy from a single academic institution in Serbia. Data were obtained from a hospital lung cancer registry. Among the participants, 63.8% were male, with the majority being current (53.3%) or former smokers (37.1%). About half had a good performance status (ECOG PS 0-1) at the start of atezolizumab treatment. irAEs occurred in 23 patients (21.9%). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was significantly longer for patients with irAEs (13.03 months) compared to those without (3.4 months) (HR 0.365 [95% CI, 0.195-0.681], p = 0.002). irAEs and ECOG PS 0-1 were predictors of longer mPFS, with irAEs being more common in patients with good performance status ( p = 0.01). irAEs were linked to improved mPFS in NSCLC patients treated with atezolizumab after multiple lines of platinum-based chemotherapy.

Background and Objectives : Advanced lung cancer is usually manifested by endoluminal tumor propagation, resulting in central airway obstruction. The objective of this study is to compare the high dose rate brachytherapy treatment outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depending on the treatment planning pattern-two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D) treatment planning. Materials and Methods : The study was retrospective and two groups of patients were compared in it (a group of 101 patients who underwent 2D planned high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDR-EBBT) in 2017/18 and a group of 83 patients who underwent 3D planned HDR-EBBT between January 2021 and June 2023). Results : In the group of 3D planned brachytherapy patients, there was a significant improvement in terms of loss of symptoms of bronchial obstruction ( p = 0.038), but no improvement in terms of ECOG PS (European Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) of the patient ( p = 0.847) and loss of lung atelectasis (if there was any at the beginning of the disease) ( p = 0.781). Two-year overall survival and time-to-progression periods were similar for both groups of patients ( p = 0.110 and 0.154). Fewer treatment complications were observed, and 91.4% were in 3D planned brachytherapy (BT) patients. Conclusions : Three-dimensionally planned HDR-EBBT is a suggestive, effective palliative method for the disobstruction of large airways caused by endobronchial lung tumor growth. Independent or more often combined with other types of specific oncological treatment, it certainly leads to the loss of symptoms caused by bronchial obstruction and the improvement of the quality of life of patients with advanced NSCLC. Complications of the procedure with 3D planning are less compared to 2D planned HDR-EBBT.

Background and Objectives : Treatment of advanced lung cancer (LC) has become increasingly personalized over the past decade due to an improved understanding of tumor molecular biology and antitumor immunity. The main task of a pulmonologist oncologist is to establish a tumor diagnosis and, ideally, to confirm the stage of the disease with the least invasive technique possible. Materials and Methods : The paper will summarize published reviews and original papers, as well as published clinical studies and case reports, which studied the role and compared the methods of invasive pulmonology diagnostics to obtain adequate tumor tissue samples for molecular analysis, thereby determining the most effective molecular treatments. Results : Bronchoscopy is often recommended as the initial diagnostic procedure for LC. If the tumor is endoscopically visible, the biopsy sample is susceptible to molecular testing, the same as tumor tissue samples obtained from surgical resection and mediastinoscopy. The use of new sampling methods, such as cryobiopsy for peripheral tumor lesions or cytoblock obtained by ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), enables obtaining adequate small biopsies and cytological samples for molecular testing, which have until recently been considered unsuitable for this type of analysis. During LC patients' treatment, resistance occurs due to changes in the mutational tumor status or pathohistological tumor type. Therefore, the repeated taking of liquid biopsies for molecular analysis or rebiopsy of tumor tissue for new pathohistological and molecular profiling has recently been mandated. Conclusions : In thoracic oncology, preference should be given to the least invasive diagnostic procedure providing a sample for histology rather than for cytology. However, there is increasing evidence that, when properly processed, cytology samples can be sufficient for both the cancer diagnosis and molecular analyses. A good knowledge of diagnostic procedures is essential for LC diagnosing and treatment in the personalized therapy era.

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., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2022 Ivana Buha, Vesna Skodric-Trifunovic, Marina Andelkovic, Sonja Pavlovic, Misa Vreca, Mihailo Stjepanovic, Jelena Milin-Lazovic, Marko Simic, Gordana Antonijevic, Vesna Spasovski.)

One of the major challenges in sustainable waste management in the agri-food industry following the "zero waste" model is the application of the circular economy strategy, including the development of innovative waste utilization techniques. The conversion of agri-food waste into carriers for the immobilization of enzymes is one such technique. Replacing chemical catalysts with immobilized enzymes (i.e., immobilized/heterogeneous biocatalysts) could help reduce the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability problems of existing chemically catalysed processes. On the other hand, the economics of the process strongly depend on the price of the immobilized enzyme. The conversion of agricultural and food wastes into low-cost enzyme carriers could lead to the development of immobilized enzymes with desirable operating characteristics and subsequently lower the price of immobilized enzymes for use in biocatalytic production. In this context, this review provides insight into the possibilities of reusing food industry wastes, namely, eggshells, coffee grounds, and brown onion skins, as carriers for lipase immobilization.

The aim of this work was to investigate grape seeds as a potential adsorbent for nitrate removal from water. Grape seeds were modified by quaternization and the applicability of the modified grape seeds (MGS) was evaluated in batch adsorption experiments. Fixed bed adsorption and regeneration studies were carried out to determine the regeneration capacity of MGS. The maximum adsorption capacity of 25.626 mg g -1 at native pH (6.3) for nitrate removal by MSG was comparable to that of the commercial anion exchange resin Relite A490 under similar conditions. The percent removal of nitrate from model nitrate solution was 86.47% and 93.25% for MGS, and Relite A490, respectively, and in synthetic wastewater 57.54% and 78.37%. Analysis of the batch adsorption data using isotherm models revealed that the Freundlich model provided a better fit to the data obtained than the Langmuir model, indicating multilayer adsorption. In kinetic terms, the results showed that the adsorption followed the pseudo-first order model. By investigating the adsorption mechanism, the results suggest that the intraparticle diffusion model was not the only process controlling the adsorption of nitrate on MGS. In column experiments (adsorption/desorption studies), three adsorption cycles were tested with minimal decrease in adsorption capacities, implying that this alternative adsorbent can be successfully regenerated and reused.

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.

Background: Until now, a proper biomarker(s) to evaluate sarcoidosis activity has not been recognized. The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the two biomarkers of sarcoidosis activity already in use (serum angiotensin converting enzyme - ACE and serum chitotriosidase) in a population of 430 sarcoidosis patients. The activities of these markers were also analyzed in a group of 264 healthy controls., Methods: Four hundred and thirty biopsy positive sarcoidosis patients were divided into groups with active and inactive disease, and groups with acute or chronic disease. In a subgroup of 55 sarcoidosis patients, activity was also assessed by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18 F-FDG-PET) scanning. Both serum chitotriosidase and ACE levels showed non-normal distribution, so nonparametric tests were used in statistical analysis., Results: Serum chitotriosidase activities were almost 6 times higher in patients with active sarcoidosis than in healthy controls and inactive disease. A serum chitotriosidase value of 100 nmol/mL/h had the sensitivity of .5% and specificity of 70.0%. A serum ACE activity cutoff value of 32.0 U/L had the sensitivity of 66.0% and the specificity of 54%. A statistically significant correlation was obtained between the focal granulomatous activity detected on 18 F-FDG PET/CT and serum chitotriosidase levels, but no such correlation was found with ACE. The levels of serum chitotriosidase activity significantly correlated with the disease duration ( P < 0.0001). Also, serum chitotriosidase significantly correlated with clinical outcome status (COS) categories (ρ =0.272, P =0.001)., Conclusions: Serum chitotriosidase proved to be a reliable biomarker of sarcoidosis activity and disease chronicity., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

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.

Introduction: Retroperitoneal hematoma may occur as a result of trauma, but also from rapture of arterial aneurysms (aortic or iliac), surgical complications, tumors or anticoagulation therapy., Case Report: We presented a patient on permanent anticoagulation therapy. On the day of admission to our institudon, the patient had the value of his INR 5.57 which required immediate suspension of the therapy. The main symptom in this patient was pain in the right inguinal canal with propagation along the right leg, which was indicated in clinical picture of spontaneous retroperitoneal haematoma. After three days the fall of hemoglobin occurred, so the additonal diagnostics was done. A computed tomography of the abdomen was performed showing well limited, large retroperitoneal hematoma (213 x 79 x 91 mm). Transfusion of concentrated red blood cells was performed twice with satisfactory correction of hemoglobin level, and four units of fresh frozen plasma. The patient was hemodynamically stabilized and discharged after a two-month long intensive care unit treatment, with the advice to use low-molecular weight heparin 2 x 0.4 mg subcutaneusly, due to persistent arrhythmia., Conclusion: In patients on anticoagulation therapy regular monitoring of the anticoagulant status is extremely important, because of the possibility of fatal complications development, such as retroperitoneal hematoma.

Background/aim: Global budget per calendar year is a traditional method of funding hospitals in Serbia. Diagnose related groups (DGR) is a method of hospital payment based on classification of patients into groups with clinically similar problems and similar utilization of hospital resources. The aim of this study was to compare current methods of hospital services payment with the projected costs by DRG payment method in urology., Methods: The data were obtained from the information system used in the Clinical Hospital Center "Dr. Dragiša Mišović"--Dedinje in Belgrade, Serbia. The implemented hospital information system was the main criterion for selection of healthcare institutions. The study included 994 randomly selected patients treated surgically and conservatively in 2012., Results: Average costs under the current payment method were slightly higher than those projected by DRG, however, the variability was twice as high (54,111 ± 69,789 compared to 53,434 ± 32,509, p < 0.001) respectively. The univariate analysis showed that the highest correlation with the current payment method as well as with the projected one by DRG was observed in relation to the number of days of hospitalization (ρ = 0.842, p < 0.001, and ρ = 0.637, p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate regression models confirmed the influence of the number of hospitalization days to costs under the current payment system (β = 0.843, p < 0.001) as well as under the projected DRG payment system (β = 0.737, p < 0.001). The same predictor was crucial for the difference in the current payment method and the pro- jected DRG payment methods (β = 0.501, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Payment under the DRG system is administratively more complex because it requires detailed and standardized coding of diagnoses and procedures, as well as the information on the average consumption of resources (costs) per DRG. Given that aggregate costs of treatment under two hospital payment methods compared in the study are not significantly different, the focus on minor surgeries both under the current hospital payment method and under the introduced DRG system would be far more cost-effective for a hospital as great variations in treatment performance (reductions of days of hospitalization and complications), and consequently invoiced amounts would be reduced.

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).

Introduction: Pleural involvement is an uncommon manifestation of sarcoidosis. It may manifest as pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pleural thickening and nodules, hydropneumothorax, trapped lung, hemothorax, or chylothorax. The incidence of pleural effusion with sarcoidosis ranges from 0% to 5% but has been reported to be as high as 7.5%. Pleural effusions complicate sarcoidosis in < 3% of patients., Case Report: We reported a 64-year-old male patient with chronic multiorgan sarcoidosis. This patient developed pleural sarcoidosis with massive pleural effusion several years after the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A definitive diagnosis of a sarcoid pleural effusion was based on a biopsy demonstrating noncaseating granuloma. The patient responded well to the treatment (methotrexate and methylprednisolone) with a complete withdrawal of pleural effusion following five weeks of the treatment beginning., Conclusion: The presented patient is a rare case of pleural involvement of sarcoidosis with massive effusion, who responded well to the treatment.

Introduction: This is a presentation of a 61-year-old female patient. Since 44 years have passed from the onset of her first symptoms until the final diagnosis of sarcoidosis, this was the reason of our decision to publish the case., Case Outline: During the follow-up period of 44 years the patient had ocassional polymorphic complains, such as adynamia, nausea, abdominal pains, myalgia, arthralgia, body weight loss (8-10 kg) etc. The clinical course was predominated by splenomegaly, hepatitis and arthralgia, and later chronic renal failure also developed. Laboratory findings showed elevated markers of acute inflammation and autoantibodies. The patient was hospitalized in different university internal hospitals (gastroenterology, allergology, rheumatology, nephrology and pulmology). Liver biopsy was performed three times, rectum and kidney biopsy once each and finally bronchoscopy and pulmonary biopsy was done. At last, about 40 years from the onset of the first symptoms, in 2006 the diagnosis of lung sarcoidosis was established., Conclusion: The final diagnosis of spleen sarcoidosis was confirmed by pathologically verified sarcoidosis of the lungs. This case is particularly interesting because of the presence of familial sarcoidosis (the patient's son also had recurrent pulmonary sarcoidosis).