Laparoskopski pristup u liječenju morgagnijeve hernije: tri prikaza slučaja

We report on three cases of diaphragmatic (Morgagni) hernia with different clinical presentation. It is important to consider the possibility of this rare but potentially very dangerous condition in patients with respiratory problems and pain in the upper abdomen. Before laparoscopy, two different approaches were used in diaphragmatic hernia operations (abdominal and thoracic approach). Laparoscopy has brought significant changes in the treatment of diaphragmatic hernia. It is important to stress that laparoscopic diaphragmatic surgical therapy uses stronger mesh than the mesh used to repair an inguinal hernia.Prikazuju se tri bolesnika s dijafragmalnom, Morgagnijevom hernijom, ali s različitim kliničkim slikama. Važno je posumnjati na ovu rijetku, ali potencijalno vrlo opasnu bolest kod bolesnika s respiracijskim problemima i bolovima u gornjem dijelu trbuha. Prije uvođenja laparoskopije postojala su dva otvorena pristupa liječenju dijafragmalnih hernija, abdominalni i torakalni. Laparoskopija je donijela znatne promjene u liječenju dijafragmalne kile. Treba naglasiti da se u laparoskopskom pristupu koriste čvršće mrežice za pokrivanje kilnog otvora nego za preponske kile

Innovative advantages of the Zagreb surgical protocol of hand reconstruction in patients with epidermolysis bullosa

Kirurško liječenje deformiteta šaka bolesnika s buloznom epidermolizom, unatoč stalnomu napretku znanstvenih spoznaja, još je i danas obilježeno brojnim prijeporima. Cilj istraživanja je na temelju medicinske dokumentacije utvrditi karakteristike, specifičnosti i ishode svih bolesnika s buloznom epidermolizom koji su kirurški liječeni zbog deformiteta šake u Zagrebu u razdoblju od 1994. do 2009. godine. Zagrebački kirurški protokol rekonstrukcije (ZSRP) deformiteta šake u bolesnika s buloznom epidermolizom (EB) jedinstven je alat standardiziranih postupaka i jasno definiranog algoritma. Analizirani su značajke i ishodi u bolesnika s buloznom epidermolizom skupine bolesnika liječenih u razdoblju od 1994. do 2001. sa skupinom bolesnika koji su kirurški liječeni od 2002. do 2009. godine (s follow upom od 2 godine poslije termina operacije) s obzirom na to da su od 2002. godine u kiruršku praksu uvedene nove smjernice s brojnim modifikacijama postupka (ZSRP). Primjena Zagrebačkog kirurškog protokola rekonstrukcije deformiteta šake u bolesnika s buloznom epidermolizom sa svojim inovativnim sastavnicama ima praktične prednosti u usporedbi s prethodno primjenjivanim kirurškim postupcima zbog svoje veće učinkovitosti uz redukciju ukupnih troškova liječenja. Uzimanjem presatka kože po metodi PRST postiže se brže cijeljenje donorskog područja, uz smanjenje rizika očekivanih komplikacija u usporedbi s klasičnim tehnikama uzimanja STSG presatka kože dermatomom ili elektrodermatomom. Prema našem dosadašnjem 20-godišnjem iskustvu primjerena kirurška korekcija deformiteta šaka u bolesnika s EB-om omogućava uspješno višekratno ponavljanje kirurškog postupka koji je indiciran kao posljedica očekivane progresije lokalnog statusa zbog prirode same bolesti.Surgical treatment of the deformity in a handful of patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is still marked by numerous controversies today despite constant advancement of scientific knowledge. The aim of the study was to determine, on the basis of medical documentation, the characteristics, specificities and outcomes of all EB patients surgically treated in Zagreb from 1994 to 2009. The Zagreb Surgical Reconstruction Protocol (ZSRP) of hand deformity in EB patients is a unique tool of standardized procedures and a clearly defined algorithm. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between EB patients treated from 1994 to 2001 and EB patients treated surgically from 2002 to 2009 (with 2-year follow-up after surgery), given that new guidelines with numerous modifications to the procedure (ZSRP) had been introduced into surgical practice from 2002. Using ZSRP for reconstruction of hand deformity in EB patients with its innovative components was found to have practical advantages compared to the previously applied surgical procedures because of its higher efficiency while reducing the overall cost of treatment. This method resulted in faster healing of the donor area, reducing the risk of expected complications compared to the conventional split-thickness skin grafting techniques with a dermatome or electrodermatome. According to our 20-year experience, appropriate surgical correction of hand deformity in EB patients enables successful repeated surgery, which is indicated as a result of the expected progression of local status due to the nature of the disease itself

STATUS OF THE POTENTIALLY INVASIVE ASIAN SPECIES SCELIPHRON DEFORME IN EUROPE, AND AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF S. CURVATUM (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

We reviewed the distribution of the two Asian species of the genus Sceliphron Klug, introduced into Europe in the late 1970s to early 1980s: S. (Hensenia) curvatum (Smith) and S. (Hensenia) deforme (Smith). Both species are routinely considered as invasive in Europe, but the status and effects of their (eventual) invasiveness are yet to be documented and evaluated. We had a focus on two areas, the Balkan Peninsula and European Russia, based principally on the study of specimens collected over the last 15 years, but we also reviewed the extensive published evidence (including some very important internet-based records), and for S. curvatum we provided a concise overview of the entire European range. We confirmed that the latter recorded species, S. deforme, has been introduced into Europe at least twice, first in the central part of European Russia, and then in the SW Balkans, and we established that these introductions originated from different source populations, belonging to a geographically widely separated Asian subspecies. Based on the most recent evidence, we confirmed successful establishment of S. deforme in both areas, and documented its ongoing spreading: from central European Russia southwards/southeastwards, and most probably from the Balkans eastwards. We rectified several erroneous country records for S. deforme (France, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, “central Europe”), which have been extensively perpetuated in several important publications about the invasive species in Europe in the last three years (n.b. – for Greece, we have positively documented its presence only now). For S. curvatum, we added a new country record (Georgia/Abkhazia), and provided a few important earlier records from the Balkans (Serbia, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria), which shift the timing of the previously published “first appearance” dates in the area (for two years for N Serbia and C Greece), or otherwise modify the knowledge of its history of spread. Since the most recent evidence suggests the rapid eastward advancing of both introduced species towards their respective westernmost/northernmost native range limits in western to central Asia, we considered it important to briefly review the state of knowledge about their possible coexistence in that area. We also provided detailed maps of their allochtonous ranges in Europe (currently exceeding the longitudinal span of 4,000 km) and westernmost part of their native ranges in Asia. Finally, we very briefly commented on some ecological aspects of their existence within the allochtonous range (parasitism, sex ratio, phenology)

Organometallic indolo[3,2-c]quinolines versus indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines: synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and biological efficacy

The synthesis of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene complexes with the closely related indolo[3,2-c]quinolines N-(11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-yl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L1) and N′-(11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (L2) and indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines N-(7,12-dihydroindolo-[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6-yl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L3) and N′-(7,12-dihydroindolo-[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (L4) of the general formulas [(η6-p-cymene)MII(L1)Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (4) and Os (6), [(η6-p-cymene)MII(L2)Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (5) and Os (7), [(η6-p-cymene)MII(L3)Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (8) and Os (10), and [(η6-p-cymene)MII(L4)Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (9) and Os (11), is reported. The compounds have been comprehensively characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, spectroscopy (IR, UV–vis, and NMR), and X-ray crystallography (L1·HCl, 4·H2O, 5, and 9·2.5H2O). Structure–activity relationships with regard to cytotoxicity and cell cycle effects in human cancer cells as well as cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibition and DNA intercalation in cell-free settings have been established. The metal-free indolo[3,2-c]quinolines inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro, with IC50 values in the high nanomolar range, whereas those of the related indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines are in the low micromolar range. In cell-free experiments, these classes of compounds inhibit the activity of cdk2/cyclin E, but the much higher cytotoxicity and stronger cell cycle effects of indoloquinolines L1 and 7 are not paralleled by a substantially higher kinase inhibition compared with indolobenzazepines L4 and 11, arguing for additional targets and molecular effects, such as intercalation into DNA

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Systemic mastocytosis in Croatia

Cilj: Ciljevi ove studije bili su identificirati bolesnike sa sistemskom mastocitozom (SM) u Republici Hrvatskoj (RH) i analizirati njihove kliničke karakteristike. Ispitanici i metode: Retrospektivno su iz osam hematoloških centara u RH identificirani bolesnici sa SM. Analizirane su kliničke karakteristike, te načini i ishodi liječenja ovih bolesnika. Rezultati: Uključeno je 20 bolesnika, medijan dobi bio je 40,5 godina (raspon 24–77), a većinu su činile žene (n=12). Dominirali su bolesnici s indolentnom SM (ISM, n=11), dok je učestalost agresivne SM (ASM, n=4), „šuljajuće“ sistemske mastocitoze (SSM, n=3) i SM s pridruženom zloćudnom hematološkom bolešću (SM-AHND, n=2) bila manja. Gotovo su svi bolesnici imali kožni osip, a značajan broj njih i dispeptične smetnje, alergijsku dijatezu, bolove u kostima i osteoporozu. Antihistaminike je primala većina bolesnika, a citoredukciju 10 bolesnika (ISM=3, SSM=2, ASM=4, SM-AHND=1). Većina bolesnika koja je zahtijevala citoreduktivno liječenje primala je interferon alfa-2a (2 ISM, 1 SSM i 3 ASM), dva steroida (1 ISM i 1 SM-AHND), te po jedan imatinib (SSM) i kladribin (ASM). Svi su bolesnici liječeni u prvoj liniji interferonom alfa-2a i kladribinom postigli parcijalnu remisiju, a dva bolesnika liječena imatinibom i steroidom bila su refraktorna na liječenje. Nije bilo prekida liječenja interferonom zbog nuspojava. Nakon medijana praćenja od 33 mjeseca preminulo je troje bolesnika, jedan s ASM i oba s SM-AHND. Medijan preživljenja bolesnika s ISM/SSM nije dostignut naspram bolesnika s ASM/SM-AHND, gdje je iznosio 105 mjeseci (p=0,009). Zaključak: Kliničke karakteristike i ishodi liječenja bolesnika sa SM u RH slični su onima iz velikih svjetskih centara. Najčešće korišten citoreduktivni lijek u RH bio je interferon alfa-2a koji se pokazao sigurnim i učinkovitim.Aim: The aims of this study were to identify patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) in Croatia and to analyze their clinical characteristics. Patients and methods: Patients with SM treated at eight hospitals in Croatia were retrospectively identified and their clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes were analyzed. Results:Twenty patients were included, median age was 40.5years (range 24-77), and most were females (n=12) . Patients with indolent SM (ISM, n=11) predominated, followed by aggressive SM (ASM, n=4), smoldering SM (SSM, n=3) and SM with an associated hematological neoplastic disorder (SM-AHND, n=2). Only one patient (with ASM) did not have cutaneous involvement, and a significant proportion of SM patients had dyspepsia, allergic diathesis, bone pains and osteoporosis. Antihistamines were administered in the majority of the patients, whereas ten patients needed cytoreductive treatment (ISM, n=3, SSM n=2, ASM, n=4, SM-AHND, n=1). Most SM patients in need for cytoreduction received interferon alpha-2a (two ISM, one SSM and three ASM), two received steroids (one ISM and one SM-AHND), one received imatinib (SSM) and the last patient was treated with cladribine (ASM). All patients treated first-line with interferons and cladribine achieved partial remission, whereas two patients treated with imatinib and steroid were refractory. None of the patients discontinued interferon due to drug-related side-effects. After a median follow-up of 33 months, three patients died, one with ASM and two with SM-AHND.The median survival of ISM/SSM patients was higher than in ASM/SM-AHND patients in whom it was 105 months (p=0.009). Conclusion: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of SM patients in Croatia are comparable to those from large international centers. The most commonly administered cytoreductive drug in Croatia was interferon alpha-2a which was shown to be safe and effective