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Biomedical subjects

Z Domljan

Publications and source records attributed to Z Domljan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cervicobrachial syndrome--work and disability.

The subjects in the study were 114 persons receiving a disability pension or referred for disability assessment. They were placed in two groups of 57 persons each, one with marked cervicobrachial syndrome and the other without. The latter group was chosen by the method of equivalent pairs with regard to sex and age. All subjects underwent a clinical examination and a standardized questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire pertained to the state of health, focussing on the amount and type of physical burdening at the workplace and on activities outside the workplace. Sixty-five percent of the subjects were aged from 51 to 60 years. A statistically significant difference was established between earlier occupation and cervicobrachial syndrome. Cervicobrachial syndrome was found in 31.6% of unskilled workers and 12.3% of the controls (P < 0.05). A forced body posture during work was recorded in 74% of the subjects with the syndrome and in 50% of the control subjects (P < 0.05). Repetitive movements at work were reported by a large number of subjects with cervicobrachial syndrome (71.9:49.1%; P < 0.05) who also claimed to strain the arms (84.2:61.4%; P < 0.05) and burden the cervical spine (68.5:40.4%; P < 0.05) during household activities to a significantly greater extent than the controls. A possible preventive approach to the occurrence and progression of cervicobrachial syndrome is discussed.

Adult

[The value of individual laboratory tests in the evaluation of inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis].

In 65 patients with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to ARA criteria, and the active disease, we studied the correlation of the clinical status (the number of the swollen and tender joints) with the following laboratory parameters: sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, serum iron level, haemoglobin content and the number of erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes in the peripheral blood. All patients received nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; 25,5% of them were on small daily doses of corticosteroids, and most of them (76,5%) were receiving some of the second-line drugs. The acceleration of the sedimentation rate was the most useful laboratory parameter and was found in 96,9% of the patients, followed by an increased quantity of the alpha-2 globulin, sideropenia and a decreased level of haemoglobin. Increase in the CRP titer was found in this study to be of a rather modest value and was increased in only 40% of the RA patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

A double-blind trial of ademetionine vs naproxen in activated gonarthrosis.

The efficacy and safety of ademetionine (A) vs naproxen (N) were tested in a double-blind trial carried out in 20 patients, each with activated gonarthrosis. The trial lasted 6 weeks. During the first week, A was administered at a daily dose of 3 x 400 mg and afterwards at a dose of 2 x 400 mg, whereas the daily dose of N during the first week was 3 x 250 mg and subsequently 2 x 250 mg. During the first two weeks, the patients were allowed to take paracetamol as an additional analgesic. The patients were examined at the beginning of the study and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks. The parameters tested were: pain (under different conditions), crepitation, joint swelling, circumference of joint, extent of motility and walking time over 10 meters. In addition to the usual laboratory tests, the serum keratane-sulphate concentrations (with monoclonal antibodies according to the ELISA technique of Eugene et al. [1985]) were also determined. At the end of the 6th week no statistically significant difference between the two patient groups treated was found; both groups exhibited a marked improvement on all parameters. At the end of medication, the keratane-sulphate concentrations were not significantly changed. Five patients under A and 3 under N reported gastrointestinal side effects which were possibly drug-related. This study, performed in a small number of patients, showed a good efficacy and safety of ademetionine. Only further studies on a larger scale will show the importance of ademetionine in the therapy of rheumatic diseases.

Adult

Effect of imaging time on the values of the sacroiliac index.

Quantitative scintigraphy of the sacroiliac joints was performed in a group of normal subjects and a group of subjects with unilateral and bilateral sacroiliitis. The aim of the study was to determine whether the time intervals of imaging had any effect on the values of the sacroiliac index. Imaging was performed every 30 min up to 300 min and the indices were calculated at the time intervals mentioned. We found that the values of the sacroiliac index increased in the group of normal subjects until 150 min after the application of the radiopharmaceutical, and that in the group of subjects who had sacroiliitis they increased until 210 min. The results show that the time interval optimal to quantitative sacroiliac joint imaging is at least 3 1/2 h after administration of the radiopharmaceutical.

Adolescent

Influence of age on quantitative sacro-iliac joint imaging.

Computer processing of sacro-iliac (S-I) joint scintigrams represents a significant contribution to the diagnostic workup of this area. The S-I index is calculated as the ratio between the total number of counts in the region of interest placed on the S-I joint and an identical region placed on the sacrum. S-I indexes were determined in a group of 70 patients aged 13-77 years to establish the influence of age on normal index values. Our results indicate that S-I index values are age dependent. The study was performed 2 h post-injection but the possibility exists that this is not the optimal time interval.

Adolescent

Double-blind crossover comparison of piroxicam and indomethacin in rheumatoid arthritis.

This 10-week, double-blind, crossover study compared piroxicam (20 mg administered once daily) and indomethacin (25 mg administered three times daily) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the 30 patients evaluated, both drugs produced statistically significant improvement after 4 weeks compared to placebo in all parameters measured with the exception of joint swelling and 10 m walking time. Piroxicam provided greater improvement with respect to the severity of pain, joint tenderness and restoration of motion, and was significantly more effective than indomethacin in reducing the consumption of paracetamol and in improving morning stiffness. Both drugs were equally effective in improving the remaining parameters measured. Roughly, two-thirds of the patients considered piroxicam to be the more effective agent. With both drugs side effects were mild and infrequent.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal

Double-blind crossover comparison of piroxicam and indomethacin in rheumatoid arthritis.

This 10-week, double-blind, crossover study compared piroxicam (20 mg given once daily) and indomethacin (25 mg given three times daily) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the 30 patients evaluated, both drugs produced statistically significant improvement after 4 weeks compared to placebo in all measured parameters with the exception of joint swelling and 10 m walking time. Piroxicam tended to provide greater improvement in the severity of pain and joint tenderness than indomethacin, while both drugs were equally effective in improving morning stiffness, grip strength, and range of joint motion, and in decreasing paracetamol consumption. Nevertheless, roughly two-thirds of the patients considered piroxicam to be the more effective agent. With both drugs side effects were mild and infrequent.

Adolescent