Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
RELATIONSHIP OF MASTOID PNEUMATIZATION AND AGE WITH COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY MEASURED SPHENOID SINUS VOLUME.
The aim was to measure sphenoid sinus volume on the basis of computed tomography data post processing and to investigate the possible relationship with age, gender and mastoid pneumatization. Sphenoid sinus volume was measured using the semi-automatic post processing algorithm of MSCT DICOM datasets of 66 patients. There were 35 female and 31 male subjects. ⋯ In conclusion, volumetric measurements of paranasal sinuses may be accurately performed on the basis of MSCT data post processing. Sphenoid volume was positively correlated with mastoid pneumatization and age. Virtual endoscopy and 3D volume rendering may accurately display anatomic structures of sphenoid sinuses.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
Observational StudyRETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS.
The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in a sample of neurological patients and to compare it to the estimate in the general Croatian population. The secondary aim was to test for the possible significant differences in vitamin D2 insufficiency between the groups of patients according to gender, season, region, vitamin D3 supplementation, and diagnosis of autoimmune disease. This retrospective study involved 371 neurological patients in one-year period. ⋯ The proportion of neurological patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency (<75 nmol/L) was estimated at 74.66% (95% confidence interval, p<0.0001), which is slightly lower than in the Croatian general population. There were no significant differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency according to gender, season and region. Significant differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency were found according to vitamin D3 supplementation and diagnosis of autoimmune disease.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
ReviewMANAGEMENT OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN CROATIA: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of patients presenting to the emergency room with acute appendicitis and subsequent results of surgical treatment. Our single center retrospective study was conducted in Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia. ⋯ The results showed a statistically significant increase in the ratio of open laparotomies (p=0.006) and ratio of perforated appendicitis (p=0.047) during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the pre-pandemic period. The time between symptom onset and hospitalization, measured in days, did not demonstrate a statistically significant increase (p=0.379), and minor increase in the postoperative length of stay was not statistically significant either (p=0.879).
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
ReviewMUSCULOSKELETAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease that most commonly affects the young, working, female population. Musculoskeletal manifestations are one of the most prevalent and presenting features in SLE. Arthralgia, myalgia, non-erosive arthritis, myositis but also tenosynovitis and enthesitis are present in more than 90% of SLE patients. ⋯ There are many radiological imaging methods, i.e., classic radiograms, ultrasound, bone scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging that provide morphological information regarding damage and activity of musculoskeletal diseases in SLE and other rheumatic diseases. Musculoskeletal ultrasound stands out as an accessible and affordable method. Recognizing musculoskeletal manifestations may help establish an early diagnosis of SLE and assess disease activity, thus leading to early initiation of treatment and preventing chronic and irreversible changes with a beneficial effect on the quality of life.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF LEPTIN IN MALNUTRITION-INFLAMMATION COMPLEX SYNDROME IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.
Leptin is a protein hormone secreted by adipocytes. Its role in malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome (MICS) in hemodialysis (HD) patients has not been fully resolved yet. We aimed to assess the predictive role of serum leptin in MICS in maintenance HD patients. ⋯ Leptin exhibited good sensitivity (0.89), while its specificity was similar to that of other nutritional and inflammatory parameters (0.45 for leptin vs. 0.65 for body mass index, 0.46 for MIS, 0.63 for C-reactive protein, 0.44 for albumins, 0.47 for ferritin and 0.50 for transferrin). The ROC curve analysis identified leptin levels of ≤3.4 ng/mL in men and ≤11.4 ng/mL in women to have the best predictive value for MICS. In conclusion, leptin appears to be a reliable marker of MICS.