He or She, What Will It Be: Old Wivesʹ Tales and Foetal Sex Prediction

Aim: A myriad of myths surround pregnancy, especially regarding the prediction of the sex of the infant. Some of these myths and old wives\u27 tales are, to this day, widespread among expectant parents. The objective of this study was to examine whether common pregnancy-related statements regarding foetal sex prediction vary between mothers of female and male infants. Methods: The questionnaire-based study was conducted from September 2017 to September 2018 at a well-baby nursery. Participants were mothers of infants (n = 350) admitted to the well-baby nursery with a singleton pregnancy and at > 36 weeks of gestation at birth. Results: We investigated a number of statements regarding foetal sex prediction. With the exception of one statement, there were no other differences between mothers of male and female infants. Pregnancy with a male foetus is associated with glossier hair during pregnancy. Women with female newborns reported glossier hair during pregnancy in 39.1% of cases, while women with male newborns reported the same in 45.0% of cases (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Old wives\u27 tales regarding sex prediction of the infant during pregnancy remain myths for a reason, with the possible exception of one statement regarding glossier hair and pregnancy with a male foetus. (Kardum* D, Kardum Ž, Nađ T, Müller A. He or She, What Will It Be: Old Wivesʹ Tales and Foetal Sex Prediction. SEEMEDJ 2020; 4(1); 96-101

Efficacy and Safety of Inferior Turbinate Coblation-Channeling in the Treatment of Nasal Obstructions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of coblation-channeling in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The study was conducted in the Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia. Fifty-two patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy who were refractory to medical therapy were evaluated for coblation. The procedures were performed under local anesthesia using an ArthroCare ReFlexUltra 45 wand; three submucosal channels were made per turbinate. Clinical examinations, a questionnaire on individual nasal symptoms (hyposmia, nasal drainage and post-nasal drip), a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) grading general nasal obstructions, and rhinomanometry before and 8 weeks after the treatment were administered to assess treatment outcomes. No adverse effects were encountered. Nasal breathing was significantly improved in all patients, decreasing the VAS from a median of 7 (range 2–9) to 1 (range 0–3) (p<0.001). Total nasal resistance decreased from 0.44 Pa±0.50 to 0.24 Pa±0.11 (p=0.005). Improvement was statistically significant for all three symptoms (hyposmia [p=0.005], nasal drainage [p=0.003] and post-nasal drip [p<0.001]). In this paper, we demonstrate that coblation-channeling of the hypertrophic inferior turbinate is an effective and safe way to reduce nasal obstruction symptoms

Efficacy and Safety of Inferior Turbinate Coblation-Channeling in the Treatment of Nasal Obstructions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of coblation-channeling in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The study was conducted in the Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia. Fifty-two patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy who were refractory to medical therapy were evaluated for coblation. The procedures were performed under local anesthesia using an ArthroCare ReFlexUltra 45 wand; three submucosal channels were made per turbinate. Clinical examinations, a questionnaire on individual nasal symptoms (hyposmia, nasal drainage and post-nasal drip), a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) grading general nasal obstructions, and rhinomanometry before and 8 weeks after the treatment were administered to assess treatment outcomes. No adverse effects were encountered. Nasal breathing was significantly improved in all patients, decreasing the VAS from a median of 7 (range 2–9) to 1 (range 0–3) (p<0.001). Total nasal resistance decreased from 0.44 Pa±0.50 to 0.24 Pa±0.11 (p=0.005). Improvement was statistically significant for all three symptoms (hyposmia [p=0.005], nasal drainage [p=0.003] and post-nasal drip [p<0.001]). In this paper, we demonstrate that coblation-channeling of the hypertrophic inferior turbinate is an effective and safe way to reduce nasal obstruction symptoms

CLINICAL ENTITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Mišićno-koštana bol najčešći je simptom prisutan u gotovo svim reumatskim bolestima. Reumatske bolesti obuhvaćaju više od 150 kliničkih entiteta. Nema jedinstvene klasifi kacije reumatskih bolesti. Općenito ih dijelimo na upalne reumatske bolesti, neupalne bolesti zglobova degenerativnog karaktera, sustavne bolesti vezivnog tkiva, metaboličke poremećaje s manifestacijom na zglobovima, regionalne i proširene bolne sindrome. Bol je prema Međunarodnom udruženju za proučavanje boli (IASP) defi nirana kao neugodan osjećaj povezan s oštećenjem tkiva ili opisan u vrijeme takvog oštećenja. Ona ima svoju tjelesnu, duševnu i socijalnu komponentu. Najčešće se u reumatskim bolestima radi o kroničnoj boli koja može narušiti opće stanje organizma, traje duže od 3 ili 6 mjeseci, a prema nekim defi nicijama, već i ako postoji duže od 6 tjedana. Uglavnom je nociceptivna, a rjeđe neuropatska. Mišićno-koštana bol, osobito kronična, globalni je javnozdravstveni problem zbog svoje učestalosti, nerijetko oštećenja funkcije i razvoja kroničnoga bolnog sindroma koji se može smatrati zasebnim kliničkim entitetom i zahtijeva biopsihosocijalni pristup u liječenju bolesnika.Musculoskeletal pain is the most common symptom present in almost all rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases include more than 150 clinical entities. Th ere is no uniform classifi cation of rheumatic diseases. In general, we distinguish infl ammatory rheumatic diseases, non-infl ammatory degenerative articular diseases, systemic connective tissue diseases, metabolic disorders with articular manifestations, and regional and extended pain syndromes. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defi ned as an unpleasant sensation associated with tissue damage or reported simultaneously with such damage. Pain has a physical, mental, and social component. In rheumatic diseases the pain is mostly chronic and may severely impair the patient’s general condition. Th e defi ning criteria involve a period of more than 3 or 6 months, and according to some defi nitions more than 6 weeks. In most cases the pain is nociceptive rather than neuropathic. Musculoskeletal pain, especially chronic pain, is a global public health problem because of its prevalence, as well as the frequently associated muslculoskeletal function impairment and development of chronic pain syndrome, which can be considered as a separate clinical entity and requires a biopsychosocial treatment approach

Iz albuma Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla: Youtube kao komunikacijska poveznica

U ožujku 2020., kao reakcija na obustavljanje rada muzeja zbog suzbijanja pandemije, društvene mreže Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla dopunjene su novim sadržajima. Uz već uhodanu komunikaciju s korisnicima putem muzejskog Facebook profila, aktivnije se počeo koristiti muzejski YouTube kanal, otvoren 2019. godine i to pokretanjem dvaju novih programa – odnosno serija kratkih filmova u niskobudžetnoj produkciji Muzeja: programa #7minutamuzeja, te programa TMNTATTOOS. Program koji je uslijedio, Iz albuma Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla, realiziran kao film nastavak je već postojeće suradnje na programu Album koji je Tiflološki muzej pokrenuo 2017. godine, a bio je odobren i sufinanciran od strane Ministarstva kulture i medija RH

Iz albuma Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla: Youtube kao komunikacijska poveznica

U ožujku 2020., kao reakcija na obustavljanje rada muzeja zbog suzbijanja pandemije, društvene mreže Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla dopunjene su novim sadržajima. Uz već uhodanu komunikaciju s korisnicima putem muzejskog Facebook profila, aktivnije se počeo koristiti muzejski YouTube kanal, otvoren 2019. godine i to pokretanjem dvaju novih programa – odnosno serija kratkih filmova u niskobudžetnoj produkciji Muzeja: programa #7minutamuzeja, te programa TMNTATTOOS. Program koji je uslijedio, Iz albuma Tehničkog muzeja Nikola Tesla, realiziran kao film nastavak je već postojeće suradnje na programu Album koji je Tiflološki muzej pokrenuo 2017. godine, a bio je odobren i sufinanciran od strane Ministarstva kulture i medija RH

THE OCCURRENCE OF PARANEOPLASTIC SYNDROMES IN PATIENTS WITH POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA TREATED AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTER OSIJEK

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that occurs in an elderly person, usually over fifty years of age. Disease is characterized by pain, discomfort, and tenderness of shoulder, throat and hip muscles, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation values, and a fast and effective therapeutic response to the applied glucocorticoid therapy. Clinical image of PMR may resemble the presentation of many malignant diseases, given that it is of great importance to do extensive diagnostic treatment of the patient. Objectives: Th e aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with PMR, treated at the Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology of the University Hospital Center of Osijek (UHCO). Methods: Th e study included PMR patients treated at the UHCO in the period from 1/2013. to 10/2018. A study was conducted using data from the General Practice Research Database of the UHCO. Results: In 46 patients with PMR the occurrence of paraneoplastic syndrome was 8.7% (N=4) with a 95% confidence interval of 2.42%–20.79%. Th e median age of the detection of the paraneoplastic syndrome was 73 (65–85) years, and the mean time of detection of the syndrome since the diagnosis of PMR was 1± 1 years. In total number of diagnosed, there is an equal number of male and female patients (N=2, p>0.999). Among males, the occurrence of paraneoplastic syndrome was 15.38%, and among women 6.02% (p = 0.585). The mean age of discovery of male paraneoplastic syndrome was 75±14.14, and in women 64±7.07 godina (p=0.699). Th ere was no statistically significant difference in the age of PMR patients (76.17±6.93) compared to those with paraneoplastic syndrome (71.5±9.11), p=0.213. Conclusions: According to the results of our research the time to diagnose paraneoplastic syndrome is approximately one year after the diagnosis of PMR. Therefore, more extensive diagnostic processing and disease control during the first year from the diagnosis of the PMR will reduce the risk of non-recognition of malignant disease disguised as a clinical image of PMR. In addition, the occurrence of paraneoplastic syndromes was 8.7% in the population of PMR patients included in this fi ve-year study. References: 1. Muller, Sara, et al. Is cancer associated with polymyalgia rheumatica? A cohort study in the General Practice Research Database. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014;73(10): 1769–73. 2. Muller, S., et al. Th e real evidence for polymyalgia rheumatica as a paraneoplastic syndrome. Reumatismo. 2018; 70(1): 23–34. 3. Ji, Jianguang, et al. Cancer risk in patients hospitalized with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a follow-up study in Sweden. Rheumatology.2010; 49(6): 1158–63. 4. Myklebust, Geirmund, et al. No increased frequency of malignant neoplasms in polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. A prospective longitudinal study of 398 cases and matched population controls. J Rheum.2002; 29(10): 2143–7. 5. Mayer, Miroslav, and Branimir Anić. Paraneoplastički sindromi u reumatologiji. Reumatizam.2015; 62(Suppl. 1): 0–0

Učestalost i rizični čimbenici za razvoj oralnog alergijskog sindroma u odraslih bolesnika sa sezonskim alergijskim rinitisom

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and the possible risk factors for its development. This cross-sectional study was conducted in primary care offices in the Split-Dalmatia County during the period from March 1 to September 30, 2012. Data sources were medical history with confirmation of SAR (positive skin-prick test to seasonal inhalant allergens: grass, tree and weed pollens), anthropometric patient data (age, sex, weight and height), and a questionnaire in which patients evaluated their nasal and ocular symptoms, comorbidities and lifestyle. The χ2-test, Pearson χ2-test, Spearman\u27s rho correlation coefficient and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were used on statistical analysis. The prevalence of OAS was 45.7%. The risk factors for OAS development were diabetes (p<0.001), severity of nasal symptoms (p<0.05) and severity of ocular symptoms (p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of OAS in the Split-Dalmatia County is very high. The risks factors for OAS in patients with SAR are diabetes and severity of nasal and ocular symptoms.Cilj našega istraživanja bio je procijeniti učestalost oralnog alergijskog sindroma (OAS) u bolesnika sa sezonskim alergijskim rinitisom (SAR) te moguće rizične čimbenike za njegov nastanak. Ovo presječno istraživanje provedeno je u ordinacijama primarne zdravstvene zaštite Splitsko-dalmatinske županije u razdoblju od 1. ožujka 2012. do 30. rujna 2012. godine. Izvori podataka su bili: medicinska dokumentacija bolesnika (“karton”) u kojemu je potvrda dijagnoze SARa (pozitivan kožni-ubodni test na sezonske inhalacijske alergene: poleni trava, stabala i korova), antropometrijski podatci o bolesniku (spol, dob, težina i visina) i upitnik u kojemu bolesnici ocjenjuju nosne i očne simptome, komorbiditet i stil života. Od statističkih testova koristili smo χ2-test, Pearsonov χ2-test, Spearmanov test korelacije i Kolmogorov-Smirnovljev test. Učestalost OAS-a bila je 45,7%. Rizični čimbenici za njegov nastanak bili su: dijabetes (p<0,001) te ozbiljniji nosni (p<0,05) i očni simptomi (p<0,001). Može se zaključiti da je učestalost OAS-a u Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji visoka. Rizični čimbenici za nastanak OAS-a u bolesnika sa SAR-om su dijabetes i veća izraženost očnih i nosnih simptoma

RHEUMATIC DISEASES AND MALIGNANSY – WHERE IS THE ASSOCIATION?

Bolesnici s upalnim autoimunim reumatskim bolestima imaju povećan rizik od obolijevanja od malignih bolesti, uključujući limfoproliferativne sindrome i leukemije, osobito oni s reumatoidnim artritisom, sistemskim lupusom, Sjögrenovim sindromom, dermatomiozitisom i sistemskom sklerozom. Povećana učestalost malignih bolesti dovodi se u vezu s autoimunošću, kroničnom upalnom aktivnošću, ali i imunomodulatornom i imunosupresivnom terapijom. Reumatske tegobe mogu biti dio slike paraneoplastičkog sindroma što dodatno utječe na diferencijalnu dijagnozu, praćenje tijeka bolesti i izbor terapije uz procjenu individualnog rizika i utjecaja okolišnih čimbenika.Patients with inflammatory autoimmune rheumatic diseases, especially those with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, dermatomyositis, and systemic sclerosis, are at increased risk of malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoproliferative syndromes. An increased incidence of malignant disease is associated with autoimmunity, chronic inflammatory activity, as well as immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapy. Rheumatic manifestations can be part of paraneoplastic syndrome, which may further affect the differential diagnosis, disease monitoring, or treatment strategies along with the assessment of individual risks and the impact of environmental factors