{"title":"Pain propagation in the carpal tunnel syndrome: a quantitative sensory testing","authors":"T. Bućma, I. Sladojević","doi":"10.17392/1762-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1762-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 <p><strong>Aim</strong> To determine the existence of damage to thin sensitive fibres (Aδ and C) by quantitative sensory testing (QST) in female patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the existence of pain, and a connection with the in-nervation field of the nerve itself.<br /><strong>Methods</strong> Forty-two consecutive female patients with symptoms of CTS participated in the research. According to the clinical findings and electroneurography they were divided into group I of 22 women with confirmed CTS and group II of 20 women with non-confirmed disease. Using QST, the threshold of heat and cold, and the threshold of pain caused by heat and cold on the thenar, second, and third finger of the dominant hand in both groups was determined. <br /><strong>Results</strong> There was a statistically significant difference in group I for the threshold of heat and cold detection and the threshold of pain caused by heat and cold between the thenar and the fingers. In the group II, there was a statistically significant difference in the threshold of heat detection between the thenar and the fingers. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in the threshold of heat and cold detection on the fingers and the threshold of pain induced by heat on the fingers. <br /><strong>Conclusion</strong> In the carpal tunnel syndrome, there was damage to thin Aδ and C fibers in the innervation field of the median nerve, which causes pain within the innervation field of the nerve, but also outside it, which can most likely be a consequence of brain plasticity and central sensitization.</p>\u0000","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"96 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141812238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"When time does not heal all wounds: three decades' experience of immigrants living in Sweden.","authors":"Ferid Krupić, Monika Moravcova, Emina Dervišević, Svemir Čustović, Kemal Grbić, Parvaneh Lindström","doi":"10.17392/1696-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1696-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate how immigrants from the Balkan region experienced their current life situation after living in Sweden for 30 years or more.</p><p><strong>Materials: </strong>The study was designed as a qualitative study using data from interviews with informants from five Balkan countries. The inclusion criteria were informants who were immigrants to Sweden and had lived in Sweden for more than 30 years. Five groups comprising sixteen informants were invited to participate in the study, and they all agreed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis of the interviews resulted in three main categories: \"from someone to no one\", \"labour market\", and \"discrimination\". All the informants reported that having an education and life experience was worth-less, having a life but having to start over, re-educating, applying for many jobs but often not being answered, and finally getting a job for which every in-formant was educated but being humiliated every day and treated separately as well as being discriminated against.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Coming to Sweden with all their problems, having an education and work experience that was equal to zero in Sweden, studying Swedish and re-reading/repeating all their education, looking for a job and not receiving answers to applications, and finally getting a job but being treated differently and discriminated against on a daily basis was experienced by all the in-formants as terrible. Even though there are enough similar studies in Sweden, it is always good to write more to help prospective immigrants and prospective employers in Sweden.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urban thoracic trauma: diagnosis and initial treatment of non-cardiac injuries in adults.","authors":"Vasileios Leivaditis, Athanasios Papatriantafyllou, Ioanna Akrida, Michail Galanis, Emmanouil Dimopoulos, Anastasia Papaporfyriou, Benjamin Ehle, Efstratios Koletsis, Nikolaos Charokopos, George Pappas-Gogos, Francesk Mulita, Georgios-Ioannis Verras, Konstantinos Tasios, Vasiliki Garantzioti, Levan Tchabashvili, Manfred Dahm, Konstantinos Grapatsas","doi":"10.17392/1718-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1718-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This comprehensive review aims to delineate the prevailing non-cardiac thoracic injuries occurring in urban environments following initial on-site treatment and subsequent admission to hospital emergency departments. Our study involved a rigorous search within the PubMed database, employing key phrases and their combinations, including \"thoracic injury,\" \"thoracic trauma,\" \"haemothorax,\" \"lung contusion,\" \"traumatic pneumothorax,\" \"rib fractures,\" and \"flail chest.\" We focused on original research articles and reviews. Non-cardiac thoracic injuries exhibit a high prevalence, often affecting poly-trauma patients, and contributing to up to 35% of polytrauma-related fatalities. Furthermore, severe thoracic injuries can result in a substantial 5% mortality rate. This review provides insights into clinical entities such as lung contusion, traumatic haemothorax, pneumothorax, rib fractures, and sternal fractures. Thoracic injuries represent a frequent and significant clinical concern for emergency department physicians and thoracic surgeons, warranting thorough understanding and timely intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nina Jovanović, Corinne Peek-Asa, Zhang Ling, Joe E Cavanaugh, Adel Smajlović, Srdjan Nikolovski, Emir Begagić, Igor Knezović
{"title":"Association between paediatric eye injuries, later academic success and social performance.","authors":"Nina Jovanović, Corinne Peek-Asa, Zhang Ling, Joe E Cavanaugh, Adel Smajlović, Srdjan Nikolovski, Emir Begagić, Igor Knezović","doi":"10.17392/1703-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1703-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate an association between eye injury and later academic and social performance.</p><p><strong>Materials: </strong>A retrospective longitudinal study of taking measurements multiple times was conducted including all severe eye injuries admitted during 2011-2017 at the main regional clinic to investigate changes in academic success and social inclusion before and after an injury. Parents/caregivers were surveyed asking questions on academic performance, and community/social involvement. In 2023 data on employment status were obtained. Kappa (ĸ) and non-parametric Wilcox-on signed-rank test for multiple comparisons were used. For association of employment status and post-injury visual acuity Fisher score was tested.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The total sample for assessing social inclusion and academic success was 36 and 25 children, respectively. In the following academic year ĸ agreements decreased from 0.88 (p<0.001) comparing pre-injury with a one-year post to 0.5106 (p<.0001) in the second year and 0.4750 (p=0.003) in the third, suggesting a deteriorating trend. A comparison of academic success before injury to two and three years after injury showed the trend significantly worsening with time (p=0.005, and 0.003, respectively). No association between an eye injury and social inclusion, as well as between employment and final visual acuity was noticed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest no association between social inclusion, employment, and eye trauma, while in later years academic success may be more impacted by the eye injury. Due to eye injury unpredictability in childhood age, both an informed and supportive climate environment at home and school is essential to minimize deleterious responses to eye trauma.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatiana Havrilova, Elena Novakova, Vincent Lucansky, Andrea Stanclova, Martina Neuschlova
{"title":"Use of tcdC gene sequencing to prevent misidentification of Clostridioides difficile ribotype 176 and 027.","authors":"Tatiana Havrilova, Elena Novakova, Vincent Lucansky, Andrea Stanclova, Martina Neuschlova","doi":"10.17392/1693-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1693-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare the sequences of the tcdC gene between Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) strains identified as PCR ribotype 176 and the reference strain C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 and to evaluate the use of the Xpert C. difficile/Epi assay for their differentiation.</p><p><strong>Materials: </strong>A total of 45 strains were grown from storage beads. DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for sequencing was extracted from 9 samples. Single consensus sequences of PCR ribotype 176 strains and PCR ribotype 001, PCR ribotype 070 (a control group) were mapped to a reference genome of strain CDI-01 (PCR ribotype 027).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four strains (out of seven; 57%) characterized as PCR ribotype 176 had 100% identity of the tcdC gene with the reference strain. The average length of the tcdC gene in these four strains (PCR ribotype 176) was 643 bp, which is 36 bp shorter than the reference genome. Three strains (PCR ribotype 176) had a percentage identity of the tcdC gene in the range of 99.37-100%. Strains 25 (PCR ribotype 001) and 28 (PCR ribotype 070) had a similarity in the range of 95.39-95.63% as a result of different ribotype to the reference strain.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PCR ribotype 176 strains have almost the same tcdC gene sequence as PCR ribotype 027, resulting in misidentification of this PCR ribotype by the Xpert C. difficile/Epi assay. Information about presumptive positive results based on deletion in the tcdC gene should be treated with caution or disregarded.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prognostic relevance of preoperative CA 19-9 values in stage III rectal adenocarcinoma: retrospective analysis and clinical implications.","authors":"Edin Hodžić, Sadat Pušina, Adi Mulabdić, Mirhan Salibašić, Emsad Halilović, Mujo Kadrić","doi":"10.17392/1701-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1701-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate prognostic significance of preoperative levels of the Carbohydrate anti-gen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in patients with stage III rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent a treatment at the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo.</p><p><strong>Materials: </strong>A retrospective cohort study included 84 patients who underwent radical anterior rectal resection due to grade III rectal adenocarcinoma, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy according to the FOLFOX protocol (Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)). The patients were divided into two groups according to CA 19-9 values (≥27 U/mL and <27 U/mL, respectively).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High pre-operative CA 19-9 values predicted an increased probability of postoperative metastases, especially liver, lung and abdominopelvic metastases, as well as three-year disease-free survival (3Y-DFS) and three-year overall survival (3Y-OS). The 3Y-DFS rate for patients with high CA 19-9 was 64.5%, while for those with low CA 19-9 it was 87.2%. The 3Y-OS rate for patients with high CA 19-9 was 89.8%, while for those with low CA 19-9 it was 65.7%. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis confirmed that a high level of CA 19-9 is an independent predictor for DFS and OS shorter than three years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pre-operatively elevated values of CA 19-9 in rectal adenocarcinoma have a significant role in predicting the outcome in patients with stage III rectal adenocarcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Obesity and atherosclerosis in children.","authors":"Senka Mesihović-Dinarević","doi":"10.17392/1704-21-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1704-21-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atherosclerosis, one of the leading causes of death in developed countries is characterized by lumen reduction of blood vessels due to local thickening of internal blood vessels caused by plaque/atheroma. It begins in childhood, goes for a long time without manifesting symptoms, increasing with age it begins to seriously threaten health. The most important risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic disease are: hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high fibrinogen, excessive weight, increased level of homocysteine, physical inactivity, heredity and immune response in some diseases. The primary intention of prevention is to preclude the occurrence of risk factors for atherosclerosis, and the secondary is to prevent the development or aggravation of the illness along with the reduction or control of existing risks. There is an increasing number of studies that show that children are overweight, which in adolescence is certainly a risk factor for the onset of many chronic diseases, namely: cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, orthopedic, and psychological diseases. The obesity epidemic is one of the most serious health problems of today affecting individuals of all ages. Atherosclerosis demands action with the aim of early detection and treatment as well as the reduction of development of risk factors for coronary artery diseases. Finding the most effective preventive measures for obesity in each country requires precise epidemiological data on the number of obese children and youth, as well as on their eating and activity habits.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Functional gastrointestinal disorders in children: a single centre experience.","authors":"Amela Selimović, Nina Mekić, Selma Terzić, Almira Ćosićkić, Evlijana Zulić, Majda Mehmedović","doi":"10.17392/1649-23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1649-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional gastrointestinal disorders in childhood (FGIDs) constitute a significant time-consuming clinical problem for healthcare practitioners, and they carry an important psychosocial burden for patients and their families. The aim of this study was to characterize etiology, clinical features, and interventions in a paediatric cohort of patients with FGIDs, who were referred to a tertiary care university-affiliated centre. Methods A retrospective study of children aged 1-15 years old referred to the Clinic for Children's Diseases, University Clinical Center Tuzla, from January 2022 to December 2022, who fulfilled criteria for FGIDs (n=209), were divided in three groups: 0-3, 4-10 and 11-15 years old. Demographic characteristics, number of examinations, duration of symptoms, initial diagnosis, hospital evaluation and outcomes of each child were collected. Results During the study period, 670 patients were referred to a gastroenterologist, out of whom 209 (31.2%) fulfilled the criteria for FGIDs, with median age of 8.0 years. Females were predominant in all groups (p=0.0369). Children aged 4 to 10 years were significantly more frequent (p<0.0001). A median duration of symptoms was one year. Functional constipation was the most common diagnosis, 99 (47.4%), followed by functional abdominal pain not otherwise specified, 67 (37.2%), and functional dyspepsia, 25 (12.0%). Fifty-two percent of patients did not require further follow-up by the gastroenterologist. Conclusion Although FGDIs are frequent, they are not well accepted neither among patients nor physicians. Extensive diagnostic procedures are often unnecessary and the cessation of specialized care follow-up is possible in a significant number of cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 1","pages":"112-117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139716652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome.","authors":"Željka Dragila, Matea Lozert, Silvija Canecki-Varžić, Kristina Selthofer-Relatić","doi":"10.17392/1678-23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1678-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aim To investigate the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods The study included fifteen patients with first or repeated ACS and treated/nontreated dyslipidaemia admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases of Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek between 1 January 2020 and 1 January 2021. The cut-off value of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C was 4.5mmol/L as a possible cut-off value for familial hypercholesterolemia presence. Data were collected from medical history and during patient's follow-up. Results Included patients that fulfilled criteria were predominantly male - 14 (93%), mean age 61 years. The median level of LDL cholesterol at admission because of ACS was 5.14 mmol/L, whereas the follow-up level after one year was 2.27 mmol/L (p=0.001). At first follow-up, 7 (46%) patients were treated with atorvastatin 80 mg or rosuvastatin 40 mg, 3 (20%) atorvastatin 80mg + ezetimibe 10mg, 2 (13%) with rosuvastatin 40 mg+ ezetimibe 10 mg, other patients were treated with a lower dose of statin or ezetimibe. According to LDL-C profile and by calculating the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Score, one (of 15) patient was categorized as having definite familial hypercholesterolemia and two (of 15) as having probable familial hypercholesterolemia leading to the use of triple hypolipidemic therapy (statin+ezetimibe+PCSK9 inhibitor) in 2 (13%) patients (one female and one male). Conclusion LDL-C level of 4.5 mmol/L and higher represents an indication for screening for familial hypercholesterolemia in patients with ACS. The prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in ACS, estimated by the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Score, could be higher than previously reported.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 1","pages":"29-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139716653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of plateletpheresis on haematological values in voluntary donors: a retrospective data analysis over an eight-month period.","authors":"Gorana Ahmetović-Karić, Elma Ćatović-Baralija, Kenan Mehić","doi":"10.17392/1690-23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17392/1690-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aim To analyse changes in haematological values after plateletpheresis in donor population with regard to donor safety. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on first time and repeated healthy donors over a period of eight months in the Blood Transfusion Institute in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. A total of 75 plateletpheresis procedures performed using Amicus continuous flow cell separator were evaluated. Various pre- and post-donation haematological values were measured in all donors: haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), platelet count (PLT), white blood cell count (WBC), mean platelet volume (MPV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Results A significant decrease in post-donation Hb, Hct, RBC, PLT, MCHC (p<0.000) and WBC (p=0.003), and a significant increase in MPV (p=0.011) and MCV (p<0.000) was found. Percentage reduction of haematological parameters Hb, Hct, RBC, PLT, WBC and MCHC decrease of 6.6%, 6.5%, 5.9%, 24%, 4.6% and 0.3%, respectively, in their respective count was noted postdonation. Eight (11%) donors had a post-procedure platelet count less than 150x10e9/L. Twenty two donors (29%) experienced mild side effects due to hypocalcaemia. Conclusion Plateletpheresis procedures are generally safe and well tolerated, without evident associated clinical manifestations on healthy donors.</p>","PeriodicalId":51129,"journal":{"name":"Medicinski Glasnik","volume":"21 1","pages":"16-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139718045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}