It is determined that 30% of patients with depression are resistant to antidepressant medication. The increased concentration of inflammation factors, such as C-reactive protein, and pro-inflammatory ...cytokines, have been detected in serum in these patients. It is necessary to establish new therapeutic possibilities and protocols that are created to overcome the difficulties caused by increased concentration of inflammatory biomarkers in depressive patients. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be the most powerful antidepressants, increasing the level of serotonin in endogenous depression, as well as in that caused by immunological mechanisms. It is believed that agents that influence cytokines, immunological signal pathways and cytokine syntheses, like the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase enzyme and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are very important in the potential treatment of residual symptoms of depression. Treatment with cytokine antagonists is one of the potential adjuvant therapies, along with antidepressants. Signal pathways blockers, such as the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and other NSAIDs, are in the phase of research, in terms of their antidepressant effects. Also, it has been shown that the inhibition of indolamin-2,3 deoxygenase (IDO) and kynurenine (KYN) signal pathways in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, by application of IDO antagonists, are leading to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine effects. Antidepressants may have anti-inflammatory effects, depending on dose and type, and they achieve this effect through the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Also, antidepressants modulate the humoral and cellular immune system. This work aims to summarise certain neurobiological and neuroimmunological specificities that have been observed in patients with depression, antidepressants and immunomodulation agents. The understanding of complex and heterogenic pathophysiology of depression through the prism of the altered immune system, is of major importance, in terms of better optimisation of pharmacotherapy, and options for a personalised approach in depressive disorder treatment.
Botulin Toxin Use in Scars/Keloids Treatment Scala, Jacopo; Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxin protein derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium that inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction level whose effects has been ...used for many years to treat a variety of muscular/neuromuscular conditions and more recently also for cosmetic use. BTX has experimented in some dermatological conditions which include scar prevention and treatment with good results The complex mechanism underlying those results is not completely understood but several mechanisms were proposed release inhibition of different substances like (TGF)-β, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and glutamate thus modulating cutaneous inflammation and wound healing. We analysed the published data on BTX off label applications on scars and keloids retrieved from PubMed.
Beta Blockers and Melanoma Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar; Vlaskovic-Jovicevic, Tatjana ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Understanding the mechanisms of cancer immune-tolerance is one of the most important challenges. Several studies have demonstrated the potential anticarcinogenic effects of beta-blockers, in patients ...with prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. At the other side variety of dermatoses may be caused or aggravated by β-blockers-psoriasis, lichen planus-like drug eruptions (LDE), acrocyanosis, alopecia etc. Beta-blockers have been shown to improve the prognosis of melanoma patients significantly. Propranolol inhibits melanoma by downregulating the tumour angiogenesis but also tumour cell proliferation, invasiveness and local immune suppression. Studies showed that only β3-but, not β2-adrenoceptors, were up-regulated under hypoxia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and selectively expressed in immune cell sub-populations including Treg, MDSC, and NK. They increased NK and CD8 number and cytotoxicity. Catecholamines may retard melanoma progression and that β-blockers may have unrecognised potential as a therapeutic intervention for melanoma, in the prevention of the growth of melanoma in all stages and as adjuvant therapy with other targeted and immune therapies for melanoma.
Beta Blockers and Melanoma Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar; Vlaskovic-Jovicevic, Tatjana ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
New Trends in Cutaneous Melanoma Surgery Scala, Jacopo; Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
The main surgical treatment for melanoma consists in wide surgical excision of the primary lesion and the sentinel node but in recent times management of melanoma is rapidly evolving with the ...introduction of new systemic therapies, like BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors and antibodies anti-PD-1 that show good results in controlling even advanced stages of the disease. This review aims to present data for the optimal surgical management of patients with malignant melanoma.
Autologous Fat Graft: Not Only an Aesthetic Solution Scala, Jacopo; Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Subcutaneous adipose tissue was defined as the "perfect filler" as is soft and malleable and is usually enough present in the body for correcting volume defects and small remodelling purposes. The ...first attempts to implant autologous adipose tissue dates back to the end of the twentieth century, and with the refinement of harvesting, processing and replanting techniques today a uniform and predictable amount of survival rate were achieved. Those improvements have led to wider use of autologous fat grafts in many medical specialities not only in aesthetic or reconstructive treatments.
The P.N.E.I. (Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunology) approach is represented by the interdisciplinary concept of bidirectional cross-talk between the psycho-neuro-endocrine and immune systems, which can ...influence the immune response. The well-known Gut-Brain Axis and the Gut-Skin Axis can be merged in a bigger network- the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis, with complex regulation by cytokines, neuro-peptides, neuro-hormones and another messenger (signalling) molecules and maybe the most important modulator of the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis/ the gut microbiota. The role of gut bacterial homeostasis is very important, and the homeostatic imbalance of the immune response may be a relevant etiologic/pathophysiologic factor for extra-intestinal and intestinal inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases. The Low Dose Cytokines Medicine (LDM) is an innovative therapeutic approach. It is based on the most advanced knowledge in molecular biology and low dose pharmacology with the primary outcome. The SKA (Sequential Kinetic Activation) technology, codified and standardised by GUNA S.p.a. -Italy- makes the low doses of signalling molecules able to be active even below the minimum dose classically considered as effective and the significative efficacy of orally administered low-dose signalling molecules is the most representative aspect of LDM. The Physiologic Nutraceuticals and the Low Dose Medicine are two of the most promising approaches for the treatment of skin diseases based on the rebalance of the immune response and the recovery of gut dysbiosis.
Abstract only
A deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a critical cofactor for endothelial cell (EC) nitric oxide (NO) synthase, may be a common cause of vascular dysfunction in many diseases. Our ...goal was to augment BH4 levels in ECs in order to increase NO bioavailability and improve vascular function in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. We encapsulated BH4 in biodegradable poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) nanoparticles (NPs) using an emulsion‐solvent evaporation method. Concentrations of BH4 in ECs and vessels were calculated using a reversed phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method after oxidation of samples under acidic and alkaline conditions, while nitrite levels were measured using an HPLC method developed in our lab. NO‐dependent relaxation of vessels was assessed by measuring the response to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine. NPs were taken up by ECs in a time‐and dose‐dependent fashion. BH4 levels in ECs and NO synthesis were increased after uptake of BH4‐loaded NPs. Importantly, BH4‐loaded NPs increased endothelium‐dependent vasodilatory responses of vessels from diabetic rats, demonstrating the ability of NP‐mediated BH4 delivery to restore vascular function. These studies support the feasibility of utilizing biodegradable NPs to deliver therapeutic agents to ECs to attenuate dysfunction associated with vascular disease. (Supported by NIH grant #HL093689).
In Ovo Sexing of Chicken Eggs by Virus Spectroscopy Fioranelli, Massimo; Sepehri, Alireza; Roccia, Maria Grazia ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Recently, some new methods for sexing of chicken eggs by fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy through the shell membrane have been proposed. On the other hand, in another investigation, a new virus ...medical imaging has been suggested. In this research, summing over these considerations, a new technique for sexing of chicken eggs by virus spectroscopy through the shell membrane is proposed. It is shown that viruses outside the shell of egg can communicate with materials inside it and determine the gender of chick embryo and it's evolutions.
As indicated by the latest scientific evidence, the lines between different fields of medicine gradually blur and overlap more and more. Psychiatry and dermatology have seen this trend in the last ...decade as an ever-increasing number of studies suggest the strong connection of many dermatological syndromes and diseases with psychiatric conditions and vice versa. It seems that the relationship is more intertwined than previously believed and the effects of different multidisciplinary approaches to diagnostic and treatment are being considered. The aim of this case report is to highlight the effect of psychotherapy on chronic spontaneous urticaria which is tightly related to the maladaptive stress response.
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