Treatment of wounds, especially in patients with systemic diseases, is very difficult and time consuming, and it represents great challenge. Complications like infections and impaired healing are ...regularly seen in these patients, sometimes leaving almost no other treating option, but amputation surgery. In wound healing process, platelets play one of key roles, both in hemostasis, and, by releasing many growth factors, in reepithelization and tissue remodeling. Platelet concentrates are defined as autologous or homologous platelet derivatives with a platelet concentration higher than it is usually in human blood. Concentration of platelets needed to affect wound healing should be 1,000,000/μl. This is a report about patient with pemphigus vulgaris and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, who got injury of the left lower leg. Traditional surgical methods of wound closure and vacuum‐assisted closure therapy were ineffective. Homologous platelet gel was used topically, resulting in wound closure, without any adverse effects.
Measuring performance is one of the essential goals which are set before modern management, since performance measurement provides significant business information for the evaluation and analysis of ...the achieved goals as well as the identification of potential deviations that may arise in business due to decision making and implementation processes. Since the domestic business environment shows the presence of a constantly increasing number of civic associations, we will focus our study on performance measurement in them, rather than some specific legal entities. The paper will analyze the basic characteristics and nature of non-profit business, namely, the main specificities of the domestic non-profit sector, with a special focus on civic associations, including the main parameters of performance measurement for the non-profit sector.
Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive solid cancers, that develops local, regional and distant metastases. The presence of metastases in lymph nodes is in correlation with Breslow tumor ...thickness. According to various researches, in melanoma with more than 4 mm Breslow thickness, lymph node micrometastases can be found in 60-70% of cases. Sentinel lymph nodes biopsy is a diagnostic procedure for lymph node micrometastasis detection, which is necessary for disease staging. In recent studies, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration with cytology (US FNAC) of the sentinel lymph node was used as less invasive procedure, but is not accepted as the standard procedure. The goal of this work was to define sensitivity, specification and precision of the ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration method in comparison with standard sentinel lymph node biopsy.
After obtaining the Ethics Committee’s permission, from 2012 to 2014 a total of 60 patients with cutaneous melanoma were enrolled, and divided into three groups: group I with thin melanoma, group II with intermediate thickness melanoma and group III with thick melanoma. The presence of micrometastases in sentinel regional lymph nodes was analyzed by US FNAC. The results obtained were compared to sentinel lymph nodes biopsy (SLNB) results. The golden standard for calculating the specific, sensitive and precise characteristics of the method of US FNAC of sentinel lymph nodes was histopathologic lymph node examination of sentinel lymph nodes acquired through biopsy.
Detection rate of US FNAC was 0% in the group I, 5% in the group II and 30% in the group III. SLNB detection rates were: 10% in the group I, 15% in the group II, and 45% in the group III. In melanoma thicker than 4 mm, 15% of the patients were false negative by US FNAC. The sensitivity of US FNAC for all the patients was 50%: in the group I, 0%; in the group II, 33.3%; and in the group III, 66.6%. The method specificity for all examined patients was 100% and accuracy 88%: group I, 90%; group II, 90%; group III, 85%. The FNAC and SLNB micrometastasis detection rate was significantly higher in melanoma with Breslow thickness > 4 mm (group 3) in comparison to thin and intermediate thickness tumors.
The method of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of sentinel lymph nodes, according to its sensitivity, has a place in the diagnostics of micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes only in thick melanoma, but not in thin and intermediary thickness melanoma. The results must be confirmed in a larger number of patients. If this observation could be confirmed, it would rationalize treatment of patients with thick melanoma, decrease the number of operations and shorten the time to make the diagnosis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
It is determined that 30% of patients with depression are resistant to antidepressant medication. The increased concentration of inflammation factors, such as C-reactive protein, and pro-inflammatory ...cytokines, have been detected in serum in these patients. It is necessary to establish new therapeutic possibilities and protocols that are created to overcome the difficulties caused by increased concentration of inflammatory biomarkers in depressive patients. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be the most powerful antidepressants, increasing the level of serotonin in endogenous depression, as well as in that caused by immunological mechanisms. It is believed that agents that influence cytokines, immunological signal pathways and cytokine syntheses, like the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase enzyme and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are very important in the potential treatment of residual symptoms of depression. Treatment with cytokine antagonists is one of the potential adjuvant therapies, along with antidepressants. Signal pathways blockers, such as the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and other NSAIDs, are in the phase of research, in terms of their antidepressant effects. Also, it has been shown that the inhibition of indolamin-2,3 deoxygenase (IDO) and kynurenine (KYN) signal pathways in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, by application of IDO antagonists, are leading to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine effects. Antidepressants may have anti-inflammatory effects, depending on dose and type, and they achieve this effect through the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Also, antidepressants modulate the humoral and cellular immune system. This work aims to summarise certain neurobiological and neuroimmunological specificities that have been observed in patients with depression, antidepressants and immunomodulation agents. The understanding of complex and heterogenic pathophysiology of depression through the prism of the altered immune system, is of major importance, in terms of better optimisation of pharmacotherapy, and options for a personalised approach in depressive disorder treatment.
Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxin derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium that inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction level whose effects has been used for ...many years to treat a variety of muscular/neuromuscular conditions and more recently also for cosmetic use. BTX has experimented in some dermatological conditions, which include Rosacea and facial flushing treatment with good results. The complex mechanism underlying those results is not completely understood but was proposed a release inhibition of acetylcholine from peripheral autonomic nerves of the cutaneous vasodilatory system combined with the blockade substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) thus modulating blood vessel dilatation. We analysed the published data on BTX off label applications rosacea and flushing retrieved from PubMed.
Botulin Toxin Use in Scars/Keloids Treatment Scala, Jacopo; Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxin protein derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium that inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction level whose effects has been ...used for many years to treat a variety of muscular/neuromuscular conditions and more recently also for cosmetic use. BTX has experimented in some dermatological conditions which include scar prevention and treatment with good results The complex mechanism underlying those results is not completely understood but several mechanisms were proposed release inhibition of different substances like (TGF)-β, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and glutamate thus modulating cutaneous inflammation and wound healing. We analysed the published data on BTX off label applications on scars and keloids retrieved from PubMed.
Insomnia means difficulty in falling asleep and/or stays asleep. Insomnia commonly leads to daytime sleepiness, lethargy, and a general feeling of being unwell. The most common treatment of insomnia ...includes GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators or Melatonin agonists. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Magnesium- melatonin-vitamin B complex supplement in the treatment of insomnia. The study included 60 patients diagnosed with insomnia. The patients were randomly divided into study group (N = 30), and control group (N = 30), and study group was treated with Magnesium-melatonin-vitamin B complex (one dose contains 175 mg liposomal magnesium oxide, 10 mg Vit B6, 16 μg vit B12, melatonin 1 mg, Extrafolate-S 600 μg) once a day 1 hour before sleep, during the 3 months. The severity of insomnia symptoms was measured by self-reported Athens insomnia scale (AIS), with a cut-off score by Soldatos (AIS score ≥ 6). Mean AIS score at zero points was 14.93 ± 3.778 in the study group and 14.37 ± 4.081 in the control group (p = 0.476), indicating the compatibility of the groups, and both scores correspond to mild to moderate insomnia. Mean AIS score after 3 months of the Magnesium- melatonin- vitamin B complex supplementation was 10.50 ± 4.21 corresponding to mild insomnia, while median AIS score in the control group was 15.13 ± 3.76 which is referred to moderate insomnia, and difference among groups was significant (p = 0.000). Our founding's indicating that 3 months of the Magnesium- melatonin-vitamin B complex supplementation has a beneficial effect in the treatment of insomnia regardless of cause.
Beta Blockers and Melanoma Vojvodic, Aleksandra; Vojvodic, Petar; Vlaskovic-Jovicevic, Tatjana ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences,
09/2019, Letnik:
7, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Understanding the mechanisms of cancer immune-tolerance is one of the most important challenges. Several studies have demonstrated the potential anticarcinogenic effects of beta-blockers, in patients ...with prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. At the other side variety of dermatoses may be caused or aggravated by β-blockers-psoriasis, lichen planus-like drug eruptions (LDE), acrocyanosis, alopecia etc. Beta-blockers have been shown to improve the prognosis of melanoma patients significantly. Propranolol inhibits melanoma by downregulating the tumour angiogenesis but also tumour cell proliferation, invasiveness and local immune suppression. Studies showed that only β3-but, not β2-adrenoceptors, were up-regulated under hypoxia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and selectively expressed in immune cell sub-populations including Treg, MDSC, and NK. They increased NK and CD8 number and cytotoxicity. Catecholamines may retard melanoma progression and that β-blockers may have unrecognised potential as a therapeutic intervention for melanoma, in the prevention of the growth of melanoma in all stages and as adjuvant therapy with other targeted and immune therapies for melanoma.
Vascular anomalies in the hand do not occur frequently. Their presence in the metacarpal region can cause different functional disorders. The extent of such disorders directly depends on the ...localization and size of vascular anomalies, duration and the nature of the anomaly growth as well as on eventual secondary complications such as ulceration or bleeding. The aim of this case report was to show the specifics in the clinical picture, pathogenesis and evolution of such anomalies, applied diagnostic procedures (radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, electromyography) and surgical treatment as well as postoperative functional results.
In the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Military Medical Academy Belgrade, two patients were treated surgically for vascular anomalies of the middle palmar region of the hand. The first patient, a 36-year-old male, a former active sportsman (professional handball player) was treated for acute increase in the vascular anomaly of hand in the metacarpal region and proximal phalange of III and IV fingers of his right hand. The anomaly was detected 6 months prior to his hospitalization while two weeks before the hospitalization there was a sudden growth and increase in the change. The second case, a 15-year-old male patient actively pursuing a career in professional basketball was treated for a tumor localized in the metacarpal zone of his left hand. According to the information provided by his parents, the anomaly had been present since his birth. Initially, the anomaly manifested itself as a discoloration of the skin with a marked capillary drawing, gradually increasing throughout the last five years to the present dimension. The growth of the malformation was noticed to coincide in both patients with more active pursuit of their professional sports career.
The clinical picture of hand vascular anomalies is dominated by the symptoms of compression of neurovascular structures (paresthesia, intense hand pain, swollen fingers). If it is a chronic progressive process, signs of ischemic intrinsic muscle fibrosis with corresponding functional deficit, as well as tissue defect (usura) of bone and joint structures represent the basic pathological findings. Acute increase is accompanied by compartment syndrome symptoms and ischemic fibrosis of intrinsic hand musculature and development of irreversible dysfunction of the hand. In the presented cases rapid response implies accurate diagnostic methods followed by surgical extirpation in order to treat compartment syndrome.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK