Food addiction-diagnosis and treatment.

In this article we summarized the recent research of the food addiction, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, which is carried out in this area. The concept of food addiction is new and complex, but proven to be very important for understanding and solving the problem of obesity. First part of this paper emphasizes the neurological studies, whose results indicate the similarity of brain processes that are being activated during drug abuse and during eating certain types of food. In this context, different authors speak of "hyper-palatable", industrial food, saturated with salt, fat and sugar, which favor an addiction. In the section on diagnostic and instruments constructed for assessing the degree of dependence, main diagnostic tool is standardized Yale Food Addiction Scale constructed by Ashley Gearhardt, and her associates. Since 2009, when it was first published, this scale is used in almost all researches in this area and has been translated into several languages. Finally, distinguish between prevention and treatment of food addiction was made. Given that there were similarities with other forms of addictive behavior, the researchers recommend the application of traditional addiction treatment.

Immunoinflammatory response in critically ill patients: severe sepsis and/or trauma.

Immunoinflammatory response in critically ill patients is very complex. This review explores some of the new elements of immunoinflammatory response in severe sepsis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha in severe acute pancreatitis as a clinical example of immune response in sepsis, immune response in severe trauma with or without secondary sepsis, and genetic aspects of host immuno-inflammatory response to various insults in critically ill patients.

Suprahilar vascular control and stapling device transection of Glissonian pedicle in major and minor hepatectomies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study we analyzed our experience of suprahilar-posterior intrahepatic Glissonian pedicle approach using an endo-GIA vascular stapling device for the pedicle and hepatic vein division. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-eight 68 major and 102 minor liver resections were performed. The hilar extrahepatic structures remain intact, and during parenchyma dissection by CUSA, the whole right or left or the appropriate segmental pedicle was isolated intrahepatically and then transected using a stapler device. RESULTS: The minor liver resections was associated with significantly shorter surgery duration (95.1 + 31.1 vs. 186.6 +/- 56.5) and transection time (35.9 +/- 14.5 vs. 65.3 +/- 17.2) than major hepatectomies (p < 0.001 for all). The mean blood loss was 255.6 + 129.9 mL in minor resection and 385.7 + 200.1 mL in major resection (p = 0.003). The mean blood transfusion requirement was 300.8 + 99.5 mL for the patients with minor hepatectomy and 450.9 + 89.6 mL for those with major liver resection (p = 0.067). There was no significant difference in morbidity and mortality between the groups (p = 0.989; p = 0.920). Major as well as minor liver resection were a superior oncologic operation with no significant difference in the 3-year overall survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transection using CUSA with suprahilar endo-GIA stapling of Glisson's pedicle, as well as major hepatic veins represents an effective and safe surgical procedure.

Immune response in severe infection: could life-saving drugs be potentially harmful?

Critically ill patients suffer a high rate of nosocomial infection with secondary sepsis being a common cause of death. Usage of antibiotics and catecholamines is often necessary, but it can compromise complex immune response to infection. This review explores influence of these life-saving drugs on host immune response to severe infection.

Prospective evaluation of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in abdominal surgery patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection is accepted to be associated with two mutually exclusive diseases duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in different surgical diseases. METHODOLOGY: With use of simple serologic assays for detecting IgA and IgG antibodies to HP antigen, we studied the association of infection with HP and 15 surgical diseases. RESULTS: The prevalence of HP was 68.60% (results of assays were positive for 142 patients out of 207). This study confirmed statistically significant correlation between HP seropositivity and pancreatic cancer (p = 0.02), hepatocellular cancer (p = 0.000), gastric cancer (p = 0.01), colon cancer (p = 0.002), rectal cancer (p = 0.001), intestinal cancer (p = 0.026), stenosis pylori (p = 0.01), ulcer diseases (p = 0.004), jaundice (p = 0.002); statistically significant inverse association between HP seropositivity and the acute appendicitis (p = 0.013) and no correlation with HP infection and cholecystitis (p = 0.716), cholelithiasis (p = 0.06), and ulcer hemorrhage (p = 0.064). CONCLUSION: The use of simple serological tests to identify patients with HP infection could help to calculate the risk of development of severe gastrointestinal diseases.

SIRS score on admission and initial concentration of IL-6 as severe acute pancreatitis outcome predictors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early recognition of severe form of acute pancreatitis is important because these patients need more agressive diagnostic and therapeutical approach an can develope systemic complications such as: sepsis, coagulopathy, Acute Lung Injury (ALI), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS), Multiple Organ Failure (MOF). To determine role of the combination of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) score and serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level on admission as predictor of illness severity and outcome of Severe Acute Pancreatitis (SAP). METHODOLOGY: We evaluated 234 patients with first onset of SAP appears in last twenty four hours. A total of 77 (33%) patients died. SIRS score and serum IL-6 concentration were measured in first hour after admission. RESULTS: In 105 patients with SIRS score 3 and higher, initial measured IL-6 levels were significantly higher than in the group of remaining 129 patients (72 +/- 67 pg/mL, vs 18 +/- 15 pg/mL). All nonsurvivals were in the first group, with SIRS score 3 and 4 and initial IL-6 concentration 113 +/- 27 pg/mL. The values of C-reactive Protein (CRP) measured after 48h, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score on admission and Ranson score showed the similar correlation, but serum amylase level did not correlate significantly with Ranson score, IL-6 concentration and APACHE II score. CONCLUSION: The combination of SIRS score on admission and IL-6 serum concentration can be early, predictor of illness severity and outcome in SAP.

Laser-induced damages of different types of human gallbladder stones.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Today, treatment of human calculi, and particularly those of gallbladder, is, to a large extent, less invasive procedure due to numerous non-invasive methods that have been developed. METHODOLOGY: CO2 laser of pulse (output 5W)(W-watt, SI unit system) and continual mode (output 15W) and diode laser (808 nm-nanometer, SI) were used for tests of fragmentation of gallbladder calculi in vitro. RESULTS: A total of 15 human gallbladder calculi of known size were examined, which had been collected during surgical interventions. Damages caused by laser were examined visually and by stereomicroscope (10 to 25 times magnification). During testing, the dependence of fragmentation on the type of laser effect, as well as the degree of fragmentation on the type of tested calculus was noted. Different types and dimensions of damage caused by various laser beams, as well as coloration changes of superficial layers in relation to the type of tested calculi was noticed. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, in this specific case, the priority for removal of gallbladder calculi by ablation will be given to diode laser.

Predictive value of serum bicarbonate, arterial base deficit/excess and SAPS III score in critically ill patients.

Arterial base deficit/excess (BD/E) is commonly used marker of metabolic acidosis in critically ill patients, but requires an arterial puncture and blood gas analysis. We hypothesized that serum bicarbonate (HCO3), which can be routinely obtained, strongly correlates with arterial BD/E and provides equivalent predictive information. In addition, we evaluated predictive value of simplified acute physiology score III (SAPS III). Total of 152 critically ill surgical patients were included in retrospective analysis. On admission to intensive care unit sets of simultaneously obtained paired laboratory data, including an arterial blood gas and serum chemistry panel with serum HCO3 were obtained. Very strong correlation between BD/E and simultaneously measured serum HCO3 levels was found (r = 0.857, R(2) = 0.732, p < 0.01). The serum HCO3 level reliably identified a significant metabolic acidosis (AUC = 0.761, p < 0.05). BD and SAPS III were good predictors of mortality (AUCs 0.70 and 0.74, respectively). Serum HCO3 may be used as substitute to detect severe metabolic acidosis. BD and SAPS III score were good predictors of mortality.

Hepatic abscess secondary to a rosemary twig migrating from the stomach into the liver.

The ingestion of a foreign body that penetrates the gastric wall and migrates to the liver, where it causes an abscess is uncommon. A case of an ingested rosemary twig perforating the gastric antrum, then migrating to the liver, complicated by hepatic abscess and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis is reported. A 59-year-old man without a history of foreign body ingestion was admitted to our hospital because of sepsis and epigastralgia, which had progressively worsened. No foreign body was identified at preoperative imaging, but a rosemary twig was discovered during laparotomy. The liver abscess and sepsis were controlled successfully with surgery and antibiotics. This unusual condition should be kept in mind when dealing with cases of hepatic abscess, or even sepsis of unknown origin. Despite the improvement of non-surgical techniques such as percutaneous drainage and interventional endoscopy, surgery still remains important in the treatment of hepatic abscess caused by an ingested foreign body.

Prognostic Value and Daily Trend of Interleukin-6, Neutrophil CD64 Expression, C-Reactive Protein and Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein in Critically Ill Patients: Reliable Predictors of Outcome or Not?

BACKGROUND: Severe sepsis and/or trauma complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome are the leading causes of death in critically ill patients. The aim of this prospective single-centre study was to assess the prognostic value and daily trend of interleukin-6 (IL-6), neutrophil CD64 expression, C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) regarding outcome in critically ill patients with severe trauma and/or severe sepsis. Outcome measure was hospital mortality. METHODS: One hundred and two critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary university hospital were enrolled in this prospective study. Blood samples were collected on admission (day 1), days 2 and 3. RESULTS: CD64 index was 1.6-fold higher on day 1 and 1.78-fold higher on day 2 in non-survivors (p<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for the CD64 index on day 1 for outcome was 0.727. At a cut-off level of 2.80 sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 65%. Patients with CD64 index level on day 1 higher than 2.80 had 2.4-fold higher probability of dying. Odds ratio is 2.40; 95% CI 0.60-9.67. CONCLUSIONS: CD64 index on day 1 is a fairly good predictor of outcome. AUCs for IL-6, CRP and LBP were < 0.55, suggesting these biomarkers failed to predict outcome.

Cytokine profile in severe Gram-positive and Gram-negative abdominal sepsis.

Sepsis is a principal cause of death in critical care units worldwide and consumes considerable healthcare resources. The aim of our study was to determine whether the early cytokine profile can discriminate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteraemia (GPB and GNB, respectively) and to assess the prognostic value regarding outcome in critically ill patients with severe abdominal sepsis. The outcome measure was hospital mortality. Blood samples were obtained from 165 adult patients with confirmed severe abdominal sepsis. Levels of the proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-8, IL-12 and IFN-γ and the anti-inflammatory mediators IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß1 were determined and correlated with the nature of the bacteria isolated from the blood culture and outcome. The cytokine profile in our study indicated that the TNF-α levels were 2-fold, IL-8 were 3.3-fold, IFN-γ were 13-fold, IL-1ra were 1.05-fold, IL-4 were 1.4-fold and IL-10 were 1.83-fold higher in the GNB group compared with the GPB group. The TNF-α levels were 4.7-fold, IL-8 were 4.6-fold, IL-1ra were 1.5-fold and IL-10 were 3.3-fold higher in the non-survivors compared with the survivors.

Clinical characteristics and functional outcome of patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Serbia.

Neurologic manifestations are prominent characteristic of West Nile virus (WNV) infection. The aim of this article was to describe neurological manifestations in patients with WNV neuroinvasive disease and their functional outcome at discharge in the first human outbreak of WNV infection in Serbia. The study enrolled patients treated in the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Center Serbia in Belgrade, with serological evidence of acute WNV infection who presented with meningitis, encephalitis and/or acute flaccid paralyses (AFP). Functional outcome at discharge was assessed using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Barthel index. Fifty-two patients were analysed. Forty-four (84.6 %) patients had encephalitis, eight (15.4 %) had meningitis, and 13 (25 %) had AFP. Among patients with AFP, 12 resembled poliomyelitis and one had clinical and electrodiagnostic findings consistent with polyradiculoneuritis. Among patients with encephalitis, 17 (32.7 %) had clinical signs of rhombencephalitis, and eight (15.4 %) presented with cerebellitis. Respiratory failure with subsequent mechanical ventilation developed in 13 patients with WNE (29.5 %). Nine (17.3 %) patients died, five (9.6 %) were functionally dependent (mRS 3-5), and 38 (73.1 %) were functionally independent at discharge (mRS 0-2). In univariate analysis, the presence of AFP, respiratory failure and consciousness impairment were found to be predictors of fatal outcome in patients with WNV neuroinvasive disease (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.018, respectively). The outbreak of human WNV infection in Serbia caused a notable case fatality ratio, especially in patients with AFP, respiratory failure and consciousness impairment. Rhombencephalitis and cerebellitis could be underestimated presentations of WNV neuroinvasive disease.

Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori in Different Surgical Diseases: A Preliminary Report.

The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in different surgical diseases in patients with six different cancer types. We analyzed sixty consecutive patients with malignancy (gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular cancer, intestinal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer). Detection of specific IgA and IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in human serum was determined by Enzygnost Anti-Helicobacter pylori II/IgA (IgG) using ELISA processor (Siemens, Germany). This study confirmed statistically significant association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and all types of cancer included in the study. All patients had elevated levels of Helicobacter pylori IgA and IgG antibodies. Patients with examined cancer types that underwent abdominal surgery exibited a strong antibody reaction to Helicobacter pylori.

[Early extubation in cardiac surgery].

INTRODUCTION: An early extubation in cardiac surgery (fast track cardiac anaesthesia) refers to mechanical ventilation during 1-6 hours after the intervention, the extubation criteria being the same as for any other surgery. Different protocols have been established for managing patients undergoing fast track anaesthesia, with high-thoracic epidural anaesthesia being increasingly used in the last few years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients scheduled for OPCAB surgery, who were planned for very fast track cardiac anaesthesia (planned extubation within one hour after the end of the operation), were included in the study. Combined high-thoracic epidural and general anaesthesia was performed in all patients, with bupivacain as a local anaesthetic and inhalational or intravenous anesthetic used for general anaesthesia. RESULTS: Thirty three of 35 patients (94.3%) were extubated early, with the mean duration of the mechanical ventilation of 56 +/- 92 minutes. Very fast track cardiac anaesthesia was performed successfully in 24/35 (68.8%) patients; these patients had higher ejection fraction, lower Euroscore, shorter duration of the surgery, and fewer numbers of grafts, as compared to the patients extubated early. Euroscore was the only independent predictor of the early extubation (higher score--longer mechanical ventilation time). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that high-toracic epidural anaesthesia enables successful early tracheal extubation in the population of patients scheduled for OPCAB cardiac surgery. We had no complications related to this type of anaesthesia and very good perioperative results.

[Liver injuries].

The liver is the most commonly injured abdominal organ. Severe hepatic trauma continue to be associated with high mortality. Management of liver injuries has changed significantly over the last two decades. Nonoperative management of hemodynamically stable patients has become the first treatment of choice. In unstable patients immediate control of bleeding is critical. In the management of severe injuries of the liver, particularly for patients who had developed a metabolic insult (hypothermia, coagulopathy, and acidosis), perihepatic packing has emerged as the key to effective damage control (DCS). The surgical aim is control of hemorrhage, preservation of sufficient hepatic function and prevention of secondary complications. Currently available surgical methods include hepatorrhaphy, resectional debridement, anatomical/nonanatomical resection, selective hepatic artery ligation, Pringle maneuver, total vascular exclusion, liver transplatation. This review discusses available diagnostic modalities and the best management options for liver injury, based on literature search and authors experience.

Use of recombinant factor VIIa in the treatment of massive retroperitoneal bleeding due to severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a growing number of case reports and case series have suggested that the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) may be effective in treatment of patients with non-hemophilic acquired coagulopathy not responding to conventional treatment such as major surgery, major trauma, sepsis, necrotizing pancreatitis and bleeding due to cerebral arteriovenous malformations. CASE REPORT: We presented a septic patient with massive, life-threatening bleeding caused by retroperitoneal necrosis, due to severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis. As conservative treatment (blood, plasma, cryoprecipitates and platelet transfusions) failed to induce cessation of bleeding, the patient was urgently operated on. In spite of usual procedures of surgical hemostasis (ligation, suture, thermocauterisation, fibrin glue, temporary tamponade), hemorrhage could not be stopped. The patient manifested the signs of hypothermia and metabolic acidosis and, therefore, the decision was made to use recombinant activated factor VII (Novo Seven). The application of rFVIIa resulted in significant discontinuation of hemorrhage, restoration to normal blood count as well as other relevant coagulation parameters. CONCLUSION: Although application of rFVIIa is still in the initial clinical phase, and the experience is based mainly on uncontrolled series as well as on individual observations, it seems that this drug can be promising, potent and attractive adjunctive prohemostatic agent. This drug may play a beneficial role in the treatment of serious and unresponsive, "nonsurgical", life-threatening bleeding due to severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

[Distinguishing the athlete's heart syndrome from some pathological conditions].

The response of the body to vigorous physical activity is a multiorgan system phenomenon. As a result, the body undergoes profound morphologic and functional alterations, but as there are different kinds of physical activities, the degree of these changes is highly variable as well. Considering many sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is needless to say how important it is to know where the border of normal changes of the body due to physical activity is and when these changes become unhealthy. Also it is very important to distinguish physiological changes of the body due to physical activity and pathological changes due to some cardiac diseases. In order to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in sport, it is very important to distinguish athletes heart syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomiopathy, dilatative cardiomiopathy, aritmogenic cardiomiopathy of the right ventricle and myocarditis. More frequent physical examinations of athletes are recommended.

[Impact of hyaluronidase on anesthetic distribution in retrobulbar region following sub-Tenon anesthesia].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Sub-Tenon's block is nowadays commonly used in ophthalmic surgery because of its safety and efficacy. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the anaesthetic solution with different amounts of hyaluronidase in the retrobulbar space, following an injection into the Sub-Tenon's space. METHODS: In this experimental study, 40 pig cadaver heads were used (80 eyeballs). The material was divided into four groups (of 20 eyeballs each). Each group was administered 4.5 ml of a mixture of 2% lignocaine, 0.5% bupivacaine, and 0.5 ml of Indian ink, with different amounts of hyaluronidase--15 IU/ml, 75 IU/ml, 150 IU/ml, except the control one. Samples of retrobulbar tissue were analysed using the standard histopathological procedure. After that, they were also analysed using the Adobe Photoshop program (Windows, USA). The retrobulbar space was divided into eight zones by four perpendicular lines, which crossed in the centre of the optic nerve. The presence of ink in fat and muscle tissues and in the sheath of the optic nerve was observed. RESULTS: The presence of the local anaesthetic solution was significantly higher in inferonasal and superonasal quadrants of the fat and muscle tissues (p < 0.01). The distribution in optic nerve sheath is similar in each quadrant. Distribution of local anesthetic in each zone of the muscle tissue (I-VIII) was strongly influenced by the amount of hyaluronidase added. In the fat tissue, the distribution of local anesthetic under the influence of hyaluronidase was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the areas which were distant from the place of injection (I-IV). The distribution in the optic nerve sheath is significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the group with 150 IU/ml of hyaluronidase. CONCLUSIONS: Following a sub-Tenon block local anaesthetic was present in the retrobulbar space in a high percentage of the cases. The presence of local anaesthetic solution in retrobulbar space depends on the amount of hyaluronidase previously added to the local anaesthetic.

[Myocardial dysfunction in septic shock--a case report].

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is characterized by generalized inflammatory response induced by infection. The incidence of myocardial dysfunction in sepsis is unknown as well as its impact on survival, independently other organ system dysfunction. CASE REPORT: A female patient, age 36, with clinical signs of septic shock was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. After initial therapy of septic shock, patient was still haemodynamically unstable. Transthoracic echocardiography showed left ventricular dysfunction (EF = 20%), with mitral regurgitation 2-3+, tricuspid regurgitation 3+, and estimated systolic right ventricular pressure of 53 mm Hg. Inotropic drug, dobutamine, was initiated, which led to significant improvement of hemodynamic parameters. Eight days after the initiation of therapy the clinical improvement was observed and the control transthoracic echocardiography was performed. It showed the improvement in left ventricular size and function, with EF of 57%, and reduced mitral regurgitation to 2+, and tricuspid regurgitation to 1+. DISCUSSION: A hyperdynamic state is typically present in sepsis. Myocardial dysfunction in sepsis is characterized by decreased ejection fraction, ventricular dilatation and impaired contractile response to volume loading. Cardiac output can be measured using pulmonary artery catheter, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, or by pulse contour analysis. In this patient, myocardial dysfunction was detected by echocardiography, which helped in clinical decision making to administer inotropic agent. The recovery of myocardial function was also confirmed by echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography can be used in septic patient for diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction, decision making, follow-up of the response to inotropic therapy, and detection of the complete recovery of cardiac function.

[Importance of transport in prehospital treatment of children with craniocerebral injuries].

INTRODUCTION: In initial, prehospital, phase of treatment of the injured pediatric patient, transport plays an important role. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of an adequate transport on the survival rate and final outcome of patients with craniocerebral injuries. METHOD: This study is a clinical, partly prospective, partly retrospective study that includes 60 patients with isolated craniocerebral injuries, aged up to 17 years, and with Glasgow Coma Scale under 8, that did not require surgical treatment. The patients were divided in two groups each with 30 patients. The first group included patients that had adequate prehospital treatment. The second group included patients that had improper prehospital treatment. In both groups the emphasis was on the transport as an important step in initial treatment. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in respect to the mode of transport. In group I there was a greater number of patients transported by specialized emergency vehicles (93.3%) compared to the group II. There was also a difference regarding the time that had elapsed from the moment of injury to the moment of arrival to the hospital--a significantly shorter time in group I. In a group of patients that survived, a greater percentage of patients had been transported by specialized emergency vehicles compared to the group of patients that did not survive. CONCLUSION: Adequate transport improves the survival rate of the patients with craniocerebral injuries. Also the time that has elapsed from the moment of injury to the moment of arrival to the hospital also influences the survival rate, but the final outcome, too. Transport of pediatric patients is globally neglected. Transport of unstable, critically ill and injured patients accompanied by inexperienced and unspecialized staff is followed an increased mortality rate.