Objective: To compare blood coagulation parameters between pregnant women with vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy and pregnant women with normal pregnancy in the first trimester. Methods: A prospective controlled study of 98 women in the first trimester of vital pregnancy was conducted at the University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia. The study group comprised women with vaginal bleeding (n=50) while the control group women with normal pregnancy, admitted for artificial abortion (n=48). Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen concentration, number of platelets, hemogram, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity were compared between the 2 groups. Results: No significant between-group differences were detected in mean PT, fibrinogen concentration, FVIII, and VWF activity. Mean aPTT was significantly higher in the control group than the study group (32.47 versus 30.46 seconds; P(0.05). The mean number of platelets was significantly lower in the study group than the control group (181.69 versus 203.52x10 [on] 9/L; P(0.05). All measured coagulation parameters, except VWF activity, were within normal ranges. Conclusion: Coagulation abnormalities are rarely the cause of vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy among women with no previous symptoms of bleeding disorders.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4373311
Purpose: The aim of the study was to establish whether follicular fluid (FF) estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) measurement could be used to predict the outcome of unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles. Methods: 91 women underwent 150 unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles (78 IVF and 72 ICSI). Follicular fluid samples were collected at the time of oocyte recovery. Using the ttest, FF E2 and FF P levels and their ratios (FF P/FF E2) were compared between cycles with successful (with oocyte) and unsuccessful (without oocyte) oocyte recovery, between cycles with and without fertilization and between nonconception and conception cycles. Results: The oocyte recovery rate was 86.7% (123/150), the fertilization rate 68.3% (84/123) and the pregnancy rate per oocyte recovery 14.0% (21/150). The average FF E2 level was 3530 +/- 1339 nmol/L, average FF P 20649 +/- 9489 nmol/Land average FF P/FF E2 ratio 7.18 +/- 6.42. There were no statistically significant differences in FF E2, FF P levels and their ratio between cycles with unsuccessful and successful oocyte recovery, between cycles without and with fertilization, and between nonconception and conception cycles. Conclusion: From the FF E2 and P levels and their ratio, it is not possible to make inferences to the likelihood of oocyte recovery, fertilization and conception in unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4331327
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common, often debilitating, condition defined as urgency and urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia. The use of muscarinic receptor antagonists are the mainstay of treatment, but their non-selectivity can result in unacceptable adverse effects that limit their usefulness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 2 of the newer antimuscarinic agents, solifenacin and darifenacin, which demonstrate greater selectivity, in order to compare their tolerance and effectiveness. This was a multicentre, prospective, randomised, comparative (1:1) open-label study conducted in 4 centres comprising Slovenian gynaecologists and urologists. A total of 77 female patients with OAB were enrolled who received either solifenacin 5 mg or darifenacin 7.5 mg once daily. Study measurements consisted of changes in OAB symptoms and quality of life (QOL) evaluations after 1 and 3 months of treatment. Both treatment groups showing a reduction in all OAB symptoms but with no notable difference being seen between the 2 groups. Solifenacin though showed statistically greater improvements in QOL, better overall treatment satisfaction, and a decreased incidence of dry mouth after 3 months of treatment compared to the darifenacin group. This study demonstrates interesting initial results and indicates that these 2 drugs have a different profile that may confer an advantage to patients, but further methodologically rigorous studies comparing the use of solifenacin and darifenacin in OAB are required to establish the differences between these drugs over longer periods of treatment.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4567615
The aim of the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of solifenacin, a once-daily M3 selective receptor antagonist, in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Following a single blind 2-week placebo run in period, patients who complained from symptoms of OAB for at least 6 months, were randomized to 4 weeks of solifenacin in 5 mg once daily doses or placebo. 171 patients were enrolled in the study and 157 patients completed the study. Patients with solifenacin had significantly improved micturitions per 24 hours after first week of treatment (1.75 +/- 0.63 vs. 2.64 +/- 0.48, p(0.001), and after four weeks (1.56 +/- 0.58 vs. 2.71 +/- 0.45, p(0.001)compared to placebo group. The mean number of urgency episodes per 24 hours had significantly decreased in patients with solifenacin compared to placebo after first week (5.75 +/- 1.43 vs. 6.65 +/- 0.65, p(0.001), and after four weeks of treatment (5.77 +/- 1.33 vs. 6.54 +/- 0.50, p(0.001). Solifenacin was also significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the mean number of episodes of severe urgency from baseline to end point (5.83 +/- 1.16 vs. 6.48 +/- 0.50, p(0.001). Compared with changes obtained with placebo, episodes of urinary frequency were significanlty reduced after first week (0.3 vs. -0.5, p(0.001) and four weeks check up periods in patients treated with solifenacin (0.19 vs. -0.15, p(0.001). Episodes of nocturia was significantly reduced in patients treated with solifenacin after first week (0.3 vs. -0.5, p(0.001), and after four weeks treatment period (0.45 vs. -0.50, p(0.001). The number of incontinence episodes was also significantly decreased in solifenacin group compared to placebo group after first week (1.06 +/- 0.57 vs. 2.74 +/- 0.47, p(0.001) and four weeks check up (0.96 +/- 0.57 vs. 2.75 +/- 0.43, p(0.001). The most common adverse effects with solifenacin were drymouth and constipation. Adverse effects were mild or moderate severity. The discontinuation rate owing to adverse effects was 4.5%-6.7% with solifenacin and 3.8%-6.1% with placebo, respectively. According to subjective estimation, significant improvement was achieved in 71 (92.21%) of patients treated with solifenacin and in 68(85%) patients treated with placebo there was no change in OAB symptoms compared to baseline values. UDI score was significantly improved after solifenacin (22.26 +/- 5.91 vs. 29.61 +/- 8.45, p(0.001) compared to placebo. IIQ score was significantly decreased in patients with solifenacin (36.25 +/- 10.34 vs. 46.86 +/- 6.81, p(0.001) compared to placebo. In conclusion, solifenacin is a safe and effective treatment alternative for patients with overactive bladder symptoms.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4314175
The first center for deep brain stimulation in Slovenia. Operative neuromodulation is the field of electrically or chemically altering the signal transmission in the nervous system by implanted devices in order to excite, inhibit or tune the activities of neurons or neural networks to produce therapeutic effects. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an important component of the therapy of movement disorders and has almost completely replaced high-frequency coagulation of brain tissue in stereotactic neurosurgery. This article presents the first DBS cases in Slovenia. In the article the technical features and adjustments of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and development of a new microdrive, which was clinically successfully tested, are described and discussed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4294975