Personalized thiopurine therapy is among the most established examples of pharmacogenomics translated into clinical practice. Variants in TPMT (rs1800462, rs1800460, rs1142345) and NUDT15 (rs116855232) are recognized clinical predictors of thiopurine efficacy and toxicity. Additional variants in genes such as PACSIN2 (rs2413739), ITPA (rs1127354) and MTHFR (rs1801133 and rs1801131), also contribute to variability in drug response. Here we characterize the frequency of the pharmacogenetic variants involved in thiopurine metabolism in a healthy population of Kosovo. We genotyped 299 healthy blood donors for polymorphisms. Among TPMT variant alleles, TPMT*3A was observed at a frequency of 2.0%, and the TPMT*3C at 0.1%. Notably, the MTHFR 677T variant (rs1801133) was significantly more frequent in the Kosovo population (49.8%) compared with the global and European frequencies. The minor allele frequency of MTHFR rs1801131 was 27.4%. Minor allele frequencies for PACSIN2 rs2413739 and ITPA rs1127354 variants were 48.8% and 4.0%, respectively. Sequencing of NUDT15 revealed six variants, with rs116855232 present at frequency of 0.8%. These findings provide important insights into the pharmacogenomic profile of the Kosovo population and support the implementation of pre-emptive genotyping to improve the safety and efficacy of thiopurine therapy in the region.
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive and life-threatening soft tissue infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing early and prompt surgical management are crucial, to improve patient outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, comorbidities, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with necrotizing fasciitis treated at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo between 2011 and 2020, and to compare findings with previously reported data from the same institution. An observational retrospective study was conducted in patients diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. Data were collected from medical records and included demographic characteristics, comorbidities, anatomical localization, microbiological findings, number of surgical interventions, and length of hospital stay. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. A total of 94 patients were included, with a slight female predominance (53.2
BACKGROUND:Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Accurate prediction of recurrence is essential for risk stratification and individualized postoperative management. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive significance of tumor budding (TB), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PNI) in colorectal carcinoma. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients treated at the Clinic of Abdominal Surgery and the Department of Pathology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), between January 2020 and June 2025. Follow-up data collection continued until December 2025, and only patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 6 months were included in the final analysis. Clinical, surgical, and histopathological data were collected, including TB, LVI, and PNI status. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods, chi-square test, binary logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with area under the curve (AUC), and Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival (DFS) analysis with the log-rank test. RESULTS:High tumor budding (BD3) was identified in 29.2% of patients, LVI in 34.1%, and PNI in 26.7%. At least one invasive histopathological factor was present in 48.6% of the cohort. All three markers were significantly associated with disease recurrence (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that independent predictors of recurrence were LVI (OR 4.72; 95% CI 2.46-9.03), PNI (OR 3.91; 95% CI 1.98-7.72), and TB (OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.67-6.29). LVI showed the highest predictive accuracy in ROC analysis (AUC = 0.781). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated significantly shorter median disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with one or more positive invasive histopathological factors compared with patients without such factors. Median DFS was 22.4 months (95% CI: 18.7-26.1) versus 35.1 months (95% CI: 31.4-38.8), respectively (log-rank p<0.001) Conclusions: Tumor budding, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion are independent prognostic markers in colorectal carcinoma. Among them, LVI demonstrated the strongest predictive value for recurrence. Routine incorporation of these parameters into pathological reports may improve prognostic assessment and support therapeutic decision-making.
Specific tachycardia characteristics, such as the zones of initiation, transition, and termination, may yield important insights into the underlying mechanism of the tachycardia even before diagnostic maneuvers are performed.
Odontogenic cysts constitute a common group of lesions affecting the jaws and represent a relevant clinical and epidemiological burden in oral and maxillofacial practice. Their occurrence varies across populations, and understanding global prevalence patterns is essential for improving diagnosis, treatment planning, and public health strategies. However, an updated synthesis of prevalence data across different regions remains limited. A systematic review was conducted following a predefined methodology, with a comprehensive search of PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Eligible studies included observational designs (retrospective and and cross-sectional studies) that reported the prevalence of odontogenic cysts according to the WHO classification, with sufficient demographic and diagnostic data. Case reports, narrative reviews, and studies with small sample sizes or incomplete datasets were excluded. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were applied to ensure transparent and complete reporting of the review process. Risk of bias was independently assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) tailored for prevalence and frequency studies. Of 445 records initially identified, 17 studies comprising large institutional and population-based samples met the inclusion criteria after screening and quality assessment. The studies originated from multiple continents, with retrospective designs predominating. The calculated global prevalence of odontogenic cysts was 13.8
