Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Aug 2022
EFFICACY OF A LIPID-LOWERING DIET ON KEY FATTY ACID RATIOS AND OMEGA-3 INDEX IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC SUBJECTS.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) dietary intake, status and serum key fatty acid (FA) ratios may aid in cardiovascular disease-related risk assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lipid-lowering diet on key FA ratios in serum phospholipids and omega-3 index in erythrocyte phospholipids in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects. The study included 41 subjects, mean age 56±6 years. ⋯ Total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/HDL and triacylglycerol/HDL-cholesterol ratios positively correlated with all FA ratios, and negatively correlated with total omega-3 levels in serum phospholipids and omega-3 index in erythrocytes. Total serum omega-3 levels showed strongest association with lipoprotein ratios and positive correlation with homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index. In conclusion, lipid-lowering diet resulted in decreased serum key FA ratios, increased omega-3 levels, and improved insulin sensitivity that may lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in subjects with moderate hyperlipidemia.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Aug 2022
SCABIES CASES MISDIAGNOSED AND TREATED AS ALLERGIC DISEASES: ITCH AS ALARM.
The lack of scabies recognition by physicians is often caused by its similarity with other dermatoses and allergies such as eczema, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, etc. The aim of this study was to present the most common misdiagnoses of scabies in physician's work. With the aim of preventing future misdiagnoses in physicians' work, we present 6 cases of patients (1 woman and 5 men, aged 23-82) who had been misdiagnosed prior to admission to our ward (tertiary care unit). ⋯ Additionally, none of our patients had lived in unhygienic conditions or were close to infected persons, but all had concomitant itch. Because of the similarity between scabies and pruritic allergic disorders, it is important to exclude scabies before diagnosing an allergy, based on patient history and skin examination. Early scabies recognition in practice is crucial for minimizing the disease societal impacts.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Aug 2022
Case ReportsSCROTAL THERMOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF SURGICAL OUTCOME AFTER VARICOCELE REPAIR: A CASE REPORT.
Scrotal thermography is a diagnostic method for varicocele. In short, there are five diagnostic thermographic criteria for varicocele, i.e., pattern of scrotal thermographic image indicative of varicocele, temperature at pampiniform plexus ≥34 C°, temperature difference between left and right pampiniform plexus ≥0.5 C°, enhancement of image during Valsalva maneuver, and temperature at pampiniform plexus ≥ temperature at ipsilateral thigh. Three or more positive signs are indicative of varicocele. ⋯ According to thermographic indicators, our patient was positive for varicocele diagnosis before surgical treatment. Three months after varicocele repair, the patient did not show positive thermographic indicators of varicocele while physical examination and color Doppler ultrasound were equivocal. This case report suggests that infrared digital thermography of scrotum could be very valuable for monitoring patients in the period after surgery for varicocele, however, it should be confirmed in a larger number of patients.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Aug 2022
Observational StudyOUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST OUTCOMES - BYSTANDER CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION RATE IMPROVEMENT.
Approximately 8000 people suffer from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the Republic of Croatia every year. OHCA survival rates generally remain low despite major advances in resuscitation. Its incidence and survival rate are well known in many European countries, but reliable data on OHCA in Croatia are lacking. ⋯ There was no significant difference in correlation with day or night shift, etiology of cardiac arrest and bystander CPR variables. Survival rate of OHCA patients who received CPR until emergency department admission in Croatia was 17%. A higher survival rate post-OHCA was more likely among patients who received bystander CPR and had shockable rhythm.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Aug 2022
HISTOPATHOLOGIC PARAMETERS OF POSITIVE LYMPH NODE PREDICTABILITY IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER.
Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract. Lymph node metastases are an important prognostic factor in endometrial cancer. Several prognostic factors have been shown to correlate with lymph node metastasis, including depth of myometrial invasion, cervical infiltration, histologic grade of the tumor, tumor diameter, histology type, lymphovascular invasion, and positive peritoneal cytology. ⋯ In conclusion, histopathologic parameters such as type 2 endometrial cancer, myometrial invasion depth greater than 50%, cervical stroma infiltration, lymphovascular invasion and positive peritoneal cytology increased the likelihood of lymph node metastases. Tumor size (>2 cm), as well as histologic grade did not correlate with a higher incidence of lymph node metastases. In this study, both parametrial infiltration and the number of lymph nodes removed were found to have clinical relevance but not statistical significance.