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Background: Severe coagulation abnormalities are common in patients with COVID-19 infection. We aimed to investigate the relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and coagulation parameters concerning socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Methods: Our study included patients hospitalized during the second wave of COVID-19 in the Republic of Serbia. We collected socio-demographic, clinical, and blood-sample data for all patients. Cytokine levels were measured using flow cytometry. Results: We analyzed data from 113 COVID-19 patients with an average age of 58.15 years, of whom 79 (69.9%) were male. Longer duration of COVID-19 symptoms before hospitalization (B = 69.672; p = 0.002) and use of meropenem (B = 1237.220; p = 0.014) were predictive of higher D-dimer values. Among cytokines, higher IL-5 values significantly predicted higher INR values (B = 0.152; p = 0.040) and longer prothrombin times (B = 0.412; p = 0.043), and higher IL-6 (B = 0.137; p = 0.003) predicted longer prothrombin times. Lower IL-17F concentrations at admission (B = 0.024; p = 0.050) were predictive of higher INR values, and lower IFN-γ values (B = −0.306; p = 0.017) were predictive of higher aPTT values. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a significant correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines and coagulation-related parameters. Factors such as the patient’s level of education, gender, oxygen-therapy use, symptom duration before hospitalization, meropenem use, and serum concentrations of IL-5, IL-6, IL-17F, and IFN-γ were associated with worse coagulation-related parameters.

Abstract Background The global epidemic of nosocomial diarrhea caused by Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile started in 2000, with high mortality rates and emergence of a new hypervirulent strain NAP1/BI/027. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of ribotype 027 and other C. difficile ribotypes in a Serbian University Hospital, compare the temporal variability of ribotypes 3 years apart, as well as to compare clinical, demographic and laboratory characteristics and disease outcome among patients infected with 027 and non-027 ribotype. This was a prospective observational cohort study addressing 4-month intervals during 2014/2015 and 2017/2018. Results Ribotyping was performed in 64 non-duplicate C. difficile strains. Ribotype 027 was the most prevalent, and was detected in 53 (82.8%) patients (43/45 and 10/19 patients in 2014–2015 and 2017/2018, respectively). Other detected ribotypes were 001/072 in 4 (6.3%), 002 in 4 (6.3%), 014/020 in 2 (3.1%) and 176 in 1 (1.5%) patient. The percentage of the patients infected with ribotype 027 significantly decreased during the 3-year period, from 95.6 to 52.6% (p

Introduction : About one quarter of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected persons in Serbia have also been found to be hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected. In the general population, HCV genotype 1 has been shown to be the most prevalent one. Here, we present the first study on the distribution of HCV genotypes among HIV/HCV co-infected patients in Serbia, in relation to epidemiological and clinical features. Material and methods : The study included HIV/HCV co-infected and a group of HCV mono-infected patients in the period 1998–2012, with collection of epidemiological, clinical, and behavioral data using a standardized questionnaire. The HCV genotyping to the level of pure genotype was performed by reverse hybridization. Results: Intravenous drug use (IDU) was found to be significantly more prevalent among the co-infected patients (p < 0.01). HCV genotype 1 was detected in 87% of patients with mono-infection, compared to 46.3% of patients with co-infection (p < 0.01); genotypes 3 and 4 were significantly more common among co-infected patients (6% and 5%, vs. 27% and 25%, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed IDU, infection with non-1 HCV genotype and HCV viral load over 5 log to be predictors of HIV co-infection. Conclusions : The HCV genotypes 3 and 4 were found to be significantly more prevalent among HIV/HCV co-infected patients in Serbia, compared to HCV mono-infected patients, but also more prevalent compared to the European HIV/HCV co-infected cohort. History of IDU represents an independent predictor of HCV genotypes 3 and 4 infection, with important implications for treatment.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are pathogens associated with congenital anomalies. METHODS: Serum was collected from 79 reproductive-age women and tested for IgM and IgG antibodies to T. gondii and CMV. RESULTS: Seropositivity for T. gondii was detected in 24.1% of women and CMV in 96.2%. High seropositivity for CMV was found for all ages. The highest seropositivity for T. gondii was observed among older participants. CONCLUSIONS: T. gondii remains an important pathogen owing to low seropositivity.

To translate into Serbian and validate the Primary Biliary Cholangitis-40 (PBC-40) and PBC-27 questionnaires.Ninety-four consecutive outpatients with the diagnosis of PBC from three departments across two tertiary care institutions in Belgrade were enrolled from February to October 2016. Standard methodology for cultural adaption of healthcare related quality of life questionnaires was used, and included: a forward translation, backward translation and a pilot test of the Serbian PBC-40 on five patients who gave suggestions and comments. For evaluation of the questionnaires, acceptance was shown by the proportion of missing items and the internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's α coefficient. The PBC-40 was self-administered under the supervision of an experienced hepatologist. The PBC-27 is a shorter version of the PBC-40.A total of 92 (97.9%) of the patients were females. The mean age was 59.26 ± 1.05 years and the average length of disease was 60.45 ± 48.314 months. The average PBC-40 score was 85.62 ± 30.46. The total time needed to complete the questionnaire ranged from 7 to 16 minutes. The proportion of missing items was 5.45% (205/3760). Cronbach's α for the entire scale was 0.93. Reliability for all of the domains of the PBC-40 was above 0.70, except for the domain "Symptoms" (α = 0.52). Overall reliability of the PBC-27 was α = 0.90. Domains "Dryness", "Symptoms" and "Fatigue" demonstrated reliability below α = 0.70.The Serbian PBC-40 is a valid and reasonably adequate for use in Serbian PBC patients. The PBC-40 is preferred over the PBC-27.