OBJECTIVE Anti-β2 GPI are a formal laboratory criterion for the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). They were demonstrated to be a risk factor for thrombosis and fetal losses but can also be detected in patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD), in healthy adults individuals and pre-school children. It has been suggested that different subpopulations of anti-β2GPI may carry different pathogenetic potential: autoantibodies against Domain1 seem to be associated with thrombosis; autoantibodies against Domain4/5 have been identified in patients with non-thrombotic conditions. METHODS We studied 48 patients with SAD (32 systemic lupus erythematosus, 16 undifferentiated connettive tissue disease), 64 patients with APS, 57 one-year-old healthy children born to mother with SAD, 33 children with atopic dermatitis. All subjects were IgG anti-β2 GPI positive. The specificity of anti-β2 GPI was investigated using ELISA research products containing recombinant β2 GPI D1 and D4/5 antigens. Cut-off values are calculated as 95th percentile on 100 NHD. IgG anti-β2 GPI were tested at a validated home-made ELISA routinely performed in our laboratory. No thrombotic events were recordered in patients with SAD and in both groups of children. RESULTS Patients with SAD and APS showed prevalent reactivity for D1 while children in both groups preferentially recognize D4/5. CONCLUSIONS IgG anti-β2 GPI against D1 seem to cluster in patients with systemic autoimmune conditions. Their pathogenic potential in determine APS manifestations may be mitigated by adequate prophylaxis.

Background: Quality of life assessment in patients with Multiple sclerosis (MS) is invaluable for a proper evaluation of disease severity, appropriate choice of therapy and monitoring of its effects. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with MS and to identify gender differences in examined outcome. Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2010 to May 2011. The data were obtained by anonymous survey of 110 patients. Quality of life of the patients was measured by the instrument 'The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) - BREF'. Data on gender and age of patients, type of MS, the number of relapses during the last 2 years, current therapy, dose regimens of certain drugs, and the amount of money the patients spend each month for the purchase of drugs that are not issued at the expense of health insurance fund, were obtained using a distinct structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and Student's t-test for independent samples. Results: Of the total 110 interviewed patients, 70% (n = 77) were female and 30% (n = 33) male. There were no significant gender differences in the disease duration, number of relapses in the last two years and spending of more than 1000 RSD per month for purchase of drugs that were not issued at the expense of the health insurance fund. Significantly better quality of life was recorded in women than men (p = 0.031), mainly on account of differences in the assessment of the domain of 'Environment' (p = 0.025), as measured by WHOQOL-BREF scale. Conclusion: This study has shown that females tolerate difficulties caused by multiple sclerosis better than men, and also have a better quality of life than men with the same clinical form of the disease and identical symptoms, treated with the same therapy.

Primary psychiatric disorders are frequently associated with electrolyte disorders, which could be caused by medication. We performed a systematic review of the literature in order to discover published cases of electrolyte disorders associated with risperidone use. The databases Medline and Scopus were searched and 317 publications were retrieved containing the following keywords: risperidone, hyponatremia, hypernat remia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia. We included in our review the following publication types: the original scientific research, case reports, review of literature and letters to the editor. Case reports and observational studies associating risperidone with hyponatremia or hypokalemia, as well as with hypocalcemia were found. In spite of sporadic case reports of risperidone induced electrolyte disorders, conflicting opinions and results of other studies quest ion the certainty of this association. Further research is necessary to confirm and enlighten the association between risperidone and electrolyte disorders.

During the process of developing herbal drugs with antimicrobial action, one of the most important phases is testing of antimicrobial activity in vitro. The disk-diffusion method is performed in Petri dish, on solid feeding surface. The disks with definite concentrations of antibiotics, pure substances or plant extracts are placed on the top of feeding plates previously inoculated with pure bacterial culture. Growth of the bacterial culture depends on its susceptibility to a tested substance; if the substance has antibacterial effect, a clear zone free of bacteria will form around the disk. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested substance is determined by extrapolation of the regression line: concentration of the tested substance/radius or surface of area where growth of bacteria was inhibited. This method of testing microbial susceptibility to antibiotics, pure substances or plant extracts is highly sensitive and specific.