PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Primorac

Publications and source records attributed to D Primorac.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Spine and spinal cord war injuries during the war in Croatia.

OBJECTIVE: The present report summarizes the experience of an evacuation hospital in southern Croatia in treating 96 patients with spine and spinal cord war injuries. METHODS: A retrospective review was done for 96 wounded persons (86 soldiers, 10 civilians) with spinal cord injuries from August 1991 through December 1995. The ages ranged from 15 to 59 years (mean, 28.3 years for soldiers, 38.5 years for civilians). Diagnostic procedures were plain radiography, computed tomography, and computed tomographic myelography. However, in most cases a more conservative surgical approach was used. RESULTS: The highest rates of admittance were recorded in 1992 (N = 38) and 1993 (N = 47). The lumbar spine was injured in 55% of the patients, the cervical and thoracic spines in 17.7%. All injuries were caused by projectiles from automatic rifles and sniper fire (51%) and from fragments of explosive devices (49%). Blast injury of the spinal cord was found in 10 patients. The most frequent complications caused by the fragments were wound infection, urinary tract infection, decubitus, and pneumonia. Four patients (4.2%) died in the hospital, and 43.0% of patients survived but were severely handicapped. CONCLUSION: Careful clinical examination combined with modern diagnostic imaging and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics reduced the need for surgical intervention in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Genetic analysis of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in a southern Croatia.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy. G6PD Mediterranean is caused by a C-->T transition at nucleotide 563, is characterized with less than 10% of normal enzyme activity and is classified as severe G6PD deficiency. Nineteen unrelated males from Southern Croatia with severe G6PD deficiency were tested, by enzyme digestion, for the presence of the Mediterranean mutation. Individuals with G6PD Mediterranean were further screened for the silent C-->T transition at nucleotide 1311. Four of the nineteen individuals were positive for the Mediterranean mutation (21%) and all four had the silent mutation.

Croatia↗
PubMed1997

Interferon-induced growth arrest is mediated by membrane structural changes.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is an immunomodulator shown to augment the expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) class I/class II antigens on the cell surface. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that the enhanced expression of these antigens on the cell surface is in part due to IFN-gamma-mediated abrogation of antigen shedding. In this study, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma induces structural changes in the cell membrane by altering the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. Furthermore, such changes not only mediate enhanced expression of antigen on the cell surface but may drive the cells to growth arrest and apoptosis. These results were obtained by employing x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and DNA analysis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Early intracranial infections after brain missile injuries--the role of computer tomography in diagnosis and treatment.

During the war in Croatia, from August 1991 until December 1994, 138 soldiers were treated at the Split University Hospital for different brain injuries inflicted by missiles. Nine of these 138 patients developed intracranial infection. This retrospective study reports on the outcome of these 9 intracranial infections caused by penetrating missile head injuries. In case of clinically suspected infection, computerized tomography scan was obtained at two time points during the course of infection in the same patient. Scans were obtained with and without contrast media, 7 to 14 days after the injury and the 4 weeks later. The role of computerized tomography in the detection and follow-up of various intracranial infections and long-term consequences were evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Northern and southern Croatian population data on seven PCR-based loci.

Northern and southern Croatian sample populations were typed at seven PCR-based loci -LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, Gc, HLA-DQA1 and D1S80. The results show that all loci meet Hardy-Weinberg expectations and that there is little evidence for association of alleles between loci. Allelic frequency distributions at all loci, except HLA-DQA1, show no differences between the northern and southern Croatian sample populations. Moreover, the population data for Croatians are similar to U.S. Caucasians; only HLA-DQA1 for southern Croatians was statistically different compared with U.S. Caucasians. A Croatian population database(s) has been created and can be used for forensic analyses to estimate the frequency of a multiple locus DNA profile.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Identification of war victims from mass graves in Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina by use of standard forensic methods and DNA typing.

The postmortem remains of sixty-one war victims were excavated from 6 mass graves in Bosnia and Herzegovina one and a half years after interment Using standard identification methods, including the matching of medical and dental records, the recognition of distinguishing characteristics such as the use of clothing and belongings, and video superimposition, 35 persons were identified. For the remaining 26 persons identification efforts continue. DNA typing was performed at the HLA DQA1 locus and five PM system loci. Results from DNA typing were confirmed by other methods. DNA profiles of family members of 150 missing persons are now being developed using the 6 loci. These DNA profiles will then be compared with those generated from the bone and teeth remains of the unidentified victims.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1996

Ciliated metaplasia in a patient of Mediterranean origin with gastric adenoma.

We report here the first case of ciliated gastric metaplasia in a Croatian patient. This is also the first case of ciliated metaplasia reported in a patient of Mediterranean descent. Cilia were found in slightly cystically dilated gastric glands underneath a gastric adenoma with severe dysplasia. They were visualized by desmin immunohistochemical stain. Cells that presented with cilia were columnar cells, some of them with vacuolization of the cytoplasm. This case report shows that ciliated metaplasia occurs in patients of Southern European origin.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

Splenic-gonadal fusion of the continuous type in an adult female.

The first case of a continuous type splenic-gonadal fusion in an adult female is described. This extremely rare anomaly occurs more often in the male where the abnormality may be associated with skeletal abnormalities or cryptorchidism. The few cases of splenic-gonadal fusion in the female previously described were found mainly in infants. The present case of splenic-gonadal fusion occurred as a duct, approximately 10 cm long, extending from the inferior pole of the spleen to a junction in the left ovarian suspensory ligament. The superior two-thirds of this tubular structure consisted of splenic tissue, while the caudal one-third of the duct was composed of fat and fibrous tissue. In addition, two blood vessels, an artery and a vein, were present throughout the entire length of duct, and were located extracapsullary to the spleen in the cranial portion of this anomaly. The patient had no associated malformations in contrast to the majority of patients with continuous-type splenic-gonadal fusions.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1994

Molecular basis of nanomelia, a heritable chondrodystrophy of chicken.

Nanomelia is a recessively inherited connective tissue disorder of chicken affecting cartilage development. Other investigators have demonstrated that it involves low aggrecan production and diminished aggrecan mRNA levels. Based on genetic linkage studies showing a high likelihood that the mutation responsible for the nanomelic phenotype lay within the aggrecan gene, a series of experiments was performed to define the molecular basis of the trait. Aggrecan mRNA was present in the nucleus of the nanomelic chondrocyte but greatly reduced in the cytoplasmic compartment, a finding suggestive of a premature stop codon within the aggrecan transcript. Since no defect in mRNA splicing could be demonstrated by ribonucleasease protection studies, direct DNA sequencing was initiated by polymerase chain reaction of the mRNA and of genomic DNA. A stop codon was demonstrated at codon 1513, which is located in the eighth repeat of the chondroitin sulfate 2 domain of the large tenth exon. The mutation creates a unique BasBI restriction site which readily distinguishes the mutant and wild-type alleles.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed1993

Defective splicing of mRNA from one COL1A1 allele of type I collagen in nondeforming (type I) osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I is the mildest form of heritable bone fragility resulting from mutations within the COL1A1 gene. We studied fibroblasts established from a child with OI type I and demonstrated underproduction of alpha 1 (I) collagen chains and alpha 1 (I) mRNA. Indirect RNase protection suggested two species of alpha 1 (I) mRNA, one of which was not collinear with fully spliced alpha 1 (I) mRNA. The noncollinear population was confined to the nuclear compartment of the cell, and contained the entire sequence of intron 26 and a G-->A transition in the first position of the intron donor site. The G-->A transition was also identified in the genomic DNA. The retained intron contained an in-frame stop codon and introduced an out-of-frame insertion within the collagen mRNA producing stop codons downstream of the insertion. These changes probably account for the failure of the mutant RNA to appear in the cytoplasm. Unlike other splice site mutations within collagen mRNA that resulted in exon skipping and a truncated but inframe RNA transcript, this mutation did not result in production of a defective collagen pro alpha 1 (I) chain. Instead, the mild nature of the disease in this case reflects failure to process the defective mRNA and thus the absence of a protein product from the mutant allele.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet function analysis in children with Schönlein-Henoch syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Schönlein-Henoch syndrome (SHS) or anaphylactic purpura in childhood is the result of pathologic and immunologic responses to different antigens. These antigens could induce the formation of immune complexes responsible for vasculitis and their precipitation on the endothelium of small blood vessels. Purpuric bruises, hematuria, hematemesis, melena, or hematochesis may suggest coagulation disturbances. Increasing bleeding tendency may suggest platelet function disturbance. To examine the qualitative function of platelets in children with SHS, we decided to analyze its aggregation function. METHODS: Using the Born method of testing, we analyzed platelet aggregation in 24 children with SHS. RESULTS: Based on the aggregograms examined, we observed that most patients had abnormal aggregation curves, in which platelets demonstrated a block of release of the endogenous ADP, with or without disaggregation. CONCLUSIONS: One clinical symptom of SHS appearing in most patients is a mild or increased tendency toward bleeding. On measuring induced aggregation of platelets in children with SHS, we observed that the qualitative function of platelets was disturbed.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗