[HBsAg SEROCONVERSION IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON].

The ideal goal of antiviral therapy or cure of chronic hepatitis B is HBsAg clearance and HBsAg seroconversion. According to modern guidelines of all Associations for liver diseases pegylated interferon alfa-2a and nucleos(t)ide analogues (entecavir, tenofovir) are first choice in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The aim of the study was to evaluate the success of the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B who received pegylated interferon. At the end of ten year period, HBV DNA <50 IU/ml and HBsAg seroconversion achieved 4 (4/55, 7.00%) patients. All were HBeAg negative. Additionally, is presented the case of patients, who, after the treatment, had the shortest period of healing. Patient is a man, aged 47 years, with the newly discovered HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B and pronounced activity of serum aminotransferases. He was treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2a, 180 µg once a week, for 48 weeks. After antiviral therapy, the patient is HBV DNA negative, HBsAg negative and neat aminotransferases, and 12 months after completion of antiviral therapy comes to HBsAg seroconversion. The degree of cure of chronic hepatitis B, unfortunately, has not been entirely satisfactory, with the exception of the few individual cases.

[ACCIDENTAL POISONING WITH A PLANT COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE: REPORT OF TWO CASES]. / NENAMJERNO OTROVANJE BILJKOM MRAZOVCEM (COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE): PRIKAZ DVOJICE BOLESNIKA.

Colchicine poisonings are serious and highly fatal conditions that occur as a result of food poisoning from plants that contain this alkaloid or overdose with drug containing colchicine. The leaves of edible wild garlic because of their similarity are often replaced with highly poisonous leaves of autumn crocus, causing poisoning. Described are two cases of food poisoning with Colchicum autumnale, who had similar symptoms in the initial stage, but different clinical course and outcome. Signs of poisoning require early identification and intensive supportive therapy, which increases the chances of survival.

Epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal meningitis in the area of Zenica-Doboj Canton in period from 2008 to 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Meningococcal meningitis now represents a significant public health problem, not only in developing countries but also in developed ones. The disease usually occurs sporadically, and much less in smaller epidemics. Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal meningitis in the area of Zenica-Doboj Canton in the five-year period from 2008 to 2012th. In total there were 38 reported and hospitalized patients, with an average of 7-8 patients per year. RESULTS: Most commonly disease occurred in infants and young children (28.9%). The highest number was recorded in 2011, 10 cases or (26.3%). Most patients in the monitored period were registered in the municipality of Zenica-12 cases (31.6%) and Zepce 8 cases (21.1%). All hospitalized patients were sporadic cases, there has never been an epidemic in the observed period. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemic Meningitis is a very serious disease and a significant public health problem that requires a serious medical scientific approach for its resolution, primarily in finding adequate vaccine and its administration.

Epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal meningitis in the area of zenica-doboj canton in period from 2008 to 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Meningococcal meningitis now represents a significant public health problem, not only in developing countries but also in developed ones. The disease usually occurs sporadically, and much less in smaller epidemics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal meningitis in the area of Zenica-Doboj Canton in the five-year period from 2008 to 2012th. In total there were 38 reported and hospitalized patients, with an average of 7-8 patients per year. RESULTS: Most commonly disease occurred in infants and young children (28.9%). The highest number was recorded in 2011, 10 cases or (26.3%). Most patients in the monitored period were registered in the municipality of Zenica-12 cases (31.6%) and Zepce 8 cases (21.1%). All hospitalized patients were sporadic cases, there has never been an epidemic in the observed period. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemic Meningitis is a very serious disease and a significant public health problem that requires a serious medical scientific approach for its resolution, primarily in finding adequate vaccine and its administration.

[Epidemiological variation of Q-fever in Zenica Doboj Canton during period 2000-2005]. / Epidemioloske varijacije Q groznice u Ze-Do Kantonu u periodu od 2000. do 2005. godine.

After the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina there is a sudden increase in number of infected with the Q-fever, which becomes huge public health and economic problem. Although this disease occurred in very different geographic areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina the Zenica-Doboj Canton was among the most affected. Infections of Q-fever at the Zenica-Doboj Canton represent very complex epidemiology problem, because it is in highest incidence rates not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also for Europe. The total number of population affected by Q-fever in Zenica-Doboj Canton since the beginning of 1998 until the end of 2005 was 193, with the average morbidity rate of 48.30 %000. In Zenica-Doboj canton affected by Q-fever was the inhabitants of both genders, all ages and on wide territory, which in majority of cases did not have the contact with domestic animals. Incubation period varies from 14 to 27 days. Actual incidence rate due to asymptomatic occurrence of this disease is for sure higher. Researches of spreading manner for the Q-fever among humans showed that this disease can be spread in epidemic and sporadic manner in Zenica-Doboj Canton, and that there are many risk factors which influence its occurrence.

Epidemiology of the viral hepatitis A at the Zenica municipality ara in period from 1987 until 2003.

Viral hepatitis A is an endemic disease with periodic epidemics, or sporadic cases within endemic areas. It is present in a majority of world countries, more often in undeveloped ones. In our country it occurs occasionally, so it still cannot be considered as solved problem. This is because Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1990 was in the group of countries with the largest hepatitis A morbidity in Europe, and municipality Zenica within B&H with the largest morbidity in the period from 1987 until 1996. By studying the occurrence of the viral hepatitis A according to age groups, we can notice that the largest number of patients is at the age between 7 and 18 years (school children and youth) with 68.86% of baseline, than follows patients up to 6 years of age with 15.34%. In analysis of occurrence season, it is noticed that disease have a season features with the peak occurrence during November and December. Regarding the area of living, it is noticed that the disease occurs significantly less frequently among urban than rural and suburban population (78%). Among total number of patients within the period of epidemic we have registered 82.0% of patients, and only 18.0% was occasional cases. In majority of cases virus spreads by contact, which is the consequence of poor hygiene and sanitation that was, or still are present in the rural areas, because of inadequate infrastructure and lack of sufficient quantity of clean drinking water, or to say low level of health knowledge among rural population.