Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2019
Case ReportsLUMBAR SPINE SYNOVIAL CYST: A CASE SERIES REPORT AND REVIEW OF SURGICAL STRATEGIES.
Lumbar spine synovial cysts are benign growths adjoining the facet joints that may induce low back pain, lumbar radiculopathy and neurological deficit. However, they are not well defined concerning their origin, cause and pathology, as well as available treatment strategies. The scope of different surgical procedures includes image-guided epidural steroid injection, direct cyst puncture by percutaneous epidural needle, spinal canal decompression and cyst resection, and spinal bone fusion with/without instrumentation. ⋯ No poor outcome was noticed in our series. Concerning our results and literature review, the optimal management for patients with symptomatic lumbar synovial cyst has to be highly personalized, which is essential to achieve a favorable outcome. Nonetheless, the best treatment strategy has yet to be affirmed.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2019
Comparative StudyTREATMENT OF UNICAMERAL BONE CYSTS IN CHILDREN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY.
Unicameral bone cysts (UBC) are benign bone tumor-like lesions. Mostly they are located in the metaphyseal-diaphyseal region of long bones in children and adolescents. The etiology of UBC is still unclear. ⋯ We found statistically significant differences in healing of the cysts and length of hospital treatment between groups 1 and 2, and between groups 2 and 3. In conclusion, complete healing of UBC can be achieved only using open surgery procedure. Intracystic methylprednisolone acetate instillation can be considered a good option for initial treatment of UBC.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2019
MEAN PLATELET VOLUME: AN OVERLOOKED HERALD OF MALIGNANT THYROID NODULES.
Physicians and surgeons pay much attention to evaluating thyroid nodules due to the malignant potential of these growths. Inflammation has a crucial role in the development of cancer. Increase in the mean platelet volume (MPV) has been described in various inflammatory conditions. ⋯ The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Increased MPV should be considered as an assistive diagnostic tool in differentiating malignant and benign thyroid nodules. However, further prospective studies are required to confirm its usefulness in this population.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2019
Breastfeeding Duration as a Predictor of Childhood Lifestyle Habits, Overweight and Obesity in Second- and Third-Grade Schoolchildren in Croatia.
Breastfeeding is related to better overall health in adult life and is one of the commonly described protective factors for childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between breastfeeding duration, childhood lifestyle habits, overweight and obesity in a cohort of Croatian second- and third-grade schoolchildren. Randomly selected second- and third-grade children aged 6-11 years (N=5662) were measured for weight and height in order to calculate nutritional status for each child. ⋯ Significant associations were found showing that children who were breastfed for less than 6 months had higher odds for being overweight (ORadj=1.24; 95% CI 1.04-1.47) or obese (ORadj=1.25; 95% CI 1.02-1.53). After adjusting for confounders, breastfeeding for less than 6 months was not found to be predictive of dietary, physical activity or overall health risk behaviors. In conclusion, breastfeeding for longer than 6 months is a protective factor for overweight and obesity in 6-to 11-year-old children in Croatia, but not for healthy lifestyle development.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2019
Case ReportsLEUKOCYTAPHERESIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE STEROID-DEPENDENT ULCERATIVE COLITIS.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial disease of unknown precise etiology and immunopathogenesis. Peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages are the major sources of cytokines, which regulate inflammation. Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a method where blood is processed by apheresis system that removes lymphocytes and plasma before being returned to the body. ⋯ The clinical course was complicated with the development of metastatic colorectal carcinoma, which points to the importance of regular disease monitoring rather than the increased risk of malignant disease after LCAP. Patients with UC are a demanding group of patients that warrant the search for novel treatment strategies other than conventional pharmacological therapies. Although LCAP is still not a common treatment modality in our daily practice, data from recent studies suggest it to be an effective and safe procedure in the management of active UC patients.