Marija Vukojević

Dr. Marija Vukojević

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
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ZMZrinka Bukvić Mokos
Zrinka Bukvić Mokos
LKLucija Tomić Krsnik
Lucija Tomić Krsnik
KHKristijan Harak
Kristijan Harak
DTDanijela Marojević Tomic
Danijela Marojević Tomic
DPDeša Tešanović Perković
Deša Tešanović Perković
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
Vitamin D, a hormone synthesized in the skin through ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), plays a crucial role not only in calcium and phosphate homeostasis but also in regulating skin homeostasis and modulating immune responses. In keratinocytes, vitamin D is converted to its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D), which interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to regulate gene expression involved in proliferation, differentiation, and antimicrobial defense. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, and hidradenitis suppurativa. These conditions are associated with altered epidermal differentiation, immune imbalance, and microbial interactions, where vitamin D plays a modulatory role by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines, enhancing antimicrobial peptide synthesis, and restoring skin barrier integrity. Topical vitamin D analogues have shown therapeutic benefits in psoriasis, while emerging evidence supports the adjunctive role of vitamin D supplementation in acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis. Despite promising associations between low serum vitamin D levels and disease severity, a causal relationship remains uncertain. This review integrates molecular mechanisms with clinical findings, emphasizing the role of vitamin D in cutaneous physiology and pathology, and highlights the need for further research into targeted supplementation strategies in dermatological disorders.

13 December 2023 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
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NDNatasha Draca
Natasha Draca
EOEmma Oreskovic
Emma Oreskovic
RLRatimir Lazić
Ratimir Lazić
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
ARAndrea Radolović
Andrea Radolović
NVNenad Vukojević
Nenad Vukojević
Background and Objectives: This study reports a case of a 62-year-old patient experiencing a significant decline in vision over the past three months. The initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 in both eyes diminished to 20/200 in the right eye (RE) and counting fingers (CF) in the left eye (LE) within this timeframe. The patient was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer just one month before the significant vision deterioration. Materials and Methods: A thorough ophthalmologic examination revealed a notable progression of cataracts and the presence of subretinal fluid on the posterior pole, accompanied by choroidal thickening. The right eye exhibited multifocal, orange-pigmented, and elevated choroidal lesions, while the left eye’s fundus examination was impeded by dense cataracts. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed bilateral choroidal thickening with overlying folds and subretinal fluid, and ultrasound imaging of the choroidal lesions indicated moderate homogenous internal reflectivity. Results: The patient received a diagnosis of BDUMP (bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation), a paraneoplastic syndrome marked by simultaneous, bilateral, painless vision loss and the rapid onset of bilateral cataracts with serous retinal detachments. Despite cataract extraction, the expected visual recovery was not achieved (RE: CF; LE: 2/200, respectively). Plasmapheresis showed some success in stabilizing vision loss attributed to serous retinal detachments. Conclusions: BDUMP necessitates addressing the underlying malignancy for effective treatment. Left untreated, it can lead to near blindness within a year. The prognosis remains grim, with an average survival time ranging from 12 to 15.7 months from the time of diagnosis. Considering this case report, it is crucial to establish effective management plans and further investigate potential treatment methods and predictive markers centered around BDUMP. Collaboration between healthcare professionals and researchers is crucial in addressing the complexities of BDUMP, as the timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease remains a top priority.

1 January 2023
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
NVNenad Vukojevic
Nenad Vukojevic
AVAnte Vukovic
Ante Vukovic
BRBorna Rupcic
Borna Rupcic
MBMislav Blazevic
Mislav Blazevic
ABAnte Blazevic
Ante Blazevic

17 October 2023 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
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NDNatasha Draca
Natasha Draca
EOEmma Oreskovic
Emma Oreskovic
RLRatimir Lazić
Ratimir Lazić
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
ARAndrea Radolović
Andrea Radolović
NVNenad Vukojević
Nenad Vukojević
Background and Objectives: A 62-year-old patient presented with significant visual reduction in the last three months. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye (RE) dropped from 20/20 on both eyes to 20/200 on the RE and counting fingers (CF) on the left eye (LE); respectfully. She was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer 1 month ago. Materials and Methods: Examination revealed significant progression of cataracts and subretinal fluid on the posterior pole with choroidal thickening. Multifocal, orange-pigmented elevated choroidal lesions were observed in the RE, while the view of the left eye fundus was obstructed by cataracts. OCT revealed bilateral choroidal thickening with overlying folds and subretinal fluid and ultrasound of the choroidal lesions showed moderate homogenous internal reflectivity. Results: The patient was diagnosed with BDUMP (bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation), a paraneoplastic syndrome characterised by simultaneous, bilateral, painless vision loss and rapidly acquired bilateral cataracts with serous retinal detachments. Cataract extraction had not obtained the expected visual recovery (RE: CF; LE 2/200, respectfully). Plasmapheresis demonstrated some success by stabilizing vision loss obtained by serous retinal detachments. Conclusion: The focus of treating BDUMP is aimed at the underlying malignancy. Vision typically deteriorates to near blindness within a year from presentation. Overall prognosis is generally poor and mean survival is reported at 12-15.7 months from the time of ocular diagnosis.

9 August 2025 in Cosmetics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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KHKristijan Harak
Kristijan Harak
LKLucija Tomić Krsnik
Lucija Tomić Krsnik
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
BMBranka Marinović
Branka Marinović
ZMZrinka Bukvić Mokos
Zrinka Bukvić Mokos
Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia characterized by progressive frontotemporal hairline recession, frequently accompanied by eyebrow and body hair loss. Once considered rare, FFA is now recognized as the most common form of scarring alopecia, predominantly affecting postmenopausal women. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, hormonal, genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors have been implicated. Among environmental contributors, the potential role of cosmeceuticals has received increasing attention, with particular emphasis on sunscreen and facial moisturizers. Patch testing has identified sensitization to allergens frequently found in these products. However, due to numerous limitations in the existing studies, the association between cosmeceuticals and FFA remains controversial. As the prevalence of FFA continues to rise alongside widespread cosmetic product use, understanding their potential role in disease pathogenesis is essential. Current findings highlight the need for further investigation into environmental triggers.

14 June 2023 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
AVAnte Vukojević
Ante Vukojević
MVMarija Vukojević
Marija Vukojević
TJTomislav Jukić
Tomislav Jukić
IPIgor Petriček
Igor Petriček
KMKrešimir Mandić
Krešimir Mandić
NVNenad Vukojević
Nenad Vukojević
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited iron metabolism disorder. It is caused by an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from a C28Y8 HFE gene mutation. Mutations in the HFE gene may result in iron accumulation and oxidative stress in the retina, resulting in macular degeneration. This article describes two patients with HH who developed vision difficulties. Both patients were subjected to a retinal exam, multimodal imaging, and electrodiagnostic techniques, which revealed structural and functional degeneration of the central macula. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FA), and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) revealed changes at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the center of the macula, while optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed subfoveal accumulation of hyperreflective material at and below the RPE. The multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) confirmed a decreased cone response, whereas the full-field electroretinogram (ERG) revealed no pathological findings. In addition, patients underwent genetic testing, which ruled out the possibility of hereditary macular dystrophy. Considering macula findings and the nature of the patients' primary illness, we believe that the higher concentration and accumulation of iron and photoreceptor metabolic products have led to dysfunction in the RPE, which has led to morphological and functional changes in the macula.