Evaluation of oxidative stress after repeated intravenous iron supplementation.

Parenteral iron has been recommended for the treatment of iron deficiency in the majority of maintenance hemodialyzed (HD) patients. However, iron supplementation and consequent over saturation of transferrin and high iron levels, may aggravate oxidative stress already present in these patients. This study aimed to further clarify the role of repeated intravenous iron therapy as a supplementary cause of oxidative stress in HD patients.

[Intramural hematoma in acute aortic syndrome].

Intramural haematoma is the precursor or the variant of a classical aortic dissection where hemorrhage occurs within the aortic wall (aortic media) and in absence of initial intimal tear. This entity looks like a classical aortic dissection, but it differs from it by its pathological characteristics. Although the intimal tear is absent, the prognosis of patients with intramural haematoma is similar to that of patients with classical aortic dissection; it is therefore very important for these patients to be early diagnosed.

Smoking habits, signs of chronic diseases and survival in inland and coastal regions of Croatia: a follow-up study.

Aim of the study was to estimate, the relationship between survival, smoking habits, and the results of medical examinations in inland and coastal regions of Croatia. Age and sex stratified sample of general population (1,571 men and 1,793 women, 37-56 years old in 1972; followed in 1982: N = 1,090 men; 1,325 women and/or 1972-1999 controlling vital status). Relative risks and 95% confidence limits were estimated using Cox regression in the model with time dependent covariates, separately by sex.

[The criteria for determining brain death in children].

The American Committee, followed by the British, consisting of experts in various fields, in 1968 and 1976, respectively, reached the following consensus: "If a brain stem is dead, a brain is dead, if a brain is dead, a person is dead...

[Anesthesia in day surgery in children].

The progress of anesthesiology and surgery makes it possible for most of the interventions to be preformed during day surgery. The objective of this study was, by the analysis of patients who had undergone day surgery and with respect of procedure and patients selection criteria, to show that this mode of treatment is efficient, safe and money saving. Retrospective study consisted of 2078 children, aged 6 months to 14 years, ASA I-II, subjected to various interventions at the Day Surgical Department of the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade.

Comparative study of the antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E in different E. coli strains.

The antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E due to its antioxidative properties was studied. The new Escherichia coli K12 assay-system designed in our laboratory was employed in order to detect the antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E and to determine its molecular mechanisms of action. The assay is composed of three tests.

Fluoride levels in saliva and dental plaque after consumption of snacks prepared with fluoridated salt.

Aim: To determine the concentration of fluoride in saliva and supragingival dental plaque at designated time intervals after consumption of snacks prepared with a standardised amount of fluoridated salt.

Study Design: The investigation had a single blind prospective crossover design.

Methods: A group of 11 healthy young adults volunteered to participate after verbal and written information and consent.

Impact of coffee and other selected factors on general mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular disease in Croatia.

In Croatia, the mortality rate is higher than that in the countries of the European Union (EU), and consumption of coffee is moderate compared to the EU countries. The study examined the effects of coffee consumption on all-cause (general) mortality, mortality due to cardiovascular disease, and survival. Analyses were based on data obtained from an epidemiological longitudinal study started in 1969 with follow-ups in 1972, including 1,571 men and 1,793 women aged 35-59 years, and in 1982, including 1,093 men and 1,330 women.

Time course of erythrocyte antioxidant activity in patients treated by thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

The deleterious effects of free radicals in acute myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion are rather well known. However, the possibility that thrombolysis positively affects the recovery of blood antioxidant capacity in the later postinfarction period, and thus contributes to the better overall outcome of these patients, has not yet been investigated. We followed the time course of erythrocyte antioxidant activity in 45 patients with first acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who were treated with streptokinase.

["Flash" pulmonary edema as a clinical manifestation of renovascular hypertension].

One of the clinical manifestations of renovascular hypertension (RVH) may be a recurrent pulmonary oedema both in the absence or in the presence of systolic left ventricular dysfunction. This type of pulmonary oedema characterized as "flash" pulmonary oedema is ascribed to elevated angiotensin II concentrations with consequent hypertension as well as to volume overload resulting from decreased pressor natriuresis when there are significant stenoses of both or one renal arteries. The investigation included 30 patients with RVH treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the stenosed renal artery (PTRA) and/or stent implantation (PTR-ST) and 30 patients with surgical resection of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

[Nutritional support in short bowel syndrome].

Short bowel syndrome most commonly result after bowel resection for necrosis of the bowel. It may be caused by arterial or venous thrombosis, volvolus and in children, necrotizing enterocolitis. The other causes are Crohn's disease, intestinal atresia.

Extent of oncological resection in laparoscopic vs. open colorectal surgery: meta-analysis.

Background: Laparoscopy is not yet wide accepted in cancer colorectal surgery. This study investigated whether the extent of anatomical resection in laparoscopic colorectal surgery is equivalent to that in the open colorectal surgery.

Materials And Methods: We examined reports on the results of laparoscopic or open colorectal procedures published between 1990 and 1999 and selected 35 with data on lymph node count and distal margin clearance (total of 3935 patients).

Calcium supplementation efficiently reduces lead absorption in suckling rats.

The effect of calcium supplementation on tissue lead was evaluated in suckling Wistar rats. Such data are not yet available in the literature. The following artificial feeding regimen was used for calcium supplementation: cow's milk by addition of 1%, 3% or 6% Ca as CaHPO(4)x2H(2)O suspension to increase the daily calcium intake about 1.

The frequency of dicentrics and acentrics and the incidence of rogue cells in radiation workers.

Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation causes chromosomal damage. Some of the damaged cells show a large number of aberrations such as dicentrics, polycentrics, rings and numerous acentric fragments. This paper describes an analysis of the frequency of dicentric chromosomes and acentric fragments in 1260 subjects occupationally exposed to X-rays and 241 controls.

Event-related potentials in medical workers with long-term exposure to xylene.

The effects of chronic exposure to xylene on cognitive ability were studied in a group of 35 medical workers occupationally exposed to low-level concentrations of xylene for at least five years by using event-related potentials (ERPs), and compared with a control group of 21 subjects. The exposure to xylene was confirmed through determination of m-methylhippuric acid, a reliable biological indicator of xylene exposure, in pre- and post-shift urine. A dose-effect relationship between log m-methylhippuric acid and ERP log latency (p = 0.

Variation in survival in coastal and continental regions of Croatia--results of a longitudinal study.

After 25 years of follow-up, regional variations in survival were analysed on a sample of 3343 participants (1780 female, 1563 male) from three urban and three rural municipalities in Croatia. Age of participants was in the range 35-54 years at the beginning of the study (1969). Cox regression for general mortality singled out one continental rural municipality (Virovitica) with the lowest survival in both genders.

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in colorectal carcinoma.

The changes in serum levels of serum amyloid A protein were studied in 67 patients suffering from colorectal carcinoma and compared to three other major acute phase proteins: C-reactive protein, alpha1-antichymotrypsin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein. Although the presence of colorectal carcinoma caused an increase in serum levels of all the acute phase reactants studied, serum amyloid A protein showed the most powerful reaction in pre-operative disease stage, with the mean value of 330 mg/l (range 7-2506 mg/l) as compared to the normal values of <1.2 mg/l obtained in 30 healthy adults.

[The effect of implementation of a unit dose drug distribution system on drug consumption].

As an important drug consumer in Dubrava University Hospital, Department of Cardiac Surgery has been chosen for testing a new model of drug distribution system known as unit dose drug distribution system. During the first 39 weeks in 1996--comparative period, drugs were delivered from the Pharmacy to the Department of Cardiac Surgery in traditional way, known as floor stock system. Next 65 weeks, until the end of 1997--pilot study period, drugs were delivered directly from the Pharmacy to the patients, using unit dose drug distribution system.

[Clinical manifestations of familial hypercholesterolemia].

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder clinically characterized by high serum cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein--LDL-fraction) concentrations, xanthomas and premature atherosclerosis. Homozygous individuals suffer from vascular disease in childhood or young adolescence since heterozygous persons are usually at ligh risk of premature cardiovascular death. We present a 42-year old female with coronary heart disease and tuber and tendinous xanthomas, which appeared as a consequence of delayed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae).

The essential oils and an ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Seven bacterial and seven fungal species were used.

Short-term effects of ambient nitrogen oxides on the number of emergency asthma cases in Zagreb, Croatia.

The paper describes an investigation of short-term effects of NO2 concentrations in the air on the number of emergency room visits caused by respiratory impairments, particularly asthma in adults and children. The data were collected from clinical emergency room records from July 1, 1994 to December 31, 1995. Concurrently, readings of average weekly concentrations of NO2 (microgram/m3), average weekly temperature (degree C), air pressure (kPa), and relative humidity (%) were registered.