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These results indicate increased local and systemic oxidative stress, accompanied by impaired redox status, but not total vitamin C deficiency, which persisted during conventional clinical treatment of TBM.

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.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) represents a complication of the end-stage liver cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze concentrations of nitrates and nitrites (NO 2 þ NO 3 ) and L-arginine in patients with liver cirrhosis and HRS as a possible predictive marker for the development of HRS. The research was performed in a group of 28 patients with cirrhosis and HRS, a group of 22 patients suffering from cirrhosis without HRS and a control group comprised of 42 healthy voluntary blood donors. In patients with end-stage alcoholic liver cirrhosis, with HRS, the concentrations of NO 2 þ NO 3 increased and correlated with the degree of cirrhosis progression, compared to patients without HRS and significantly higher compared to the control group. The level of NO 2 þ NO 3 was in a positive correlation with the degree of liver damage de Ritis coefficient (HRS ¼ 0.72; cirrhosis: ¼ 0.55; control ¼ À0.10). Significant positive correlation was found between NO 2 þ NO 3 concentration and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (HRSC ¼ 0.75; cirrhosis ¼ 0.70, control ¼ À0.25). The correlation between NO 2 þ NO 3 concentration and creatinine concentration in patients with HRS was significantly higher compared to patients without HRS (HRS ¼ 0.82; cirrhosis ¼ 0.32; control ¼ À0.25). By using binary regression analysis, on the basis of clinical criteria of HRS diagnosis, the strongest independent positive predictor for HRS development was NO 2 þ NO 3 , associated with 45.02 times higher incidence of HRS, compared to arginine (12.7 times higher incidence), creatinine (13.1 times higher incidence), and AST/ALT ratio (10.55 higher incidence of HRS). Since the determination of NO 2 þ NO 3 represents a reliable and easily applicable method, it may be used as an early predictive marker for HRS development.

Introduction: Measles is among the most contagious and vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases. The aim of this research was to describe the socio-demographic profile, clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters of measles patients hospitalized at Kosovska Mitrovica Clinical Centre during the 2017−2019 outbreak. Methodology: The prospective study included all patients that had contracted measles (107) who were hospitalized at Kosovska Mitrovica Clinical Centre during the outbreak. All complications that led to hospitalization were analyzed and the frequencies of complications with respect to patient age and vaccination status were recorded. Results: More than half (51%) of the patients were unvaccinated. Patients’ age varied statistically significantly with respect to vaccination status. Pneumonia was noted in 65% of the patients from the younger age group, compared to 32% of adults, and this difference was statistically significant. Hepatitis was a significantly more frequent complication in adults, affecting 36% of measles patients in this age group, compared to only 7% of those aged below 18 years. In the unvaccinated group, 71% pneumonia frequency was noted, compared to 11% and 35% in the vaccinated and unknown vaccination status groups, respectively. The differences in frequencies based on vaccination status were statistically significant. Conclusions: Most hospitalized patients were unvaccinated. Complications showed a significant difference with respect to the age and vaccination status of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out continuous health promotion activities to raise awareness among the entire population of the importance and need for vaccination of children against measles, but also adults who have not been previously vaccinated.