Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
-
Aim To assess concordance of eight frequently used serology-based scoring indices for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis with transient elastography (TE) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in order to determine serum indices with the highest concordance and clinical usability in clinical practice. Methods In this prospective study, 63 CHC patients were included and TE results were compared with eight non-invasive indices. The diagnostic performance of these tests was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves with kappa index calculated for the concordance analysis. ⋯ Fibrotest cut-off at >0.50 was concordant with TE for presence of significant fibrosis in 30 (out of 45; 66.7%), FIB-4 cut-off at <1.45 was concordant for absence of significant fibrosis in 13 (out of 18; 72.2%) and Goeteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI) cut-off at >1 was concordant for presence of cirrhosis in 16 (out of 22; 72.7%) patients, but not for exclusion of cirrhosis. Conclusion Serology-based scoring indices had moderate overall concordance with TE. We propose that FIB-4 score, Fibrotest and GUCI be used in routine practice to exclude and diagnose significant fibrosis and diagnose cirrhosis, respectively.
-
Aim Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumours with varying clinical expression and behaviour. Because of indolent behaviour of NENs, reviewing and evaluation of epidemiological characteristics is a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of NENs at tertiary hospitals considering age, gender, location, and grade. ⋯ Metastases were most frequently found in the liver, 35 (8%) and lymph nodes, 15 (3.42%). Conclusion The results were largely consistent with those in literature, including age, gender, location, and the degree of differentiation. Most metastases originated from high-grade tumours and greater impairment of the liver.
-
Aim To investigate the impact of pre-treatment serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level on prevalence of prostate carcinoma detection in prostate core needle biopsy, and its correlation with established prognostic factors. Methods Prostate needle biopsy samples of 115 patients with available pre-treatment serum total PSA (tPSA) level were analysed. For all cases where morphology alone was insufficient, immunohistochemistry was performed using p63, CKHMW and AMACR antibody panel in order to confirm or exclude the existence of prostate carcinoma. ⋯ Sensitivity of the screening test by using 4 ng/mL as cut off value for tPSA was 94.12% (CI: 80.32-99.28%), specificity 8.64% (CI: 3.55-17.00%), positive predictive value 30.19% (CI: 21.65-39.87%) and negative predictive value 77.78% (CI: 39.99-97.19%). Conclusion The increase of serum tPSA value increases the likelihood of finding prostate cancer on needle biopsy specimens. Due to such findings and its positive correlation with a grade of prostate cancer, our study indicates that tPSA can still be considered as a useful tool both in detecting and predicting aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
-
Aim To evaluate tunnel positioning on radiographs in singlebundle (SB) and double-bundle (DB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, to evaluate if measurement is accurate and reproducible. Methods Radiographs of 30 SB and 30 DB ACL reconstruction were reviewed by two examiners who measured tunnel positioning with the quadrant method on the femur (a=depth, b=height) and the Amis and Jakob method on the tibia. Intra- and inter-observer reliability were evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). ⋯ Standard deviation (SD) was low (±9%) with respect to the centre of tunnel(s). Conclusion The quadrant method and the Amis and Jakob method are accurate and reproducible measurement methods. Also, as SD was low, an outside-in approach with a front-entry guide, which is free-hand positioned, can be postulated as a reliable method to locate the femoral tunnel in SB reconstruction and the AM bundle in DB reconstruction.
-
Aim To determine the effect of the load on the meniscus in relation to a different angle, and to present the impact of force on eventual injury of menisci. Methods Research included 200 males with average height of 178.5 cm, mass 83.5 kg, and average age of 22 years. The simulation of treadmill that was used in the evaluation of ischemic heart disease was made. ⋯ Results With increasing ascent of treadmill the load on the meniscus also increased. Each increase in ascent after 22% (which corresponded to the angle of 12°40' and seventh degree of load according to the Bruce protocol) at given anthropological values was an etiological factor for meniscus injury. Conclusion The seventh degree of load according to the Bruce protocol can lead to the meniscus injury.