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Biomedical subjects

T Jeren

Publications and source records attributed to T Jeren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Chemokines CXCL10 and CXCL11 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tick-borne encephalitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) contains CXCL10, CXCL11, p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12)/IL-23, IL-18 and IL-15. We compared serum and CSF concentrations of CXCL10 and analysed the possible concentration gradient of this chemokine between the periphery and central nervous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 19 TBE patients and 10 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. RESULTS: CSF of TBE patients contained CXCL10 (median 217 pg/ml), CXCL11 (8.3 pg/ml), p40 subunit of IL-12/IL-23 (38.9 pg/ml), IL-18 (30.1 pg/ml) and IL-15 (5.9 pg/ml). CXCL10 in the CSF of TBE patients was higher compared with serum (median 62 pg/ml, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CSF of TBE patients contains CXCL10, CXCL11, p40 subunit of IL-12/IL-23, IL-18 and IL-15. Increased CXCL10 concentration in CSF suggests a role for this chemokine in the recruitment of CXCR3-expressing T-cells into the CSF of TBE patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Establishment of an active laboratory-based surveillance for bacterial meningitis in Croatia and molecular characterization of Neisseria meningitidis isolates causing meningococcal disease that were collected in the year 2000, the first year of activity.

In 2000, 23 Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal [Men]) isolates were collected in Croatia through an active laboratory-based surveillance for bacterial meningitis (17 Men serogroup B [MenB], 4 MenC, 1 MenW135, and 1 nongroupable isolate). Molecular characterization revealed a substantial level of diversity with only six isolates belonging to electrophoretic type 5 (ET-5) and ET-37 hypervirulent complexes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2003

Increased numbers of CD38 molecules on bright CD8+ T lymphocytes in infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The aim of this study was to quantify the expression of CD38 on CD8+ T lymphocytes of patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CD38 quantification technique chosen for this study was based on the enumeration of CD38 antibody binding sites in comparison to the quantification standards rather than determining relative fluorescence, which is difficult to standardize. The study enrolled 19 patients with typical clinical and laboratory parameters compatible with EBV-induced IM as well as 10 patients with atypical clinical presentation of this disease. Furthermore, CD38 expression was analysed in a group of 13 patients with IM caused by CMV infection. CD38 quantification was performed within 6 days of the presentation of symptoms. All three groups of IM patients showed a statistically significant increase in the number of anti-CD38 antibody binding sites (which correspond to the number of CD38 molecules) on bright CD8+ T lymphocytes compared to healthy controls. The numbers of CD38 molecules expressed on CD8+ T lymphocytes did not differ significantly between IM patients with typical and atypical clinical presentation of the disease. Patients with CMV-induced IM had significantly lower numbers of CD38 molecules expressed on CD8+ T lymphocytes. Therefore, we conclude that CD38 quantification could be helpful in differential diagnostics of IM cases with atypical clinical presentation.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed2001

Molecular detection of human papillomavirus in women with minor-grade cervical cytology abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be the major risk factor for the development of cervical carcinoma, the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Cervical cytology has been the main screening tool for detection of premalignant lesions in last 50 years. OBJECTIVE: The utility of a molecular assay for detection of HPV in cervical smears was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 466 women with minor-grade cervical cytology abnormality supposed to be produced by HPV were included. Patients were classified into three groups: Patients with reactive changes, patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1), and patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN 2). In all patients, another cervical swab was obtained and tested for the HPV genome using the Digene Hybrid Capture II. This assay is able to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk HPV types. RESULTS: Based on cytology results, 44 patients showed reactive changes, 250 patients displayed CIN 1, and 172 patients displayed CIN 2. With the molecular assay, HPV was detected in 289/466 (62%) patients. The high-risk HPV type was present in 263 (56.4%) patients and the low-risk type in 26 (5,5%) patients. In 25% of patients with reactive changes, the HPV genome was detected. Corresponding rates for patients with CIN 1 and CIN 2 were 55 and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Molecular detection of HPV should additionally be used to cytology in patients whose cervical smears display reactive changes, CIN 1, or CIN 2. The employed assay allows identification of patients who are at risk for development of high-grade cervical lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Secondary hyperparathyroidism and brown tumor in dialyzed patients.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the most common complications of chronic renal failure (CRF). Its pathogenesis is multifactorial and still not completely understood. Pathological mechanism of hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and calcitriol deficiency are basic characteristics of CRF and main reason for morphological changes in parathyroid glands and hyperparathyroidism (HP). We present a case of a female patient born in 1975. At the age of 10, a urinary infection was diagnosed for the first time and treated. Six years later, as nausea and vomiting started, CRF based on bilateral reflux was diagnosed and the patient was included in the hemodialysis treatment. The patient was again examined in 1997, when biochemical parameters, including the level of parathyroid hormone, ultrasonography of the neck, scintigraphy of the skeleton and densitometry revealed secondary HP. Parathyreoidectomy was perfomed in 1998. During the follow up period, a tumefaction on a ramus mandibulae dex. was noticed, which was cytologically diagnosed as osteitis fibrosa, "brown tumor", a rare complication of the secondary HP. Surgery was performed and PHD was granuloma gigantocelulare. Prevention and therapy of secondary HP is a problem that demands early actions to avoid possible complications.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Morphologic and functional changes of left ventricle in dialyzed patients after treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO).

Dysfunction of the cardiovascular system is a common complication of chronic renal insufficiency. Many factors can cause left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and hypertension and anemia are among them. They play an important role in the pathogenesis of LVH as well as in the development of cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography enables early detection of functional macrocirculatory changes as well as adequate measuring of cardiac structures and LV mass. Anemia of end-stage chronic renal insufficiency (ESRD) is only one among its many complications and has complex pathogenesis; one of the primary factors causing anemia is insufficient production of erythropoietin, a leading factor in the production of erythropoiesis. Anemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in ESRD has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. In this study the authors examined the hemodynamic effect of erythropoietin in anemic patients undergoing hemodialysis and observed its positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Twenty-two patients were included in the study (13 men and 9 women) mean age x=39.5 years. All patients were dialyzed three times a week for 4 hours and were all (Abstract continued) treated, according to protocol, with r-HuEPO for 8 months. Left ventricular mass was measured by the Penn Convention formula. The authors noticed the effectiveness of this therapy through an increase of hemoglobin of 35% and of hematocrit of 34% and a direct effect on the cardiovascular system. Echocardiographic findings showed decrease of LV mass from 391 to 274 mg (30%). The correction of renal anemia with erythropoietin leads to structural microcirculatory changes and partial morphologic regression of preexistent LVH, which again leads to regression of cardiac dysfunctions and improved hemodynamic effect, physical capacity, and cardiopulmonary status, and ultimately better quality of life for dialyzed patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A case of McLeod syndrome with chronic renal failure.

A 50-year-old man with the rare McLeod syndrome, associated with glomerular lesion to the end stage of chronic renal failure and death, is reported. McLeod syndrome is an X-linked recessive disorder on the basis of abnormal expression of the Kell blood group antigens and absence of erythrocyte surface Kx antigen. Most often the clinical and pathological findings are retinitis pigmentosa to blindness, progressive chronic neuropathy, cortical atrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and glomerular lesion with chronic renal failure. Among the laboratory parameters the most important are very low level of cholesterol and triglycerides, then various numbers of acanthocytes in peripheral blood smears and sometimes in urine (as in our case).

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of patients with infectious mononucleosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection: a preliminary report.

The aim of this study was to analyse the lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected adults to compare them with four patients with acute EBV infection. Lymphocyte subsets in 15 healthy controls, 40 HIV-1-infected adults and 4 EBV-infected patients with infectious mononucleosis were analysed by flow cytometry. The immunophenotyping of HIV-1-infected patients in different stages of disease showed a significant reduction in the percentage and absolute count of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, significantly increased percentage of CD8+ T-lymphocytes, inverted CD4/CD8 ratio and an increase in the expression of activation marker HLA-DR compared to controls. The immuno-phenotyping profiles of HIV and EBV infection share some similarities as they both result in the decreased percentage of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, increased CD8+ T-lymphocytes and an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. Patients with HIV infection could be distinguished from patients with EBV infection by the absolute lymphocytosis and increased expression of HLA-DR seen in the patients with infectious mononucleosis. In conclusion, both HIV-1 and EBV profoundly change the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood. It is our opinion that flow cytometry could be an aid in the rapid distinguishing of patients with suspected primary HIV-1 infection from those with infectious mononucleosis (before serology data are available).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Comparative study of mitral annular calcification (MAC) with cardiac arrhythmias in dialysis patients.

Cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial malfunction are very frequent in uremic patients. The pathogenesis and etiology of arrhythmias are very complex and still unknown. The sedimentation of calcium salt in myocardial structures is one of the reasons for emergence of cardiac arrhythmias (AV conduction defects, ectopic arrhythmias). The appearance of mitral annular calcification (MAC), as the expression of the speed up process of atherosclerosis, was noted in younger uremic patients especially during hemodialysis. The aim of our research was to compare the incidence of MAC and cardiac arrhythmias in patients on hemodialysis. Our study included 40 patients, 24 male and 16 female, in the age between 20 and 60. Patients were mostly from Zagreb and the Counties of Zagreb (35%), Karlovac (10%), Slavonski Brod (7.5%), Varazdin (5%) and Pozega (5%). All 40 patients received 24 hours of Holter monitoring and 2-D echocardiography of M-mode. The patients were divided in two groups: I MAC+ (N = 23) and II MAC- (N = 17). Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in group I was: atrial fibrillation N = 0; conduction defects N = 2 (1%); ventricularectopy Lown grade 3-5 N = 15 (65%); supraventricular ectopy N = 8 (34%), while the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in group II was: atrial fibrillation N = 0; conduction defects N = 0; ventricular ectopy Lown grade 3-5 N = 6 (35%), supraventricular ectopy N = 6 (35%). During statistical processing the significant connection of MAC+ and frequency of cardiac arrhythmias was noticed. For both groups we have not noticed statistical significance in cardiac arrhythmia compared to electrolytes, risk factors PTH, and age. The time of hemodialysis treatment is one of possible factors for incidence of cardiac arrhythmias influenced by MAC. We noticed statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference of rhythm disorders between group I and group II especially for the ventricular ectopic activity, the frequency of which was higher in group I than in group II. MAC has probably significant role in dialysis patients for the development of cardiac arrhythmias within the framework of series of complicated multifactorial patogenetic mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Morphological and cytochemical characteristics of atypical mononuclear cells in the blood of patients with the syndrome of infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus.

On the basis of their origin and morphologic and cytochemical characteristics, atypical mononuclear cells (AMNC) in the peripheral blood of patients with the syndrome of infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus can be classified into three groups, from I to III. The AMNC groups I are the most numerous (76.36% +/- 2.50%). A larger part of these cells have the characteristics of more or less altered lymphoblasts and the smaller part of large pyroninophilic cells and "reactive immunoblasts", and meant to have developed from T lymphocytes. These are the most numerous in the acute phase of the disease, which correlates with the most significant increase of T lymphocytes values. A very high percentage (84.00% +/- 7.30%) of the AMNC group I contains acid phosphatase isoenzyme 3 and acid non-specific esterase (82.43% +/- 7.76%), a considerable percentage of beta-glucuronidase (58.75% +/- 13.99%), and acid phosphatase isoenzyme 1 (51.20% +/- 10.81%). A small percentage of these cells contains acid phosphatase isoenzyme 5 resistant to the action of L+tartaric acid. In 39.04% +/- 8.72% of the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the examined patients and in the two thirds and nearly three fourths of the AMNC group I, the presence of acid phosphatase manifests itself in the form of scattered granules. The positive reaction to non-specific esterase (pH 7.8-8) in 39.72% +/- 8.44% lymphocytes of the peripheral blood of the patients and in 59.26% +/- 10.09% of the AMNC group I manifests itself in the form of scattered granules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1988

Bacampicillin, amoxycillin and talampicillin concentrations in bronchial secretions.

There are references in the literature describing the influence of bronchial inflammation on the antibiotic concentration in bronchial secretions, including netilmicin concentrations in the bronchial secretion of patients undergoing tracheotomy. Three semi-synthetic penicillins are compared--bacampicillin, amoxicillin and talampicillin--administered frequently in the treatment of various respiratory infections. The three antibiotics were administered successively for two days each, in the same patient, irrespective of other drugs. At the same time the cytologic evaluation of the degree of bronchial inflammation was done. The antibiotic concentrations in bronchial secretions and in sera were measured at the same time. The results showed that the concentration of antibiotics in bronchial secretions of patients undergoing tracheotomy was proportional to the degree of bronchial inflammation. Among the semi-synthetic penicillins investigated the highest degree of concentration in the bronchial secretion was obtained after the bacampicillin.

Amoxicillin↗