Ivan Mindov
@trakia-uni.bg
Neurosurgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University
University hospital ''Stoyan Kirkovich" JSC, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Glioblastoma, brain tumors, brain trauma, low back pain treatment,
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Elina Aleksandrova, Ivan Mindov, Bozhidar Petrov, Ivelina Dimitrova, Nikolay Petrov, Julian Ananiev, Tatyana Vlaykova, and Stefan Valkanov
MDPI AG
Background and Objectives: The role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) has been widely studied in the context of carcinogenesis. It has been involved in the pathogenesis of primary brain tumors or brain metastases due to its pleiotropic effects on immune regulation and tissue homeostasis. In line with recent findings, the aim of the current study was to examine the role of circulating TGF-β1 and the -509C/T functional polymorphism (rs1800469) in the TGFB1 gene promoter in the susceptibility and progression of primary brain tumors and brain metastases among patients from the Bulgarian population. Materials and Methods: Cases with a confirmed diagnosis were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP). Serum TGF-β1 levels were determined by ELISA. Immunohistochemical evaluation of the expression of TGF-β1 and the TGF-β1 receptor-type II was conducted. Results: We observed that TGF-β1 serum levels correlate with the genotype and are sex-related. TGF-β1 serum levels were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls. Additionally, the T/T-genotype determined higher circulating levels of the cytokine. The same genotype determined the shorter median survival after surgery for the patients. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed a statistical tendency: cases expressing TGF-β1 in the cytoplasm had elevated levels of the cytokine in the serum compared to the negative cases. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate a negative effect of the T-allele on the predisposition and prognosis of brain malignancies, and the genetically determined higher TGF-β1 serum levels might contribute to the worse prognosis and metastatic capacity of brain malignancies.
Koni Ivanova, Stefan Valkanov, Bozhidar Petrov, Ivan Mindov, and Maya Gulubova
Scientific Foundation SPIROSKI
BACKGROUND: In the recent years, the incidence of fungal brain abscess has been rising as a result of the increased use of corticosteroid therapy, broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and immunosuppressive agents. Aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is reported in 10%–20% of the patients having invasive fungal disease. Commonly, the disease is observed in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients; also, patients who suffered traumatic head injury are reported as well to develop the infection due to due cranial defect accompanied by dural tearing. Symptoms are non-specific neurologic manifestations.
 CASE PRESENTATION: We presented a case of a 68-year-old man who had diabetes mellitus type II. He was admitted to in neurosurgery clinic due reported head trauma. Initially, he complained of a headache, dizziness, slurred speech, nausea, and pain in the right ear with tinnitus and pain in his right upper teeth – continuous for a month. The patient was conscious, adequate, Glasgow Coma Scale – 15 points, with left-sided hemiparesis, general symptomatic syndrome. An emergent computed tomography scan was performed, which showed tumorous formation in patient’s right temporal lobe that had mass effect and compression of the right lateral ventricle. The patient was discussed on a emergent clinical counsel and it was decided that he was shown for surgical treatment. An informed consent was signed by the patient and his relatives. After the surgery intervention – the histological result of the biopsy was aspergilloma of the brain and the microbiological result was Aspergillus fumigatus.
 CONCLUSION: The prognosis for CNS aspergillosis is poor, but the early diagnosis and effective medical and surgical treatments may reduce morbidity and mortality.
D. Valev, A. Atanasov, R. Werner, I. Mindov, A. Andonova, and R. Martinov
AIP Publishing
We carried out a statistical analysis of the monthly cerebral malaria cases in Papua New Guinea for the period January 1987 - December 1996 and also the analysis of the monthly solar activity and geomagnetic activity for the same period. The solar activity was described by the sunspot numbers and the F10.7 solar flux. As a measure of the geomagnetic activity the aa-indices were used. A close negative correlation between cerebral malaria cases and solar activity indices was found. The correlation of cerebral malaria cases with F10.7 reaches −0.66, and −0.70 with sunspot numbers. The confidence level of relationships was determined by Student’s t-test and reaches 0.00001. All calculations were performed with raw data without smoothing which supports the correctness of the obtained results. The close correlations of cerebral malaria found in Papua New Guinea with solar activity indices could be important for the prognosis of cerebral malaria in this region.We carried out a statistical analysis of the monthly cerebral malaria cases in Papua New Guinea for the period January 1987 - December 1996 and also the analysis of the monthly solar activity and geomagnetic activity for the same period. The solar activity was described by the sunspot numbers and the F10.7 solar flux. As a measure of the geomagnetic activity the aa-indices were used. A close negative correlation between cerebral malaria cases and solar activity indices was found. The correlation of cerebral malaria cases with F10.7 reaches −0.66, and −0.70 with sunspot numbers. The confidence level of relationships was determined by Student’s t-test and reaches 0.00001. All calculations were performed with raw data without smoothing which supports the correctness of the obtained results. The close correlations of cerebral malaria found in Papua New Guinea with solar activity indices could be important for the prognosis of cerebral malaria in this region.
Ivelina Dimitrova, Tanya Tacheva, Ivan Mindov, Bozhidar Petrov, Elina Aleksandrova, Stefan Valkanov, Maya Gulubova, and Tatyana Vlaykova
Informa UK Limited
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of MMP-7 serum levels as biomarkers for brain tumours. This study included 50 patients with meningiomas, other benign tumours, high-grade gliomas, brain metastases and other non-tumour diseases and 41 control individuals. The MMP-7 serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We significantly found higher serum levels of MMP-7 in patients with benign brain tumours (2.33 ± 0.37 [SEM] ng/mL, p = 0.006) and brain metastases (2.54 ± 0.33 ng/mL, p = 0.0001) compared to controls (1.48 ± 0.09 ng/mL). Glioblastoma (GBM) patients had serum MMP-7 levels comparable to those of the controls (1.44 ± 0.13 ng/mL, p = 0.901) but significantly lower than those of the patients with benign tumours (p = 0.018) and brain metastases (p = 0.001). In patients with benign tumours, there was a positive correlation with borderline significance between serum MMP-7 levels and leukocyte counts (ρ = 0.538, p = 0.058). No difference was found (p = 0.448, paired-samples t-test) when comparing the MMP-7 levels in the serum samples obtained at admission and 4–7 days after surgery of some of the patients (n = 7). According to our results, the MMP-7 serum levels might be a useful serum biomarker for benign brain tumours and for brain metastases but not for glioblastoma.