CORRELATION BETWEEN OBESITY AND PANCREATIC CANCER

Karcinom gušterače agresivan je tumor s izrazito lošom prognozom, nedostatkom ranih dijagnostičkih simptoma i otpornošću na terapiju. Incidencija je približno jednaka stopi smrtnosti. Iako je posljednjih godina postignut određen napredak u definiranju morfoloških i ključnih genskih promjena, još je nejasno koji su čimbenici okidač njegova nastanka. Neki od čimbenika rizika jesu dob, spol i rasa, genetička podložnost, dijetetski čimbenici, povišena tjelesna temperatura, kronični pankreatitis, šećerna bolest te fizička neaktivnost.Istraživanja su pokazala da povećanje ITM-a posljedično dovodi do povećanja rizika od nastanka zloćudnih bolesti, pa tako i karcinoma gušterače. Proučavanje adipokina i njihove uloge u pretilosti i nastanku karcinoma gušterače potencijal su za buduće terapijske intervencije.Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumor with a very poor prognosis, lack of early diagnostic symptoms and highly resistant to therapy. Its incidence is approximately equal to the mortality rate. Even though in recent years progress has been made in defining the morphological and key genetic changes, it is still unclear which factors trigger its occurrence. Some risk factors are age, gender and race, genetic susceptibility, dietary factors, fever, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes and physical inactivity. Studies have shown that an increase in BMI consequently leads to an increased risk of malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Research based on adipokines and their role in obesity and the occurrence of pancreatic cancer are the potential for a possible future therapeutic interventions

USE OF NEW MATERIALS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POST-TRAUMATIC WOUNDS

Poslijeoperacijske infekcije uz prisustvo osteosintetskog materijala u tijelu velik su problem za bolesnika i operatera. dosadašnji stav je da se osteosintetski materijal mora odstraniti i tek tada se može očekivati sanacija infekcije. Međutim, uklanjanje osteosintetskog materijala kod nesraslog prijeloma znatno komplicira sanaciju infekcije i prijeloma. indicira se postavljanje vanjskog fiksatora i tek u slučaju saniranja mekotkivnog statusa, može se pristupiti reosteosintezi. pojava terapije negativnim tlakom unijela je nove mogućnosti liječenja ovog tipa infekcija bez potrebe odstranjenja osteosintetskog materijala iz tijela. Svojim direktnim i indirektnim djelovanje terapija negativnim tlakom stvara povoljne uvjete za cijeljenje. Uporaba novih materijala, transformirajućeg pudera (Altrazeal®) i topičkog hemoglobina u spreju (Granulox®), koji lokalno u rani djeluju protektivno i suportivno, osiguravajući i poboljšavajući fiziološke uvjete zarastanja, daje dodatne mogućnosti za adekvatno i sigurno cijeljenje.Postoperative infection and the presence of osteosynthetic material in human body pose a major problem for patients and operators. Previously, it was considered that osteosynthetic material must be removed, and only then the expected full infection recovery could occur. However, removal of osteosynthetic material in unhealed fractures complicates bone fracture healing, as well as infection recovery. Nowadays, it is indicated to place an external bone fixator and in case of soft tissue recovery access to reosteosynthesis. The negative pressure wound therapy has brought new opportunities for treatment of this type of infections without the need of osteosynthetic material removal. Direct and indirect effects of negative pressure wound therapy create optimal healing conditions. Local use of new materials, transforming powder (Altrazeal R) and topical hemoglobin spray (GranuloxR), provide and improve physiological conditions for appropriate and safe healing

USE OF NEW MATERIALS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POST-TRAUMATIC WOUNDS

Poslijeoperacijske infekcije uz prisustvo osteosintetskog materijala u tijelu velik su problem za bolesnika i operatera. dosadašnji stav je da se osteosintetski materijal mora odstraniti i tek tada se može očekivati sanacija infekcije. Međutim, uklanjanje osteosintetskog materijala kod nesraslog prijeloma znatno komplicira sanaciju infekcije i prijeloma. indicira se postavljanje vanjskog fiksatora i tek u slučaju saniranja mekotkivnog statusa, može se pristupiti reosteosintezi. pojava terapije negativnim tlakom unijela je nove mogućnosti liječenja ovog tipa infekcija bez potrebe odstranjenja osteosintetskog materijala iz tijela. Svojim direktnim i indirektnim djelovanje terapija negativnim tlakom stvara povoljne uvjete za cijeljenje. Uporaba novih materijala, transformirajućeg pudera (Altrazeal®) i topičkog hemoglobina u spreju (Granulox®), koji lokalno u rani djeluju protektivno i suportivno, osiguravajući i poboljšavajući fiziološke uvjete zarastanja, daje dodatne mogućnosti za adekvatno i sigurno cijeljenje.Postoperative infection and the presence of osteosynthetic material in human body pose a major problem for patients and operators. Previously, it was considered that osteosynthetic material must be removed, and only then the expected full infection recovery could occur. However, removal of osteosynthetic material in unhealed fractures complicates bone fracture healing, as well as infection recovery. Nowadays, it is indicated to place an external bone fixator and in case of soft tissue recovery access to reosteosynthesis. The negative pressure wound therapy has brought new opportunities for treatment of this type of infections without the need of osteosynthetic material removal. Direct and indirect effects of negative pressure wound therapy create optimal healing conditions. Local use of new materials, transforming powder (Altrazeal R) and topical hemoglobin spray (GranuloxR), provide and improve physiological conditions for appropriate and safe healing

Treatment of Hardware Infection after Osteosynthesis of Lower Leg using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Transforming Powder Dressing

Fractures of the distal part of the lower leg are more common in everyday practice and traumatology. In young and active patients these injuries are mainly caused by high energy trauma. They are treated with external fi xator in fi rst step, and in second step, after sanation of the soft tissue, with open reduction and internal fi xation (ORIF). It is very safe and effective method of treatment. Treatment of the infections that occur in the early postoperative period after open reduction and internal fi xation represents a great problem and challenge for surgeons. It is widely accepted that the presence of deep infection can´t be cured in the presence of hardware. However, removal of hardware in the presence of unhealed fractures signifi cantly complicates sanation of infection and fracture itself. We have decided to present a 35-years-old patient with a hardware infection with present chronic wound with hardware exposed eight months after the fi rst operation and six months after second operation. The wound measured one centimeter in diameter with cell detritus and bad granulations tissue inside the wound. Hardwre was exposed in the depth of the wound.The secretion was minimal. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) was applicated after debridemet and lavage performed in ambulatory conditions. The starting therapy was continuously –125 mm Hg of vacuum. After fi ve days of NPWT the defect was partially fi lled with granulation tissue. For another fi ve days we continue with NPWT with the same values of –125 mm Hg pressure but in the intermitent mode. After that period we used transforming powder dressing for covering and protection of the wound with was fi lled with granulation tissue. Five days later, wound was completely healed with epithelisation. After four months of patient follow-up, we found the wound is completely repaired. The patient denies pain and has continued orderly fl ow of fracture healing, with no signs of infection

Variations in seasonal solar insolation are associated with a history of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder

Background: Bipolar disorder is associated with circadian disruption and a high risk of suicidal behavior. In a previous exploratory study of patients with bipolar I disorder, we found that a history of suicide attempts was associated with differences between winter and summer levels of solar insolation. The purpose of this study was to confirm this finding using international data from 42% more collection sites and 25% more countries. Methods: Data analyzed were from 71 prior and new collection sites in 40 countries at a wide range of latitudes. The analysis included 4876 patients with bipolar I disorder, 45% more data than previously analyzed. Of the patients, 1496 (30.7%) had a history of suicide attempt. Solar insolation data, the amount of the sun’s electromagnetic energy striking the surface of the earth, was obtained for each onset location (479 locations in 64 countries). Results: This analysis confirmed the results of the exploratory study with the same best model and slightly better statistical significance. There was a significant inverse association between a history of suicide attempts and the ratio of mean winter insolation to mean summer insolation (mean winter insolation/mean summer insolation). This ratio is largest near the equator which has little change in solar insolation over the year, and smallest near the poles where the winter insolation is very small compared to the summer insolation. Other variables in the model associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts were a history of alcohol or substance abuse, female gender, and younger birth cohort. The winter/summer insolation ratio was also replaced with the ratio of minimum mean monthly insolation to the maximum mean monthly insolation to accommodate insolation patterns in the tropics, and nearly identical results were found. All estimated coefficients were significant at p < 0.01. Conclusion: A large change in solar insolation, both between winter and summer and between the minimum and maximum monthly values, may increase the risk of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder. With frequent circadian rhythm dysfunction and suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder, greater understanding of the optimal roles of daylight and electric lighting in circadian entrainment is needed

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Global variations in diabetes mellitus based on fasting glucose and haemogloblin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but may identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening had elevated FPG, HbA1c, or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardised proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed, and detected in survey screening, ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the agestandardised proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global gap in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.peer-reviewe