A stereotypic "elbowing" movement, a possible new primitive reflex in newborns.

The primitive reflexes are brainstem-mediated and play various roles in the child's psychomotor development. The objective of the current study is to describe a new pattern of primitive reflex, noticed in 52 of 81 randomly chosen newborns and young infants during pressing of the subcostal region. Some of them reacted by three-phase stereotypic movement as follows: phase 1: quick adduction of upper arm with flexion of the forearm, with elbow directed toward the site of stimuli, touching the stimulated area; phase 2: abduction and retroflexion of upper arm with the movement of removing the stimulus with the elbow; phase 3: extension and pronation of the forearm.

Should we screen for asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in glaucoma patients?

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Patients And Methods: Two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography of transmitral flow was performed on 31 glaucoma patients and 27 controls.

Results: No significant difference was found in early (E) and late (A) transmitral filling velocity, velocity time integral E wave (VTIE) and A wave (VTIA), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS).

Comparative assessment of the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The objective of the study was to estimate the most successful way of treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Patients And Methods: A total of 87 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected for a three-month study. The patients were divided into three groups comprising 29 patients in each group, based upon the treatment regimen.

Diagnostics of incomplete Brown-Sequard syndrome caused by meningococcal myelitis.

We are reviewing a 20-year old girl with the history of acute meningococcal sepsa with meningitis and thoracic myelitis resulting from an early embolia into the spinal cord, which is a very rare complication of meningococcemia. The ipsilateral loss of sensation indicates lesion of the posterior ascendent fiber tracts in the spinal cord, witout contralateral motoricity deficite, this indicating the incomplete Brown-Sequard syndrome. Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEP) of the n.

The level of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies highly correlates with metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints flexion contractures in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: It is found that an antibody directed against DNA topoisomerase I (anti-topo I abs) is detected almost exclusively in systemic sclerosis (SSc). These antibodies are predictors of pulmonary fibrosis and peripheral vascular disease.

Objective: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints flexion contractures are assessed as markers of active SSc.

Correlations among age, cytokines, lymphocyte subtypes, and platelet counts in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.

While autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura is mediated by autoantibodies, accumulating evidence suggests that T helper cells and the cytokines they produce also play a key role. We determined correlations among age, serum cytokine concentrations, circulating lymphocyte, and platelet counts in adult (n=19) and children (n=29) with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Correlations between age and cytokine levels were also assessed in healthy controls (n=50).

Microsatelite GT polymorphism in the toll-like receptor 2 is associated with colorectal cancer.

Factors underlying genetic predisposition for development of sporadic colorectal cancer are largely unknown. The fact that this cancer is more common in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease raises the question of the relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer. Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) are critical in initiating innate immune response and inflammation toward various bacteria commonly found in the intestine.

Concomitant chemobrachyradiotherapy with ifosfamide and cisplatin followed by consolidation chemotherapy for women with locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix--final results of a prospective phase II-study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of ifosfamide and cisplatin administered concomitantly with low-dose rate brachyradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (LASCC) or adeno/adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with primary uterine cervical cancer were enrolled between August 1999 and November 2004. The patients had to have FIGO-stage IB2 bulky to IVA disease, biopsy-proven squamous cell or adeno/adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Psychosis and Wilson's disease: a case report.

In this article we present a case of a 26-year-old woman with clinical picture of acute psychosis, as the first and main manifestation of Wilson's disease, who developed abnormal involuntary choreoathetoid limb movements, few days after initiation of neuroleptic therapy. At the first movement neurological symptoms were misinterpreted as side effect of haloperidol, but consulted neurologist suggested additional diagnostic procedure which confirmed Wilson's disease. Psychiatric symptomatology and abnormal involuntary movements were the clinical manifestation of this disease, which improved with neuroleptic and chelating treatment.

Hemifacial spasm in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Vascular compression of the facial nerve is a well recognized cause of hemifacial spasm (HFS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provide vascular and brain tissue diagnosis in a single non-invasive examination and should be recommended as primary neuroradiological procedure in HFS. We report a rare case of symptomatic HFS caused by a vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Successful management of bleeding with recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) in a patient with Burkitt lymphoma and thrombosis of the left femoral and left common iliac veins.

We present the case of an 18-year-old female with Burkitt lymphoma involving the intra-abdominal and inguinal lymph nodes. The tumor had invaded the left femoral and common iliac veins causing secondary thrombosis and vessel occlusion. Chemotherapy and anticoagulant treatment resulted in mild thrombocytopenia and a prolonged prothrombin time, respectively, which exacerbated postoperative bleeding following surgical removal of a deep inguinal necrosis.

Effect of human splenic contraction on variation in circulating blood cell counts.

1. The human spleen sequesters 200-250 mL densely packed red blood cells. Up to 50% of this viscous blood is actively expelled into the systemic circulation during strenuous exercise or simulated apnoea (breath-hold) diving.

Concomitant chemobrachyradiotherapy with ifosfamide and cisplatin followed by consolidation chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

The optimal treatment of women with locally advanced adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix uteri is still undefined. We report a series of four consecutive patients with locally advanced adeno- or adenosquamous carcinomas of the uterine cervix (FIGO Stages IB-IIIB) treated by concomitant chemobrachyradiotherapy with ifosfamide and cisplatin followed by one to four cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with the same drug combination. After completion of this treatment all patients showed complete clinical remission.

Bilateral cortical blindness--Anton syndrome: case report.

The aim of this work is the specify of rare neurological disorder, bilateral cortical blindness and Anton syndrome. It is about loss of vision in the presence of intact anterior pathways and a form of visual anosognosia, with resulting patient denial of blindness. This is a case of 72-year old man with history of diabetes and hypertension.

Treatment of post-traumatic trabecular mashwork thrombosis and secondary glaucoma with intracameral tissue plasminogen activator in previously unrecognized sickle cell anemia.

Intracameral tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) application in a child with previously unrecognized sickle cell anemia, post-traumatic hyphema, thrombosis in trabecular mashwork and consecutive acute glaucoma showed positive results. Thirteen year-old boy, son of African father and Caucasian mother, was admitted to hospital, with symptoms of acute glaucoma and partial hyphema after right eye trauma. Visual acuity of affected eye was 0.

Doppler-echocardiographic characteristics of left ventricular function in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: a preliminary report.

Glaucoma is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors. The aim of the study was to assess the left ventricular (LV) function in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma using doppler-echocardiographic examinations. Two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography of transmitral flow was performed in 21 patients with (PEX) glaucoma and 24 controls.

Characterization of G6PD deficiency in southern Croatia: description of a new variant, G6PD Split.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency protects from severe forms of malaria. It is interesting therefore to analyze the molecular basis underlying G6PD deficiency in regions such as the Mediterranean basin where malaria was present for a long time in history. Here we report on the genetic characterization of G6PD deficiency among inhabitants of one Mediterranean region-the Dalmatian region of south Croatia.

Cold injury syndrome and neurodevelopmental changes in survivors.

Background: The aim of this study was to extend and develop knowledge of the clinical parameters of cold injury syndrome (CIS) in hypothermic infants and newborns, so that morbidity, mortality, and neurodevelopmental disturbances associated with the condition can be reduced.

Methods: This retrospective, 10-year cohort study investigated 103 hypothermic infant and newborn patients (aged 0-60 days) admitted to the Pediatric Department between January 1, 1976 and December 31, 1985. Medical records of 67 survivors and 36 children who died were analyzed.

Complications of missile craniocerebral injuries during the Croatian Homeland War.

Objective: Complications of penetrating craniocerebral injuries in war can be early (during the first week after wounding) or late (after that period). Postoperative hematomas, infections, seizures, and cerebrospinal fluid fistulas (CSFFs) are counted among the early complications, whereas foreign bodies migrating intracranially, seizures, infections, and posttraumatic hydrocephalus represent late complications. A total of 176 patients with well-defined head injuries from missiles, sustained during the Croatian Homeland War (1991-1995), developed a total of 61 (34.

Angiosarcoma arising in sclerodermatous skin.

We report a case of cutaneous angiosarcoma in a 77-year-old female patient with systemic sclerosis. The tumor developed around a large telangiectasia in the left temporal region. Later on, extensive asymptomatic redness and edema with several nodules over the whole left side of the face developed.