Southeastern European medical journal最新文献

{"title":"Pathophysiological and Diagnostic Aspects of Sarcopenia in Hemodialysis Patients","authors":"Zvonimir Sitaš, D. Mihaljević","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.267","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic kidney disease and renal replacement therapy, particularly hemodialysis, contribute to the development of negative protein balance and muscle dysfunction in dialysis patients, from the development of protein-energy malnutrition to sarcopenia. Due to multifactorial etiology and complex pathophysiological patterns, sarcopenia has proven to be a significant predictor of cardiovascular events and is associated with a higher risk of overall mortality. Screening methods of chronic kidney patients and patients on hemodialysis who are at higher risk of developing sarcopenia, as well as diagnostic methods for this group of patients are not clearly defined, hence methods used for the general population of elderly patients, especially based on the revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), are utilized in this subpopulation as well. Therefore, there is a need to define new biomarkers of sarcopenia such as the existing 24h urine excretion of creatinine, a product of estimated glomerular filtration of cystatin C and creatinine or myostatin and their use in routine work with dialysis patients to identify this condition among them and reduce morbidity and mortality.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132072178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computer Vision Solutions for Range of Motion Assessment","authors":"J. Aleksic","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.276","url":null,"abstract":"Joint range of motion (ROM) is an important indicator of physical functionality and musculoskeletal health. In sports, athletes require adequate levels of joint mobility to minimize the risk of injuries and maximize performance, while in rehabilitation, restoring joint ROM is essential for faster recovery and improved physical function. Traditional methods for measuring ROM include goniometry, inclinometry and visual estimation; all of which are limited in accuracy due to the subjective nature of the assessment. With the rapid development of technology, new systems based on computer vision are continuously introduced as a possible solution for more objective and accurate measurements of the range of motion. Therefore, this article aimed to evaluate novel computer vision-based systems based on their accuracy and practical applicability for a range of motion assessment. The review covers a variety of systems, including motion-capture systems (2D and 3D cameras), RGB-Depth cameras, commercial software systems and smartphone apps. Furthermore, this article also highlights the potential limitations of these systems and explores their potential future applications in sports and rehabilitation.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131361782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Verification of the Automated ELISA Assay for Hepcidin-25 in Human Serum","authors":"T. Rolić, S. Mandić, I. Lukic, V. Horvat, I. Banjari","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.266","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Hepcidin-25, the bioactive form of hepcidin, is the master protein in regulating iron homeostasis. Serum concentrations, measured by different methods, are often incomparable and complicate results interpretation.Materials and Methods: The aim was to verify the first fully automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, using the DRG Hybrid XL analyzer (DRG Instruments, Marburg, Germany) standardized against the mass spectrometry method. Intra- (CVi) and inter-assay (CVg) precision and bias were performed using commercially available controls with low (C1) and high (C2) concentrations. The reference interval was verified by analyzing serum samples of 20 healthy males.Results: CVi = 9.1% (C1), 4.5% (C2); CVg = 8.9% (C1), 5.6% (C2); calculated bias was 33% for C1 and 20% for C2, respectively.Conclusion: Verification of the fully automated ELISA method for hepcidin-25 in serum on the DRG Hybrid XL analyzer met the analytical acceptance criteria.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127107419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Home-Based Exercise During the Coronavirus Pandemic","authors":"M. Cigrovski Berković, Marul Ivandić, A. Mrzljak, Vjekoslav Cigrovski, Lavinia La Grasta Sabolić, Klara Ormanac, Dea Sabo, Tea Omanović Kolarić, L. Ružić, Ines Bilić Ćurčić","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.269","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.269","url":null,"abstract":"Lockdown measures to control disease transmission were implemented at the start of the COVID-19 era, worsening the already existing sedentary lifestyle. Reduced physical activity (PA) and unhealthy eating habits have a negative impact on mental health in chronically ill patients, including diabetes patients. Mental illness, on the other hand, encourages a sedentary lifestyle, exacerbating all components of metabolic syndrome. While well-controlled diabetic patients with an HbA1c of less than 7% had a less severe clinical presentation and COVID-19 mortality rates, the favorable effect of PA on immunomodulation and immunoregulation should not be neglected. Given recent data indicating that a sedentary lifestyle is the third independent risk factor for COVID-19 complications and death (after advanced age and organ transplant), including regular PA has never been more vital. Since PA has a major impact on both glycemic control and mental health, implementing structured home-based activity programs could improve glycemic control and psychological well-being, hence positively impacting COVID-19 outcomes.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115046332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Physiology of Thermoregulation in Exercise","authors":"H. Lenasi, Janez Šijanec","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.275","url":null,"abstract":"During physical exercise, the production of heat in the working skeletal muscles increases, imposing heat stress on the body. Thermoregulatory mechanisms induce adjustments of cutaneous vascular conductance and thus skin blood flow (SkBF), sweating rate, and increased cardiac output to achieve thermal homeostasis. The response depends on the intensity, type, duration of exercise, and environmental temperature: during extreme exercise in a hot environment SkBF can attain up to 7 L/min compared to 300 mL/min at rest whereas the sweating rate can reach as high as 4 L/h. Due to opposing non-thermal reflexes, the thermoregulatory response of SkBF during exercise differs from that at rest: the threshold to induce vasodilation in the skin is shifted to higher body core temperature and the sensitivity of the “SkBF to-core temperature” slope is altered. Regular training induces better adaptations to physical stress which enable sportsmen to eliminate additional heat more optimally. The review emphasizes physiological mechanisms involved in thermoregulation during exercise and exposes some thoughts regarding the estimation t of the core temperature in humans, as well as some new approaches for an up-to-date assessment of parameters important for appropriate heat dissipation thereby maintaining core temperature.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132891437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Response in COVID-19 Infection","authors":"L. Maričić, Damir Mihić, Nikolina Šego","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.268","url":null,"abstract":"SARS-CoV-2 virus infection starts with the internalization of the viral particle into the host cells, mainly the upper respiratory system epithelial cells which have the highest expression of the ACE2 receptor which is essential for the internalization process. The pathophysiology of severe forms of COVID-19 disease results not only from direct, cytopathic viral effect but also from immune response dysregulation of the host resulting in hyperinflammatory state and oxidative stress. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) ability to protect cells and induce a rapid anti-inflammatory and antioxidant response primarily depends on its constitutive cellular expression, which can be affected by numerous endogenous and exogenous factors. The binding of Nrf2 to cellular receptors leads to the transcription of a large number of genes encoding various antioxidant enzymes and other cytoprotective molecules, including heme oxygenase-1(HO-1). Activation of HO-1 results in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Based on previous studies, the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway provides protection against oxidative stress and inflammatory and immune response which is significant in COVID-19 infection, which is characterized by a strong hyperinflammatory response. This narrative review aims to describe the role of the hyperinflammatory response in the development of COVID-19 infection, with a focus on the NrF2/HO-1 pathway.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131655774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Iron Chelation Therapy in COVID-19 Infection","authors":"Irena Krajina Kmoniček, Ana Tomić, Josip Kocur","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.246","url":null,"abstract":"The recent outbreak of corona virus and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a global concern. Despite efforts to clarify the physiology and potential therapy, specific guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 disease have yet to be established, and many therapeutic options are under investigation. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of iron homeostasis contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of COVID-19 through its toxic effects by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review focuses on summarizing the available literature and relevant studies conducted to date on the possible therapeutic effects of iron chelation therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 disease. Scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) were searched for relevant articles using the following keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, clinical management, iron chelators/chelation. Research articles, reviews, research letters, case reports, and commentaries were considered. Although there is ample evidence of the potential beneficial effects of using iron chelators as adjuvant treatment in COVID-19, further research on this topic is needed.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124940691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trefoil Factor 3 Protein and Sepsis","authors":"I. Bazina, Mirela Baus Lončar","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.253","url":null,"abstract":"Sepsis is one of the most common causes of death in hospitalized patients. Disruption of intestinal barrier homeostasis is one of its main hallmarks. Trefoil factor family proteins are known for their role in protecting and repairing the intestinal mucosa. It has been repeatedly shown that the TFF3 protein is involved in maintaining the intestinal barrier. For that reason, it has been studied in the search for objective measures to predict the onset or outcome of sepsis. Several studies have been performed on rodent sepsis models and on sepsis patients, both children and adults. From the limited research available to date, it appears that TFF3 is involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis, but the exact mechanism is not yet clear. Its potential as a sepsis biomarker has so far been low, but more extensive studies on its role in predicting disease severity and outcome, as well as organ dysfunction, may lead to finding specific patient groups or sepsis stages for which it would be suitable.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131399636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Submaximal Exercise on Cutaneous Blood Flow, Thermoregulation and Recovery Hemodynamics Following Endurance Exercise","authors":"N. Potočnik","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.261","url":null,"abstract":"Aim. There are numerous reports of attenuation of cutaneous blood flow (CBF) during the recovery period after a single bout of exercise, but no one has investigated the CBF response to consecutive short-lasting aerobic exercise (SLAE) sessions following exhaustive endurance exercise (EEE) on daily basis, although this is a commonly used training regime in recreational athletes and could cause a cumulative increase in CBF that may be important for wound healing. This study examined the effects of EEE on forearm skin blood flow (LDF), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in response to SLAE sessions performed for 7 days after EEE, as well as the correlation between cutaneous blood flow and indices associated with heart rate (HR) to examine the role of thermoregulation in post-exercise HR regulation. Methods. In 19 recreational runners, LDF, MAP, HR, heart rate recovery (HRR), and HR variability indices (lnRMSSD, lnHF, and lnLF/ HF) were measured after SLAE in the form of submaximal graded cycling performed on consecutive days after EEE in the form of a half marathon and compared with baseline values before EEE. A significant time effect was observed for all measured parameters throughout the study period. Results. Postexercise LDF increased 24 hours after EEE compared with baseline (77.814 AU compared with 54.712 AU). Postexercise hypotension was significantly more pronounced immediately after EEE compared with baseline (88.95.3 mmHg compared with 99.33.2 mmHg). However, postexercise CVC showed a progressive increase compared with baseline both immediately and 24 hours after EEE (0.53 0.07 AU/mmHg, 0.66 0.09 AU/mmHg compared with 0.4 0.09 AU/mmHg). A small negative correlation between LDF and HRR was observed throughout the experimental protocol. Conclusion. These results suggest that EEE strongly influences cutaneous and systemic hemodynamics and cardiac autonomic response during recovery after SLAE. Our most important finding was that EEE improved cutaneous perfusion 24 hours after completion of EEE, which may be important for wound healing. The results of our study are potentially applicable for patients with chronic wounds who should be encouraged to exercise moderately on daily basis and to include endurance exercises occasionally, as this strategy potentiates postexercise cutaneous perfusion.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126606141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin D Deficiency Among Medical Students in Osijek, Croatia","authors":"Stipe Vidović, Ž. Debeljak, T. Bačun, S. Viland, M. Zjalic, M. Heffer","doi":"10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i2.258","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of 25-OH D3 (calcidiol) among students of the Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Croatia, thereby determining to what extent vitamin D deficiency is present. Methods: The present cross-sectional analysis was based on data collected from 60 participants. Blood sampling was done in March 2021. Concentrations of 25-OH D3 were measured using LC/MSMS procedure on Shimadzu LCMS 8050 and RECIPE kit for serum levels of 25-OH-D3. Results: The study was conducted on a sample of 60 respondents aged 19 to 28, of whom 16 were men and 44 were women. All subjects had a 25-OH D3 deficiency (<20 ng/ml), while 11 had an extreme deficiency. Mean 25-OH D3 concentration was 11.36 ng/ml, ranging from 7.70 ng/ml to 16.70 ng/ml. There was no statistical significance of 25-OH D3 concentration levels between the sexes (Student’s t-test, P>0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was detected in all subjects. In addition to the results of several other studies conducted worldwide that evaluated vitamin D status among medical students, this study further highlights the problem affecting this student subgroup.","PeriodicalId":265607,"journal":{"name":"Southeastern European medical journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121931543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}