Organization of angiology in countries with associate societies of International Union of Angiology.

Angiology is a multidisciplinary medical discipline, consequently in some countries multidisciplinary vascular centres were organized, which provide comprehensive management of patients with different vascular diseases. However, the organization of the care for vascular patients differs between the countries. Therefore, we aimed to check the organization of angiology (vascular surgery and vascular medicine) in countries-associate members of IUA and to stimulate the development of multidisciplinary vascular centres.

Orofacial esthetics, chewing function, and oral health-related quality of life in Kennedy class I patients with mini-implant-retained removable partial dentures: A 3-year clinical prospective study.

Unlabelled: This prospective clinical study aimed to assess self-reported orofacial esthetics, chewing function, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over three years in the Kennedy Class I patients without posterior dentition who received free-end saddle removable partial dentures (RPDs) retained by two mini dental implants (MDIs) inserted in the canine/first premolar region. The study's robust findings reaffirm the viability of MDI-retained RPDs as a treatment modality in contemporary prosthodontics, instilling confidence in the dental community.

Materials And Methods: 92 participants with posterior edentulism in the maxilla or mandible received 184 MDIs and 92 RPDs.

Vitamin D and its role in gynecology: emerging importance of checking vitamin D status in certain gynecological entities.

Among non-bone effects of vitamin D, the three main chronological stages in gynecology ‒ menarche, reproductive stage and menopause/postmenopause - are possibly impacted by vitamin D deficiency. A large amount of emerging data show that vitamin D is a confounding factor in these parameters. Gynecology stays at the crossroads with endocrinology and, in the light of the rising knowledge about the involvement of vitamin D in many gynecological disorders, it is worth to investigate the exact role of vitamin D in this area.

Serum hepcidin and ferritin as markers of iron deficiency in premature infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation: prospective observational study.

Background: Preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation are at higher risk of low total iron stores (iron deficiency). Serum ferritin is used as a valid total iron stores and iron deficiency biomarker, usually as a combination of ferritin and red blood cell counts.

Methods: Serum hepcidin and ferritin values and red blood cell counts were obtained from 37 of 40 included premature infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation at risk of iron deficiency.

Diagnostic yield of implantable loop recorders in patients with unexplained syncope: single-center experience.

Background: A significant proportion of patients have syncope of uncertain etiology. While implantable loop recorder (ILR) has become an important diagnostic tool in diagnosing syncope, its contemporary role in accordance with the recently updated syncope guidelines is not well established. The purpose of this single-center retrospective study was to determine the diagnostic yield of ILR in patients with unexplained syncope following initial diagnostic work-up as recommended by the guidelines.

Surgical outcome after pancreatoduodenectomy: effect of preoperative biliary drainage.

Background/aims: Depth of jaundice has been associated with increased risk of complications following operations. The value of preoperative biliary drainage has already been studied with contradictory results. In the present analysis we tried to determine the association between preoperative biliary drainage and postoperative complications in a nonselected series of patients.

Body surface mapping of cardiac activity after partial left ventriculectomy.

MECG measurements were performed using 35 electrodes in 10 patients operated with partial left ventriculectomy (PLV). Body surface ECG signals were recorded and five measurements were done: prior to PLV, second, third, fourth and fifth postoperative day. This work was concentrated on the following mapping methods: average isopotential ST segment maps (STM), QRS interval isointegral maps (QRM) and isochronal activation maps (IAM).

Trypsin level in gallbladder bile and ductitis and width of the cystic duct.

Background/aims: The change from laparotomy to laparoscopy for cholecystectomy has raised the question of how to manage concomitant bile duct stones. The present-day interest--and controversy--has focused on a transcystic approach reported to be feasible in 66-96% of cases, but without explaining the necessary prerequisite: the widening of the cystic duct. The cystic duct, wide mainly in patients with bile duct stones, has been reported to be highly variable: from strictured to very wide.

Percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst into the stomach.

Background: We present our experience with percutaneous ultrasonographically guided internal cystogastric drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts using a double pigtail catheter.

Methods: In nine patients, the pancreatic pseudocysts following acute pancreatitis were drained percutaneously into the stomach with the double pigtail catheter under ultrasonographical (US) control. The needle insertion through both gastric walls and the final position of the proximal curve of the catheter were monitored with a gastroscope.

Single fiber electromyography in studies of neuromuscular function.

Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) allows precise study of the microphysiology of the human motor unit under normal conditions. The physiological parameters that can be quantified include impulse transmission along the intramuscular axon collaterals, pre- and post synaptic events at the neuromuscular junction, and muscle fiber membrane properties. This chapter illustrates some of the advantages of SFEMG in studies of neuromuscular fatigue in normal muscle, as well as in disorders of neuromuscular transmission, and conditions associated with disturbed muscle fiber depolarization-repolarization.

The posterior interosseous arterial graft.

The posterior interosseous artery is a suitable donor vessel for harvesting autogenous arterial grafts which are often necessary for thumb or finger revascularization or replantation. Grafts 8 to 10 cm long can be taken from the dorsal ulnar aspect of the forearm ranging in caliber from 1 to 1.5 mm.

Lethal short limb dwarfism with dysmorphic face, omphalocele and severe ossification defect: Piepkorn syndrome or severe "boomerang dysplasia"?

The authors report a case of lethal neonatal dwarfism characterized by striking micromelia, fused rudimentary and supernumerary digits, large, soft head, pronounced hypertelorism, protruding eyes set laterally, enormous omphalocele and severe deficiency of tubular bone and spine ossification. Histologic examination showed lack of ossification of the cartilaginous anlage of many tubular bones. The cartilage had irregularly distributed chondrocytes.

Pseudodiastrophic dysplasia evolution with age and management. Report of two new cases and review of the literature.

Two new patients with pseudodiastrophic dysplasia are reported. Clinical and radiologic features, genetics, as well as, course and management of the disease are described for these two patients and seven others reported in the literature. Based also on histological findings, special emphasis is put on differential diagnosis with diastrophic dysplasia.