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Biomedical subjects

D Pejin

Publications and source records attributed to D Pejin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acute myeloid leukaemia and exposure to organic solvents--a case-control study.

The objective was to study the relation between exposure to organic solvents and the risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in Caucasians aged 18 years and more. Ninety-eight cases of AML were diagnosed from September 1986 to March 1990 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, and in two London hospitals from September 1988 and May 1994 and from July 1992 and July 1994, respectively. Two controls were matched to each case by hospital, year of admission, gender and 5-year age group. Information on solvent exposure was collected by interview. Odds ratios (ORs) were derived with conditional logistic regression. The degree of solvent exposure was determined by three experts blind to the status of the subject with good agreement between them (the kappa coefficient ranged between 0.52 and 0.86). The response rate for cases was 80%. Exposure to solvents was associated with the increased risk of AML (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.45-4.39; p = 0.001) and those with probable exposure to solvents were found to have an odds ratio of AML over three times greater than non-exposed. We also found an elevated OR for exposure to oils (OR: 1.56) but this was not statistically significant. There is no clear pattern of increasing risks with increasing duration of employment but a significant risk was found for exposures of 10 years or less. An induction period of less than 10 years or more than 30 years was associated with a significantly raised OR. There was a significant excess of machinery mechanics and fitters among the cases.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of benomyl on Saccharomyces cerevisiae during continuous cultivation.

The effect of Benomyl on Saccharomyces cerevisiae during continuous cultivation was investigated. The RNA, total protein and phosphorous contents decreased while the trehalose content increased with increasing Benomyl concentrations when an RD mutant and the parent strain were cultivated at different Benomyl concentrations under continuous conditions. The specific oxygen uptake rate of the respiratory deficient mutant (RD mutant) was approximately 5 times lower in comparison to the parent strain. The RQ value for the RD mutant was higher than 1 which clearly indicated the anaerobic metabolism of glucose degradation. The RD mutant lacked cytochrome aa3, while the cytochromes a and b contents were lower than those of the parent strain.

Benomyl↗

Immobilization of Saccharomyces diastaticus on wood chips for ethanol production.

Saccharomyces diastaticus cells were immobilized onto beech wood chips of different particle size and three pH values. pH values in the range 5.0-6.0, and 1.84-1.92 mm particle size had a positive effect on the immobilization process. The chosen carrier--1.84 mm-sized wood chips adsorbed 150 mg dry cell mass per g dry carrier mass. The Gibbs free energy and the activation energy for the first (monolayer) and second (multilayer) immobilization stages was 4581, 19,090 and 8590 J g mol-1, respectively. The kinetics of immobilized cell systems in ethanol production have been studied in a packed bed-reactor. Ethanol production and the respiration quotient (RQ) were at a maximum at a dilution rate of 0.16/h. The reactor was operated under steady-state conditions for 30 d at the dilution rate 0.16/h.

Bioreactors↗

[Successful treatment of acquired F:VIII C inhibitor after delivery using plasmapheresis and high doses of immunoglobulins].

Three months after delivery a patient 34 years of age was admitted to the Clinic of haematology in Novi Sad because of sudden massive bleeding from the left ankle, left lower leg as well as for having small haematomas visible at forearms. Examining the mechanism of haemostasis, a diagnosis was made: acquired inhibitor VIII:C coagulation factor. Concentrate of VIII coagulation factor was used in treatment, as well as plasmaphaeresis, high doses of immunoglobulins and immunosuppressive drugs: prednisone and azathioprime. The result was a very quick recovery of the clinical state with loss of inhibitor to VIII: C coagulation factor. Three years after the treatment the patient has no difficulties and no antibodies to VIII:C coagulation factor.

Adult↗

[Prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes based on cytomorphologic and clinico-biologic parameters].

Under myelodysplastic syndromes we presume a heterogeneous group of malignant hemopathies with clearly described characteristics of the disease given by a cooperative group of French, American and British authors. Myelodysplastic syndromes most frequently occur at older age. Survival of these patients, after the diagnosis is made, is mostly short because the disease evolves into acute leukemia. Myelodysplastic syndrome is characterized by appearance of refractive anemia, leukemia, thrombocytopenia with signs of expressed dishematopoiesis of the bone marrow. Clear criteria which could define forms with fast or slow course leading to acute leukemia don't exist, so there is a need to group patients into those with good or with bad outcome. The investigation included following parameters important for the outlook of the disease: 1. enlargement of lymph nodes, liver and spleen, 2. biochemical examination of peripheral blood, 3. cytomorphologic changes in the peripheral blood cells and bone marrow. By a follow-up of described parameters a statistically significant influence on survival of the sick concerning the degree of present anemia, absolute number of granulocytes, number of thrombocytes, dishematopoiesis of the peripheral blood and bone marrow, lymphadenomegaly, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly was not found. The percentage of blast in the peripheral blood and bone marrow has a statistically significant influence on patients' short survival.

Adult↗

Continuous cultivation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at different dilution rates and glucose concentrations in nutrient media.

The influence of glucose concentration in nutrient media on the specific growth rate and biomass yield in the course of continuous fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. An increase of glucose content in media decreased the specific growth rate and the biomass yield. Glucose concentration had significant effects on protein and phosphate contents of cells. However, an increased glucose concentration increased the fermentative power of S. cerevisiae (SJA-method). An increase of the dilution rate decreased the cell concentration in the fermentor. Specific growth rate approach the values of the dilution rate. The best agreement has been obtained at a dilution rate of 0.20/h. This dilution rate proved to be most convenient for the investigated microorganism and cultivation conditions (media composition, pH, aeration intensity and temperature). Biomass yield proved to be decreased by an increase of the dilution rate.

Culture Media↗

[The role of Epstein-Barr virus in patients with mononucleosis syndrome and lymphadenopathy].

In a two-year period 117 patients with diagnosed mononucleosis sundrome and 207 patients with diagnosed lymphadenopathy were serologically examined. Of these 57 patients were immunodeficient and 267 immunocompetent. Acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus was proved in 17.09% of the cases with mononucleosis syndrome, 13.04% with lymphadenopathy i.e. 8.77% of the immunodeficient and 15.73% of the immunocompetent patients. The significantly highest rate was recorded among schoolchildren and adolescents (from 7 to 27 years of age). The occurrence of other viral (adeno-and cytomegalo-) and non-viral infections (toxoplasma gondii, chlamydia) in these patients has also been analyzed.

Acute Disease↗

Red blood cell deformability in diabetes mellitus: effect of phytomenadione.

Decreased deformability of red blood cells (RBC) in diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered to be linked to microcirculatory complications in this condition. As we found that phytomenadione increased RBC deformability in experimental animals, the question was raised, whether phytomenadione had the same effect on the RBC of diabetic patients. The study was performed in 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, where the erythrocyte deformability was impaired. Patients received 10 mg/day phytomenadione i.m. for five days. Deformability was measured with policarbonate membranes (Nucleopore) with pore diameter 5 microns, under gravity. The results were expressed as the ratio (r) between the flow of 1.5 ml (r1) and 2 ml (r2) of RBC suspension and 1.5 ml of buffer. Phytomenadione increased the erythrocyte deformability in patients with diabetes mellitus, lowering the value r1 from 3.54 +/- 0.84 to 2.32 +/- 0.61 (p 0.02) and r2 from 7.80 +/- 2.41 to 4.65 +/- 1.07 (p 0.01). The values after treatment reached the range of healthy controls (r1 3.11 +/- 0.98, r2 6.52 +/- 3.04). The whole blood viscosity was significantly lowered after phytomenadione (5.28 +/- 0.58 mPas before, 4.64 +/- 0.74 mPas after, p < 0.02) with unchanged plasma viscosity, but significantly lowered internal viscosity of erythrocytes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Prophylaxis and therapy of infections in allogenic bone marrow transplantation in patients with hematologic diseases].

Infection and acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) are the most common complications of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, which compromise this therapeutical method for hematologic diseases. Beside the appreciation of customary preventive measures and the treatment of infections, it is necessary for every bone marrow transplantation center to analyze the development of bacterial, fungal and viral infections in the patients and to generate the most efficient and most rational program for their prevention and treatment. At the Hematology Department in Novi Sad seven allogenic bone marrow transplantations were performed in patients with malignant hematologic diseases and severe form of aplastic anemia. Prevention of the infection by isolation of the patient in a sterile unit, selective decontamination of the digestive tract with sterile food, skin and mucus hygiene and prophylactic drug administration proved rather beneficial and adequate for patients with the graft accepted, hematopoiesis recovered and immunity reconstructed. Risks of infections were increased by permanent vein catheter, acute GVHD and rejection of the bone marrow graft. Prompt isolation and identification of bacteria and fungi, especially in blood, the establishment of a minimal suppressing and bactericide antibiotic concentration, along with the assessment of their synergism, as well as early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus and administration of specific drugs, can significantly contribute to the more successful treatment of infections in transplanted patients.

Adolescent↗

[Our experiences in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes].

From 1987 an abrupt increase of the number of patients presented with MDS has been registered. We present our experiences in the treatment of 42 patients. The number of the male patients was two times larger than of the females. They were most frequently diagnosed as having RAB (43%) and RAEBt (28.5%). RA was found in 14%, RARS in 9.5% and CMML. in only 5% of the cases. The treatment was accomplished with ultralow (3 mg/m2/12h s.c.) and low doses (10 mg/m2/12h s.c.) of ARA-C in 75% of the patients with RAEBt and 44.4% with RAEB, while the CMML group received hydroxyurea. The treatment improved hematologic results but the complete remission lacked. In 23.8% of the cases the disease developed into acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Patients excepted from cytostatic therapy were observed by the use of androgens, anabolics, vitamin A+D3 and transfusion of separated erythrocytes. In 38% of the patients with MDS a lethal outcome followed. Life of those in whom the disease developed into acute leukemia in statistically significatly shorter (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the survival rate between the treated and nontreated patients (p > 0.05). Further treatment of these patients includes, apart from ultralow doses of ARA-C, the use of retinoic acid, a growth factor (GM-CSF) and bone marrow transplantation.

Adult↗

[Present possibilities of treatment of chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia].

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) belongs to the group of diseases with a malignant course and bad outcome. Clinically, the course of CLL exceptionally varies, survival ranges from one to twenty years. The choice of treatment for those affected with CLL is not simple because of the different course of the disease in individual patients and because of the different attitudes in the application of available means of therapy. By introducing antitumor drugs (Interferon alpha-2, Interleukin 2b), new chemotherapeutics (Fludarabin, Pentostatin), monoclonal antibodies and especially by introducing allogenic bone marrow transplantation into therapy, new possibilities are attained for the more efficient treatment of these patients.

Humans↗

[Allogenic transplantation of bone marrow in hematologic diseases. Preparation and completion of transplantation at the Hematology Clinic in Novi Sad].

The paper deals with the results of clinical preparations for the application of allogenic bone marrow transplantation at the Clinic of Hematology in Novi Sad. The obligation of the definite treatment of patients below 45 years by allogenic and autologous bone marrow transplantation results from the acceptance of the Yugoslav protocols for acute leukaemia treatment. Thus immunogenotypical analyses, so far performed in patients with severe aplastic anaemia have been extended to patients with acute leukaemia as well and then to patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia, high risk lymphocYtic lymphoma and myeloma multiplex with resistance to standard chemotherapy and their potential sibling donors. The bone marrow transplantation Unit has been set up, the team of specialists has been formed and educated and the protocol for allogenic transplantation with Busulfan and cyclophosphamide combination for pretransplant conditioning has been adopted. In research work concerning the field of bone marrow transplantation a particular emphasis has been put on the working out of a mathematical model for optimal timing of bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia.

Adult↗

[Clinical evolution of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Richter's syndrome].

Over a few year period chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is mainly characterized by stable course and only in the small per cent of patients it evolves into the aggressive form. Richter's syndrome has been diagnosed at our clinic in a patient who was for 6 years controlled and treated for CLL. In that period the patient was doing well and the out-patient treatment of CLL was being performed together with regular check-ups according to hematologic findings and clinical status of the patient. The patient was capable of work. Clinical investigation was undertaken because of the sudden aggravation of the general state and x-ray of the chest which pointed to the existence of tumorous shadow in the right lower pole of hilus. Although a complete CLL remission was established cytologic diagnosis of the newly formed tumour pointed to non-Hodgkin lymphoma of high malignity (centroblast lymphoma). Course of disease was terminated lethally very soon, because lymphoma of high malignity did not respond to polychemotherapy.

Humans↗