[Hepatocellular carcinoma--retrospective analysis]. / Hepatocelularni karcinom--retrospektivna analiza.

The etiologic relationship of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic hepatitis B viral infection was proved clinically, epidemiologically, virologically, serologically and by other methods. Together with viruses, carcinogenesis is promoted by faster recovery of hepatocytes (liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, etc.). We have discovered 103 HCC in the period of 21 years. There were 81 men and 22 women; they were in the sixth and seventh decade of life in 90% of cases. Liver cirrhosis was also confirmed in 55% of cases and chronic hepatitis in 19%, namely, in 74% of patients HCC has developed on the changed liver. Fifty three patients were HBsAg positive (51.45%). The ultrasound and determination of alpha-feto proteins proved to be most valuable. It is a slow growing tumour and by its early detection surgical treatment is possible.

[Diverticulosis of the digestive tract in our patients over a 10-year period]. / Divertikuloza digestivnog trakta medu nasim bolesnicima u desetogodisnjem periodu.

Incidence, localization and clinical characteristics of diverticulosis of the digestive tract detected within the period 1971-1980 are analysed. Of 12.352 examined patients, diverticulosis was found in 425 (3,44%). The largest number was detected radiologically and some endoscopically. Diverticulosis was most commonly found in: colon 355, duodenum 42, eosophagus 20 and small intestine 16 (of them 11 with Meckel's) and most rarely in the stomach, 12 patients. Symtomatology was non-characteristic. The treatment was conservative, except in the case of complications. Complications occurred in 39 (9,2%) patients. Due to complications, Meckel's diverticuli were actively searched for and all cases were operated on.

[Emergency endoscopy in the diagnosis of hemorrhage from the upper part of the digestive tract]. / Urgentna endoskopija u dijagnostici krvavljenja iz gornjeg dela digestivnog trakta.

Within a two-year period urgent endoscopy due to bleeding from the upper digestive tract was performed in 209 patients, that is, 4,6% of all endoscopies. The cause of bleeding was detected in 84% of the examined patients. The most common cause of bleeding was: gastroduodenal ulcer, erosive esophagogastroduodenitis, malignant gastric neoplasm, and, in a smaller percentage, peptic postresection ulcer and esophageal varices. Analysing causes of a relatively high percentage of nonidentified bleedings the authors insist on detection of small lesions as well as indirect signs of mucosal alterations as possible causes of bleeding.

Controlled trial with trithiozine in duodenal ulcer.

Fifty patients were treated double-blind for 4 weeks: thirty with trithiozine (1200 mg/day) and twenty with placebo. The endoscopic examination at the end of the treatment confirmed the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug, which proved to be significantly more active than the placebo and led to healing of the ulcer in 70% of cases versus 30% in those treated with placebo (p < 0.02). Trithiozine proved to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the pain symptoms as well (p < 0.005). In no case did the drug lead to any side-effects.