Acta clinica Croatica
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Germ-cell testicular cancer (GCTC) is a malignant neoplasm derived from the primordial germ cell. Although it accounts for approximately 1% of all malignancies in men, it is the most common cancer of younger male population, with the highest incidence between ages 15 and 35. Testicular cancer incidence rate has risen globally over the past several decades, with the average increase in the incidence of testicular cancer in Croatia of 7% per annum from the year 1983 to 2007. ⋯ Despite increase in the incidence rate, a promising circumstance is that GCTC has become a model of curable cancer. Because of advances in diagnostic procedures, sophisticated radiation techniques and especially the introduction of cisplatin based chemotherapy protocols together with advanced postchemotherapy surgical techniques, curability is expected in about 95% of all patients diagnosed with testicular cancer and over 70% of patients with advanced disease. In this review, we will focus on treatment strategies of primary GCTC.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2020
Endoscopic evaluation of patients with colonic wall thickening detected ON computed tomography.
Colorectal wall thickening is a condition which is occasionally encountered on computed tomography (CT) investigations. Malignancies and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be the most common and most important pathologies in some cases. Our objective in this study was to evaluate colonoscopy results in patients with increased colorectal wall thickness identified on CT. ⋯ The mean hemoglobin level was 12.8 g/dL in patients with normal colonoscopy as compared with 9.5 g/dL in those with malignancies (p=0.001). On multivariate analysis, hemoglobin and age were the only significant variables to predict an abnormal result on endoscopy. Detecting colonic wall thickening on CT may indicate malignancy, especially in patients who are over 50 years of age and have hemoglobin values less than 10 g/dL.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2020
Case ReportsCOMPLETE ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK AND ASYSTOLE DURING EPILEPTIC SEIZURE: A CASE REPORT.
Cardiac arrhythmias during or after epileptic seizures are one of the possible pathomechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. These arrhythmogenic epilepsies are most commonly associated with sinus tachycardia, but atrioventricular block and asystole can also be seen. Although a rare occurrence, these arrhythmias can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, but also can be potentially preventable with pacemaker implantation. Here we describe a patient with recurrent epileptic seizures, diagnosed with ictal third-degree atrioventricular block and asystole during seizure, which required a permanent cardiac pacemaker.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2020
ReviewTHE ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN DEFINING SALIVARY PROTEIN COMPOSITION FOLLOWING PLACEMENT OF FIXED ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES - BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES.
Human saliva is rich in proteins of variable functions (e.g., enzymes, immunoglobulins, cytokines) and origin (blood plasma, salivary glands, or oral microflora). Circadian dynamics, volume and composition (electrolytes, pH, protein, etc.) of secreted saliva vary with local and systemic physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, the composition of saliva, protein in particular, has been intensively investigated to identify the potential markers and/or mechanisms of systemic and local diseases. ⋯ This review brings the main characteristics of current proteomic techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, two-dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrometry, and surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization/time of flight/mass spectrometry. These techniques enable simultaneous identification of hundreds and thousands of protein molecules, as well as identifying those of a potential biological value in particular states. This literature review is focused on the state-of-the-art and possibilities offered by proteomic techniques in analyzing the effects of orthodontic appliances on salivary protein composition and searching for potential markers of therapeutic success/failure or for the molecules by which therapeutic effects are achieved.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2020
ReviewEIGHTY YEARS OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY IN CROATIA AND IN SESTRE MILOSRDNICE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTRE.
In 1937, Ugo Cerletti and Lucio Bini performed electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) in Rome for the first time. That was the time when different types of 'shock therapy' were performed; beside ECT, insulin therapies, cardiazol shock therapy, etc. were also performed. ⋯ As early as 1940, just two years after the results of the ECT had been published, it was also introduced in Croatia, at Sestre milosrdnice Hospital, for the first time in our hospital and in the then state of Yugoslavia. Since 1960, again the first in Croatia and the state, we performed ECT in general anesthesia and continued it down to the present, with a single time brake.