Erythrocytic, Enzymatic, and Histological Markers of Oxidative Stress in Subacute and Chronic Stage Infections in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

Trypanosomiasis is a complex of diseases caused by a haemoprotozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance. One of the leading factors that cause morbidity and death in trypanosomiasis is oxidative stress. The oxidative stress biomarkers in trypanosomiasis at the subacute and chronic stages of infection were investigated in this study. A total of twenty-four Wistar rats were used; the animals were placed in two groups: group A (subacute and chronic) and group B (control). The weight and body temperature of the experimental animals were determined using a digital weighing balance and thermometer. A hematology analyzer was used to determine the erythrocyte indices. Spectrophotometry was used to estimate enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione) activities in the serum, kidney, and liver of experimental animals. Liver, kidney, and spleen were harvested and analyzed for histological changes. The mean body weight of the infected decreased compared to the control (P < 0.05). The mean body temperature of infected individuals increased (35-37°C) compared to the control (P < 0.05). The erythrocyte indices of the infected and control groups indicate a significant decrease (P < 0.05). In erythrocyte indices, only MCHC indicated a nonsignificant decrease (P > 0.05). The SOD of serum shows a significant increase (P < 0.05), and no significant increase SOD (P > 0.05) in kidney and the liver SOD indicates a significant decrease (P < 0.05). The serum, kidney, and liver show a significant increase (P < 0.05) in CAT. The serum GSH from the findings indicates a nonsignificant increase (P > 0.05), and the kidney and liver GSH shows a significant increase (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis for SOD shows nonsignificant negative correlation for serum/kidney, and the serum/liver and kidney/liver show significant positive correlation. The result of CAT shows significant correlations for serum and kidney, serum and liver, and kidney/liver with a positive correlation. The GSH result shows no significant negative correlation for serum/kidney and no significant positive correlation for serum/liver and kidney/liver. The histological damage in the kidney, liver, and spleen was much higher in the chronic stage than in the subacute stage and no tissue damage in the control group. In conclusion, subacute and chronic stage trypanosome infection is associated with changes in hematological indices, antioxidants of the liver, spleen and kidney, and histological architecture.

Cases of acute poisoning admitted to Clinical Hospital Merkur in Zagreb in 1999.

This paper describes 170 cases of acute poisoning in 60 men and 110 women admitted to emergency room from January through November 1999. Ninety-eight percent of acute poisonings were self-inflicted, and 90% occurred at home. Drugs were used in 134 (79%) suicide attempts. Eighty-one acute poisonings were caused by benzodiazepines (48%) and 19 by antidepressants (11%). Alcohol intoxication, alone or combined with the intake of psychoactive drug (28 cases, 16%) predominated in men. Cocaine was the most common narcotic drug, taken by 31 patients (16%). Other acute poisonings involved ecstasy (4 cases), CO (6 cases), and HCl inhalation (2 cases). Previous suicide attempts due to depression were found in 68 patients (40%). Fifty patients (29%) were comatose on admission, 24 were transferred to intensive care, and 3 died. Data such as these can be very useful for handling self-inflicted acute poisonings and for planning long-term health care activities.

Metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma to the pelvic region.

Adenocarcinoma is among the most common tumors with a 95% incidence. Renal tumor metastases can occur by the lymphatic, lymphohematogenous, or hematogenous route. A 59-year-old female with metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma, at an unusual localization is presented. Diagnosis was made by ultrasound and cytologic examination, computerized tomography, angiography, and tumor biopsy. Tumor biopsy was the sole successful technique to detect the metastasis of renal adenocarcinoma.

An analysis of total expenditures on hospitalized patients with diarrhoeal syndrome.

Between the months of June, July, August and September 1992, 175 patients with acute diarrhoeal syndrome were treated at the University Department for Infectious diseases in Rijeka. Among them were 28 refugees and 7 members of the Croatian Army forces. Etiologic agents were isolated in 69 patients, among which 61 was Salmonella. The total cost of treatment was 9.737,203 Croatian Dinars or 51,529 German Marks, obtained on monthly reevaluation of expenditures. A total of 33.3% was spent on accommodation and feeding which was 6% decrease at the on of treatment. On further treatment cost was 33.7%, microbiologic examinations 13.1%, while biochemical examinations was 12.1%. Of the total cost, the X-ray, ultrasound and specialist examinations carried the lowest price of the cost of treatment. Reduction of the cost could be achieved by reducing the duration of hospitalization, which averaged about 8 days per each patient. The routine microbiologic and serologic analysis should be repeated rationally.

[Posttraumatic purulent meningitis in patients treated at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the Rijeka Clinical Center, 1980-1989]. / Posttraumatski gnojni meningitis u bolesnika lijecenih u Klinici za infektivne bolesti KBC Rijeka, 1980-1989.

During the period from 1980 to 1989 seven patients with posttraumatic purulent meningitis (PTPM) were treated at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of Rijeka Clinical Centre. These accounted for 11.1% of total purulent meningitis cases of the same period. Three PTPM patients had recurrent attacks of meningitis. The age range of was the PTPM patients from 5 to 49 years; men prevailed in the ratio of 6 to 1. The etiology was confirmed in five cases (in four Streptococcus pneumoniae, in one Haemophilus influenzae). One of these yielded Penicillin G resistant Str. pneumoniae. The average duration of antibacterial therapy was 20.5 days. Two patients acquired lasting sequelae but there were no lethal outcomes.