Dimovski, Aleksandar

Preferred name
Dimovski, Aleksandar
Official Name
Dimovski, Aleksandar
Main Affiliation
Email
adimovski@ff.ukim.edu.mk

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    AML-327: Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Proliferation Associated with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report
    (Elsevier BV, 2021-09)
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    Ridova, Nevenka
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    Stojanovska, Simona
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    Trajkova, Sanja
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    Insight in the Current Progress in the Largest Clinical Trials for Covid-19 Drug Management (As of January 2021)
    (Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts/Sciendo, 2021-04-23)
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    Ridova Nevenka
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    Stojanoska, Tatjana
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    Abstract The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has generated the largest global health crisis of the 21st century, evolving into accelerating socioeconomic disruption. In spite of all rapidly and widely emerging scientific data on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the COVID-19 disease, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuing to propagate in lack of definitive and specific therapeutic agents. Current therapeutic strategies are mainly focused on viral inhibition by antiviral drugs and hampering the exuberant immune response of the host by immunomodulatory drugs. In this review, we have studied the reports of the largest clinical trials intended to COVID-19 treatment published during the first year of the pandemics. In general, these results concentrate on seven therapeutic options: remdesivir, chloroguine/hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir combination, corticosteroids, tocilizumab, convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies. In line with the reviewed data, as of January 2021, most of the evidence support the use of remdesivir in hospitalized patients with moderate and severe forms of the disease and provide reliable data on the substantial beneficial effect of corticosteroids in patients requiring supplemental oxygen. Moreover, preliminary RECOVERY trial results have demonstrated the efficacy of tociluzumab in the treatment of critically ill patients. The reports presenting the outcomes of the other immune-based therapies under investigation are enthusiastically awaited.
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    Effects of Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin, Alone or in Combination, on Lipoprotein (a): A Single-Center Study
    (aop.sagepub.com, 2016)
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    Daka, Arlinda
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    Domazetovska, Saska
    Background: There are little evidences about the therapeutic efficacy of different lipid-lowering agents in the reduction of elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. Objective: testing the effect of different lipid-lowering agents on elevated Lp(a). Methods: prospective interventional study performed in patients with CAD, or high CAD risk, with Lp(a), >50 mg/dL. Lp(a), total cholesterol (C), HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides (TGs), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, Apo B, enzymes of myocyte and hepatic injury were comparatively analyzed between 4 lipid-lowering strategies: rosuvastatin (R group) 40 mg, atorvastatin (A group) 80 mg, atorvastatin 40 mg add-on micronized fenofibrate (A+F group), and atorvastatin 40 mg add-on 1 g extended-release niacin (A+ERN group). Comparison was made for their therapeutic efficacy on Lp(a), and safety. Results: 87 patients with mean Lp(a) 94.6 ± 39.6 mg/dL were analyzed. Groups: 25 patients in the R, 22 in the A, 20 in the A+F and 20 in A+ERN group. Significant reduction in all lipid fractions in all treatment groups was reported after 6 months. The average reduction of Lp(a) was 15.9 ± 21.0 mg/dL, with: 18.2 ± 24.8 (P = 0.001) in the R group, 17.3 ± 10.4 (P = 0.001) in A+F, 19.5 ± 10.9 (P = 0.001) in A+ERN and the lowest in the A group (11.24 ± 22.91, P = 0.032). No adverse effects were observed in any of the treatment groups. Conclusions: When compared with atorvastatin, it seems that rosuvastatin can achieve more significant decrease of Lp(a).The efficacy of the second one can be increased by adding fibrate or ERN.
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    Correlation of Somatic Mutations and Clinical Characteristics at Presentation in Patients with Essential Thrombocytemia
    (American Society of Hematology, 2014-12-06)
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    Popova-Simjanovska, Marija
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    Ivanovski, Martin
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    <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Background</jats:p> <jats:p>Most patients with essential thromocythemia (ET) have somatic mutations in janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR) and thrombopoietin receptor (MPL) genes. The clinical correlates at the presentation of patients with different mutations has not been established as yet.</jats:p> <jats:p>Materials and methods</jats:p> <jats:p>We evaluated the clinical, laboratory, and molecular features of 150 consecutive patients (93 females/57 males; average age 59,0+/- 14,2 years) with ET who were diagnosed at the University Clinic for Hematology in Skopje based on the revised WHO criteria. DNA from all patients was isolated from peripheral blood obtained at diagnosis using Qiagene DNA exctraction kit. The presence of JAK2V617F mutation was evaluated with fluorescent allele specific PCR/capillary electrophoresis. The CALR exon 9 insertions or deletions were initially detected with a fluorescent PCR/capillary electrophoresis and characterized with Sanger sequencing. The presence of mutations in exon 10 of the MPL gene was analyzed with direct sequencing of PCR amplified fragments. Informant consent was obtained from all participants. Statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon rank- sum test.</jats:p> <jats:p>Results</jats:p> <jats:p>The basic hematological parameters at diagnosis for all patients were as follows; Plt = 962.1x109 ±351,2 x109/L; Hb = 126,8 ±39,2 g/L; Le = 10,2x103 ±4,2 x103/µL. No correlation was found between any of these parameters and age at diagnosis or sex of the patients. JAK2V617F, CALR and MPL mutations were found in 89 (59.3%), 42 (28%) and 2 (1.3%) patients, respectively, while 17 (11.4%) patients did not have a mutation in the 3 evaluated genes (triple negative). Twelve different mutations were found in CALR gene, the most common being 52-bp deletion (c.1092_1143del) and 5-bp insertions (c.1154_1155insTTGTC) which were present in 11 (26,2%) and 20 (47,6%) patients, respectively. Ten different mutations, including 6 insertions (c.1088insTTGTC; c.1088delinsTTTGTC; c.1113_1123delinsTTGT; c.1154delinsTATGTC; c.1126_1131delinsTGCGT; c.1154_1155insGTGTC) and 4 deletions (c.1092_1137del; c.1096_1129del; c.1089_1141del; c.1100_1145del), were detected in the other 11 patients with CALR mutation. The JAK2V617F mutation and triple negative status were more prevalent in female patients (67% and 68% respectively), while no sex preference was detected in patients with the CALR mutation. The average age of patients with JAK2V617F, CALR insertions, CALR deletions and triple negative status were 60,7±13,9, 54,5±12,9, 59,0±15,1 and 58,8+/-14,8 years, respectively. Patients with CALR mutation had a higher platelet count at the time of diagnosis (1134x109 ±372,9 x 109 /L) compared to both patients with mutated JAK2 (952 x109 ±335,6 x109/L) (P=0.047) and to triple negative patients (mean 886 x109/L±303,2 x109/L) (P=0.024). Patients who carried CALR insertions had higher platelet counts (1222,9 ±396,8 x109/L) than patients with CALR deletions (mean 956,8 ±287,8 x109/L ) (P=0.0405). White blood cells counts were the highest in patients with JAK2V617F mutation (mean 11.1±4,5x103/µL) compared to both CALR positive (mean 8,8±2,7x103/µL) and triple negative patients (mean 7,9±2,2x103/µL) (P=0.0049). No difference in Hb levels were present between patients with various mutations.</jats:p> <jats:p>Conclussion</jats:p> <jats:p>ET patients with CALR insertions present with higher platelet counts and at an earlier age than patients with JAK2V617F, CALR deletions or triple negative patients, which might translate to differences in prognosis in these groups of patients. Higher incidence of JAK2V617F mutation and triple negative status in female patients point to a common mechanism for predisposition to these conditions.</jats:p> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Disclosures</jats:title> <jats:p>No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
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    Poster: AML-327: Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Proliferation Associated with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report
    (Elsevier BV, 2021-09)
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    Ridova, Nevenka
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    Stojanovska, Simona
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    AWAKE BRAIN SURGERY IN A PATIENT WITH GLIOBLASTOMA
    (Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, R.N.Macedonia, 2024)
    Adramanova, Dona
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    Abbas, Nebil
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    Strezoska, Marija
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    The awake craniotomy, as a surgical procedure, facilitates maximal resection of brain tumors with minimal or no damage to eloquent brain areas. Conscious sedation and asleep-awake-asleep techniques are two anesthetic techniques employed. During the awake phase, the patient should be alert and cooperative, with adequate analgesia as an essential component of the anesthetic management while neurological testing is performed. Ensuring airway patency, proper oxygenation and ventilation, avoidance of hypoxia and hypercarbia, and maintaining stable systemic and cerebral hemodynamics are crucial. We present a case of a right-handed 56-years-old man with speech difficulties manifested as fluent dysphasia and magnetic resonance findings of intra-axial supratentorial left-sided temporoparietal lesions. The patient was scheduled for awake brain surgery according to the affected eloquent language brain area of the dominant hemisphere. Asleep-awake-asleep anesthetic technique was utilized. Short-acting sedative agents propofol and dexmedetomidine were used, along with remifentanil and fentanyl as analgesics. After awakening, neurological testing of sensory, motor and cognitive functions was performed, revealing no new neurological deficits and achieving maximally safe microsurgical tumor resection with stable hemodynamics and no respiratory or intracranial adverse events. With histopathological findings of glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV), chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed the surgery. The available literature demonstrates the importance of the extent of tumor resection for improved outcomes and survival benefits in glioma surgery, with maximal resection without excising functional brain tissue, being the primary goal of awake brain surgery.
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    Association Between the Polymorphism of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene and Interleukin-1 Beta Gene and the Response to Erythropoietin Therapy in Dialysis Patients with Anemia
    (Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2023-12)
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    Eftimovska-Otovikj, Natasha
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    The polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) gene could be associated with resistance in the treatment of anemia in dialysis patients with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the polymorphism of the ACE and IL-1b genes and the response to rHuEPO therapy in dialysis patients with anemia.
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    CAG Repeat Number in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Prostate Cancer
    (Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2012-06)
    Madjunkova, S
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    Georgiev, V
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    Petrovski, D
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    Prostate cancer (PC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. The effects of androgens on prostatic tissue are mediated by the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The 5' end of exon 1 of the AR gene includes a polymorphic CAG triplet repeat that numbers between 10 to 36 in the normal population. The length of the CAG repeats is inversely related to the transactivation function of the AR gene. There is controversy over association between short CAG repeat numbers in the AR gene and PC. This retrospective case-control study evaluates the possible effect of short CAG repeats on the AR gene in prostate cancer risk in Macedonian males. A total of 392 male subjects, 134 PC patients, 106 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 152 males from the general Macedonian population were enrolled in this study. The CAG repeat length was determined by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of exon1 of the AR gene followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) on a genetic analyzer. The mean repeat length in PC patients was 21.5 ± 2.65, in controls 22.28 ± 2.86 (p = 0.009) and in BPH patients 22.1 ± 2.52 (p = 0.038). Short CAG repeats (<19) were found in 21.64% of PC patients vs. 9.43% in BPH patients (p = 0.0154). We also found an association of low Gleason score (<7) with short CAG repeat (<19) in PC patients (p = 0.0306), and no association between the age at diagnosis of PC and BPH and CAG repeat length. These results suggest that reduced CAG repeat length may be associated with increased prostate cancer risk in Macedonian men.
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    Prevalence of Allelic Variants and Clonality of IGHV1-69 Expressing B-Cells in Patients with Different Severity of COVID 19 Disease
    (Elsevier, 2021-11-23)
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    Nevenka Ridova
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    Simona Stojanovska
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    Tatjana Stojanoska
    Abstract Introduction: Since the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts have been made to understand the importance of broadly neutralising natural antibodies in determining the response to SARS-CoV-2. Previous studies have shown that allelic variants of the IGHV1-69 gene play a dominant role in protective natural antibody responses to several other viral pathogens, including influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and, most notably, the SARS-CoV-2-related viruses SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These allelic variants are commonly known as 51p1-related and differ from the other IGHV1-69 alleles (known as hv1263-related) in the presence of a Phe54 residue in the CDR2 region. Importantly, crystallographic studies have shown that the Phe54 residue is critical for the binding of IGHV1-69 antibodies to the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV spike proteins. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of 51p1 and hv1263 alleles and the clonality of 51p1- and hv1263-expressing B cells in a large cohort of healthy individuals and COVID-19 patients and correlated the findings with the severity of the disease. Мaterials and methods: A total of 419 samples were included in the study, of which 78 asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic individuals, 200 hospitalized patients with severe disease, 94 critically ill patients and 47 healthy donors. Peripheral blood was collected 8-20 days after the onset of symptoms and total cellular RNA was extracted from whole blood using an automated procedure. Аllelle-specific Ig-gene fingerprinting of IgM heavy chain transcripts was used to simultaneously analyse the clonality of the IgM+ B-cell population and the clonality of the 51p1- and hv1263-expressing B cell populations. The significance of the differences in the prevalence of clonal B-cell populations between healthy donors and patients and between patients with different severity of the disease was calculated with the Chi-Square test. Results: Analysis of the clonality of the IgM+ B-cell population showed a polyclonal pattern in most of the investigated healthy individuals (33/47, 70%) but in only 20% of all SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals (75/372, p<0.001). A significant difference was also observed between mildly affected and severely/critically ill patients [31/78 (39.7%) vs. 44/294 (15%), respectively) (p<0.001)], but not between severely and critically ill patients [28/200 (14,%) vs. 16/94 (17,1%), (p=n.s.)]. No 51p1 transcripts were detected in 74/372 (19.9%) of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and in 14/47 (29,8%) of the control group (p>0,01), while hv1263 transcripts were not detected in 155/289 (53,6%) and in 27/47 (68,6%) tasted patients and controls, respectively (p>0,05). We did not find a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of 51p1 and hv1263 alleles between patients with different disease severity. However, a significantly higher number of patients displayed clonal expansions of 51p1- or hv1263-expressing B cells (219/372(58.9%) and 118/244 (48,4%), respectively in comparison to healthy donors [5/47(10.6%) and 7/47(14.9%), respectively]. There was no statistically significant difference between mildly affected and severely/critically ill patients in the clonallity status of 51p1- 38/61 (62,3%) and 182/237 (76,7%) respectively or between hv1263- expressing B cells in the same two groups of patients [20/25 (80%) and 98/109 (89,9%), p>0.05]. Conclusions: Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 infection stimulates clonal expansions of IGHV1-69 -expressing B-cells, but this is independent of the severity of the disease. In addition, no difference in the prevalence of IGHV1-69 alleles was observed between patients at different stages of the disease, indicating that natural neutralizing antibodies encoded by this gene are not an important determinant of COVID-19 severity and progression. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.