Lung long distance: histopathological changes in lung tissue after COVID-19 pneumonia.

Aim: To investigate histopathological changes in the lung tissue of long-COVID patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in long-COVID patients with persisting symptoms and radiological abnormalities. Histopathologic analyses were performed by using hematoxylin-eosin, Martius, Scarlet and Blue, Movat's, thyroid transcription factor 1, CD34, and CD68 staining.

Benign fasciculation syndrome and migraine aura without headache as possible adverse events after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination: a web-based survey.

Aim: To determine the characteristics of patients who experienced muscle fasciculations and migraine auras without headache after BNT162b2 immunization.

Methods: In January 2022, we published a case report that described a 48-year-old female patient who experienced muscle twitching and migraine auras without headache following BNT162b2 immunization. A self-administered online survey was sent to people who had written to us and complained of similar symptoms described in the case report (N=20).

Investigating the role of obstructive pulmonary diseases and eosinophil count at admission on all-cause mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients : A single center registry-based retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: The impact of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the setting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) infection is not clearly defined. Blood eosinophil count is a standard diagnostic test which, according to the previously published literature, might have a potential prognostic role on mortality in patients with SARS-CoV‑2 infection.

Aim: To investigate the potential prognostic value of peripheral blood eosinophil count on all-cause mortality of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV‑2 infection, as well as to assess the impact of asthma or COPD premorbidity on all-cause mortality.

Validation of the fractional exhaled breath temperature measurement: reference values.

Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) is a known biomarker of inflammation and airways blood flow. As opposed to previous studies, we were able to measure temperature of separate fractions of exhaled breath (fEBT) (those from the peripheral and central airways). The aim was to validate the fEBT measurement method to determine the reference values and the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors on fEBT in healthy subjects.

Association of chronic inflammation with cardiovascular risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: COPD is progressive lung disease with known higher cardiovascular (CV) risk, mainly attributed to smoking of cigarettes as the main etiological factor of disease. The aim of this study was to compare CV risk in patients with COPD to control groups of smokers and non-COPD and to investigate the relation of lung function variables, COPD severity, and smoking with Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) risk calculation, arterial stiffness (AS) values, and biological systemic inflammatory markers.

Methods: A total of 208 subjects were included in this study: 61 subjects diagnosed with COPD, 83 smokers without COPD, and 64 nonsmokers without COPD.

COVID-19: The Impact on Cardiovascular System.

SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in population worldwide for the past year and a half, and thus a vast amount of scientific literature has been produced in order to study the biology of the virus and the pathophysiology of COVID-19, as well as to determine the best way to prevent infection, treat the patients and eliminate the virus. SARS-CoV-2 binding to the ACE2 receptor is the key initiator of COVID-19. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect various types of cells requires special attention to be given to the cardiovascular system, as it is commonly affected.

High prevalence of rectal chlamydia among pregnant adolescents in La Romana, Dominican Republic warrants extragenital STI testing.

To our knowledge, there are no studies estimating the prevalence of extragenital sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pregnant adolescents in the Caribbean. This study sought to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence and correlates of oral, genital, and rectal chlamydia (CT) among a sample of pregnant adolescents in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Two hundred pregnant youths, aged 15-24 years, were recruited by systematic sampling during their first prenatal visit to a maternal care unit.

N-glycosylation patterns of plasma proteins and immunoglobulin G in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex condition, whose diagnosis requires spirometric assessment. However, considering its heterogeneity, subjects with similar spirometric parameters do not necessarily have the same functional status. To overcome this limitation novel biomarkers for COPD have been investigated.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and abnormal lipid status among Croatian hospitalized coronary heart disease patients.

The aim of this article was to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and abnormal lipid status with selected anthropometric variables in a sample of hospitalized coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in Croatia (N = 1,298). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 31.6% (statistically significantly more frequent in women, 35.

Churg-Strauss syndrome with myopericardial involvement.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a small-vessel necrotizing vasculitis typically characterized by asthma, lung infiltrates, extravascular necrotizing granulomas and hypereosinophilia. Cardiac disease is a major contributor to disease-related death in CSS. We describe a 38-year-old man with late-onset asthma, allergic rhinosinusitis, and high extravascular and peripheral blood eosinophilia, who presented with migratory pulmonary infiltrates and acute myopericarditis.

Correlation of levels of depressiveness and choice of elective subjects in medical students.

The aim of this research was to establish if a correlation exists between the choice of an elective subject, namely subjects "Depression" and "Diabetes", and levels of depressiveness in medical students. Three groups of third year medical students attending School of medicine, Rijeka University, were tested for the level of depression using Beck's self-evaluation scale. The groups consisted of 30 non-randomly selected students that had enrolled elective subject "Depression" and 29 non-randomly selected students that had enrolled elective subject "Diabetes", and the third group of 30 randomly selected third year medical students that had enrolled none of the previously mentioned elective subjects.

[The treatment of asthma exacerbations in adults].

Asthma exacerbation is characterized by a rapid and progressive worsening of symptoms, mainly dyspnea, cough, wheezing and chest tightness. The intensity of an exacerbation may vary form a mild, transient worsening marked by a cough and moderate shortness of breath to a very severe and life-threatening condition. The clinical features of asthma include increased rate of breathing, cough, and prolonged and difficult expiration.

Religiosity and quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Our aim was to assess relations between the quality of life and religiosity in breast cancer patients. The participants were 115 consecutively admitted female in-patients with breast cancer in the radiotherapy unit in the course of six months. The measures used were Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF), World Health Organisation Well-Being Index Five (WHO-WBI 5) and International Breast Cancer Study Group Quality of Life (IBCSG-QL) Questionnaire.

Sildenafil induced choreoathetosis in men with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The present report describes a case of choreoathetotic movements which were most probably induced by sildenafil in a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD).

Case Summary: A 56-year-old retired man was admitted to hospital because of bizarre, involuntary movements and anxiety. Before admission he had taken sildenafil 100 mg.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression as comorbid disorders.

Introduction: Depression is the most frequent disorder of today. It is unique for the fact that it can become a comorbid illness with almost any other psychiatric disorder. Premorbid depression is also a risk factor for the development of PTSD, while at the same time traumatic experience is a risk factor for the development of depression.

Dimensions of human spirituality, layman understandings of health and limits of medicine.

The essence of human uniqueness and what is special about humans is spirituality. What is unique to every human being is his: language, sociability, politic, science, art, technical and working attitudes, playing games, fun and laughter, as well as religiosity and ethical attitudes. All of these dimensions are based upon spirituality or even the human spirit.

Activation of ERK and JNK MAP kinases in optic nerves of rats exposed to global cerebral ischemia.

Objectives: To determine the influence of global cerebral ischemia on the activation of extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in optic nerves of rats exposed to different reperfusion periods.

Materials And Methods: Transient global cerebral ischemia (20-min duration) was induced by the four-vessel occlusion method. After different reperfusion periods (5 and 10 min; 1; 6 and 12 h after ischemia), optic nerves were extracted and ERK and JNK activation signals were determined by Western immunoblot analyses.

NA+, K+-ATPase activity in the brain of the rats with kainic acid-induced seizures: influence of lamotrigine.

Objective: Kainic acid (KA) is used as an experimental agent which produces convulsions and neurotoxic lesions. Lamotrigine (LTG) is an antiepileptic drug, a glutamate release inhibitor, with action at the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel. The aim of the present study was to investigate the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the hippocampus and cortex of rats with KA-induced convulsions.

Tobacco use and cessation among medical students in Croatia--results of the Global Health Professionals Pilot Survey (GHPS) in Croatia, 2005.

Objectives: To collect information from third year medical students attending Croatian medical schools on prevalence of cigarette smoking and other tobacco use, exposure to second-hand smoke, desire to quit using tobacco, attitudes and training concerning counselling patients on tobacco cessation.

Methods: Global Health Professionals Survey (GHPS) was conducted in 2005 in all four Croatian medical schools with a census of third year medical students (404 out of 409, response rate 98.5%) using an anonymous, confidential and self-reported questionnaire.