Hippokratia
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Free radicals, as a product of cigarette smoke, are considered to have deleterious effects causing oxidative stress. Acute active smoking seems to be followed by transient leukocytosis and delayed increase in neutrophil activation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the oxidative status of smokers and passive non-smokers, as well as the impact that acute cigarette smoking has on hematological parameters. ⋯ Acute exposure to cigarette smoking affects hematological indexes and oxidative stress biomarkers negatively, in both active and passive smokers, with similar results. The outcome seems to be even worse in passive smokers regarding oxidative stress and antioxidant protection markers. Elimination of cigarette smoking could prevent the adverse effects for smokers, as well as for healthy non-smokers in their vicinity. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 293-297.
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Hypervolemia is a major risk factor for hypertension leading to cardiovascular diseases and also a frequent problem in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Fluid overload (FO) can be determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) which is a new, practical, and non-invasive method. We tried to determine FO by BIS in MHD patients and find out the relationship between FO and clinical features. ⋯ Hypervolemia is associated with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy that should be treated effectively to prevent cardiovascular diseases in MHD patients. BIS is useful to assess hydration status in MHD patients. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 324-331.
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Kidney size may differ between healthy members of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and non-BEN families. The present study was designed to elucidate this, in comparison with values for BEN patients. ⋯ Kidneys of BEN patients were significantly shorter than in healthy members of both BEN and non-BEN families, but no difference was found in kidney length and parenchymal thickness between healthy members of BEN and non-BEN families. No significant association was found between parental history of BEN and kidney size and function either in BEN patients or in healthy members from BEN families. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 304-308.
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During revision surgery of total hip arthroplasties, surgeons may come across the challenging complication of a proximally fractured femoral stem, which however maintains sufficient distal fixation. Such cases, although rare, are extremely demanding due to lack of available attachments that would assist surgical explantation of the broken implant. It is herein presented a metal sterilisable surgical tool designed for the removal of the femoral stem broken at the level of the "neck". Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 352-355.
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Diagnosis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is based on kidney biopsy findings: unique glomerular injury pattern and characteristic changes on light, electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis. The purpose of this study was to identify possible etiology and incidence of glomerular injury among patients with a diagnosed MPGN. ⋯ The leading cause of MPGN was idiopathic as well as bacterial infections. Complement component C3 concentration was mostly decreased. The incidence of normal and decreased concentration of the complement component C4 was almost equal. Most immunohistochemical deposits in kidney biopsy appeared to be C3/Ig positive, and it was observed in more than half of the cases of each MPGN etiological group. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 314-318.