Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, diabetes mellitus and serum nutritional markers after acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate impairment and clinical significance of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function in patients after acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: Patients with AP were invited to participate in the study. Severity of AP was determined by the Atlanta classification and definitions revised in 2012.

Betapapillomaviruses in the anal canal of HIV positive and HIV negative men who have sex with men.

Background: Betapapillomaviruses (β-PV) are etiologically associated with epidermodysplasia verruciformis and a proportion of skin precancerous lesions and cancer, mainly in immunocompromised individuals.

Objectives: The prevalence and persistence of anal β-PV infection and β-PV type distribution were determined in a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM). A correlation with HIV-1 infection status and selected demographic and behavioral risk factors were additionally established.

General public awareness of heart failure: results of questionnaire survey during Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011.

Introduction: General public views about heart failure (HF) alone and in comparison with other chronic conditions are largely unknown; thus we conducted this survey to evaluate general public awareness about HF and HF disease burden relative to common chronic disease.

Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey during European Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011. People visiting the stands and other activities in 12 Slovenian cities were invited to complete a 14-item questionnaire.

Polymorphisms XbaI (rs693) and EcoRI (rs1042031) of the ApoB gene are associated with carotid plaques but not with carotid intima-media thickness in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Background: Apolipoprotein B is a key structural component of all the atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL and IDL). Genetic variations of the ApoB gene may affect plasma ApoB and lipid levels, thus influencing atherogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the association of polymorphisms XbaI (rs693) and EcoRI (rs1042031) of the ApoB gene with plasma ApoB level, lipid levels and the different ultrasound phenotypes of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Low prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can occur in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Incidence of EPI and its clinical significance remain poorly defined. The aim of our study was to determine whether exocrine pancreatic function is impaired in patients with DM.

Prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Slovenia: a study on 2,841 newborns.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital infection in humans. In the first prevalence study of congenital CMV infection in Eastern and Central Europe, all neonates born in a 22-month period in two Slovenian maternity units (total of 2,841 newborns) were screened prospectively for congenital CMV infection by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urine. In all newborns with positive screening results, plasma and dried blood spots (DBS) collected at birth were tested additionally for CMV DNA.

A review of oxidative stress related genes and new antioxidant therapy in diabetic nephropathy.

A genetic component of diabetes and its complications (including diabetic nephropathy (DN)) is obvious, but the causative genes and mechanisms have not yet been satisfactorily identified. Oxidative stress is a single mechanism relating all major pathways responsible for diabetic damage. Numerous oxidative stress-related genes are positional candidates (determined by GWAS) and candidate genes studies confirm the association of their polymorphisms with DN.

Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity: pre-operative assessment, surgical techniques and post-operative monitoring.

This observational clinical analysis included 246 patients who underwent surgery for adjustable gastric banding (AGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), or gastric bypass (GBP) between May 2005 and December 2008. The most frequent surgical procedure was for AGB (73.2% of patients).

Tissue ischemia due to CO2 pressure during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is nowadays one of the most frequently performed urological surgical procedures. For insufflation in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) CO2 is used, with the pressure in the operative region between 12 and 15 mm Hg. At the microcirculation level, the pressure is lower, which raises the possibility of ischemic tissue damage during the procedure.

The syndrome of cardiac failure in adults with congenitally corrected transposition.

Objectives: To assess neurohormonal activation of cardiac failure in adults with congenitally corrected transposition, and to determine the most sensitive marker for recognition of the cardiac failure.

Background: The onset of morphologically right ventricular dysfunction is unpredictable in patients with congenitally corrected transposition, the combination of discordant atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial connections, and its markers are unknown.

Methods: We measured amino terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide in 19 patients, aged 35 plus or minus 13.

Is laparoscopic nephropexy improving the quality of life.

Short- and long-term effectiveness of laparoscopic nephropexy was evaluated in patients with symptomatic nephroptosis especially quality of life of the patients and repositioning of the ptotic kidney. In 87 patients with symptomatic nephroptosis laparoscopic nephropexy was performed from 1994 to 2003. In 86 patients trans-abdominal approach was used and retroperitoneal in one patient.

A successful treatment of life-threatening bleeding from polycystic kidneys with antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid.

We describe a successful treatment of a severe, persistent bleeding from both kidneys in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with tranexamic acid (TXA), a potent antifibrinolytic agent. The bleeding could not be controlled by intensive conservative treatment, it became life-threatening and urgent bilateral nephrectomy was intended. Since local and systemic hyperfibrinolysis play a role in bleeding in ADPKD patients, we tried TXA treatment.

Tissue Doppler velocities of mitral annulus and NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure.

Background: It has been shown that pulsed wave tissue Doppler velocities of mitral annulus correlate well with left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic functions. It is not yet clear whether these velocities can be used to estimate left ventricular dysfunction in an unselected population of patients with clinical signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF).

Aim: To determine whether LV mitral annulus velocities measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) correlate with plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with HF.

Fabry disease. A case report.

Fabry disease is an under-recognized X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from the deficient activity of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A). The first case of Fabry disease in Slovenia was diagnosed in 1991. This 46 year-old male was referred for dermatologic evaluation of a purpura on his abdomen.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy--analysis of our first 100 consecutive cases.

The aim of this study was retrospective study of our first 100 consecutive cases of prostatic cancer, operated by laparoscopic approach and comparison with 100 cases of open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) at our department, focusing on operative data and morbidity. From June 1999 to August 2003 we have performed first consecutive 100 laparoscopic radical prostatectomies (LRP), all according to Montsouris technique. In this study we have compared the results with 100 patients who underwent from May 1997 to August 2003 open RRP.

Remarkable variability in renal disease in a large Slovenian family with Fabry disease.

Following the diagnosis of Fabry disease in a 45-year-old male, in 31 family members alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal) activity in leucocytes was measured and mutation analysis of the alpha-Gal gene was performed. In the proband, the unique mutation A10523G/N272S in exon 6 was found, which was subsequently detected in seven males (of which one twin) and 10 female subjects. All males showed decreased to absent alpha-Gal A activity in leucocytes, but three out of 10 female subjects had alpha-Gal A activities within normal range.

Minimally invasive methods in treatment of pyeloureteral stenosis.

The aim of this study was to present our experience of using four minimally invasive methods in treatment of pyeloureteral stenosis by percutaneous access. Fifty patients underwent different percutaneous operative procedures: the Korth's method, endopyeloureterotomy, the Fenger's plastic, and laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty. We classified results into 3 groups (outcome good, outcome intermediate, and outcome poor), depending on clinical improvement and the ultrasonography and diuretic renography findings six months after the operation.

Successful treatment of bleeding from colonic angiodysplasias with tranexamic acid in a hemodialysis patient.

Colonic angiodysplasias are a common source of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It is well known that bleeding from angiodysplasias can be a difficult therapeutic problem. This report describes a hemodialysis patient who suffered acute (massive) and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding from colonic angiodysplasias.

Should Burch colposuspension be replaced by fibrin glue colpofixation in women with urinary stress incontinence?

There are lots of articles recently concerning a very successful fibrin glue colpofixation used in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) instead of sutures according to Burch colposuspension [6, 5, 4]. Being in doubt about each modification of the original Burch surgery method, in spite of reported good results, I have decided to explain my own opinion concerning this problem. According to recent knowledge of the lower urinary tract anatomy, described by DeLancey and S.