It is the only university in Pleven and was founded in 1974 on the basis of the former regional hospital established in 1865.The university unifies a large modern preclinical base, a hospital with specialised clinics, and research sections. It has two faculties, the Faculty of Medicine covering the subjects of medicine and rehabilitation and occupational therapy, and the Faculty of Public Health covering health care, as well as a college. There are also two hostels with a total of 315 beds in two- and three-bed rooms.In 1997 the university added an English language Medicine programme designed for international students. This was the first English language medicine programme in Bulgaria. As of the 2000s, Medical University Pleven has had 4081 Bulgarian and 582 foreign students from 45 countries, and has about 750 new students every year, of which 2/3 are Bulgarians and the rest foreigners, 50-60% of whom are from India. Since Bulgaria's ascension to the European Union in 2007, most international students originate from other EU member states.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. While endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been extensively studied, the role of endothelin-2 (ET-2) in CKD remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study included 76 participants, 12 healthy controls and 64 CKD patients, stratified into three groups based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Group 1 (eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2), Group 2 (eGFR 45-89 mL/min/1.73 m2), and Group 3 (eGFR 15-44 mL/min/1.73 m2). Serum concentrations of ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, uric acid (UA), and inflammatory markers (hsCRP and IL-6) were measured. ET-2 levels were significantly higher in the advanced CKD group (median 24.49 pg/mL) compared to controls (median 19.32 pg/mL; p = 0.030). No significant differences were observed for ET-1 or ET-3 across groups. ET-2 levels positively correlated with UA (rho = 0.243, p = 0.036), hsCRP (rho = 0.241, p = 0.039), and IL-6 (rho = 0.244, p = 0.038). These findings suggest that ET-2 may represent a potential biomarker reflecting metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation in CKD and highlight its possible relevance in disease severity assessment.
The potential of a series of styryl hemicyanine dyes as fluorescent bioprobes for biologically relevant macromolecules was investigated. The photophysical properties of the dyes were evaluated in the presence of nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and proteins. Pronounced fluorescence enhancement was observed upon interaction with human serum albumin (HSA), β-CDP, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with emission intensities increasing by up to 130-fold relative to the free dyes in solution. The observed fluorescence turn-on effect is attributed to restricted intramolecular rotation and stabilization of the locally excited state upon binding within hydrophobic or supramolecular environments. Geometry optimization at the M06-2X level and molecular docking studies were performed to elucidate the binding modes and revealed the key contribution of hydrophobic, electrostatic, and host–guest interactions to complex formation.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable malignancies, yet disparities in survival remain a significant public health burden across Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Bulgaria illustrates this paradox: HPV vaccination coverage is very low, and prevention continues to rely substantially on opportunistic screening, although recent national initiatives have introduced HPV-based testing and self-sampling. This article argues that the primary barrier to cervical cancer control in Bulgaria is not the lack of medical technology, but the absence of a structured, organized screening system. A modern national cervical cancer screening program should be recognized as a structured clinical and organizational pathway rather than a single diagnostic test. Such a programme requires population identification, active invitation and recall, reg-istry-based tracking, standardized referral and follow-up pathways, and continuous quality assurance. Primary high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing provides high sensitivity and excellent negative predictive value, supporting longer screening intervals; however, screening for HPV positivity alone is insufficient as a sole referral criterion because many infections are transient and clinically insignificant. We propose a rational framework for cervical cancer screening in Bulgaria and comparable health systems: invitation-based screening for women aged 25–65 years built on primary hrHPV testing with genotyping, reflex cytology, and selective use of p16/Ki-67 dual staining. Drawing on a regional comparison of HPV vaccination and screening programs and on Bulgarian cost-of-illness data, we argue that transitioning from opportunistic testing to an integrated, registry-based screening cascade is essential for effective and equitable cervical cancer prevention in the region.
Background/Objectives: Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes (PNSs) comprise a rare group of disorders present in various types of malignant neoplasia. In most cases, PNSs precede the clinical symptoms and diagnosis of a tumor by years. It is therefore vital to recognize these neurological disorders, as early diagnosis of the neoplasia offers the opportunity for timely initiation of treatment and may improve patient outcomes. Case Presentation: Panels of antineuronal antibodies (ANeAs) were used to examine serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from two PNS patients using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and immunoblotting (IB). Both patients were anti-Zic4-positive. In addition, one patient was anti-Zic4- and anti-NMDAR-positive. The individuals also exhibited abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—focal lesions suggestive of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) and a tumor. During follow-up neuroimaging examinations, no tumor was found. Discussion: An in-depth study of a case series of PNS patients was carried out. Anti-Zic4 was correlated with PCD, whereas anti-NMDAR was correlated with autoimmune anti-NMDAR encephalitis. These case series may represent a possible non-paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome associated with autoimmune encephalitis. Moreover, it is necessary for such individuals to undergo long-term follow-up in order to facilitate the early detection of a possible malignant neoplasia. Conclusions: In the current study, we focus on a case series of two patients with severely impaired neurological status, abnormalities in CT and MRI suggestive of PCD, and positive results for ANeAs—anti-Zic4 and anti-NMDAR. Through this study, we aim to emphasize the need for thorough clinical and laboratory follow-up of patients for eventual tumor development.
