City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire Validity and Reliability Assessment on a Croatian Sample.

The aim of this study was to validate City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire (CoH-QoL-OQ) for assessing the quality of life (QoL) of ostomy patients in the Republic of Croatia. The CoH-QoL-OQ is widely used, but has not been translated or validated so it can be used in the Republic of Croatia. This cross-sectional study encompassed 302 surgery patients with colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy (182 (60.

Heat shock protein gp96 and CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes expression as prognostic factors in various molecular types of invasive breast carcinoma.

Breast carcinoma shows extensive clinical and molecular heterogenicity. Glycoprotein gp96 is considered a negative prognostic and predictive factor. Controversy exists over the prognostic role of tumor lymphocytic infiltrates.

Endoscopic Treatment of Obesity: From Past to Future.

Background: Conventional approaches in the management of obesity offer only a limited potential for sustained weight loss. Moreover, bariatric surgery, although momentarily being the most effective weight-loss treatment, has some serious pitfalls, such as significant morbidity rate, high substantial costs and limited patient applicability. Hence, there is a substantial need for endoscopic approaches to obesity.

Kidney transplantation using a colon pouch (Mainz pouch III): a case report.

Kidney transplantation is the most efficient method of renal replacement therapy. When this method is performed, native urinary bladder is the preferred urinary reservoir. However, in some patients with an anatomically and functionally abnormal lower urinary tract, the urinary bladder cannot be used for transplantation.

Decreasing and stabilising trends of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in and in segmented regression analysis, European Union/European Economic Area, 2001 to 2018.

Investments to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the European Union have been made, including efforts to strengthen prudent antimicrobial use. Using segmented regression, we report decreasing and stabilising trends in data reported to the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network and stabilising trends in data reported to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network. Our results could be an early indication of the effect of prioritising AMR on the public health agenda.

Output correction factors for small static fields in megavoltage photon beams for seven ionization chambers in two orientations - perpendicular and parallel.

Purpose: The goal of the present work was to provide a large set of detector-specific output correction factors for seven small volume ionization chambers on two linear accelerators in four megavoltage photon beams utilizing perpendicular and parallel orientation of ionization chambers in the beam for nominal field sizes ranging from 0.5 cm  × 0.5 cm to 10 cm × 10 cm .

THE ROLE OF LYMPHADENECTOMY IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS.

Prostate cancer is one of the most important men's health issues in developed countries. For patients with prostate cancer a preoperative staging of the disease must be made. Involvement of lymph nodes could be assessed using imaging methods (CT or/and MRI), however, newer methods also exist (PET/CT, PSMA PET/CT).

Y sign: new landmark for anteromedial portal placement in knee arthroscopy.

Purpose: During arthroscopy training process, determination of anteromedial portal is more difficult in contrast with anterolateral portal and frequently results in suboptimal position, and longer operating times. The aim of our study was to identify an anatomical landmark which could facilitate anteromedial portal placement.

Methods: The relationship of the cutaneous veins at the anteromedial side of the knee was analysed regarding the optimally placed anteromedial portal and anatomical landmarks of the anteromedial part of the knee in 70 patients undergoing knee arthroscopy.

Diagnostic Delays in Children With Coeliac Disease in the Central European Region.

Objectives: Coeliac disease (CD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting about 1% of the population. Many patients remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed with substantial delay. We assessed diagnostic delays in symptomatic CD children in Central Europe (CE).

Association between night-time surgery and occurrence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications.

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs).

Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM.

Expression of bone-related proteins in vascular calcification and its serum correlations with coronary artery calcification score.

Since vascular calcification is considered a process regulated similar to that of bone tissue mineralization, we investigated the participation of bone formation proteins. We analyzed the correlation of serum circulating bone markers, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor ĸB ligand (RANKL) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, to coronary artery calcification score. We also considered the effect of inorganic phosphate on pro- and anti-calcifying tissue factors.

Mechanisms of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Protective Effects Against Cold Ischemia-Induced Renal Injury in Rats.

Deceased donor kidneys are exposed to cold ischemic insult which makes them particularly susceptible to the effects of cold ischemic injury during hypothermic preservation resulting in high rates of delayed graft function. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is a valuable reagent in the field of tissue regeneration and preservation under ischemic conditions. Following these insights, we investigated the effect of recombinant human BMP-7 (rhBMP-7) on graft preservation during cold ischemia.

A novel method for the determination of field output factors and output correction factors for small static fields for six diodes and a microdiamond detector in megavoltage photon beams.

Purpose: The goal of this work is to provide a large and consistent set of data for detector-specific output correction factors, , for small static fields for seven solid-state detectors and to determine field output factors, , using EBT3 radiochromic films and W1 plastic scintillator as reference detectors on two different linear accelerators and four megavoltage photon beams. Consistent measurement conditions and recommendations given in the International Code of Practice TRS-483 for small-field dosimetry were followed throughout the study.

Methods: were determined on two linacs, Elekta Versa HD and Varian TrueBeam, for 6 and 10 MV beams with and without flattening filter and for nine fields ranging from 0.

Establishing the European diagnostic reference levels for interventional cardiology.

Interventional cardiac procedures may be associated with high patient doses and therefore require special attention to protect the patients from radiation injuries such as skin erythema, cardiovascular tissue reactions or radiation-induced cancer. In this study, patient exposure data is collected from 13 countries (37 clinics and nearly 50 interventional rooms) and for 10 different procedures. Dose data was collected from a total of 14,922 interventional cardiology procedures.

Statin use is not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis-A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Statins are perceived as potential etiological factors for acute pancreatitis (AP), but recent evidence suggests the opposite. Our aim was to evaluate the association between statin use and risk of AP in observational studies.

Methods: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for cohort (C) and case-control (CC) studies evaluating statins as intervention and AP as outcome.

Chronic use of statins and risk of post-ERCP acute pancreatitis (STARK): Study protocol for an international multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most common complication after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Statins have been traditionally associated to an increased risk of AP, however, recent evidence suggests that statins may have a protective role against this disease.

Aims: Our primary aim is to investigate whether the use of statins has a protective effect against post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).

Evaluation of two-dimensional dose distributions for pre-treatment patient-specific IMRT dosimetry.

Background The accuracy of dose calculation is crucial for success of the radiotherapy treatment. One of the methods that represent the current standard for patient-specific dosimetry is the evaluation of dose distributions measured with an ionization chamber array inside a homogeneous phantom using gamma method. Nevertheless, this method does not replicate the realistic conditions present when a patient is undergoing therapy.

Complications in Pediatric Regional Anesthesia: An Analysis of More than 100,000 Blocks from the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network.

What We Already Know About This Topic: WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW: BACKGROUND:: Complications in pediatric regional anesthesia are rare, so a large sample size is necessary to quantify risk. The Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network contains data on more than 100,000 blocks administered at more than 20 children's hospitals. This study analyzed the risk of major complications associated with regional anesthesia in children.

Metrics for quantifying antibiotic use in the hospital setting: results from a systematic review and international multidisciplinary consensus procedure.

Background: Quantifying antibiotic use is an essential element of antibiotic stewardship since it allows comparison between different settings and time windows, and measurement of the impact of interventions. However, quantity metrics (QMs) and methods have not been standardized.

Objectives: To propose a set of QMs for antibiotic use in inpatients (IQMs) that are accepted globally by professionals in a range of disciplines.

Quality indicators for responsible antibiotic use in the inpatient setting: a systematic review followed by an international multidisciplinary consensus procedure.

Background: This study was conducted as part of the Driving Reinvestment in Research and Development and Responsible Antibiotic Use (DRIVE-AB) project and aimed to develop generic quality indicators (QIs) for responsible antibiotic use in the inpatient setting.

Methods: A RAND-modified Delphi method was applied. First, QIs were identified by a systematic review.

Metrics to assess the quantity of antibiotic use in the outpatient setting: a systematic review followed by an international multidisciplinary consensus procedure.

Background: The international Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project DRIVE-AB (Driving Reinvestment in Research and Development and Responsible Antibiotic Use) aims to develop a global definition of 'responsible' antibiotic use.

Objectives: To identify consensually validated quantity metrics for antibiotic use in the outpatient setting.

Methods: First, outpatient quantity metrics (OQMs) were identified by a systematic search of literature and web sites published until 12 December 2014.

Variation in antibiotic use among and within different settings: a systematic review.

Objectives: Variation in antibiotic use may reflect inappropriate use. We aimed to systematically describe the variation in measures for antibiotic use among settings or providers. This study was conducted as part of the innovative medicines initiative (IMI)-funded international project DRIVE-AB.

Quality indicators assessing antibiotic use in the outpatient setting: a systematic review followed by an international multidisciplinary consensus procedure.

Objectives: Quality indicators (QIs) assessing the appropriateness of antibiotic use are essential to identify targets for improvement and guide antibiotic stewardship interventions. The aim of this study was to develop a set of QIs for the outpatient setting from a global perspective.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed by searching MEDLINE and relevant web sites in order to retrieve a list of QIs.

Murine CMV Expressing the High Affinity NKG2D Ligand MULT-1: A Model for the Development of Cytomegalovirus-Based Vaccines.

The development of a vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been a subject of long-term medical interest. The research during recent years identified CMV as an attractive vaccine vector against infectious diseases and tumors. The immune response to CMV persists over a lifetime and its unique feature is the inflationary T cell response to certain viral epitopes.