Simplified description and interpretation of pathological thermography signs in malignant breast lesions

Background and Purpose: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women aged 20–59 years in developed countries, with similar mortality trends, observed among women in Croatia. Breast cancer detection usually relies on mammography, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, thermography is a noninvasive, reliable and applicable diagnostic procedure for early detection of breast disease that has attracted interest in this field. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency and characteristics of pathological thermographic signs in female patients, who were operated on malignant breast lesions. In addition, the authors offered a simplified description and interpretation of pathological thermographic signs, based on published literature. Matherial and Methods: The seventy four female patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer were included in the study. In all patients breast cancer was diagnosed using standard protocol which have included clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound and for selected patients MRI and/or fine needle aspiration (FNA). Thermographic imaging has been conducted 1 to 14 days before scheduled surgical procedures. Results: Mean tumor size positively correlated with number of pathological thermographic signs (IR 3 vs. IR 5, p < 0.05). Mean number of pathological thermographic signs per patient was 3.5±1, 72 (range 1 to 8). The most frequently noted singular signs were heat in area of finding and vascular signs, as well. Conclusion: The simplified description could offer a suitable clinical tool for standardization of pathological thermography signs in malignant breast lesions, taking into account the learning curve of medical teams involved and ethical aspects, as well

SCANNING OF DOCUMENTS AND BANKNOTES IN THE ULTRAVIOLET AND VISUAL SPECTRUMS AS A WORK BASICS FOR DESIGNERS

U ovom radu analizirane su se zaštite na dokumentima i vrijednosnim papirima. Radile su se usporedbe raznih novčanica i osobnih dokunemata u vizualnom i ultraljubičastom dijelu spektralnog područja. Barijerno skaniranje provedeno je na uređaju za digitalnu forenziku Projectina Docucentar 4500, na Tehničkom veleučilištu u Zagrebu. Ovaj sofisticirani instrument omogućuje razdvajanje svjetlosnog spektra u specifičnim rasponima, što ga razlikuje od komercijalno dostupnih uređaja za utvrđivanje autentičnosti dokumenata i novčanica. Rezultati istraživanja koristit će dizajnerima prigodom kreiranja kompleksnih zadatka kao što su dizajn sigurnosne grafike. Ovakva forenzička analitička metoda skaniranja vrijednosnih papira u ultravioletnom i vizualnom spektru, kao sastavni dio analize u postupku dizajna, predstavlja precizan i kvalitetan temelj svakom dizajneru u njegovom kreativnom procesu dizajniranja. Primjeri iz analize pokazuju važnost provjere dokumenata i vrijednosnica izvan područja vidljivog ljudskom oku za rad dizajnera.This paper analyzes the protection of the documents and securities. Comparisons of various banknotes and personal dokuments were done in visual and ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Barrier scanning was performed at Polytechnicn of Zagreb on its digital forensics device called Projectina Docucentar 4500. This sophisticated instrument allows the separation of the light spectrum in specific ranges, thus making it different from commercially available devices for authentication of documents and notes. The research results will be used by designers during creation of complex tasks such as design of scurity graphics. Such forensic analytical method of scanning documents and banknotes in the ultraviolet and visual spectrum, as an integral part of the analysis phase in the process of design, is accurate and useful foundation for every designer’s creative process of design. Examples of the analysis show the importance of checking documents and securities outside the area visible to the human eye

GUIDELINES FOR USAGE OF DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES PRIOR TO INITIATION OF ANTINEOPLASTIC TREATMENT – CROATIAN SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS Part II. breast cancer, gynaecological malignancies (ovarial cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer), lung cancer, malignant melanoma, sarkomas, central nervous system tumors, head and neck cancer

Rak je drugi najvažniji uzrok smrti u našoj zemlji, odmah nakon bolesti srca i krvnih žila. S pretpostavkom porasta incidencije i smrtnosti od raka u idućim godinama, projekcije su da će se znatno povisiti troškovi dija-gnostike i liječenja raka, i zbog uvođenja novih dijagnostičkih tehnika i zbog inovativnih lijekova te metoda liječenja. Posljedično se nameće imperativ što boljeg iskorištavanja financijskih sredstava, raspoloživog osob-lja i tehnike, a sve radi osiguranja kontinuiteta prikladne dijagnostike i liječenja. Optimalnim provođenjem dijagnostičkih metoda mogu se spriječiti nepotrebno odugovlačenje obrade, rasipanje financijskih sredstava i nepotrebno opterećenje zdravstvenih djelatnika te skratiti liste čekanja. HDIO je donio ove smjernice radi prevladavanja navedenih problema, vodeći brigu o najvećoj koristi za bolesnika, što bi na kraju trebalo dovesti do racionalizacije i standardizacije dijagnostičkih postupaka u svakodnevnoj kliničkoj praksi. Smjernice bi trebale pomoći da iz cijele palete dijagnostičkih postupaka koji su nam na raspolaganju odaberemo najrelevan-tnije za pojedino sijelo i kliničku proširenost bolesti.Cancer is the second most important cause of death in our country, immediately after cardiovascular diseases. With the assumption that cancer incidence and mortality will increase in the next years, projections show that the costs of diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be significantly increased, both due to the introduction of new diagnostic techniques and innovative medicines and treatment methods. Consequently, the imperative of making optimal use of financial resources, available personnel and techniques is all the more necessary in or-der to ensure the continuity of adequate diagnosis and treatment. Optimal use of diagnostic methods can pre-vent unnecessary processing delay, waste of financial resources and unnecessary burden on healthcare work-ers, and shorten waiting lists. HDIO has made these guidelines with the aim of overcoming these problems, rationalizing and standardizing diagnostic procedures in everyday clinical practice. These guidelines should help us to select, from the entire range of diagnostic procedures available, those which are most relevant to a particular localization and clinical extension of the disease

CANCER PATIENTS FOLLOW-UP – CROATIAN SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CLINICAL GUIDELINES Part V: melanoma, sarcomas, central nerve system tumors, lung cancer

Liječenje onkoloških bolesnika mora se temeljiti na multidisciplinarnom pristupu, a provodi se u specijaliziranim onkološkim centrima. Nakon završetka specifičnog onkološkog liječenja daljnje praćenje uglavnom provode onkolozi, ali je uloga liječnika primarne zdravstvene zaštite (PZZ) sve važnija i potrebno ju je jasno defi nirati. Trenutačno većina preporuka za praćenje nije temeljena na prospektivnim studijama, već se zasniva na stručnim mišljenjima pojedinih onkoloških centara ili specijalista. Hrvatsko društvo za internističku onkologiju (HDIO) ovim preporukama želi standardizirati i racionalizirati dijagnostičke postupke u praćenju onkoloških bolesnika, nakon završetka primarnog liječenja, u bolesnika s melanomom, sarkomima, tumorima središnjega živčanog sustava te rakom pluća.Treatment of oncological patients must be based upon multidisciplinary approach, and takes place in specialized oncological centers. By the end of a specifi c oncological treatment further follow-up is being managed mostly by the oncologists, but the role of the general practitioners becomes more important every day and therefore should be precisely defi ned. Nowadays, most of the existing follow-up guidelines are not being based on prospective studies, yet on the expert’s opinion of a precise oncological center or specialists. The aim of the Croatian Society of Medical Oncology (CSMO) with these recommendations is to standardize and rationalize the diagnostic procedures’ algorithm in follow–up of oncological patients after primary treatment, in patients with melanoma, sarcomas, central nerve system tumors and lung cance

Praćenje onkoloških bolesnika – kliničke preporuke Hrvatskog društva za internističku onkologiju HLZ-a V. dio: melanom, sarkomi, tumori središnjega živčanog sustava, rak pluća [Cancer patients follow-up – Croatian society for medical oncology clinicalguidelines Part V: melanoma, sarcomas, central nerve system tumors, lung cancer]

Treatment of oncological patients must be based upon multidisciplinary approach, and takes place in specialized oncological centers. By the end of a specific oncological treatment further follow-up is being managed mostly by the oncologists, but the role of the general practitioners becomes more important every day and therefore should be precisely defined. Nowadays, most of the existing follow-up guidelines are not being based on prospective studies, yet on the expert’s opinion of a precise oncological center or specialists. The aim of the Croatian Society of Medical Oncology (CSMO) with these recommendations is to standardize and rationalize the diagnostic procedures’ algorithm in follow–up of oncological patients after primary treatment, in patients with melanoma, sarcomas, central nerve system tumors and lung cancer

Long-Term Assessment of Bioclimatic Conditions at Micro and Local Scales in the Cities of the Western Part of the Balkan Peninsula during the 21st Century

Thermal comfort assessments at local or micro-scales within urban areas can provide crucial insights for the urban adaptation strategies pertaining to climate-conscious urban planning and public health. However, the availability of long-term or mid-term daily or hourly meteorological data sets from urban environments remains a significant challenge even in the 21st century. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the thermal conditions in cities across the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, encompassing five countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro), by utilizing the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index. Meteorological data sets, comprising air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and cloudiness, were collected from 32 national meteorological stations/measurement locations spanning the period from 2001 to 2020. The PET calculations were conducted based on meteorological data measured three times per day (7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m.). Upon conducting a spatial analysis of the meteorological stations, it was observed that most of them (25 stations) were situated within built-up areas or urban suburbs, rendering them highly relevant for local or micro-scale climate and bioclimate assessments. The findings revealed that urban locations exhibited slightly higher PET heat stress levels, particularly during the summer season and at 2 p.m. Moreover, higher average PET values were observed in both urban and non-urban stations situated within a continental climate during warmer periods, such as summer. In contrast, during the colder seasons, namely winter and spring, higher PET values were prevalent in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, the PET frequency analysis revealed a greater prevalence of extreme and severe heat stress levels in stations within continental climates, particularly those located in urban areas, as compared to stations in Mediterranean climates. In contrast, during the winter and spring seasons, monitoring stations in close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, exhibited significantly lower levels of cold stress compared to inland stations. Evidently, in addition to the climatic characteristics and surrounding terrain, the urban morphology significantly impacts the thermal conditions within cities

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat