Quality of life in participants of a CRC screening program.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effect of participating in a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme on quality of life (QOL), neither for participants with a negative nor for those with a positive test result. These findings, however, are important to evaluate the impact of CRC screening. METHODS: Participants from CRC screening trials were sent a questionnaire, which included validated measures on generic health-related QOL, generic anxiety and screen-specific anxiety. Both faecal immunochemical test (FIT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) participants, either with negative or positive test results, were addressed. RESULTS: The response rate was 73% (1289 out of 1772) for FIT and 78% (536 out of 689) for FS participants, with mean ages varying from 63-66 years. Positive FIT participants had worse physical (PCS-12, 47.1 vs 48.3, P=0.02), but equal mental QOL scores (MCS-12, 51.1 vs 51.6, P=0.26). Positive and negative FS participants had similar QOL scores. Both FIT and FS participants with a positive test result reported more screen-specific anxiety than negative FIT and FS participants. Positive and negative FS participants had similar generic anxiety scores. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the burden of participating in CRC screening may be limited. Conducting a prospective study to confirm these results is recommended.

[Surgery of the prominent ear]. / Hirurgija odstojece uske.

The authors report their experience in the surgical treatment of 96 patients with prominent ear. Most of the patients are less than 30 years old--75.3%. Various operation techniques are used. We noticed that the best cosmetic result was obtained by combination of two or more basic otoplasty techniques and that approach was applied in 60.5%. There were no major complications. Three patients have undergone second operation.

[Anaerobic bacteria in chronic otitis media]. / Anaerobne bakterije u hronicnim gnojnim upalama srednjeg uha.

The work shows microbiological findings of the chronic pus inflammations of the middle ear, emphasising anaerobic bacteria. Samples 170 were examined. 38 patients were under 15 years-of age, and others were between 15 and 60 years-old. Aerobic bacteria were identified by using Cowan's and Steel's conventional methods and Manual's and Sutter's methods were used for identification of anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria were found in 23.5% of the samples by improving their cultivation. Findings of cholesteatoma and polyp are the factors that damage aeration so the a good conditions for multiplication of the anaerobes. It is necessary to pay attention to anaerobic bacteria while treating the patients with chronic pus inflammation of the middle ear.

[Management of soft-tissue defects related to war injuries]. / Zbrinjavanje mekotkivnih defekata ratnih povreda.

The paper analyzed our experiences with repairing the skin defects in 120 wounded patients in the first war year. After primarily surgical observations patients were hospitalized in the ORL clinic for a further care. Most of wounds were by artillery projectiles. Extensivity, intensivity and primary contamination are three characteristics of war wounds that makes problems in definitely repairing of defects. This is because of the secondary repair 67.80% defects. Spontaneous reepithelization is noticed in 14.80% defects. By direct sutures we closed 16.00%, free skin tissues grafts 23.26%, used various techniques of rotation and transposition flaps 46.52% defects. Correct plastic reconstructive planning and active physical-chemical preoperative treatment eliminated big postoperative complications.

[Injuries of the temporal region]. / Povrede temporalne regije.

In this paper we presented 83 patients with war injuries of the temporal area. They have got injuries directly with gun shoots or with blunt force. These patients were observed during the last war year from the 01. 04. 1992 to the 01. 04. 1993. The methods used in this observation were: anamnesis, inspection, palpitation, X-ray diagnosis, following vital signs, and a local status (otoscopy). Acute trauma of the head looking for the presents of ENT specialist, because of the exact diagnosis of the polytraumatized patient and because of prevention some complications.

[Care of war injuries of the nasal apparatus]. / Zbrinjavanje ratnih povreda nosnog kompleska.

Prominent position of nose and paranasal sinuses (nose complex) is one of the most percentage of war injuries (37.00% of ORL region). Unfortunately, these wounds are badly observed. So late we have big functional and aesthetical disorders. Using simple methods like inspection, palpation, rhinoscopy and some radiologic examination we could have a good information about kind and lesion extension. It is very important in operating planning. This paper is retrospective analyses of nose complex war injuries in a first 12 months of aggression. They are open nonpenetrans in less than a half cases and high percent of isolated injuries (42.60%). Most of them are from artillery projectiles.

[Blast injuries of the ear]. / Blast povrede uha.

Since the beginning of the war, during the last year, we have examined 255 patients who were exposed to shelling of different origin and caliber. Our pilot study included 197 of patients. We have excluded patients having serious head and brain injuries, as well as cases previously having chronic ear infection, hearing damage and disturbances of vestibulary functions. Patients over 55 years of age were also not included in our study. Our paper presents the consequences of blast injuries to the ear, as well as type and degree of hearing damage. Acquired data are based on anamnesis, ENT examinations, functional hearing tests, examinations of vestibulary function and patient follow-up. Our examinations have pointed out that the majority of the examined patients had sensory neural hearing damage. On the basis of that, we can conclude that the blast had a greater effect on the sensory structures of the inner ear than the middle ear.

[A specific retropharyngeal abscess in an older patient]. / Specificni retrofaringealni apsces u starijeg bolesnika.

In regard to more frequent incidence of tuberculosis in our population, when difficulties in pharyngeal area exist, it is necessary to think about eventual tuberculosis etiology in the differentiative diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess.