Biomedical subjects

Z Marusić

Publications and source records attributed to Z Marusić.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

A scoring system for early differentiation of the etiology of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find a new scoring system for early differentiation between the two commonest etiologies of acute pancreatitis (biliary and alcoholic), because biliary pancreatitis can be treated early by endoscopic sphincterotomy, whereas such treatment is unnecessary in alcoholics. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five patients satisfied the requirements for participation in the study and were divided into groups A (alcoholic pancreatitis) and B (biliary pancreatitis). Seven variables (serum and urine amylase, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lipase/amylase (L/A) ratio, and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV)) that differed in a statistically significant manner between patients of the two groups were included in the scoring system. Each parameter was counted as 0 or 1 on the basis of its values, so the patients reached scores from 0 to 7. RESULTS: Scores > or =4 (P < 0.0001) were consistently present in biliary pancreatitis, whereas alcoholics scored <4, with a sensitivity of 92.04% and a specificity of 93.75%. CONCLUSIONS: Our new scoring system could be important in the early diagnosis of the etiology of acute pancreatitis in a manner that is non-invasive, easy to calculate, inexpensive, and readily available.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1998

Multiple injuries in peacetime and wartime estimate of severity of injury by the Injury Severity Score and Polytraumaschlüssel.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Polytraumaschlüssel (PTS) in patients with multiple peacetime and wartime injuries. DESIGN: Prospective and retrospective study. SETTING: General hospital, Croatia. SUBJECTS: 71 patients with multiple injuries admitted between 1 January 1993 and 30 September 1994; 41 had peacetime (road traffic accident) injuries and 30 had been injured in battle. INTERVENTIONS: ISS and PTS scores. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correlation of scores with morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: All patients with wartime injuries were men, compared with 30/41 (73%) of those with peacetime injuries (p < 0.0001). Those with wartime injuries were slightly but not significant younger (mean 35 years, range 17-69, compared with 44 years, range 17-87). Mortality was higher among those with peacetime injuries, but not significantly so (11/41 compared with 5/30, p=0.39). The two scores correlated well for all injuries (r=0.76), and peacetime (r=0.71) and wartime injuries (r=0.84) separately (all correlations p < 0.0001). In both groups, patients who subsequently died scored significantly higher with both scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The two scores were equally good at describing the severity of injury, and the likelihood of subsequent death, however the injuries were caused.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Cessation of long-term nicotine gum use--a prospective, randomized trial.

Nicotine gum is an important adjunct for smoking cessation for many smokers, and long-term use of nicotine gum will occur in a small percentage of patients. To date, no method of cessation in long-term users has been studied in a randomized trial. We enrolled 26 subjects at the Mayo Clinic site of the Lung Health Study who had used nicotine gum for more than 6 months to participate in a trial where subjects were randomly assigned to: (1) abrupt cessation, (2) taper with placebo gum, or (3) taper with active gum. At the end of the 6-week trial, the percentage of subjects abstinent from gum use and not smoking was not different among the three groups: 66.7% for the abrupt cessation group, 71.4% for the taper with placebo gum group and 60% for the taper with active gum group. One subject in the taper with placebo gum group relapsed to smoking during the trial but was abstinent from smoking again at long-term follow-up. Long-term follow-up (median 284 days) showed 65% of subjects were abstinent from all nicotine products. Motivated subjects can stop long-term nicotine gum use without relapse to gum use or smoking by either abrupt cessation or brief tapering.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Predicting smoking cessation outcome in a medical center from stage of readiness: contemplation versus action.

BACKGROUND: This study shows the clinical utility of Prochaska and DiClemente's stages of readiness for treating nicotine dependence in a medical center. METHODS: Six hundred forty-eight patients were retrospectively studied in either the contemplation or the action stage of readiness. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed the action stage to be the most significant predictor of smoking cessation at 6 months. Individuals in the action stage had twice the 6-month cessation rate as those in the contemplation stage (41.5% versus 20.3%, P < 0.001). Other significant predictors of smoking cessation included a low Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire score (< or = 6) and the patient's report of a current disease but no past history of disease worsened by smoking. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the potential clinical application of this theoretical model for providing treatment for smokers.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Mioconverter].

Mioconverter is a new appliance created by author used in the treatment of open bite. It is consisted of two free plates connected by added joint (similar to connection in the TMJ) Plates have lateral bite blocks, anchorage elements in the frontal region and a joint at the back. Joints are originally created by the author as an imitation of TMJ and mandibular ramus. The appliance converts muscle strength in the way of extruding frontal teeth, intruding molars, and rotating the upper and lower jaw. Finally, mioconverter reduces vertical skeletal discrepancy. The leaning plate is under the occlusal level. Therefore, mioconverter utilizes all types of forces used in the lower jaw movements. Results of treatment of a case with an open bite are illustrated.

Activator Appliances↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Methods and results of the treatment of peacetime and wartime multiple injuries--a comparative study.

Seventy-one patients suffering from multiple injuries were divided into two groups, according to the manner in which the injuries were inflicted. Forty-one were injured in 'peacetime' circumstances (road traffic accidents, 85.4 per cent), and 30 patients were injured during 'military' shelling or in combat. Since there is no generally accepted severity scoring of wartime multiple injuries, this paper has offered one. A 'peacetime' scoring system was used to compare the hospital mortality in the two groups. The severity of injuries in both groups was estimated by using the Injury Severity Score. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to injury severity, age, hospital mortality rate, received infusion, or the number of specialists involved in treatment. The differences between the two groups were significant in the application of transfusion and antibiotics, number of operations performed, and the time span between injury and operation.

Accidents, Traffic↗