Utjecaj visine vjeđnog rasporka u primarnom položaju pogleda na stabilnost suznog filma

This study aimed to investigate the effect of palpebral fissure height in primary gaze position in healthy individuals on tear film stability. In this cross-sectional study, 120 subjects (60 male and female each) were enrolled and divided according to age into two groups, i.e., group 1 (aged 18-50 years) and group 2 (aged 51 and older). Palpebral fissure height on both eyes was measured in primary gaze position with a clear plastic ruler held in a central vertical position between the upper and lower lid margin, and the standard tear break-up time (TBUT) test was performed to evaluate tear film stability. Palpebral fissure height was significantly higher in younger than older subjects in all measurements on both eyes (p<0.001), and TBUT was shorter in older than in younger subjects. In all subjects included in the study, palpebral fissure height was not related to TBUT (p=0.589). However, analyzing the two age groups separately, a significant negative correlation was found between the palpebral fissure height and TBUT in both groups of younger (p<0.001) and older (p=0.009) subjects. In conclusion, an enlarged exposed ocular surface due to higher palpebral fissure height in healthy individual’s primary gaze position negatively affects tear film stability expressed by TBUT.Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati utjecaj visine vjeđnog rasporka u primarnom položaju pogleda kod zdravih osoba na stabilnost suznog filma. U ovo presječno istraživanje bilo je uključeno 120 ispitanika (60 muškaraca i 60 žena) i prema životnoj dobi podijeljeno u dvije ispitivane skupine: 1. skupina (u dobi od 18-50 godina) i 2. skupina (u dobi od 51 i više godina). Visina vjeđnog rasporka na oba oka mjerena je u primarnom položaju pogleda prozirnim plastičnim ravnalom koje se držalo u središnjoj okomitoj liniji između ruba gornje i ruba donje vjeđe, a standardni test pucanja suznog filma (tear break-up time, TBUT) primijenjen je za procjenu stabilnosti suznog filma. Visina vjeđnog rasporka bila je u svim mjerenjima na oba oka značajno veća u mlađih nego u starijih ispitanika (p<0,001), a TBUT je bio kraći u starijih nego u mlađih ispitanika. U svih ispitanika uključenih u istraživanje visina vjeđnog rasporka nije bila povezana s TBUT-om (p=0,589). No, analizirajući dvije dobne skupine odvojeno utvrđena je značajna negativna povezanost između visine vjeđnog rasporka i TBUT-a u obje skupine, u mlađih (p<0,001) i starijih (p=0,009) ispitanika. U zaključku, povećana izložena očna površina zbog veće visine vjeđnog rasporka u primarnom položaju pogleda u zdravih osoba negativno utječe na stabilnost suznog filma izraženu TBUT-om

Validation of Epstein biopsy criteria for insignificant prostate cancer in contemporary cohort of Croatian patients [Patohistološki nalazi bolesnika s rakom prostate liječenih radikalnom prostatektomijom koji su bili podobni za aktivni nadzor]

Only few reports validated contemporary Epstein criteria for insignificant prostate cancer, and only one being from Europe. Patients with insignificant prostate cancer should be offered active surveillance and spared radical treatment. In our study we tested Epstein biopsy criteria for predicting unfavorable final pathology and biochemical relapse in low risk prostate cancer patients, who were eligible for active surveillance but where treated with radical prostatectomy. Between January 2003 and January 2008, 586 patients were subjected to radical prostatectomy in our institution. Among them, 106 where eligible for active surveillance according to Epstein biopsy criteria for insignificant prostate cancer. We analyzed the presence of adverse pathological findings in the final pathohistological specimen after radical prostatectomy which excludes low risk disease. Adverse pathohistological findings were noted in 41 (38.6%) patients, who could have been offered active surveillance. During the follow up of 48 (12-72) months, biochemical relapse was noted in 6 (5.6%) patients. Although active surveillance is becoming more popular because of the long natural course of prostate cancer and fear of overtreatment of patients with indolent course of disease, both doctors and patients must be aware of potentially significant disease in this group and limitations of current preoperative criteria defining low risk patients

Biopsy quantitative patohistology and seral values of prostate specific antigen-alpha (1) antichymotrypsine complex in prediction of adverse pathology findings after radical prostatectomy

In this prospective study we examined the utility of parameters obtained on prostate needle biopsy and prostate specific antigen-alpha(1)-antichymotripsine complex (PSA-ACT) to predict adverse pathologic findings after radical prostatectomy. 45 consecutive patients assigned for radical prostatectomy due to clinically localized prostate cancer were included in the study. Prostate biopsy parameters such as number of positive cores, the greatest percentage of tumor in the positive cores, Gleason score, perineural invasion, unilaterality or bilaterality of the tumor were recorded. PSA-ACT was determined using sandwich immunoassay chemiluminiscent method (Bayer, Tarrytown, New York). We analyzed relationship of preoperative PSA, PSA-ACT and quantitative biopsy parameters with final pathology after prostatectomy. Adverse findings were considered when extracapsular extension of cancer (pT3) was noted. Postoperatively, 29 (64.4 %) patients were diagnosed with pT2 disease and 16 (35.6 %) with pT3 disease. There was a significant difference in localized vs. locally advanced disease in number of positive biopsy cores (p<0.001), greatest percentage of tumor in the core (p=0.008), localization of the tumor (p=0.003) and perineural invasion (p=0.004). Logistic regression was used to develop a model on the multivariate level. It included number of positive cores and PSA-ACT and was significant on our cohort with the reliability of 82.22%. The combination of PSA-ACT and a large scale of biopsy parameters could be used in prediction of adverse pathologic findings after radical prostatectomy. Clinical decisions and patients counselling could be influenced by these predictors but further confirmation on a larger population is necessary

Validation of Epstein Biopsy Criteria for Insignificant Prostate Cancer in Contemporary Cohort of Croatian Patients

Only few reports validated contemporary Epstein criteria for insignificant prostate cancer, and only one being from Europe. Patients with insignificant prostate cancer should be offered active surveillance and spared radical treatment. In our study we tested Epstein biopsy criteria for predicting unfavorable final pathology and biochemical relapse in low risk prostate cancer patients, who were eligible for active surveillance but where treated with radical prostatectomy. Between January 2003 and January 2008, 586 patients were subjected to radical prostatectomy in our institution. Among them, 106 where eligible for active surveillance according to Epstein biopsy criteria for insignificant prostate cancer. We analyzed the presence of adverse pathological findings in the final pathohistological specimen after radical prostatectomy which excludes low risk disease. Adverse pathohistological findings were noted in 41 (38.6 %) patients, who could have been offered active surveillance. During the follow up of 48 (12 – 72) months, biochemical relapse was noted in 6 (5.6%) patients. Although active surveillance is becoming more popular because of the long natural course of prostate cancer and fear of overtreatment of patients with indolent course of disease, both doctors and patients must be aware of potentially significant disease in this group and limitations of current preoperative criteria defining low risk patients

Remaining life determination for pressure vessel in a refinery

Repair and inspection has been performed on a pressure vessel in the oil refinery for downstream treatment of crude oil in Iraq, without technical documentation. Two different approaches have given totally different results for further operation of the vessel. One option is to put the vessel out of service, while the other is to keep the vessel in operation. The remaining life is determined in accordance with API standards

Impulsiveness in Alcohol Addiction and Pathological Gambling

Numerous conducted studies, as well as the daily clinical experience, proves the importance of the role that impulsiveness plays in the clinical course and the treatment response in both psychoactive substance addictions, such as alcohol use disorder and behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction. In the daily practice, impulsiveness as a personality trait is observed either in the context of a determining, i.e. causing factor in the personality development or as a result of a developed addiction. Certain types of impulsiveness are more often present in certain types of addicts and their detection enables us to make a more precise diagnosis and sub-classification as well as a more adequate adaptation of the treatment protocol. According to the studies so far, the occurrence of impulsiveness significantly affects the occurrence of relapse in treated addicts. To a large extent it also determines the range of the treatment response to the applied treatment procedures. The objective of this review was to point out the specific features of the prevalence of certain impulsiveness elements in psychoactive substance addicts, such as alcohol addicts, and of behavioral addicts, such as gambling addicts, and to additionally emphasize their clinical, diagnostic, treatment and prognostic value

Remaining life determination for pressure vessel in a refinery

Repair and inspection has been performed on a pressure vessel in the oil refinery for downstream treatment of crude oil in Iraq, without technical documentation. Two different approaches have given totally different results for further operation of the vessel. One option is to put the vessel out of service, while the other is to keep the vessel in operation. The remaining life is determined in accordance with API standards

Influence of Substrate and Screen Thread Count on Reproduction of Image Elements in Screen Printing

The printing plate and its characteristics in the conventional printing techniques have a significant impact on print quality and image appearance. In screen printing, a weave of screen mesh i.e. a number of threads per cm, is the most important characteristic of the printing plate, hence the most relevant factor which defines printing quality. Print quality itself is a complex term that includes desired colour reproduction and satisfactory reproduction of image elements. In this paper focus was centred upon the reproduction of text and basic image elements (lines and dot structure) when printing on non-absorbent and absorbent substrates with different screen thread counts. The image element analysis led to the conclusion that using mesh with higher thread count does not significantly improve the reproduction of image elements. However, it is a very important parameter for text reproduction since low thread count may result in poor readability