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The purpose of this study was to detect the level of genomic instability and p53 alterations in anaplastic astrocytoma and primary glioblastoma patients, and to evaluate their impact on glioma pathogenesis and patients outcome. AP-PCR DNA profiling revealed two types of genetic differences between tumor and normal tissue: qualitative changes which represent accumulation of changes in DNA sequence and are the manifestation of microsatellite and point mutation instability (MIN-PIN) and quantitative changes which represent amplifications or deletions of existing chromosomal material and are the manifestation of chromosomal instability (CIN). Both types of alterations were present in all analyzed samples contributing almost equally to the total level of genomic instability, and showing no differences between histological subtypes. p53 alterations were detected in 40% of samples, predominantly in anaplastic astrocytoma. The higher level of genomic instability was observed in elderly patients (>50 years) and patents with primary glioblastoma. Level of genomic instability had no impact on patients' survival, while presence of p53 alterations seemed to be a favorable prognostic factor in this case. Our results indicate that extensive genomic instability is one of the main features of malignant gliomas., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Neonatal tetanus is a severe, often fatal disease caused by the toxin Clostridium tetani. Neonatal tetanus is a generalized tetanus, which occurs in a neonate between 3-28 days of life. The findings indicated that tetanus in a newborn of an unvaccinated mother occurred after the application of non-sterile clay to the umbilical cord. This case was a seven-day-old male baby with progressive difficulty in feeding, trismus, hypertonicity, opisthotonos, and heart murmur. The patient was afebrile and eupneic, and had a history of non-sterile home delivery. In the past, the area of Bujanovac, Medvedja and Presevo had been exposed to mass immigration (especially due to the war in the territory of former Yugoslavia), which caused a serious problem for general practitioners, who had to be vigilant and ensure that all patients registered in their practice were fully immunized. This case has provided a clear indication of the necessity for strategies of both vaccination and ensuring hygienic conditions throughout pregnancy and delivery to prevent neonatal tetanus.