ALEXITHYMIA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG WOMEN UNDERGOING IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

Background: The aim of the current study was to analyze the relationship between alexithymia, anxiety, physical problems, trauma, and psychological distress in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Subjects and methods: The study was based on 78 women (mean age = 34.4 ys) who were referred to a fertility treatment with in vitro fertilization. The questionnaires (socio-demographic questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure) were administered by the investigators. Results: Our results suggest that alexithymia was significantly correlated to anxiety (r=0.506, p=0.00), depression (r=0.591, p=0.00), physical problems (r=0.477, p=0.00), trauma (r=0.512, p=0.00), and psychological distress (r=0.598, p=0.00). Furthermore, high alexithymia group showed significantly higher levels of anxiety (F=4.65, p=0.00), depression (F=2.30, p=0.00), trauma (F=1.80, p=0.00) and general psychological distress (F=2.85, p=0.04) than the low alexithymia group. Conclusions: Results of the present study point out that alexithymia could be considered a potential risk factor for high levels of anxiety, depression and general psychological distress. It may also be used as an indicator of a need for further psychological support aimed at women undergoing in vitro fertilization

A Coincidence of HLA-B27 Negative Spondyloarthritis and Paravertebral Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – A Lesson to be Learned from the Past Experience

We reported a case of a 71-year-old woman with progressive low back pain and neurologic symptoms of lower extremities, who in the background had the coexistence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the paravertebral location. This example describes a situation where SpA with minimal sacroiliac joints affection has nevertheless led to the overt axial SpA. This situation included undifferentiated or reactive SpA, as well as unusual disease context, presented with late-life disease onset, older age, female gender and no obvious hereditary predisposition. This combination of comorbid factors could allow environmental and disease-specifi c factors to accumulate over time and to, by modifying the primary, low-penetrant genetic background, lead to the development of lymphoma. By achieving better understanding of disease pathophysiology dynamic, we will be able to improve our capabilities to navigate biologic therapy in the future, in order to prevent the development of both, overt SpA and lymphoproliferative disease

Abstract of Doctoral and Master\u27s Theses

Abstract of Doctoral and Master\u27s These

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Spondyloarthritides and HLA-B27 Positive Antigen

The aim of this study was to present our experiences in diagnosing spondyloarthritides (SpA), and to list the most common clinical features of HLA-B 27 positive patients.The study included 65 HLA-B 27 positive patients with confirmed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who were analyzed between 2009 and 2010 in Clinic of Internal Medicine in Osijek. The diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthritides was based on the ASAS (Assessment in AS Working Group) classification criteria for axial and then supplemented with ASAS criteria for peripheral SpA and was confirmed by radiological techniques. For diagnosing the ankylosing spondylitis (AS), there have been applied the modified New York criteria. Radiological criteria for definite sacroiliitis according to the modified New York criteria is bilateral sacroiliitis, grade 2–4 (2) or unilateral sacroiliitis, grade 3–4. For diagnosing the psoriatic arthritis (PsA), there were used CASPAR diagnostic criteria. Other features of SpA are defined within the existing classification criteria. HLA-B27 antigen was determined by direct immune-fluorescence technique using flow cytometer. The average age of patients was 50.34 years, of whom 27 female (41.53%), 38 male (58.46%). Duration of illness was 15.79 years on average.With 75.38% of patients, there had been determined the diagnosis of AS; 24.62% of patients had the diagnosis of PsA. The most common clinical characteristics that patients had were: inflammatory back pain (pain Inflammation along the lumbosacral spine), peripheral arthritis, intermittent pain in the gluteus, sacroiliitis, enthesitis, uveitis, dactilitis

GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTION, CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIONS CAUSED BY METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA): Changes and updates of chapter 7.0: Treatment of patients with MRSA infection

Meticilin-rezistentni Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) važan je bolnički patogen u cijelome svijetu, pa i u Republici Hrvatskoj. Stoga se pristupilo izradi smjernica, kojih je svrha smanjiti broj bolesnika inficiranih/koloniziranih sojevima MRSE u zdravstvenim ustanovama i domovima za starije i nemočne osobe u Republici Hrvatskoj te na taj način smanjiti morbiditet i mortalitet koji uzrokuje ova bakterija. Interdisciplinarni tim stručnjaka načinio je Smjernice, koriste}i se internacionalnim publikacijama i smjernicama koje govore o prevenciji i kontroli MRSE, te liječenju i laboratorijskoj dijagnostici MRSE. Snaga preporuka određena je metodologijom CDC/HICPAC, a kategorizirane su na temelju postojećih znanstvenih podataka, teoretske logične podloge, primjenjivosti i ekonomskog utjecaja. Nakon Široke rasprave u stručnim društvima Smjernice su prihvaćene. Nakon toga došo je do određenih izmjena u mogućnostima liječenja infekcija koje uzrokuje MRSA u Republici Hrvatskoj te je poglavlje 7.0. Liječenje bolesnika s infekcijama koje uzrokuje MRSA izmijenjeno i nadopunjeno prema novim mogućnostima liječenja. Preostali dio Smjernica zasada nije izmijenjen.Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen throughout the world, and as well in Croatia. Therefore it was decided to develop guidelines with the aim to reduce the number of patients infected/colonized with MRSA in healthcare facilities and in nursing homes in Croatia, consequently reducing MRSA-related morbidity and mortality. An interdisciplinary team of experts developed these guidelines using existing international guidelines from different countries, and literature reviews about prevention, control, treatment and laboratory diagnosis of MRSA infections. Grades of evidence for specific recommendations were determined using CDC/HICPAC grading system. Categorization is based on existing data, theoretical basis, applicability and economic impact. After a broad discussion in different professional societies, Guidelines were accepted. In the meantime, several new possibilities appeared in the treatment of patients with MRSA infections in Croatia, so the Chapter 7.0 Treatment of patients with MRSA infections is changed and updated according to the new treatment possibilities. The rest of the Guidelines was not changed

GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTION, CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIONS CAUSED BY METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA): Changes and updates of chapter 7.0: Treatment of patients with MRSA infection

Meticilin-rezistentni Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) važan je bolnički patogen u cijelome svijetu, pa i u Republici Hrvatskoj. Stoga se pristupilo izradi smjernica, kojih je svrha smanjiti broj bolesnika inficiranih/koloniziranih sojevima MRSE u zdravstvenim ustanovama i domovima za starije i nemočne osobe u Republici Hrvatskoj te na taj način smanjiti morbiditet i mortalitet koji uzrokuje ova bakterija. Interdisciplinarni tim stručnjaka načinio je Smjernice, koriste}i se internacionalnim publikacijama i smjernicama koje govore o prevenciji i kontroli MRSE, te liječenju i laboratorijskoj dijagnostici MRSE. Snaga preporuka određena je metodologijom CDC/HICPAC, a kategorizirane su na temelju postojećih znanstvenih podataka, teoretske logične podloge, primjenjivosti i ekonomskog utjecaja. Nakon Široke rasprave u stručnim društvima Smjernice su prihvaćene. Nakon toga došo je do određenih izmjena u mogućnostima liječenja infekcija koje uzrokuje MRSA u Republici Hrvatskoj te je poglavlje 7.0. Liječenje bolesnika s infekcijama koje uzrokuje MRSA izmijenjeno i nadopunjeno prema novim mogućnostima liječenja. Preostali dio Smjernica zasada nije izmijenjen.Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen throughout the world, and as well in Croatia. Therefore it was decided to develop guidelines with the aim to reduce the number of patients infected/colonized with MRSA in healthcare facilities and in nursing homes in Croatia, consequently reducing MRSA-related morbidity and mortality. An interdisciplinary team of experts developed these guidelines using existing international guidelines from different countries, and literature reviews about prevention, control, treatment and laboratory diagnosis of MRSA infections. Grades of evidence for specific recommendations were determined using CDC/HICPAC grading system. Categorization is based on existing data, theoretical basis, applicability and economic impact. After a broad discussion in different professional societies, Guidelines were accepted. In the meantime, several new possibilities appeared in the treatment of patients with MRSA infections in Croatia, so the Chapter 7.0 Treatment of patients with MRSA infections is changed and updated according to the new treatment possibilities. The rest of the Guidelines was not changed

Central nervous system lesions

Motorički poremećaji podrazumijevaju skupinu poremećaja fine i grube motorike i/ili balansa tijela, koji stvaraju teškoće u svakodnevnim funkcionalnim aktivnostima. Motorički poremećaji također podrazumijevaju ispodprosječno tjelesno funkcioniranje različite fenomenologije i etiologije. Etiološki faktori motoričkih poremećaja mogu se podijeliti u četiri osnovne skupine: oštećenja lokomotoričkog aparata; oštećenja središnjeg živčanog sustava; oštećenja perifernog živčanog sustava; oštećenja nastala kao posljedice kroničnih somatskih oštećenja ili kroničnih bolesti drugih sustava. U ovom radu su prikazani etiološki faktori, kliničke slike i mogućnosti rehabilitacije osoba s oštećenjima središnjeg živčanog sustava.Motility disturbances include the group of the fine and severe motility disturbances and/or body balance which cause difficulties in daily functional activities. Motility disturbances imply also below averaged body functioning with different phenomenology and etiology. Etiological factors of the motility disturbances could be divided into four basic groups: damages of the locomotoric aparathus; damages of the central nervous system; damages of the peripheral nervous system; damages which are results of the chronic somatic damages or chronic diseases of the other systems. This work presentstiological factors, clinic images and rehabilitation possibilities for individuals with the central nervous system damages