Influence of the Cognitive and Emotional Status of Patients with Chronic Pain on Treatment Success (Reduction in Pain Intensity and Adherence to Pharmacotherapy): A Prospective Study.

This prospective study aimed to determine the cognitive and emotional status among patients with chronic pain and to examine the potential influence on the treatment success, measured by the reduction in pain intensity and adherence to pharmacotherapy. A total of seventy patients were followed for two months. The results of the comparison between patients who did and did not follow the physician’s instructions regarding adherence to pharmacotherapy showed a significant difference in cognitive status and a reduction in pain intensity.

PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCKS FOR HIP FRACTURES IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE.

Hip fractures represent a major public health issue with increasing incidence as a population ages. The aim of this review is to describe peripheral nerve block techniques (the fascia iliaca compartment block and the pericapsular nerve group block) as pain management for hip fractures in emergency medicine, and to emphasize their benefits. Hip fractures are extremely painful injuries.

Quality of Life and Mental Distress in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to examine the levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain intensity, and mental distress in participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP), and to examine the differences in the HRQoL of participants with respect to mental distress and the correlations of the examined variables. Data were collected from 148 patients using the SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36), the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) questionnaire, and the visual-analog pain scale (VAS). The results indicate poorer self-assessment of physical health (M = 28.

Off-label use of mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of rare and complex rheumatic connective tissue diseases.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical off-label use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), including its safety and efficacy in patients with rare and complex rheumatic connective tissue diseases (rCTDs).

Methods: A survey was distributed across experts from ERN-ReCONNET reference centres in order to assess the experience with MMF off-label use. Patient-level data of patients with rCTDs under treatment with MMF was also collected for analysis of safety and efficacy.

Pre-Vaccination COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy in a Croatian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite world-level efforts and the endeavors of scientists and medical professionals in suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequate levels of vaccine literacy of the general population can represent a grave obstacle. The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine literacy in the Croatian adult general population before vaccination began. The specific objectives were to test differences regarding socio-demographic characteristics and to examine perceptions and attitudes about vaccination against COVID-19 considering the level of VL against COVID-19.

VPAC1 receptors play a dominant role in PACAP-induced vasorelaxation in female mice.

Background: PACAP and VIP are closely related neuropeptides with wide distribution and potent effect in the vasculature. We previously reported vasomotor activity in peripheral vasculature of male wild type (WT) and PACAP-deficient (KO) mice. However, female vascular responses are still unexplored.

Knowledge and attitudes of patients in primary care on off-label treatment.

Objective: To examine primary care patients' knowledge and attitudes on off-label treatment.

Methods: In 47 primary care offices in Osijek-Baranja County, 1300 patients were given questionnaires about their knowledge and attitudes on off-label treatment. Questionnaires were completed voluntarily and anonymously.

Tongue metastasis as an initial presentation of renal cell carcinoma.

Aim Distal metastases to oral cavity are very rare. Adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common metastatic tumours. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic relevance of metastatic renal cell carcinoma on tongue manifestations in large patient series.

A Slovenian version of the "clinical learning environment, supervision and nurse teacher scale (Cles+T)" and its comparison with the Croatian version.

Nursing clinical learning environments are particularly important for the achievement of good practice in clinical training of student nurses, and thus, for the nursing competence development. Hence, it is important to have an instrument consisting of reliable and valid criteria for assessing the clinical learning environment, applicable in different contexts, and translated in the respondents mother tongue. The goal of the present research was to test the reliability and validity of the Slovenian version of the "Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher evaluation scale", and to compare it with the Croatian version.

Coexistence of Condylomata Acuminata with Warty Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Condyloma acuminatum has previously been considered to be a benign growth with no malignant potential, but a review of the literature supports the concept that condylomata acuminata may precede or be associated with invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) or warty squamous cell carcinoma (WSCC).

Case Report: We present a clinical case of a 58-year old woman with large, slow-growing, exophytic tumor of external genitalia shaped like a cauliflower with the propagation to both legs and behind. We performed multiple biopsies to detect potential malignancy but malignancy was not confirmed histologically.

Expression of polysialic acid in primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Expression of polySia is associated with metastatic dissemination and progression of various malignant diseases. In particular, it may contribute to tumorigenesis by a negative modulatory effect on cellular signaling cascades responsible for cellular migration, differentiation and proliferation. In this study, we investigated the expression of polySia in primary metastatic and non-metastatic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tumor tissues and its potential impact on the LSCC progression.

Translation and validation of the clinical learning environment, supervision and nurse teacher scale (CLES + T) in Croatian language.

Clinical practice is essential to nursing education as it provides experience with patients and work environments that prepare students for future work as nurses. The aim of this study was to translate the "Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher" questionnaire in Croatian language and test its validity and reliability in practice. The study was performed at the Faculty of medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia in April 2014.

Psychotropic medications in older adults: a review.

Background: Prevalence of prescribing psychotropic medications, particularly inappropriate prescription, is widespread in older adults, both in nursing home residents as well as community-dwelling older adults. This review describes prevalence and prevention of inappropriate prescribing and risk factors associated with psychotropic medications.

Methods: MEDLINE and GOOGLE SCHOLAR data base were searched for the key words "older adults", "psychotropic drugs", "inappropriate prescribing", "nursing home residents", "community-dwelling older adults".

[Risk for sleep apnea syndrome and excessive daily sleepiness in chronic hemodialysis patients].

Unlabelled: Sleeping disorders are common among chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome frequency is often underestimated.

Aim: fo examine the risk for OSA in chronic HD patients.

Method: The study included all chronic HD patients in University Hospital Osijek (N=180), mean age 63 years, 92 men.

Systems biology as a conceptual framework for research in family medicine; use in predicting response to influenza vaccination.

Aim: To introduce systems biology as a conceptual framework for research in family medicine, based on empirical data from a case study on the prediction of influenza vaccination outcomes. This concept is primarily oriented towards planning preventive interventions and includes systematic data recording, a multi-step research protocol and predictive modelling.

Background: Factors known to affect responses to influenza vaccination include older age, past exposure to influenza viruses, and chronic diseases; however, constructing useful prediction models remains a challenge, because of the need to identify health parameters that are appropriate for general use in modelling patients' responses.

Evaluation of influences of the Viennese Anatomical School on the work of the Croatian Anatomist Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic.

Objective: This paper tries to evaluate the connections between the Viennese Anatomical School and the Croatian Anatomist Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic.

Materials And Methods: 17 papers written by Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic in the last decade of her life were chosen for analyses. According to their themes they could be divided into three groups: ones which evaluate the anatomical terminology, ones which research the development of anatomical structures, and ones which describe the anatomical variations.

Emanuel Edward Klein's role in the establishment of food preservation standards.

Objectives: To evaluate Emanuel Edward Klein's role in the establishment of food preservation standards in terms of critiques of his work, taking his experimental investigations into account.

Study Design: Historical revision of Klein's experimental investigations of food preservation.

Methods: Descriptive, comparative and analytical methods were used to evaluate Klein's achievements in public health.

Evaluation of methods for urine inhibitory potential for precipitation of calcium oxalate.

Renal lithiasis is a significant medical and social problem. Worldwide recurrence is anywhere from 3% to 5%. Objective of this paper is to evaluate two methods for distinguishing between stone formers and non-stone formers.

1885 Cholera Controversy: Klein versus Koch.

This paper will try to give new insight into the Cholera Controversy, which occurred 125 years ago. The majority of papers already written on the topic have emphasised the role of Robert Koch who described the comma bacillus as the cause of cholera epidemics. At the same time they have marginalised the role of Emanuel Edward Klein by stating that he was wrong when he objected to Robert Koch's statement, because as an employee of the British government he was politically motivated.

Colorectal cancer early detection program integrated in practice of family physicians.

Aim: To present preliminary results of the colorectal cancer early detection program, a part of the project called "A Model of Early Cancer Detection Integrated in a Practice of a Family Physician", carried out by the Department of Family Medicine of the Osijek University School of Medicine and the Health Centre of Osijek, Croatia.

Methods: The strategy of the project, based on the central role of a family physician in the implementation of the early cancer detection programs, was described and preliminary results of the colorectal cancer early detection program are presented and compared with the same issues of the National Program, centrally conducted and supplied by public services.

Results: From the beginning of April unil the end of May 2009, a total number of 516 testing cards on occult faecal blood were delivered to patients from two target groups (aged 45-50 and 75-79).

Obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract by a calcified mass at mitral valve.

A case of an unusual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction by mitral valve pathology in a 35-year old female with diabetes and end-stage renal disease is presented in the study. The patient suffered from fever of an unknown origin after lower-leg amputation. Although the wound healed well, fever persisted for three weeks despite a triple antibiotic treatment until the infection was resolved with vancomycin.

Prediction of influenza vaccination outcome by neural networks and logistic regression.

The major challenge in influenza vaccination is to predict vaccine efficacy. The purpose of this study was to design a model to enable successful prediction of the outcome of influenza vaccination based on real historical medical data. A non-linear neural network approach was used, and its performance compared to logistic regression.

Mechanism of postsystolic contraction and of multiple myocardial contractions during each single cardiac cycle.

Postsystolic contraction and other forms of phenomenon of multiple myocardial contractions are characterised by secondary or even tertiary contraction that follow regular one during each single cardiac cycle, triggered by a single sinus node impulse. These additional contractions occur at circumscribed areas of different myocardial regions, in many cardiac patients and healthy subjects. The mechanism of onset and perpetuation of the phenomenon is unknown.

Successful conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation by sequential administration of up to three antiarrhythmic drugs.

Background: Short-term conversion attempt of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency room fails too often. Many patients and doctors still prefer pharmacological to electrical solutions in such cases.

Hypothesis: Sequential administration of up to 3 antiarrhythmic drugs of different classes of action (amiodarone, propafenone, and quinidine) may achieve conversion in such patients.