Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
Case ReportsSHOULD AN ACCESSORY RENAL ARTERY BE CONSIDERED AS A CAUSE OF HYPERTENSION IN ADOLESCENTS: A CASE REPORT.
The role of an accessory renal artery in the pathogenesis of hypertension is still controversial. In this report, we describe a previously healthy 16-year-old girl with an accessory right renal artery who presented with hypertensive urgency (no progressive target organ dysfunction). Initial workup other than hypercholesterolemia and mild proteinuria was normal with no signs of other target organ damage. ⋯ Another diagnostic workup was normal. A satisfactory blood pressure control was eventually achieved with combination therapy including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. We conclude that although non-stenotic, an accessory renal artery should be considered as a possible cause of renovascular hypertension in children and adolescents even in the absence of hyperreninemia.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
Observational StudyRETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS.
The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in a sample of neurological patients and to compare it to the estimate in the general Croatian population. The secondary aim was to test for the possible significant differences in vitamin D2 insufficiency between the groups of patients according to gender, season, region, vitamin D3 supplementation, and diagnosis of autoimmune disease. This retrospective study involved 371 neurological patients in one-year period. ⋯ The proportion of neurological patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency (<75 nmol/L) was estimated at 74.66% (95% confidence interval, p<0.0001), which is slightly lower than in the Croatian general population. There were no significant differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency according to gender, season and region. Significant differences in 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency were found according to vitamin D3 supplementation and diagnosis of autoimmune disease.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARAOXONASE-1 ENZYME ACTIVITY, AFFECTED VOLUME, AND STROKE ONSET IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE PATIENTS.
Acute ischemic stroke has an important place among emergency department admissions. After a rapid diagnosis of the patient admitted with a preliminary diagnosis of stroke, the necessary examination and first intervention should be performed, then diagnostic evaluation should be made. The aim of this study was to investigate whether paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) enzyme activity, measured in patients whose stroke onset is known, is a diagnostic biomarker for stroke by evaluating the relationship between stroke diagnosis, ischemic area volume, and stroke onset. ⋯ The possible relationship between PON-1 values and stroke onset was compared and no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.311). The relationship between PON-1 enzyme activity and diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was found to be significant. PON-1 was found to be lower in stroke patients but no correlation was found with ischemic area volume.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Dec 2023
THE ROLE OF PLASMA COPEPTIN LEVEL IN DETERMINING THE SEVERITY AND MORTALITY OF SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE.
The study aimed to investigate the role of plasma copeptin level in setting the diagnosis, severity and mortality of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) admitted to the emergency department. We included patients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with SAH. Blood samples were collected from patients at the time of admission to the emergency department for assessment of plasma copeptin levels. ⋯ There was no significant correlation of plasma copeptin levels with the GCS, WFNS, and modified Fisher scores. There was no significant difference in copeptin levels between the patients who died in the hospital (mean: 0.73±0.42 ng/mL) and those who did not (mean: 0.80±0.41 ng/mL) (p=0.41). Although plasma copeptin level may be used in the diagnosis of SAH, it does not have a role in determining the patient condition severity and mortality.
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Sexuality is a complex process, a natural biological human need that is present throughout life. Closely related to sexuality is the sex drive (libido), which is the basis of human sexual activity. An important aspect of sexuality in both sexes is also the experience of orgasm. ⋯ More than half experienced clitoral orgasm most often. The factors that bother the respondents most in their sex life were too little foreplay, too little passion, and too short sex. Sexual satisfaction is experienced by people very individually and depends on many factors, such as the quality, frequency, and pleasure attributed to sexual activities, but also on general health and well-being.