Mitja Lainščak

Publications (2)3.95 Total impact

• Article: Doping awareness, views, and experience: a comparison between general practitioners and pharmacists.

  Irena Auersperger, Mojca Doupona Topič, Petra Maver, Vika Kuferšin Pušnik, Joško Osredkar, Mitja Lainščak
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  ABSTRACT: Information about doping awareness among medical professionals is scarce. We evaluated the attitudes, level of knowledge and experience among general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists (Ps) with regard to doping. In a cross-sectional national survey a 59-item self-administered questionnaire was sent to a representative random sample of 645 GPs and 330 Ps. Overall, 204/975 (133 GPs, 71 Ps) questionnaires were returned and available for analysis. Fewer than half (39% GPs vs. 48% Ps, P = 0.702) of respondents were familiar with the formal definition of doping. The abbreviation WADA was correctly interpreted by 42% (33% vs. 59%, P = 0.003), and 65% knew that the European Commission has the legislation to fight against doping. More GPs (69% vs. 31%, P = 0.005) agreed to have a role to play in doping prevention, similar proportions considering themselves to have sufficient knowledge of prevention initiatives (65% vs. 35%, P = 0.369). Overall, 12% of respondents (8.7% GPs, 19.3% Ps) reported being directly confronted with a request for prescription of doping agents in the previous 12 months (mainly stimulants, anabolic agents, hormones, corticosteroids). GPs and Ps are frequently exposed to questions about and requests for doping agents. They have acceptable level of general knowledge but are in need for more specific information on prohibited substances and legislature.
  Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 01/2012; 124(1-2):32-8. · 0.81 Impact Factor
• Article: Estimation of renal function in lung cancer patients.

  Katja Trobec, Lea Knez, Pika Meško Brguljan, Tanja Cufer, Mitja Lainščak
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  ABSTRACT: In lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, renal function is an important parameter to be monitored. Since measurement of renal function with either isotope or creatinine clearance is time consuming and expensive, we evaluated which of the following equations: Cockcroft-Gault (CG), Wright, modification of diet in renal disease equation (MDRD), MDRD adjusted for body surface area (BSA) and chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) best resembles endogenous creatinine clearance (ECC) and could therefore replace its measurement in clinical practice. 218 lung cancer patients, who had their 24-h creatinine secretion in urine measured prior to the start of any chemotherapy, were included. Estimation of renal function was calculated and compared to ECC. There were no major differences in the performance of the tested equations. Mean percentage error of more than 20% and general underestimation was common to all equations. Wright equation performed best although it describes only 43% of ECC variability. Mean measured ECC was 94 mL/min (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90-98 mL/min) and 90 mL/min for Wright equation (95% CI: 87-93 mL/min) (Supp. Fig. 3). MDRD and CKD-EPI equation performed poorest since they do not include any body size descriptor. Large deviations of differences were observed, with a median standard deviation of more than 20% and deviations from ECC exceeding 100%. Wright equation performed best, whereas, despite their leading role in the detection of renal diseases, the MDRD and CKD-EPI equation performed poorest since they do not include any body size descriptor. In the range of ECC<50 mL/(min×1.73 m(2)), the CG equation most often detected a contraindication for cisplatin use. Differences between ECC and calculated values correlated with patients' weight, BSA and body mass index when these were not included in the equation itself. In evaluating the renal function of lung cancer patients, equations adjusted for body size descriptors should be preferred. Estimated renal function should be interpreted against the characteristics of patient's body size and special attention is needed when these are reaching the extremes.
  Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 12/2011; 76(3):397-402. · 3.14 Impact Factor