Lapatinib in the treatment of HER-2 overexpressing breast cancer.

Lapatinib is the only clinically available agent for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) positive tumors that have progressed on treatment with trastuzumab, taxanes and anthracyclines. Moreover, when given with letrozole in postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor (ER) and HER-2 positive disease it induces clinically meaningful benefit. Recently presented neoadjuvant data suggests an important place for the combination of trastuzumab and lapatinib in the therapy of early HER-2 positive breast cancer.

Full trisomy 5 in a sample of spontaneous abortion and Arias Stella reaction.

Background: Historically, 50% of spontaneously expelled abortuses have been thought to be chromosomally abnormal; about 60% are trisomies. In general, trisomy 16 is the most frequent chromosomal abnormality, followed by trisomy 21 and trisomy 22. So far only 1 case of a female fetus with multiple congenital malformations associated with full trisomy 5 has been described.

Angiomyomatous hamartoma of the popliteal lymph nodes in a patient with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: case report.

We present a case of angiomyomatous hamartoma (AMH) in the popliteal region of a patient with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. A 14-year-old boy with a right popliteal mass and recurrent edema of the right leg was admitted to a local hospital where a diagnosis of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome was made. Three lymph nodes in the right popliteal fossa were removed.

Combination of capecitabine and mitomycin C as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Optimal first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is challenging, particularly in patients previously treated with (neo) adjuvant anthracyclines/taxanes. Based on preclinical synergy with mitomycin C (MMC) and capecitabine in human tumor xenografts, we conducted a phase II study of first-line capecitabine and MMC in MBC. Patients received 3-weekly chemotherapy comprising MMC 8 mg/m² day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily, days 1-14.

Anaesthesiology activities in Croatia from the first ether narcosis in Zadar in 1847 to 2008.

This is a short review of the historical development of anaesthesiology and intensive care in Croatia from its beginning to recent days (2008). Five months after the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia in the USA, Ivan Bettini followed with the first ether anaesthesia in Zadar, on 13 March 1847. In the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the following doctors wrote about performing anaesthesia: Miroslav Čačković (in 1896), Dragutin Schwarz, Edo Šlajmer, Milan Crljenak, Antun Medanić, BoŽidar Lavrić, Simo Mučalov, Josip Vodenhal, Ante Drešćik, Radoslav Akerman, and Đurđa Klaić.

Glossopharyngeal insufflation induces cardioinhibitory syncope in apnea divers.

Apnea divers increase intrathoracic pressure voluntarily by taking a deep breath followed by glossopharyngeal insufflation. Because apnea divers sometimes experience hypotension and syncope during the maneuver, they may serve as a model to study the mechanisms of syncope. We recorded changes in hemodynamics and sympathetic vasomotor tone with microneurography during breath holding with glossopharyngeal insufflation.

The Croatian version of diagnostic interview for genetic studies.

Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS) is a modern structured interview schedule that has been in use since 1994. Main purpose of the DIGS is to record information regarding to a subject's functioning and psychopathology and it was specifically designed for psychiatric genetic studies. The DIGS is also suitable for making diagnosis, evaluation of comorbidity and other researches.

Schizophrenia spectrum psychosis in a Croatian genetic isolate: genealogical reconstructions.

Background: Schizophrenia spectrum psychosis is a chronic mental disorder, based on a range of genes whose expression can be altered by different environmental factors.

Subjects And Methods: In this archival and demographic study of genetic isolate we show an incidence of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis in a minority population and transmission of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis through several generations of two families in an isolated rural area of Dalmatia from the second half of 19th and the first half of 20th century.

Results: The incidence of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis was between 0.

Trauma, shame and psychotic depression experienced by ex-POWs after release.

Modern societies are growing ever more sensitive to the various sources and many kinds of psychic traumas, resulting even in psychotic reactions or states of functioning. Especially the war captivity situation represents the prolonged basis for chronic severe psychic stress and traumatisation, that may become deleterious even for the core self of the person. Severely psychotraumatized war veterans, or ex-POWs in the aftermath of the war captivity situation, survivors of extreme forms of violence and humiliation, are very reluctant to recall traumas.

Psychodynamic understanding and psychotherapeutic approach to psychoses.

The historical development of the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy is described. The origins of ISPS are described, and ISPS Croatia and Slovenia are introduced.

Wartime open globe eye injuries.

Background: Open globe injuries are the most serious eye injuries in war as in peace time. The purpose of this study is to analyze wartime open globe eye injuries in 72 patients treated at the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital of Split from July 1991 to April 1993, during the intensive war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to evaluate crucial factors responsible for the functional success of the treatment.

Methods: Wartime open globe eye injuries were retrospectively analyzed in 72 patients (80 eyes) hospitalized at Clinical Hospital of Split, Department of Ophthalmology, between July 1991 and April 1993.

Psychosocial intervention as the additional therapy for bipolar affective disorder: a case report.

Psychosocial interventions have been shown to enhance pharmacotherapy outcomes in bipolar affective disorder (BAD). This article describes an application of psychosocial intervention as the additional therapy for BAD. In this case report we present the course of illness, psychological features and specific chronic stress of a patient with BAD.

Capecitabine and mitomycin-C in the therapy of pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: single center retrospective study with 36 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of treatment with capecitabine and mitomycin-C (MMC) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with at least one chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease.

Patients And Methods: A total of 36 patients (male/female 21/15, median age 62.5 years) with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with capecitabine and MMC as their second, third or fourth line chemotherapy regimen.

Cyclin D1 and p27 expression as prognostic factor in papillary carcinoma of thyroid: association with clinicopathological parameters.

Aim: To determine the prognostic value of cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 and p27 for papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Methods: Analysis included 180 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent surgery at Split University Hospital Center between 1999 and 2001. Clinical data were obtained from clinical charts and histopathology reports.

Family-based analysis of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes in the population of South Croatia.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a disease characterised by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Vitamin D is a known immune system modulator and its effects are exerted via the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Several VDR gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been commonly studied in relation to T1DM.

Clinical importance of somatosensory evoked potentials in early diagnosis of syringomyelia.

We report a rare case of syringomyelia, the development of which was monitored by somatosensory evoked potentials. The evoked potentials recorded over an eight months' period of time were correlated with the incidence of syringomyelia. Changes of the evoked response latency and amplitude were dtected.

Apocrine adenoma of the breast coexistent with invasive carcinoma.

We describe a case of apocrine adenoma with simultaneous occurrence of invasive ductal carcinoma in the breast of a 53-year-old woman. Apocrine adenoma affecting the breast is very rare. The lesion is composed of back-to-back ducts and papillary fronds covered with apocrine cells, and it is sharply demarcated from the surrounding breast tissue.

The patient with schizophrenia and his father. The father's role and personality traits in the dynamics of the family with a son suffering from schizophrenia.

The role of the father in the onset and development of schizophrenic disorder/disturbance is very often secondary as compared to that of the mother. This study deals with the father's sphere in the family with a patient/son suffering from schizophrenia, the traits of his personality and his relationship with his son/patient, and with his wife/the mother of the patient. The methods applied were clinical interview, structured interview and semantic differential.

Slower cortisol response during ACTH stimulation test in autistic children.

Autism is a hereditary, pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that starts early in life. The main characteristics of the autism are impairment in social interactions, difficulties in adapting to novel environmental situations and improper reaction to stress. Since the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical (HPA) axis plays a key role in the response to stress and because the previous research found abnormalities in HPA system, we conducted a study to test several elements of the HPA axis.

Acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis in acute Q Fever.

The clinical presentation of Q fever is polymorphic and non-specific, and it may be presented as an acute or chronic disease. Renal complications of acute Q fever such as acute glomerulonephritis are not uncommon. Acute renal failure induced by rhabdomyolysis in acute Q fever has until now never been reported in the literature.

Somatosensory-evoked potentials and MRI in tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

Early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis is a condition of efficient conservative treatment. Somatosensory-evoked potentials with clinical examination results are used in assessing the diagnosis, as well as in monitoring the course of disease and healing. MRI clearly shows the inflammatory process, healing and scars.

131 I-induced changes in rat thyroid gland function.

Therapeutic doses of (131)I administered to thyrotoxic patients may cause thyroid failure. The present study used a rat model to determine thyroid function after the administration of different doses of (131)I (64-277 microCi). Thirty male Fisher rats in the experimental group and 30 in the control group (untreated) were followed for 6 months.

Successful conservative and endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fistula due to splenectomy following blunt abdominal trauma.

Pancreatic fistula most commonly occur as a consequence of resective procedures and pseudocyst drainage, and rarely as a consequence of splenectomy. Conservative treatment can have good results, but it is long lasting and demands long hospitalization. In case of conservative treatment failure, operative treatment is indicated, but this has significantly higher percentage of morbidity and mortality.

Assessing glycemia in type 1 diabetic patients using a microdialysis system for continuous glucose monitoring.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring systems can monitor moment-to-moment changes in blood glucose concentration, which cannot be detected by intermittent self-monitoring. Continuing monitoring systems may lead to improved glycemic control. We evaluated a microdialysis technique for improving glycemic control in type 1 diabetes patients treated by different means of basal insulin substitution.

Cord blood cortisol level is lower in growth-restricted newborns.

Aim: To establish the difference in plasma cortisol concentrations between newborns with intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) birthweights.

Subjects And Methods: We measured plasma cortisol concentrations in the umbilical venous cord blood of 68 IUGR newborns and 71 AGA birthweight newborns. All newborns were delivered in term, vaginally, in the morning, within 8 hours and had APGAR scores greater or equal to eight.