Primary Carcinosarcoma of the Vagina Associated With Differentiated Squamous Intraepithelial Neoplasia in a Patient With Complete Uterine Prolapse: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Vaginal carcinosarcomas (VCSs) are rare and clinically aggressive neoplasms. Primary vaginal malignancies are among the rarest malignant tumors, so clear management guidelines and optimal therapy, especially in the presence of significant pelvic organ prolapse, has not been determined. Here, we present a case of primary VCS closely associated with differentiated squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (DSIN), from which it appeared to have arisen in a postmenopausal patient with complete uterine prolapse. The unusual presentation of our case with DSIN in the adjacent vaginal epithelium with possible diagnostic pitfalls emphasizes the need for systemic presentation of these cases to help pathologists and clinicians know that such lesions can initially present in a patient with complete uterine prolapse. To our knowledge, this is the first case of vaginal DSIN described in the literature to date.

Validation of the Croatian version of CIVIQ quality of life questionnaire in patients with chronic venous disorders.

AIM: To test the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life (CIVIQ) Questionnaire and to assess the quality of life in patients with chronic venous disorders of all stages. METHODS: This cross-sectional study performed between 2014 and 2015 in a private family practice assessed the factorial validity, cross-sectional validity, and reliability of the Croatian CIVIQ 20-item questionnaire completed by 428 adult patients (78% women) with chronic venous disorders classified according to the Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Pathophysiologic (CEAP) C classification as stages C1-C6. RESULTS: Median patient age was 52 years (5th-95th percentile, 30-77). The distribution according to the clinical stages of chronic venous disorders was as follows: C1 (n=78, 18%), C2 (n=192, 45%), C3 (n=53, 12%), C4 (n=44, 10%), C5 (n=13, 3%), and C6 (n=48, 11%). The CIVIQ-20 factorial structure was unstable, and six items were excluded from the analysis to test the psychometric properties of the shortened version (CIVIQ-14). CIVIQ-14 has three dimensions (physical, psychological, and pain). Internal consistency reliability is high for the entire CIVIQ-14 (Cronbach α=0.92) and for all CIVIQ-14 dimensions (α≥0.80). The median quality of life significantly decreased with higher CEAP C stages as follows: C1/C2 (86, 50-100); C3/C4 (75, 36-98); C5/C6 (67, 31-95) (P<0.001). Post-hoc analysis showed a higher quality of life in C1/C2 than in other groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The shortened CIVIQ-14 version is useful for assessing the quality of life in patients with chronic venous disorders in everyday clinical practice. To achieve a stable validated instrument, we recommend a cross-cultural validation of items that have loadings on more than one factor.

[Continuous medical education of general practitioners/family doctors in chronic wound care]. / Trajna izobrazba lijecnika opce/obiteljske medicine u zbrinjavanju bolesnika s kronicnom ranom.

A number of healthcare professionals, specialists in different fields and with different levels of education, as well as non-healthcare professionals, are involved in the care of chronic wound patients, thus forming a multidisciplinary team that is not only responsible for the course and outcome of treatment, but also for the patient quality of life. Family doctor is also member of the team the task of which is to prevent, diagnose, monitor and anticipate complications and relapses, as well as complete recovery of chronic wound patients, with the overall care continuing even after the wound has healed, or is involved in palliative care. A family medicine practitioner with specialized education and their team of associates in the primary health care, along with material conditions and equipment improvement, can provide quality care for patients with peripheral cardiovascular diseases and chronic wounds, organized according to the holistic approach. It is essential that all professional associations of family medicine as well as professional associations of other specialties - fields that are involved in wound prevention and treatment - be included in developing the continuous medical education program. The benefits of modern information technology should be used to good advantage. The education should be adapted to the needs of family practitioners in terms of the form, place, time, volume, financial affordability and choice of topic. The interest shown in team education should be transformed into specialized programs in the creation of which it is essential to include both physicians and nurses and their respective professional associations. Special attention should be paid to education and training of young doctors/nurses, those with less work experience, those that have not yet been part of such education, those that lack experience in working with wound patients, those whose teams deal mostly with elderly patients, and also residents in family medicine and Nursing College students.

[Personalized holistic approach to a patient with mixed leg ulcer]. / Personalizirani pristup bolesniku s potkoljenicnim vrijedom mijesane etiologije.

Holistic approach as the philosophical orientation to care underpins the fundamental wholeness of human being and emphasizes the importance of balance within the person and between the person and his/her environment. It includes elements of the physiological, sociological, economic, psychological and spiritual dimensions, and thus providesan opportunity to assess the patient as a whole and in relation to his/ her living context. Such an integrated approach is part of the basic knowledge and skills of general practitioners/family doctors and makes them equal members of a multidisciplinary team in chronic wound patient care. In this case report on a patient with mixed leg ulcer, we will try to bring closer holistic approach in care for this kind of patients in daily practice of general practitioners/family doctors.

[Carboxytherapy - supportive therapy in chronic wound treatment]. / Karboksiterapija - potporna terapija u lijecenju kronicnih rana.

Carboxytherapy is a supportive method in chronic wound treatment conducted by cutaneous and subcutaneous injection of medical carbon dioxide (CO2). The primary effect of the injected CO2 is the correction of tissue hypoxia due to the Bohr effect. With its effects on endothelial growth factors, it stimulates neoangiogenesis and fibroblast collagen synthesis consequently leading to better wound healing. Carboxytherapy is used in many areas from chronic wound treatment, peripheral venous and arterial diseases, dermatological diseases, to cosmetic medicine. It is minimally invasive, patients take it well, it is economically acceptable, and it can be conducted in outpatient conditions by properly trained doctors. The application of new technologic innovations in the healing processes, education and teamwork combined with developed holistic individual approach ensure good cooperation and mutual doctor-patient communication, enhance patient care and improve their quality of life.