1. Completely resected stage III melanoma controversy : 15 years of national tertiary centre experienceBarbara Perić, Sara Milićević, Andraž Perhavec, Marko Hočevar, Janez Žgajnar, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Background: Two prospective randomized studies analysing cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases and rapid development of systemic adjuvant therapy have changed our approach to stage III CM treatment. The aim of this study was to compare results of retrospective survival analysis of stage III CM patients% treatment from Slovenian national CM register to leading international clinical guidelines.
Patients and methods: Since 2000, all Slovenian CM patients with primary tumour % TIb are treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana and data are prospectively collected into a national CM registry. A retrospective analysis of 2426 sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies and 789 lymphadenectomies performed until 2015 was conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests.
Results: Positive SLN was found in 519/2426 (21.4%) of patients and completion dissection (CLND) was performed in 455 patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) of CLND group was 58% vs. 47% of metachronous metastases group (MLNM) (p = 0.003). The 5-year OS of patients with lymph node (LN) metastases and unknown primary site (UPM) was 45% vs. 21% of patients with synchronous LN metastasis. Patients with SLN tumour burden < 0.3 mm had 5-year OS similar to SLN negative patients (86% vs. 85%; p = 0.926). The 5-year OS of patients with burden > 1.0 mm was similar to the MLNM group (49% vs. 47%; p = 0.280).
Conclusions: Stage III melanoma patients is a heterogeneous group with significant OS differences. CLND after positive SLNB might still remain a method of treatment for selected patients with stage III. Ključne besede: cutaneous melanoma, surgery treatment, sentinel node biopsy, completion lymph node dissection, overall surviva Objavljeno v DKUM: 08.10.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 1 Celotno besedilo (412,50 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. Frailty in community-dwelling older people and nursing home residents : an adaptation and validation studySergej Kmetec, Zvonka Fekonja, Adam Davey, Barbara Kegl, Jernej Mori, Nataša Mlinar Reljić, Brendan McCormack, Mateja Lorber, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Aim: The aim of this was to psychometrically adapt and evaluate the Tilburg Frailty Indicator to assess frailty among older people living in Slovenia's community and nursing home settings.
Design: A cross-cultural adaptation and validation of instruments throughout the cross-sectional study.
Methods: Older people living in the community and nursing homes throughout Slovenia were recruited between March and August 2021. Among 831 participants were 330 people living in nursing homes and 501 people living in the community, and all were older than 65 years.
Results: All items were translated into the Slovene language, and a slight cultural adjustment was made to improve the clarity of the meaning of all items. The average scale validity index of the scale was rated as good, which indicates satisfactory content validity. Cronbach's α was acceptable for the total items and subitems.
Conclusions: The Slovenian questionnaire version demonstrated adequate internal consistency, reliability, and construct and criterion validity. The questionnaire is suitable for investigating frailty in nursing homes, community dwelling and other settings where older people live.
Impact:The Slovenian questionnaire version can be used to measure and evaluate frailty among older adults. We have found that careful translation and adaptation processes have maintained the instrument's strong reliability and validity for use in a new cultural context. The instrument can foster international collaboration to identify and manage frailty among older people in nursing homes and community-dwelling homes.
Reporting Method: The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist for reporting cross-sectional studies was used.
No Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public involvement in the design or conduct of the study. Head nurses from nursing homes and community nurses helped recruit older adults. Older adults only contributed to the data collection and were collected from nursing homes and community dwelling. Ključne besede: aged, chronic disease, frailty, instrument validation Objavljeno v DKUM: 17.07.2024; Ogledov: 106; Prenosov: 14 Celotno besedilo (611,66 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Association between loneliness, well-being, and life satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 pandemic : a cross-sectional studyMateja Lorber, Jožica Černe Kolarič, Sergej Kmetec, Barbara Kegl, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Good psychological well-being contributes to a satisfying life, reduces loneliness, and enables a better quality of life. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people worldwide have faced various challenges, which manifest in mental health problems, dissatisfaction with life and increased loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the influence of loneliness on mental well-being and life satisfaction among the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 and January 2022. A total of 664 participants took part in the survey, of whom 484 (73%) were female and 180 (27%) were male. Our results show that loneliness can explain 48% of the total variability in mental well-being and 52% of the variability in life satisfaction. The results show a higher level of loneliness and use of information and communication technology and a lower level of contact with relatives and friends, life satisfaction, and well-being during COVID-19 than they considered before the time of COVID-19. Study findings can help improve loneliness and mental well-being, and, consequently, life satisfaction. Ključne besede: loneliness, well-being, life satisfaction, cross-sectional study Objavljeno v DKUM: 10.04.2024; Ogledov: 274; Prenosov: 17 Celotno besedilo (322,21 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Skin cancer and its treatment : novel treatment approaches with emphasis on nanotechnologyKristjan Orthaber, Matevž Pristovnik, Kristijan Skok, Barbara Perić, Uroš Maver, 2017, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: The life expectancy in the Western world is increasing for a long time, which is the courtesy of a higher life standard, a more thorough hygiene, and, of course, the progress of modern medicine. Nevertheless, one of the illnesses that still proves to be a great challenge regardless of the recent advancements in medicine is cancer. Skin cancer is, according to theWorld Health Organization, the most common malignancy for the white population.The beginning of the paper offers a brief overview of the latest available information concerning epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostics, and treatment options for skin cancer, whereas the rest of the article deals with modern approaches to skin cancer treatment, highlighting recent development of nanotechnology based treatment approaches. Among these, we focus especially on the newest nanotechnological approaches combined with chemotherapy, a field which specialises in target specificity, drug release control, and real time monitoring with the goal being to diminish unwanted side effects and their severity, achieving a cheaper treatment and a generally more efficient chemotherapy. The field of nanotechnology is a rapidly developing one, judging by already approved clinical studies or by new theranostic agents that combine both the therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. Ključne besede: skin cancer, treatment, nanotechnology, nanotechnological methods Objavljeno v DKUM: 14.06.2017; Ogledov: 1233; Prenosov: 163 Celotno besedilo (1,56 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |