The results of the study shows that there was no difference between the prebiotic and placebo groups in the proportions of participants with diarrhea, defined as ≥ 3 lose or water stolls per day ≥ 48 hours occurring during or up 2 weeks after the antibiotic therapy (3/45 [6,7%] vs 5/47 [10,6%], relative risk 0.63, 95 % CI 0.16%-2.5%). There was also no difference between the prebiotic and placebo groups in the proportions of participants with AAD, diagnosed as above, when all of the stool bacterial cultures and the rotavirus assay where negative, with or without a positive stool assay for Clostridium difficile toxin (3/45 [6,7%] vs 4/47 [8,5%], relative risk 0.78, 95 % CI 0.19%-3.3%). There was no need for discontinuation of the antibiotic treatmen, hospital treatmen because of diarrhea in the out patients, or intravenous rehydration in any of the study groups. The mixture of prebiotics was well tolerated, and no adverse events assoiciated with this therapy (or with the use of the placebo) were reported. In conclusion, the administration of the 2 prebiotics (inulin and FOS) was not effective for preventing diarrhea and AAD. The overall frequency of diarrhea was low, and the study was underpowered. Thus, the results sould be interpreted with caution. The present study does not allow any conclusions as to whether other prebiotic products are effective for the prevention of AAD. The afficacy and safety of each such product need to be evaluated separately.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4328511
The purpose of the first part of the study was to establish the variability of repeated measurements in different measuring conditions. In the second part, we performed in a large number of patients, a measurement of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis and compared them to age, gender, and level of nourishment. In the first part, we performed repeated measurements of one 3D computer picture of a plastic model and of the back of a patient with a rigid and a normal spine. In the second part, 250 patients participated in the study (126 men and 124 women). For measuring spinal curvatures we used an apparatus for laser triangulation constructed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. A comparison of 30 repeated measurements was shown as the average value +/- 2 SD which included 95% of the results. Thirty repeated readings of one 3D measurement: thoracic kyphosis 41.2° +/- 0.6°, lumbar lordosis 4.4° +/- 1.2°; 30 measurements on a plastic model: thoracic kyphosis 36.8° +/- 1.2°, lumbar lordosis 30.9° +/- 2.0°; 30 measurements on a patient with a rigid spine: thoracic kyphosis 41.5° +/- 2.4°, lumbar lordosis 4.0° +/- 1.8°; 30 measurements on a patient with a normal spine: thoracic kyphosis 48.8° +/- 7.4°, lumbar lordosis 21.1° +/- 4.4°. The average size of thoracic kyphosis in 250 patients was 46.8° (SD 10.1°) and lumbar lordosis 31.7° (SD 12.5°). The angle size was statistically significantly correlated to gender (increased thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in women) and body mass index (increased thoracic kyphosisand lumbar lordosis in more nourished patients). Age was not significantly correlated to the observed angles. During measurements of the spinal angles it was important to pay attention to relaxation and the patient's position as well as to perform more measurements providing the average value. The gender and the level of nourishment influence the size of the sagittal spinal angles. In the observed sample the effect of age was not confirmed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4215871
Human citomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital infectionin humans. In the first prevalence study of congenital CMV infection in Eastern and Central Europe, all neonates born in a 22-month period in two Slovenian maternity units (total of 2,841 newborns) were screened prospectively for congenital CMV infection by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urine. In all newborns with positive screening results, plasma and dried blood spots (DBS) collected at birth were tested additionallyfor CMV DNA. Congenital CMV infection was confirmed by virus isolation from a urine sample collected within the first 2 weeks of life. Congenital CMV infection was identified in four out of 2,841 newborns tested (incidence 0.14%; 95% CI, 0.05-0.39%). In four newborns with confirmed congenital infection, the concentration of CMV DNA in urine ranged from 4.68 to 8.18 log(10) copies/ml, all four newborns had detectable CMV DNA in plasma taken at birth (1.26-3.34 log(10) copies/ml) and two out of four had detectable CMV DNA in DBS collected during newborn metabolic screening. None of the four newborns with confirmed congenital CMV infection was symptomatic. The study showed that the prevalence of congenital CMV infection at birth in Slovenia is among the lowest in the world and that CMV DNA PCR testing of urine is a suitable and affordable real-time screening strategy for congenitalCMV infection. If it is performed in 24 mini-pools, the cost of screening is 1.4 euro/newborn and the cost of detecting a single newborn with congenital CMV infection 1,000 euro.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29544409
Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has become a commonly performed procedure. However, biomechanical studies have demonstrated that conventional single-bundle ACL reconstruction techniques are only successful in limiting anterior tibial translation but less effective for restoring rotatory laxity. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the results of single- and double-bundle ACL reconstruction using an anatomic technique, individualized based on the patient's native ACL size. The authors hypothesized that there would be no difference between the results of anatomic single-bundle (ASB) and anatomic double-bundle (ADB) reconstruction when the surgical technique is individualized. Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Depending on intraoperative measurements of theACL insertion site size, patients were selected for either ASB (n = 32) or ADB (n = 69) ACL reconstruction. In all groups, hamstring tendons autograft was used with suspensory fixation on the femoral side and bioabsorbable interference screw fixation on the tibial side. The outcomes were evaluated by an independent blinded observer using the Lysholm score, subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, KT-1000 arthrometer for anteroposterior stability, and pivot-shift test for rotational stability. The average follow-up was 30 months (range, 26-34 months). There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline demographics of the 2 groups. There was no significant difference between the ADB and ASB groups for Lysholm score (93.9 vs 93.5), subjective IKDC score (93.3 vs 93.1),anterior tibial translation (1.5- vs 1.6-mm side-to-side difference), and pivot shift (92% vs 90% with negative pivot-shift examination). Anatomic double-bundle reconstruction is not superior to anatomic single-bundle reconstruction when an individualized ACL reconstruction technique is used.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4384063
Three different techniques of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction-conventional (transtibial) single bundle (CSB), anatomic singlebundle (ASB), and anatomic double bundle (ADB)-have been described. Purpose: To determine if double-bundle reconstruction is needed to restore rotational stability or if anatomic placement of a single bundle can yield similar results. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. From December 2005 to December 2007, 320 patients were prospectively randomized into 3 groups: ADB, ASB, and CSB reconstruction. The average follow-up was 51.15 months (range, 39-63 months). At the final follow-up, 281 patients were available. In all groups, hamstring tendons were used with suspensory fixation on the femoral side and bioabsorbable interference screw fixation on the tibial side. The outcomes were evaluated by an independent blinded observer using the Lysholm score and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form. The KT-1000 arthrometer was used to evaluate anteroposterior stability, and the pivot-shift test was used to determine rotational stability. Results: Anatomic single-bundle reconstruction resulted in better anteroposterior and rotational stability than CSB reconstruction (average side-to-side difference for anterior tibial translation was 1.6 mm in the ASB group vs 2.0 mm in the CSB group; P = .002). Negative pivot shift was 66.7% vs 41.7% (P = .003). In other parameters, the differences between groups were not statistically significant. The results of the ADB group were also superior to the ASB group for anteroposterior and rotational stability (average side-to-side difference for anterior tibial translation was 1.2 mm in the ADB group vs 1.6 mm in the ASB group; P = .002). Negative pivot shift was 93.1 % vs 66.7 %, respectively (P\.001), and range of motion was also significantly different (P = .005). The Lysholm score was 90.9, 91.8, and 93.0 in the CSB, ASB, and ADB groups, respectively. The difference was significant only when we compared ADB and CSB (P = .025). Subjective IKDC scores were 90.2, 90.6, and 92.1 in the CSB, ASB, and ADB groups, respectively. The difference was not significant. Anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction is significantly superior to conventional single-bundle ACL reconstruction and better than anatomic single-bundle reconstruction. Anatomic single-bundle reconstruction was superior to conventional single-bundle reconstruction. However, these differences are small and may not be clinically relevant.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4192831