Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2020
SERUM BILIRUBIN CORRELATES WITH SERUM ADIPOKINES IN NORMAL WEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT ASYMPTOMATIC ADULTS.
Overweight and obesity are considered as chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by imbalanced production of adipokines. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between serum bilirubin, which is an endogenous antioxidant with anti-inflammatory activity, and pro- and anti-inflammatory serum adipokines in asymptomatic normal weight and overweight individuals. Healthy men and women aged 25-49 participated in this cross-sectional study. ⋯ We found a significant negative association between total bilirubin and CRP, TNF-α, visfatin and resistin values, and a significant positive association between total bilirubin and adiponectin values in both normal-weight and overweight groups. Importantly, after adjusting for body mass index, we also found a significant negative association between total serum bilirubin levels and both visfatin and CRP serum levels. Moreover, visfatin, resistin and CRP were predictors of the total serum bilirubin levels.
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Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a severe and frequent stroke complication and one of the crucial factors for the outcome of rehabilitation and life quality after stroke. However, mood disorders frequently remain unnoticed and therefore untreated. The aim of the study was to examine all the potential risk factors and determine the independent predictors of early-onset depression after first-ever stroke, which would help identify high-risk patients, establish early diagnosis and timely treatment that would improve the course and prognosis of this disorder. ⋯ Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination. Neurological deficit was assessed by the US National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Our results showed that the independent predictors of early-onset depression after stroke were previous depressive episodes, cognitive dysfunction, and more severe neurological deficit.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2020
Case ReportsHOW TO TREAT PATIENTS AFTER SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS CAUSED BY TNF INHIBITORS?
Biological agents are widely used in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic disorders. We report on serious adverse events during treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody in two of our patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. One patient was treated with a biological agent due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis complicated by uveitis, developing miliary tuberculosis during treatment. ⋯ His neurological deficits improved, but are still present. Similar cases have been described previously, but there are no recommendations how to treat arthritis afterwards in such patients. We would like to emphasize the need of developing guidelines for further treatment of arthritis after the occurrence of serious adverse effects during treatment with biological agents.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2020
OPTIC NERVE SHEATH SONOGRAPHY IS A PROMISING TOOL FOR ASSESSMENT OF RAISED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO NEUROLOGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) enlargement is detectable in traumatic brain injury patients with raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The aim was to assess its value in neurological patients suspected to have increased ICP. Patient clinical imaging data and hospitalization outcome were analyzed. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference in optic nerve diameter between patients and controls (2.48+0.28 mm vs. 2.39+0.33 mm; p>0.05). Pronounced enlargement of ONSD was observed in patients with ICH or SAH with IVH, and in patients with GCS <8. Enlarged ONSD was associated with poor neurological outcome (mRS >3).
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2020
INTERACTIONS AMONG INTERLEUKIN-6, C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND INTERLEUKIN-6 (-174) G/C POLYMORPHISM IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CROHN'S DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS.
Inflammatory bowel diseases are multifactorial disorders the clinical manifestation of which depends on the interaction among immune response, genetic and environmental factors. There is growing evidence that cytokines and gene polymorphisms have an important role in disease pathogenesis in various populations although molecular mechanism of their signaling and interactions is not fully understood yet. The present study aimed at exploring the effects of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 rs1800795 polymorphism on the development of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases overall and at determining differences between inflammatory bowel disease patients and healthy controls. ⋯ In ulcerative colitis patients, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein serum levels were statistically significantly higher in CC interleukin-6 genotype in comparison to GG+GC genotype. Analysis of the promoter region of the interleukin-6 rs1800795 gene polymorphism showed no statistically significant difference in allele frequency either between inflammatory bowel disease patients and healthy controls or between the two inflammatory bowel disease phenotypes and healthy controls. Associations presented in this study give a potentially important insight into the role of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein signaling and interleukin-6 polymorphism in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis disease.