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Abstract: The term genitourinary syndrome of menopause was first used in 2014 by the North American Menopause Society and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health to describe conditions previously known as atrophic vaginitis, urogenital atrophy, or vulvovaginal atrophy. It is a complex, chronic, progressive condition characterized by a wide range of signs and symptoms affecting sexual function and the tissues of the urinary and genital tracts. The main cause of genitourinary syndrome of menopause is estrogen deficiency caused by ovarian removal or dysfunction. The most bothersome symptoms are vaginal dryness, decreased vaginal lubrication, and pain during penetration and intercourse. They all have a negative impact on the quality of life. Conclusions: The main goal of treatment is to relieve the symptoms. Treatment modalities are pharmacological or non-pharmacological. The first-line treatment for mild to moderate symptoms is the use of personal lubricants and moisturizers, but the gold standard is estrogen replacement therapy. Hormone therapy may not be an option for women with hormone-dependent cancer.
Keywords: genitourinary syndrome, gynecological malignancies, therapy
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 231; Downloads: 85
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Abstract: Background. Liver transplantation offers curative treatment to patients with acute and chronic end-stage liver disease. The impact of nutritional status on postoperative outcomes after liver transplantation remains poorly under-stood. The present study investigated the predictive value of radiologically assessed skeletal muscle index (SMI) and myosteatosis (MI) on postoperative outcomes.Patients and methods. Data of 138 adult patients who underwent their first orthotopic liver transplantation were retrospectively analysed. SMI and MI in computer tomography (CT) scan at the third lumbar vertebra level were cal-culated. Results were analyzed for the length of hospitalisation and postoperative outcomes.Results. In 63% of male and 28.9% of female recipients, low SMI was found. High MI was found in 45(32.6%) patients. Male patients with high SMI had longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay (P < 0.025). Low SMI had no influence on ICU stay in female patients (P = 0.544), length of hospitalisation (male, P > 0.05; female, P = 0.843), postoperative complication rates (males, P = 0.883; females, P = 0.113), infection rate (males, P = 0.293, females, P = 0.285) and graft rejection (males, P = 0.875; females, P = 0.135). The presence of MI did not influence ICU stay (P = 0.161), hospitalization (P = 0.771), postoperative complication rates (P = 0.467), infection rate (P = 0.173) or graft rejection rate (P = 0.173).Conclusions. In our study, changes in body composition of liver transplant recipients observed with SMI and MI had no impact on postoperative course after liver transplantation. CT body composition analysis of recipients and uni-formly accepted cut-off points are crucial to producing reliable data in the future.
Keywords: muscle mass, liver transplantation, myosteatosis, skeletal muscle index, GLIM score
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 261; Downloads: 270
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Abstract: We aimed to identify changes in quality of life after breast cancer treatment and compare them withthe normative population data for the Slovenian population.Patients and methods. A prospective, single-group, cohort design was used. A total of 102 early breast cancerpatients treated with chemotherapy at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana were included. Of those, 71% returned thequestionnaires after one-year post-chemotherapy. The Slovenian versions of the European Organisation for Researchand Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30 and BR23 questionnaires were used. Primary outcomes were a com-parison of global health status/quality of life (GHS) and C30 Summary Score (C30-SumSc) at baseline and one-yearpost-chemotherapy with the normative Slovenian population. The exploratory analysis evaluated the differences insymptoms and functional scales of QLQ C-30 and QLQ BR-23 between baseline and one-year post-chemotherapy.Results. At baseline and one-year post-chemotherapy, C30-SumSc of patients was lower than the predictedC30-SumSc from the normative Slovenian population by 2.6 points (p = 0.04) and 6.5 points (p < 0.001), resp. On thecontrary, GHS was not statistically different from predicted either at baseline or after one year. Exploratory analysisrevealed that one-year post-chemotherapy compared to the beginning of chemotherapy, patients had statisticallysignificantly and clinically meaningful lower scores in body image and cognitive functioning, and increased symptomscores for pain, fatigue, and arm symptoms.Conclusions. The C30-SumSc is reduced one- year post-chemotherapy. Early interventions should be directed to-ward the prevention of the decline of cognitive functioning and body image, and to alleviate fatigue, pain, and armsymptoms.
Keywords: breast cancer, chemotherapy, quality of life
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 236; Downloads: 96
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Abstract: Biomedical applications of electroporation are expanding out of the field of oncology into vaccination, treatment of arrhythmias and now in the treatment of vascular malformations. Bleomycin is a widely used sclerosing agent in the treatment of various vascular malformations. The application of electric pulses in addition to bleomycin enhances the effectiveness of the drug, as demonstrated by electrochemotherapy, which utilizes bleomycin in the treatment of tumors. The same principle is used in bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST). The approach seems to be effective in the treatment of low-flow (venous and lymphatic) and, potentially, even high-flow (arteriovenous) malformations. Although there are only a few published reports to date, the surgical community is interested, and an increasing number of centers are applying BEST in the treatment of vascular malformations. Within the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) consortium, a dedicated working group has been constituted to develop standard operating procedures for BEST and foster clinical trials. By treatment standardization and successful completion of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of the approach, higher quality data and better clinical outcomes may be achieved.
Keywords: vascular malformations, electrosclerotherapy, bleomycin
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 324; Downloads: 108
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Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate atmospheric deposition and to explore the natural distribution and possible contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Prespa region, North Macedonia, using moss samples as biomonitors for air pollution. The distribution of 19 chemical elements (Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn) was detected in 11 moss samples from this area. The moss samples were analysed after microwave digestion using inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). R-mode factor analysis was used to identify and characterise the elemental associations, and four associations of elements were identified. Four factors were separated from the group of elements: Factor 1 (Fe-Al-Cr-V-Ni), Factor 2 (Sr-Ba-Mg), Factor 3 (K-P-Zn) and Factor 4 (Pb-Cu). All element factors were found to be typical geochemical associations, with the exception of the distribution of K and P in the agricultural areas of the study area where fertilisers are used over a long period of time.
Keywords: moss biomonitoring, air pollution, potentially toxic elements, Prespa region, North Macedonia
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 265; Downloads: 189
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