The impact of metabolic risk management on recurrence of urinary stones

Introduction: Urinary stone disease is a common urologic problem and recurrence in stone formation is a very familiar issue to urologists. Although recurrence in stone formation has been linked to metabolic abnormalities, it can be accessible by metabolic risk analysis studies.Methods: Herein, we present our experience in metabolic risk management on recurrence of urinary stones for 10 years in Akdeniz University School of Medicine department of Urology. We retrospectively analyzed Akdeniz University Urinary Stone Database between dates of January 2000 and December 2010. We found over 3500 patients who were managed by SWL (shock wave lithotripsy) or PCNL (percutaneus nephrolithotripsy) or URS (Ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy) or open surgery.Results: 525 patients’ metabolic risk analysis was ordered due to recurrent urinary stone disease. Only 134 (25.5 %) current metabolic analysis were returned. Mean patient age was 32.2 years (range: 19-82 years).Patients were 103 male and 31 female. Stone analysis results were CaOx monohydrate in 48 (35.8 %), CaOx dihydrate in 8 (5.9 %), CaOx mono and dihydrate in 70 (52.2 %), uric acid in 3, CaOx monohydrate and uricacid in 2, cystine in 2, and struvite in 1 patient, respectively. The  metabolic risk analysis showed some abnormality in 54 (40.2 %) patients.Conclusion: Although compliance to metabolic risk analysis studies is low among recurrent urinary stone formers, some significant metabolic abnormalities could be detected in those who are effectively screened.Recurrence of urinary stones in patients who are started on appropriate metabolic management can be prevented

P300 as an auxiliary method in clinical practice: A review of literature

Cognitive functions can be assessed and followed up over a period of time with cognitive evoked potentials (CEP) P300. In this context, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) are most commonly used, but visual evoked potentials (VEP) are utilized as well. The research in this area has demonstrated that these techniques could be used as a supplemental method in diagnostics of numerous diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, epilepsy, craniocerebral trauma, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other degenerative diseases. In addition, P300 can also be used as an auxiliary method in the diagnostics of mental disorders conditions such as schizophrenia, panic disorders, narcotic drug addiction, nicotinism, alcoholism, etc. The method assists in monitoring the course of diseases leading to encephalopathy, such as liver and kidney damage and grave anaemia. The advantages of P300 testing are easy application, non-invasiveness, and an unlimited number of potential applications. Moreover, the results obtained with this method are measurable and can be compared

Antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from Catharanthus roseus

Introduction: Recently, several endophytes have been shown to possess the potentials to synthesize novel bioactive compounds that have found use for drug discovery. We isolated endophytic fungi associated with Catharanthus roseus collected from the river banks of Amassoma in Southern Nigeria, and identified some of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Methods: The fungi were subjected to solid-state fermentation on rice medium and the metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate. The fungal crude extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity and were also subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis for the identification of the bioactive compounds. Results: The fungal extracts showed both antibacterial and antifungal activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.0625 to 1 mg/mL. The HPLC-DAD analysis of the extracts suggested the presence of citreoisocoumarin, citreoisocoumarinol, questinol, hydroxyemodin, acropyrone, methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetate, nigricinol, and cladosporin. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that endophytic fungi associated with C. roseus could be a promising source of novel bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and industrial importance

Monitoring changes in serum 8-isoprostane concentration as a possible marker of oxidative stress in pregnancy

Introduction: Oxidative stress represents a pathophysiological mechanism lying behind occurrence of different acute and chronic diseases. Pregnancy, mainly due to placenta rich with mitochondria, is also being associated with the state of oxidative stress. Numerous markers have been proposed in order to test oxidative stress in pregnancy state, one of them being 8-isoprostane. The aim of this study was to analyse serum concentrations of 8-isoprostane as a possible oxidative stress marker in pregnancy.Methods: Serum concentrations of 8-isoprostane were measured in overall population of 84 woman, between 20 and 30 years of age. Tested population was divided in 2 groups: 42 pregnant woman were classifi ed as being either in the fi rst or second trimester of pregnancy. In the control group healthy nonpregnant women were included. Concentration of 8-isoprostane in serum was determined by commercial 8-isoprostane EIA test kit of Cayman Chemical Company, USA.Results: The 8-isoprostane levels were signifi cantly increased in pregnant women in relation to healthy non pregnant women (p<0.05). The 8-isoprostane levels were signifi cantly increased in second and third trimester of pregnancy (p<0.05).Conclusions: According to the obtained results, 8-isoprostane might be used as a possible marker of oxidative stress in pregnancy state, but not as a biomarker for the risk of complications development in pregnancy in analysed population

Importance of clinical examination in diagnostics of Osgood-Schlatter Disease in boys playing soccer or basketball

Introduction: Osgood–Schlatter disease is an irritation of the patellar tendon at the tibial tubercle. Sports with jumps, running, and repeated contractions of knee extension apparatus are considered to be importantexternal risk-factors which could cause Osgood–Schlatter disease.Objectives of the study are to draw attention to the importance of clinical examination in diagnostics of Osgood–Schlatter disease in boys playing soccer or basketball.Methods: The research included data obtained from 120 boys, average age of 14 years. Examinees were split into two groups, one with young athletes which regularly have soccer or basketball trainings and thesecond one with boys who do not participating in sports. We performed anthropological measurements and clinical examinations of both knees and hips for both groups. For the statistical analysis we used pointbiserialcorrelation coefficient.Results: Based on clinical examination, Osgood–Schlatter disease was diagnosed in 51 examinees (42.5%). In “athletic group” Osgood–Schlatter disease had 31 boys or 52%, comparing with “non-athletic group” wherewe found 20 adolescents with disease (33%). Number of boys with Osgood–Schlatter disease was higher for 19% in “athletic group” comparing with “non-athletic group”. Comparing incidence rate for boys in both groups with diagnosed II and III level of Osgood–Schlatter disease we found that rate is higher in “athletic group” 2.25 times comparing with “non-athletic group”.Conclusions: Clinical examination is critical method in the process of diagnosing Osgood–Schlatter disease especially for identifying II and III level of this disease

Gender related differences in demographic and clinical manifestations in patients suffering from various subtypes of schizophrenia

Introduction: Schizophrenia is devastating neuropsychiatric disorder that has no clearly identified etiology. The subtypes of schizophrenia are distinguished by the prevalent symptomatology. The aim of this study was to determine gender related differences in demographic and clinical manifestations in patients suffering from various subtypes of schizophrenia.Methods: A longitudinal, prospective,original,clinical investigation first in our local area, with application of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I Disorders (SCID I) was used in this work. The study included 121 patients during five years period. Patients were recruited as consecutive admissions to the Psychiatric clinic, from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly Sarajevo region.Results: The study was conducted on a group of schizophrenic patients which consisted of 52.1% male and 47.9% female patients. Average duration of the episode was about a month. Majority of patients (male) were in the group of disorganized (hebephrenic) schizophrenia. The duration of current psychotic episode was similar in all three groups regarding subtypes of schizophrenia. Psychotic episodes appear equally in both gender (higher in disorganized group) with a statistically significant difference between all groups (p<0.001).Conclusions: Male group patients showed tendency to be younger than women. Most of the schizophrenic individuals start to suffer from this disease between age of 20 and 39 years. Male group patients suffered mostly of disorganized (hebephrenic) type of schizophrenia. Duration of psychotic episode was proportionally the same in both groups while in male group the highest number of episodes was found in group of disorganized schizophrenia

Microbiological composition of untreated water during different weather conditions

Introduction: Water can support the growth of different microorganisms which may result in contamination. Therefore, the microbiological examination is required for testing the hygienic probity of water. In the study of microbial composition of untreated, natural spring and mineral water differences in the presence and number of bacteria during the two periods, winter and summer, are detectable.Methods: In our study, we analyzed and compared the following parameters, specified in the Rulebook: total bacteria and total aerobic bacteria (ml/22 and 37°C), total Coliform bacteria and Coliforms of fecalorigin (MPN/100ml), fecal streptococci as Streptococcus faecalis  (MPN/100ml), Proteus spp (MPN/100ml), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MPN/100 ml) Sulphoreducing Clostridia (cfu / ml). The paper is a retrospective study in which we processed data related to the period of 2005-2009 year. While working, we used the descriptive-analytical comparative statistical treatment.Results: The obtained results show statistically significant differences in the microbial composition of untreated water in the two observed periods,Conclusions: Findings were consequence of different weather conditions in these periods, which imply a number of other variable factors

Salt in nutrition of University of Sarajevo students

Introduction: The role of salt in the diet is very important, however what effect will lead to its entry into the organism depends on the amount of salt ingested. Elevated salt intake is a risk factor for hypertension, heart disease, adversely affects the kidneys, helps the development of osteoporosis. The aim was to examine sodium intake in the student population through an objective assessment of nutrition students and the students' subjective experience of salty foods and salty foods influence on the organism.Methods: The research is cross-sectional study, which is carried out in April 2010 among students at the University of Sarajevo.Results: More than half of students from the FHS considers that the greatest amount of salt into the body, adding salt to food during the meal, 34% considered that it was during the preparation of food by 10% of processed products in the food industry and 4% said that it was the intake of salt, which naturally found in foods. Not in a group of students there who suffer from hypertension, while in their families the disease is present.Conclusions: Subjects eat a quantity of salt that are well above the recommended. This problem must be approached in a more organized educational, health educational and research terms

Surface coil in the magnetic resonance imaging of the orbital vessels anatomy

In this paper, we demonstrate a capability of surface coil magnetic resonance imaging in the review of orbital blood vessels anatomy. Surface coil allows a better detection of small anatomic structures including vessels such as ophtalmic artery and its branches, and also orbital veins, particularly superior and inferior ophtalmic veins with accompanying branches. The best results are obtained by the use of T1 sequences with short TE and TR

The effect of breakthrough pain on heart and lung function during the cancer pain treatment in palliative care

Introduction: The aim of the research was to determine the effect of breakthrough pain (BTP) on heart and lung function in patients whose cancer pain had been treated with strong opiates.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 80 patients who were treated in recumbent patients’ hospice of Palliative Care Centre (hospice) University Clinical Centre Tuzla. The effect of pain breakthrough onheart function was monitored by blood pressure and pulse measuring outside. The effect on respiratory function was monitored by measuring the respiration number with SpO2 and pCO2 and pO2 capillary blood valuesoutside, during and after relieving pain breakthrough.Results: Mean value for Karnofsky score for patients upon admission was 47.13 ± 11.05 and on discharge 51.25 ± 11.73. The total number of pain breakthroughs for patients within the 10 days of the treatment was1396. During the pain breakthrough the mean of systolic pressure was 133.1 mmHg and it was statistically significantly higher than the mean of systolic pressure measured after BTP relief with oral morphine. Themean of diastolic pressure measured outside of pain breakthrough was 75.9 mmHg and after the BTP relief it was 72.9 mmHg. The mean pulse outside of pain breakthrough was 92.7 heartbeats per minute and afterthe BTP relief 8 9.1 heartbeats per minute.Conclusion: Pain breakthrough leads to pulse acceleration, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and it also affects respiratory function by accelerating the respiratio