EFFECTS OF BODY WEIGHT REDUCTION ON ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY IN MORBIDLY OBESE PATIENTS: A 4-YEAR CLINICAL STUDY.

Objective: To determine the long-term effect of weight loss on arterial stiffness, metabolic parameters in morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).

Subjects: Forty-eight morbidly obese Caucasian subjects underwent LAGB from January 2009 to January 2010 and completed 4 years follow-up.

Measurements: Patients were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, arterial blood pressure (BP), metabolic factors: leptin, adiponectin, glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin.

Surveillance of adverse events in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis: A global feasibility study.

The World Health Organization launched a global initiative, known as aDSM (active TB drug safety monitoring and management) to better describe the safety profile of new treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in real-world settings. However, comprehensive surveillance is difficult to implement in several countries. The aim of the aDSM project is to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing national aDSM registers and to describe the type and the frequency of adverse events (AEs) associated with exposure to the new anti-TB drugs.

Vilnius Declaration on chronic respiratory diseases: multisectoral care pathways embedding guided self-management, mHealth and air pollution in chronic respiratory diseases.

Background: Over 1 billion people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. They cause an enormous burden and are considered as major non-communicable diseases. Many patients are still uncontrolled and the cost of inaction is unacceptable.

Helicobacter pylori and some aspects of gut microbiota in children.

Helicobacter pylori infection in children differs from infection in adults in many aspects. The rate of infection, epidemiology, clinical presentations and complications, the applicability of diagnostic tests, antibiotic resistance, treatment options, and success rates differ significantly. Due to all these differences, management guidelines for children and adults differ also substantially.

Arterial function parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome and severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia (hTG) is 1 of the dyslipidemia manifestations in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, for several decades, the role of hTG in cardiovascular risk was not well established.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the parameters of the vascular structure and function in patients with MetS and different degree of hTG.

Value of Duke treadmill score in predicting coronary artery lesion and the need for revascularisation.

Background: Exercise electrocardiography is a long-standing method for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD), and it remains the initial test for most patients who can exercise adequately with a baseline interpretable electrocardiogram. However, there is little information about the relationship between Duke treadmill test score (DTS) and severity of coronary artery lesion, as well as estimating the need for revascularisation.

Aim: The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the DTS could be an efficient parameter in choosing coronary revascularisation in different DTS groups.

Vitamin D and functional arterial parameters in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Purpose: Our cross sectional study aimed to identify the relation between vitamin D level and functional arterial parameters in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Material And Methods: 100 postmenopausal women at age 50-65 with diagnosed metabolic syndrome were included in this study. Laboratory tests were performed to determine lipid profile, serum glucose, creatinine, C-reactive protein, serum levels of 25(OH) D, ionized calcium and urine albumin/creatinine ratio.

Quantification of myocardial fibrosis by digital image analysis and interactive stereology.

Background: Cardiac fibrosis disrupts the normal myocardial structure and has a direct impact on heart function and survival. Despite already available digital methods, the pathologist's visual score is still widely considered as ground truth and used as a primary method in histomorphometric evaluations. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of digital image analysis tools and the pathologist's visual scoring for evaluating fibrosis in human myocardial biopsies, based on reference data obtained by point counting performed on the same images.

The effect of weight loss on the cardiac structure and function after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery in morbidly obese individuals.

Background: Herein, we investigate the anthropometric, biochemical and left ventricle (LV) geometry changes following the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) operation in morbidly obese individuals.

Methods: Eighty-three morbidly obese participants (mean age, 46.1 ± 11.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. A prospective randomized study comparing the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band and the MiniMizer Extra: one-year results.

Introduction: A number of different adjustable gastric bands are available for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Few attempts have been made to compare the influence of band design differences for efficiency and complication rate and conflicting results have emerged from comparative studies.

Aim: To compare SAGB (Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band) and MiniMizer Extra adjustable gastric bands.

Meeting patient's expectations in primary care consultations in Lithuania.

Objective: Patient satisfaction with health care services is considered an important factor of health care. Although research on patient satisfaction has become standard in Western Europe, in countries such as Lithuania the concept of patient satisfaction is still a relatively new one. This study aimed to investigate how the meeting of patients' expectations is related to increased satisfaction with medical consultation.

Does alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor play a protective role in coronary atherosclerosis?

Background: alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha-1-PI) might appear to be actively involved in atherogenesis as an important regulator protecting elastic tissue from damage by proteinases as well as lipid accumulation in arterial wall.

Materials And Methods: alpha-1-PI genetic variants were examined in 156 male coronary atherosclerosis patients (mean age 49+/-9 years). The frequency of alpha-1-PI phenotypes was determined in 1577 healthy individuals.

Educational technology transfer in newly independent states: developing a medical multimedia laboratory in Lithuania.

This paper discusses the development of an interactive multimedia computer laboratory within the Vilnius University Medical Faculty involving transfer of hardware and courseware developed in the USA. The contexts in which the laboratory was developed are described and factors helping and hindering successful technology transfer are identified. The future of the laboratory and its potential role in international distance education and information access are discussed.