Prognostic Value of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in Patients with Diffuse Gliomas.

This study aimed to evaluate potential posttreatment changes in ADC values within the tissue surrounding the enhancing lesion, particularly in areas not exhibiting MRI characteristics of involvement. Additionally, the objective was to investigate the correlations among ADC values, treatment response, and survival outcomes in individuals diagnosed with gliomas. This retrospective study included a total of 49 patients that underwent either stereotactic biopsy or maximal surgical resection. Histologically confirmed as Grade III or IV gliomas, all cases adhered to the 2016 and 2021 WHO classifications, with subsequent radio-chemotherapy administered post-surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: short and long survival groups. Baseline and follow-up MRI scans were obtained on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. Two ROI circles were positioned near the enhancing area, one ROI in the NAWM ipsilateral to the neoplasm and another symmetrically in the contralateral hemisphere on ADC maps. At follow-up there was a significant difference in both ipsilateral and contralateral NAWM between the two groups, -0.0857 (p = 0.004) and -0.0607 (p = 0.037), respectively. There was a weak negative correlation between survival and ADC values in ipsilateral and contralateral NAWM at the baseline with the correlation coefficient -0.328 (p = 0.02) and -0.302 (p = 0.04), respectively. The correlation was stronger at the follow-up. The findings indicate that ADC values in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) may function as a prognostic biomarker in patients with diffuse gliomas.

Circulating thyroid hormones and clinical parameters of heart failure in men.

Heart failure (HF) is a multiple hormonal deficiency syndrome which includes alterations in the serum concentration of thyroid hormones (TH). This cross-sectional study enrolled 215 male patients hospitalised for acute HF. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, chronic medications, cardiac function assessed by echocardiography, and clinical parameters of HF were prospectively collected. The independent predictive association of TH with all investigated parameters of the HF severity were assessed. The patient's mean age was 74.4 years, 57.2% had arterial hypertension, 54.0% were consuming alcohol, and 42.3% were diabetics. Multivariate analysis revealed that total triiodothyronine (TT3) was an independent predictor of greater left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; ß = 0.223, p = 0.008), less progressed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD; ß = - 0.271, p = 0.001) and lower N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; ß = - 0.365, p < 0.001). None of the TH other than TT3 was associated with LVDD or NT-proBNP, whereas free triiodothyronine (ß = - 0.197, p = 0.004), free thyroxine (ß = - 0.223, p = 0.001) and total thyroxine (ß = - 0.140, p = 0.041) were inversely associated with LVEF. The present study suggests that, among TH, serum TT3 level is most closely associated with echocardiographic, laboratory and clinical parameters of the severity of HF in men.

Clinical predictors of hyponatremia in patients with heart failure according to severity of chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Hyponatremia, a marker of illness severity and poor prognosis, is commonly exhibited in patients with CKD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients hospitalized due to heart failure (HF). We used stepwise logistic regression to investigate the independent association of cardiovascular drugs, markers of HF severity, and baseline clinical characteristics with hyponatremia in three subgroups; normal renal function, mild-to-moderate CKD, and severe CKD. RESULTS: Of the 1232 patients, 38.6% were hyponatremic. Patients with severe CKD, compared to those with normal renal function and mild-to-moderate CKD, were more likely to be hyponatremic (47.1%, 34.4% and 36.6%, respectively; p ≤ 0.0001). Alcohol consumption, female sex, n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) use, or angiotensin II receptor I blocker (ARB) non-use were associated with hyponatremia in patients with normal renal function (p ≤ 0.03 in all cases). Current smoking, diabetes mellitus, NT-proBNP, loop diuretic dose, and MRA use were predictors in mild-to-moderate CKD (p ≤ 0.04 in all cases). ARB use, loop diuretic dose, and HCT use were predictors in severe CKD (p ≤ 0.03 in all cases). Non-use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) was an independent predictor of hyponatremia in all CKD stages (p ≤ 0.04 in all cases). CONCLUSION: Apart from a firm favorable effect of CCBs, cardiovascular therapy should be carefully tailored to avoid hyponatremia in patients with cardiorenal syndrome.

Furosemide and spironolactone doses and hyponatremia in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia, a marker of disease severity and prognosis, has been associated with various clinical factors and drug use, especially diuretics. METHODS: This observational prospective cohort study enrolled patients hospitalized at the University Hospital Center Split because of heart failure (HF). We investigated the association of clinical variables and cardiovascular drugs, including furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, and their doses, with the presence of hyponatremia at admission. RESULTS: Of the 565 included patients, 32.4% were hyponatremic, 62.6% were males, and the mean age was 73.1 ± 10.6 years. In the univariate analysis, hyponatremic patients were more often current smokers (p = 0.01), alcohol consumers (p = 0.01), receiving spironolactone (p = 0.004) or combination of furosemide and spironolactone (p = 0.003). Patients who received 50 and 100 mg of spironolactone, compared to those receiving 25 mg (p < 0.0001), as well as patients who received 250 to 500 mg of furosemide compared to ≤240 mg (p = 0.001), were significantly more often hyponatremic. In the multivariate analysis, when diuretic doses were accounted for, furosemide doses of 250 to 500 mg (p = 0.009), spironolactone doses of 50 to 100 mg (p = 0.0003), increasing age (p = 0.03), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.04) were independently associated with hyponatremia. CONCLUSION: High doses of furosemide and spironolactone, or concomitant use of these diuretics, seem to be an important cause of hyponatremia in HF patients, particularly in combination with advanced age, diabetes and alcohol consumption. Diuretic dose reduction may help avoid hyponatremia and improve clinical status and prognosis in such patients.

Central and peripheral testosterone effects in men with heart failure: An approach for cardiovascular research.

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome recognized as a health problem worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, patients with HF still have increased morbidity and mortality. Testosterone is one of the most researched hormones in the course of HF. Growing interest regarding the effect of testosterone, on a variety of body systems, has increased the knowledge about its mechanisms of action. The terms central and peripheral effects are used to distinguish the effects of testosterone on cardiac and extracardiac structures. Central effects include influences on cardiomyocytes and electrophysiology. Peripheral effects include influences on blood vessels, baroreceptor reactivity, skeletal muscles and erythropoesis. Current knowledge about peripheral effects of testosterone may explain much about beneficiary effects in the pathophysiology of HF syndrome. However, central, i.e., cardiac effects of testosterone are to be further explored.

Unusual Position and Presentation of Frontobasal Meningoencephalocela.

We wish to show our experiance with threating a rare congenital brain malformation-encephalocele. It is a protusion of brain matter with greater incidence in the Far East. Our case is even more curious because of the site of occurrence-frontobasal. Most of encephalocele occur in the occipital region. In this article we report a case of a 57-year-old woman, without deformations on the face, which had epileptic seizures and in spite of receiving antiepileptic drug. She was also frequently treated for sinusitis. She never had rhinoliquorrhea, nor was she diagnosed to have meningitis. In the last few years she had difficulty breathing on her right nostril. After she was diagnosed with encephalocele and treated surgically her recovery was complete and she is without the seizures.

[LAPAROSCOPIC PARTIAL PERICYSTECTOMY OF SPLENIC HYDATID CYST - A CASE REPORT]. / LAPAROSKOPSKA PARCIJALNA PERICISTEKTOMIJA EHINOKOKNE CISTE SLEZENE - PRIKAZ BOLESNICE.

Echinococcal cyst of the spleen is usually a result of infection with the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. The spleen is the third most frequent localization of echinococcus after liver and lungs. Partial laparoscopic pericystectomy can be done without the loss of blood and scattering of scolexes with spleen preservation and conservation of its immune function. We present the patient with a large (1 8 x 16 x 12 cm) echinococcal cyst of the spleen that compressed the surrounding organs (stomach, transverse colon, pancreas and left kidney), and prevented normal passage causing vomiting after every meal. In this patient, PAIR procedure (puncture, aspiration, injection, reaspiration) and conservative treatment was attempted on several occasions without success. Finally, laparoscopic partial pericystectomy was performed, evacuating the contents of the cyst. The surgery lasted 120 minutes. Postoperatively the patient was without complications. Hospitalization lasted five days. Six months later, the patient is without problems. These echinococcus cysts of the spleen cannot be solved using PAIR technique and conservative treatment. Laparoscopic partial pericystectomy is a better solution than open surgery due to less trauma to the patient, especially in elderly people.

Gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer involving gastrointestinal tract, but it is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract, accounting for 80-95% of biliary tract cancers. This tumor is a highly lethal disease with an overall 5-year survival of less than 5% and mean survival mere than 6 months. An early diagnosis is essential as this malignancy progresses silently with a late diagnosis. The percentage of patients diagnosed to have gallbladder cancer after simple cholecystectomy for presumed gallbladder stone disease is 0.5-1.5%. Patients with preoperative suspicion of gallbladder cancer should not be treated by laparoscopy. Epidemiological studies have identified striking geographic and ethnic disparities-inordinately high occurrence in American Indians, elevated in Southeast Asia, yet quite low elsewhere in the Americas and the world. Environmental triggers play a critical role in eliciting cancer developing in the gallbladder, best exemplified by cholelithiasis and chronic inflammation from biliary tract and parasitic infections. Improved imaging modalities and improved radical aggressive surgical approach in the last decade has improved outcomes and helped prolong survival in patients with gallbladder cancer. The overall 5-year survival for patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent R0 curative resection was from 21% to 69%. In the future, the development of potential diagnostic markers for disease will yield screening opportunities for those at risk either with ethnic susceptibility or known anatomic anomalies of the biliary tract.

Potential use of Doppler perfusion index in detection of occult liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Many clinical and preclinical studies demonstrated that measurements of liver hemodynamic [Doppler perfusion index (DPI)] may be used to accurately diagnose and predict liver metastases from primary colorectal cancer in a research setting. However, Doppler measurements have some serious limitations when applied to general population. Ultrasound is very operator-dependent, and requires skilled examiners. Also, many conditions may limit the use of Doppler ultrasound and ultrasound in general, such as the presence of air in digestive tract, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular anomalies, obesity and other conditions. Therefore, in spite of the results from clinical studies, its value may be limited in everyday practice. On the contrary, scientific research of the DPI in detection of liver metastases is of great importance, since current research speaks strongly for the presence of systemic vasoactive substance responsible for observed hemodynamic changes. Identification of such a systemic vasoactive substance may lead to the development of a simple and reproducible laboratory test that may reliably identify the presence of occult liver metastases and therefore increase the success of adjuvant chemotherapy through better selection of patients. Further research in this subject is therefore of great importance.

The laparoscopic liver resections-an initial experience and the literature review.

The laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) represents a new pathway in hepatic surgery. Several studies have reported its application in both malignant and benign liver diseases. The most common liver resections performed laparoscopically are wedge, segmental resections and metastasectomy; although in large centers the laparoscopic right and left hepatectomies have begun to perform more frequently. We report the initial experience in LLRs at our department including a case of the first laparoscopic left lateral liver bisegmentectomy performed in patient with follicular nodular hyperplasia and the 15 cases of wedge laparoscopic resections of echinococcic liver cysts. According to literature the mortality rate in LLRs is up to 0.3% and morbidity rate up to 10.5%. The most common cause of the death is liver failure, while the most frequent complication is the bile leakage. Advantages for patients include smaller incisions, less blood loss, and shorter lengths of hospital stay. The LLRs in experienced hands were shown to be safe with acceptable morbidity and mortality for both minor and major hepatic resections in benign and malignant diseases.

Laparoscopic surgery for large hydatide liver cyst after two previous laparotomies.

Laparoscopic surgery for hepatic echinococcosis is a technically difficult and demanding surgical procedure even for the most experienced abdominal surgeon. Surgery is performed after the conservative treatment with albendazole for 28 days. We report a case of laparoscopic partial pericystectomy with biliostasis and omentoplasty in a patient with two previously open surgeries (laparotomies)--right subcostal laparotomy for acute inflammation of the gallbladder and right pararectal laparotomy for perforated gangrenous appendix. The patient underwent extensive laparoscopic adhesiolysis due to pronounced intra-abdominal adhesions to gain access to a large hydatid cyst with the diameter of 11 cm. Laparoscopic surgery is much less traumatic to the patient with a better cosmetic effect.

Emergency surgery for large bowel obstruction caused by cancer.

There are several options for surgical treatment of large bowel obstruction caused by cancer, depending on location of obstruction, intraoperative local findings (perforation, peritonitis, bowel dilatation proximal to obstruction) and patients' condition. Resection and anastomosis as one stage surgery would be prefered procedure. Anastomotic leakage, on the other hand, highly elevates risk of mortality and mobidity. The most important question is whether to, in resectable cases, perform primary resection with anastomosis or not. This study was retrospective and included 40 patients that have undergone emergency surgery for large bowel obstruction caused by cancer. According to whether resection and anastomosis was made at initial surgery or not, patients were grouped in group A (N = 18) and group B (N = 21), respectively. We have analysed the type of surgical procedure, days of hospitalization, mortality, anastomotic leakeage, wound infection and other postoperative complications. Our results show that there is no major difference in mortality and morbidity in these two groups, suggesting that for selected patients primary resection and anastomosis is a safe option of tratment with acceptable risk. Since there are no strict guidelines or scorring system which would point the tratment option the decision about the choice of procedure still remains the burden of surgeon and depends on its experience and subspeciality. Our experience recomends primary resection and anastomosis except in cases of bowel perforation on tumor site, in cases of extreme dilatation and atony of bowel proximal to obstruction site and severe hypoproteinemia and anemia.

Liver abscess as a therapeutic and diagnostic challenge.

Liver abscess still represents a significant clinical entity with mortality rates of up to 10%. Traditional treatment of liver abscesses is open surgical treatment. Recently, percutaneous and laparoscopic drainage has been increasingly used. Still, in spite of these relatively novel techniques and improved imaging, liver abscess can sometimes be difficult to diagnose or treat. Here we present two cases of chronic liver abscess treated at our department. First patient was twice hospitalized in other hospitals without reaching definitive diagnosis. He was admitted at our department because of clinical presentation of sepsis, and definitive diagnosis of liver abscess was established only during open surgery. Second patient was admitted after laparoscopic drainage and repeated percutaneous drainage had failed to resolve his symptoms. In both cases, liver segment resection led to complete healing. These cases indicate that chronic liver abscess can still present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Postlaminectomy stabilization of the spine in a rat model of neuropathic pain reduces pain-related behavior.

STUDY DESIGN: Spine deformity and pain-related behavior after laminectomy with and without spine stabilization were investigated. OBJECTIVE: We tested hypothesis that spine stabilization after extensive laminectomy can prevent spine deformation and consequent pain-related behavior. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Various ablative procedures requiring laminectomy have been tested for prevention or reversal of pain-related behavior in studies using experimental animals. However, there is no precise description indicating how laminectomy should be performed. Lack of standardized surgical techniques makes it difficult to achieve uniformity of result reporting and to compare results of different research groups meaningfully. METHODS: To test our hypothesis, extensive laminectomy with and without spine stabilization was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. U-shaped surgical wire was used for stabilization of the spine. A validated test of mechanical hyperalgesia was used to test the development of neuropathic pain behavior after surgery. Deformity of the spine was evaluated by calculating deviation from the central axis on radiographs obtained in anteroposterior projection. RESULTS: Surgical stabilization of the spine after laminectomy prevented development of spinal deformity. Laminectomy without stabilization induced hyperalgesia on the 8th and 15th days after surgery. Group with stabilized spine exhibited significant reduction in pain-related behavior on the 8th and 15th postoperative days compared with the group without stabilization. CONCLUSION: Surgical stabilization of the spine after laminectomy prevented development of spinal deformity and pain-related behavior. Our results suggest that spine stabilization procedure should be used in all experimental pain models in which laminectomy is performed.