Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2019
SAFETY AND EFFECTS OF CRATAEGUS EXTRACT WS 1442 AND NORDIC WALKING ON LIPID PROFILE AND ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION: A RANDOMIZED, PARTIALLY BLINDED PILOT STUDY IN OVERWEIGHT VOLUNTEERS.
Overweight and physical inactivity adversely affect endothelial function and are risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Both Crataegus extract WS 1442 and physical exercise exert beneficial effects on endothelial function. We investigated whether WS 1442 and Nordic walking (NW) had comparable effects on endothelial function and lipid profile in overweight subjects. ⋯ WS-double showed no additional benefits over WS-standard. All adverse events were unrelated or improbably related to treatment. In conclusion, WS 1442 and exercise training were safe and showed beneficial effects on endothelial function and lipid profile in overweight but otherwise healthy volunteers; exercise capacity improved only by Nordic walking.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2019
EFFECT OF SUN EXPOSURE DURATION ON CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 EXPRESSION IN THE CONJUNCTIVA.
Pterygium is a multifactorial proliferative pathologic change of bulbar conjunctiva. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the duration of exposure to solar radiation (expressed in years) on the incidence of positive cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) finding in conjunctival tissue in two groups of patients. Group 1 consisted of 68 patients with primary pterygium having undergone conjunctival autograft transplantation. ⋯ The analysis of COX-2 activity yielded 29 (42.6%) positive findings in group 1 and 27 (62.8%) positive findings in group 2. Group 2 consisted of statistically significantly older individuals with a history of considerably longer sun exposure. Statistical analysis proved the duration of exposure to solar radiation to be the most important factor in positive COX-2 findings.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2019
POSITIVE EXPRESSION OF NEDD9 IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER IS RELATED TO BETTER SURVIVAL PERIOD.
The aim was to determine immunohistochemical expression of NEDD9 protein in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the possible relation of its expression with primary tumor size (T), regional lymph node status (N), stage of disease (TNM) and survival period. A total of 131 patients with primary tumor localization in the area of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx, monitored for at least 5 years after initial surgical treatment were analyzed. The study included 128 male and three female patients, median age 62.0 (range 53.0-68.0) years. ⋯ Patients with positive NEDD9 expression had a significantly higher median (IQR) survival time 51.0 (15.0-60.0) months as compared to 22.5 (9.0-55.0) months in patients with negative NEDD9 expression (p=0.048). NEDD9 negative expression, controlled for the influence of other variables included in the Cox's proportional hazards model, had a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 2.10 (95% CI: 1.23-3.58; p=0.006). The results of our study showed that NEDD9 expression might be an independent prognostic marker in patients with HNSCC regarding data on overall survival and mortality.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2019
VERIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY OF GINKGO BILOBA L. LEAF EXTRACT AND ITS PRODUCTS PRESENT ON THE CROATIAN MARKET BY ANALYSIS OF QUANTITY AND RATIO OF GINKGO FLAVONE GLYCOSIDES (QUERCETIN, KAEMPFEROL AND ISORHAMNETIN) TO TERPENE TRILACTONES TO THE EFFECT OF UNMASKING COUNTERFEIT DRUGS ENDANGERING PATIENT HEALTH.
Ginkgo biloba L. is the eldest plant growing on the Earth; preparations made of its leaves and seeds represent an integral part of the Chinese medicine for over a millennium. The plant species was first discovered by Linnaeus in 1771, its name thereby originating from the Latin words bis (two) and lobus (lobe), which duly illustrate the specific shape of its leaf. Contemporary Ginkgo biloba L. plant based pharmaceuticals mostly comprise extracts recovered from leaves harvested during fall, when the concentration of active components reaches its peak. ⋯ Due to the untrue label statements descriptive of these products, the information on the presence of pharmacologically active genistein was neglected to be mentioned despite its unfavorable health impact that can be expected in some consumer groups. The results of this study indicated the frequency of counterfeiting the Ginkgo biloba L.-based products found on the Croatian market to be deemed substantial. Therefore, a more rigorous and more thorough control of these products and sanctioning of irresponsible manufacturers and distributers is proposed, so as to contribute to a higher market representation of high-quality products, as well as to avoid health risks and downsize the rate of their counterfeiting.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2019
THERAPEUTIC PLASMA EXCHANGE AND DOUBLE FILTRATION PLASMAPHERESIS IN SEVERE NEUROIMMUNE DISORDERS.
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal blood purification technique, which removes large molecular weight particles such as autoantibodies from plasma. TPE is accepted by the American Society for Apheresis as first line treatment for some severe neuroimmune disorders. Double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) is a newer technique in which plasma is not entirely removed, only the antibodies, using special filters. ⋯ The rate of neurological improvement was similar to other studies. None of the patients presented catheter related complications. Systemic complications were mild, transient and completely reversible.