Dinko Bekić

Dr. Dinko Bekić

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 June 2025 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PSPredrag Sikiric
Predrag Sikiric
SSSven Seiwerth
Sven Seiwerth
ASAnita Skrtic
Anita Skrtic
MSMario Staresinic
Mario Staresinic
SSSanja Strbe
Sanja Strbe
IDIvan Dobric
Ivan Dobric
Although approached through many concepts, the pleiotropic healing issue, specifically, maintaining/reestablishing tissue integrity, remains a central challenge in pharmacology, particularly when the process is misdirected or not properly controlled. Robert and Szabo’s concept of cytoprotection holds that innate cell (epithelial (Robert), endothelial (Szabo)) integrity and protection/maintenance/reestablishment in the stomach is translated to other organ therapy (cytoprotection → organoprotection) via the cytoprotection agent’s effect. Therefore, we defend stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy’s efficacy and pleiotropic beneficial effects, along with its high safety (LD1 not achieved), against speculation of its negative impact, speculation of angiogenesis toward tumorigenesis, increased NO and eNOS, damaging free radical formation, and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease). Contrarily, in wound healing and general healing capabilities, as reviewed, as a cytoprotective agent and native cytoprotection mediator, BPC 157 controls angiogenesis and the NO-system’s healing functions and counteracts the pathological presentation of neurodegenerative diseases in acknowledged animal models (i.e., Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease), and it presents prominent anti-tumor potential in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 resolved cornea transparency maintenance, cornea healing “angiogenic privilege” (vs. angiogenesis/neovascularization/tumorigenesis), and it does not produce corneal neovascularization but rather opposes it. Per Folkman’s concept, it demonstrates an anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 exhibits a distinctive effect on the NO-level (increase vs. decrease), always combined with the counteraction of free radical formation, and, in mice and rats, BPC 157 therapy counteracts Parkinson’s disease-like and Alzheimer’s disease-like disturbances. Thus, BPC 157 therapy means targeting angiogenesis and NO’s cytotoxic and damaging actions but maintaining, promoting, or recovering their essential protective functions.

28 September 2025 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PSPredrag Sikiric
Predrag Sikiric
SSSven Seiwerth
Sven Seiwerth
ASAnita Skrtic
Anita Skrtic
MSMario Staresinic
Mario Staresinic
SSSanja Strbe
Sanja Strbe
IDIvan Dobric
Ivan Dobric
The healing issue is a central, not completely understood, problem in pharmacology, approached by many concepts. One of the most well-known is Robert’s and Szabo’s concept of cytoprotection, which holds innate cell (epithelial (Robert), endothelial (Szabo)) integrity, protection/maintenance/reestablishing in the stomach to be translated to other organ therapy (cytoprotection→organoprotection) via cytoprotection agent’s effect. Thereby, we defend stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy, efficacy, pleiotropic beneficial effects along with high safety (LD1 not achieved) against Józwiak and collaborators’ review speculating its negative impact, speculation of angiogenesis toward tumorogenesis, increased NO and eNOS, toward damaging free radicals formation, and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease). Contrarily, in wound healing and general healing capabilities as reviewed, as a cytoprotective agent, and native cytoprotection mediator, BPC 157 controls angiogenesis and the NO-system healing functions, and counteracts the pathological presentation of neurodegenerative diseases in acknowledged animal models (i.e., Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease), and presents prominent anti-tumor potential, in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 resolved cornea transparency maintenance, cornea healing “angiogenic privilege” (vs. angiogenesis/neovascularization/tumorogenesis), does not produce corneal neovascularization, but rather opposes it, and per Folkman’s concept, it demonstrates anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 exhibits a distinctive effect on NO-level (increase vs. decrease), always combined with counteraction of free radicals formation, and in mice and rats, BPC 157 therapy counteracts Parkinson’s disease-like and Alzheimer’s disease-like disturbances. Thus, BPC 157 therapy means targeting angiogenesis and NO’s cytotoxic and damaging actions, but maintaining, promoting, or recovering their essential protective functions.

10 June 2025 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PSPredrag Sikiric
Predrag Sikiric
SSSven Seiwerth
Sven Seiwerth
ASAnita Skrtic
Anita Skrtic
MSMario Staresinic
Mario Staresinic
SSSanja Strbe
Sanja Strbe
IDIvan Dobric
Ivan Dobric
In this study, pharmacotherapies of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in animal studies were reviewed from the perspective of ACS/IAH as failed cytoprotection issues, as non-specific injuries, and from the point of view of the cytoprotection concept as resolution. Therefore, this review challenges the unresolved theoretical and practical issues of severe multiorgan failure, acknowledged significance in clinics, and resolving outcomes (i.e., open abdomen). Generally, the reported agents not aligned with cytoprotection align with current pharmacotherapy limitations and have (non-)confirmed effectiveness, mostly in only one organ, mild/moderate IAH, prophylactic application, and provide only a tentative resolution. Contrarily, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy, as a novel and relevant cytoprotective mediator having pleiotropic beneficial effects, simultaneously resolves many targets, resolving established disturbances, specifically compression/ischemia (grade III and grade IV), and decompression/advanced reperfusion. BPC 157 therapy rapidly activates collateral bypassing pathways, and, in ACS and IAH, and later, in reperfusion, there is a “bypassing key” (i.e., azygos vein direct blood flow delivery). This serves to counteract multiorgan and vessel failure, including lesions and hemorrhages in the brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract, thrombosis, peripherally and centrally, intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal and caval hypertension and aortal hypotension, occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome, advanced Virchow triad circumstances, and free radical formation acting as a membrane stabilizer and free radical scavenger. Likewise, not only in ACS/IAH resolving, but also in other occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes, this “bypassing key” could be an effect of the essential endothelial cytoprotective capacity of BPC 157 and a particular modulatory effect on the NO-system, and a rescuing impact on vasomotor tone.

1 December 2021 in Croatian Medical Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
DBDinko Bekić
Dinko Bekić
ŽHŽeljka Belošić Halle
Željka Belošić Halle
The management of patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis and SARS-CoV-2 presents a clinical challenge. We report on the first case of a patient with acute severe ulcerative colitis and mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who received rescue ...

25 March 2021 in Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DBDinko Bekić
Dinko Bekić
ZHZeljka Belosic Halle
Zeljka Belosic Halle
In the last year, we are facing a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 which causes a disease called COVID-19. In everyday practice, we encounter a number of issues related to IBD patients and COVID-19. So far, we have a lot of information regarding issues of IBD patients and COVID-19, but they are scattered across numerous scientific articles. In this review, we have made a synthesis of previous knowledge regarding the main issues such as IBD patients and risk of SARS-CoV-2infection/COVID-19, outcomes of IBD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, treatment of IBD patients in the pandemic era, endoscopy in the pandemic era, vaccination, and patient’s perception and well-being during the pandemic era. The main goal of our paper is to summarize current knowledge in this literature review.

13 February 2026
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
VBVanja Radisic Biljak
Vanja Radisic Biljak
ANAna Nikler
Ana Nikler
DBDinko Bekić
Dinko Bekić
BBBranko Bakula
Branko Bakula
Background: In our previous case-control retrospective pilot study we concluded that acute appendicitis may be successfully ruled in with high accuracy based on elevated WBCs and negative urine test strip in combination with presented clinical symptoms. We aimed to validate and assess the diagnostic accuracy of a newly proposed scoring system incorporating urinalysis. Participants and methods: From June 2018 to May 2020, a total of 176 adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis were prospectively enrolled in a diagnostic accuracy study. Results: The logistic regression on the entire group of patients revealed the significance of the addition of urine test strip results to standard laboratory variables (WBC and neutrophils%) only in the group of male patients. Conclusion: Future studies should focus on validating the newly proposed scoring system incorporating urinalysis in larger, multicenter cohorts. The ultimate goal remains the development of accurate, practical tools that support timely decision-making while minimizing unnecessary imaging and surgery.