The role of HLA-DRB1 matching in corneal grafting.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of HLA-DRB1 (Human Leukocyte Antigens) matching in corneal transplantation. Fifty-two patients were observed. Low-risk group consisted of 28 patients and high-risk group consisted of 24 patients.

Human amniotic membrane in the reconstruction of the ocular surface.

We sought to determine the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in the reconstruction of ocular surface. AMT was performed on 40 eyes with following indications: I, persistent corneal ulceration (n = 12); II, impending perforation (n = 6); III, persistent epithelial defect on the corneal graft (n = 6); IV, recurrent pterygia (n = 10), and V, risk of conjunctival scarring (n = 6). Amniotic membrane was prepared from a fresh placenta under sterile conditions, washed with BSS containing penicillin, streptomycin, neomycin and amphotericin B and stored at -80 degrees C in 1:1 InoSol:Glycerol solution.

Are convective methods superior to diffusive dialytic methods?

The principle of convective elimination is the passage of solutes through the membrane carried by water flux, so the elimination of all substances for which membrane is permeable is equal to water. This results in uniform clearances of small, medium and large molecules. Dialytic methods with exclusive or considerable convective elimination are hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration and high-flux hemodialysis.

Rehabilitation in the community.

The Project applied rehabilitation in community (RIC) in Zagreb, Croatia as a model of care with the aim of maximizing physical and mental abilities in a persons' own life environment as well as social integration. From September 96 to June 98, 785 patients with primary physical disablement were admitted: 80% with musculoskeletal conditions, and 20% with traumatic brain or spinal injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, amputation or rheumatoid arthritis. They were residents of Trnje community (55%), Zagreb area (40%) and Croatia area (5%).

Plasma lipids, lipoprotein Lp(a), apolipoproteins, and hemostatic risk factors distributions in postmenopausal women.

In the present study, the effect of hormone replacement therapy on lipid metabolism, apolipoproteins and hemostatic risk factors for cardiovascular disease was assessed in 216 Croatian postmenopausal women. There were 156 current users divided in to two groups according to the duration of therapy. The short-term study of < 10 months (X +/- SD 5.

Features of uremic neuropathy in long-term dialysis.

In order to assess the influence of long term hemodialysis on progression of uraemic neuropathy (UN), 16 different electroneurographic (ENG) parameters on 158 dialysis patients were performed. The ENG parameters were compared in three groups of patients of different dialysis age. Group I: high dialysis age (HDA) comprising of, 31 patients being more than 10 years on dialysis; Group II: intermediate dialysis age (IDA) comprising of 53 patients between 5 and 10 years on HD and group III: low dialysis age (LDA) comprising of 74 patients being less than 5 years on dialysis.

Conflicting data on intervillous circulation in early pregnancy.

According to classic embryological textbooks intervillous circulation is established early in the first trimester. This process starts with trophoblastic invasion of the decidua in which proteolytic enzymes facilitate the penetration and erosion of the adjacent maternal capillaries with formation of the lacunae. After the lacunar or previllous stage trophoblast invades deeper portions of endometrium with belonging spiral arteries.

Laparoscopic treatment of nonparasitic cysts of spleen and liver.

Laparoscopic treatments of nonparasitic splenic and liver cysts in the period between March 1993 and April 1995 have been reported: partial decapsulation-fenestration and evacuation of a splenic pseudocyst in one patient, fenestration of large congenital liver cysts with total excision of a few smaller liver cysts in two patients and two unsuccessful treatments of splenic cysts. After successful laparoscopic procedures the patients experienced immediate and complete relief of the symptoms. Two years after the splenic cyst procedure and 6 months after the liver cyst operation, the patients remained free of the symptoms, and complete absence of the cysts was confirmed by computerized tomography scans.

Complex disorder of neuronal migration in an infant with possible congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

A ten-months-old girl was evaluated for developmental delay, increased muscle tone and seizures. CT and MRI revealed un uncommon combination of two different manifestations of neuronal migration disturbance: agyria/pachygyria and subcortical laminar heterotopia ("double cortex" syndrome). The occurrence of these two manifestations of neuronal migration dosorders in the same individual is quite unusual.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: results after 1000 procedures.

From May 1992, when the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed at University Department of Surgery, Sveti Duh General Hospital, till October 1994, the authors performed more than 1000 procedures. Laparoscopic approach was successfully used in 965 (96.5%) patients.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy following abdominal surgery of the lower part of abdomen.

In this prospective study, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in patients with previous abdominal surgery of the lower part of abdomen. According to authors experience, the usual method of 'blind' beginning of the laparoscopic procedure, with safety tests, is a safe and reliable method to start the laparoscopic procedure, even in these patients. This method does not carry a higher risk of intra-abdominal injury.

Bone and joint infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.

Infections of the bones and joints caused by gram-negative bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae account for 10%-15%. This family usually cause opportunistic infections, due to a low virulence factor, host and environmental factors. Gram-negative bacteria cause osteomyelitis, infectious arthritis and Reiter's syndrome.

Timing of cataract surgery in diabetics.

In their retrospective study, the authors investigated the outcome of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) followed by posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (PCIOL), in 2864 operated eyes, out of which 546 (19%) were in diabetics. The preoperative retinal status was recorded in all subjects. In 6 (1%) patients, laser photocoagulation was performed preoperatively.

Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern variations of bacterial isolates in different settings and different periods of time.

The problem of bacterial antibiotic resistance emerged as soon as the first antibiotics became available for clinical use. The aim of this study was to estimate differences in the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the most frequent isolates between two different hospitals (Sveti Duh General Hospital, Zagreb, und University Hospital of Traumatology, Zagreb), different wards of the same hospital (nephrology, urology and surgery of Sveti Duh General Hospital) and different periods of time (01. 03.

Urodynamic and clinical characteristics of small intestine reservoir directly connected to urethral sphincter.

Eight patients in whom a small intestine reservoir with direct anastomosis to the urethral sphincter had to be performed after radical cystectomy for invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder, were included in the study. The function of small intestine reservoir was clinically and urodynamically monitored during 24 months postoperatively. All patients urinated per urethram, with abdominal strain or with urethral sphincter relaxation without abdominal strain.

Incidence and hospital mortality of acute coronary artery disease among civilians in Zagreb during air-raid alarms.

During the period of air-raid alarms in Zagreb (September 1991), the influence of war-induced stress on the incidence and mortality of acute coronary artery disease was investigated. Control periods were September 1989 and September 1990. Among 2903 patients admitted to Emergency Care Units, 369 (13%) were examined for suspect acute coronary artery disease.

External fixation in war trauma management of the extremities--experience from the war in Croatia.

During 18 months, the authors treated 109 wounded patients whose complicated gunshot fractures were externally fixated. The total of 116 external fixators were applied. Besides bone fractures, blood vessels, nerve, and soft-tissue injuries required additional reconstructive procedures.

A contribution to the knowledge about autoimmune eye diseases.

In this paper the autoimmune eye disease complex is presented in detail. The problems of autoagressivity in the light of new conceptions based on modern microchemical, chemical and immunological methods of analysis that allow better insight in the nature of these diseases are discussed. The basic concepts of immunological mechanisms and autoimmunity are explained, with special attention given to those occurring in the eye.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of bleeding duodenal ulcer patients with and without dyspepsia.

The most relevant clinical presentations of duodenal ulcer disease are pain and acute bleeding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of dyspepsia in patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer, and to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of bleeding patients with and without dyspepsia. A total of 82 patients with isolated duodenal ulcer and bleeding were included in this study.

The fetus as a patient.

This article highlights the concept, history and development of fetal medicine. The first attempts of fetal medicine date from the stone age and have continued throughout the medieval and modern ages. Attempts to influence fetal health and pregnancy outcome at first were purely theoretical and passive, limited by ignorance, fear, and religion.

Diagnostic value of a P-fimbriation test in determining duration of therapy in children with urinary tract infections.

The patients were 117 children (aged 4 months to 14 years) with uncomplicated urinary tract infections caused by co-trimoxazole-sensitive Escherichia coli. The patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with co-trimoxazole for 3 days (n = 58) or 7 days (n = 59). Urine was analyzed for bacteria before and immediately after treatment and again at 1 and 2 months.