Acta clinica Croatica
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Apr 2023
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGH MOBILITY GROUP BOX 1 PROTEIN GENE (rs41369348) POLYMORPHISM AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN A VASCULITIS IN CHILDREN.
Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) or Henoch-Schönlein purpura is the most prevalent systemic small vessel vasculitis in childhood. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMBG1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that functions as a pro-inflammatory signal, important for the activation of antigen-presenting cells and propagation of inflammation. HMGB1 is implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of inflammatory diseases. ⋯ Although there was a higher frequency of heterozygous A/delA genotype of this gene polymorphism in IgAV group as compared with control group, no genotype difference was observed between these two groups. No statistically significant genotype differences were disclosed when patients with different IgAV clinical features were compared. In conclusion, in this study, polymorphism rs41369348 for HMGB1 was not associated with increased susceptibility to childhood IgAV, its severity or different clinical manifestations.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Apr 2023
VALIDATION OF THE CROATIAN VERSION OF THE SURGICAL FEAR QUESTIONNAIRE (SFQ) IN ADULT PATIENTS WAITING FOR ELECTIVE SURGERY.
The Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ) is an instrument for self-assessment of surgical fear and consists of two subscales, one assessing the fear of short-term consequences (SFQ-s) and another one of long-term consequences (SFQ-l) of surgery. The aim of this study was to test the Croatian version of the SFQ with regard to its psychometric properties. This prospective cohort study included patients who presented to the Department of Surgery for elective surgery in the inpatient setting at a tertiary health care facility in Croatia between April 1 and May 31, 2019. ⋯ Significant correlations of the SFQ with the NRS and HADS-anxiety subscale were demonstrated. Our study demonstrated the Croatian version of the SFQ to have a high level of reliability and hence can be used as a self-report instrument for surgical fear with two subscales. Convergent validity of the SFQ with other self-report instruments is shown.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Apr 2023
ReviewIS SURGICAL TREATMENT OF VELOPHARYNGEAL INSUFFICIENCY BY MYOMUCOSAL POSTERIOR PHARYNGEAL FLAP A CONTRAINDICATION FOR NASAL INTUBATION? A NARRATIVE REVIEW.
Velopharyngeal insufficiency is a disorder where the soft palate directs the air through the nose. It is often present in patients with previous cleft or short palate, but also in many other conditions. Symptoms are primarily to be found in speech, with very distinct nasal sound. ⋯ The high risk of damage to the flap with possible bleeding can put the anesthesiologist in a very unpleasant situation if not aware of the permanent effect of this surgery. During preanesthetic assessment, if there is information on a previous pharyngoplasty, one should consider alternative options for nasotracheal intubation. All nasal insertion procedures must be either avoided or carried out with great caution, under fiberoptic visual control.
-
Vitamin D is involved in many different functions in the human body. Despite the well-known benefits of vitamin D and increasing trends of testing and supplementation, there is still a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide, present in the general but also in the highly-active population such as athletes and dancers. Dancers are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency due to their long working hours spent indoors, without exposure to sunlight. ⋯ Medline, Scopus, SportDiscus and Web of Science were searched to identify the available peer-reviewed articles. Five articles met the inclusion criteria (two interventional and three observational studies), three of which additionally investigated the relationship between vitamin D and muscle function. The reported results on positive influence of vitamin D serum level or vitamin D supplementation effect on reduced injury occurrence and enhanced muscular function in adolescent and elite professional ballet dancers are promising but the evidence is limited due to a low number of studies, small samples, and methodological limitations.
-
Acta clinica Croatica · Apr 2023
ReviewWHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A GYNECOLOGIST/OBSTETRICIAN AND THE AIRWAY?
Physiological changes in pregnancy as part of biohumoral and morphological changes (hyperemia, edema, hypersecretion) influence the possible problems in obstetric anesthesia. These changes by themselves, and particularly aggravated by acute or chronic gestational or non-gestational comorbidity, increase the risk of aspiration of gastric contents, failed intubation, esophageal intubation, inadequate ventilation, and respiratory failure. ⋯ Atropine has been a favorite premedicant for decades, given its pharmacological properties, especially its antisialogenic effect and absence of a depressant effect on the fetoplacental unit, but today it is rarely used. Nasal decongestants before surgery are not recommended but in cases of severe rhinitis, atropine, promethazine, or topical decongestants may be used.