In sickness and in health: pivotal role of vitamin D.

Within the last several years, frequency of vitamin D testing has multiplied substantially all over the world, since it has been shown to have an important role in many diseases and conditions. Even though liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been identified as "gold standard" method for vitamin D measurement, most laboratories still use immunochemistry methods. Besides analytical problems (hydrophobicity, low circulating concentrations, ability to bind to lipids, albumins and vitamin D binding protein, presence of multiple vitamin D metabolites and variable ratios of 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D in the blood), vitamin D shows great preanalytical variability, since its concentration is drastically influenced by seasonal changes, exposure to sun, type of clothes or sun block creams.

Third and Fourth Degree Perineal Tear in Four-Year Period at Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.

Objectives: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) includes the third and fourth degree of perineal injury. The risk for OASIS is about 1% of all vaginal deliveries. If not recognised and treated properly, obstetric anal sphincter injury can have serious consequences for reproductive age woman.

Abdominal Wall Endometriosis Eleven Years After Cesarean Section: Case Report.

Endometriosis is a common chronic disease characterized by growth of the endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterus. Symptoms affect physical, mental and social well-being. Extrapelvic location of endometriosis is very rare.

Synergetic Effects of K, Ca, Cu and Zn in Human Semen in Relation to Parameters Indicative of Spontaneous Hyperactivation of Spermatozoa.

We have observed that sperm quality parameters indicative of spermatozoa hyperactivation such are lower "linearity" and "straightness", and as showed by this research "elongation", were more pronounced in patients with normal spermiogram compared to the group of men with reduced sperm motility who were undergoing routine in vitro fertilisation. The research encompassed 97 men diagnosed with normozoospermia (n = 20), asthenozoospermia (n = 54) and oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 23). The findings indicate that sperm quality of patients with normal spermiogram diagnosed according to WHO criteria, may be compromised by showing premature spontaneous hyperactivation which can decrease the chances of natural conception.

THE RISK OF HYPERCOAGULABILITY IN OVARIAN HYPERSTIMULATION SYNDROME.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of infertility treatment occurring during either the luteal phase or early pregnancy. An increasing number of thromboembolic complications associated with the increased use of assisted reproductive techniques have been reported in the literature. Identification of the risk factors is crucial for prevention of thromboembolic events in OHSS patients.

Abdominal wall endometriosis: case report.

Abdominal wall endometriosis, also known as scar endometrioma, is a rare condition, in most cases occurring after previous cesarean section or pelvic surgery. The incidence of scar endometrioma is estimated to 0.03%-1.

Biochemical screening of fetal aneuploidies and neural tube defects by "double-test" in Croatia: a 10 years' experience.

The aim of the study is to investigate the efficiency of the second-trimester biochemical screening, with maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MS-AFP) and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG), during the ten-year period. The study included 11,292 of pregnant women between the 15th and 18th gestational week, who underwent screening from November 1996 to December 2006. The risk for trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 were calculated by computer software, based on a model which generated the final risk for fetal aneuploidies from the pregnant woman's a priori age risk and the likelihood ratio of the distribution of the biochemical markers, according to the second-trimester gestation.

The possibility of respiratory distress syndrome prevention of premature born children.

Pregnant women and premature born children were classified into four groups. In each group there were thirty of them. The first group included the pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes and amniotic fluid effluxed for 72 hours before the delivery.

Cytologic follow-up in patients with CIN treated by LLETZ, Cold knife Conization and Semm's cold coagulation.

Management of cervical premalignant lesions starts with abnormal Pap smear. Regular screening of asymptomatic women (the Pap smear) allows us to diagnose and treat preinvasive lesions before they progress to cervical cancer. There is a wide variety of ablative and destructive methods used in treatment of cervical premalignant lesions.

Diagnostic approach for precancerous and early invasive cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix.

Invasive cervical cancer is second most common female cancer worldwide with about 493,000 new cases per year. About 273,000 women die from cervical cancer each year, 85% of which take place in developing countries. Cervical cancer has a slow progress, from pre-invasive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to invasive phases, meaning that the disease can be diagnosed while in the phase of pre-invasive lesion, and treated successfully thanks to the regular screening of asymptomatic women (the Pap smear).

Trends, habits and attitudes towards suntanning.

Epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between suntanning habits and high risk of malignant melanoma (MM). The incidence of MM is increased during the last 40 years. Sun exposure is highly prevalent in all age groups, especially among young and it is influenced by certain believes and attitudes towards suntanning and stimulated by peer pressure and aesthetic references.

Chloasma--the mask of pregnancy.

Chloasma is a required hypermelanosis of sun-exposed areas occurred during pregnancy and it can affect 50-70% of pregnant women. It presents as symmetric hyperpigmented macules, which can confluent or punctuate. The most common locations are the cheeks, the upper lip, the chin and the forehead.

Ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight--residents accuracy.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of gynecology and obstetrics residents when performing ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight. The total of 400 ultrasonographic estimations of fetal weight and corresponding neonatal weight were collected and divided into 3 groups according to physicians' experience (junior and senior residents, staff physicians). The accuracy of fetal weight estimation correlated positively with the level of physicians'experience.