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Habits of fluid and electrolytes intake in elite athletes
Get PDFIntroduction: Dehydration develops when the body fluid losses exceed fluid intake. It may occur during exercise, heat stress, restricted fluid intake, or any combination of these. Marginal dehydration (loss of > 2% body weight) can compromise aerobic exercise performance, particularly in hot weather conditions, and may disturb fluid and electrolyte balance. The aim of the study was to determine the quantity, type and dynamic of fluid intake during athletic performance in endurance sports (football and basketball) in two age categories: juniors (under the age of 18) and seniors (over the age of 18).Methods: Research included 100 athletes playing in Premier League in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We formed groups by sport type (football and basketball) and age (<18 and ≥18 years). Questionnaire with questions about the fluid intake habits was used for data collection. Results: There were 53 football players and 47 basketball players. All the participants were male. Average age of the participants was 19.3 ± 4.58. Habit of weighing before and after training was present in less than 44% of players among all the groups. Seniors were more frequently measuring their weight compared to junior players (p=0.01). Basketball players and players younger than 18 years were most frequently taking more than 2L of water per day. Most of the players, regardless of sport type or age group were not taking at least ½ L of isotonic fluid before the training. Signs of dehydration were more frequently observed in players under 18 years old, with most frequent sign being dry throat and sudden fatigue.Conclusion: Water and electrolytes intake before, during and after training of the athletes were inadequate regardless of type of sports and the age of athletes
Economic aspects of skin cancer management in Eastern Croatia
No full textIntroduction: In the past several decades there has been a substantial increase in the incidence of skin cancers worldwide and Croatia is no exception. The aim of this study was to estimate the financial cost of skin cancer treatment in the Osijek-Baranja County from 2000 to 2009 and to compare it with the cost of a primary prevention campaign organized in the Baranja County.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with skin cancer in the Baranja County and related health care costs. We designed a potential primary prevention campaign on a County level and calculated the financial expenses of campaign and then compared the results to health care costs from previous years.Results: The total cost of the treatment involving skin cancer (C43-C44) cases in the Osijek-Baranja County during the 2000-2009 periods was €483,710. The cost of a primary prevention campaign described in this study suggests that the estimated annual cost of a primary prevention campaign on the County level makes around 5.9% of the annual cost of all the medical treatment involving skin cancer patients in the County, which shows that a planned preventive approach towards the issue of skin cancer in Eastern Croatia is extremely justified and reasonable.Conclusion: The present study reveals the urgent need for the implementation of a primary prevention campaign in Eastern Croatia and puts emphasis on the economic potential of such an approach towards the problem of skin cancer.
Long-term effect of Prolotherapy on symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy
No full textIntroduction: The objective of this study was to assess a long-term clinical effect of Prolotherapy on chronic symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy.Methods: We conducted a retrospective, uncontrolled study in the outpatient setting with 12 months follow-up. Adults diagnosed clinically and radiologically with rotator cuff tendinopathy that has been persisting for a minimum of six months were included. Patients received 15% extra-articular and 25% intra-articular hyperosmolar dextrose injections, repeated at weeks 5, 9, 13, 17 and 21. Primary outcome measure was validated Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Secondary outcome measure was validated visual pain analogue scale (VAS 0-10). The third outcome measures were patient’s satisfaction with Prolotherapy and adverse reactions after injections.Results: Twenty-one patients, 14 male and 7 female were treated with 6 sessions of hyperosmolar dextrose Prolotherapy repeated every 4 weeks. Average SPADI before starting the treatment was 73.995 ± 13.6, while 12 months after completed treatment was 20.84 ± 26.03 (P< 0.0001). Average VAS score before starting the treatment was 8.14 ± 1.2, while 12 months after completed treatment was 2.29 ± 2.8 (P<0.0001). Out of 21 patients, 18 (85.71%) would recommend Prolotherapy to other people with the similar condition, and no one participant reported any side effect that was not resolved within one week after the treatment.Conclusion: Hyperosmolar dextrose Prolotherapy may result in significant reduction of pain and disability index in adult patients with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, without eliciting long-lasting side effects. Results of this pilot study need to be validated in prospective controlled randomized trials
A mesenteric cyst presenting as a femoral hernia: a case report
Get PDFMesenteric cysts are a rare phenomenon and can be encountered in different regions of the mesentery or in the retroperitoneal region. They are usually asymptomatic but may lead to a variety of symptoms depending on their site. We report a case of a mesenteric cyst presenting as a femoral hernia, which is, to our knowledge, the second case found in the literature. Forty-eight years old female patient presented with a history of pain and swelling in her left inguinal region for six months. Although femoral hernias are rare conditions, mesenteric cysts can protrude inside the femoral canal. In a case of clinical suspicion of such a condition, appropriate imaging should be performed
Comparison of Hemoglobin A1c assay performance on two different commercial systems
Get PDFIntroduction: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is formed by non-enzymatic binding of glucose to the free amino group of the N-terminal end of the ß-chain of hemoglobin A. HbA1c is representative of the mean blood glucose level over three months. The aim of the study was to evaluate the Hemoglobin A1c immunoturbidimetric assay performance on two different commercial systems.Methods: We evaluated the precision and trueness for determination of HbA1c in whole blood. Concentrations of total hemoglobin and HbA1c were evaluated on Dimension Xpand (Siemens) and Cobas 501 (Roche) analyzers. HbA1c was measured in a latex agglutination inhibition test. Commercial controls Liquichek Diabetes Control Level 1 and Liquichek Diabetes Control Level 2 (Bio Rad) at two levels were used for quality control. Analytical validation of HbA1c included: within-run imprecision, between-day imprecision, inaccuracy and comparison determination on the human samples on 2 systems: Dimension Xpand and Cobas 501 analyzers. Results: Within-run imprecision on the commercially controls for Level 1 is 4.5% and Level 2 is 3.2% between-day imprecision on commercially controls is 6.1% Level 1 and 5.1% Level 2 for respectively inac- curacy on commercially controls for Level 1 is 1.8% and Level 2 is 4.8%. Method comparison on human samples shows the correlation coefficient of 0.99.Conclusion: The presented results of the analytical evaluation methods for the determination of HbA1c showed an acceptable accuracy and precision
Body composition and maximal oxygen consumption in adult soccer players in the Republic of Macedonia
Get PDFIntroduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between active and passive body mass components and maximal aerobic consumption (VO2max) in adult male soccer players.Methods: The study involved seven hundred (700) male soccer players, mean age 25.06 ± 4.41 years (range 18 to 35), divided in six age groups. Body composition was assessed according the anthropometric protocol by Matiegka, and relative muscle mass (MM%), bone (BM%) and fat (BF%) and absolute muscle mass (MMkg), bone (BMkg) and fat (BFkg) components were calculated. The Bruce protocol (incremental multistage treadmill test) was used for the estimation of maximal oxygen consumption.Results: Mean values of body mass components for total sample were as follows: muscle mass (MM%)= 52.75 ± 2.63%, bone mass (BM%)=16.63 ± 1.29% and body fat (BF%)=14.12 ± 1.54%. Mean VO2max was 48.89±5.17 ml/kg/minute. Relative muscle mass (MM%) showed similar values across age different groups (ANOVA: F=2.174; p=0.06) while absolute muscle mass (MMkg) showed tendency of increment with age (ANOVA: F=2.136; p=0.01). Body fat (BFkg and BF%) was statistically higher in the older groups (ANOVA F=3.737; p<0.01; ANOVA F=4.117; p<0.01). Weak positive correlation between VO2 max and muscle component (r=0.243; p<0.001) and a weak negative correlation between VO2max and body fat (r=-0.08;p<0.05) were found.Conclusions: Our results confirm the assumption that subjects with larger muscle mass have greater endurance and higher maximal oxygen consumption compared to subjects with larger body fat component.
Economic aspects of skin cancer management in Eastern Croatia
Get PDFIntroduction: In the past several decades there has been a substantial increase in the incidence of skin cancers worldwide and Croatia is no exception. The aim of this study was to estimate the financial cost of skin cancer treatment in the Osijek-Baranja County from 2000 to 2009 and to compare it with the cost of a primary prevention campaign organized in the Baranja County.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with skin cancer in the Baranja County and related health care costs. We designed a potential primary prevention campaign on a County level and calculated the financial expenses of campaign and then compared the results to health care costs from previous years.Results: The total cost of the treatment involving skin cancer (C43-C44) cases in the Osijek-Baranja County during the 2000-2009 periods was €483,710. The cost of a primary prevention campaign described in this study suggests that the estimated annual cost of a primary prevention campaign on the County level makes around 5.9% of the annual cost of all the medical treatment involving skin cancer patients in the County, which shows that a planned preventive approach towards the issue of skin cancer in Eastern Croatia is extremely justified and reasonable.Conclusion: The present study reveals the urgent need for the implementation of a primary prevention campaign in Eastern Croatia and puts emphasis on the economic potential of such an approach towards the problem of skin cancer.
Habits of fluid and electrolytes intake in elite athletes
No full textIntroduction: Dehydration develops when the body fluid losses exceed fluid intake. It may occur during exercise, heat stress, restricted fluid intake, or any combination of these. Marginal dehydration (loss of > 2% body weight) can compromise aerobic exercise performance, particularly in hot weather conditions, and may disturb fluid and electrolyte balance. The aim of the study was to determine the quantity, type and dynamic of fluid intake during athletic performance in endurance sports (football and basketball) in two age categories: juniors (under the age of 18) and seniors (over the age of 18).Methods: Research included 100 athletes playing in Premier League in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We formed groups by sport type (football and basketball) and age (<18 and ≥18 years). Questionnaire with questions about the fluid intake habits was used for data collection. Results: There were 53 football players and 47 basketball players. All the participants were male. Average age of the participants was 19.3 ± 4.58. Habit of weighing before and after training was present in less than 44% of players among all the groups. Seniors were more frequently measuring their weight compared to junior players (p=0.01). Basketball players and players younger than 18 years were most frequently taking more than 2L of water per day. Most of the players, regardless of sport type or age group were not taking at least ½ L of isotonic fluid before the training. Signs of dehydration were more frequently observed in players under 18 years old, with most frequent sign being dry throat and sudden fatigue.Conclusion: Water and electrolytes intake before, during and after training of the athletes were inadequate regardless of type of sports and the age of athletes
Cytogenetic effects of combination of tridecactide and met-enkephalin on lymphocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis
Get PDFIntroduction: The met-enkephalin (1-5 Adrenorphin) and tridecactide (alpha-corticotropin 1-13) combination is used in the multiple sclerosis (MS) immuno-modulatory treatment. A testing of cytogenetic effects of met-enkephalin resulted in reductions of lymphocytic aberrations in the in the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood (PBL) of patients with immune-mediated diseases. The aim of this research is to evaluate the in vitro effects of the combination of the met-enkephalin and tridecactide on the number and the type of chromosome aberrations in PBL of the MS patients.
Methods: We used blood samples from seven female patients with the diagnosis multiple sclerosis based on a McDonald Diagnostic Criteria. The tested combination, met-enkephalin and alpha-ACTH 1-13 was added at three different concentrations and constant volume.
Results: Results showed that the combination of tested substances did not reduce the number of structural aberrations, although the treatment did not result in severe aberrations such as ring, fragmented, and dicentric chromosomes. Furthermore, it elicited an increase in the number of numerical aberrations and aneuploidy after the treatment with the test combo.
Conclusion: As the changes in ploidy significantly change the DNA as well as the biochemical cell phenotype, we concluded that more research in this field should be conducted, including both toxicological as well as the pharmacodynamic considerations
Rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated in stationary spa treatment
Get PDFIntroduction: Rheumatic diseases are nonsurgical diseases of the locomotor system and connective tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease of connective tissue of unknown cause, with progressive chronic or subacute course. The aim of the research is to determine whether stationary spa treatment leads to improvement of the functional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We included 35 patients with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, referred for treatment at the spa " Ilidža " Gradačac from February to April 2014. Patients not adhering to treatment protocols were excluded. We used Visual analogue pain scale (VAS), HAQ questionnaire and assessment of the clinical condition before and after the treatment based on the scores 1-5.Results: There were 32 female and 3 male patients. The average age was 62.28±8.31 years. Based on the HAQ, 12 patients had no difficulties, 9 of them perform activities with little difficulties, 10 with many difficulties, and 4 patients cannot perform certain activities. Before treatment VAS was 6.63±2.36, and after treatment the 2.51±2.27. Ratings of clinical condition before treatment was 2.38±0.74, and after the treatment 3.64±0.98. The most frequently used therapies were kinesitherapy, magnetotherapy and interferential electricity. Conclusions: Stationary treatment at the spa „Ilidža“ Gradačac leads to an improvement of the functional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis