Background and Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent multifactorial endocrinopathy affecting women in the reproductive period, often associated with infertility and metabolic disorders. The use of animal models helps to better understand etiopathogenesis, enabling the examination of the effects of certain drugs in order to discover the best possible therapeutic approach. We tried to investigate the additional effect of estradiol-valerate (EV) and high-fat diet (HFD) in female rats to explore PCOS-related alterations with special focus on oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into three groups: control group (CTRL, n = 6), estradiol-valerate group (EV, n = 6), and estradiol-valerate group on HFD (EV + HFD, n = 6). PCOS was induced by single subcutaneous injection of long-acting EV in a dose of 4 mg/per rat. We tried to improve the metabolic characteristics of the PCOS animal model by adding HFD, so the CTRL and EV group had a regular diet, while the EV + HFD group had HFD during the induction period of 60 days. Results: We observed alterations of anthropometric parameters and hormonal disturbances, along with estrus cycle impairment reassembly to obese-type PCOS phenotype. Moreover, glucose metabolism was impaired after addition of HFD to EV protocol, contrary to EV administered alone. Histological analysis confirmed more numerous cystic follicles after the combination of EV and HFD protocol. The alterations of oxidative stress markers could be related to and serve as the mechanistic base for development of PCOS-related endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic properties. Conclusions: The additive effect of EV and HFD was obvious in the majority of the parameters observed. Our study strongly demonstrated metabolic as well as reproductive properties of PCOS in rats.

The aim of this study is to examine the prognostic role of initial chest computed tomography severity score index (CTSS) and its association with demographic, socio-epidemiological, and clinical parameters in COVID-19 hospitalized patients. A retrospective study included patients who were hospitalized in the COVID Hospital of the Clinical Hospital Center Kosovska Mitrovica from July 2020 to March 2022. We compared patient characteristics and outcome of their hospital stay with values of CT severity score (mild, moderate, and severe form of the disease). Patients with severe disease were statistically significantly older, they treated more days, and they presented statistically significant highest mortality rate compared to mild and moderate forms. Smokers and obese were significantly more frequent among patients with higher CT, while vaccinated patients were more common among those with a mild form. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. We can conclude that by employing the initial CT severity score as the strongest predictor of mortality, it is possible to predict the outcome in hospitalized patients. A comprehensive examination of the patient upon admission, including determining the extent of inflammatory changes in the lungs using computed tomography, the levels of oxygen saturation, and other laboratory parameters, can assist doctors in making an adequate clinical evaluation and apply appropriate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.

The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and initial clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their importance in evaluating the severity of the disease. A retrospective study included patients suffering from COVID-19 who were hospitalized at The Department of Infectious Disease of the Clinical Hospital Center Pristina—Gracanica from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of 2020. We compared the symptoms of the disease, radiographic findings of pneumonia, laboratory parameters, duration of symptoms before admission, the difference in the need for certain therapies, and the presence of comorbidities between non-severe and severe groups of patients. Patients with a severe disease were statistically significantly older. Hypertension was significantly associated with severe clinical conditions. Radiographic findings of bilateral pneumonia on admission were much more frequent among the severe group, and these patients’ need for oxygen support was significantly higher. Lower neutrophil and higher lymphocyte counts were statistically significant in the non-severe group. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. Based on our research, we can conclude that a complete overview of the patient, including demographic and laboratory parameters as perhaps the most significant attributes, can help doctors in the timely clinical assessment of patients and, thus, in the timely application of adequate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.

The paper describes a period of eleven morbidity and mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a population of Kosovska Mitrovica 2001-2011 year. We retrospectively analyzed data on patients who were hospitalized in the internal Department of Health in Kosovska Mitrovica, specifically in the coronary care unit for the period of 2001-2011. Processed patients age group of 20-70 years. For aforesaid period, a total of 1380 hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction. Of the total 894 patients or 64.7% are male and 486 or 35.3% were women. The rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction is 1,9:1 in favor of men. Registered 142 fatal outcome while 10.3% were non-fatal heart attack in 1238 or 89.7%.

Background/Aim. The area of lung ultrasonography is fast developing and it provides the medical community with numerous new diagnostic opportunities. The aim of this study was to examine the etiology of dyspnea on admission and to assess the stage of heart failure (HF) according to the ultrasound examination of the heart and lungs on admission. Methods. The cross-sectional study included total of 110 patients treated with the symptoms of dyspnea. The study included all patients treated for any heart or pulmonary condition, as well as patients who reported the first episode of dyspnea without any previous illness. The most important diagnostic sign in the ultrasound of the lungs in HF is the appearance of B lines or comets, which indicate the accumulation of fluid in the interstitium of the lungs. Results. The mean number of registered comets was 14.2±7.4 (minimum 2, maximum 30). The mean number of comets among patients with HF was 18.8±5.9. The mean number of comets among patients without HF was 8.0±3.7, p<0.001. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed the association between the number of comets and HF group (p<0.001). Conclusion. As the assessment of pulmonary comets is safe and non-invasive it can easily be integrated in the daily clinical practice because it has been shown that the number of ultrasound pulmonary comets is significantly higher in patients with HF compared to those with dyspnea of other etiologies.