Faculty Of Medicine In Skopje Research Articles

Recruitment of Marrow Donors in the Non-governmental Sector of the Republic of North Macedonia, 2022

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow transplantation is a well-established lifesaving treatment procedure for many patients with various diseases, such as blood cell cancers (leukemia), some severe hematological diseases (aplastic anemia) and some rare diseases, as well as immune deficiency disorders. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a potentially curative therapy for various hematologic disorders and even the only curative treatment for some diseases (e.g., myelodysplastic syndromes). As an alternative donor strategy, in patients lacking a human leukocyte antigen-matched donor or haploidentical donor, mismatched unrelated donors offer the option of using HSCT in this group of patients. Since the establishment of the first registry in the world for recruitment of unrelated bone marrow donors, the number of newly formed registries has increased over the years. In our country, in addition to the government-funded registry, housed at the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, an additional non-governmental registry was established, Scientific Foundation SPIROSKI - Marrow Donor Registry (MK-SFSMDR). This will contribute to the increase of the number of newly registered donors in the Republic of North Macedonia and will be a great benefit for the patients searching for a bone marrow transplantation. AIM: We aimed to present the establishment of the first MDR in the non-governmental sector of the Republic of North Macedonia and the recruitment strategies of new donors. METHODS: The core activity was the creation, realization, and implementation of the Marrow Donors Recruitment Program. The constructed program for increasing the awareness of the population about HSCT and the importance of becoming a marrow donor encompasses the following activities: (1) creation of a web portal for bone MDR in English, Macedonian, and Albanian language; (2) application of standards from the World Marrow Donor Association for educational material preparation and informed consent creation; (3) composing printed and electronic materials for recruitment activities; (4) organization of public debates for marrow donation in governmental and non-governmental sectors; (5) inclusion of students and other non-governmental organizations for recruitment and registration of marrow donors; and (6) submission the obtained results from Macedonian donors and the donors from other communities (Albanians, Roma, Serbs, Turks, Vlachs, and others) in the database for marrow donors. RESULTS: In 2022, 988 submissions from marrow donors were registered, from which 678 (68.62%) were females and 310 (31.37%) were males. The biggest number of submissions for marrow donors are in the age group of 26–40 years (567 or 57.38%), followed by the age group of 18–25 (270 or 27.32%) and the age group of 41–55 (151 or 15.28%). The most efficient method for new submissions was through social networks, 538 or 54.45% out of 988 registered donors. The second was through word of mouth (200 or 20.24%), the third was onsite marrow donor recruitment actions (145 or 14.68%), followed by information from the websites (19 or 1.92%), and other (86 or 8.70%). From the total Macedonian population (2,062,044), we were able to recruit 988 marrow donors, which is 0.048% of the population. The biggest recruitment percentage was in the Skopje region (0.067%), followed by the Pelagonia region (0.059%) and the Southwest region (0.043%). The lowest participation was in the Polog region (0.011%). The biggest percentage of recruited marrow donors (988) were Macedonians (94.13%), and the rest of them were from the minorities: Albanians (1.92), Turks (0.71%), Roma (0.1%), Croats (0.2%), Bosniaks (0.51%), Vlachs (0.81%), Serbs (1.21%), Macedonian Muslims (0%), and others (0.4%). CONCLUSION: With the establishment of the SFS-MDR (MK-SFSMDR), one of the goals of SFS was achieved, which, together with the publication of scientific journals, enables and contributes to the scientific research in the field of the main tissue-compatible complex and transplantation of cells, tissues, and organs. The results will be used by patients who need bone marrow treatment in our country, in neighboring countries, and around the world.

Moguća povezanost parodontopatije i prostatitisa - pilot studija

Introduction: Prostatitis is one of the most chronic diseases which is often associated with periodontitis. The serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels can be elevated in a non-malignant condition such as symptomatic and asymptomatic prostatitis. Similarity in the inflammatory etiopathogenesis of these diseases is evident through the presence of Gram negative bacteremia, which in turn may be the possible link between these two conditions. Aim: To estimate the possible association between chronic periodontitis and prostatitis, evaluating the PSA levels in patients with moderate and severe periodontitis. Material and methods: 40 patients with prostatitis and elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels (≥ 4ng/ml) that participated in the study were hospitalized at the University Urology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the levels of periodontal clinical attachment. First group of 20 patients with Clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 3mm, moderate periodontitis and other group of 20 patients with CAL ≥ 5mm, severe periodontitis. Dental plaque index (DPI), Index of gingival inflammation (IGI), Gingival bleeding index (GBI) and Clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded and an assessment of PSA values was done and correlation to periodontal parameters, respectively. Differences in means, as statistically significant, were analyzed using Student's ttest. The relationship between PSA scores with all clinical parameters was done using Pearson's correlation coefficient technique. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted, (p<0.05) between periodontal index values (DPI, IGI, GBI, CAL) and PSA levels within the two examined groupsHigher PSA levels were recordedin patients with severe periodontitis than inthose with moderate periodontitis. Pearson coefficient test among these periodontal indices (DPI, IGI, GBI and CAL) and PSA levels in two examined groups showed no statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: Patients with severe periodontitis were found to have higher PSA levels than those with moderate periodontitis. The clinical parameters of periodontitis and elevated PSA levels indicated a probable link between the two diseases.

Identification of the microflora from the oral cavity of exotic snakes kepth as pets

In recent years, snakes have become suitable pets for people with little spare time. By buying these animals people ignore the fact that they carry many microorganisms that are pathogenic for humans. The idea of ​​this study was to identify the microorganisms from the oral cavity of exotic snakes kept as pets in the Republic of North Macedonia, which can help in the treatment of bite infections if they occur. The study comprised 30 snakes of 9 species, from 3 families of non-venomous snakes: Pythonidae, Boidae and Colubridae. Snakes are part of the 5 largest collections of exotic snakes in the Republic of North Macedonia. Only one swab from the oral cavity was taken from each snake. The brushes were cultured and microscopically analyzed at the Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. From 59 isolated microorganisms from the oral cavity of 30 exotic snakes, 37.3% were Gram-positive bacteria, 61.01% were Gram-negative bacteria and 1.69% were fungi. Of the total number of microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant with 27.11%, Providencia rettgeri / Proteus vulgaris with 18.64% and KONS / Micrococcus luteus with 16.94%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present in all three snake families, with 62.5% of the snake in the fam. Pythonidae; 50% in the fam. Boidae and 50% in the fam. Colubridae. The isolate Providencia rettgeri / Proteus vulgaris was most frequently found in the fam. Colubridae with 71.43%, followed by fam. Pythonidae with 12.5%, but was not isolated in any specimen of the fam. Boidae. The microbiome of the non-venomous snakes is composed of Gram-positive bacteria in healthy snakes, but also in snakes kept in inadequate hygienic conditions. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant, of which the most significant was the presence of multiple drug resistance Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Snakes as pets require proper knowledge of terms and conditions.

Prof. Aleksandar Josifovich Ignjatovski, Founder and First Director of the Clinic for Internal Medicine and the First Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, R. Macedonia.

Aleksandar J. Ignjatovski was born in the Smolensk Region, Russia, on 18.03.1875. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in St. Petersburg in 1899 where he started specialization in internal medicine and continued in Berlin, Heidelberg, Munich and Paris. In 1905 he was elected assistant professor in St. Petersburg, continued as an associate professor in Odessa in 1908 and a full-time professor in 1912 in Warsaw. During the October Revolution, he was the Head of the Internal Clinic in Rostov, and in 1920 he emigrated to Belgrade. In 1922 he was appointed full professor and Director of the First Internal Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, which he established, developed and managed until his retirement in 1946. In 1948 he moved to Skopje as a full professor and first Director of the Internal Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. He studied the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and first proved it experimentally, and published a paper in 1908, indicating that it was associated with higher blood cholesterol level. He also dealt with immunobiology and infectious diseases, in particular tuberculosis and tetanus. Prof. A. Ignjatovski was an excellent clinician, teacher and scientist, who published over 80 papers. His most important textbooks are "Clinical Semiotics and Symptomatic Therapy", in two editions, in Russian (1919) and in Serbian (1929-37), and "The Basics of Internal Propedeutics" in three volumes, published in Skopje in 1952, 1954 and 1963. The work of Prof. A. Ignjatovski, as a leading clinician and a great teacher and scientist, is embedded in the development of internal medicine, and medicine in general, in Russia, Serbia and Macedonia. The bright memorial of the founder and first director of the Internal Medicine Clinic and the first Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje has been permanently incorporated in the history of medicine in R. Macedonia. Prof. A. Ignjatovski died on 18.08.1955.

Lecturers from Macedonia Elected for the First Time to the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje in the Period 1961-63.

Abstract Aim: To present a group of young doctors from R. Macedonia who were elected as lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine (FM) in Skopje, R. Macedonia, in the period 1961-63. Method: A retrospective study based on archive materials, encyclopaedias and jubilee publications of the FM and Faculty of Dentistry in Skopje, other relevant sources of information, and a review of the relevant literature. Results: The Skopje FM was founded in 1947 and the first meeting of the Teachers’ Council of the Faculty was held on March 17, 1947. The first generation of 153 students was enrolled in the autumn of 1947 and the first lecture was delivered on November 3, 1947. Besides 15 doctors from R. Macedonia - faculty staff, who had been appointed in the period from 1947-54, and a group of 24 lecturers from R. Macedonia who had been elected assistant professors in the period from 1955-60, an additional group of 17 Macedonian lecturers had been elected for the first time in the period from 1961-63. Those 56 pioneers and coryphaei of medicine in R. Macedonia played important roles in the establishing and/or initial and further development of a number of the faculty departments/chairs, institutes and clinics within the newly established FM in Skopje in 1947 and in the first 15-20 years of its initial development, until 1960s and later. Conclusion: The Skopje FM, founded in 1947, played a crucial role in the education of medical professionals, in improving the poor health status of the population and the overall further development of the health system and provision of health care to the population of R. Macedonia. The contribution of the third group of 17 lecturers from R. Macedonia in furthering the development of the Skopje FM, during the 1960s and later, was very important.

Macedonian Medical Association – Seventy Years from Its Establishment, 1945-2015

AIM:To present the phases of development and activities over the 70-year period of existence and work of the Macedonian Medical Association, from its establishment in 1945 to 2015.METHODS:A retrospective study based on available archive materials, encyclopaedias and other sources of information and reviews of the relevant literature, and personal experiences and observations of the author.RESULTS:Macedonian Medical Association was established on August 12, 1945, with science and health educational mission and program. Dr Boris Spirov was elected as the first president of the Association, one of the main initiators and facilitators of activities in health care sector, including the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje in March 1947. Over the past 70 years, the Association is the main carrier and has a key role and contribution in continuing medical education, vocational and scientific advancement of medical staff and improvement the dignity and reputation of the medical profession. The journal of the Association Macedonian Medical Review has contributed to spreading and advancement of knowledge and skills of modern medicine, as well as presenting professional and scientific achievements of physicians in the past 70 years. Macedonian Medical Association is a member of the World Medical Association and many other international associations and organisations contributing to international collaboration in education and science and promoting the Republic of Macedonia in Europe and worldwide.CONCLUSION:Macedonian Medical Association over the 70-year period of its existence has been one of the pillars and lighthouse in the healthcare system in the Republic of Macedonia with great contribution to the advancement of medical and related sciences and continuing medical education, strengthening of health services and health care for the population and overall socio-economic development of the Republic of Macedonia during the past 70 years.

A case of a ten-year old girl with dominantly inherited Familial Mediterranean fever in Republic of Macedonia

The Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF, MIM249100) is an autoimflammatory genetic disease characterized with recurrent painful attacks in the abdomen, chest or joints, usually accompanied with high body temperature. It is classically inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is associated with mutations of the MEFV gene, coding for the protein pyrin. More than 140 mutations of the MEFV gene are defined worldwide. Despite the progress in establishing reliable tests practical for routine use, as much as 20% of the patients with FMF remain without a detectable mutation in the MEFV gene. This is the main reason why the diagnosis of FMF remains still a clinical one, according to Tel Hashomer criteria. A 10-year old girl admitted to the Clinic of Pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje for unexplained fever. After numerous laboratory analyses and specialist consultations were done, genetic testing for FMF was requested. The presence of an heterozygous mutation E148Q was confirmed at the Institute for Immunobiology and Human Genetics using a PCR based, reverse hybridization method. Administration of colchicine, the therapy of choice, in a dose of 1.5 mg/day, lead to complete resolution of the symptoms within some days following commencement. Although the disease is classically inherited in a recessive manner, some atypical cases of autosomal dominant inheritance are described. Our patient may be another example supporting the unusual dominant inheritance, since the heterozygous state for the E148Q mutation was the only positive finding in the genotyping of the 12 most frequent MEFV mutations.

History and Development of Anaesthesiology (With Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine) in the Republic of Macedonia

To present a chronological overview of the most important events and actors that have marked the history of anaesthesiology and intensive treatment in R. Macedonia since its beginnings in the 1950s. Retrospective study based on archive materials, published literature and jubilee publications, as well as the memories of individuals who have worked in the field of anaesthesiology in the past period. Between the two World Wars the first anaesthesia procedures were handled by surgeons. After World War II, the development of anaesthesia in R. Macedonia could be divided into two periods: before 1965 and after 1965. Before 1965 anaesthesia was mainly given by technicians trained on courses, and after this year anaesthesiology was taken over by anaesthesiologists who had specialized at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. In 1985 the number of anaesthesiologists was 100, and today it exceeds 250. The most important figures in the history of Macedonian anaesthesiology are: Dr. Risto Ivanovski, who worked from 1954-78, and Prof. Dr. Vladimir Andonov, who worked as an anaesthesiologist from 1965-99. Both of them are doyens who contributed a lot to the development of the anaesthesiology service and education of anaesthesiologists in R. Macedonia. Intensive treatment had started in 1955, but in real terms it has been performed since 1966, when artificial ventilators were introduced. The modern Intensive Care Department was opened at the Surgical Clinic in 1995 and it was followed in other hospitals in the state. The Department of Anaesthesiology has existed since 1975, and it has made a huge contribution to the education of professionals who apply modern principles in emergency medicine and intensive care. From modest beginnings in the 1950s, anaesthesiology today in R. Macedonia has developed well organized activity that successfully follow the trends of modern medicine in the field of anesthesiology, resuscitation, intensive care and pain treatment.

Macedonian Medical Master of Science Theses in Public Health (MScPH) Defended in 2012

We present English abstracts of MSc theses in Public Health (MScPH) defended in 2012 at the Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. English summaries are published as they are translated by authors and included in the final version of defended MScPH. Macedonian Medical Master of Science theses are deposited in the Central Medical Library and National and University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski” in Skopje.At the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje 17 MSc theses in Public Health there were defended in 2012, five of them are not deposited in the Central Medical Library. All deposited MScPH have abstracts in Macedonian and English language, with key words, mentors and co mentors. Editorial Board does not take any responsibility either for the content, nor the quality of the abstracts. Primary responsibility for the quality of the MSc theses belongs to the mentors, to the institutions they are representing, and to the Vice-Dean of science. Defended MScPH can be cited as they are published in this and in the previous reports.

Who is Who - Current Scientific Impact of the Medical Staff Affiliated at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University "Ss Kiril and Metodij", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate current individual scientific impact of the academic staff employed at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University “Ss Kiril and Metodij”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia and to create a list of Top Ten Scientists. Material and methods. One hundred thirty nine members of the academic staff employed at the institutes, Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia were analysed with

Current Scientific Impact of the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University "Ss Kiril and Metodij", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Background. Institutes at the Faculty of Medicine in the Republic of Macedonia are constitutive parts with integrated educational, scientific and health care protection activities. They are included in all educational programs with around 50% of theoretical and practical lectures, and are included in the health care protection in the ambulatory-polyclinic activities. Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate current scientific impact of the academic staff employed at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University “Ss Kiril and Metodij”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia and to suggest more effective and productive activities of the affiliated scientists to these institutions. Material and methods. Twelve institutes at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia with 140 authors were analysed with Harzing’s Publish or Perish software for their current scientific impact (August, 2009).

Macedonian Medical Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Theses Defended in 2008

We present English abstracts of PhD theses defended in 2012 at the Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. English summaries are published as they are translated by authors and included in the final version of defended PhD. Macedonian Medical Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) theses are deposited in the Central Medical Library and National and University Library St. Kliment Ohridski in Skopje. At the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje 21 PhD theses there were defended in 2012, four of them without English abstract (19.0%): two from the University Clinic of Digestive Surgery, one from the University Children's Hospital, and one from University Clinic of Rheumatology. Eleven PhDs are without Key words (52.4%), and eight of them are with structured abstracts (38.1%). One PhD is even without mentor (University Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery). Editorial Board does not take any responsibility either for the content, nor the quality of the abstracts. Primary responsibility for the quality of the PhD theses belongs to the mentors, to the institutions they are representing, and to the Vice-Dean of science. They should be more actively involved in the preparation of Doctor of Philosophy theses in order international standards to be achieved. Defended PhDs can be cited as they are published in this and in the previous reports.

Report on Self-Evaluation of the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (2001-2002)

Background. The self-evaluation is a process that provides a realistic reflection on the work and perspectives of a higher level educational institution, such as the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. Thus, it is necessary to identify the positive and especially the negative elements of the overall functioning of the organization in order to suggest measures and professional staff to accomplish them.

Sixty Years Faculty of Medicine in the Republic of Macedonia (1947-2007)

Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia was founded in 1947 year with its educational and health activities which should lead to improvement of the health care in the country. In the past sixty years Faculty of Medicine changed its structure, position, and the role several times in order to fulfill the needs of the society for continous increase of quantity and quality of tertiary health care, education of medical students, as well as research in the biomedical fields. Today, the organizational structure of the Medical Faculty consists of 12 institutes and 3 teaching bases in the pre-clinical department and 25 clinics, 3 institutes and 7 teaching bases which take active part in both, education and scientific activities. Altogether there are 33 departments which perform the entire educational (undergraduate, postgraduate, specialization and sub-specialization), scientific and providing health activities. These 33 departments are actively involved in the realization of the study programmes, not only at the Medical Faculty, but the Faculty of Stomatology, Pharmaceutical Faculty, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Physical Culture as well. Medical Faculty is a member of the European and the global family of institutions of this kind.