Snezana Brkic

Publications (5)5.79 Total impact

• Article: Lipid and protein oxidation in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

  Slavica Tomic, Snezana Brkic, Daniela Maric, Aleksandra Novakov Mikic
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  ABSTRACT: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a widely recognized problem, characterized by prolonged, debilitating fatigue and a characteristic group of accompanying symptoms, that occurs four times more frequently in women than in men. The aim of the study was to determine the existence of oxidative stress and its possible consequences in female patients with CFS. Twenty-four women aged 15-45 who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CFS with no comorbidities were recruited and were age matched to a control group of 19 healthy women. After conducting the routine laboratory tests, levels of the lipid oxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein oxidation protein carbonyl (CO) were determined. The CFS group had higher levels of triglycerides (p = 0.03), MDA (p = 0.03) and CO (p = 0.002) and lower levels of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.001) than the control group. There were no significant differences in the levels of total protein, total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. The CFS group had an unfavorable lipid profile and signs of oxidative stress induced damage to lipids and proteins. These results might be indicative of early proatherogenic processes in this group of patients who are otherwise at low risk for atherosclerosis. Antioxidant treatment and life style changes are indicated for women with CFS, as well as closer observation in order to assess the degree of atherosclerosis.
  Archives of medical science : AMS. 11/2012; 8(5):886-91.
• Article: Lipid peroxidation in the first trimester of pregnancy.

  Branislava Jakovljevic, Aleksandra Novakov-Mikic, Snezana Brkic, Mirjana A Bogavac, Slavica Tomic, Vera Miler
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  ABSTRACT: To determine the existence and level of oxidative stress caused by lipid peroxidation in pregnancy. The research was conducted as prospective examination that included 60 healthy women (age 18-45). The women included in the examination were divided into two groups. The group I (N-31) included women in the first trimester of normal, healthy pregnancy. The group II included healthy nongravid women (N-29). Concentrations of markers of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) were determined using commercial ELISA tests OxiSelect(™) TBARS Assay Kit and OxiSelect(™) MDA ELISA Kit. The results of this research indicate that the concentrations of the markers of lipid peroxidation TBARS and MDA are detectable in both groups. Higher mean values of MDA (>20 pmol/mg) were measured in the group of pregnant women, than in the group of nongravid women. The results indicate that mean values of TBARS markers are lower in pregnant women (≤50 µM) than in nongravid women (>100 µM). The marker of lipid peroxidation MDA proved to be a sensitive marker for following lipid peroxidation during pregnancy, therefore it can be considered as a good predictor of possible complications during pregnancy.
  The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 11/2011; 25(8):1316-8. · 1.36 Impact Factor
• Article: Unusual high rate of asymptomatic maternal parvovirus B19 infection associated with severe fetal outcome.

  Snezana Brkic, Mirjana A Bogavac, Natasa Simin, Ivana Hrnjakovic-Cvetkovic, Vesna Milosevic, Danijela Maric
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  ABSTRACT: To study the role of asymptomatic maternal parvo B19 infection in severe fetal outcome in Province of Vojvodina. One hundred seventy-six pregnant women (13-25 weeks of gestation) were divided in two groups - patients with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion and poor pregnancy outcome and patients with normal course of pregnancy. Double serum samples were analyzed to quantify IgM and IgG to parvovirus B19. Among pregnant women with symptoms of spontaneous abortion, we found significantly higher percentage of acute parvovirus B19 infection. Asymptomatic parvo B19 infection is associated with poor fetal outcome much more than we presumed previously.
  The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 04/2011; 24(4):647-9. · 1.36 Impact Factor
• Article: Lipid peroxidation is elevated in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

  Snezana Brkic, Slavica Tomic, Daniela Maric, Aleksandra Novakov Mikic, Vesna Turkulov
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  ABSTRACT: Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating disease of unclear cause and pathogenesis. It affects mostly women from lower socioeconomic classes. There is mounting evidence that oxidative stress, specifically lipid peroxidation (LPO) contributes to the disease process. We investigated levels of LPO and its possible consequences for these patients. Forty women aged 15-45 years who fulfilled the 1994 Centers for Disease Control's diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with no comorbidities were recruited and were age matched to a control group of 40 healthy women. Levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDLc), HDL cholesterol (HDLc), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Although initial statistical analyses showed no differences between groups (P=.345), when subdivided according to the level of MDA, a difference was found in the subgroup of high-level MDA (P=.034). There was a negative correlation between HDLc and MDA levels (r=0.3; P=.046), a positive correlation between TG and MDA levels (r=0.4; P=.006), and lower levels of HDL cholesterol in the CFS group (P=.036). High levels of MDA, positively correlated with TG and lower HDL levels, might be indicative of proatherogenic events in female CFS patients, a group not otherwise considered a risk for atherosclerosis.
  Medical science monitor: international medical journal of experimental and clinical research 11/2010; 16(12):CR628-32. · 1.70 Impact Factor
• Article: Can we use neopterin as marker of viral infections in pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion?

  Mirjana A Bogavac, Snezana Brkic, Natasa Simin, Aleksandra Nikolic, Zorica Grujic, Vesna Milosevic, Biljana Bozin
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  ABSTRACT: To find out if determination of neopterin can be used for the detection of viral infections in pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion. Eighty-eight pregnant women with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion (investigated group) and 88 healthy pregnant women were evaluated (control group). Neopterin level and IgM and IgG antibodies for eight viruses in the blood were determined. Parvo B19 virus and elevated neopterin values were found in significantly higher number in investigated group than in control. There was no correlation between women with acute ParvoB19 infection and elevated neopterin level. The determination of neopterin in the sera cannot be used for screening of viral infections in pregnancy.
  The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 07/2010; 23(7):701-4. · 1.36 Impact Factor