Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2014
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialFour-year study of entecavir efficacy and safety in nucleos(t)ide-naïve HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
Entecavir is a guanosine analogue with activity against hepatitis B virus. The aim of this 4-year trial was to evaluate entecavir treatment in nucleos(t)ide-naïve HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients. Forty-nine patients received entecavir and nine of them withdrew from the trial at the end of week 96. ⋯ The rate of HBeAg seroconversion was 4.8% at week 96 and 7.5% at month 48. The rate of HBsAg seroconversion was 2.1% at week 96 and 2.5% at month 48. Entecavir as a potent and safe agent leading to continuous viral suppression proved to be safe and well tolerated therapy.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2014
ReviewOral hygiene is an important factor for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Inadequate oral hygiene in intensive care units (ICUs) has been recognized as a critical issue, for it is an important risk factor for ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP is an aspiration pneumonia that occurs in mechanically ventilated patients, mostly caused by bacteria colonizing the oral cavity and dental plaque. It is the second most common nosocomial infection and the leading cause of complications and death in mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ This paper lists the oral care measures most commonly performed in ICUs, indicating their advantages and disadvantages. Brushing with regular toothbrush and rinsing with chlorhexidine are considered optimal measures of oral hygiene in critically ill patients. To date, there is no definitive agreement about the most effective oral care protocol, but evidence demonstrates that consistent performance of oral care may lower the incidence of VAP in critically ill patients.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2014
Practice GuidelineRecommendations for the management of medical complications in patients following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
These are evidence based guidelines for the management of medical complications in patients following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, developed and endorsed by the Croatian Society of Neurovascular Disorders, Croatian Society of Neurology including Section for Neurocritical Care, Croatian Neurosurgical Society, Croatian Society for Difficult Airway Management and Croatian Medical Association. They consist of recommendations for best monitoring, medical treatment and interventions based on the literature, evaluation of the results of large international clinical trials, and collective experience of the authors.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2014
Practice GuidelineGeneral recommendations for the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a neurologic emergency and a detrimental cerebrovascular event with a high rate of death and complications. Recommendations have been developed and based on literature search, evaluation of the results of large international clinical trials, collective experience of the authors, and endorsed by the Croatian Society of Neurovascular Disorders, Croatian Society of Neurology including Section for Neurocritical Care, Croatian Neurosurgical Society, Croatian Society for Difficult Airway Management and Croatian Medical Association. The aim of these guidelines is to provide current and comprehensive recommendations and to assist physicians in making appropriate decisions in the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Evidence based information on the epidemiology, risk factors and prognosis, as well as recommendations on diagnostic work up, monitoring and management are provided, with regard to treatment possibilities in Croatia.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2014
Changes in pain intensity and oral health-related quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders during stabilization splint therapy--a pilot study.
The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in pain intensity and self-perceived quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) during stabilization splint therapy. The hypothesis was that the clinical subtype of TMD, depending on whether pain is of muscular or temporomandibular joint origin, and pain chronicity (acute vs. chronic pain) differently affect treatment response. Thirty patients were included and treated with a stabilization splint in a 6-month clinical trial. ⋯ In conclusion, during 6-month stabilization splint therapy, significant changes in VAS and OHIP-14 summary scores were found. However, there were no significant differences in improvement rates between subjects with acute and chronic pain. Furthermore, no significant differences in improvement rates were found depending on whether pain was of muscular or temporomandibular joint origin.