Acta clinica Croatica
-
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.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
INCREASED SEVERE COVID-19-RELATED FATALITY IN HOSPITALIZED MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS.
The aim of this study was to assess the case fatality ratio (CFR) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) hospitalized due to severe COVID-19, and to investigate the role of risk factors for fatal outcome in this well-defined cohort. This case series study included all PwMS (N=32) with severe COVID-19, who were hospitalized in the COVID-19 referral center in Belgrade from January 2021 to January 2022. Eight out of these 32 patients died from COVID-19 (CFR 25%). ⋯ Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that progressive forms of MS (p=0.044) and longer hospitalization (p=0.006) significantly increased the risk of death in our MS cohort. In our study, older age, presence of comorbidities, and progressive disease course were independent predictors of increased lethality of COVID-19 in PwMS. More intense monitoring may be warranted in PwMS treated with anti-CD20 agents.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA - A PRELIMINARY STUDY.
Although earlier studies showed higher values of wall shear stress in neurovascular conflict, hemodynamic patterns in the blood vessel after microvascular decompression are unknown. This study aimed to analyze the hemodynamic features of the offending artery preoperatively and postoperatively using computational fluid dynamics. We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients with trigeminal neuralgia who were surgically treated in our department during 2022. ⋯ In all 11 patients, elevated values of wall shear stress were found in the area of neurovascular contact. Postoperatively, with improvement of the patient clinical status, there was also a decrease in wall shear stress. Computational fluid dynamics analysis of offending vessels in trigeminal neuralgia can be a useful tool in preoperative planning and in assessing treatment outcomes and prognosis.
-
Sexuality is a complex process, a natural biological human need that is present throughout life. Closely related to sexuality is the sex drive (libido), which is the basis of human sexual activity. An important aspect of sexuality in both sexes is also the experience of orgasm. ⋯ More than half experienced clitoral orgasm most often. The factors that bother the respondents most in their sex life were too little foreplay, too little passion, and too short sex. Sexual satisfaction is experienced by people very individually and depends on many factors, such as the quality, frequency, and pleasure attributed to sexual activities, but also on general health and well-being.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
Case ReportsSEBACEOUS CARCINOMA OF THE EYELID AND MUIR-TORRE SYNDROME.
Muir-Torre syndrome is a rare form of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome; simplified, it is an association of at least one sebaceous skin tumor and at least one visceral malignancy. It follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. ⋯ During his treatments, he was examined by experts in different medical fields. After genetic counseling, he also underwent genetic testing.