Others Are to Blame (Displacement in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy).

Objective: To evaluate the defense mechanisms (DM) in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and, to determine whether displacement is associated with seizures.

Subjects And Methods: Following an examination, 50 patients were diagnosed in accordance with the 2005 proposal of the International League Against Epilepsy and the definition of drug-resistant epilepsy from 2010. The neuropsychological examination used the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40).

Improved survival of incident patients with high-volume haemodiafiltration: a propensity-matched cohort study with inverse probability of censoring weighting.

Background: Haemodiafiltration (HDF) is the preferred dialysis modality in many countries. The aim of the study was to compare the survival of incident patients on high-volume HDF (HV-HDF) with high-flux haemodialysis (HD) in a large-scale European dialysis population.

Methods: The study population was extracted from 47,979 patients in 369 NephroCare centres throughout 12 countries.

Changes in activated partial thromboplastin time and international normalised ratio after on-pump and off-pump surgical revascularization of the heart.

Surgical revascularization of the heart (CABG - coronary artery bypass grafting) is one way of treating coronary heart disease. Bleeding is one of the serious and frequent complications of heart surgery and can result in increased mortality and morbidity. Hemostasis disorder may be secondary consequences of surgical bleeding, preoperative anticoagulant therapy, and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Consensus statement on screening, diagnosis, classification and treatment of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy.

Currently used diagnostic criteria in different endemic (Balkan) nephropathy (EN) centers involve different combinations of parameters, various cut-off values and many of them are not in agreement with proposed international guidelines. Leaders of EN centers began to address these problems at scientific meetings, and this paper is the outgrowth of those discussions. The main aim is to provide recommendations for clinical work on current knowledge and expertise.

Survival of incident patients on high-volume online hemodiafiltration compared to low-volume online hemodiafiltration and high-flux hemodialysis.

Background: Hemodiafiltration is becoming a preferred treatment modality for dialysis patients in many countries. The volume of substitution fluid delivered has been indicated as an independent mortality risk factor. The aim of this study is to compare patient survival on three different treatment modalities: high-flux hemodialysis, low-volume online HDF (oHDF) and high-volume oHDF.

Prognostic value of acute fluid collections diagnosed by ultrasound in the early assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of acute fluid collections (AFC) diagnosed by conventional transabdominal ultrasound in the early assessment of severity acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: We studied 128 consecutive patients with AP between March 2006 and March 2011. The predictor was the number of AFC.

What is the optimal treatment for appendiceal mass formed after acute perforated appendicitis.

We read with great interest the editorial article by Meshikhes AWN published in issue 25 of World J Gastroenterol 2011. The article described the advantages of emergency laparoscopic appendectomy compared with interval appendectomy as a new safe treatment modality for the appendiceal mass. The author concluded that the emergency laparoscopic appendectomy was a safe treatment modality for the appendiceal mass, and might prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment, with no need for interval appendectomy.

Rate of complications and conversions after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

Background And Objectives: Although many advantages of laparoscopic method in regard to open one have been already proved, both surgical methods may cause a certain number of complications. The goal of the study is to answer the question: Is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) safer and more satisfactory method than open cholecystectomy (OC) concerning number, type and seriousness of complications?

Design And Setting: Prospective, the research includes all patients in Bihać Cantonal Hospital during 2007, who had cholecystectomy, laparoscopic or open, because of the gallbladder calculosus.

Methods: The study has included 476 patients who had cholecystectomy and who satisfied standards for this study.

Postoperative pain in open vs. laparoscopic cholecystectomy with and without local application of anaesthetic.

Aim: To evaluate the intensity of postoperative pain and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to open cholecystectomy especially after anaesthetic infiltration of surgical incision.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included three groups of 30 patients each, who had undergone surgical treatment by an open procedure, by laparoscopic technique and by laparoscopic technique with local anaesthetic application. All patients were of similar age, sex and ASA risk (American Society of Anaesthesiologists).

Survival of living-related kidney graft recipients in the era of modern immunosuppressive treatment.

Background And Objectives: Currently, there is no consensus about immunosuppressive therapy following kidney transplantation. Acute rejection rates and allograft survival rates are the clinical outcomes traditionally used to compare the efficacy of various immunosuppressive regimens. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate whether patient survival rates improved in the era of modern immunosuppressive treatment during living-related kidney transplantation.

Step-up approach to infected necrotising pancreatitis: a 20-year experience of percutaneous drainage in a single centre.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of step-up approach to infected necrotising pancreatitis.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 86 patients treated by step-up approach from 1989 to 2009. Infection was confirmed by examination of aspirated material or by presence of free pancreatic gas at contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Comments on the article about correlation between computerized tomography and surgery in acute pancreatitis.

We read with great interest the article by Vege et al published in issue 34 of World J Gastroenterol 2010. The article evaluates the ability of contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) to characterize the nature of peripancreatic collections found at surgery. The results of their study indicate that most of the peripancreatic collections seen on CECT in patients with severe acute pancreatitis who require operative intervention contain necrotic tissue and CECT has a limited role in differentiating various types of collections.

Kidney graft outcomes in living-related transplantation have improved with substitution of basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil for antithymocyte globulin and azathioprine: a single center retrospective cohort study.

Background: Despite significant reduction in acute rejection rates and improvements in one year kidney allograft outcomes over the past decade, there is an overall lack of improvement in long-term allograft outcomes. We conducted this study to evaluate whether immunosuppressive regimens involving basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil improved allograft outcomes in living-related kidney transplantation beyond the first year.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study we analyzed kidney graft survival, acute rejection-free survival, kidney function, delayed graft function, and primary non-function in patients receiving an immunosuppressive regimen that included basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil (group A), and compared to patients receiving antithymocyte globulin and azathioprine (group B).

Percutaneous treatment for symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts: Long-term results in a single center.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to present and evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in the treatment of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts (PPC).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 128 patients with 140 PPC treated by PCD from 01/01/1989 to 12/31/2008. All procedures were performed under ultrasound control.

Comparison of the effects of Puumala and Dobrava viruses on early and long-term renal outcomes in patients with haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Aim: The clinical course and outcome of patients with haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumala (PUUV) and Dobrava viruses (DOBV) were analyzed and whether it left long-term consequences on kidney function after 10 years was evaluated.

Methods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted to test the kidney function and blood pressure of HFRS-affected patients and to follow them up 10 years after. Eighty-two PUUV- and 53 DOBV-induced HFRS patients and 14 and 31 participants 10 years after having contracted PUUV- and DOBV-related diseases, respectively were evaluated.

Comments on the article about the treatment of peripancreatic infection.

We read with great interest the article by Tang et al published in issue 4 of World Journal of Gastroenterology 2010. The results of their study indicate that percutaneous catheter drainage in combination with choledochoscope-guided debridement is a simple, safe and reliable treatment procedure for peripancreatic infections secondary to severe acute pancreatitis. However, there are some points that need to be addressed, including data about the patients in the study and their clinical characteristics, data about infection and superinfection during the treatment and type of treatment of patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

[The ultrasound characteristics of kidneys in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1].

The aim of the study was to compare ultrasound findings of morphometric measurements and registration of Doppler signs of kidneys between children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DMT1) with microalbuminuria, and metabolic control with duration of the disease. Retrospective-prospective study included 80 patients, who got DMT1 in the age from 2 to 16 years. In relation to the duration of the disease, all patients were divided into two groups: the first was whose illness had lasted less than 10 years, the second group was with duration of DMT1 more than 10 years.

Influence of donor age on renal graft function in first seven post transplant days.

Increasing gap between demand and availability of human kidneys for transplantation has forced a re-evaluation of the limits on donor age acceptability. The present study included 74 patients who underwent kidney transplantation in University Clinical Centre Tuzla. In an observational cohort study we assessed impact of donor age on post transplant renal function by analyzing following parameters: 24 hour urine output, creatinine clearance (Cr Cl) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).