Information subsystem of the difference between anions sum and hardness of water and its influence on human health.

Underground and surface waters in Dalmatia (Southern Croatia) have relatively preserved their natural characteristics since the greatest agglomeration of population and industry is located along the coast. The danger of pollution with fecal microorganism and products of biological decomposition is the most immediate problem but can be efficiently eliminated by water chlorination. The ecological need to sum up the work on water quality examination and estimation of future water quality trends resulted in water quality monitoring, i.e. in human health monitoring. It is necessary for large number of analytical and ecological health data to organize them from the informatical aspect into databases, the relational database for chemical analysis studying (the difference between anions sum and hardness) as methodological base for studying the ecological factors that influence human health defined in this paper. Results used for the prototype implementation subsystem of the chemical water analysis control are based on the investigations of Water Examination Department of the Public Health Institute of the Split-Dalmatian County (Croatia). Over 3400 data are comprised what is the sufficient examination sample. The software used included Win '95, Mo '97, and Paradox 4,5, while the hardware used included Pentium II 300 MHz, floppy, 128 MB RAM HDD 4,3 GB, CD x 24, HP DeskJet 710C.

Prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection among the general population of the municipality of Slavonski Brod.

To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B viral infection in general population of the Community of Slavonski Brod, sera from 2,142 apparently healthy individuals were tested for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers: surface antigen and antibody (HBsAg and anti-HBs), and core antibody (anti-HBc), by radio and enzyme-immunoassay. The HBsAg results showed a general prevalence of 1.8%(38/2,142): for males 1.9% and for females 1.6%. The highest HBsAg incidence rates (2.1% and 1.9%) were found in young adults aged 21-30, respective in older children and adolescents, from 11 to 20 years. The lowest HBsAg prevalence (1.0%) was proved in children from 1 to 5 years, while in sera of 68 examined sucklings HBsAg was not detected. The HBsAg incidence was 1.9% (21/1132) in urban and 1.7% (17/1010) in rural inhabitants. The overall prevalence rate of total HBV infection in 13.7% (294/2,142) examinees was found. There was no difference in the prevalence of HBV infection in males 15.7% (177/1130) and females 11.6% (117/1012), as well as in persons living in rural 12.5% (126/1010) or in urban 14.8% (168/1132) areas. The prevalence rate of anti-HBs and anti-HBc gradually increased with increasing age, starting at about 3.2% in the youngest, and reaching 15.5% in adults over 50 years. The results obtained have place the Community of Slavonski Brod among areas with an intermediate endemicity of HBV infection.

[Fractures of the clavicle in neonates]. / Frakture klavikule u novorodencadi.

One hundred and twenty-five newborn infants (6.26%) with clavicular fractures were detected among 1995 neonates seen at the maternity hospital over a period of 16 months. Physical and only exceptionally X-ray examinations were performed. Clinical picture with the subsequent occurrence of callus were pathognomonic signs. The following parameters were taken into consideration for this study: infant's birth weight, sex, risk factors, way of delivery, delivery line, Apgar score, seasonal distribution and complications. Newborn infants with clavicle fracture were infants whose weight was more than 3500 g (3763.36 +/- 360.58 g, chi 2 = 65.605, P < 0.05), most frequently from mothers with the second childbirth (48.8%), babies born in a normal and natural way (58.4%), and in 71. 33% of the cases with some risk factors and Apgar score more than 7. One thousand seven hundred and forty-two out of a total of 1995 neonates had birth weight less than 4000 g and in 92 of these 1742 infants (5.29%) clavicular fractures were found, while in 253 newborn infants with birth weight more than 4000 g, 33 neonates (13.05%) had clavicular fractures. Clavicle fractures were more frequently found among the infants with birth weight more than 4000 g (P < 0.05). Three out of a total number of infants had paresis plexus brachialis, two of which belonged to the group of children with clavicle fractures. This study suggests that the approach to the childbirth conducting should be changed, so that the percentage of clavicle fractures can be reduced or noticed in time by help of more frequent and systematic clinical examinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The Brachmann-de Lange syndrome]. / Brachmann-de Lange sindrom.

On occasion of the 120th anniversary of Cornelia de Lange's birth, the recognized Dutch pediatrician, and the 40th anniversary of her death, we report a case with Brachmann-de Lange syndrome. The patient was hospitalised several times, immediately after the birth, within the 3rd year of life, and finally at the age of 13 years. The diagnosis was already established in the neonatal period by relevant symptomes. The phenotypical variations remained unchanged during that period and the patient presented with a great number of symptoms typical for this entity. The characteristics of the head and face were specially prominent, then the anomalies of the upper extremities and malrotation of the intestines. Since there is a great similarity with other syndromes, karyogram is indispensable for the diagnosis of this condition.

[The effect of certain factors on the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome]. / Utjecaj nekih faktora na pojavu sindroma iznenadne smrti dojenceta (SIDS).

Although sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been well known for a long time, in our country it has not been registered adequately yet and has seemed not to be present those years. But, it has not been true. A number of predisposing factors make that this phenomenon has a high share in postneonatal mortality, especially in those environments where the infant's mortality rate is low. A pathologist is imperative to establish a diagnosis following not only inadequate clinical picture and sudden death but also uncertain autopsy finding which does not make clear the cause of death in the majority of cases. In this paper, the frequency of SIDS during the epidemic of acute respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus being the potential indirect cause of the infants' deaths is presented. In 2/3 of cases this have been the infants born with perinatal risk factors and more often they have been males. SIDS has usually occurred at night, during autumn and winter and with infants coming from lower socio-economic and culturo-hygienic environments. In our environment, the frequency of SIDS has amounted to 22% of the total infant mortality rate.

[The Ellis-van Creveld syndrome]. / Ellis-van Creveldov sindrom.

A case of Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome is presented. The diagnosis was established after birth and was based on three major symptoms: unproportionally small stature, hexadactylism and ectodermal dysplasia. The heart finding was normal and the other laboratory tests were negative. Other symptoms were less important for this syndrome. It is a chondroectodermal dysplasia of autosomal recessive type. Reports from the literature are discussed as well, especially symptoms that are rarely found in such patients. This report is intended to point out the effective role of ultrasonography in establishing the early diagnosis of this syndrome in prenatal period.