Waldenström's macroglobulinemia as a diagnostic challenge: case report.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a distinct clinicopathologic entity defined as a B-cell neoplasm characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the bone marrow, with an associated immunoglobulin (Ig) M paraprotein. Clinical manifestations are due to deposition of IgM in the liver, spleen, and/or lymph nodes, so it presents with anemia, hyperviscosity, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and neurologic symptoms. The main diagnostic criteria are a typical peak on serum protein electrophoresis and malignant cells in bone marrow biopsy samples.

A first case of endoscopical removal of an eroded adjustable gastric band in Croatia.

Laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB) is one of the most common surgical procedures in the treatment of morbid obesity since it provides good long-term outcomes in weight loss and decrease of comorbidities associated with obesity. Although the procedure has low morbidity and almost none-existing mortality, certain complications can occur. Erosion of the band into the gastric wall is one of the rare complications in LAGB.

Secondary arterio-enteric fistula: case report and review of the literature.

Arterio-enteric fistula is a rare, but potentially deadly cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The disease occurs in two forms: primary as a result of atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm, aortitis, trauma, radiation, tumor invasion or penetrating ulcer, and secondary as a consequence of surgical aortal reconstruction. The clinical manifestation is mostly gastrointestinal bleeding, rarely back pain, fever and sepsis.

The influence of etiologic factors on clinical outcome in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.

Background: Peptic ulcer bleeding remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use, Helicobacter pylori infection and non-H. pylori-non-NSAIDs causes of peptic ulcer bleeding and to identify the predictive factors influencing the rebleeding rate and in-hospital mortality in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Endoclips vs large or small-volume epinephrine in peptic ulcer recurrent bleeding.

Aim: To compare the recurrent bleeding after endoscopic injection of different epinephrine volumes with hemoclips in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2009, 150 patients with gastric or duodenal bleeding ulcer with major stigmata of hemorrhage and nonbleeding visible vessel in an ulcer bed (Forrest IIa) were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive a small-volume epinephrine group (15 to 25 mL injection group; Group 1, n = 50), a large-volume epinephrine group (30 to 40 mL injection group; Group 2, n = 50) and a hemoclip group (Group 3, n = 50).

Position of intragastric balloons in global initiative for obesity treatment.

Obesity is chronic disease with multiple health consequences and among the most severe health problems worldwide. According to public health records around 65% of population in Croatia are overweight and 20% obese. National physicians chamber with support of Health and Social Welfare Ministry gave recommendations on diagnosing and treating of obesity in form of national consensus.

A randomized-controlled trial of endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage: N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection vs. variceal ligation.

Background/aims: This prospective randomized trial compares the efficacy of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection and variceal ligation in emergency endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension and chronic liver disease.

Methodology: Between January 2004 to December 2008 43 patients with endoscopy-proven acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: endoscopic injection with N-butyl-2-cyanacrylate (n=22) and endoscopic variceal ligation (n=21). Vital signs, the amount of blood transfusion and infection status were recorded before and after endoscopic treatment.

Morbidly obese are ghrelin and leptin hyporesponders with lesser intragastric balloon treatment efficiency : ghrelin and leptin changes in relation to obesity treatment.

Background: Ghrelin and leptin recently emerged as the most influential neuroendocrine factors in the pathophysiology of obesity. The said peptides act in reciprocity and are responsible for regulation of appetite and energy metabolism. Intragastric balloons acquired worldwide popularity for obesity treatment.

Obesity treatment using a Bioenterics intragastric balloon (BIB)--preliminary Croatian results.

Aim Of Study: This study aims to assess the effectiveness, tolerance, safety, and patient satisfaction of obesity treatments using the Bioenterics intragastric balloon (BIB).

Methods: Prospective controlled trial of 33 obese patients who were treated with the BIB from March 2008 to March 2009 and who completed the 6 months treatment. Patients were selected on the basis of workup by a multidisciplinary team.

Minimally invasive treatment of causes and complications of biliary pancreatitis.

We report a case of a 52-year-old man admitted to our hospital because of acute biliary pancreatitis caused by cholelithiasis. The patient also had choledocholithiasis complicated with pancreatic pseudocyst. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed and a large number of common bile duct stones were extracted with Dormia basket upon papillotomy.

Efficacy of endoscopic clipping for actively bleeding peptic ulcer: comparison with polidocanol injection therapy.

Background/aims: The use of hemostatic clips is conceptually attractive for achieving definitive hemostasis in peptic ulcer bleeding. There are only a few clinical trials comparing clipping with other endoscopic hemostatic methods. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of endoscopic clipping with that of injection of polidocanol for hemostasis from actively (spurting or oozing) bleeding peptic ulcer.

[Caroli's disease].

Caroli's disease is a rare condition characterized by congenital polycystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. The most frequent clinical presentation of a simple type (Caroli's disease) is recurrent cholangitis, gallstone with pain, obstructive jaundice and episodes of pancreatitis in childhood and early adulthood. A more frequent type combined with congenital hepatic fibrosis is usually manifested with bleeding from esophageal varices consequential to portal hypertension.

[Primary sclerosing cholangitis--diagnosis and therapy].

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown origin, characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and obliteration of bile ducts, which ultimately results in biliary cirrhosis. The condition most commonly affects intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts together, but sometimes only intrahepatic or extrahepatic ducts are involved. PSC is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis.

Efficacy and safety of propofol sedation during urgent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy--a prospective study.

The aim of this study was to investigate both the efficacy and safety of sedation with propofol during urgent therapeutic gastroscopy in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This prospective study included a total of 110 patients. Propofol was administered intravenously at the starting dose of 1 mg/kg body weight and was followed by repeated doses.