Objectives: The association of inflammatory reactions with almost all types of cancer supports the concept that inflammation is a critical component of tumor progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum markers of chronic inflammation with the stage of and histopathological size of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 patients of both sexes, mean age 66.2 (range 47-78) years, with clinically and histologically confirmed CRC, who were admitted to the Clinic for abdominal surgery UCCS for surgical treatment of CRC. The patients according to the stage of disease were divided into three groups (stage II–IV). The control group consisted of 30 subjects with no signs of malignancy and acute inflammatory diseases. Staging of CRC was done according to the TNM classification. In each patient, the preoperative blood samples were taken for determination of the parameters of inflammation: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and alpha 2 globulins. Results: It was confirmed that increasing markers of inflammation followed increasing stages of colorectal cancer, depth of tumor invasion and the occurrence of metastatic disease. CRP is a biomarker that consistently and significantly increases from the second to the fourth stage of colorectal cancer (7.2 (2.3-14.6) mg/L vs. 21.85 (12.3-41) mg/L vs. 38.6 (21.5-79) mg/L; p<0.01) and significantly correlates positively with the stage of CRC (r= 0.783, p<0.001), and the tumor size (r=0.249, p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results point to an increase in the degree of chronic inflammation throughout the progression of colorectal cancer. The most consistent marker of chronic inflammation that accompanies the progression of colorectal carcinoma is CRP.

Objective was to assess whether the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in the process of atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients nondialysis-dependent and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD), both with signs of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). Thirty CKD and 22 PD patients were included in a study. All observed patients were divided into three subgroups depending on the degree of atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries (CA). Severity of atherosclerotic changes in the CA was evaluated by ultrasonography. We confirmed significantly lower level of serum MDA throughout all the stages of atherosclerosis in PD patients compared with observed CKD patients (P < 0.05) and increased serum concentration of MDA and MMP-9 with the progression of severity atherosclerotic changes in both groups of patients. The multiple regression analysis revealed that MDA and MMP-9 are significant predictors of changes in IMT-CA CKD patients (P < 0.05) and plaque score on CA in these patients (P < 0.05). The results suggest that MDA and MMP-9 could be mediators of CKD-related vascular remodeling in CMS.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of the immunosuppressive regiment in managing of IgA nephropathy associated with primary nephrotic syndrome at the Nephrology Clinic, University of Sarajevo Clinics Centre in period of 1997-2007. We studied 19 patients (4 women and 15 men) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, where pathomorphologic changes of IgA nephropathy were proved by kidney biopsy. The levels of diuresis, proteinuria, albuminemia, lipidemia and kidney function, as measure of efficiency of used therapy, were monitored. The IgA nephropathy present with the nephrotic syndrome was shown in 15.8% (19) patients underwent renal biopsy due to primary nephrotic syndrome in the period of observation. The average age of patients with IgA nephropathy was 34.9+/-14.1 years. Eight patients from this group were treated with corticosteroid therapy (1-1.5 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg/ kg of body weight until therapeutic response was achieved, and finally gradual exclusion of therapy after eight weeks in responsive patients), 6 patients with corticosteroids and bolus cyclophosphamide (10-15 mg/kg BW), and in 5/19 patients cyclosporine therapy was used (3 mg/kg BW). Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome was achieved in 42.1% of the patients. In conclusion, in adults patients with primary nephrotic syndrome associated with IgA nephropathy, used immunosuppressive therapy resulted in a high percentage of achieved remissions.

Strict therapy protocol, which would be used universally for certain morphological forms of primary nephrotic syndrome, does not exist. The aim of the study was to show the effects of used therapy protocol in treatment of primary nephrotic syndrome at the Institute of Nephrology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in period of 2000-2005. The retrospective analysis covered 48 patients (17 women and 31 men) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, where pathomorphological changes were proved by kidney biopsy. Minimal change disease was confirmed with 6 (12.5%) patients. All patients were initially treated with corticosteroids with dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. Five patients were in the group of primary responders (83.3%) with long term total remission, and 1 patient (16.6%) was a primary responder with 3 relapses in 8 months with a therapy of corticosteroids and bolus of cyclophosphamide. Diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis was shown in 13 patients (27.1%). Seven patients from this group were treated with corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg/ kg of body weight until therapeutical response was achieved, and finally gradual exclusion of therapy after eight weeks in responsive patients). Six patients were treated with corticosteroids and one-month of bolus cyclophosphamide during half of year (10-5 mg/kg of body weight). Total remission was achieved in 37,9% of the patients. The IgA nephropathy presented with the nephrotic syndrome was shown in 10.4% (5) of the patients. Three patients from this group were treated with corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks, followed by 0,5 mg/ kg of body weight until therapeutical response was achieved, and finally gradual exclusion of therapy after eight weeks in responsive patients) and.2 patients with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide (1.5 mg/kg of body weight) during 6 months. Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome from this pathomorphological category was achieved in 2 patients. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was shown in 6 patients (12.5%). All were treated with corticosteroids plus bolus of cyclophosphamide. Partial remission was achieved in one patient. Membranous glomerulonephritis was confirmed in 18 patients (37.5 %). Combined therapy of corticosteroids and bolus of cyclophosphamide was used in 7/18 patients, in 2/18 patients therapy of corticosteroids and per os cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg of body weight) and in 9/18 patients cyclosporine therapy (3 mg/kg of body weight). Complete remission was achieved in 38.8% of the patients. A high percentage of achieved remissions of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults shows the efficiency of immunomodulating therapy used. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis still remains a therapy problem.