I L C O - Čakovec – Kako kvalitetnije živjeti s rakom debelog crijeva

Naše društvo sastoji se od 17 članova od kojih petoro ima stomu, a ostali su bez nje. Osnivačka skupština održana je u Scheirovom domu u Čakovcu, gdje je predloženo i prihvaćeno predsjedništvo novog ILCO društva. Za predsjednicu je izabrana Katarina Jagec koja ima stomu već deset godina, a za njezinog zamjenika izabran je Ivan Horvat. Tajnica je Dragica Bistrović, a blagajnica Darinka Teodorić. Članove predsjedništva čine : Štefanija Štok, Franjo Kutnjak i Božica Barušić. Glavni pokretači ovog društva su dr.Hussein Saghir i VMS Božena Kapitarić. Na glavnoj skupštini određeno je da se mjesečni sastanci održavaju svakog prvog petka u mjesecu u 17h na adresi A.Schulteissa 19. Čakovec ( kod stare vage) a linija povjerenja može se uspostaviti na tel. 040 395 307.Godišnja članarina iznosi 50.00kn. Udruga djeluje kao neprofitna, humanitarna udruga koja okuplja oboljele od bolesti na debelom crijevu i članove njihovih obitelji kako bi svojim aktivnostima smanjili smrtnost i pomogli produženje preživljavanja oboljelih. Sastanci su korisni i zbog prekida osamljenosti i izolacije, susreta s drugim osobama slične sudbine, izmjene informacija u cilju ostvarivanja prava iz zdravstvenog osiguranja u novonastaloj situaciji. Našim aktivnostima ujedno motiviramo stanovništvo da se odazove programu ranog otkrivanja raka debelog crijeva. Na sastanku 05.09.2008. medicinska sestra Marija Vlašić održala je predavanje o stoma pomagalima, načinu i njezi pri korištenju stoma vrećica. Simpozij na temu „KOLEREKTALNI KARCINOM“ održao se u Varaždinu 02.10.2008 godine, a naše predstavnice VMS Božena Kapustić, Katarina Jagec i Dragica Bistrović pratile su stručna predavanja koja su održavali onkolozi, kirurzi, pravnici i medicinska sestra iz Varaždinske bolnice. Ovaj simpozij imao je veliki značaj, a prisustvovali su i gosti iz Slovenije, Srbije i Bosne i Hercegovine

Effects of Raloxifene on Changes in Bone Density

Raloxifene hydrochloride therapy effectiveness in bone mineral density (BMD) changes compared to calcium and vitamin D3 therapy over a 2-year period. Case-control study: a group of 254 women was prescribed raloxifene (raloxifene hydrochloride) together with calcium and vitamin D3 while other group of 254 women used calcium and vitamin D3 therapy. BMD was measured at the hip, spine and forearm at the beginning and at the end of the 2-year period. Treatment with raloxifene resulted in a 3.7% increase in BMD at the spine in 98% of examinees. A 1.2% BMD increase was shown in 75% of examinees at the hip. A 1.2% decrease in BMD at forearm shown in 93% of examinees using raloxifene. The calcium and vitamin D3 therapy led to an increase in BMD in 58% examinees at the spine, in 56% at the hip and in 38% at the forearm, which was significantly lower than in women using raloxifene. Among women using calcium and vitamin D alone an average BMD decrease of 1.2% was registered on 42% of examinees at the spine, 2.6% decrease on 46% of examinees at the hip and 4.2% decrease on 35% of examinees at the forearm. Treatment with raloxifene resulted in a significant increase in BMD at the spine with odds ratio (OR 5.85, p<0.05) compared with calcium and vitamin D3 alone. There was no statistically proven increase in BMD at either the hip (OR 0.015) or forearm (OR 0.122)

Conservative medicine in war conditions in the Slavonian-brod hospital (until july 31, 1992)

Zbog ratnih zbivanja učinjena je preobrazba nekih službi KM, kako bi smještajem, organizacijom i opsegom rada mogla optimalno odgovarati novonastaloj teškoj situaciji. Da bi se zaštitili bolesnici i zdravstveni djelatnici od djelovanja topničkih i minobacačkih granata, premješteni su na sigurnija mjesta: podrumske prostorije bolnice, prigradska naselja ili udaljenija mjesta. Veći dio bolničkih zgrada učvršćen je drvenim gredama i vrećama pijeska. Organizirano se reducira broj bolesničkih postelja u svim djelatnostima konzervativne medicine, od 267 u miru na 126, tj.za 53% u ratu. Iz sigurnosnih razloga i bitno smanjenih kapaciteta bolničkih odjela hospitalizirani su samo vitalno ugroženi i teški bolesnici. U svezi s time broj od 5 284 hospitaliziranih u miru pao je u ratu na 3 110 bolesnika, tj. za 41%. Upravo selekcija samo teških bolesnika za prijem na bolničko liječenje, hospitalizacija prognanih i izbjeglih kroničnih neliječenih, zapuštenih i izgladnjelih staraca, bitno je utjecala na znatan porast smrtnosti. Tome je posebno pridonio porast broja rođene nedonešene i nezrele djece, ne samo iz našeg područja nego i susjednih općina istočne i zapadne Slavonije i Bosanske Posavine. Registriran je porast smrtnosti od 60%. u miru na 140% u promatranim ratnim mjesecima, a to je porast od 80%. U Službi za hemodijalizu došlo je u ratu do skoka broja liječenih i porasta smrtnosti, poglavito ranjenika. Naime, dosadašnje mirnodopsko preživljavanje bilo je oko 500%, a u ratnoj godini ono je palo na 375%, tj. mortalitet je porastao na 625%. Najviša smrtnost u toj jedinici zapažena je upravo u ranjenika (820%). Zbog ratnih zbivanja došlo je do pada broja specijalističkih ambulantnih pregleda za 60% - od 69 132 u mirnodopskim mjesecima na 27 549 u ratu.Before the beggining of the war the services of the conservative medicine: for internal diseases, pediatry, infectology, neurology and hemodialysis had suitable rooms, number of beds, various and up-to date equipment and sufficient number of medical staff so they could, through polyclinical services and hospital departments give optimal health protection to the people of our and neighbouring communities of Bosanska Posavina. The capacity of the mentioned departments was 267 beds in adequate up-to-date and functional space. An adequate number (13) of specialist physicians and subspecialists (3 doctors, 4 magisters and a remarkable number of physicians with postgraduate study and diploma) with modern outfit for clinical, laboratorial and X-rays diagnostics enables fast and precise diagnosis, an adequate and efficient treatment and scientific work. The agression on our Republic had its influence on the work of health service as a whole, and on the work of conservative medicine in Health Center in Slavonski Brod as well. First attacks on our town began on September 15th, 1991 from the neighbouring Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and from the barracks of the former Yugoslav National Army in Slavonski Brod. In the same time the war extended in Eastern and Western Slavonia and more and more wounded were daily accepted in our hospital. Therefore more beds were located in surgeon department and utmost readiness of all vital services was commanded. The number of the beds in majority of conservative services was lessened and only heavy and urgent cases were accepted. For the security the large part of the building was protected by logs and sandbags. To shelter patients and medical staff from artillery and trench mortar blasts, some services of conservative medicine were dislocated to more secure places in cellars in suburban settlements or far away places. Due to the war the number of beds on departments of conservative medicine was reduced from 267 at the peacetime to 126 in wartime and this is reduction of 53%. The biggest number of beds was reduced in pediatry - for 80 to 20 or from 75%, and the least on internal department - from 89 to 69 or for 25%. From the reasons of security and because of reduced capacities only vitally endangered and heavy patients are accepted. In peacetime the number of hospitalized patients was 5 284 but in the wartime it fell to 3110 patients i. e. for 41% as it is shown on graph 1. The number of hospitalized was: 136 (4%) members of Croatian Army and police, 315 (10%) banished persons and refugees, and 2 959 (86%) civilians The biggest number of Croatian soldiers and policeman (103/136) or 76% were treated on Department of infective diseases. The biggest number of banished persons and refugees was cured on Children department: 195/315 i. e. 62%. The growth of mortality was from 60% in peacetime to 140% in wartime, and it is shown (by departments) on graph 2. The growth of mortality for 80% in war is understandable as only heavy patients were accepted to hospital. The hospitalization of banished and refugees with chronic diseases, many of them uncured, famished and psychicly destroyed old persons added a great deal to the growth of mortality. The growth of the number of prematurely born children from our and neighbouring communities of East and West Slavonia and Bosanska Posavina added to high mortality. In Service for hemodialysis there were more treated but also more passed away, especially wounded. Namely, in peacetime 500% stayed on life but in war it fell to 374% i. e. the mortality grew on 625%. The highest mortality in this service was with wounded (820%). It should be stressed that there were no important differences of the sick of some acute contagious diseases in war and peacetime. There were no records of any classical war contagious disease as were: abdominal typhus, spotted typhusor Q-fever. Also it should be recognized that up to now there have not been registrated epidemics of contagious diseases in spite of transit and permanent stay of large number of refugees and banished persons, nor with hospitalized, neither with out patients

Antioxidant Enzymes Activity in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease, with and without Presence of Diabetes Mellitus

The study evaluated antioxidant status in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), with and without concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM). 211 participants were divided into standardized 4 groups: patients with PVD and DM (PVD+DM+), patients with PVD without DM (PVD+DM-), patients without PVD with DM (PVD-DM+) and patients without PVD and DM (PVD-DM-). The diagnosis of PVD was established by Doppler sonography analysis, including determination of the ankle brachial index (ABI), partial pressures along the leg, and CW Doppler sonography at typical locations. Antioxidant status has been evaluated through the colorimetrically assessed serum activity of key antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GLPX) as well as through total antioxidant status (TAS) determination. In PVD+DM- group, as well as PVD-DM+ group, a significantly lower activity of the GLPX, catalase and TAS was found, whereas activity of SOD was significantly higher. There was no statistically significant difference between PVD+DM+ and PVD-DM+ group. Likewise, there was no statistically significant difference between PVD+DM- and PVD -DM-group. This study has shown that there is statistically significant difference in activity of antioxidant enzymes between diabetic and non-diabetic patients, irrespectively of PVD presence. Furthermore, PVD present alone does not alter key antioxidant enzymes activity in comparison with healthy subjects

Youth and AIDS – A Study of Attitudes, Knowledge, Behavior and Risks in the Post-War Croatia

According to the latest reports, the Eastern Europe currently exhibits the greatest relative increase in the number of newly registered HIV infections in the world. At the same time, Central Europe remains relatively spared from the epidemic, with reported rates significantly lower than those in both Eastern and Western Europe. Croatia geographically affiliates to Central Europe, but it has two specific potential risk factors in comparison to neighboring countries: recent War events and a summer season when immigration of large number of tourists from Central and Eastern Europe is expected. Therefore, it is critical to examine AIDS attitudes in young people, increase their knowledge, monitor their behavior and warn on risks in order to prevent larger spread of epidemics from Eastern Europe to Croatia. In this study, we report on a large related survey and education program among 17-year-old high school pupils that was conducted in years immediately following the War (1996–1999)

Youth and AIDS – A Study of Attitudes, Knowledge, Behavior and Risks in the Post-War Croatia

According to the latest reports, the Eastern Europe currently exhibits the greatest relative increase in the number of newly registered HIV infections in the world. At the same time, Central Europe remains relatively spared from the epidemic, with reported rates significantly lower than those in both Eastern and Western Europe. Croatia geographically affiliates to Central Europe, but it has two specific potential risk factors in comparison to neighboring countries: recent War events and a summer season when immigration of large number of tourists from Central and Eastern Europe is expected. Therefore, it is critical to examine AIDS attitudes in young people, increase their knowledge, monitor their behavior and warn on risks in order to prevent larger spread of epidemics from Eastern Europe to Croatia. In this study, we report on a large related survey and education program among 17-year-old high school pupils that was conducted in years immediately following the War (1996–1999)