Search

Objective This study evaluates the total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Earlier studies of their relationship showed inconsistent findings. Patients and Methods We compared TAS between 90 COPD patients and 30 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age 67 ± 7.9, 87 males and 33 females) according to airway obstruction severity, gender, smoking status (current/ former/ non-smoker), smoking-dose, the number of exacerbations in the previous year, nutritional status and hypercapnia. Results There were no differences in pack-years between COPD and controls, neither in COPD groups. The median time from the last exacerbation was 5 months (interquartile range 3-8.3). TAS was significant higher in COPD than controls (1.68 [1.55-1.80] versus 1.59 [1.54-1.68], respectively; P = 0.03). TAS was significantly higher in COPD men than women (1.7 [1.6-1.8] versus 1.57 [1.5-1.7], respectively; P = 0.001). In COPD groups, there were no significant differences between the severity of airway obstruction and TAS. We found significant positive correlation between pack-years and TAS in all participants (Rho = 0.429, P = 0.004) and COPD patients (Rho = 0.359, P = 0.02), but not in controls. TAS was a significant predictor of COPD (β = 3.26; P = 0.04; OR = 26.01; 95% CI: 1.20 to 570.8). We failed to find significant differences between TAS and smoking status, frequency of exacerbations in the previous year, nutritional status and hypercapnia. Conclusion TAS was a significant predictor of COPD. TAS was a significantly higher in stable COPD than controls, higher in COPD men than women, but there was no significant correlation between TAS and the airway obstruction severity. Our results suggest that it could be appropriate to include the time from the last exacerbation in the oxidant-antioxidant balance analysis of COPD patients.

Introduction: To investigate adrenal tumors of patients operated on at the University Hospital Center Osijek from 2016 to 2019 for the purpose of examining the location and histopathological findings of the tumors and determining whether there is a difference related to that in terms of the age and sex of the subjects. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with historical data analysis. The subjects were patients of both sexes (N=23) diagnosed with adrenal tumors (N=23) who underwent surgery at the University Hospital Center Osijek in the period from 2016 to 2019. The archive was used in the University Hospital Center Osijek. Results: Adrenal tumors were more often unilateral than bilateral. No differences were found in the localization of tumors of the right and left adrenal glands. Benign tumors were more common than malignant tumors and were the most common adenoma. Seventeen women underwent surgery and were 10 years older on average (61.6 years). There were no significant differences regarding tumor occurrence with respect to the patients’ age. Benign tumors were more common in women, but the difference was not statistically significant. Regarding histopathological findings, women were more likely to have adenoma (N=10) and hyperplasia (N=4), while men had other benign tumors (N=3) and metastatic tumors (N=1). However, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In patients who have undergone surgery for adrenal tumors, there were more unilateral tumors compared to bilateral ones, but there was no difference in tumor localization (left and right). Benign tumors were more common, the most common of which were adenomas. There were no significant differences with respect to age and sex. (Lekić I, Banović V, Marjanović K, Kovačić B, Feldi I, Bačun T. Pathohistological Diagnosis of Adrenal Tumors: Experience of a Single Center. SEEMEDJ 2020; 4(2); 108-112)