Concurrent Elevations of VEGF, Osteopontin and MCP-1 Serum Levels Are Independent Predictors of Survival in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are heterogeneous diseases, and the identification of additional DLBCL risk factors is especially important.

Methods: In this pilot study, we determined pretreatment serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), osteopontin (OPN) and macrophage chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in 67 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients before treatment with standard chemoimmunotherapy and in 30 healthy persons.

Results: Serum levels of all three cytokines were significantly elevated in untreated patients compared to controls.

Accuracy of targeted wire guided tube thoracostomy in comparison to classical surgical chest tube placement - A clinical study.

Background: Chest tube malfunction, after the tube thoracostomy, is often the result of an inappropriate chest tube tip position. The aim of this study was to analyse the precision of chest tube placement using the targeted wire guide technique (TWG technique) with curve dilator and to compare it to the classical surgical technique (CS technique).

Materials And Methods: In this clinical study 80 patients with an indication for thoracic drainage, due to pneumothorax or pleural effusion were included.

The effect of 5alpha-reductase inhibition with finasteride and dutasteride on bone mineral density in older men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Testosterone is converted to dihyrotestosterone by two isoenzymes of 5alpha-reductase. Finasteride and dutasteride are 5alpha-reductase inhibitors commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. We compared indices of bone mineral density in 50 men treated with finasteride, 50 men treated with dutasteride and 50 men as control.

New classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus correlate with disease activity.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) classification criteria among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients; to determine disease activity and severity; and to investigate the correlation of classification criteria with disease activity, and of disease activity and damage index with disease duration.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 110 SLE patients from the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia in the period from September to December 2013 and determined disease duration and the total number of ACR and SLICC classification criteria. Disease activity was assessed by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) index and organ damage by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index.

Influence of the left ventricular types on QT intervals in hypertensive patients.

Objective: To investigate the possible electrophysiological background of the greater excitability of concentric and eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy types in relation to the asymmetric type.

Methods: 187 patients with essential hypertension, without ishaemic heart disease were divided into three groups with regard to left ventricule type: concentric (relative wall thickness >0.42, interventricular septum/left ventricular posterior wall ≤1.

The patterns of melanoma presentation in Rijeka region.

There is a global rising incidence of melanoma. For different reasons, the patterns of the incidence, appearance, gender, anatomical distribution and outcome vary among different geographic areas. Screening programs have led to better early detection of melanoma in Australia and some world areas.

The IVF Outcome Counseling Based on the Model Combining DHEAS and Age in Patients with Low AMH Prior to the First Cycle of GnRH Antagonist Protocol of Ovarian Stimulation.

Objective. To investigate the endocrine and/or clinical characteristics of women with low anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) that could improve the accuracy of IVF outcome prediction based on the female age alone prior to the first GnRH antagonist IVF cycle. Methods.

Importance of interincisal index for predicting mesiodistal crown diameters of canines and premolars.

The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of regression equation for prediction of the mesiodistal diameter (MDD) of the crowns of canines and premolars (C, P1, P2), and to determine whether an incisal indexs can serve as a reliable predictor. MDD and vestibulooral diameter (VOD) of the crowns of central and lateral incisors (I1, I2), C, both P1, and P2, and first permanent molars (M1) in both jaws were measured on the plaster casts of 150 subjects (75 boys and 75 girls). The obtained measurements were compared and correlated with predicted values (by linear regression equation derived previously), with respect to gender, jaw side and value of the interincisal index.

Prognostic performance of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II in major Croatian hospitals: a prospective multicenter study.

Aim: To perform an external validation of the original Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) system and to assess its performance in a selected group of patients in major Croatian hospitals.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter study was conducted in five university hospitals and one general hospital during a six-month period between November 1, 2007 and May 1, 2008. Standardized hospital mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated from the mean predicted mortality of all the 2756 patients and the actual mortality for the same group of patients.

Strong nuclear EGFR expression in colorectal carcinomas is associated with cyclin-D1 but not with gene EGFR amplification.

Background: Prognostic and predictive significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore and correlate membrane and nuclear EGFR and cyclin-D1 protein expression with EGFR gene status of tumor cells.

Methods: Immunohistochemical and FISH analysis was performed on 135 archival formalin fixed and paraffin embedded CRCs.

Effect of preoperative feeding on gallbladder size and peristaltic of the small bowel following spinal anesthesia for the hip surgery.

The main aim of our study was to determine the influence of preoperative feeding with clear carbohydrate rich drink (PreOp 200 mL) on peristaltic of the small intestine and gallbladder size early after the orthopedic surgery in spinal anesthesia. Clinical study includes 120 patients with fracture of femoral neck or pertrochanteric fracture. All patients were randomized in two groups, sixty patients, PreOp group, consumed carbohydrate drink two hours before surgery.

Benefit of the minimal invasive ultrasound-guided single shot femoro-popliteal block for ankle surgery in comparison with spinal anesthesia.

Background: Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has gained popularity for ankle and foot surgery. The aim of our study was to investigate the sufficiency of anesthesia for ankle surgery as well as duration of analgesia in postoperative period, using minimal invasive ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, and to compare it with anesthesia and postoperative analgesia following spinal anesthesia.

Methods: This prospective study included 40 adult trauma patients with bimalleolar fracture who were scheduled for surgery.

Effect of preoperative feeding on gastric emptying following spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Preoperative fasting is associated with various untoward postoperative health problems. Previous studies have stressed the advantages of preoperative feeding with a carbohydrate-rich drink 2 hours before surgery; this protocol does not increase the risk of gastric-content aspiration but reduces the level of anxiety and thirstiness during the perioperative period. Spinal anesthesia with the local anesthetic bupivacaine can decrease gastric emptying in the early postoperative period.

Presence of third molar germs in orthodontic patients with class II/2 and class III malocclusions.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of third molar germs in patients with Class II/2 and Class III malocclusions. The study comprised 146 examinees from Zagreb and Istria. Examinees with Class II/2 malocclusions amounted to 77 and those with Class III 69.

The prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias with regard to the type and degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertensive heart disease.

Objectives: We investigated the correlation between the type and degree of left ventricular hypertrophy and the prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertensive heart disease.

Methods: The study included 179 patients (79 men, 100 women, aged 43-80 years, median 68 years) with left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients were classified into three groups (concentric, eccentric and asymmetric types of hypertrophy) and into three subgroups (mild, moderate and severe hypertrophy).

[Characteristics of categorical data analysis].

This work presents characteristics of categorical data, their presentation and possible models of statistical analysis. There are two types of categorical data; nominal, where categories are equally valued (i.e.

EPR study of lipid phase in renal cortical membrane organelles from intact and cadmium-intoxicated rats.

Numerous studies have demonstrated various structure/function correlations at the level of transport proteins in the kidney cell membranes and various intracellular organelles. However, characterization of the lipid phase of these membranes is rare. Here, we report the differences in lipid organization and dynamics of the brush-border membranes (BBM), basolateral membranes (BLM) and endocytotic vesicles (EV), isolated from the kidney cortex of intact rats, studied with the EPR spectroscopy of the spin-labeled membrane lipids.

Elevated second-trimester free beta-hCG as an isolated finding and pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between unexplained elevated second-trimester free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels and pregnancy complications as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 2,110 non-smoking women with chromosomal and structurally normal fetuses at low-risk for both Down's syndrome (risk <1:250) and neural tube defects (maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein <2.0 MoM).

The influence of smoking and parity on serum markers for Down's syndrome screening.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of smoking and number of previous births on maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG).

Methods: The study included 3,252 completed unaffected singleton pregnancies that proceeded beyond 37 weeks' gestation and resulted with a birth of healthy child. Smoking status of mothers and data concerning gravidity and parity were collected at the sampling date.