Damir Peličić

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disorder, characterized by the development of numerous cysts within the renal parenchyma. Besides renal cysts, the disease may also involve cysts in the liver and pancreas, as it affects both sexes and all races worldwide. Approximately 7-8% of all chronic kidney disease patients with end-stage renal failure in Europe suffer from PKD. Diagnosis is based on family history assessment, radiological imaging, and, when indicated, genetic testing. Nephrectomy of the polycystic native kidney is one of the recommendations prior to kidney transplantation to create adequate space for the renal graft. In this paper, we present a case of a female patient with end-stage chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, who underwent native nephrectomy of a polycystic kidney in order to prepare for future kidney transplantation.

In this paper, we provide a brief review of metformin-associated lactic acidosis in renal patients with stage 3 to 4 chronic kidney disease. A 70-year-old male patient is presented, who has been treated for type 2 diabetes for the past twenty years. Since he was taking high doses of metformin at home, without the supervision of his family or doctor, he was urgently admitted to the Nephrology Clinic of the Clinical Center of Montenegro in Podgorica, where diagnostics were immediately performed and the patient was included in hemodialysis, along with other symptomatic and conservative therapy. During hospitalization, the patient's general condition and laboratory analyses of nitrogenous substances and potassium improved. In our case, the patient's treatment with hemodialysis led to rapid correction of metabolic disorders and hemodynamic stabilization, and ultimately to recovery, so there was no need for his further hemodialysis treatment. The patient was discharged home in good general condition, and it can be concluded that timely diagnosis of metformin-associated lactic acidosis is of great importance for hemodialysis treatment, which successfully corrects a severe metabolic disorder. This case suggests the importance of early recognition and treatment of patients with lactic acidosis in diabetics and renal patients who are taking uncontrolled or inadequate metformin therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

This study investigates the efficacy of a dermocosmetic formulation containing essential oil from Lavandula officinalis cultivated along the Montenegrin coast. A randomized, placebo-controlled in vivo study was conducted on 14 healthy volunteers (mean age: 24 ± 1.2 years) to assess effects on skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and pH. Using bioengineering techniques and validated measurement tools, assessments were performed at baseline and at 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes after application. The lavender cream significantly improved hydration (p<0.05), with no adverse effects on TEWL or pH. The results confirm the efficacy and safety of the cream, supporting the inclusion of lavender essential oil in dermocosmetic formulations.

Introduction/Aims: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is one of the key predictors of mortality and hospitalization in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) due to terminal kidney failure. The aim of our study was to examine the HRQoL of individuals with terminal chronic kidney disease who are undergoing HD at the Hemodialysis Center of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (CCM). Methods: A cross-sectional study included 43 participants with terminal chronic kidney disease who were on HD during January 2025 at the Hemodialysis Center of CCM. Data were collected from participants using a general and standardized anonymous questionnaire, the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF™) (Serbian version). Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. Results: There is a significant negative correlation between the perception of success and satisfaction with the impact of kidney disease on daily activities (r = -0.45; p < 0.001). Satisfaction with treatment in HD patients is lower when the impact of kidney disease on their lives is greater (r = -0.47; p < 0.001). Sexual functioning issues are more pronounced when the impact of the disease on mental health is greater (r = 0.54; p < 0.001), as well as when there is more preoccupation with the disease during daily activities (r = 0.67; p < 0.001) and when the impact of kidney disease on life is greater (r = 0.46; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Further research is needed in this area to assess the quality of life of individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing HD in relation to demographic and clinical parameters, as well as to identify independent predictors of quality of life.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a surgical connection created between an adjacent artery and vein in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, The aim is to divert arterial blood into a vein, which becomes arterialized due to the newly established hemodynamics. AVF is widely recommended as the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis (HD), due to long-term therapy of patients with end-stage renal disease and significantly fewer complications compared to other vascular access options, such as Central Venous Catheter (CVC). However, despite the lower complication rate, AVF can still be associated with intraoperative, early, and late postoperative complications. Methodology: Recent scientific publications were thoroughly reviewed through PubMed, Scopus, SCI Index and other reference databases with a focus on risk factors and complications of arteriovenous fistula in patients on a chronic HD program. Topic: The most common AVF complications include: stenosis caused by hemodynamic and functional changes that cause narrowing of the blood vessel lumen by more than 50% and occurs on both the arterial and venous sides of the AV fistula. Thrombosis, which is the complete cessation of blood flow in the AVF venous segment proximal to the AV anastomosis. Aneurysm is a local expansion of a vein resulting from strong blood flow through the site of narrowing. Then the infection of the anastomosis that occurs due to careless and non-aseptic puncturing of the AVF and other complications of the AV fistula, such as pseudoaneurysm, hematoma, peripheral ischemia and heart complications. Conclusion: Thrombosis and stenosis are among the most common late complications of AVFs. This paper highlights the significance of AVFs as a permanent vascular access for hemodialysis and reviews the various complications and their associated risk factors. Scientific evidence from the literature emphasizes that proper and consistent AVF puncture technique can significantly delay the onset of these complications, underlining the importance of careful preoperative and ongoing management.