Transfusion treatment impact in the improvement of haematological parameters in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

Introduction: Transfusion treatment (TT) is necessary in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) for lost blood substitution. This study was aimed at assessing the changes in haematological parameters  (hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white cell count, platelet count and prothrombin time) before and after TT in anaemic patients with GIB in order to analyse the effect of this treatment.Methods: There have been included 293 patients with GIB (the average age was 57.3, ranged from 18-89 years) who were treated with TT at the Internal Clinic at the University Clinical Center Prishtina during oneyear period. Data for applied blood product and results of the coagulation screen (PT) were collected from the Kosovo’s Blood Transfusion Center (KBTC).Results: TT has been carried out in 404 episodes, with 714 units of concentrated red blood cells (78.6%), 189 units of fresh frozen plasma (20.8%) and concentrated platelets (0.6%), with an average dose 3.1 fortransfunded patients. Average values of Hb before and after TT were 71.8 g/L and 81.4 g/L, respectively; while the average values of hematocrite before and after TT were 22.9% and 25.6%, respectively. The averageerythrocytes count before TT was 2.6 respectively after treatment 2.8(p<0.0001). The PT was carried out in the 43% of patients with GIB before treatment with FFP, but after that only in 2% of cases.Conclusions: Having in mind difficult clinical and unsustainable situation in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, the Transfusion Treatment resulted in the considerable improvement of the specific blood indicators

Sex determination of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian population based on odontometric characteristics of permanent lower canines

Introduction: Sex determination is one of fi rst and most important steps in identifying disintegrated bodies and skeletal remains. During the exhumation of bodies from the mass graves and archaeological excavations, it is quite often the case that not all bones of one person are found, therefore, teeth and the scull are the only true identifi cation material. Canines are teeth most appropriate for sex determination. The aim of the research was to determine sex identity of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian population based on odontometric characteristics of permanent lower canines. Methods: The research sample included 180 patients of the Dental Offi ce, of both sexes. All patients with permanent lower right and left canines, without caries, with healthy state of gingiva and periodontium, without crown restorations were included in the research. Measurement was done directly in the patients' mouth using a digital sliding caliper. Greatest mesiodistal width of the lower right and left canine and intercuspal distance of the lower jaw were measured. Results: All parameters were higher in case of male, including Mandibular Canine Index (MCI) (p<0.01). The precision of appraising the sex identity for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian population, based on MCI on the right, amounts 68.89% and 68.54% on the left. Conclusions: The study showed that right canines are signifi cantly broader than the left ones and they are broader in case of males. Lower right canines, that is, MCI on the right, indicates greater accuracy in sex determination in relation to left lower canines. The accuracy in sex determination for all variables is higher for the female

Transfusion treatment impact in the improvement of haematological parameters in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Transfusion treatment (TT) is necessary in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) for lost blood substitution. This study was aimed at assessing the changes in haematological parameters  (hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white cell count, platelet count and prothrombin time) before and after TT in anaemic patients with GIB in order to analyse the effect of this treatment.<br /><strong>Methods</strong>: There have been included 293 patients with GIB (the average age was 57.3, ranged from 18-89 years) who were treated with TT at the Internal Clinic at the University Clinical Center Prishtina during one<br />year period. Data for applied blood product and results of the coagulation screen (PT) were collected from the Kosovo’s Blood Transfusion Center (KBTC).<br /><strong>Results</strong>: TT has been carried out in 404 episodes, with 714 units of concentrated red blood cells (78.6%), 189 units of fresh frozen plasma (20.8%) and concentrated platelets (0.6%), with an average dose 3.1 for<br />transfunded patients. Average values of Hb before and after TT were 71.8 g/L and 81.4 g/L, respectively; while the average values of hematocrite before and after TT were 22.9% and 25.6%, respectively. The average<br />erythrocytes count before TT was 2.6 respectively after treatment 2.8(p<0.0001). The PT was carried out in the 43% of patients with GIB before treatment with FFP, but after that only in 2% of cases.<br /><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Having in mind difficult clinical and unsustainable situation in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, the Transfusion Treatment resulted in the considerable improvement of the specific blood indicators

Dose-volume histogram constrains for small intestine in postoperative transcutaneous radiotherapy of endometrial carcinoma: comparison between conventional and conformal techniques

<strong>Introduction:</strong> The aim of this study was to determine the dose-volume histogram (DVH) constrains of conventional and conformal transcutaneous radiotherapy for small intestine and perform their comparison.<br /><strong>Methods</strong>: This retrospective-prospective study included patients who were treated for endometrial cancer using conventional transcutaneous radiotherapy at the Department of Radiotherapy Clinic of Oncology,<br />Hematology and Radiotherapy, University Clinical Center Tuzla in the period from 2009 to 2011. The study was performed on patients of all ages suffering from this condition. The study involved 35 patients. DVH<br />parameters which were analyzed are: minimum dose (Dmin), maximum dose (Dmax), medium dose (Daver) of the small intestine, as well as the volume of the small intestine, which is included in 75%, 95% and 100%<br />dose (V33,75Gy, V42,75Gy, V45Gy) expressed in percentages and cubic centimeters of the affected organ. Working hypothesis was tested with paired t test. The difference between the variables at the level of p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.<br /><strong>Results: </strong>DVH constrains of transcutaneous conformal radiotherapy showed signifi cantly smaller dose contribution on small intestine than DVH parameters of conventional transcutaneous radiotherapy (p<0.0001).<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The dose contribution on small intestine was signifi cantly lower by planning three-dimensional conformal transcutaneous radiotherapy in comparison to the conventional planning

CT angiography and Color Doppler ultrasonography features and sensitivity in detection of carotid arteries diseases

<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The aim of this research was to compare specifi city and sensitivity of Color Doppler ultrasonography<br />with CT angiography.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A total of one hundred patients suffering from carotid artery disease (n=200) were tested in this research in the period from June till October, 2011. Average age of the patients was 61.5 years, and most of the patients were in the age group ranging from 55 to 65 years. The level of carotid artery stenosis is measured according to Standards of the North America Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trail study,by method of Color Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Stenosis <50% registered by Doppler ultrasonography was found in 62% and by CT angiography in 64% patients. Stenosis from 70 to 79% registered by Doppler ultrasonography was found in 88% and by CT angiography in 82% patients. In patients with level of stenosis 70-79% there was a tendency<br />of registering the stenosis to be higher by Color Doppler ultrasonography, than by CT angiography. In the case of the occlusion, there was also the similar observation, with variation of 8% carotid arteries.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Extracranial Doppler and color duplex ultrasound enable reliable detection of both stenosis and occlusion of carotid arteries and accordingly they occupy an important place in radiological algorithm. When it comes to CT angiography it can be concluded that it can provide accurate and exact information regarding the condition of blood vessels as good as Digital Subtractive Angiography can.</p

Helicobacter pylori infection according to ABO blood group among blood donors in Kosovo

Introduction: Numerous studies have reported a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among healthy and non-healthy persons in different places. The Aim of the study is to investigate the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection among Kosovo’s Blood donor associated with ABO/Rhesus blood group. Methods: 671 blood donors are tested for H. pylori antibodies and results are classifi ed by way of donation, age, gender, blood groups and education level. Serum antibodies are analyzed by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay test for H. pylori IgG with Biomerieux HPY-VIDAS. Results: The frequency of IgG antibody for H. pylori among healthy blood donors is 56.9%, there is not found any difference between voluntary and non-voluntary blood donors (57.4% respectively 56.3%)(OR=1.05; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.43; p=0.8). H pylori IgG antibodies positive are detected in 57.0 % ( 126 of 221) of women, compared with 56.9 % ( 256 of 450) of men(OR=0.99; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.38; p=0.96). Serpositive donors are older than seronegative ones (31.9 years, respectively 29.5 years, p=0.02). Mean value of IgG antibody of H. pylori is 3.61 with no significant difference between males and females (3.72 respectively 3.44; p=0.2). The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection is similar among blood groups: O (57.4%), A (56.2%), B (59.6%), AB (51.4%), RhD positive (56.7%) and RhD negative (58.3%). Conclusions: The seropositivity of H. pylori is moderately higher in the non voluntary and familiar blood donors among the total Kosovo blood donors. There is not found a significant relationship between infection with H. pylori and ABO/Rhesus blood group among blood donors