Introduction The exact mechanisms of periapical bone resorption have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to analyze the expression of Notch signaling molecules (Notch2, Jagged1, and Hey1) and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF‐&agr;], interleukin [IL]‐1&bgr;, and IL‐6) in human apical periodontitis lesions with different receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratios and determine their potential correlation. Methods The study group consisted of 50 periapical lesions collected in conjunction with apicoectomy. The relative gene expression of the investigated molecules (Notch2, Jagged1, Hey1, RANKL, OPG, TNF‐&agr;, IL‐1&bgr;, and IL‐6) in all tissue samples was analyzed using reverse transcriptase real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The Student t test, Mann‐Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results Based on the RANKL/OPG ratio, periapical lesions were either RANKL predominant (RANKL > OPG, n = 33) or OPG predominant (RANKL < OPG, n = 17). Symptomatic lesions occurred more frequently in RANKL‐predominant compared with OPG‐predominant lesions (24 vs 7, P = .029). Notch2, Jagged1, Hey1, and TNF‐&agr; were significantly overexpressed in lesions with predominant RANKL compared with lesions with predominant OPG (P = .001, P = .001, P = .027, and P = .016, respectively). Significant correlations were observed between the investigated genes in periapical lesions. Conclusions Notch signaling appeared to be activated in periapical inflammation. An increase in Notch2, Jagged1, Hey1, and TNF‐&agr; expression in RANKL‐predominant periapical lesions corroborates their joined involvement in extensive periapical bone resorption.

Introduction: Until recently, gastric cancer represented the most common visceral neoplasm. In Japan, the prevalence of disease is 58.4 per 100,000 inhabitants for men and 29.9 for women. Here, the incidence is lower. Gastrectomy is the most common surgical method of treating carcinomas of the stomach. Aim of the Study: To determine which method of reconstruction after gastrectomy improves the quality of life optimally. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 221 patient operated on for gastric cancer at the Surgical Clinic of the University Clinical Center in Banja Luka, and the subject of a detailed analysis of the 111 patients who were operated with the intention of achieving curability. Results: Reflux esophagitis is dominant modality in reconstruction wth omega loop (p <0.05). Analyzing GIQLI, we found dominant modality GIQLI II in the total gastrectomy and reconstruction options RY, while predominantly GIQLI III was registered in HLR reservoir reconstruction method (p <0.01). And two hours after the ingestion of a meal labeled with a radioisotope Tc99m in artificial gastric reservoir (HLR) showed signs of radioactivity (about 10% amount). “H0 performance” (AJCC / UICC) was the most frequently recorded in subtotal gastrectomy, while there was significant appearance of “H1” and “H2” modalities with the total gastrectomy statistically. In RY reconstruction, statistically significant was participation modalities “H1”, while “H1” performance (AJCC / UICC) was the dominant modality at the HLR options reconstruction with statistically significant frequency of occurrence (p <0.01). Conclusion: The results of the assessment of quality of life are comparable with the results of other statistical series. They confirm antireflux component Roux en Y reconstructions and its intestinoplications and highlight the advantage of the nutritional components loop modifications (creation pouch-a).

The pathogenesis of obesity-related vascular disorders has not been fully elucidated. The fundamental role of inflammation in aging process is now widely recognized, particularly for atherosclerotic disease which begins before birth. The number of obese individuals worldwide has reached two billion, leading to an explosion of obesity-related vascular disorders associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Obesity, as a chronic low grade inflammatory process, is important risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Despite a well-known genetic component, this risk appears to originate from several abnormalities in adipose tissue function associated with a chronic inflammatory state. In particular, obesity as the most common nutritional disorder in industrialized countries, is closely related to impaired endothelial function, a well-known marker of preatherosclerotic disease. These conditions disrupt vascular homeostasis by causing an imbalance between the nitric oxide pathway and the endothelin-1 system, with impaired insulin-stimulated endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Having in mind the growing population of overweight and obese people worldwide, along with an increasingly aging population, understanding the pathophysiology of obesity on cardiovascular system is essential. The mechanisms linking obesity-related vascular disorders and low grade inflammation in aging process are the focus of this paper.

Introduction. Hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure, suffer from affective dysfunction to a variable extent. The aim of our study was to evaluate the cognitive and affective status in patients before and after hemodialysis. Apart from this, the goal of the study was to examine and compare the cognitive status of patients on dialysis in relation to the control group, but also in relation to laboratory parameters. Material and Methods. This research was a prospective study including 30 hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure treated at the Department of Nephrology of the Health Center in Kosovska Mitrovica. The cognitive status of the subjects was evaluated by determining the simple reaction time to auditory and visual stimuli before and after hemodialysis sessions and using the Mini Mental Status Examination, while the affective status was evaluated by using the Beck Depression Inventory. Results. The analysis of the obtained results showed a statistically significantly lower auditory and visual simple reaction times (p = 0.014) after dialysis (p = 0.023). The results have confirmed a statistically significantly decreased simple reaction time to visual stimuli (p = 0.001), while a statistical significance (p = 0.137) was not obtained for the auditory stimuli when compared to the control group. The Mini Mental Status Examination and the Beck Depression Inventory did not indicate a significant cognitive status damage or presence of depression. Conclusion. The importance of hemodialysis in the improvement of cognitive function is clearly evident, even though the general state of cognitive status in patients on hemodialysis is lower compared to the healthy population. Evaluation of the cognitive and affective status using simple reaction time, Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination and the Beck Depression Inventory, should be used on daily basis in hemodialysis patients.

Despite being known for 5000 years, after the records of imperial Chinese doctors, cannabinoids as a subject of scientific research experienced its rise after 1964, when delta nine tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 THC) by Israeli scientists was identified. This was followed by the discovery of endogenous ligand / endocannabinoids, as well as receptors CB1 and CB2. In a broader sense, endocannabinoids act as neuromodulators and immunomodulators. They are included in the various physiological processes such as: the occurrence of pain, cognition, memory formation and neuroplasticity, physical activity, respiratory processes, appetite regulation, control and heart rate, nausea and emesis, intraocular pressure, inflammatory and immune processes (antigen recognition).