Medicinski arhiv最新文献

Background: COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-COV-2 can result in multi-organ injuries and significant mortality in severe and critical patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes as a comorbidity. Metformin and insulin are the main diabetes medications that affect the outcome of patients with COVID-19.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to find out the features of the hematological indicators of patients with COVID-19 patients and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of the hospital confirmed COVID-19 patients between January to March 2022, who were admitted to Transcarpathian Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital (Uzhhorod, Ukraine).

Results: The effect of type 2 diabetes, metformin, and insulin on COVID-19 were analyzed, respectively. Demographics and blood laboratory indices were collected. In patients who took metformin, the level of CRP was significantly lower than in patients who did not take metformin (24 mg/L [IQR 15 - 58] vs 52 mg/L, [IQR 22-121], P = 0.046).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pre-admission metformin use may benefit COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a disease associated with impaired heart and blood vessel function. The occurrence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is due to an imbalance in blood glucose that could cause damage to large and small blood vessels and increase platelet aggregation, contributing to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It could be attributed to high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of movement, obesity, high cholesterol, unbalanced diet. CVD can be prevented, especially in at-risk groups, with risk assessment utilizing the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

Objective: The study aimed to to analyze the risk of CVD according to the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in type 2 DM patients in Medan.

Methods: The data were collected with the Framingham Risk Score, which consisted of sub-variables of age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBM), history of DM, and history of smoking, which were assessed by gender. It was a cross-sectional analytic study with consecutive sampling on 252 respondents, namely DM patients who came for treatment or control to the health centers in Medan and fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were then analyzed with SPSS.

Results: The respondents consisted of 197 women (78.2%) and 55 men (21.8%). The results were predominated with high risk patients (139, 55.2%), followed by those with medium risks (80, 31.7%), and low risks (33, 13.1%). Chi-square test yielded a significant association between each sub-variable of CVD risk factors and the risks based on FRS in type 2 DM patients.

Conclusion: Each sub-variable of CVD risk factors and the risks on FRS among type 2 DM patients. In future studies, it is recommended to include that a larger number of samples in the community with a balanced proportion of men and women.

Background: The use of staplers in surgical repair of the pharynx after laryngectomy has gained traction in recent years, with differing results.

Objective: In this study, we compare the use of stapler suturing (SS) after laryngectomy in comparison with the manual suturing (MS) technique in laryngeal cancer patients regarding pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation, operative time, blood loss, margin status, and length of hospital stay.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of laryngeal cancer patients undergoing pharyngeal repair after total laryngectomy by either a stapler or manual suturing. Demographic data, stage of disease, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and operative time were collected.

Results: A total of 59 laryngeal cancer patients were included, of which 22 underwent SS and 37 had MS. Our cohort was predominantly males (98%), and similar mean ages were observed across both suturing groups (60.5 vs 59.9, P = 0.83). Negative margins were more frequent with SS (100% vs 86.5%, P = 0.13) yet this difference was not statistically significant, whereas preoperative tracheostomy procedure was present more in MS patients (43.2% vs 0, P = 0.003). Lymph node involvement was higher in the manual suturing cohort, yet this difference was statistically insignificant (41.2% vs 25%, P = 0.49). The muscle flap procedure was significantly higher in the MS cohort (70.3% vs 20%, P = 0.001). In both groups, comparable PCF rates were noted (13.3% vs 10.8%) and there was no association between salvage laryngectomy and PCF occurrence in the entire cohort. For surgery details, there was no statistical difference between both groups in blood loss, hospitalization length, or oral feeding start. Only surgical time was significantly lower in the stapler cohort (277 vs 372.6 minutes, P = 0.000).

Conclusion: Both suturing techniques did not show any statistically significant difference in PCF rates. However, was markedly reduced with stapler use in comparison to manual suturing. Further randomized studies with larger sample size are needed to validate the role of stapler suturing for pharyngeal repair.

Background: Despite many advances in the prevention, of sternal wound infection, especially deep ones, cardiac surgery with median sternotomy, still presents a significant postoperative complication. Numerous operative and non-operative procedures should be used in treatment, there is a prolonged hospital stay and increased hospital costs treating this postoperative complication.

Objective: The present study was conducted aiming to determine the incidences, and risk factors, identify microbiology findings, and antibiotic therapy among patients with DSWI who underwent cardiac surgery with median sternotomy at our Clinic and VAC treatment.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery at University Clinical Center Sarajevo from November 2015 to November 2020. The data were obtained from 15 patients with deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) following open-heart surgery. The inclusion criteria were DSWI after cardiac operation via median sternotomy, and complete results of microbiological findings obtained by sternal swab. The exclusion criteria were patients with incomplete clinical data.

Results: We found that 9 (60%) patients were males and 6 (40%) were females. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation had 11 (73,3%) patients, CABG with aortic valve replacement 2 (13,3%), valve replacement surgery operations (13,3%). The average age was 66 years. All patients were elective surgery patients. STS score in the Non-VAC group was 22.6, in the VAC group 16.6, and the average was 14.9. The number of patients with DSWI represents 1% of all sternotomy patients in the observed period. Two risk factors for DSWI had 37% of patients, 25% of them were diabetic, and 3 (9%) were overweight. Enterococcus faecalis was isolated predominantly in 6 (27%) patients, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 3 (13%), Proteus mirabilis 2 (9%), and Serratia Maecenas 2 (9%). The mortality rate was 33.3% (5 of 15).

Conclusion: The results of our study present our experience with DSWI treatment after open-heart surgery. What comes from our experience so far, is that is very important to determine patients who are at risk of developing DSWI after cardiac surgeries to lower its incidence.

Background: Focal dermal hypoplasia is a genetic disease of multiple systems initially affecting the skin, skeleton, dental, eyes and face with developmental abnormalities and facial dysmorphism. Focal dermal hypoplasia is X-linked dominant disease affecting the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. 95% feature de novo and 90% of these are females. Focal dermal hypoplasia is induced by a mutation in the PORCN gene.

Objective: The aim of this article is to present a case of a one-year-old girl child with multi-hypopigmented reticulated atrophic macules and patches grouped in linear mode at the lines of blaschko, skeleton abnormalities, umbilical hernia, developmental delay, hypoplastic nails, syndactyly and lobster claw deformity.

Case report: A one-year-old girl child presented to the dermatology clinic with asymptomatic lesions since childhood with no improvement, with multi- hypopigmented skin lesions on the trunk and extremities since birth as linear erosions that heal gradually during few days, leaving peripheral hypopigmentation with hyperpigmentation with anomalies of limbs and nails and delayed development. She was born by normal vaginal delivery and weighed 2.5 kg at birth. None of the family members had such features. She had dental enamel anomaly and partial anodontia in the lower jaw. Sparse hair and partial alopecia (scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes) were recorded.

Conclusion: Focal dermal hypoplasia is a congenital skin disease with a unique clinical feature. Thorough examination of the extremities is indicated for early proper genetic counseling and therapy.

Background: Platelet transfusion is the main mode of management of thrombocytopenia. However, some studies link frequent and high-threshold platelet transfusions with an incremental increase of mortality rate.

Objective: This study aims to assess the association between the frequency and the threshold of platelet transfusions, with the mortality rate among preterm neonates.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was used. This study was conducted at maternity and children's hospitals in Al-Ahasa, Saudi Arabia. The sample size includes 154 preterm neonates, included in the study by the use of the convenience sampling technique.

Results: There is a significant relationship found between the gestational age and the birth weight of the preterm neonates with the survival rates among both groups. In contrast, there is no significant relationship found between transfusion frequency, transfusion threshold, and the survival rates of the group which received platelet transfusion.

Conclusion: The current study found that mortality is mainly associated with lower gestational ages, and not platelet transfusions. More studies are needed to fill the remaining gaps of knowledge, and to optimise platelet transfusion practices among preterm neonates.

Background: Abdominal stab wounds are common in clinical practice. However, the development of psoas muscle abscess following such an injury is extremely rare. Moreover, literature surrounding psoas muscle hematoma formation as a consequence of penetrating abdominal injury is scarce.

Objective: We report a case of psoas abscess formation following the development of psoas hematoma in a patient who suffered from a penetrating abdominal injury.

Case presentation: A 40-year-old Indian male presented to the Emergency department with multiple abdominal cut and stab wounds as a result of physical assault. A computed tomography scan revealed injuries to the ascending colon along with hemoperitoneum and right psoas muscle hematoma. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in which a right hemicolectomy and a right psoas muscle evacuation were successfully achieved along with multiple drainage tubes placed. Six days later, a peritoneal fluid culture tested positive, and a computed tomography scan revealed right psoas muscle collection which was diagnosed as an abscess. Treatment of the abscess included antibiotics and ultrasound-guided drainage. Patient was eventually discharged but was lost to follow-up.

Conclusion: The development of iliopsoas abscess and hematoma as a consequence of abdominal penetrating injuries is a rare occurrence. Diagnosis can be made by computed tomography imaging and examination of the drained fluid. Managing a case with both of these rare phenomena can be challenging due to the scarce literature highlighting and comparing the different management modalities.

Background: Conflicting data exist on traditional lipid profiles in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD), whereas scarce number of studies evaluated non-traditional lipid profiles in patients with AD and VD. Studies have shown that ethnic background may affect lipid profile.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to conduct comparative assessment of traditional and non-traditional lipid profiles in Bosnian patients with AD and VD.

Methods: A controlled, cross-sectional study was performed with 66 patients with AD, 50 patients with VD, and 60 control subjects. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used for an evaluation of the global cognitive function. The Hachinski ischemic score was used to distinguish patients with VD from those with AD. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) levels were determined using standard enzymatic colorimetric techniques, whereas the Friedewald formula was used to calculate low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The non-traditional lipid indices such as TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were separately calculated. The differences between the groups were analyzed with ANOVA followed by the Tuckey posthoc test or with the Kruskal Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney test.

Results: Results of the present study have shown that patients in AD group had significantly lower level of TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, Non-HDL-C and significantly lower atherogenic index compared to the control group (CG) and compared to the VD patients. Significant difference in values of TG and VLDL-C was observed between VD and the CG, whereas no significant difference in values of TC, LDL-C, atherogenic index and Non-HDL-C was observed between these two groups. Our results have also shown that TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were significantly lower in AD patients compared to the VD and CG. Moreover, TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly lower in VD compared to the CG. However, a significant difference in TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C was not observed between VD and the CG.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study it can be deduced that there is a difference in traditional and non-traditional lipid profiles between AD and VD patients of Bosnian descent. Obtained results suggest that lipids are decreased in AD and in VD to a certain extent. However, since there is an inconsistence in literature whether there is an association between cholesterol and cognition, large prospective studies are required to elucidate this controversy.

Background: Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) Simpson methods is the most frequently used imaging modality to assess Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). LVEF is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients and clinical scenarios. Despite its importance in prognosis and clinical decision making, most echocardiography laboratories currently determine EF primarily by visual estimation, which is highly experience-dependent and sensitive to intra- and inter-observer variability and suboptimal accuracy and repeatability. Over the last decade, 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has become increasingly implemented in clinical practice. The automated 3D HeartModel^A.I. tracks every frame over the cardiac cycle using 3D speckle technology. HeartModel^A.I. is a fully automated program that simultaneously detects LA and LV endocardial surfaces using an adaptive analytics algorithm that consists of knowledge-based identification of initial global shape and orientation followed by patient-specific adaptation.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the automated 3D HeartModel^A.I echocardiography and 2D Simpson methods echocardiography in evaluation of the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular volumes in patients with left heart dysfunction.

Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 165 patients with symptoms of LV dysfunction (ischemic or nonischemic) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I-III, referred for an echocardiographic study to evaluate the LV volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) during the period from March 2020 to March 2022. Echocardiographic images were acquired by experienced echocardiographers using a commercially available Philips EPIQ machine (Koninklijke Philips Ultrasound, USA) equipped with X5-1 Matrix probe for 2DE and DHM 3DE acquisitions, respectively.

Results: 2D Simpson methods echocardiography results for estimated LVEF were 38.43 ± 1.70 in patients with NYHA class I-II, 30.53 ± 1.60 in patients with NYHA class III. Using 3D Heart Model, LVEF were 38.23 ± 1.71 in patients with NYHA class I-II and 30.27 ± 1.50 in patients with NYHA class III. The results of 2D Simpson methods echocardiography for estimated LVEDVi in NYHA class I-II and NYHA class III were 99.06 ± 6.36 ml/m2, 121.96 ± 2.93 ml/m2 respectively, LVESVi were 60.91 ± 3.91 ml/m2, 84.74 ± 2.70 ml/m2 respectively, for 3D Heart Model, LVEDVi in NYHA class I-II and NYHA class III were 100.07 ± 6.72, 121.38 ± 3.01 ml/m2 respectively, LVESVi were 61.75 ± 3.94 ml/m2, 84.73 ± 2.33 ml/m2 respectively. 2DE measurement of LV volumes and EF was completed in 6.1 ± 0.8 min. per patient. 3DE HeartModel^A.I acquisition and analysis in most patients was completed in <3.2 min., an average time of 2.9 ± 1.3 min. per patient. The result of our study shows that the 3D Hea

Background: Health professionals and health institutions document their professional activities with patients based on health policy and legal framework. This creates valuable medical records not only for health institutions at the three levels, but also for scientific research purposes and government agencies that design policies, laws and strategies and implement and monitor these policies based on the health statistics that form the basis of these policies, as well as for the health system not only at the national level, but also at the regional and local levels.

Objective: To analyze the impact of the legal framework for health statistics in Kosovo on the planning of health system needs, human and financial resources and other components related to the collection, analysis and processing of data and health statistics, and on the basis of these statistics, to develop sectoral strategies, but also other key strategic documents for decision-making in the health system of Kosovo.

Methods: Decision-makers and stakeholders, as well as other staff involved in the system of health statistics at the three organization levels of the health system in Kosovo, including inspectors from the Health Inspectorate, were interviewed through specific questionnaires.

Results: The analysis of the laws, bylaws and other provisions that regulate and directly influence the data system and health statistics in Kosovo revealed that the institutional role is unclear, the legislation is insufficient and in many cases regulations are missing, which are an essential prerequisite for the implementation of the legislation and consequently influence the insufficient decision-making process.

Conclusion: The research and findings provide sufficient evidence that the Kosovo's system for health data and statistics has serious shortcomings, starting with the legal framework, organizational structure, functional organization, segregation of duties and responsibilities, pronounced lack of staff, professional profiles and required technology, which in turn affects unreliable decision-making and health policy.