Bratislavské Lekárske Listy

OBJECTIVES: Recent research demonstrated that classic inflammatory mediators were responsible for the development of stent thrombosis. We aimed to examine the relationship between predictors such as basophils, mean platelet volume (MPV), and vitamin D, which represented allergic, inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory states, and stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: In this observational case-control study, patients (n: 87) with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) with stent thrombosis formed group 1, and (n = 90) with STEMI without stent thrombosis formed group 2...

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggest immunity abnormalities and inflammation might play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. This study explored the relationship between inflammation and depression using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) as inflammatory markers. METHODS: We collected the full blood count results of 239 patients with depression and 241 healthy controls...

BACKGROUND:  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes acute respiratory illness and multi-organ failure. The critical roles of magnesium in human health suggest that it could have an active role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We measured magnesium levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients concerning disease progression and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  This study was conducted in 2321 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Clinical characteristics from each patient were recorded, and blood samples were collected from all patients upon their first admission to the hospital to determine serum magnesium levels...

OBJECTIVE: Recently, older people's cardiovascular systems have been affected by aging-related changes. An electrocardiogram (ECG) provides information about cardiac health. Analyzing ECG signals can help doctors and researchers diagnose many deaths. ‎Besides direct ECG analysis, some measurements can be extracted from the ECG signals, and ‎one of the most important measurements is heart rate variability (HRV). Research and clinical domains can benefit from HRV measurement and analysis as a potential noninvasive tool for assessing autonomic nervous system activity...

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical presentation, a complex pathophysiology and a wide range of laboratory findings, depending on disease severity. BACKGROUND: We studied some laboratory parameters in correlation with vitamin D status representing the inflammatory state in hospitalized COVID-19 patients on admission. METHODS: The study included 100 COVID-19 patients with moderate (n=55) and severe (n=45) form of the disease...

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus and turned into a pandemic in a short time, affects many organs and systems, especially the nervous system. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the morphological and volumetric changes in cortical and subcortical structures in recovered COVID-19 patients. BACKGROUND: We think that COVID-19 has a long-term effect on cortical and subcortical structures. METHODS: In our study, 50 post-COVID-19 patients and 50 healthy volunteers participated...

OBJECTIVES: Fibronectin (Fn) is a glycoprotein of extracellular matrix produced by a variety of mesenchymal and neoplastic cell types. BACKGROUND: In adult brain tissue, Fn is restricted to blood vessels. However, adult human brain cultures are almost entirely comprised of flat or spindle‑shaped Fn-positive cells usually referred to as "glia-like" cells. Since Fn is primarily present in fibroblasts, these cultures may be considered to be of non-glial origin...

Inflammation is a common feature of all chronic liver diseases and atherosclerosis. The article discusses the participation of cytokines and inflammasomes in the process of development of metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the ways of their activation under the influence of inductive stimuli (toxins, alcohol, fat, viruses, etc.), most often in the case of disruption of intestinal permeability through toll-like receptors with an imbalance in the composition of intestinal microflora and bile acids...

OBJECTIVE: This work was aimed at analyzing in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, impact of selected cardiovascular factors on mortality of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) manifested on electrocardiogram (ECG) and treated by the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at our cardiac center, comparing the subgroup of non-shock (survivors and deceased) patients after STEMI and evaluating how these patients differ from each other. METHODS: In total, 270 patients with STEMI manifested on ECG and treated by PCI were enrolled between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019, at our cardiologic center...

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the effect of immunomodulatory therapy in women with chronic and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). BACKGROUND: We present recent highlights in the research into vaginal microbiome and consequences of chronic inflammation such as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). VVC is a widespread vaginal infection primarily caused by Candida albicans. Experience of more than three episodes per year is defined as RVVC. METHODS: The strains were isolated from women suffering from the above infections as for the period of 2017 to 2021 and subsequently used in immunomodulatory treatment...

OBJECTIVES: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with structural and functional vascular abnormalities. MetS and its components may increase arterial stiffness and the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the relationship of MetS and its components, including obesity, with arterial stiffness is still not fully understood. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a group of 116 patients undergoing treatment for hypertension, we searched for the relationships between parameters of MetS and aortic stiffness expressed by pulse wave velocity (PWVAo)...

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INTRODUCTION: The MILOS concept binds the benefit of the sublay mesh augmentation in the way of functional and morphological reconstruction of the abdominal wall without the need to use penetrating fixation elements and with the benefits of minimal surgical access. The transhernial approach is carried out at low cost with standard laparoscopic instruments. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors carried out retrospective analysis of the years 2018-2022. Included are all patients operated by the MILOS concept...

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several negative changes. Increased alcohol consumption has been reported in some studies. This study aimed to compare the level of alcohol consumption among college students in the central and eastern regions of Slovakia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three Slovak universities were included in the study. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to determine alcohol consumption...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the attitude and willingness of medical students in Serbia to volunteer in COVID-19 hospitals. METHODS: This study was conducted in late 2021 among 326 students in latter 3 study years. Data were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire focusing on demographic characteristics, epidemiology-related factors surrounding participants, self-assessed personality traits and a validated scale about attitudes toward volunteering. RESULTS: A total of 58...

OBJECTIVE: We performed this meta-analysis determining the antihypertensive effect of telmisartan versus perindopril in patients with essential hypertension. BACKGROUND: The comparison of antihypertensive effects between telmisartan and perindopril were controversial. METHODS: Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central were searched for all published studies. RESULTS: The antihypertensive effects were assessed in 753 patients included in 7 trials with a mean follow-up of 20 ± 16 weeks...

AIM: To analyse prenatal and postnatal characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, results of investigations in the group of 11 newborns with congenital CMV infection, who were hospitalized at Neonatal Department of Intensive Medicine between January 1st 2012 and March 31st, 2022 were included. RESULTS: Prenatal foetal sonography revealed in patients 5 and 8, positive calcifications in the brain; in patients 6, 9 and 11, isolated ventriculomegaly was found...

OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study was to evaluate properties of apelin, a peptide detectable in peripheral blood, for atrial fibrillation (AF) detection in a diverse population of patients covering a broad spectrum from healthy to polymorbid patients. BACKGROUND: AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with constantly increasing incidence and prevalence. Currently available diagnostic tools do not provide sufficient detection rate. Large proportion of patients with AF remains undiagnosed and the possibility of screening at-risk groups would be significantly beneficial...

BACKGROUND: Clinical manifestation of secondary immunodeficiency is responsible for the decrease in lfe quality in cancer‑treated patients, which may result in administration delays, dose reductions, even in discontinuation of treatment. The main aim of presented study was to stress the possibility of influencing secondary infections with adjunctive immuno-regulatory medicament (AIRT). METHODS: The presented real-life retrospective study involved a cohort of 94 adult female patients aged from 30 to 87 years with mean age of 58...

The relevance of the stated topic of scientific research is determined by the fact that stroke is still the most important medical and social problem both in the world as a whole and in the Republic of Kazakhstan in particular due to high rates of morbidity, mortality, and disability. In addition, cerebrovascular diseases occupy one of the leading places in the structure of morbidity, disability and mortality, second only to coronary heart disease in Kazakhstan as well as around the world. The purpose of this research work is to study the features of gas exchange and brain metabolism during the revascularization of the carotid arteries...