Macedonian Academy Of Sciences And Arts Research Articles

Macedonian Association of Medical Editors Initiatives to Advance the Integrity of Science and Publishing.

Background:In the early 20th century some unfavorable conditions and trends in science and publishing in R. Macedonia and other countries in the South Eastern Europe (SEE) Region were recognized and it became necessary to act to protect the integrity of science and publishing. The increasing number of scientific journals in biomedicine and published papers in them has not always been matched by increased quality in publishing due to lack of information and education of the scientific community, especially of the young scientists, about ethical principles in research and publishing. In addition, some unethical behavior, fraud and attempts by experts for increasing their scientific productivity in research and publishing their results in scientific journals was recognized.Objective:To present the initiatives, chronology of activities and leading role of Academician Momir Polenakovic towards the establishment and initial development of the Macedonian Association of Medical Editors (MAME) which has a mission for advancing the integrity of science and publishing.Method:A retrospective study based on review of the relevant literature, archive materials, minutes from organizational meetings and workshops and other documentation related to activities in the initial process for establishing and defining the mission and objectives of MAME.Results:The expansion of higher education and inappropriate implementation of the Bologna Declaration and the European Credit Transfer System in R. Macedonia from 2004/2005 contributed to a decline of the study criteria for obtaining higher education diplomas and postgraduate education degrees, as well as numerous frauds in scientific research and publishing activities in biomedicine and other fields. The first meeting of the Initiative Board for organizing an SEE Conference on research and publishing integrity and a workshop for editors of scientific journals was held in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) on Nov. 1st, 2013. In April 2014 two preparatory meetings of the Organizational Board were held and the Workshop for editors of scientific journals and the Constitutional meeting for establishing MAME were held on Apr. 25, 2014. The first President of MAME (with a two-year mandate) was Academician Momir Polenakovic and in 2016 he was elected as the first Honorary President of MAME.Conclusion:The establishment of MAME in April 2014 was an important initiative and strategic decision toward raising awareness among editors of scientific journals and other stakeholders for preventing scientific and publishing misconduct and for educating the scientific community for creating an ethical research environment.

Sixth Congresses of the Macedonian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) - Stimulus for the Development of Nephrology in N. Macedonia.

The Macedonian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) was established on September 1, 1992 in order to stimulate the development of nephrology and to unite experts from all professions interested in the research and treatment of kidney patients. Momir H. Polenakovic was elected President of MSNDTAO.The First congress of MSNTAO was held in Ohrid from October, 7 to 10, 1993 in hotel "Desaret" under the auspices of the first President of R. Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov. During the Congress, the Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was formed on October 9, 1993. The idea of cooperation with the Department of Nephrology from the Ege University, Izmir, R. Turkey was promoted. Some of the presented papers were published in the Proceedings "Nephrology '93" as a supplement to the Macedonian medical review. The "Doctrine for performing nephrological activity in the Republic of Macedonia" was also promoted.The Second congress of MSNDTAO was held in Struga, R. Macedonia from September, 6 to 10, 1997 together with the Second BANTAO Congress. Selected papers were printed in the Macedonian Medical Review.The Third congress of MSNDTAO was held from May, 30 to June 2, 2001 in Skopje, at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). Proceedings of papers was also published.In 2011 M. H. Polenakovic was elected Honorary President of MSNDTAO for life, and Goce Spasovski was elected the current President of MSNDTAO.The Fourth congress of MSNDTAO was held in Ohrid from June, 21 to 24, 2012 together with the Fourth Meeting of the South-Eastern European Pediatric Nephrology Working Group (SEEPNWG).The Fifth congress of MSNDTAO was held from June, 9 to 12, 2016 in Skopje, at MASA together with the 6th Southeastern European Pediatric Nephrology Working Group (SEPNWG) Meeting and IPNA (International Pediatric Nephrology Association) Teaching Course. The VIII Macedonian-Croatian Nephrology Days were also held during the Congress.The Sixth congress of MSNDTAO was held from September, 26 to 29, 2019 along with the 15th BANTAO Congress, in Skopje, at MASA. The Congress also marked the 80th anniversary of the birth of M. H. Polenakovic.Apart from the participants from R. Macedonia, the congress was attended by renowned nephrologists from Europe and the world.A novelty of the last congresses was the organization of 9 CME (Continuing Medical Education) courses with famous lecturers. CME courses supported by the ERA-EDTA and / or the ISN were as follows: 2005 - Ohrid (BANTAO), 2006 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2009 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2010 - Skopje (ERA-EDTA - ESAO), 2011 Skopje (ERA-EDTA - EUTox group), 2012 - Ohrid (MSNDTAO), 2014 -Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2016 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2018 - Skopje (MSNDTAO - ERA-EDTA & ISN), 2019 - Skopje (BANTAO - ISN & ERA-EDTA).In addition to the congresses, MSNDTAO has held meetings with nephrological associations from the neighboring countries as Croatia, Serbia, Albania and Kosovo.The congresses of MSNDTAO contributed to the introduction and education of doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney patients. They were a strong stimulus for the development of nephrology in R. Macedonia and beyond.

Artificial Organs 2000 ESAO.

Artificial Organs 2000 Satellite Symposium of European Society for Artificial Organs (ESAO) was organized by the Macedonian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) and the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) on November 25-26, 2000 on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Department of Nephrology of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.The main topics of this symposium were: Blood-purification techniques, Artificial Kidney, Metabolic- and Cardiac-Assist Systems as well as Biomaterials to be used for Artificial Organs.H. Klinkmann (Glasgow, United Kingdom), D. Falkenhagen (Krems, Austria), U. Baurmeister (Wuppertal, Germany), V. Bonomini, S. Stefoni (Bologna, Italy), R. Vanholder (Ghent, Belgium), S. Stiller (Aachen, Germany), H. Mann, H. Melzer (Aachen, Germany), J. Pop-Jordanov, N. Pop-Jordanova (Skopje, R. Macedonia), B. Stegmayr (Umea, Sweden), M. Mydlik, K. Derzisova, O. Racz, A. Sipulova, J. Boldizsar, E. Lovasova, M. Hribikova (Kosice, Slovak Republic), A. Jörres (Berlin, Germany), M. Polenakovic (Skopje, R. Macedonia), J. Vienken (Bad Homburg, Germany), S. Bowry (Bad Homburg, Germany), E. Piskin (Ankara, Turkey), J. Klinkmann, W. Schimmelpfennig, H. Lantow, W. Rigger. (Teterow, Germany), A. Sikole (Skopje, R. Macedonia), A. Oncevski, P. Dejanov, V. Gerasimovska, M. Polenakovic (Skopje, R. Macedonia), J. Wojcicki (Warsaw, Poland), K. Affeld (Berlin, Germany), G. Rakhorst et al. (Groningen, The Netherlands), Z. Mitrev (Skopje, R. Macedonia), S. Kedev, G. Guagliumi, O. Valsecchi, M. Tespili (Skopje, R. Macedonia, Bergamo, Italy) have presented their papers at the Symposium. The presentations provoked a fruitful discussion and it was concluded that they should be published.The papers were published in the International Journal of Artificial Organs of the European Society for Artificial Organs (ESAO) as a special issue on "Artificial Organs 2000 ESAO Satellite Symposium -Skopje, R. Macedonia", Guest Editors: M. H. Polenakovic, Skopje and J. Vienken, Bad Homburg; Vol. 25, No. 5, 2002.

A Scientific Symposium "Artificial Organs Today: From in Vitro Assessment to Human Therapies" on the Occasion of the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

On the occasion of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) organized a one day symposium titled: "Artificial Organs Today: From in vitro assessment to human therapies", on September 28, 2007 at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The following sessions were held: Artificial Organs in Front of the Ageing Populations; System Requirements for Artificial Organ Technology; Tools for Artificial Organ Technology; Extracorporeal Blood Circuits in Organ Replacement Therapies; Treatment Options for Blood Purification Therapies. Presentation were delivered by: Horst Klinkmann, Germany; Jörg Vienken, Germany; Jens Hartmann, Austria; Udo Losert, Austria; Jan Wojcicki, Poland; Helmut Mann and Siegfried Stiller, Germany; Beat Walpoth, Switzerland; Juan F. del Cañizo, Spain; Borce Georgievski, Macedonia; Bernd Stegmayr, Sweden; Momir Polenakovic, Macedonia; Petar Kes, Croatia; Aleksandar Sikole, Macedonia; Wolfgang Ramlow, Germany; Dieter Falkenhagen, Austria. These meetings are significant for the application and development of the artificial organs in patients.

Congress Report from Highly Scientific Nephrology Congresses in the Balkans, 15th Bantao and 6th MSNDTAO Congress.

In the period from 26th until 29th of September 2019, the 15th BANTAO Congress (Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs) in conjunction with the 6th Congress of the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) was held in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, hosted by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). MSNDTAO was created in 1992 and the First Congress of the MSNDTAO was held on 9th October 1993 in Ohrid when, also, the Balkan Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was established, as the only professional association of this kind in the Balkans and Southern Europe. Since then, MSNDTAO has been very active in education and collaboration with BANTAO, the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA) and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). The 15th BANTAO and the 6th MSNDTAO Congress were highly professional events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Academician Momir Polenakovic from the Republic of North Macedonia, one of the founders of BANTAO and MSNDTAO, who was unselfishly dedicated to the education and guidance for many generations of young doctors in this region. This year's Congress was endorsed by the ERA-EDTA, and supported by the ISN. On the first day of the Congress, a European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) session was held, in which the Chair of the ERBP Working Group, Prof. Dr. Jonathan Fox gave a comprehensive insight of the purpose and aims of ERBP, the methods used for their achievement, and an overview of the recently produced and guidelines in development. The second day was organized in four sessions: Clinical nephrology and renal registries; CKD Diagnosis, comorbidities and treatment; Kidney transplantation and Acute and chronic renal failure management. On the third congress day, the ISN CME Course with ERA-EDTA endorsement was held. The course was entitled "Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression and complications/Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression - current perspective" and was chaired by Prof. Dr. Caskey Fergus and Prof. Dr. Serhan Tuglular. On the last Congress day, before the official closure and the best wishes from the President of the Congress, Prof. Dr. Goce Spasovski, a session about CKD and the renal replacement therapy complications was held. This event was of an exceptional importance for the region, considering the charred international achievements and the most up-to-date methods used in the Nephrology field, bringing out continuous quality improvement in the treatment of patients with renal diseases.

ICGEB Workshop on Next Generation Diagnostics, 22/03/2018-24/03/2018, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.

More than 200 participants from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America attended the two days ICGEB Workshop on Next Generation Diagnostics, 22/03/2018-24/03/2018, at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. The meeting provided an overview of the current and future use of next generation sequencing (NGS), proteomics and other high-throughput technologies in the diagnostic setup of malignant, inherited and communicable diseases. In addition, considerable emphasis was placed on the potential use of these techniques for disease prognostication, patient stratification and monitoring responses to therapy. Specific topics included NGS-based diagnostics of solid tumors, hematological malignancies, inherited and infectious diseases, proteomic-based approaches for biomarker discovery, predictive biomarkers for personalized treatment strategies, and bioinformatic analysis of NGS data. The meeting also provided a unique platform for fruitful discussions between internationally recognized experts and young researchers from developing countries, providing new perspectives and ideas on broader implementation of these techniques for personalized management and care.

ON THE EVE OF THE GREAT JUBILEE – 50 YEARS OF THE MACEDONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS 1967 – 2017

This year the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) marks and celebrates a great jubilee – 50 years of existence and work of our highest institution in the field of sciences and arts.

ON THE EVE OF THE GREAT JUBILEE – 50 YEARS OF THE MACEDONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS 1967 – 2017

This year the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) marks and celebrates a great jubilee – 50 years of existence and work of our highest institution in the field of sciences and arts.

5th Rare Disease South Eastern Europe (SEE) Meeting, Skopje, Macedonia (November 15th, 2016).

The fifth SEE meeting on rare diseases (RDs) was held in Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) the November 11th, 2016. Several lectures dealt with mucopolysaccharidosis, glycogen storage diseases and the possibilities for their diagnosis and treatment. Enzyme replacement treatment (ERT), its availability, effects (or the lack of it) on the brain, and further prospects of eventual gene treatment were comprehensively exposed and discussed. Special accent was on Gaucher, Morquio IVA, Hunter and the audience was given new knowledge on the complexities of diagnosis and treatment. A block of lectures on rare renal diseases was also impressive. From renal stones, their molecular and genetic mechanisms to different forms of CAKUT the use of NGS and other molecular methods in diagnosis of RDs. Mitochondrial diseases, the novelties and importance of early discovery were comprehensively exposed. Special lecture was given on the complement system. Endocrine disruptors, microprolactinomas were also the topic of the meeting. A rather reach session of posters was also presented.

4th Rare Disease South Eastern Europe (See) Meeting Skopje, Macedonia (November 14th, 2015).

The 4th meeting on rare diseases in South Eastern Europe (SEE) was held in Skopje, at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) on the 14(th) of November 2015. The focuses were metabolic, rare brain diseases as well as the rare dysmorphic syndrome. The authors of the report are particularly keen on stating that one of the main goals of the meeting, namely to help the treatment of patients with rare disease has begun to bear fruits. The talk on an iminosugar-based pharmacological chaperone compound as a drug candidate for the treatment of GM1-gangliosidosis and mucopolysaccharidosis IVB (Morquio disease type B) was enlightening. To date, there is no treatment available to be offered to patients, but chaperones lead mutated proteins to adopt a native-like conformation and to successfully traffic to their normal cellular destination. DORPHAN is developing an iminosugar-based pharmacological chaperone compound for the treatment of GM1-gangliosidosis and mucopolysaccharidosis IVB. A talk on recent developments in the laboratory diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) was particularly interesting, covering the laboratory diagnosis of the MPS diseases by a strategy of clinical examination, biochemical analysis of urine samples, enzyme tests and genetic characterization of underlying mutations. New techniques were developed, including analysis of urinary glycosaminoglycans with tandem mass spectrometry, miniaturized enzyme tests or novel synthetic substrates for enzyme assays using mass spectrometry detection of products using dried blood spots. Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these methods in newborn screening programs have been demonstrated. Neuromuscular RDs, and especially familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) were a topic of the Bulgarian colleagues. Diagnosis, screening and the role of microglia were also topics of particular interest. In summary, this year RD meeting was exciting and productive on a wide range of diseases and on a novel insights on diagnosis and treatment. New methods are expanding our capabilities for a fast and precise diagnosis. Novel knowledge offers better distinction on whom to treat with which medications (e.g. steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome). Novel diseases or variants are published (segmental overgrowth). The authors of the report are particularly keen on stating that one of the main goals of the meeting, namely to help the treatment of patients with rare disease has begun to bear fruits. Namely, the Health Fund of Macedonia for the first time treats the patients with Gaucher's disease. We are hopeful that the number of patients treated for Gaucher's disease and the number of treated patients with other treatable RDs diseases will continue to grow.

International Nephrology Days/ Меѓународни Нефролошки Денови

Abstract The International Nephrology Days in honor of the 75th anniversary of Academician Momir Polenakovic and 50 years of his scientific work were held in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) on 26 and 27 September 2014. Organizers of the meeting were the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO). The days were programmed with the VII Macedonian-Croatian Nephrology Meeting and the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Course on "Renal Replacement Therapy - when & how - update on the outcome and cost-efficacy" organized by the MSNDTAO in cooperation with the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA). Prominent academicians, researchers and nephrologists from Europe and neighboring countries contributed with their lectures and discussion at this scientific event. On September 26, 2014 the opening talk was given by Acad. V. Kambovski, President of the MASA, about the Life and Work of Academician Momir Polenakovic. In honor of his anniversary and valuable scientific opus, during the meeting Acad. Momir Polenakovic was awarded with Certificate of the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA) for his significant role in the development of nephrology in the Balkan region and couple of other diplomas and acknowledgement. Prof. Polenakovic is founder of the MSNDTAO and his lifetime honorary president.

Publishing Integrity and Good Practices in Editing in Biomedicine

The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA), held a scientific workshop for journal editors in biomedicine: "Publishing integrity and good practices in editing in biomedicine" on April 25, 2014 in MASA, Skopje. The meeting looked into old problems and new situations in editing and publishing, with emphasis on the situation in developing countries. This global knowledge-based society is founded on the results obtained from scientific research. The data from basic research in developed countries contribute in a quite substantial manner to the newly added economic value. One of the main reasons for underdevelopment in South Eastern Europe (SEE) is certainly a low or non-existent contribution of scientific research in the newly added economic value. This has largely to do with the perception of the political elites which simply lack the insight on the crucial importance of science in development. In the long term this leads to societies in which there are distortions in the understanding of the most basic values. Academic publishing has experienced tremendous growth: so far there are at least 50 million scientific articles. Interestingly, publishing in developing countries has experienced a rate of growth higher than in developed countries. However, this is not the case with the Balkan countries. The meeting looked at some old and some newly emerging problems in editing and publishing. First, the high cost for universities and researchers to purchase journals adversely affects both publishing and editing. In developing countries the high cost of purchasing scientific literature is an almost insurmountable problem in spite of the fact that some publishing companies offer discounted fees. Open access journals in South Eastern European (SEE) countries are hardly achievable as this also incurs costs that have to be covered in some way or other. The peer review process has the fundamental difficulty that reviewers are in the situation of a Procrustean bed, tending to accept reports which support the reviewer's concepts of thinking and, like Procrustes, cutting everything else out. Authorship is often a contentious issue, as undeserved authors appear on the list of authors. Some principles are now a norm in academic publishing. This applies to the declaration of a conflict of interest, the consent of the patient and the approval of the Ethical Board of the institution. This global informational technological revolution has, unfortunately, led to largely widespread and increasingly sophisticated deviations: plagiarism, data fabrication and data falsification as forms of scientific misconduct. Those events are now more widespread than in the past. Luckily new tools to track them are much better than previously. The race for perfect publishing integrity and for the best good practices in editing in biomedicine is on. New and old challenges will be met. The benevolent and caring society, educated professionals and an enlightened public remain essential preconditions. The wealth of nations depends on R&D and consequently on academic publishing.

National Reference Centre for Genomics and Proteomics — Macprogen

The “National Reference Centre for Genomics and Proteomics” (MACPROGEN) was financed by the European Commission within the FP7 Capacities Work Program for a period of 3 years, starting April 1 2009. The MACPROGEN project aimed at upgrading and improving the capacity of the Research Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (RCGEB) “Georgi D. Efremov,” Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA), Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, for research and education in the fields of genomics and proteomics. The main objectives of the project were to establish a technological platform for high throughput genomics and proteomics research, networking with European Union (EU) research institutions in order to foster collaborative activities, disseminating knowledge and expertise and ultimately building an interactive and competitive research environment. Altogether, the realization of MACPROGEN objectives was contributing to the strengthening of Macedonian research, technology and development capacities and enhancing career opportunities for Macedonian scientists. The RCGEB is one of the few institutions from the Republic of Macedonia that met the criteria for a center of excellence due to its esteemed scientific and educational record in life sciences. The RCGEB was founded in 1987 as a research unit of MASA with the main goal of advancing scientific knowledge in the field of protein chemistry, molecular biology, genetic engineering and biotechnology through research, practical training of scientists and postgraduate studies. Under the guidance of the late Academician Georgi D. Efremov, the founder and Director of RCGEB until his death in May 2011, the RCGEB became a hub for research in the field of biomolecular sciences in the Republic of Macedonia. It was one of the first institutions in the region that applied these new technologies in molecular diagnostics of human diseases and became an international center for training in basic and advanced methods in these sciences. Immediately after his death, the Presidency of MASA renamed the center in his honor, as the Research Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology “Georgi D. Efremov.” In the past 25 years, the RCGEB scientists have published over 150 papers in international and national journals, as well as several chapters in books and monographs. The RCGEB collaborates with numerous institutions from the Republic of Macedonia, medical institutions from neighboring countries and many academic institutions from different countries worldwide. The main research interest at the RCGEB during the past 25 years has been molecular characterization of the most common monogenic diseases, with a special emphasis on hemoglobinopathies, as well as some aspects of the molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases, genetics of the most common malignancies and DNA markers for human identification. The upgrading of the RCGEB infrastructure by MACPROGEN funds has enabled widening of the research objectives toward larger scale investigations of monogenic diseases and also shifting our research interest toward comprehensive studies of some common complex diseases such as cancers, infertility, mental retardation and deafness by high throughput genomic and proteomic technologies.