Translation and Validation of the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey in Serbian.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey into the Serbian language to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity.

Study Design: The study included 49 consecutive patients between 12 and 18 years old with rhinologic symptoms. Patients were given a paper survey to complete along with a link to complete the online survey within the same day.

Prevalence of sacroiliitis among patients referred for hip MR arthrography.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sacroiliitis among patients who have been referred for MR arthrography.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective search identified 130 consecutive MR arthrograms of the hip performed on a 1.5T Siemens Avanto at our institution from August 2013 to August 2014.

E-cadherin expression in acquired cholesteatoma.

Objectives: The epithelial cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is important for maintenance normal tissue architecture and for cell-cell communication and immune cell migration. E-cadherin is also present in cholesteatomas. This study determined E-cadherin expression in acquired cholesteatomas and analyzed its expression according to cholesteatoma clinical and histological characteristics.

Association of interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β gene polymorphisms with the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Background: Published data indicate that common genetic variants in immune/inflammatory response genes can affect the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). This study investigated the association of interleukin (IL)-10 (-3575, -1082), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α -308 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β Leu10Pro gene polymorphisms with clinical characteristics and outcome of DLBCL patients treated with rituximab-CHOP therapy.

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2007, a total of 84 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL entered into this study.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV: serum activity and expression on lymphocytes in different hematological malignancies.

The aim of this research was to determine the serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) activity as well as the percentages of CD26 + lymphocytes and CD26 + overall white blood cells in patients with hematological malignancies: non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), leukemia, plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma, and in healthy individuals. Data from our study showed significantly decreased serum DPPIV activity and a significant decrease in the percentage of: CD26 + lymphocytes, CD26 + overall white blood cells and lymphocytes in patients with NHL in comparison to healthy controls. Patients with leukemia had a statistically significant lower activity of DPPIV in serum and significant decrease in the percentage of CD26 + lymphocytes in relation to healthy controls.

Significance of tumor burden, vascular endothelial growth factor, lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2 microglobulin serum levels in advanced diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Purpose: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) are incorporated in the so-called "serologic staging system", as independent parameters for predicting time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients. Elevated values of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (sVEGF) was associated with poor survival in the largest histological subgroup, the diffuse large B cell (DLBCL) and immunoblastic lymphomas. sVEGF has independent influence on survival in multivariate models when tested together with the components of the International Prognostic Index (IPI).

[Condition of hearing sense and tinnitus before and after the treatment of otosclerosis].

Introduction: Otosclerosis is an osteodystrophy disease of the bony labyrinth of the ear which leads to stapes fixation and to bradyecoia of a conductive type. The microsurgical treatment by the use of a stapes prosthesis provides hearing improvement and a reduction or disappearing of tinnitus. The aim of our study was to determine the hearing condition and tinnitus before and after the treatment of otosclerosis.

Austrocolorins A1 and B1: atropisomeric 10,10'-linked dihydroanthracenones from an Australian Dermocybe sp.

The atropisomeric austrocolorins A(1) (7) and B(1) (8), new members of the rare tricolorin class of 10,10'-coupled dihydroanthracenones, are isolated from an indigenous Australian toadstool belonging to the subgenus Dermocybe of Cortinarius, and their structure and absolute central and axial configuration is deduced from the spectroscopic data, and confirmed by chemical degradation and chiral HPLC analysis.

Croatia has reached iodine sufficiency.

This study was performed in 2002, 6 yr after the introduction of a new regulation on salt iodination with 25 mg KI/kg of salt. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether further significant positive results of improved iodine intake could be observed among schoolchildren in Croatia. A total of 927 schoolchildren of both sexes, aged 6-12 yr, were included in the study.

[New possibilities in the treatment of Meniere's disease].

The results of the treatment of Meniere's disease by intratympanic instillation of gentamicin in 32 patients over a 24-months period were analyzed. The receded vestibular function was found in 96.8% patients, whereas in the remaining 3.

Comparison of the efficacy of two different dosage dacarbazine-based regimens and two regimens without dacarbazine in metastatic melanoma: a single-centre randomized four-arm study.

The aim of this randomized four-arm phase III study was to evaluate whether there is a difference in activity between regimens containing dacarbazine and regimens without dacarbazine in metastatic melanoma, whether there is a dose-effect relationship for dacarbazine, and whether non-dacarbazine-containing aggressive regimens are in any way superior to non-aggressive ones. A total of 219 patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma were included in this study; 196 of them were evaluable for activity. The patients were randomized into four treatment arms: arm A (standard dose dacarbazine arm), vincristine 1.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with primary localization in large bowel and rectum.

From 1989, at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology in Belgrade, seven patients with primary NHL of large bowel and rectum have been observed and treated, 3 males and 4 females. In 3 patients an urgent laparotomy without previous diagnostic procedures was performed, while 4 patients had laparotomy only after radiographic and endoscopic diagnosis of a tumor. Six patients had radical surgery and 1 palliative only.

Epirubicin 150 mg/m2-cisplatin versus epirubicin 180 mg/m2-cisplatin for advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

We have previously reported the superiority of the epirubicin 180 mg/m2-cisplatin combination over single drug epirubicin 180 mg/m2 for advanced soft tissue sarcoma both in terms of response (54% vs. 29%, p = 0.025) and survival (p = 0.

Comparison of two non-anthracycline-containing regimens for elderly patients with diffuse large-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma--possible pitfalls in results reporting and interpretation.

Age over 65 years is a risk factor per se for doxorubicin administration, and coexisting diseases pose additional problems. There is still controversy whether chemotherapy regimens for elderly patients with aggressive NHL should be full-dose doxorubicin containing or whether development of non-anthracycline containing regimens is warranted. In this prospective study, 47 patients aged over 65 years with diffuse large cell NHL clinical Stage I/IE bulky-IV and no other initial exclusion criteria were randomized to receive either BCNU 120 mg/m2 d.

Pilot study of daily ifosfamide 1 g/m2 until grade III granulocytopenia as second-line chemotherapy for anthracycline-pretreated advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Background And Aims: Second-line chemotherapy regimens for advanced soft tissue sarcomas after treatment failure or tumor relapse following anthracyclines are still investigational. The aim of the present study was to assess the activity of ifosfamide with a new schedule for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma failing to achieve remission or relapsing following anthracycline-containing regimens; it was attempted to individualize dosages and prevent excessive toxicity.

Study Design: A second-line chemotherapy regimen of ifosfamide 1 g/m2 daily, with drug withdrawal until the next cycle upon appearance of grade III granulocytopenia, was administered to 21 patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

A two-step reevaluation of high-dose amsacrine for advanced carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: a pilot phase II study.

Results of amsacrine studies in different solid tumors with a dose of 85 mg/m2/24 h x 1 quo 3 weeks have been, in general, disappointing. Although only a few patients with head and neck cancer have been included in broad phase II studies, several responses have been reported, but detailed data concerning responders are lacking. In the present study, amsacrine (Amsidil, Godecke-Parke Davis) was administered at an increased dose of 85 mg/m2/24 h x 3 (total dose per cycle 255 mg/m2) quo 3-4 weeks.

Randomized study of zorubicin versus zorubicin-cisplatin in undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT).

Background: The most active chemotherapy regimens in UCNT were those combining anthracyclines (doxorubicin or epirubicin) and cisplatin. Our previous pilot study on 37 patients treated with the zorubicin-cisplatin combination with a RR of 67% and literature data about other anthracyclines such as epirubicin achieving a response rate of over 50% were the basis of this randomized study comparing efficacy and toxicity of the combination vs. zorubicin as monotherapy.

Randomised study of high-dose epirubicin versus high-dose epirubicin-cisplatin chemotherapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

A randomised study was started in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas who received either epirubicin 60 mg/m2/24 h (total dose for cycle 180 mg/m2) days 1, 2 and 3, (group A) or epirubicin 60 mg/m2/24 h days 1, 2 and 3 and cisplatin 30 mg/m2/24 h days 2, 3, 4 and 5 (group B). The maximal number of cycles foreseen in both groups was eight. Cardiotoxicity of the regimens was monitored by serial LVEF determinations.

Richter syndrome with emphasis on large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in previously unrecognized subclinical chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The authors report seven cases of Richter's syndrome, i.e. of large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) arising in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

[High-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of renal parenchyma].

In animals it was found that the growth of oestrogen induced renal cell carcinoma can be inhibited by progesterone derivatives. In human clinical studies of metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with MPA doses of 500 mg/24 h the overall response was about or below 10%. However, it has been noted that there is a dose effect relationship in MPA in breast cancer.

Cardioprotection with ICRF-187 (Cardioxane) in patients with advanced breast cancer having cardiac risk factors for doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, treated with the FDC regimen.

A study of cardioprotection with ICRF-187 (Cardioxane, Eurocetus) has been performed in 35 patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with the FDC regimen (5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 i.v., day 1; doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.

[Anti-pain effect of salmon calcitonin in bone metastases of malignant tumors with the exception of breast and prostatic carcinoma].

In 16 patients with pain caused by diffuse osteolytic or osteoplastic-osteolytic metastases, salmon calcitonin was used as pain relieving treatment. All patients were pretreated with opiate type analgesics without a satisfactory effect. In 2 patients it was possible to withdraw completely previous opiate intake.

[Chemotherapy with high dose of anthracyclines combined with cisplatin in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas].

In the Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Belgrade 45 patients were treated with combined chemotherapy of Doxorubicin 75 mg/m2 and Cisplatin 120 mg/m2 per cycle, and 35 patients with Epirubicin substituting Doxorubicin; this second group received Epirubicin 180 mg/m2 and Cisplatin 120 mg/m2 per cycle. All patients were chemotherapy naive. The group receiving Doxorubicin recruited prognostically better patients with ECOG performance status 0 - 2 and median age of 41 years; the group receiving Epirubicin recruited patients with a larger ECOG performance score (0 - 3), and the median age was 48 years.

Primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma localized to the gastric wall: no adjuvant treatment following radical surgery.

The paper presents the experience with watch-and-wait policy following radical surgery in 25 patients with primary gastric non-Hodgkin's (NH) lymphoma localized to the gastric wall. The median follow-up is at the moment 40 months (range 18-85). Only 3/25 patients have relapsed (during the first year of the follow-up) and achieved a complete response following chemotherapy.

Non-IPSID small intestinal lymphoma: evidence for disseminated disease at presentation.

During the period 1984-1989 the authors have observed 20 patients with non-IPSID small intestinal lymphomas, 11 males and 9 females. In 11 patients the first symptoms were abdominal cramps requiring laparotomy, in 4 ileus, and in 5 perforation with peritonitis. Resection of the involved part of the intestine was performed in 17 patients.