Psoriasis is defined as chronic, immune-mediated disease. Regardless of the development of new therapeutic approaches, the precise etiology of psoriasis remains unknown and speculative. The aim of this review was to systematize the results of previous research on the role of oxidative stress and aberrant immune response in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, as well as the impact of certain therapeutic modalities on the oxidative status in patients with psoriasis. Complex immune pathways of both the innate and adaptive immune systems appear to be major pathomechanisms in the development of psoriasis. Oxidative stress represents another important contributor to the pathophysiology of disease, and the redox imbalance in psoriasis has been reported in skin cells and, systemically, in plasma and blood cells, and more recently, also in saliva. Current immune model of psoriasis begins with activation of immune system in susceptible person by some environmental factor and loss of immune tolerance to psoriasis autoantigens. Increased production of IL-17 appears to be the most prominent role in psoriasis pathogenesis, while IL-23 is recognized as master regulator in psoriasis having a specific role in cross bridging the production of IL-17 by innate and acquired immunity. Other proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-22, IL-26, IL-29, or IL-36, have also been reported to play important roles in the development of psoriasis. Oxidative stress can promote inflammation through several signaling pathways. The most noticeable and most powerful antioxidative effects exert various biologics compared to more convenient therapeutic modalities, such as methotrexate or phototherapy. The complex interaction of redox, immune, and inflammatory signaling pathways should be focused on further researches tackling the pathophysiology of psoriasis, while antioxidative supplementation could be the solution in some refractory cases of the disease.

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Background. Mechanical ventilation is a frequently applied therapy in critically ill children and can be lifesaving in many cases. Clinical use of this technique has well documented benefits, but can be associated with different complications and adverse physiologic effects. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the complications and clinical outcome of mechanical ventilation in Serbian pediatric patients. Material and Methods. The study encompassed 42 children with respiratory insufficiency that underwent mechanical ventilation during hospitalization over a period of 12 consecutive months. The influence of clinical and mechanical parameters on the occurrence of complications and clinical outcome were analyzed. Results. The patients were ventilated for a total of 432 days and a total of 61 complications were observed in 42 patients (97 complications per 1000 ventilation days). The most common complications associated with mechanical ventilation in Serbian pediatric patients with respiratory insufficiency were cardiovascular insufficiency (52.4%) and multiple organ failure (35.7%). High values of applied PIP (> 26 cm H 2 O), PEEP (> 6 cm H 2 O) and Tv (> 6 mL/kg) were associated with the occurrence of complications and negative clinical outcome. Conclusions. Complications of mechanical ventilation in the pediatric population occur frequently, but lower volumes/pressures of ventilation contribute to a decrease in incidence. Further studies are needed to examine associated risk factors and strategies to reduce the occurrence of complications and improve clinical outcome (Adv Clin Exp Med 2014, 23, 1, 57-61).

[Purpose] The extent of functional independence ultimately achieved by an individual patient will be influenced by a variety of medical and non-medical factors. [Subjects and Methods] this study included 419 patients with spinal cord lesions treated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation “Dr M. Zotovic”, Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2000 to December 2009. The patients were divided in two groups according to achievement of increase in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of more than 13 at discharge compared to admission. A variety of clinical variables were followed in both groups. [Results] one hundred twenty-one patients (28.9%) showed improvements in FIM score of ≤13, while 298 (71.1%) patients showed an increases in FIM score of >13 at discharge compared to admission. Better functional recovery was observed in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions, lower neurological levels of the lesion (OR = 6.07), and in patients treated surgically, but the level of the spinal cord lesion was the most influential factor affecting outcome. [Conclusion] the patients with spinal cord lesions should not only be grouped by traumatic and non-traumatic lesions only, but also sub-categorized, according to the etiology, level of injury and treatment method.