Monocyte related haematological indices in acute exacerbations of COPD - a new biomarker?

C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count are standard tools for recognising inflammation in COPD patients. This study aimed to find if there is a pattern in monocyte related haematological indices - monocyte to neutrophil ratio (MNR) and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) - which could be helpful in differentiating COPD patients in need for hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of COPD or differentiating frequent COPD exacerbators from non-frequent COPD exacerbators. The study included 119 patients with COPD and 35 control subjects, recruited at the Clinic for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia.

ANDRIJA ŠTAMPAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERIM COMMISSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

This paper provides an analysis of Andrija Štampar's activities after World War II on the establishment of effective international health. Analyzed archival materials have confirmed with numerous evidence that Štampar as the president of the Interim Commission of the World Health Organization (WHO) played a crucial role in the establishment of the ideological starting points and organization of the WHO system, which remain relevant to date. Apart from the strategic foundations, it has been shown that his principles regarding the need for practical action based on the best professional knowledge and experience have no alternatives.

Liver disease in the era of COVID-19: Is the worst yet to come?

The global social, economic and political crises related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presumably had more indirect than direct negative impacts on health systems. Drastic lifestyle changes, social isolation and distancing, and individual and global financial crises resulted in robust populations forfeiting healthy habits and seeking comfort in alcoholic beverages, drugs and unhealthy diets. The inevitable consequences are increases in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, acute alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis decompensation and ultimately liver-related mortality.

Impact of HER2 receptor status on axillary nodal burden in patients with non-luminal A invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women.

Aim: To assess the impact of HER2 status on axillary lymph node (ALN) involvement in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (IDC-NST) both at diagnosis and during the 4-year postoperative period.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively included 375 women with an early clinical stage of non-luminal IDC-NST who between 2007 and 2013 underwent breast surgery at a clinical hospital.

Simple predictors of the re- occurrence of severe febrile neutropenia episode: a single-center retrospective cohort study in pediatric patients with malignant diseases.

Aim: To identify the risk factors of a repeated episode of severe febrile neutropenia (FN) and to build an accurate and easy-to-use predictive model.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at the Clinical Hospital Center Children's Hospital Rijeka from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2016 included pediatric patients with malignant diseases who experienced at least one FN episode. The association of the second severe FN episode appearance with relevant clinical and laboratory data was analyzed by logistic regression.

Validation of the Croatian version of CIVIQ quality of life questionnaire in patients with chronic venous disorders.

Aim: To test the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life (CIVIQ) Questionnaire and to assess the quality of life in patients with chronic venous disorders of all stages.

Methods: This cross-sectional study performed between 2014 and 2015 in a private family practice assessed the factorial validity, cross-sectional validity, and reliability of the Croatian CIVIQ 20-item questionnaire completed by 428 adult patients (78% women) with chronic venous disorders classified according to the Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Pathophysiologic (CEAP) C classification as stages C1-C6.

Results: Median patient age was 52 years (5th-95th percentile, 30-77).

Endothelial dysfunction as assessed with magnetic resonance imaging - A major determinant in chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from interaction of different structure and functional disturbances leading to decreased heart ability to ensure adequate supply of oxygenized blood to tissues and ensure adequate metabolic needs in the cases of normal or increased afterload. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a pathological condition characterized by general imbalance of all major endothelial mechanisms with key role in development and progression of atherosclerotic disease. ED has been associated with most cardiovascular risk factors.

Cardiac manifestations in alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease is the most prevalent cause of progressive liver disease in Europe. Alcoholic cirrhosis occurs in 8%-20% of cases of alcoholic liver disease. It has significant influence on cardiovascular system and haemodynamics through increased heart rate, cardiac output, decreased systemic vascular resistance, arterial pressure and plasma volume expansion.

Erectile function in cardiovascular patients: its significance and a quick assessment using a visual-scale questionnaire.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the connection between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases and to test a novel visual-scale questionnaire (VEF) we propose for the assessment of erectile function.

Subjects And Methods: Erectile function was assessed in 170 male cardiovascular patients under the age of 70 by the use of several self-administered questionnaires: the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5); the Massachusetts Male Aging Study questionnaires (MMAS Sexual Activity Questionnaire and MMAS Single Question), and finally, VEF.

Results: Patients’ mean age was 55.

Comparative Study of Intragastric Balloon and Cognitive-Behavioral Approach for Non-Morbid Obesity.

Background/aims: Intragastric balloon (IGB) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are possible options for weight reduction. The aim of our study was to compare their effectivness in inducing weight loss and metabolic changes accompanying weight loss in non-morbidly obese patients.

Methodology: Subjects were required to be between 18 and 55 years old and to have a BMI between 30 and 45 to be eligible.

[Volume assessment in the acute heart and renal failure].

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important clinical issue, especially in the setting of critical care. It has been shown in multiple studies to be a key independent risk factor for mortality, even after adjustment for demographics and severity of illness. There is wide agreement that a generally applicable classification system is required for AKI which helps to standardize estimation of severity of renal disfunction and to predict outcome associated with this condition.

Detection of myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients: the limitations of myocardial perfusion imaging.

In the study of 286 patients with suspected coronary artery disease and recent exercise single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) test, we performed coronary angiography with coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement and tested the differences between diabetic (103) and non-diabetic (183) patients in ischemia detection by this two methods. The diabetic patients had a higher prevalence of hypertension, higher BMI and cholesterol levels, as well as longer duration of hospitalization than non-diabetic patients. There was no difference found between groups according to the exercise SPECT test, but, there were significantly more negative results in the non-diabetic group than in the diabetic group according to the FFR test, also, the percentage of stenosis was higher in diabetic patients.

Total knee replacement surgery is followed by transitory endothelial dysfunction.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presents today the leading group of post-operative cardiovascular complications, while endothelial dysfunction (ED) is one of the key elements in its development. The chronic ED represents thus the basis for the gradual development of atherosclerotic changes, while its sudden aggravation leads to ACS. The persistent ED occurs due to the effects of chronic cardiovascular risk factors, while according to the available studies it can also develop or aggravate under the impact of different acute events.

Regular dog-walking improves physical capacity in elderly patients after myocardial infarction.

Various positive effects of pet ownership on cardiovascular health are well known. The aim of this prospective and controlled longitudinal study was to determine the effects of everyday dog-walking on physical capacity in elderly patients during the first year after myocardial infarction. Regularly dog-walking for at least 15 minutes three times a day is related to significantly higher work load on the bicycle exercise test (72.

Analysis of granulysin-mediated cytotoxicity in peripheral blood of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

The objective of the present study was to investigate possible changes in granulysin (GNLY)-mediated cytotoxicity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with respect to different phases of the disease. We prospectively enrolled 25 PsA patients in the active phase, 26 PsA patients in remission and 24 healthy controls. The simultaneous detection of intracellular GNLY and cell surface antigens (CD3 and CD56) was performed with flow cytometry.

[Dietary habits and cardiovascular diseases].

Cardiovascular diseases are a major public health problem worldwide. They are the main cause of death in industrialized countries, while the mortality associated with cardiovascular disease is increasing in less developed countries. The modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are cigarette smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and obesity.

Anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training in the early period after myocardial infarction.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of exercise training on the levels of plasma cytokines and acute phase reactants in the early post acute myocardial infarction (AMI) period. Sixty patients were enrolled into this three-week cardiac rehabilitation study. The mean time from AMI was 7.

Efficacy of healthy weight loss program in obesity treatment: Croatian experience.

We evaluated the efficiency of a six-month outpatient weight loss treatment program combining healthy diet, fat reduction, psychological counseling, exercise, and orlistat treatment, by measuring body weight and levels of cardiovascular risk factors in 476 subjects with BMI over 30 or 28 with increased blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar at the baseline and at the end of program. After four weeks of adjustment to a mild low-calorie diet (1600 kcal/day) and counseling, subjects started receiving orlistat (120 mg TID). The mean weight loss after 6 months was 10.

Predictive parameters of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate intolerance recognized in pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) of all deliveries at the University Hospital Rijeka, Croatia (34 997 deliveries over 10-year period) using 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerant test and to evaluate the impact of GDM on neonatal outcomes and mother's health. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 55 of 128 pregnant women with suspected glucose intolerance.

Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary artery disease.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with coronary artery disease (n = 90) and control group (n = 90) were enrolled into this randomized, multi-centre study.

Left ventricle diastolic dysfunction in obese patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension.

Background: The frequent coexistence of obesity and arterial hypertension is well known. Although both conditions have been identified as independent risk factors for impaired left ventricular diastolic function, there is a paucity of data on the dysfunction among obese patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension. The study was performed to determine the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in obese individuals with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension and to compare it with the prevalence in normotensive obese persons.

Erectile dysfunction after myocardial infarction--myth or a real problem?

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem whose relation to cardiovascular diseases has scientifically been proved, but it has not been studied sufficiently in patients recovering from myocardial infarction. The objective of this study was to establish the frequency of erectile dysfunction in patients recovering from myocardial infarction. We examined 89 patients (aged 30 to 75 years) included in the program of cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction.

Expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in psoriasis.

Aim: To elucidate the mechanisms involved in apoptosis of psoriatic keratinocytes by examining the expression of pro-apoptotic (Bak, Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2, Bcl-X) Bcl-2 family of proteins, as well as the expression of p53 and Ki-67 proteins in normal skin, and uninvolved and involved psoriatic skin.

Methods: A total of 90 skin samples (30 cases of involved and uninvolved psoriatic skin and normal skin) were examined immunohistochemically to determine the protein expression of p53, Ki-67, Bcl-2, Bcl-X, Bax, and Bak. The results were quantified and expressed as a percentage of positive keratinocytes.