RESEARCH MISCONDUCT IN MEDICAL SCIENCES

Research misconduct is widespread phenomenon, which in medicine can potentially harm people. Its prevention includes educating researchers, promoting authors integrity and ethics, lowering academic pressure, creating and obeying norms, but also inspection for plagiarism or fraud. Scientific misconduct is a widespread phenomenon, belonging to the category of irresponsible research of inappropriately performed or published studies (12, 17). By producing unreliable results, wrong decisions are made, resources wasted, people harmed or killed and environment endangered. Thus, it is important to prevent and uncover scientific misconduct and to promote scientific honesty (5). Responsible research encourages general trust in science and scientists (7). One of the most problematic fields regarding research misconduct seems to be medical science (2, 17). Contemporary medicine is evidence-based, meaning that every decision in medicine should be supported by scientific proof. The explosion of medical writing can be partially explained by scientific progress and new technologies being applied in diagnostics and patient treatment. Still, when investigated more thoroughly, besides original papers, a significant number of publications in medical journals can be classified as some type of research misconduct (2, 19). Conduita greșită în cercetarea medicală. Conduita necorespunzătoare în cercetare este un fenomen foarte răspândit, care, în medicină, poate afecta oamenii. Prevenția acesteia include educarea cercetătorilor, promovarea integrității autorilor și a eticii, scăderea presiunii academice, crearea și ascultarea de norme, dar, de asemenea, investigarea actelor de plagiat și a fraudei.  Cuvinte-cheie: medicină, cercetare, conduită necorespunzătoare, incidență, prevenți

A database of microRNA expression patterns in Xenopus laevis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs around 22 nucleotides long. They inhibit gene expression either by translational repression or by causing the degradation of the mRNAs they bind to. Many are highly conserved amongst diverse organisms and have restricted spatio-temporal expression patterns during embryonic development where they are thought to be involved in generating accuracy of developmental timing and in supporting cell fate decisions and tissue identity. We determined the expression patterns of 180 miRNAs in Xenopus laevis embryos using LNA oligonucleotides. In addition we carried out small RNA-seq on different stages of early Xenopus development, identified 44 miRNAs belonging to 29 new families and characterized the expression of 5 of these. Our analyses identified miRNA expression in many organs of the developing embryo. In particular a large number were expressed in neural tissue and in the somites. Surprisingly none of the miRNAs we have looked at show expression in the heart. Our results have been made freely available as a resource in both XenMARK and Xenbase

Approximation of L\"owdin Orthogonalization to a Spectrally Efficient Orthogonal Overlapping PPM Design for UWB Impulse Radio

In this paper we consider the design of spectrally efficient time-limited pulses for ultrawideband (UWB) systems using an overlapping pulse position modulation scheme. For this we investigate an orthogonalization method, which was developed in 1950 by Per-Olov L\"owdin. Our objective is to obtain a set of N orthogonal (L\"owdin) pulses, which remain time-limited and spectrally efficient for UWB systems, from a set of N equidistant translates of a time-limited optimal spectral designed UWB pulse. We derive an approximate L\"owdin orthogonalization (ALO) by using circulant approximations for the Gram matrix to obtain a practical filter implementation. We show that the centered ALO and L\"owdin pulses converge pointwise to the same Nyquist pulse as N tends to infinity. The set of translates of the Nyquist pulse forms an orthonormal basis or the shift-invariant space generated by the initial spectral optimal pulse. The ALO transform provides a closed-form approximation of the L\"owdin transform, which can be implemented in an analog fashion without the need of analog to digital conversions. Furthermore, we investigate the interplay between the optimization and the orthogonalization procedure by using methods from the theory of shift-invariant spaces. Finally we develop a connection between our results and wavelet and frame theory.Comment: 33 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication 9 Sep 201

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides associated with autoimmune hepatitis

No abstract availabl

Histopathological diagnoses of adnexal masses: which parameters are relevant in preoperative assessment?

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess which clinical, laboratory and ultrasound characteristics of adnexal masses might predict the histopathological nature of the disease. Materials and Methods: The study involved all women treated at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Centre of Serbia for adnexal tumors between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. On admission, detailed anamnestic and laboratory data were obtained, expert ultrasound scan performed and RMI was calculated for all patients. Data were related to histopathological findings and statistically analyzed. Results: The study included 540 women out of which 85 had malignant (seven diagnoses), 435 benign (seven diagnoses) and 20 borderline tumors. All types of malignant and borderline tumors were more frequent in postmenopausal women (p=0.000). Only papillary adenocarcinoma significantly more often produced early metastases (p=0.000). Ascites is a common finding in Krukenberg tumors, granulose cell tumors and papillary adenocarcinomas. There were significant differences between tumor diagnoses regarding the levels of Ca 125 and CEA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and risk of malignancy index (RMI) (p0.05). Conclusions: In the light of our results, patient age, menopausal status, blood levels of Ca 125, CEA and ESR, as well as calculated RMI, can predict the nature of adnexal masses. Unfortunately, none of the examined parameters can accurately determine the exact histopathological diagnosis of the adnexal tumor

Compliance and approach to voluntary HIV testing in a high-risk region for HIV transmission in Europe

Background: The Kosovo province is being considered as a high-risk region for the spread of HIV. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV testing in a sample of university students from the Serbian northern Kosovo province. Material and Methods: A questionnaire examining socio-demographic characteristics, HIV–related knowledge, attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) and HIV testing was used in data collection. A total of 1,017 students from the University of Priština temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica completed the questionnaire. Results: Only 5.4% of students have previously been tested for HIV, even though the majority (70.9%) had a positive approach to HIV testing. Factors associated with having been tested for HIV were being male and younger, having interest in HIV testing and having previous contact with PLHIV. Being more knowledgeable about HIV and having stronger positive attitude towards PLHIV, being older, receiving information about HIV through friends and special educational programs, using condom at last sexual intercourse, having positive opinion on gays/lesbians and previous contact with PLHIV were associated with positive approach to HIV testing. Conclusion: Having a positive approach to HIV testing does not suggest that students would take the HIV test. However, students who have low HIV-related knowledge, negative approach or lack of interest in HIV testing (believing that there is no need to take it) would likely never take the HIV test. Increasing HIV-related knowledge, acceptance of PLHIV and access to testing facilities should be public health priorities to raise HIV testing rates. Keywords: HIV testing; attitude; knowledge; University students

Rola nacięcia krocza w profilaktyce uszkodzeń podczas porodów pochwowych – wyniki z dwóch ośrodków europejskich

Objectives: There is an ongoing debate regarding the routine versus restrictive use of episiotomy. The study aim was to investigate if episiotomy during vaginal deliveries can reduce both, the number and severity of genital lacerations. Material and methods: The study included all women who gave vaginal birth at AOU. “G. Martino” Messina (n=382) and the Clinic for Ob/Gyn Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade (n=4221) during 2011. Lacerations during birth were recorded and divided according to location and severity. Women with lacerations were subdivided into two groups: with or without medio-lateral episiotomy. We assessed potential risk factors for laceration: maternal age, parity, use of labor stimulants and epidural analgesia, participation in antenatal classes, fetal presentation, neonatal birth weight, and duration of the second stage of labor. Results: Older women had higher grade perineum or combined lacerations. Children with higher birth weight in occipito-posterior presentation caused higher grade lacerations. Performance of episiotomy was connected with fewer perineum and labial lacerations. There were no differences in laceration grade between patients with and without episiotomy. Assessed parameters proved to be good discriminating factors between lacerations sites. According to logistic regression, laceration site was the most important risk factor for laceration grade. Combined lacerations had the highest grade. Conclusions: Episiotomy can significantly reduce the number of genital lacerations, but it does not influence laceration grade. Advanced maternal age, higher parity, occipito-posterior presentation and fetal macrosomia can cause lacerations during vaginal birth. Therefore, we suggest analysis of maternal and fetal factors to prevent widespread genital lacerations.Cel: Trwa debata w prawie właściwego stosowania nacięcia krocza: regularne kontra ograniczone. Celem badania była ocena czy nacięcie krocza podczas porodu pochwowego może zredukować zarówno liczbę jak i ciężkość uszkodzeń krocza. Materiał i metoda: Do badania włączono wszystkie kobiety, które w 2011 roku urodziły drogą pochwową w ośrodku w AOU „G.Martino” Messina (n=382) i w Klinice Położniczo-Ginekologicznej w Serbii, w Belgradzie (n=4221). Uszkodzenia krocza podczas porodu zostały podzielone względem lokalizacji i ciężkości. Kobiety z uszkodzeniami podzielono na dwie podgrupy: z nacięciem i bez nacięcia pośrodkowo-bocznego krocza. Oceniono możliwe czynniki ryzyka uszkodzeń krocza: wiek matki, rodność, użycie stymulacji porodu, znieczulenie zewnątrzoponowe, uczestnictwo w szkole rodzenia, położenie płodu, masa urodzeniowa noworodka, czas trwania drugiej fazy porodu. Wyniki: Starsze kobiety miały wyższy stopień uszkodzenia krocza i bardziej złożone pęknięcia. Urodzenie dziecka z większą masą urodzeniową w ułożeniu potylicowym-tylnym powodowało wyższy stopień pęknięć krocza. Nacięcie krocza wiązało się z mniejszą ilością pęknięć krocza i warg sromowych. Nie zanotowano różnic w stopniu uszkodzenia krocza pomiędzy pacjentkami z i bez nacięcia krocza. Oceniane czynniki są przydatne w różnicowaniu miejsca uszkodzenia. Na podstawie regresji logistycznej, miejsce pęknięcia było najważniejszym czynnikiem ryzyka stopnia uszkodzenia krocza. Złożone uszkodzenia miały najwyższy stopień. Wnioski: Nacięcie krocza istotnie zmniejszało liczbę uszkodzeń krocza, lecz nie wpływało na ich stopień. Zaawansowany wiek matki, wyższa rodność, ułożenie potylicowe-tylne i makrosomia płodu mogą powodować pęknięcia krocza w trakcie porodu. Sugerujemy analizę matczynych i płodowych czynników ryzyka celem zapobiegania szerokim uszkodzeniom krocza w trakcie porodu

Smoking patterns and outcomes of severe sars-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the number of cigarettes smoked and the length of smoking with mortality among patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the General Hospital in Sombor (Serbia). Patients who were hospitalized because of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2021 and March 2023 were included in this study. Data were retrieved from electronic medical records, including those on smoking status, duration of smoking, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Of 307 patients whose medical records were analyzed, 40.7% were current smokers. Current smokers more often required treatment in the ICU, where they also had a higher mortality rate compared to current non-smokers. Longer duration of smoking was independently associated with dying of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the ICU. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who smoked had poorer survival compared to current non-smokers. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, patients who smoked for more than 40 years had a 73.9% chance of dying from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Current smokers who smoked 22.5 cigarettes per day had a 75.4% chance of dying from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the ICU. Smokers with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher likelihood of having poor outcomes. Longer duration of smoking was an independent predictor of SARS-CoV-2 mortality. Smoking prevention and smoking cessation are of paramount importance in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2-related mortality

Predictive Value of Basal Serum Progesterone for Successful IVF in Endometriosis Patients: The Need for a Personalized Approach

The data regarding the role of progesterone (P4) in reproductive events of endometriosis patients are limited. This prospective study aimed to examine the predictive value of basal P4 serum levels for successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with primary infertility and endometriosis. The study included 73 patients divided according to endometriosis treatment (surgery vs. control-no treatment). The general data, basal hormonal status, and pregnancy rates were determined for every patient. Clinical pregnancy was achieved in 40.3% of patients, and more often in patients treated for endometriosis before IVF. The regression analysis showed that higher basal P4 serum levels were associated with achieving pregnancy through IVF. When regression was adjusted for the patient and IVF characteristics, higher basal P4 serum levels were associated with pregnancy achievement in both groups of women, along with the basal serum levels of FSH, LH, and AMH; EFI score; and stimulation protocol. The ROC analysis showed that the basal P4 serum level for successful IVF should be ≥0.7ng/mL. The basal P4 serum level cut-off for IVF success in endometriosis patients was determined for the first time. Constructed models for IVF success prediction emphasize the importance of determining the basal P4 serum levels for the personalized treatment of endometriosis-related infertility