Entangled nematic colloidal dimers and wires.

It has been predicted, but never confirmed, that colloidal particles in a nematic liquid crystal could be self-assembled by delocalized topological defects and entangled disclinations. We show experimentally and theoretically that colloidal dimers and 1D structures bound by entangled topological defect loops can indeed be created by locally thermally quenching a thin layer of the nematic liquid crystal around selected colloidal particles. The topological entanglement provides a strong stringlike binding, which is ten thousand times stronger compared to water-based colloids.

Radial scar of the breast--a confusing lesion.

Radial scar is a confusing lesion of the breast which represent a premalignant lesion. It looks like a tubular carcinoma but histologically we can see two rows of cells in tubules. Mammographically there are some typical but not specific signs: (1) the presence of the central radiolucency, (2) the presence of radial long thin spicules, (3) varying appearance in different projection, (4) radiolucent linear structures parallel to spicules, and (5) abscence of palpable lesion or skin changes.

Coronary artery revascularization prior to abdominal nonvascular surgery.

Background: Does preoperative revascularization of the myocardium reduce cardiac risk in noncardiac surgery? The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of preoperative cardioprotection by coronary artery revascularization in abdominal nonvascular surgery under general anesthesia.

Materials And Methods: The observational clinical study included 111 consecutive patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease. Two stratification groups of patients were compared, those with coronary artery revascularization (34 patients, 30.

[Influence of mental disorders on working ability assessment].

Background/aim: There is an increasing need for evaluation of working ability due to lower level of social protection of workers and growing number of patients with mental diseases in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim of this study was to establish the influence of mental diseases on the occurrence of disability of I and III categories in B&H during the period from January 1st 2005 to December 31st 2006.

Methods: This study involved 1792 examinees with the complete loss of working ability (I disability category) (n = 921).

Live 3D guidance in the interventional radiology suite.

Objective: The development of a C-arm cone-beam CT unit coupled with flat detectors has markedly increased anatomic visualization capabilities for interventional radiology procedures. We present technology in which fluoroscopy and 3D imaging from a cone-beam CT-flat-detector C-arm unit are combined with an integrated tracking and navigation system. A description of the technology and representative clinical cases are presented.

Bimonthly 24 h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil vs EAP regimen in patients with advanced gastric cancer. A randomized phase II study.

Background: To investigate the activity and toxicity of high dose (HD) infusional 5-FU in comparison to EAP regimen as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Histologically confirmed measurable advanced gastric cancer, age < 72 yr, ECOG performance status 0-2, no prior chemo- and radiotherapy, adequate organ functions.

Treatment: EAP arm: doxorubicin (40 mg/m(2)), etoposide (360 mg/m(2)), and cisplatin (80 mg/m(2)) every 28 d; HD 5-FU arm: 5-FU 2.

Herbal medicine in the treatment of mental disorders.

During five thousand years of recorded history, we know that from the ancient times people have used different methods and procedures in treatment of different psychiatric disorders and very often these were medicinal preparations of plants. Numerous scientific discoveries and industrial age gave a big contribution to medicine development and significantly improved quality of life for psychiatric patients during the last century. However, evidence-based medicine after big bliss faced a lot of disappointments, and an attitude that some natural drugs were unnecessarily thrown out of use step by step came along.

Carcinosarcoma of the stomach: a case report and review of the literature.

Carcinosarcomas are rare, malignant, biphasic tumors. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with gastric carcinosarcoma, along with its clinical, macroscopic and histopathological features. Macroscopically, a specimen of deformed stomach was obtained that measured 200 mm x 150 mm x 100 mm.

[Proposal of cervical cancer early detection programme in Croatia].

Opportunistic screening by Pap smear was introduced in Croatia in 1950s, with a consequent decrease of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Since 1990s, no further decrease has been observed, and there are still about 370 new cases and 100 deaths of cervical cancer yearly in Croatia. In scope of the proposed early detection programme, all Croatian women aged 25-64 years should be screened.

Depersonalization in Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Unlabelled: Aim of the study was to confirm depersonalization/derealization in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy in comparison with other patients on dialysis in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the period 01.01.2000 -31-12-2006.

Mental disorders and metabolic syndrome: a fatamorgana or warning reality?

Background: There has been a growing interest in the effect that comorbid mental and somatic disorders may have on each other. Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

Objectives: To examine the association between various mental disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders) and metabolic syndrome and discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms that may link specific mental disorders and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome and combat post-traumatic stress disorder intensity: preliminary findings.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with co-morbidity of many major mental and somatic disorders as well as with premature mortality.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between combat-related PTSD, metabolic syndrome and its components as well as between PTSD severity and metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Metabolic syndrome and its components were investigated in 100 male war veterans with combat PTSD and in 79 males who needed medical attention in a family medicine dispensary.

Clinical features and virologic characteristics of primary and early HIV-1 infection in Slovenian patients.

Analysis of time trends in newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients in Slovenia over a 10-year period (1996-2005) showed an increase in the number of newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients in 2004 and 2005 as well as increase in the number of newly diagnosed patients with primary/early HIV-1 infection. A retrospective analysis was performed in order to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and virological parameters of primary/early HIV-1 infection presenting with or without acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). Primary/early HIV-1 infection was diagnosed in 33 (19.

False-positive result of a confirmatory human immunodeficiency virus line immuno assay in an apparently healthy individual--a case report.

A case of a false-positive result of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) confirmatory immunoblot-based assay is described. Repeatedly borderline reactive anti-HIV screening enzyme immunoassay result obtained in a local hospital resulted in directing the sample to the Slovenian HIV/AIDS Reference Laboratory. In the Reference Laboratory, both anti-HIV screening assays and confirmatory Western blot were negative, while a confirmatory test INNO-LIA HIV I/II Score (Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium) was anti-HIV-1 positive due to sgp120 and gp41 reactivity.

HIV-1 subtype B epidemic and transmission patterns in Slovenia.

In the present study the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B in Slovenia during the 10-year period was investigated using phylogenetic analysis of pol gene sequences. 119 pol sequences generated on samples dated from January 1996 to December 2005 were retrieved from the database of Slovenian HIV/AIDS Reference Laboratory. The phylogenetic analysis revealed 14 potentially significant transmission clusters (bootstrap value > or = 98%), comprising 34 HIV-1 strains.

[Forensic expertise of the injury severity in fatally injuried car-occupants].

Introduction: There is no specific injury among fatally injured frontal car-occupants in frontal car collisions, used in forensic expertise. We tried to point out the usefulness of the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) for the expertise in such cases.

Objective: Analyzing the severity of body region injuries and total injury severity of deceased car occupants, to point out their importance in forensic expertise.

Comethylation of p16 and MGMT genes in colorectal carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological features and prognostic value.

Aim: To investigate the significance of p16 and O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) genes promoter hypermethylation and K-ras mutations on colorectal tumorigenesis and progression.

Methods: p16 and MGMT methylation status was examined on 47 tumor samples, and K-ras mutational status was examined on 85 tumor samples. For methylation analysis, a methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) method was used.

[Functional effects of preserving the intercostobrachial nerve and the lateral thoracic vein during axillary dissection in breast cancer conservative surgery].

Background/aim: Conventional axillary dissection in breast cancer surgery implicates the section of the neurovascular elements passing through the dissected tissue: the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) and lateral thoracic vein (LTV). Preservation of the ICBN during axillary dissection is well documented in the literature, with slightly contradictory results of its influence to postoperative pain. There is no published data, as far as we know, on the functional effects of preserving the LTV.

Visceral metastases of melanoma-single institution experience an analysis of 15 cases.

Authors analysed 15 cases with visceral metastasis of melanoma. In eight cases the primary was unknown but in seven cases the data about primary was known. From 15 patients 10 were male and 5 female.

Twenty-four mini-pool HCV RNA screening outside a blood transfusion setting: results of a 2-year prospective study.

The usefulness of 24 mini-pool hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA screening was evaluated in a 2-year prospective study carried out on a total of 6432 consecutive anti-HCV negative specimens in a routine diagnostic laboratory setting. A total of 268 mini-pools were tested using an automated commercial PCR assay for qualitative detection of HCV RNA, with a lower limit of detection of 50 IU/ml. Eighteen (0.

Mechanisms of aortic blunt rupture in fatally injured front-seat passengers in frontal car collisions: an autopsy study.

We tried to explain the mechanisms of the aortic blunt ruptures in fatally injured drivers and front passengers, unrestrained by seatbelts, by analyzing the frequencies of both aortic ruptures and concomitant injuries to 12 organs and body regions. The sample consisted of 393 subjects: 251 drivers and 142 front passengers (325 male and 68 female passengers, the mean age 41.0 +/- 15.

Beta-papillomaviruses in anogenital hairs plucked from healthy individuals.

A total of 150 specimens of anogenital hairs plucked from the scrotal, pubic, and perianal region of 51 immunocompetent healthy male individuals were tested for the presence of beta-papillomaviruses (beta-HPV) using the nested M(a)/H(a) polymerase chain reaction. Beta-HPV were found in a total of 38 (25.3%) of 150 hair samples.

[Surgical methods for the treatment of breast phyllodes tumors--a report of 319 cases].

Unlabelled: Breast phyllodes tumors (FT) belong the fibroapitelial group of breast tumors arising in terminal ductulo-lobular unit (TDLU). Their incidence do not exceed 1% of all breast tumors. Biologicaly they can be divided into benign, borderline and malignant group.

Trends in consumption of psychiatric drugs in Serbia and Montenegro 2000-2004.

Purpose: To investigate the trends in psychiatric drugs utilization in Serbia and Montenegro over the 5-years period (2000-2004).

Materials And Methods: The wholesale data issued by the manufacturers or distributors were used. Also, the lists of drugs used from the Institute of Mental Health (institution which provides primary, secondary and tertiary psychiatric care) were used to corroborate the wholesale data.

Interparticle potential and drag coefficient in nematic colloids.

Magneto-optic tweezers were used for measurements of liquid-crystal-mediated forces between spherical beads with tangential anchoring in thin nematic samples. Repulsive force, which results from the quadrupolar symmetry of defects around the immersed beads, decreases proportionally to 1/x6, with x being the bead separation. The velocity with which the particles are pushed apart also follows the same separation dependence.