Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
-
Functional gastrointestinal disorders in childhood (FGIDs) constitute a significant time-consuming clinical problem for healthcare practitioners, and they carry an important psychosocial burden for patients and their families. The aim of this study was to characterize etiology, clinical features, and interventions in a paediatric cohort of patients with FGIDs, who were referred to a tertiary care university-affiliated centre. Methods A retrospective study of children aged 1-15 years old referred to the Clinic for Children's Diseases, University Clinical Center Tuzla, from January 2022 to December 2022, who fulfilled criteria for FGIDs (n=209), were divided in three groups: 0-3, 4-10 and 11-15 years old. ⋯ Fifty-two percent of patients did not require further follow-up by the gastroenterologist. Conclusion Although FGDIs are frequent, they are not well accepted neither among patients nor physicians. Extensive diagnostic procedures are often unnecessary and the cessation of specialized care follow-up is possible in a significant number of cases.
-
Aim To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in early and late total knee arthroplasty (TKA) infections. Methods Blood tests to determine CRP levels (cut-off 10 mg/L)were conducted before surgery, at 1st day, 7th day and 15th day after surgery and at 1, 3, 6,12, 24 and 36 months. Patients had routine follow-up visits and radiological evaluations at 14 days and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. ⋯ Fourteen patients had late chronic infection. Conclusion This study suggests that a synovial fluid aspiration should be performed in patients with persistent inflammation symptoms with or without radiographic signs of loosening. Moreover, it recommends the use of different serum and synovial tests for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis.
-
Aim To evaluate patient satisfaction with primary healthcare services and determine effectiveness indicators within Kazakhstan's compulsory health insurance system. Methods An analytical observational study with cross-examination was conducted in Kazakhstan's primary healthcare (PHC) organizations. Patient satisfaction was assessed through a 35-item closed-question questionnaire. ⋯ Notably, males exhibited higher satisfaction levels with medical care and the availability of laboratory tests compared to females. The city polyclinics № 3 and № 14 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, achieved significant performance indicators, resulting in a 1.1-fold increase in the incentive component of per capital funding. Conclusion Within the framework of compulsory health insurance, primary healthcare organizations in Kazakhstan offer affordable and effective medical care, as attested by surveyed patients and the final result indicators of the polyclinics.
-
Aim To investigate the effects of estrogen-related events (age at menopause, age at menarche) on later-life skeletal fragility in Bosnian postmenopausal women. Methods A total of 100 postmenopausal Bosnian women, aged between 55 and 75 years, were included. The women in the study group (n=50) had fragility fractures, and in the control group (n=50) were without fragility fractures. ⋯ T score of ≤-2.5 SD was found in 40 (80%) women in the study group, and in eight (16%) women in the control group (p=0.0001). Conclusions Age at menopause, but not age at menarche, was risk factors for later-life fragility fracture in postmenopausal Bosnian women. In addition, fragility fractures correlated with low BMD in this population group.
-
Aim To investigate the correlations between tumour characteristics, symptoms, intraoperative findings, and outcomes in patient with meningioma. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 86 surgically treated patients at Department of Neurosurgery of Cantonal Hospital Zenica from 2010 to 2020. Patients with intracranial meningiomas underwent neurological evaluation and MRI scans to analyse tumour characteristics, including volume (TV), peritumoral brain oedema (PTBE) and oedema index (EI). ⋯ Grade and tumour border positively correlated with Ki-67 expression (p<0.001). Oedema persistence postoperatively showed a positive correlation with Ki-67 expression (p<0.001). Conclusion The study revealed significant correlations between Ki-67 expression and PTBE, with notable associations with clinical symptoms, tumour characteristics, and postoperative oedema presence.